Multi-zone Conferences and a new missionary--all in the same week!

New Missionary

Please welcome Sister Taramon from Kiribati via Fiji. Sister Taramon has been in the New Zealand Missionary Training Center, waiting for her visa to come to our mission. Unfortunately, she did not receive it, so they sent her to Fiji for a week or so. We picked her up on Thursday night. She stayed at the Mission Home and then went to Friday’s multi-zone conference in Menifee. The sister training leaders took her to Lake Elsinore where she met her new companions, Sister Anderson and Sister Bowlden.

Sister Taramon and President and Sister Hammon

Sisters Bowlden, Anderson, and Taramon

Multi-zone conferences

We recently had multi-zone conferences with all ten of our zones. We divided our mission into four groups and held multi-zone conferences in 1) Murrieta with the Murrieta, Temecula, and Lake Elsinore zones; 2) Jurupa with the Corona, Jurupa, and Ontario zones; 3) Moreno Valley with the Moreno Valley and Riverside zones; and 4) Menifee with the Menifee and Hemet zones.

We enjoyed ourselves thoroughly! Topics included: Becoming Disciples of Christ, “Skill Training: Learning  and Teaching by the Spirit,” “Planning by the Spirit, “Finding by the Spirit,” “Working with leaders and members by the Spirit,” and “Light the World 2019.” 

President Norman and President Hansen taught us how “we gain spiritual self-reliance as we center our lives on Jesus Christ and understand it must be an eternal focus.” They taught they we must focus on “pure truth, the doctrine of Jesus Christ, rely on the Savior in all things, and keep ourselves centered on Jesus Christ.” 

The zone and sister training leaders did a fabulous job, and we hope all of the missionaries took copious notes and have begun reviewing them and implementing the various teaching, finding, learning techniques they learned. As part of the conferences, the missionaries received many invitations to "go and do and implement." Here are all of the invitations:

1. How are you gaining spiritual self-reliance as you center our lives on Jesus Christ and understand it must be an eternal focus?
2. Will you seek to become a disciple of Jesus Christ as you strive with all diligence, persistence, and resilience down the covenant path?
3. What will you change to become a disciple of Jesus Christ?
4. Will you plan, for 30 minutes each day, according to Preach My Gospel?
5. Will you study for at least one specific person in your personal and companionship study each day?
6. Will you ask your companion daily who they studied for in their personal studies?
7. Will you, like Alma,  “enter in by another way”  and try three new finding techniques in the next two weeks?
8. Zone Leaders: Will you put a poll into your Zone Chats with the different finding techniques (others not discussed here can be added) to see how your Zone is doing with our invitation?
9. Will you prayerfully create a plan to elevate your member missionary work by the Spirit?
10. Will the District Leaders follow up with their district members about their plans in the next District Council?
11. Will you invite everyone you meet, including the members, to join with us as we follow the example of Jesus Christ by ministering to others one by one—just like He did—through the Light the World Christmas Initiative?

Murrieta, Temecula, and Lake Elsinore zones

Murrieta Zone

Lake Elsinore Zone

Temecula Zone

Corona, Jurupa, and Ontario zones

Corona Zone

Jurupa Zone

Ontario Zone

 Moreno Valley and Riverside zones

Moreno Valley Zone

Riverside Zone

Menifee and Hemet zones

Hemet Zone

Menifee Zone

Relief Society and delicious lunches!

Murrieta Stake Relief Society

Jurupa Stake Relief Society

Moreno Valley Stake Relief Society

Hemet Stake Relief Society

Lasagna and homemade bread served by the Hemet Stake Relief Society

Golden Plunger Awards

In Menifee, the Sun City Sisters are the winners, Elder and Sister Powell, Sisters Kapeta and Freeman 

Riverside Zone winners, Sister Troxel, Sisters Goss, Thompson, Weston, Preator, Elder Troxel

Moreno Valley Zone winners, Elders Newey and Webb with Elder and Sister Hunt

Ontario Zone Winners, Hermana Rane and Butikofer with Elder and Sister Hunt

Jurupa Zone winners, Sister and Elder Hunt, Elders Talatinia, Harp, Schultz, and Thomas

Temecula Zone winners! Sisters Ellsworth and Jarman with Elder and Sister Powell 

Murrieta Zone winners, Sisters Jeppsen and Weston with Elder and Sister Powell

Lake Elsinore Zone winners! Elders Ottman and Bannink with Elder Mascio

Birthdays

Happy Birthday to you all!

What an incredible week of multi-zone conferences. At the end of each conference, we ask the missionaries what they have learned and have the outgoing missionaries share their testimonies. Perhaps, the most important and invigorating moments were when they stood and bore testimony, expressed your comments about what you learn, shared your personal spiritual experiences and revelation you received during your multi-zone conferences. 

Lunch in Murrieta, delicious!!

Elders Liddell and Lambert found the rolls.

We loved these moments with  the missionaries and being with them and seeing their smiling and happy faces.

Lunch in Jurupa!!

We love our missionaries. May the Lord continue to bless them always!

Sisters Reynolds, Clyde, Freeman, Kapeta, Taramon, Taylor, Hindman, Longshore and Salmon

Sisters Kartchner, Sands, Schmutz, Jackson, Durham, Johnson, Moore, and White

Elders Jacobs, Vaenuku, Wise, Crichfield, Messenger, Abraham, Howard, Wilcock

Also, during this Thanksgiving time, may we express to the missionaries' families the gratitude we have for you and what you have done for your missionaries. Your support and prayers for your missionaries is greatly appreciated. 

And thus we carry on in the work of salvation and the gathering of Israel! Hurrah!

President and Sister Hammon