Zone Conferences!

We just finished our zone conferences for this quarter.
They were wonderful.
Our theme was effective teaching.
President taught several times, I taught, and the zone leaders taught and led practice sessions where the Elders and Hermana's seriously practiced what they had learned.
Each conference was unique and we felt the Lord's spirit guide our discussions and presentations.
We began our zone conferences with the Colima and Guzman zones combined.
It was a wonderful day together!  These 4 zone leaders were well prepared and everything went very smoothly.
A quick picture before we got started

                              Zone leaders Elder Morris, Elder Robledo, Elder Quinones, 
                            and Elder Vaifanua taught ways to invite their investigators to read, to

come to church, to be baptized, etc, and then discussed how 

important it is to get a commitment that is genuine.  

They taught using the patterns found in PMG,

and then modeled and demonstrated the pattern.

They also focused on teaching people, not lessons and

again demonstrated how vital it is to be led by the spirit

as we teach.

Practices.  

I love how the zone leaders and President Clayton 

listen to the companionship's as they practice and make 

sure correct patterns have been understood and are 

being focused on.

Colima and Guzman Zones

Next was our Manzanillo Zone Conference

President began his discussion by demonstrating and teaching how to tie a stopper knot. 

He showed a picture of our son Scott, an avid mountain climber, and talked about how important

 it is to teach concepts correctly. Our son's understanding of knots have saved his life,  

Understanding of heavenly things can be done in a variety of ways. 

As we teach the gospel of Jesus Christ, our

responsibility is to teach with power and clarity, allowing the spirit

to direct us and guide us along. 

"How great the importance to make these things known unto the children of men..'    

Some of the main ideas of my presentation were
* To effectively teach we must be clean, worthy and willing
    then, we can become a mighty and a powerful tool in the Lord's hands
* Thus far (hasta este punto) how are we doing? (1Nephi 5:20)
* "Rise up... rise to the the great challenge which faces you" Gordon B. Hinckley
* "The Lord needs our best.  He needs those who can run, not just walk". David B. Haight
* "Rescue all that is finest in us."  Barbara Thompson
* Hebrews 12:1 Let us run with patience the race that is set before us
* opposition is a very real and valuable part of God's plan
* I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.  Psalms 121:1
* Give me that mountain!  (Numbers 13-14, Joshua 13,14 ) the story of Joshua and faithful Caleb
   as they are about to enter the promised land.
   

     
President and I are always amazed at what outstanding teachers and role models each
of our zone leaders are.  They add such a measure of spiritual maturity, and enrich each of our meetings. Here are Elder Jimenez and Elder Lozano as they teach.

                        Here we are with the Manzanillo Zone

The Vallarta Zone as we are getting started

Zone leaders Elder Saldana and Elder Fuimaono teaching

Joining us today was a young man waiting 

for his mission call.  

Our Manzanillo Zone

Tepic and Santiago Zones as we are beginning

with Elder Brough and Elder Palacios, who are new

zone leaders this transfer.

Tepic and Santiago Zones

Here are our 4 faithful Elders serving in Tecuala and Acaponeta

getting ready to head back out.

Our wonderful Santiago zone loading into their van

to return to their areas with zone leaders

Elder Kotter and Elder Manriquez.

Our excellent threesome hermana's getting ready to leave,

hermana Hernandez, hermana Marciano and hermana Garcia

Our cleaning crew.

 next, our Lomas Zone

practicing after Elder Albrechtsen and Elder Gibson taught

quick picture with the Lomas zone sisters

Our Lomas Zone

                                 And last, but not least, our Union and Independencia Zones
                                 as we are getting ready to begin. 49 missionaries in all!

Zone leaders Elder Sanchez, Elder Barrera and
Elder Budge and Elder Rodriguez

Opening song

I always talk too fast for our poor Elders who translate for me.

This is me stopping to let Elder Peterson catch up! :)  

He is wonderful!

Practices

President took a panoramic view

Our Union and Independencia Zones

Just us Sisters

And a few of our wonderful Elders

                                                                                              the end, whew  :)

Pictures from along our way

As we traveled to each zone conference we saw, as we always do, so many interesting and tender things.
We were able to see Elder Jimenez and Elder Lozano's new apartment in Barra de Navidad.
As part of this last transfer, President Clayton transferred Elder Jimenez and Elder Lozano, as zone leaders into Barra de Navidad, and gave them additionally, 3 port cities, Melaque, San Principio and Jaloque as part of their area.  They are all within a kilometer of each other dotted along the coast, and they are part of the Manzanillo District.  Even though the Barra de Navidad Branch is in Cihautlan, only 8 miles away, some of these members right in Barra de Navidad have not been able to attend regularly, be it for health reasons or travel circumstances.  President Clayton asked the Branch President if he would be willing to form a Group there in Barra de Navidad to help meet their needs.

This is the little establishment right across the street from Elder Jimenez and Elder Lozano's new apartment.  It is a medical clinic.  The sign is very interesting.  There is also a taco stand in front.

This older woman, who lives just around the corner, 

 is helping the lady who runs the little taco stand by

watering the road, to keep the dust at a minimum. 

We visited with her for a few minutes, what a sweetheart. 

Another example of a bustling

little corner taco shop  

I caught these cute 3 boys starting up a 

game of street football

These two were so happy to have secured their 

apartment and take this sign down

I loved this chart they made of their zone

A quick picture of us right outside their apartment

On our way out of Barra de Navidad

We drove from Manzanillo to Las Brisas for

church on Sunday morning.  This sweet Branch

President is moving.  I wanted to take his

picture with his well worn scriptures from his mission.

Can you see our fabulous hermana Capellan and one of 

our newest missionary hermana Herrera who are

serving here in this Branch sitting in the back row with

their investigator?

I clicked a quick picture of President Clayton's

white board after his lesson during the third hour.

He taught about God's plan and the importance

of repenting, and utilizing the Savior's merciful 

atoning gift.

I love these two sweet hermana's

hermana Herrera and hermana Capellan.

We had to stop and take a picture of these gorgeous colorful 

flowering bushes next to this rustic gate right off the highway.

So beautiful!

absolutely. love. this. 

Driving into Vallarta

See this guy right on top of the rock?

There were 4-5 more that scooted away.

I caught these two sunning themselves on the rocks.

Charcoal gray and yawning, they blend right in.

But the large iguana's red, red mouth gave him away.

Such a familiar sight here in Mexico!

Is there any question how well 

this man can play his guitar?

I'll bet he's fabulous.

Seriously.

With Elder Trevinio at the Union Stake Conference 

Worldwide Missionary Broadcast

What a thrill it was this morning to meet with our Guadalajara missionaries to watch the Worldwide Missionary Broadcast.  Our missionaries gathered in chapels around our mission, as did the 75 thousand missionaries around the world to watch and listen to Elder Anderson, Elder Bednar, Bishop Waddell, Elder Whitney Clayton, and Elder Nielson, Sister Oscarson and finally Elder Oaks teach and train us.
What an honor to hear from these inspired leaders, it was marvelous!

Here we are with our Guadalajara missionaries!