Zoned In on Missionary Work

There's nothing like zone conference!  It's the biggest gathering in the mission except for

Christmas when we get half the mission at a time.  Everyone is excited to see each 

other and to learn new things.  

The Moreno Valley Zone

The La Sierra Zone

Recent birthdays.  My how you've grown!

Guys in ties...

Together.

Here are Brother and Sister Egbert.  They were called many

years ago to help out in the Riverside Dear Branch.  They

liked it, learned to sign, and have stayed.  They are very

generous with their time in our mission too, translating for 

our missionaries during training.

The Corona Zone

The Riverside Zone

The Hemet Zone

The San Jacinto Zone

Getting creative with dessert!

The sisters in aprons in this picture (is tucked behind Sister 

Jensen) have served together for eight years in the stake

Relief Society of the Hemet Stake.  They have served about 

thirty-five zone conference luncheons to our missionaries

over the years.  The tables are always decorated and the 

lunches are special.  They put a lot of love into caring for

the elders and sisters.  

What does Elder Sy see?

The Lake Elsinore Zone

The Menifee Zone

After we take the group pictures, we usually take a shot

when people can make faces, etc.  We don't usually publish

them, but thought we'd put one in for "history's sake."

More birthdays.

We usually remind everyone to hurry in for zone photos so we

can have lunch.  Guess who they were waiting for today...

Finally!

The Mount Rubiidoux Zone

The Jurupa Zone

July 2016 Mission Leadership Council

Most things in the mission run on a six week cycle.  MLC

is once a month, so if it seems that you just saw pictures

from MLC you're probably right!

Thought it might be fun to show what happens AFTER the 

meetings.  As the purpose of the blog is pictures, pictures, 

pictures, here they are!

This is Elder Mayo who serves as an office elder.  He sets up

everything needed for the meeting, and it's 

a lot of tables and equipment!

This photo shows the cupcakes Sister Just makes for those

who get their reports in on time.  Elder Wood looks at 

the treats, but would not take one unless it were his.  

President Mullen on the other hand found a way

to wrangle a cupcake.  Where there's chocolate there's a way!

Taking materials back to the zone.

Just enjoying each other. 

Three Were New & Then They Were Two!

On June 21st three new missionaries arrived. 

They were small in number, but had enough

excitement for six missionaries!

It was such a small group we had a hard

time cooking for them!  We kept wanting

to prepare more than was needed!

The senior missionaries outnumbered the young missionaries,

even counting in the trainers.

 It was fun to get acquainted with these two elders and sister.  

Each has unique talents yet similar commitment to the work.

Elder Heward is at the far right of this picture. 

Elder Cousineau is second from the right, Elder Heward on the 

far right of this picture.  

Elder and Sister Hubbard, who had arrived the day before, came

to orientation to learn what the young missionaries were learning. 

They are to Pres. Mullen's left.   

Sister Birch is center in this picture.  With only one sister missionary

and one sister trainer, they didn't have to wait and wonder 

about who their companion would be.

Elder Cook and Elder Mayo getting one of the new bikes ready.

Take a look at this shiny red bicycle.  No one knew it yet, but

it was about to become an important part in this story.  

The gathering for the first testimony meeting was a pretty small, 

maybe "select" is a better word... a pretty select group.  

The Hubbards, Sister Birch on the left, Sister McGuire on the right.

After meeting everyone knew who their new companion was.

Sister Birch (R) from Utah

and her companion, Sister McGuire. 

Elder Cousineau (right) from Wisconsin 

with his companion, Elder Pennington.  

Elder Heward (right) from Wyoming

with his companion, Elder Larsen. 

There were lots of photos taken with new companions,

then everyone was ready to head out.    

It's  as though Elder Pennington and Elder Cousineau were looking

into the future in this picture... and not very far into the future.

Remember that shiny red bicycle?  It belonged to Elder Cousineau.

Three days after this picture, while riding that bike, Elder Cousineau crashed

into a large power pole and broke his clavicle.  He had to go home

to let it heal!  We wish him the best and know he'll be back soon.

(Actually, we really do know he'll be back so soon.  This blog post is

so late that last Friday Elder Cousineau was declared healed by

his doctor and will soon be returning to the mission.  Huzzah!)  

Elders Away!

It was a blizzard of white shirts and a tangle of ties!  On July 20, 2016 

ten missionaries, all elders, prepared to depart the mission.  Three members of 

this departing group were the first missionaries that President and 

Sister Mullen met while they were at the MTC:  Elder Merriman, 

Elder Rampton, and Elder Bennett.

This was a hardworking group of elders.  The completion of such honorable

missions was surely worthy celebrating, and we did just that!

With so many elders at the table it takes several shots to get

them all in.

President Mullen was still in his apron from cooking flank steak!

All the young elders were at the dining table, but we had other

special guests.  Elder and Sister Hubbard (their backs to the camera)

had just arrived to begin their service on the 20th.  They were joined

by the Halls, President and Sister Grant and Sister Malmberg.

Gathering for testimony meeting.  

The elders celebrated turning in their TIWI cards.  No more 

electronically monitored driving!

No words can capture the feeling of an outgoing testimony

meeting.  But look at them!  Happy, yes, but in this picture

you can almost see the light that comes from these 

seasoned servants of the Lord.  Their testimonies were as 

wonderful as they look.  

  

After testimony meeting, dessert, and one last companion study 

(with President Mullen), the elders tried to settle down to sleep.  

Some slept in the bedrooms upstairs, some rolled out blow-up 

mattresses in the living room.  Soon it was time for breakfast. 

So busy cooking French toast and sausage, the photographer 

didn't catch pictures of breakfast except in the assistants arrived. 

Bags were loaded in the vans, prayer offered one last time.  

Farewells said.

A last picture...

...and they were gone, leaving behind only their miracle stories

and the fruits of their labors, those with whom they had 

shared the gospel of Jesus Christ.