ZONE CONFERENCE.

Palm Bay Stake Center

Tuesday -- Day 1 of Zone Conference

Stan and I had the daunting job of inspecting all the mission cars.

Here we are getting set up.

Each companionship that has a car must fill out a record on their car. They check tires, fluid levels, lights and of course they must have a clean car inside and out.

Inside the big mission van Stan has supplies to clean, repair and service cars if they need it.  Oil changes are done at lube places but we have what we need to add to oil - brake steering wheel etc fluid. 

The missionaries usually run their cars through car washes and vacuum their cars before they get here but they finish fine tuning the job on site.  Some went to great lengths to win.  The big prize was 25 extra miles for the month, second prize was cookies.

Hard at work--that is an air compressor that Elder is carrying.

 

This Elder won 25 extra miles, while the others gave up and were visiting he kept busy, he is shining his hub caps. You can see his reflection in the car.

Lake Mary Stake

Wednesday - Day 2

Elders Back, Carter Hirschi Schmeil and Nash.

Elder Schmeil (shmile) came early from Brazil and Stan and I picked him up at the Mission Home Monday and took him to his new area in Winter Park. He will have a companion of his own once the rest of the new Elders come -- in a couple of weeks. We picked them up Wednesday morning and took them to the Lake Mary Zone Conference.

I assume this is Lake Mary - it is directly behind the church, it was so beautiful, it is a long lake and is in the shape of a long skinny kidney bean.  Ducks and other water foul were abundant as well as large fish jumping out of the water.

Along with the five Elders we brought from Winter Park to Lake Mary we had all the things we need for servicing and polishing cars PLUS two bikes we were delivering to two of the Elders who needed them.  Everyone was happy despite being crowded.  In fact all five Elders broke out in song, Nearer My God To Thee as we approached the stake house.  It was beautiful and brought tears to my eyes.

Yes you read it right.  Elder Ben Capps.  We knew there was an Elder Capps but until we inspected his car we didn't know what his first name was.  This is a case of some kind in the back of his car.  Ben Capps is also our grandson who stayed with us last summer. (Sarah and Chad's boy).

 

Believe it or not this is Elder Alex Nelson's car.  Alex is the son of Bill and Josephina Nelson our neighbors in Juniper.  No it isn't really our Alex but....

On the way home from Lake Mary, the Elders told us this is the church building of another church in the area.  It was never finished because of lack of funds.  I tried to get a picture of the bottom but failed,  but it is built up on pillars so it appears to be like a 'great and spacious' building.

Go Magic on the side of a building in Orlando, we saw this on our way home as well.

Windermere Stake

Thursday, Day 3 and the last day of Zone Conference

Stan getting set up before everyone gets there.

They weren't to worried about getting their cars cleaned but posed for a picture.

This Elder borrowed a buffer from a member in his ward.  Older cars are at a disadvantage and he buffed it up like new.  Needless to say he won 25 extra miles.

At Nine o'clock on the dot all missionaries drop what they are doing and head for the chapel where they are instructed by the President his wife the Assistants, Zone leaders and of course the Senior couples over cars, records, and the doctor. Stan and I stayed out and took the sheets they filled out and went over each car. Before they leave they put the paper on the front seat, the keys in the door and the trunk and hood up.  Stan goes over the list I inspect the cars we keep the paper, close and lock the cars and return the keys to them after the conference is over at four in the afternoon.

Part of the cars lined up for inspection.

 Elder Hansen messed up his knee playing basket ball on Preparation and relaxation day Monday.  He is a great Elder to say the least, he didn't let it get him down.

This is Elder Fielding.  Amy Heaton Fielding's son.  He is very tall fun loving and extremely hard working.  

 

 

View of the temple from the Windermere chapel.  Stan and I did take in a session in the temple that afternoon since we were so close. 

Monday before Zone Conference

Elder Bowden on the left filled in with Elder Condie on the right for two weeks while Elder Condie awaited his new companion.  Elder Bowden was a local boy waiting to go on a mission.

Elder Condie with his new companion Elder Berhold.  Elder Berhold came the same day as Elder Schmeil did. He was serving in Brazil when he got sick.  He was told he had bronchitis and given some medication which made his condition worse.  He was taken to a bigger hospital where they found that his heart was failing.  He was born with problems with his heart, and some valves were replaced at that time.  But now they were broken again and had to be repaired.  He had open heart surgery.  This is two months after that surgery.  He rides bikes.  He is an amazing elder to say the 

least.  

Friday night baptism

A picture of  the Cotrells Elder's Rice and Moyle and of course Haydee Revera. The Cotrells invited Haydee to the Glady's night concert.  The Elders taught her and she was baptized.  It was an amazing moment in time.  I was privileged to speak about the Holy Ghost that night.  I wish you could meet her, what a powerhouse.

Yes besides having an Elder Capps we have an Elder Rice.  (Beth's married name).  Elder Moyle on the right looks like Matthew Nelson will look like as a missionary.  The other day I saw where his name is Matthew as well. Elder Rice and Moyle are our office Elders.

Day of Service

Saturday our stake invited the community to join in a service day.  The men worked at different sites cleaning up repairing and painting buildings:  A church of another faith, a humanitarian center and some homes. The ladies gather at a donated government pavilion.  We sewed bereavement gowns.  These are for babies who pass away either before birth or right after.  We did 180 - half for girls half for boys.  There were also little hats, booties and packets sewn.  It was am impressive undertaking.  A lot of work went into the planning and organization of this event.

Sister Missionaries helping out.  Sister Ellsworth and Sister Homer our Signing sisters who work with the hearing impaired.

Sister Ellsworth and me.  I was the only one in our station that could run a surger so that was my job for the day.  Working on these little clothes was not an easy task, but such a privilege.  It was like we were working on temple clothing, it was a sacred experience.  

Sunday

Sister Evon Guitian who teaches the Gospel Preparation class.  Just a tiny little thing but such a giant spiritually and intellectually, and can really reach out and teach the wide range of students in her class.  

I sat next to Peggy  Creevan in Relief Society.  She is a new member of a couple of months.  Her  husband wanted to come back to church and he brought her with him.  She prayed in Sunday School Class today for her first time, and she prayed in English.  This is her Korean Book of Mormon.  They read from what is our back of the book to what is our front of the book going from right to left in their reading.  I turned it over and the cover is on the right back.  She loves her scriptures and finds great peace in them.

There are not words to express my love for the Savior.  I know He lives and loves us.  This gospel is true. That I know without a doubt.  I have such great joy and happiness and have found peace through the gospel of Jesus Christ.