Zone Conferences - South, North, and West!

Zones Conferences are held every three months. Each conference consists of a full day of training on: how to be better missionaries, setting goals, doctrinal discussions and sharing success stories. Wonderful food, singing of hymns, and testimonies are shared. It is always such a joyful time to gather as missionaries together. It is a time of spiritual uplift and renewal.

SOUTH ZONE CONFERENCE

Our first conference was in the south of the mission, held in Vladivostok. This zone includes Nakhodka, Ussuriysk, Artyom, and Vladivostok. See if you can find your favorite missionary:) 

Front row: L to R, Elder and Sister Veselov, Pres. and Sister Brinton, Elder and Sister Chandler, Elder and Sister Bryson. Sisters Handley, Gerasimova, Christensen, Trunina, Allison, Nash, Ferguson, McMurtrey, Lutz and Braithwaite. Elders Ibragimov (last Zone Conference), Hasebi, Meldrum, Schneider, Browning (last ZC) Jewkes, and Howe. Back row, Elders Jaeckel, Elwood, Tanner (last ZC), Crave, Raymond, Erickson, Malmsten, Price, Lau, Niederhauser, Ashcraft, Bassett, and Mitchell.

 Pres. Brinton gives timely counsel on effective proselyting and bringing investigators to baptism. Every month, each zone sets its own goals for baptisms and Sacrament Meeting attendance. We also set mission-wide goals for the same.

 Lunch was prepared and served by our senior couples.

 Elder and Sister Chandler fixed a delicious lunch...

...assisted by the Veselovs and Brysons. We are so grateful for the faithful service our wonderful senior couples render.

NORTH ZONE

Next we traveled to the North Zone which includes Khabarovsk and Sakhalin. The Sakhalin elders and sisters flew to Khabarovsk to join in the conference. We are one of the few missions in the world where  missionaries fly to zone conference! That comes from being the mission that covers the largest geographical area in the world. For perspective, if our mission home were located in San Francisco, we would have missionaries serving in Boston and Miami. The distances are very great, but we have very choice elders and sisters who we trust to be obedient and to make good decisions. They are the best of the best! 

 As we flew into Khabarovsk for North Zone Conference, we could see the devastation that had taken place as a result of the flooding of the Amor River. The beautiful city of Khabarovsk is fully operational once again.

 Elder Tanner spoke about the importance of cultivating faith to be an effective missionary.

 Sister Brinton spoke about "Miracles" and the importance of being "Obedient".

 A big part of zone conference is "practicing" different scenarios that missionaries encounter each day. Here Elders Luke and Vandygriff practice a "role play" of introducing the gospel to someone on the street.

Elders Hinkson and Vasil'ev (his last Zone Conference before returning home) demonstrate asking a member for a referral.

Elders Herbert and Craig practice other scenarios...

 as did Elders Gentry and Pack.

Sisters Radjabova and Wilson ...

Sister Larsen, (last ZC) and Sister Baum...

...Elders Laursen and Hardy all honed their skills of teaching the gospel more effectively.

President Brinton is accompanied by Assistants, Elders Malmsten (L) and Tanner (R) to Zone Conferences along with Sister Brinton (photographer :) :)

WEST ZONE CONFERENCE

 Elder Malmsten addressed the Zone Conference on how to go from baptismal dates to baptism. He highlighted the importance of obedience and showing undying faith in the Lord to bring baptisms to fruition.

Elder Fuhriman, Zone Leader in Irkutsk, shared his testimony of the gospel. This is his last Zone Conference before leaving for home. As Zone Leader, he led the Irkutsk Branch to a never-before- reached record of 79 people in attendance on Sunday, October 20. He attributed it to the Lord blessing them for their working closely with the branch leadership, their 110% obedience, and their speaking ONLY Russian for the past 4 weeks. Every missionaries' Russian-speaking ability has dramatically improved because of their "sacrifice"of not speaking English to show the Lord they really wanted this blessing.

Sister Hesley, a sister trainer missionary, also shared how speaking only in Russian has had a profound effect not only on the missionaries, but on the branch members who have seen their faith. This is also her last Zone Conference.

Likewise, Elder Breeze shared his testimony and the importance that loving others plays in being successful as a missionary. He, too, returns home before next Zone Conference.

Missionaries took notes and enjoyed the media presentations.

 The Ulan-Ude zone posed for a photo. From left to right: Sisters Ayatalieva, Jennings, Hughes, Elders Hughes, Laughlin, Sitton, and Murphy. Back L to R, Elders Breeze, Shepherd and Sayers.

The Angarsk Zone is made up of Sister Peters, Sister Gates, Elder Cruise; (back row) Elder Laws and  Elder Duckworth.  Elder Tanner formerly served in Angarsk.

West Zone Conference attendees: front row, Sisters Jennings, Ayatalieva, Hesley, Hill, Peters, Gates,  President and Sister Brinton, Elder and Sister Hughes; back row, Elders Laws, Murphy, Ostler, Shepherd, Breeze, Walker, Fuhriman, Salamatin Malmsten, Cruse, Tanner, Adams, Duckworth, Sayers, Fletcher, Laughlin, and Sitton.
NOTE: We recently did a blog posting on the Elders and Sisters in Irkutsk. Please see that blogpost "Trip to Irkutsk" for more pictures of Irkutsk missionaries.