July ZLC

Zone Leaders and APs

Some of the finest missionaries in the entire world!

(Everyone wants pictures :)

Names, beginning in back then the companion, who sits in front:

Udy/Prete, Bashein/Jones, Jones/Camargo, Jensen/Angus, Rapier/Haws, Scheiss/Griffin, VanTassel/Foy, Cary/Smith, Mecham/Brodie, Casteneda/Islas, Gigena/Wismer

And, YES, I did this from memory.  I'm learning :)

One of these "lucky" young men will be the new AP in a couple weeks

The Zone Leaders had ZLC yesterday in the same church building that our office is in.  LOVE seeing these fine young missionaries and feeling their spirit and enthusiasm.  They are tomorrow's bishops and stake presidents, or perhaps general authorities -- leaders somewhere, for sure! 

Yesterday was President and Sister Castro's 26th wedding anniversary.  They are so selfless!  No celebration for them, although I think President mentioned something about picking up flowers on his way home.  Apparently the APs knew about this and after lunch (which Sister Castro made and brought), they arranged for a special musical number to be sung just for them.  It was four Elders singing How Firm a Foundation.  I was privileged to hear this after Council meeting when they re-sang it and Elder Udy and President recorded it.  Elders VanTassel, Gigena, Jones, and Prete made up the quartet - put it together in just minutes - and it was beautiful!  Can't wait for the Christmas programs that I hope will be done again this year in December :)  

Elder Blue and Elder Mecham left for a while yesterday afternoon to take care of some things (a very common occurrence).  Sister Blue and I usually lock the front door when we know they will be gone for any length of time.  Sister Blue can see anyone who comes, as her desk is right there by the door, and let them in.  Yesterday we were visiting (duties all done for the day) when we hear the "back" door (the one going into the foyer of the church building) open.  We expected to hear one of the missionaries ask for something, so we stood up to go check it out.  A very tall, dark-tanned man was standing there - startled the heck out of us.  He wanted to know how to get to downtown Oxnard.  He was obviously a drifter and also a little slow.  Thank heavens he was harmless.  We gave him directions and promptly locked that door too.  Lesson learned.  He is not the first interesting character to stop by.  And it seems these incidents always occur when the men are gone.  And it is kind of weird, because our church/office is not really "by" anything except the high school across the street!  But I think there may be a bus stop in front of the high school.

I made chocolate chip cookies to set out after ZLC, which didn't end until after 6 o'clock - by then the elders were hungry!  Note to self:  make more cookies next time it's my turn to bring treats.  The entire plate was seriously inhaled in just minutes :)  by a very appreciative group. 

The many boxes of supplies and various other packages and items which had been stacked in the hall disappeared as these strong young men toted them out to their cars. It's amazing all the materials that go out each month!  Hopefully they are being used wisely as all the missionaries teach their investigators.  ~~  Tomorrow it will be time to assess what is needed and get another supply order in to Salt Lake.