Lexington and Lexington North Zone Conference

  The date was March 1, 2013, and the location was the Lexington Stake Center. The missionaries of the various Districts of the Lexington and Lexington North Zones had met together for the first Zone Conference of the year... and it was set to be a great one! 

LEXINGTON ZONE
Elder Sidwell, Elder Crook, Elder Ham, Elder Wharton, Elder Lawrenson, Elder Loser, Elder Murphy, Elder Butterfiedls, Elder Forsgren, Elder Rich, Elder Dye, ELder Sizelove
Elder Magleby, Elder Olson, Elder Quick, Elder Stoddard, Elder Hicken, Elder Rowley, Elder Day-Nuah, Elder Gerard, Elder Warner, Elder Webb, Elder Harshman, Elder Clawson
Elder Selvage, Sister Selvage, Sister Newby, Elder Newby, Sister Woodbury, President Woodbury, Sister Melendez, Sister Ward, Sister Walker, Sister Ford

LEXINGTON NORTH ZONE
Top: Elder Souza, Elder Gaither, Elder Earl, Elder Blake, Elder Musgrave, Elder Daynes, Elder Murphy, Elder Warner, Elder Ferguson-Villegas, Elder Gonzalez, Elder Savage, Elder Meisel, Elder Howell, Elder Jacobson
Middle: Elder Denton, Elder Pipe, Elder Arnold, Elder Fackrell, Elder Manzano, Elder Carly, Elder Baker, Elder Adams, Elder Dopp, Elder Torgersen
Front: Hermana Navarro, Hermana Gomm, President Woodbury, Sister Woodbury Sister Jensen, Sister Van Horn

The main meeting began with an opening hymn and the prayer by Elder Gaither. Everyone stood for Recitals of the Missionary Purpose and Doctrine and Covenants Section 4, led by Elder Dopp, then listened to a conversion story by Elders Day-Nuah and Gerard and Flathers, and a contacting success story by Elders Baker and Meisel. Sister Woodbury did a segment regarding cleanliness and order which included the Cleanliness Report Card with the highest "G.P.A.'s" being rewarded with containers with half dozen of her coveted chocolate chip cookies. Elder Webb did a beautiful musical number accompanied by Sister Walker. President Woodbury took the stand and talked about physical, legal, moral, and spiritual safety. Sister Woodbury did music instruction including how to read the basics in hymns and how to lead music, as well as led everyone in singing  the Mission Medley she created and had arranged before coming to Kentucky 20-months ago. President Woodbury did Tune-Ups and otherwise instructed and reminded the missionaries about mission guidelines, policies, goals, and improvements. By the time lunch was ready, we were likewise, and eagerly moved into the gym/cultural hall where we found a lovely meal provided by the Relief Society Sisters. As is customary, we thanked these wonderful women for the kindness and work by singing "Called to Serve," GKLM-style. 

The dear Relief Society Sisters who provided our lunch

After lunch, the Zone split, one half with President Woodbury and the other with the Assistants to the President, Elder Murphy and Elder Warner. In the former, President Woodbury did training about helping investigators overcome Word of Wisdom challenges, and in the latter, the Assistants trained about effective contacting. When the alloted time was over the groups traded rooms and training principles.  

Training Session - Lexington Zone

President Woodbury doing training

Lexington Zone in President Woodbury's training

Elder Warner and Elder Murphy training

Lexington North Zone training

Lexington North Zone in Training Session

Elder Warner and Elder Murphy training the Lexington North Zone

Role-Plays
Elder Musgrave and Elder Daynes

Role-Plays
Elder Manzano and Elder Adams

Role-Plays
Elder Howard and Elder Jacobson

Role-Plays
Elder Ferguson-Villegas and Elder Gonzalez

Role Plays
Elder Fackrell and Elder Blake
Elder Murphy watching

Sister Van Horn and Sister Jensen

Elder Torgersen and Elder Dopp
Elder Pipe and Elder Carly

Elder Souza and Elder Gaither

Hermana Gomm and Hermana Navarro

Elder Denton and Elder Gaither

Elder Carly and Elder Fackrell

Elder Jacobson and ELder Dopp

Elder Musgrave and Sister Jensen

Elder Baker and Hermana Arreola

Elder Ferguson-Villegas and Elder Manzano

Elder Souza and Elder Arnold

Elder Jacobson and Elder Dopp

Elder Torgersen and Elder Howard

Elder Savage and Elder Pipe

Elder Torgersen, Elder Dopp, Elder Carly, and Elder Arnold

        Back together, the missionaries received instruction and training from their Zone Leaders, Elder Quick and Elder Hicken for Lexington, and Elder Daynes and Elder Musgrave for Lexington North.     

Zone Leaders Elder Hicken and Elder Quick

Hermana Gomm and Hermana Navarro

Elder Howard, Elder Jacobson, Elder Fackrell, Elder Blake

Lexington North Zone

Hermana Gomm and Hermana Navarro

         Following the Zone Meeting, Zone Conference continued with President Woodbury doing a wrap-up of the day's matters and reminding them of proper protocol for the Saturday Mission Conference with two Apostles. 

         The meeting ended with hearing the testimonies of those missionaries in the two Zones who will be returning home before the next Zone Conference, followed by the closing song and prayer.

        Afterward the official Zone Conference was over, Zone pictures were taken in the cultural hall along with lots of small group ones. Additionally, Trumpet newsletters, copies of pictures taken by Sister Woodbury at previous events, keys to cars after they had been inspected by the Halvorsens, and two-each Sister Woodbury cookies were given out for the road. She's a softy for all the missionaries regardless of their cleanliness, especially when they give her that pleading, puppy dog look...   

Elder Rowley, Elder Souza, Elder Dye, Elder Butterfield,
Elder Sidwell, Elder Sizelove, (Elder Lawrenson)

Elder Earl, Elder Blake, Elder Fackrell

Elder Arnold, Elder Manzano, Elder Carly

Elder Jacobson, Elder Gerard

Elder Pipe, Elder Gaither, Elder Denton, Elder Savage

Sister Ward, Sister Walker, Sister Ford, Sister Melendez,
Sister Jensen, Sister Van Horn

Cookies!
Elder Loser, Elder Savage, Elder Piper, Elder Sizelove, Elder Ham, Elder Arnold, Elder Rowley?, Elder Carly, Elder Sidwell, Elder Howard, Elder Jacobson, ELder Manzano, Elder Lawrenson, Elder Earl, ELder Musgrave, Elder Adams, Elder Rich, Elder Forsgren, Elder Daynes, Elder Torgersen

Elder Lawrenson, Elder Gerard, Elder Day-Nuah, Elder Blake, Elder Jacobson, Elder Savage, Elder Fackrell

             You might think that was it, but it wasn't. The Sisters/Hermanas met in the Relief Society room with Sister Woodbury basically to do Sister Tune-Ups and talk about the influx of new Sister missionaries, how they would have to step up as Trainers, and various other changes that are coming soon, including riding bikes in skirts, a first for our mission.

Hermana Navarro, Hermana Gomm, Sister Walker, Sister Ford,
Sister Ward, Sister Melendez, Sister Selvage,
Sister Jensen, Sister Van Horn, Sister Woodbury

Then, the Zone Conference was over!

          Everyone left having been fed spiritually as well as physically, with renewed enthusiasm, desires, and commitment to be the best missionaries they can be.