Evansville Zone Conference - January 30th

The Evansville Zone
Top: Elder Garmon, Elder Martin , Elder L. Davis, Elder Pipe, Elder Jones, Elder Spencer, Elder Tracy, Elder Beard, Elder Trost, Elder Ham, Elder Eastin, Elder Stohel, Elder Crichton, Elder White, Elder D. Davis, Elder Rich, Elder J. Jensen, Elder Kaegi, Elder Chambers
Middle Elder Staheli, Elder Hicken, Sister Egbert, Sister Kuenzle, Sister Austin, Sister Reeder, Sister Brian, Sister Ct Hall, Sister Newton, Sister Loveless, Sister Priebe, Sister S. Goodrich, Hermana Wilbur, Hermana Luke, Hermana DeLaVega, Hermana Penman, Sister Rounds, Sister McInnis, Sister Ellsworth, Sister Hodges, Elder Wallace, Elder Butler
Front: Elder Thaxton, Sister Thaxton, Elder Godwin, Sister Godwin, Elder Naylor, President Woodbury, Sister Woodbury, Elder Long, Sister Long, Elder Hathaway, Elder Z. Evans, Elder Day-Nuah

        The Evansville Zone Conference was held at the Evansville Stake Center, in, you guessed it - Evansville, Indiana. With Elder Z. Evans conducting, the general meeting began with singing "High on a Mountain Top" with Sister Egbert leading the music and Elder Hathaway at the piano. The opening Prayer was by Elder Ham and the Recitals were led by Elder Day-Nuah. Miracle Conversion and/or Contacting Stories were told by Elder Spencer and Elder Garmon, Elder Naylor and Elder Wallace, and Elder Pipe and Elder Staheli. Small containers of Sister Woodbury's cookies were awarded to those with the highest scores on the Cleanliness Report Card, and of course we sang the "Cleanliness Jingle." President Woodbury talked, as is required, about Auto Safety, focusing on winter driving conditions, then Sister Woodbury talked about a Christ-like Attribute, this time "Faith." The musical number was a beautiful piano solo by Sister Priebe, then PResident Woodbury did Tune-Ups. The President began with a sort of State of the Union, or rather State of the Mission report and a  request for everyone to fast with a purpose this Sunday, for their own investigators and for the Work in the mission as a whole. He regretfully then had to address the subject of serious missionary in-field misconduct and transgression. He said he felt like Jacob in Jacob 2 when he had to come down on the people, and had to talk about things that might offend the innocent. Still, he related how the first two weeks of this year were pure agony for him because he not only had to send home a missionary because of what he had done on his mission, but also his companion, who allowed and in some cases facilitated it. The President  outlined specific behaviors that he will not tolerate, and had everyone stand up to witness that they have been warned.  

        On a happier note, Sister Woodbury had everyone stand again to sing the Missionary Medley, then once again President Woodbury took a turn at the pulpit, this time speaking about personal sanctification as talked about in Doctrine and Covenants 88:68, seven verses before the scripture much talked about recently, which says,"Behold, I will hasten my work in its time." (:68) "Therefore, sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God, and the days will come that you shall see him, for he will unveil his face unto you, and it shall be in his own time, and in His own way, and according to his own will." He challenged us to say in our nightly prayers, "Wilt thou accept my offering of the best I could do today?"

        Breaking into three assigned groups, everyone moved into different classrooms for the first Break-Out session. 

        "Will You Testify of the Spirit When It Is Present" was the title of the training done by Zone Leaders, Elder Stohel and Elder Crichton.

Zone Leaders Elder Stohel and Elder Crichton

Elder Garmon and Elder Spencer with

Elder Chambers and Elder Butler

(See above)

Sister Newton, Sister Loveless

Sister S. Goodrich and Sister Priebe

Elder Pipe and Elder Staheli

Elder Kaegi and Elder Eastin

  President Woodbury's break-out session was on enlarging our pool of members for Member Present Lessons.

Sister Egbert, Elder Ham, Sister Godwin, Elder Godwin, Elder Rich,

Elder Naylor, Elder Pipe, Elder Wallace, Elder Hathaway, Elder Martin

        The Assistants to the President led an inspiring and insome cases heart-rending demonstration relating to the Atonement. Like in the story of the Seminary class doing the same, Elder Jones was asked if he would do twenty push-ups for each person in the group in turn, so they could have a donut. He answered gladly that he would, every time, even with the later people when he was getting tired and it was taking more out of him.  As they watched Elder Jones do the push-ups for them, even if they didn't want the donut,  the mood of the room grew more and more somber. Toward the end, Elder Jones was shaking with the effort, but he carried through until everyone go their donut. When it was all done, Elder Hicken and Elder Evans showed a touching video about the sacrifice of the Savior and talked about helping investigators to access the Atonement through repentance.

Elder Jones

        After singing "Called to Serve" - GKLM-style for the Relief Society ladies who provided or lunch, 

The dear Sisters who served lunch
(Sister Robinson on the left)

everyone went back to their groups for the second and third rotation of the Break-Out Sessions where there were more push-ups, donuts, role-plays, and training for all.

Elder Beard doing the push-ups in the second round

Elder Jones, Elder L. Davis, Elder White, Elder D. Davis

President Woodbury training

Elder Spencer, the hero of the third session

 

        Everyone gathered back in the chapel for Clean Car Awards courtesy of Elder and Sister Halvorsen, a wrap-up by President Woodbury, and the testimonies of those missionaries finishing their missions before the next Zone Conference, namely Elder and Sister Long, Elder and Sister Godwin, Elder Rich, Elder Ham, Elder Rich, Elder  Hicken and Elder Z. Evans.

        Using her trusty tripod and camera time, Sister Woodbury took a Zone (see beginning of this post, and other shots after the conference was over. There were copies of the pictures she had taken recently, along with Ensign magazines, the current Trumpet newsletter, and two Sister Woodbury chocolate chip cookies each.

Elder Staheli, Elder Day-Nuah, Elder Pipe, Elder Beard

Elder Crichton

Elder D. Davis, Elder Stohel, Elder White

Sister Loveless and Sister Newton

Sister  Hodges, Elder Stohel, Sister Ct Hall, Sister Newton,
Sister Reeder, Sister Kuenzle, Elder Hicken, Sister McInnis,
Sister Loveless, SIster S. Goodrich

Elder Butler, Elder J. Jensen, Elder Chambers, Elder Crichton, Elder Kaegi

Hermana DeLaVega, Hermana Wilbur, Hermana Luke, Hermanan Penman

Elder Stohel, Elder Eastin, Elder Pipe, Elder D. Davis,
Elder Tracy, Elder Beard, Elder Staheli, Elder Jones

Elder Day-Nuah and Elder Hicken

Elder D. Davis, Elder Ham, and Elder Trost

The Zone Leaders have a lot on their shoulders...
Left: Elder Stohel, Elder Spencer, Elder L. Davis
Right: Elder Crichton, Elder Z. Evans, ELder Day-Nuah
Elder Eastin helping

Elder Long, Elder Ham, Elder White, Elder Rich, Elder L. Davis,
Elder Jones, Elder Stohel, Elder D. Davis, Elder Martin, Elder Hathaway

Sister Reeder, Sister Newton, Sister Brian, Sister Austin

Elder Pipe, Elder Stohel, Hermana Luke,
Hermana Wilbur, Elder Tracy, Elder Beard

Elder Day-Nuah, Elder Butler, Elder Chambers,
Elder Crichton, Elder Stohel, Elder Eastin

Is this what they mean by pick on somebody your own size?
Elder Day-Nuah and Elder Kaegi
with Elder Chambers in the background

Elder Trost, Elder Beard, and Elder Pipe

Elder J. Jensen and Elder Butler

The Evansville Zone - it clearly is awesome!

As in the Uncle Sam poster,
We want YOU to be baptized!

This is how we feel when someone commits to a baptism date!