"Ye did run well; who did hinder you..." - Galatians 5:7 Sports Day Fall 2011

Sports Day is another preparation day activity.  I know, I know, it seems like all we do is have preparation days.  But actually, that's when everyone has their cameras.  I have more pictures of those events than the more spiritual missionary work we are involved in daily.  Honestly, everyone in this mission works HARD!

Sports day happens thanks to some generous members. Bishop Richardson allows us to gather on his day camp property where the missionaries play basketball, field hockey, soccer, ultimate frisbee, and volleyball.  And of course there is a competition between zones of "Hero Ball" - apparently these rules change yearly based on the current assistants' imaginations.  My understanding is that it originally was conceived as a missionary version of Quidditch.  This year the teams played soccer, ultimate frisbee and steal the flag (with flour bombs) on the same field at the same time.  And yes, it is very confusing. And no, I can't explain the rules though I read through them.

Here are the missionaries from the Seneca Zone. They chose black for their team color this year.

Elder Shigeta, Elder Anderson, Elder Howard and Elder Pawlenchuk arrive early to help us set up.

The Seneca Zone's show of unity.

Our ninja missionaries (Elders Shigeta and Howard)

These are the missionaries from the Silver Spring Zones.  Blue is their color this year.

Some of the blue from Elder Lambert's shirt seems to have made its way to his hair.

The Silver Spring Zones' show of unity.

This is what the missionaries  (even the sisters) look like after being hit with flour bombs.

Suitland Zone seemed to be the odds on favorite to win Hero Ball this year as the only sister in this zone was Sister Bushman - Elder Bushman's wife.

Yes, they even had names and numbers on their shirts.

The zone did the Hakka before their first game.  Yes, I have the video.  No, I still don't know how to download this to my blog. But keep watching.  One day I'll get it figure out.

Suitland Zone's show of unity.

But the winning team this year were those wearing red: The Washington Zones.

Some members of the team warm up before Hero Ball.

The missionaries who are a long way from the facility take the Metro, and then are brought by bus to the field.

The assistants, Elder Stewart and  Elder Robinson,  masterminds of the rules for Hero Ball,  were on the winning team.  I've been assured that no advance information was leaked to the Washington Zones and that they won fair and square.

So here is some of Hero Ball:

President Matsumori welcomes everyone.

Sister Matsumori checks the "flag" at center field.

Flour bombs used as defense for the flag.

Placing of goalies (3 to begin with) for the soccer portion. 

The captains meet center field.

Substitutes come in from the side lines.  You can see the mission cars in the background.

One of the favorite things for everyone is the eating.  Thanks to the Pratts, who bring their big grill, we had hamburgers and bratwursts.  The other favorite thing is just being together.

Sister Matsumori and Joyce Pratt say "cheese".

Elder Walker, Elder Martin, Elder DeKlerk and Elder Schaap

Elder Liebhardt tries his camera.

Left to right:  Sister Humbert, Sister Avelar, Sister Cadenhead, Sister Allen, Sister VanTassell

Left to right:  Sister Lewis, Sister Liddiard, Sister Manske, Sister Wong

The sisters always get their food before the elders. That's so there's enough food for them - but also the elders learn to be gentlemen.

Elder Pound expresses his desire for peace on earth.  Some missionaries continue to play until the line for food has diminished. 

Left to right: Elder J. Lee, Elder Pearson, Elder Cottrell,  Elder Fowles.  In background, Elder Pon.  In foreground, Sister Ertelt.

Left to right:  Elder Larson, Elder Teuscher, Elder Goodwin, Elder Janmohamed, Elder Thomas.  In background, Elder Pearson.

Sister power.  

"Ye shall meet together oft" - 3 Nephi 18:22 District meetings

District meetings are held weekly and give the missionaries opportunities to learn from one another, to set goals and to report on their areas.  Each district is uniquely different. Some have only Spanish speaking missionaries.  Others are located in the city and have many elders. You'll have to take our word for it, but there is great teaching and wonderful planning that goes into the meetings - held prior to these fun pictures.


Suitland zone district meetings - fall 2011

White Plains District, left to right: Elder Martin, Elder Walker, Elder Krugman, Elder Karlinsey, Elder Kinne, Elder Dillon.

Capitol Hill District "Band" : Left to right:  Elder Brown, Elder Johnson, Elder Standing, Elder Grant (kneeling) Elder Cameron, Elder Walker, Elder Krugman.

Capitol district pontificating left to right: Elder Williams, Elder Cottrell, Elder Gorringe, Elder Kiel, Elder Krugman (kneeling) and Elder Walker. 

Anacostia District, laying:  Elder Rodriguez. Left to right:  Elder Walker, Elder Mataele, Elder Hutchison, Sister Bushman, Elder Aru, Elder Bushman, Elder Hurd, Elder Lowry, Elder Krugman, Elder Roomataaroa. 

Other district meetings held this past year

Front row:  Elder Anderson, Elder Tomlinson.  Middle row:  Elder Stewart, Elder Searle.  Back row:  Elder Dillon, Elder Karlinsey, Elder Low, Elder Krugman, Elder Hanks, Sister Muthuswamy, Sister Henrie.

Counterclockwise beginning on stairs:  Elder Teuscher, Sister Brown, Sister Withers, Elder Watson, Elder Aru, Elder Lambert, Sister Liddiard, Sister Clark. 

Outside the Washington Stake Center, nerf guns in hand.  Counterclockwise beginning with seated:  Elder Krugman, Sister Otieno, Elder Teuscher, Elder Martinez, Elder Terierrere, Elder Hanks, Sister Withers, Elder Lambert.

In Anacostia - front row:  Elder Rodriguez, Elder Tolman, Elder Aru, Elder Mataele, Elder Liebhardt, Elder Pound.  Back row: Elder Bushman, Elder Hurd, Elder Grant, Sister Bushman.

The DC  3rd Ward District meeting is held in the Holmead  Chapel.  District pictures are traditionally taken either in the alley or on the steps of that building.

Seated  left to right:  Elder Pratt, Sister Postma, Elder Vea.  Standing:  Elder Nardini, Elder Robinson, Elder Nowlin, Elder Janmohamed, Elder Duckworth, Elder Postma.  In back:  Elder Levine.

Seated left to right:  Elder Nardini, Elder DeKlerk, Elder Thomas, President Matsumori.  Back row:  Elder Pratt, Elder Volk, Elder Shurtleff, Elder Krugman, Elder Cameron, Elder Postma, Sister Postma.

Same group as before!?

Left to right:  Elder Schaap. Elder Olsen, Elder Bushman, Elder Krugman, Sister Postma, Elder DeKlerk, Elder Mataele, Elder Karlinsey, Elder Danner Elder Opeda. 

Left to right:  Elder Teuscher, Elder Furugen, Elder Goodman, Elder Aru, Elder Howard, Elder Brown Elder Danner, Elder Waite, Elder Johnson, Elder Pierucci (and behind Elder Waite, Elder Koyle)

Front:  Elder Vakalahi. Second row:  Elder Postma, Sister Postma, Elder Fawcett, Elder Koyle.  Third row:  Elder Johnson, Elder Teuscher, Elder Furugen.  Back row: Elder Gibb, Elder Danklefson, Elder Krugman, Elder Goodman.

Front four:  Elder Johnson, Elder Koyle,  Elder Liebhardt, Elder Krugman. Back group:  Elder Gibb, Elder Teuscher, Elder Goodman, Elder Fowles, Elder Furugen, Elder Fawcett, Elder Postma. 

Elder and Sister Postma in front.  Next row:  Elder Pierucci, Elder Hsiung, Elder Fowles, Elder Thomas, Elder Stewart.  Back row:  Elder Probst, Elder Wells, Elder Bott, Elder Kunzler, Elder Stallings.

Eating after District meeting held

Left to right:  Elder Postma, Elder Pearson, Elder Cottrell, Elder Hawkes, Elder Aru, Elder Tolman, Elder Vodoratskiy, Elder Gorringe, Elder Johnson.

Counterclockwise around table:  Elder Spittle, Elder Bradford, Elder Pratt, Elder Duckworth, Elder Robinson, Elder Janmohamed, Elder Nowlin, Elder Levine. 

In front:  Elder Pratt and Elder Vea.   Back row:  Elder Levine, Sister Postma, Elder Duckworth, Elder Janmohamed, Elder Robinson, Elder Nowlin, Elder Nardini. 

District meeting held