We love zone conferences. It is a great opportunity to see the missionaries from two zones at a time. These quarterly meetings have different focuses each time, based on the perceived needs. The two northernmost zones, Seneca and Washington North meet at the Potomac Chapel. The middle zones of Washington South and Silver Spring North hold their zone conference at the Washington Stake Center. And Silver Spring South and Suitland are the southern zones and they meet in the Suitland Stake Center.
Before the meetings start, those who drive cars arrive early to have them checked to ensure that the tire pressure is correct and that the fluid levels are right.
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| Sister Avelar and Sister Moore. |
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| Sister Miller, Sister Bleazard and Sister Marcy show that sisters know how to care for their cars. |
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| Elder Shinost and Elder Croft look on as others finish working on cars. |
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| Elder Bleak answers come questions from Sister Bleazard and Sister Marcy. |
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| Elder Martin makes sure the tires look good. |
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| Elder Watson - checking out the car. |
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| Elder Benke and Elder Hatch earn golden plates. |
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| Elder Searle and Elder Anderson display their golden plates. |
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| Elder Huffaker awarded the Gold Plates to those who kept the cleanest car. In this case it was Sister Lawrence and Sister E. Chan. |
Of course one of the missionaries' favorite parts of zone conference is lunch, which is so graciously prepared by members of the ward Relief Society in the various stakes. This is the cultural hall in the Chevy Chase building.
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| They provide wonderful meals for the missionaries. |
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| Members of the ward Relief Society prepare the lunches. |
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| The missionaries help with clean-up. Elder Hanks, Elder Tolman and Sister Crowfoot always cheerfully gave service. |
We express our gratitude to these wonderful women by singing "Called to Serve." It's not much payment for the work they put into feeding everyone, but it is sung from the depths of our hearts.
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| Left to right: Elder Mataele, Elder Vakalahi, Elder Hutchison, Elder Janmohamed, Elder Schaap, Elder Kennedy. In foreground, Elder Hillstead and Sister Bleak. |
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| Left to right: Barely visible - Sister S. Chan, Sister Clark, Sister Manske, Elder Aru, Elder Pound, Elder Williams, Elder Searle, Elder Nowlin. |
The missionaries who celebrate birthdays in the upcoming quarter receive neckties. At least the elders do. The sisters' presents change based on the season. Lotion, scrapbook materials and scarves are some of the things they have received. The first zone conference after we arrived, President went with the assistants to choose ties. He picked out one. It sat in the basket zone conference after zone conference. Our running joke was wondering if it would be the one tie left at the end of three years. However, Elder Thompson, one of the assistants who was with us on that first trip to the tie store, chose it for his birthday tie. I've often wondered if he ever wore it. It was, needless to say, more conservative than the ties you see below.
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| Birthday ties |
The best part of zone conference is feeling the Spirit teach as we are taught. See the continuation of zone conference for more pictures.
