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.
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| Elder Shigeta, Elder Anderson, Elder Howard and Elder Pawlenchuk arrive early to help us set up. |
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| The Seneca Zone's show of unity. |
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| Our ninja missionaries (Elders Shigeta and Howard) |
These are the missionaries from the Silver Spring Zones. Blue is their color this year.
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| Some of the blue from Elder Lambert's shirt seems to have made its way to his hair. |
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| The Silver Spring Zones' show of unity. |
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| 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.
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| Yes, they even had names and numbers on their shirts. |
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| 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. |
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| Suitland Zone's show of unity. |
But the winning team this year were those wearing red: The Washington Zones.
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| Some members of the team warm up before Hero Ball. |
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| The missionaries who are a long way from the facility take the Metro, and then are brought by bus to the field. |
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| 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:
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| President Matsumori welcomes everyone. |
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| Sister Matsumori checks the "flag" at center field. |
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| Flour bombs used as defense for the flag. |
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| Placing of goalies (3 to begin with) for the soccer portion. |
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| The captains meet center field. |
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| 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.
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| Sister Matsumori and Joyce Pratt say "cheese". |
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| Elder Walker, Elder Martin, Elder DeKlerk and Elder Schaap |
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| Elder Liebhardt tries his camera. |
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| Left to right: Sister Humbert, Sister Avelar, Sister Cadenhead, Sister Allen, Sister VanTassell |
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| Left to right: Sister Lewis, Sister Liddiard, Sister Manske, Sister Wong |
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| 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. |
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| Elder Pound expresses his desire for peace on earth. Some missionaries continue to play until the line for food has diminished. |
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| Left to right: Elder J. Lee, Elder Pearson, Elder Cottrell, Elder Fowles. In background, Elder Pon. In foreground, Sister Ertelt. |
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| Left to right: Elder Larson, Elder Teuscher, Elder Goodwin, Elder Janmohamed, Elder Thomas. In background, Elder Pearson. |
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| Sister power. |
