Spring 2012 Nights of Music and Inspiration

Typically the firesides that the missionaries put on at the Visitors Center alternate between performed in Spanish and English. This was the case in April (Spanish) and May (English).  So, for fun, I've combined the two evenings.  The video switches between the two evenings so for a moment you may feel you have the gift of tongues as you understand the lyrics.

The Spanish Night of Music and Inspiration in April had as a theme:  Todas las Naciones le Siguen.

Elder Hardy, senior missionary, who speaks Spanish conducted the meeting.  Additional talks were given by the missionaries.

Elder Hardy

Elder Sanchez

Hermana Quintanilla

Elder Benke

Hermana Perez

The English Night of Music and Inspiration in May was built around the theme of "Light Giver".

Again a senior missionary from the Visitors Center, Elder Cardall, conducted the meeting with two other speakers and a reading.

Elder Cardall

Sister Holt

Elder Seely

Elder Olsen reads from "You are Special" with the book projected in the background.

Those who performed on these two nights in the order that you will hear them are:

     Elder Lee, Elder Julander, Elder Branning, Elder Webb, Elder Croft and Elder Clapier accompanied by Elder Pearson.
     Elder Bott accompanied by Elder Croft.
     Elder Lee and Elder Clapier accompanied by Elder Croft.
     Sister Welch accompanied by Sister Gros.
     Hermana Moore and Hermana Marcy accompanied by Hermana Finlay.
     Hermana Moore, Hermana Marcy, Hermana Cadenhead and Hermana Welch with Hermana Miller on the viola, Herman Wong on the cello, Hermana Welch on the piano and Hermana Wankier on the flute.
 

CDMs - May 14-18, 2012

Spring is a wonderful time for the CDMs (combined district meetings).  The weather is generally warm and beautiful so those doing car checks can complete them without heavy winter coats or lots of sunscreen.  This was the case for most of the days.

Seneca Zone - May 14

Elder Wery is asked to begin the meeting by leading the missionaries in the recitation and then by giving a spiritual message.

Front row left to right: Elder Pearson and Elder Pierucci.
Second row: Sister Miller and Sister Avelar.
Back row: Elder Seely and Elder Bott.

Front row left to right: Elder Gillespie and Elder Wery.
2nd row:  Sister Miller (yes, we have two Sister Millers in this zone), Sister Marcy, Sister Quintanilla and Sister Finlay.
Back row: Elder Christensen, Elder Lambert and Elder Lanham.

Front row: Elder Carver.
2nd row left to right:  Sister Joost, Sister Gros, Sister Miller, Sister Marcy and Sister Quintanilla.
Back row: Elder Hansen, Elder Christensen, Elder Lambert and Elder Lanham.

Front row: Elder Croft and Elder Sanchez.
2nd row:  Sister Lawrence, Sister Joost and Sister Gros.
Back row: Elder Hansen and Elder Christensen.

Front row: Elder Picon, Elder Fowles and Elder Galuvao.
2nd row: Elder Koyle, Elder Lott and Elder Webb.
Standing:  Elder Bleak.

To give a break in training, the missionaries play games.  This one has the blindfolded missionary (Sister Avelar) guess who the missionary she touches with the hanger by having them make animal sounds.  And yes, it's as funny as the description makes it sound.  

Silver Spring North Zone - May 15

Sister Bleazard demos cleaning products at car check.

Sister Jones completes the car check form.

Sister Allen is also completing the form.  Notice the water bottles!!

Elder Bleak instructs Sister Lewis and  Sister Lin.

Elder Gleed and Elder Olson work on their car check. 

Sister Fehlman takes time to vacuum her car. 

Front row left to right: Elder Gleed, Elder Olson, Elder Pierucci and Elder Pearson.
Back row: Elder Pound, Elder Kennedy, Elder Goodman and Elder Stoor.

Front row:  Sister Jones and Sister Fehlman.
Back row: Sister Lewis, Sister Allen and Sister Bleazard.
Standing: Elder Kennedy.

Silver Spring South Zone - May 15

Front row: Elder Livengood and Elder Schoemig.
Back row:  Elder Branning, Elder Julander, Elder Benke, Elder Pierucci and Elder White.

Front row:  Elder Rodriguez, Sister Welch and Sister Holt.
Back row left to right : Elder Pierucci, Elder White, Elder Pearson, Sister Nebeker, Elder Nebeker, Elder Teriirere.

Front row: Elder Lee.
2nd row: Elder Teriirere, Elder Vanaa, Elder Lindsay and Elder Pawlenchuk.
Back row: Sister Nebeker and Elder Nebeker.

Front row: Elder Morris.
Back row: Elder Teriirere, Elder Pawlenchuk, Elder Synelnikov and Elder Watson.

This game developed by the sisters involved grabbing the car when you knew the Bible trivia answer.  And then for extra points, acting out the next trivia question.
Left to right: Elder Morris, Elder Schaap, Sister Holt, Sister Welch and Elder Branning.

Washington Zone North - May 17

Elder Bleak instructs Sister Brown about car checks.

The elders get their car supplies from Elder Bleak.

Front row: Elder Winkler, Elder Lowry, Sister Chan and Sister Ertelt.
Back row: Sister Bleazard, Sister Moore, Sister Cadenhead and Sister Brown.

Front row left to right: Elder Larson, Elder Sterr, Elder Carrera, and Elder Hatch.
Back row left to right:  Elder Pierucci, Elder Pearson, Elder Seo, Elder Greiner, Elder McClane and Elder Hsiung.

Front row left to right: Elder Dillon, Elder Kerby  (the empty slot is for Elder Fisher who is being interviewed by President Matsumori) and Elder Wells.
Back row: Elder Seo, Elder Greiner, Elder McClane, Elder Hsiung, Elder Alca and Elder Clapier.

This game involved everyone trying to move quietly to corners and the missionary in the middle, pointing to a corner to catch them.  Notice Elder Winkler in the back trying to get to the corner in the back.

Elder Fisher and Elder Pierucci in role plays.

Groups of missionaries in role plays. (I'm not sure how to identify all of these missionaries - so you'll just have to look for your favorite.)

Washington South Zone - May 17

Front row left to right:  Elder Mullins, Elder Gumbi, Elder Valdetano, Elder Searle and Elder Roomataaroa.
2nd row: Elder Miller, Sister Miller, Elder Moss, Elder Garcia and Elder Rozsa.
Back row: Elder Anderson.

Front row left to right:  Elder Standing (and no, he isn't really sleeping), Elder Long, Elder Bigelow and Elder Danner.
2nd row:  Elder Vaterlaus, Elder Hurd, Elder Pearson, Elder Pierucci, Sister Wankier and Sister Wong.
3rd row:  Elder Gumbi, Elder Valdetano, Elder Searle, Elder Roomataaroa.
Back row: Elder Moss, Elder Garcia and Elder Rozsa.

Missionaries involved in practicing.

Elder Roomataaroa is teaching Elder Valdetano.  Elder Garcia and Elder Pearson observe.

This is the view I have.  I talk to every missionary individually while they wait to be interviewed by President Matsumori.  This is one reason I love CDMs - getting to have a little one on one time to find out how the missionaries are doing.  This is Elder Hurd, by the way and he's doing fine.

Suitland Zone - May 18

The missionaries gather before the meeting.
First row:  Elder Furugen, Elder Peterson, Elder Gremillion and Elder Salanoa.
2nd row: Elder Cottrell and  Elder Watts.
Standing: Elder Moore, Elder Centeno, Elder Stallings and Elder Wang.

Elder Mataele is pointing out the poison ivy he has. I think he wants sympathy, but he's not getting any from  Elder Williams and Elder Jellitto. 

Front row: Elder Mataele, Elder Epperson,  and Elder Moore.
2nd row: Elder Bates, Elder Pon, Elder Watts and Elder Williams.
Back row: Elder Cottrell, Elder Peterson, Elder Gremillion and Elder Tomlinson.

Front row: Elder Furugen and Elder Ah Puck.
2nd row: Elder Watts, Elder Williams, Elder Pierucci and Elder Pearson.
Back row:  Elder Peterson, Elder Gremillion, Elder Tomlinson, Elder Bodily, Elder Salanoa and Elder Kuddes.

Front row: Sister Bushman and Sister Murdock.  (FYI - Elder Bushman has been in the hospital for nearly month fighting pneumonia and a blood disorder.  He has finally been released - still with an IV, but doing better.)
2nd row:  Elder Jelitto, Elder Stallings, Elder Wong and  Elder Centeno.
Back row:  Elder Kuddes, Elder Meserole, Elder Olsen and Elder Nielsen.

Front row:  Elder Murdock, Elder Brown and Elder Anderson.
2nd row:  Elder Wong, Elder Centeno and Elder Nisson.
Back row:  Elder Meserole, Elder Olsen, Elder Nielsen and Elder Flores.
Standing:  Elder Martinez.

District Meetings

District meetings are held weekly.  Because of this blog, which drives most of my picture taking now days, I have recently started taking photos of some of the ones we've attended.  The meetings are held in a Relief Society room, the Primary room, or any other available area.

Left to right: Sister Allen, Sister Quintanilla, Elder Anderson, Elder Olson, Elder Kennedy, Elder Gleed, Sister Jones and Sister Miller.

Left to right: Elder Flores, Elder Nielsen, Elder Epperson and Elder Mataele.

Seated left to right: Elder Mataele, Elder Anderson, Elder Peterson, Elder Jelitto and Elder Pon.
Standing: Elder Cottrell and Elder  Bates.

Left to right: Elder Bates, Elder Pon and Elder Brown.

Left to right: Elder Anderson, Elder Brown, Elder Ah Puck, Elder Moore, Elder Martinez and Elder Furugen.

Sister Standing, you'll be happy to know those piano lessons paid off.
In the background, left to right:  Sister Wong, Sister Wankier, Elder Hurd, Elder Roomataaroa and Elder Searle.

District leaders plan the meeting and make assignments for workshops. They track numbers and give encouragement and they conduct district meeting.

Elder Stallings conducts the meeting.

Left to right:  Sister Wong, Sister Wankier, Elder Hurd, Elder Roomataaroa and Elder Searle conducting the meeting.

And just like in CDM's or in zone conferences, the missionaries practice teaching by using role plays.

In district meeting there is sufficient room to spread out.

District unity sometimes is demonstrated by tie choice.

President unknowingly showed up with the White Plains district tie color.
Left to right: Elder Mataele, President, Elder Peterson, Elder Epperson and Elder Cottrell.

When we attend district meetings, we might show up with cookies or donuts or another goodie.

Sisters: Sister  Ertelt and Sister Chan.
Elders left to right:  Elder Dillon, Elder Seo, Elder Fisher, Elder Wells, Elder Kerby and Elder Greiner.

To avoid the required "backing"help that is required to do with all missionaries vehicles, the missionaries park so all they need to do is drive forward. It looks like they are ready for a fast get away.

Every now and again someone will send in a picture of their district - usually taken following their district meeting.  Here are some of those photos.  You'll notice they are more fun and creative than the ones I took.  Oh well, at least you did see missionary faces in mine.

Left to right: Elder Shigeta, Elder Christensen, Elder Vanaa, Elder Valdetano, Sister Withers, Sister Bleazard Sister VanTassell, Sister Holt and Elder Krugman.

Left to right: Elder Hurd, Elder Kinne, Elder Krugman, Elder Goodman, Elder Karlinsey and Elder Shurtleff.

Left to right: Elder Cottrell, Elder Krugman, Elder Kennedy, Elder Sanchez, Elder Furugen and Elder Shurtleff.

Front row left to right:  Elder Gorringe, Elder Lowry, Elder Danklelfsen, Elder Dillon and Elder Rodriguez.
Back row left to right: Sister Murdock, Elder Mataele, Elder Bushman, Elder Shurtleff, Sister  Bushman, Elder Krugman and Elder Murdock.

Front row:  Elder Teriirere, Elder Probst, Elder Krugman and Elder Anderson.
Backrow: Elder Walker, Elder McKay, Elder Pawlenchuk, Elder Nisson, Sister Welch and Sister Wong.

Elders left to right: Elder Valdetano Elder Shigeta, Elder Meserole, Elder White, Elder Probst and Elder Krugman.
Sisters clockwise from the front: Sister Avelar, Sister Withers, Sister Bleazard and Sister Holt.

Seated left to right: Elder Rodriguez, Elder Olson and Elder Garcia.
Standing left to right:  Elder Larson, Elder Krugman, Elder  Sanchez, Elder Christensen, Sister Miller and Sister Cadenhead. 

Left to right:  Elder Tomlinson, Elder Salanoa, Elder Probst, Elder Schaap, Elder Krugman and Elder Epperson.

Front row left to right:  Elder Standing, Elder Dillon, Elder Storr and Elder Fawcett.
Back row: Elder Lambert, Elder Pierucci, Elder Gumbi and Elder Morris.