Sunday, November 21, 2010

December Zone Leader Council!

Elders Cooper, Rezel,and Sessions are taking pictures of the "Dear John" board! The missionaries love to call it the "wall of shame", but we look at it as the "wall of fame"---the less distractions from home, the better the missionary!
Elders Collette, Pre and Bresee take a look at the NZAM Baptism Wall of Fame! Pictures of baptisms from all who send pictures in. It has stretched to 3 doors and a cork board, covered!!!
Elders Brown, Whitrod and Burr getting warm at lunchtime!
Elders Alldridge, Witt, Handy, Larsen and Smith livin' the life at lunch!
Elder Stucki peers through!
Elders Greening and Smith keep up their Maori connections!

Challenged to be the Secret Weapon!

The challenge has been given!
Their leadership is required!
The Mission's Secret Weapon is the task!
They are terrific Tongans!
They are sensational Samoans! They can do this with the Lord's help!

Mission Conference! What a treat!

We are still pinching ourselves, wondering how we could be so fortunate as to be able to have Elder Hinckley and his wife, Elder Hamula and his wife, Elder Nielson and his wife visit the mission and share some inspirational messages with us! It truly was a spiritual feast for all of us!
Petty cousins meet at the conference!
Some of our lovely senior couple missionaries!
Random lunch photos! Actually ended up to be more of a linder due to our fasting during the conference!







President Armstrong on the left and President Ball on the right! We love our mission presidency!
Elder Hamula said that clean cars were a sign of obedient missionaries! They are gleeming!
Elder Tham!
Sister Mahas and Jones!
Sister George and Elder Handy!
Our Christchurch missionaries -left to right - Elders Petty, Trainor, Sister Kamal and Elder Seauga!
Sisters Ashcraft, Leu, Sitthidamrong and Shumway!
Sisters Auva'a, Siilata, Elisaia and Fu'e!
Tongan Elders!
Sisters Elisaia and Fu'e practicing for the "Joy to the World" campaign!

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Zone Leader Council -- We are at war with the Satan!

Elders Davidson, Brown and Stucki represented the forces of evil! One of the comments was: "They made it seem enticing---just like Satan does!
Elders Handy, Collette and Aldridge were the determined missionaries with the task to capture the Title of Liberty (which was actually, the Title of Tamaki, Tamaki Zone had made), while the forces of evil shot their fiery darts at them! They had to start over if they got shot!
Elders Greening, Whitrod, and Smith were used as barriers in the mission which Elder Aldridge utilized quite nicely in his sneak attempt to capture the Title of Liberty!
Elder Aldridge goes for it!
Elders Handy and Collette used the barriers well!
Elder Aldridge makes yet another attempt---determined thing isn't he!
Here is Elder Handy's go at it!
Oh, here comes Elder Collette!
Elder Collette make his defence! The determined missionaries were successful at getting the Title of Liberty and getting home safely; they both had equal amounts of ammo but those representing Satan had to remain in the corner because they don't have a body! It was a good experiencial learning activity in the middle of our discussion about the fact that WE ARE AT WAR WITH SATAN for the souls of mankind! We discussed how we can recognize his tactics and ways to encourage the missionaries to fight hard! All the answers came from the scriptures of course!
Assistant's, Elders Cline and Sevey teach about the Recognizing and Responding to the Spirit!
Anyone who fell asleep---got shot!
Elder Whitrod fell asleep!
Successful Conquerers of Satan!

Friday, November 5, 2010

Welcome, Welcome seven missionaries!

Seven enthusiastic new missionaries that are ready to serve! We are thrilled to have them!
Left to right: Elders Nelson, Naicker, Leetham, Daniels and President--front, left to right, Sisters Engebretsen, me, Leu and Fu'a!
Both at the airport and at One Tree Hill, these missionaries were exposed to rich Maori traditions; Haka to welcome family members home to New Zealand at the airport, and a religious leader gathering at One Tree Hill!
Elder Nipko will train Elder Nelson!
Elder Leetham is being training by Elder Moody!
Sister Elisaia is training Sister Fu'e!
Elder Saunders will be training Elder Naicker!
Sister Engebretsen is being trained by Sister Kapalu!
Elder McKinley is training Elder Daniels!
Sister Leu will be trained by Sister Ashcraft!
Elders Bresee and Magelby are Zone Leaders over a newly created Zone, actually the combining of two areas---it will be known as, the Rotorua/Tauranga Zone!
Are these Sisters cute or what? Left to right: Sisters Sitthidamrong, Siilata, Teaupa, Avauli, Auva'a and Masoe! We are blessed to have 31 Sisters serving in this mission! Next transfer we get 5 more Sisters with only 2 going home, so that will make 34 Sisters total! As President always says, "Sometimes the best man for the job, is a woman!" In this case, a Sister! When the Elders say it can't be done, we send in the Sisters and low and behold--things start happening! We are the Lord's secret weapon for a reason!
More secret weapons --Left to right: Sisters Chen, Mahas and Kamal!
I think Elders Handy and Smith just wanted to be photographed, but they are newly assigned Zone Leaders in Manakau Zone!