A Zone Conference and a Branch Churrasco

Our First Zone Conference

On Thursday we were able to attend zone conference.  Four of the eight zones in the mission met together and received inspiring instructions.

Just before lunch we all got together for a group picture.  The final picture has yet to arrive.

The entire conference (five hours) was led and conducted by the young missionaries.  The conference began with instruction from the assistants to the president and the sister training leaders.  They did a wonderful job and made a well organized and inspiring presentation on teaching people using the family and temple discussion.

Lunch is served.  The mission even has its own ice cream machine.

Each zone also did a presentation.  At the end of the conference, each missionary that will be going home at the next transfer was able to bear his or her testimony.  The new missionaries were invited to introduce themselves.

Part of the mission fleet.  Elder Josephson, who works in the mission office with his wife, gets to check the fluids on all the vehicles at every zone conference.  Years of experience have taught that this is the best way to do it.

O Churrasco anual do Ramo

(The annual branch barbeque)

Saturday our Portuguese speaking branch held its annual Brazilian barbeque called a Churrasco.

It was held at a very nice park with a pavilion and playground for the children.

The chefs.

Junior, Fábio and Mateus did a fantastic job.

The kids had a great time regardless of what language they spoke.

Interestingly, the children of the immigrant families learn both English and Portuguese.   At parent/teacher conferences the children often have to translate for their parents.

Sister Erickson and Renata.

Renata, now a wife and mother of two children, served as a missionary on Temple Square.  She is from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.  A few years ago her father and mother presided over the Manaus Mission in Brazil.  Her father was baptized in Livramento, Rio Grande do Sul in 1973 the year that I started my mission.

The Couple of the Week

Ken and Eve Winkfield

They are from Layton, Utah and served as temple missionaries for eighteen months in Bolivia and then for another eighteen months in Guatemala.

Sunday Dinner

The young missionaries usually have dinner appointments on Sunday so we are looking at other options to get to know them.  This week we had another senior couple for dinner.

Elder and Sister Castle are from Maryland.  They arrived just a few weeks before us.  They are assigned to work with the young adults on the campus of Kennesaw State University which is about 10 miles from our apartment.

As always we look forward to another great week.  Fique firme!