Fun Activities

Zone Activities

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.  Likewise all play and no work makes Jack a poor boy.

Throughout the week we continue to teach 6 to 10 English classes, visit members and help others with their family history.  However we also enjoy participating with the missionaries on their preparation day activities.  Two weeks ago we played softball with the zone and afterwards went to President Kuck's home for homemade pizza.

President Kuck has his own outdoor pizza oven and loves making pizza.  He is a counselor in the mission presidency.

 Many hands make light work.

President Kuck is completing the landscaping in his backyard and put the missionaries to work.  A job that would have taken several days for one person was completed in half an hour.

International Zone Conference 

Since we work in a Portuguese speaking branch we are also part of a mission wide international zone.  Over 50 missionaries teach in a foreign language with the majority speaking Spanish.  The Gospel is also taught in Burmese.

We found ourselves again at President Kuck's home for the conference and a lunch of homemade pizza.  

These missionaries come from a variety of backgrounds and bring some impressive talents to the mission including music, sports, cheerleading, metal working and many others.

Perhaps not one of the greatest talents, but impressive nonetheless.

Another preparation day zone activity.  

Last week, after playing a variety of sports games at the stake center, the zone went to President Zivic's home for hamburgers and more pizza.

President Zivic, who unfortunately is not in the picture, is a counselor in the stake presidency.  He is originally from Argentina and his wife is from Columbia.

President Zivic's home borders on a pond and Elder Pinto caught a fish on his first cast.

Elder Pinto is from Brazil and will complete his mission on Tuesday and then return home after honorably serving for two years.  He will be sorely missed.

Meanwhile, back at the branch

Julie, a member of our little branch who plays the organ, invited us to a music recital.  She is retired and continues to take lessons on the violin which is her instrument of choice.

Here she is shown with her instructor, Oliver.  Both of the violins were made well over two hundred years ago.  The recital included a duet by Julie and Oliver, plus special numbers played by a talented eleven year old girl from Russia and a phenomenal fifteen year old boy.

Last night the branch held an activity called Troca de Tortas (exchange of pies).  

There were main dish pies and all kinds of sweet pies.  

Meanwhile, Sister Erickson and I will exercise especially hard this week to burn off all those extra calories.  And then comes Thanksgiving.

Adeus for now.