Zone Conference!

 Back in 2019 and early 2020, Zone Conferences were a big deal.  Three or four zones would all travel into the Hyde Park Chapel (the mission offices are on the third floor), where they spent the day.  The mission office people spent days planning.  The APs arranged travel plans for all the missionaries who would go by bus or train.

Meeting together in the chapel was a magnificent experience.  There is a marvelous old organ at the front of the room that blasts out over the congregation with majesty.  And when you are standing in the midst of more than a hundred young people who are blasting out the vocals to a moving hymn, it's well - thrilling.  There was excitement as the many young missionaries saw former companions and friends.

We had spiritual feasts in the chapel with speakers and trainers.  During the lunch break in the cultural hall, we had sit-down meals at long tables set gaily with seasonal decorations.  After lunch there was usually an energetic game of soccer in the hall, using a giant plastic inflated ball and the players sitting in chairs (they couldn't get off the chairs).  It was fun to watch, and the young missionaries loved it.

After lunch, everyone settled in for a few more hours of enlightenment.  Those were grand days when the spirit was present and everyone felt reenergized and ready to work.

There is a certain weariness that comes now with those zone meetings - which have been conducted online since March - 10 months!  The weariness is not for the meeting itself, it is for the this siege mentality with COVID when they want to be out working and serving.  

But the meetings today were glorious.  Dave and Deb were both emotional and passionate as they taught and inspired.  The young missionaries, sitting in front of the camera looking fresh-scrubbed and shining in their suits and dresses.  I turned to SK as a companionship was conducting a training about becoming more Christ-like and said, "These take care of these meetings like 50-year-olds!" (I have an uncanny feeling that I have written these words a dozen times.)

I don't know if I didn't understand Dave, or if he forgot, but they didn't call on us to introduce the reading program.  Deb went over it, and did just great as part of her training, so we looked at each other, and SK tossed his talk in the garbage can!  We decided not to say anything because today was perfect and we wouldn't want to change anything about it.  

There will be a training with several other zones tomorrow and then one last one on Thursday.  They will be essentially the same as they were today.  If we were speaking then we would attend the meeting tomorrow and Thursday.  Since we will not be speaking, we will only attend on Thursday with our zone.

After the conference ended at 4:30, we loaded up a sack with groceries from our cupboard for a young man who is here attending Oxford from Ghana.  He is so very nice, but I don't think he has heat in his apartment and he is cold!!!  He is swamped with assignments, essays and papers to be filled out.  It is about a mile and a half walk to the nearest grocery store, and he just hasn't wanted to take the time.  He said that he would go tomorrow, and when pressed said that he was out of food.

What does that mean?  If I were to say that, it would mean that I have dozens of cans of foods, pasta and dried beans, but don't feel like I've got what I need to cook what I want to cook.  I think for him, it means that he is OUT of food.  He was very grateful.  SK has a big plastic container of roasted cashews that he likes to eat.  He poured out a bag of those for this young man, who loved them.

After that I had a lovely visit with Erin and Melissa -separately.  Erin taught her stake religion class today and Melissa likes to attend those, because as she says, "I love Erin, and I love her lessons."

SK and I spent some time planning some things we might try to implement for the newest members of our young adult group.  I lined up some calls with other missionaries, and texted a few Young Adults.  

It has truly been an inspiring day.

Comments

melissa said…
It’s crazy to think of how different things are. And so sad, really. And I’m sad you didn’t get to give your talks! What a disappointment after all that preparation! You should post it on the blog so we can read it!!
January 13, 2021 at 6:39 AM
Lia said…
I want to hear the talks too!
January 13, 2021 at 7:05 AM
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