Benoni Zone shows up for interviews

On Tuesday April 14, the Benoni Zone came for interviews. This zone has 26 Elders, so it is a long day, but nice to connect with so many.

President Dunn pictures with Elder Nonumwar. He meets for 15 -20 minutes with each and every Elder.

This is the interview room. Our family blanket makes me feel like  all our family is supporting and connecting with each of our wonderful Elders.

We started off this interview cycle with our Service Scavenger Hunt. Seated: Elder Arthur, Melese, Souza, Mayisa, Rini, Tekurio and Holmquist

Sister Dunn giving some announcements and updates about our service projects during the interview time. 

Another district arrives: Elder Segil, Phiti, Kenyah and Cazier

 

Making muffins to serve others! Elders get tips from Sister Irene

Elder McClellan, Hepworth, Beers and Stilgoe in action in the kitchen!

Elder Melese and Elder Arthur getting ready to iron shirts, in service to their companions!

Elder Hollaway looks like he had practiced before on a lot of shirts.

Our cooks cleaned up! Elder McClelland and Elder Hepworth

Elder Loveless taking on another service project: sorting and cleaning assorted containers for the kitchen.

He takes this jumbled assortment and made a very organized, clean group of containers to use. 

Elder Beers and Stilgoe making sure they are following ther recipe. What a great set of zone leaders.

Cleaning the mission home patio and windows outside the Elders dorm room on the basement level.

Look how nice they left it!

This was a nice fall day in the mission home. Great Elders, Service and learning took place while the personal one on one interviews happened.

Mission Leadership Council Meets again!

The Mission Leadership Council gathers every six weeks to discuss leadership issues of the mission. Elder Worton, Elder Menendez and Elder Koyle are running the meeting today as the AP's.

Meeting almost ready to start. Everyone is getting their materials and agenda organized.

The meeting starts with a prayer, a song and a mission leadership quote. The topics today included reviewing such things as flat inspections, the new messenger bags, and the interview schedule for each zone. We then discussed many topics related to zone improvements and helping each missionary reach goals, personally and collectivity.

After the meeting ends, we served a little homemade bread and honey to everyone before their head out.

It is a nice time to pause and visit before everyone departs.

We really appreciate the great leadership this group provides in the mission.

New zone leaders include: Elder Nwokedi, Harris, Allen, Dutson, Tukia and Haynes. Welcome!

These five Elders are experiencing their last 6 weeks on mission. They will all depart on May 12th, so we are enjoying all the time we get with them.
Elder Haynes, Elder Anderson, Elder Wilombe, Elder Mead and Elder Macgrnagqa

A Missionary for A Day!

On Saturday April 11th, the Centurion Stake planned a wonderful missionary activity for the YM/YW. They gathered at the MTC on Friday evening and participated with the missionaries there and received training. then on Saturday they met with the full time missionaries and went out contacting with them for 4 hours. We were invited to the conclusion of this great day together.

Elder Pick-Up, Jada, Broadhead, Adjei and Henley are gathered together below.

We saw them all arrive back at the Kempton Park Chapel and heard the testimonies of each of the youth. Many of our missionaries also shared their experiences and testimonies In a short time, we were able to get a great feeling for all that had transpired and feel of the depth of their commitment ot the gospel.

Our missionaries benefitted and so fif the youth. It was a great activity and we appreciated the organization form the wonderful Stake leaders.

The Elders seemed to have as good a time as the YM/YW. Elder Pick-up, Garnica, Allen, Adjei and Broadhead are pictured above.

It was also great that the YW could participate. In the past, this had been an activity only for the Priests, and now it was opened up to the Laurels also. Everyone benefitted.

We loved the chance to be with them all and share our observations and testimonies with them.

A Missionary Fireside

On Sunday March 29th President Dunn and  I were invited to a fireside in the Vosloorus Ward. We decided to attend sacrament and all our meetings there first.  After the 3 hour block of church, we were surprised that the fireside for YM/YW began right after church.

All the youth then stayed for another 2 hours listening to all of the returned missionaries from their ward bear their testimonies. It was actually so meaningful and touching. Yet, even more surprising was the attentiveness of all of these young people. They sat on the edge of their seats and paid attention and really seemed interested, President Dunn and I were asked to share our testimonies at the end.

We were so impressed with the caliber of all of the returned missionaries and the depth of the testimonies.  

One of the highlights was participating with our missionares, Elder Maraetefau, Eder Watenga, Elder Ndwandwe and Ruston and Rakotoarison. They are doing such an excellent job in this ward. It was one of the most vibrant and energetic wards we have had the pleasure of visiting.  we were so apprecitive of the opporutnity to participate with them and gained so much.

We were all treated to a lunch of wors, beans and pap afterwards.

Thebong at the temple!

On Friday April 10th, a very special endowment session occured at the Johannesburg temple. This one was extra special to us because 2 of our Elders were able to find and baptize Thebong in the Polokwane Branch almost a year ago. Today they could participate today with him as he went to the temple for the first time.

We celebrated this special opportunity.

The Winwards and the Hansen's traveled down from Polokwane with Thebong. Elder Brasher and Elder McClellan were able to participate, along with their companions, Elder Henley and Elder Loveless.

Elder Brasher and Elder McClellan surround Thebong. It was very special to have them share how they tracted into Thebong over a year ago and the amazing change in his life since then.

President and Sister Dunn are able to surround these three and lend our love and support. President Dunn feels strongly that this is one of the sweetest blessings and is committed to helping missionaries get there if at all possible

It doesn't always line up that the very same missionaries that baptize a member, will still be here when he/she goes through the temple for the first time.

However, when it does line up, it is so special if the missionaries can attend this special temple session.

Traveling to the temple is not always easy and especially when you have left one area and are now serving with new companions in different areas.

It was a special time for all of us. I remember in our mission presidents' seminar, that one of the first and most memorable talks was about "beginning with the end in mind." The end was about the endowment. There is nothing more important we can do than  help people get to the temple. That is when the real blessings of the gospel begin to bless our lives even more.

April Interviews and Service Workshop

Welcome Elders to April 2015 Interviews and Workshop:

In the month of April 2015, we will meet with every missionary and participate with them in the interview process. We have the privilege of doing this every second transfer and about once every 3 months. In other words, we only get to do this four times a year. So, needless to say, we cherish this time and try to make it as meaningful as possible. Each missionary only gets about 15 minutes with President Dunn. But in that time, he can access their progress, joys, challenges and overall well being. Even though he writes them every week and responds to their letters, there is nothing like a face to face meeting.

While they are getting interviewed, I have workshops going on at the same time.  This time I chose to focus our workshop on service, since we spent time on this topic in the last zone conference.

I started with a "Service Station" where we gathered and watched this video:
http://zingmedialondon.wistia.com/medias/5afhjzzchz


 and then I gave them a handout of 100 service idea's. These idea's have come from their own remarks during the zone conference workshop.

The Centurion Zone showed up on Friday April 10th for our first round of interviews. While they are waiting for the 2 hours for everyone to have time with President Dunn, I involved them in a series of service ideas and activities.
Purpose: To use the time to raise awareness and skills of serving others.  These skills also help you to serve yourself, by being able to clean, cook, entertain and thank others. These are all forms of service you can use to help others and also help yourself ….to be a more self-reliant person!:) *

Serve with all your heart, might, mind and strength. When you serve others, you also serve yourself!

Elder Jada cooking for the group

Cookin' In! Using the recipe provided, each group makes a pan of cornbread muffins. The purpose is to show how quick, easy and inexpensive it can be to make something for yourself and also for others. They were encouraged to share the muffins.

Elder Brasher above with Elders Broadhead, Anderson, Dube and Aisnlie below

Iron It Out! Elder Smalley and Phiri served by ironing a few shirts. They even ironed one of mine! Many Elders serve their companion by ironing their shirts.

Clean it Up! Lots of cleaning took place around the mission home on Friday. Elders henley and Garnica transformed the front pation and window. Elder Adjei and Elder Smalley helped clean the dishes. 

Give Thanks! Another way to serve is to take the time to write thank you notes. Elder Larsen and Adjei are able to deliver the nice thank you notes they wrote. It is a good reminder to keep this habit up.

Elder Henley and Brasher even get to take home some of the muffins to share with investigators and/or members!

Elder Ainslie, Broadhead, Thompson and Tye say goodnight at  the end of interviews.