Multi-Zone Conference

On Thursday, August 20, we attended the Zone Conference at the Kingsbridge Chapel in the Bronx. The three zones involved were Kingsbridge (our zone, which covers western Bronx and Yonkers), Olmstead (eastern Bronx), and Westchester (New Rochelle, Scarsdale, Elmsford, and White Plains). We heard wonderful talks and testimonies and received valuable training.

The day started with breakfast:

Missionaries enjoy a bagel and chocolate cream cheese breakfast. Elder and Sister Zimmerman made the chocolate cream cheese from a recipe of Sister Morgan's (the wife of the previous mission president). The missionaries loved it! Elder and Sister Gardner are at the far left back.

A sister missionary shows the enthusiasm we all felt for the zone conference.

Sister Zimmerman (center, black and white blouse) helps set up food for the breakfast.

Add caption

The missionaries all seemed to enjoy the relaxing breakfast before the conference:

Elders Wilson (Yonkers, Spanish speaking) and Essler (Yonkers English speaking). They live in our building in Yonkers.

Sister Gardner (center, in blue jacket, black skirt), mission historian, takes photos of the missionaries during the breakfast:

Missionaries came back for seconds, while Sister Zimmerman started to clean up:

Sister Lunt and Sister Johnson, in our Kingsbridge Zone.

 We enjoyed being with all the wonderful young missionaries:

 Clothing Exchange during breakfast:

Sister Missionaries look through the Clothing Exchange, which was mostly clothes left by past missionaries when they returned home.

President Smith eats a bagel while chatting with a missionary.

The chocolate cream cheese that we prepared.

President Smith was the first speaker (he actually gave three talks during the day). He was always full of energy, enthusiasm, and love.

Pres. David L. Smith makes a point during his opening address.

 After President Smith spoke, six missionaries were called on to give talks.

Sister Vassau delivers her 5-minute talk on the Book of Mormon.

Elder Matheson delivers his talk on the Book of Mormon.

Sister Peterson shares her 5-minute talk on the Book of Mormon.

 This quartet sang a beautiful number:

Elder Brower, Elder Richards, Sister Cookson, and Sister Geiger

Elder Gore, one of the two assistants to the president, lead a discussion and role-playing session on how to quickly share the Book of Mormon:

President Smith gets a bite to eat at the conference lunch:

Our Zone Leaders, Elders Murphy and Moss, gave the Top Ten reasons why the Kingsbridge Zone is the best:

 Elder (Dr.) Gardner, mission medical adviser, gave a presentation on health and safety:

The conference, with all the sessions and with breakfast and lunch, lasted from 8:15 AM to 4:00 PM. It was a great day!