DEER VALLEY/GLENDALE N. INTERVIEWS 7/13

 PLEASE CLICK ON THIS LINE FOR ALL PHOTOS OF THIS EVENT
We finished up three weeks of Interviews today.
I think we saved the largest zone for last.

I love that when we get there, our missionaries are hard at work getting their cars in tip-top shape for inspections.  I especially love to see Sisters working on cars.  They do an amazing job!

 The purpose for Interviews is for President Taylor to meet one on one with each missionary to see how they are doing, to offer advice and encouragement and support.  Everything else that we do is secondary.

Zone Leaders and myself have the opportunity to train and lead discussions during this 5 hour conference time.  Elders Kamissoko and Wardle did a great job!  This may be a really large zone, but it is so full of love and real desire to work hard!

 Next I took all the missionaries in the gym for an activity.  This is a longstanding tradition with me.  I am usually teaching a life skill of some sort during the game, and today it was of a different nature, but just as important.

Through a series of questions, we all opened up and shared some of the thoughts of our hearts, tossing around a ball of string as we answered...

 ...and became inseparably connected one to another.  It was really fun.


Elder Kellett had to keep diving under the web we created just to help get the ball of string where it needed to be.

 After we literally NET-WORKED for a long time, we had something we could work with.  We used our net to hold aloft a beach ball.  This was the fun and active part of the game.

 They got some serious height to pitch it towards the ceiling!

After this, Elder Rodgers did his vehicle safety instruction, bike safety instruction and gave out his famous CLEAN CAR AWARDS!  The missionaries really like this!  They work so hard to keep their vehicles clean.

 The elders who share a car between two companionships got the highest score...having 4 to clean makes a difference!  Good job Elders!

 We celebrated all JULY BIRTHDAYS today as well.

HAPPY JULY BIRTHDAY TO:

Elder Boyce
Elder Leonhardt
Elder Bartleson

 We had a working lunch.  As we ate, we watched the film "The 5000 Days Project: Two Brothers"  It was so good!

I have seen this about 12 times now and still get emotional.  It is a film that especially for someone with a missionary or if you ARE a missionary, you will relate to.  It is rather a miracle to look inside the lives of two brothers and see the change they experience as they grow up.

The Zone Leaders ended the day with a great skills training on obedience and how to teach this to investigators as we strive to also implement it into our companionships.
What these young missionaries teach IS TRUE.  I invite you to go to Mormon.org to see for yourself what we believe if you are not yet a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
It is simply Christ's organized Church restored with the power of His priesthood again upon the earth.

Normal people living extraordinary lives because of the influence of the Holy Ghost and the power of Ordinances and the Atonement in our lives!

Buckeye Goodyear Interviews 7/13

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We started our last week of INTERVIEWS this week in the Goodyear/Buckeye Zone.

We have just been SO EXCITED to meet with our missionaries this month.  We always are, but we were especially grateful to get to meet since we have had two large transfers of missionaries plus our new zone from Flagstaff, all who had never been to any meetings with us!  It was ABOUT TIME!

The purpose of Interviews is for President Taylor to check in individually with each missionary to see how they are doing and to offer counsel and encouragement as needed.
The rest is frosting on the cake so to speak.  But we love the opportunity to hold a mini Zone Conference as he interviews.  I and the Zone Leaders get to train.

 Today we played a game, as we always do on Interview days.  This one was rather different than others though.  Usually I am teaching a practical skill like budgeting or nutrition or health.
Today we just learned to open up and share.

As I asked a series of questions, we tossed around a ball of string from person to person that answered.  The questions were things like: When did you first know you wanted to serve a mission?
What does your family think of your choice to serve?

 What advice do you have for newer missionaries?

What do you think you will remember 10 years from now about your mission?

We looked rather like Spiderman when we were done, with strings all over the place.

 Which created the perfect NETWORKING for us to now play a game involving a beach ball.
The object being to keep in inside the circle and aloft.  They all worked together to make this happen and it was a lot of fun!

 Elder Rodgers always comes to Interviews to inspect the vehicles and do a safety presentation.  He always rewards the drivers with CLEAN CAR points.  They love it!

We also gave all bike riders some good reflective tape to put on strategic points of bikes and helmets so they can be seen better at night.  We worry about their safety.

 

 We celebrate birthdays in the Mission during these meetings as well.

HAPPY JULY BIRTHDAYS TO:

Elder Bryson
Sister Wade
Elder Pettingill

 For the afternoon session, we ate lunch as we watched a film called "The 5000Days Project: Two Brothers" about a couple of LDS boys growing up and working through some very tough things together.

We all learned so much about ourselves as we watched and it was incredible to see the perspective that the missionaries had after watching this.  It was what we had hoped for and more.

I am always entertained by elders wearing matching ties (see other photos in the link)
and the next day when we came to retrieve a poster we forgot, we noticed Elder Kane and Gerritsen looking pretty matchy...as I went to get my camera for a shot, I looked at President Taylor's tie and...he matched too!  It was blue and brown day!
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is TRUE!  We are ambassadors for the Savior and no effort is wasted!

July Visitors 2013

 We have had some wonderful interactions with Returned Missionaries this month.
We started off with the privilege of being at the baby blessing of Adrian Grady, blessed by his Daddy, Devin.  We love this little family so much!  They are living what Devin taught here for two years!  What a beautiful family!

 Then we had the Harline family visit again...this time with Alex as a returned missionary!  We loved the family tradition of man hats!  They just look the part of the Texan men!









It was delightful to see them and we were just glad to see Alex in one piece after his skateboarding accident. He has promised to wear a helmet from now on...right Alex?

This past week we got to meet Elder Lutz family.  Elder Lutz is currently serving here and his family is moving from Alaska to New Mexico...we will be neighbors!   His siblings enjoyed looking for his name on our Mission Quilt and we really enjoyed visiting with all of them.  Elder Lutz is setting such a good example for his siblings!  Thank you for visiting us!

WE LOVE OUR MISSIONARIES AND THEIR FAMILIES!

Out With Sisters July 2013

 I have had a little more time to get out with Sisters this month and it felt so good!

I was delighted when I met the Sisters at this family's home...when I pulled up I felt like I had been there before and remembered coming to teach them almost 2 years ago with another set of Sisters (Okeson and Alvarez).  It was delightful to see plans for uniting this family in baptism next month...they have waited 8 years for paperwork to allow this!

 Sisters Hansen and Dayton are WONDERFUL!  They love these people like their own families and this is why they are so successful.
The second appointment we went to was also a woman I knew.  She had come to the Mission Home to teach me to make salsa a long, long time ago.  Now the Sisters are teaching her non-member husband.  It is truly a SMALL WORLD!

This week I got to go out with a couple sets of Sisters.  First with Sisters Turner and McAllister,

We had the BEST LESSON with a woman (Robin)
getting baptized this coming Saturday.  She showed such great faith and such enthusiasm for being an instrument in the hands of the Lord in bringing her family and friends to the joy that the Gospel of Jesus Christ brings.



Later this week we were up in Flagstaff and I got to spend time with all 4 Sisters up there, but sat in on a lesson with Sisters Connell and Tolley at the Institute there.  They were teaching a recent convert, Scott.  Our Sisters are just amazing.  They are strong and faithful and just so ready to serve anyone!

This week I went out with Hermanas again, Jenson and Santana.  We taught a sweet family how to make even a few minutes productive in reading the scriptures.
I just love these Sisters and the desire they have to bring others to Jesus Christ so they can be happy in their families!




I about forgot to add this companionship that I spent an evening with.  Wish I had my bike!  Seriously.

Sisters Lechner and Esplin were just happy to be serving and it did not matter that it was hot and sweaty on a bike.  They taught with love and compassion and power!

You have precious daughters!  Thank you for sharing them with the Arizona Phoenix Mission!

MISSIONARY DRESS AND GROOMING

Recently the CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS came out with new published dress and grooming standards for Elders.

Two years ago this July, they came out with new published dress and grooming standards for Sisters.

Both are good changes to help our missionaries look like who they are...
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.


We encourage parents to be familiar with these standards by visiting the Church's website
PLEASE CLICK ON THIS LINK TO GO TO LDS.ORG MISSIONARY DRESS AND GROOMING

What you will notice is that Sisters dress very modestly and professionally.  No tight tops or above knee skirts.   Jackets are worn when they go to meetings just like the Elders do.  They are supposed to use large shoulder bags and not clunky backpacks.  They are encouraged to style their hair, wear color and pattern.  They look beautiful without being a distraction to the Elders or those that they teach.

It has been fun for us to encourage those standards as we have served.  I promise it makes a difference.

Now our Elders have something to look at as an example.  You will notice lighter colors of dress slacks and suits.  You will notice the messenger style of bags instead of backpacks.

We took our son Braden shopping for his mission suits and chose a lighter tan suit just like the one on the Church's site.  It looks great. It has a vest.









The young men wear more color in their ties and love it.

Elder Handy from Deer Valley Zone just got a package from home  today with a brighter tie and some lighter dress slacks.  Yes, they are OK.
(No dockers-type cotton pants, only DRESS SLACKS)







Today when we visited the Cottonwood Zone, I noticed after the meeting that some of the elders had side bags...and on closer inspection, that ALL OF THEM had side bags.  And  I did not tell them to get them.  They went to the website as directed to see the guidelines and noticed the bags on their own, decided as a zone to all switch over and they LOVE IT.  They are the poster children for the mission.

Parents, for your information, President Taylor and I have not asked our current Elders to purchase side bags, but I believe all new Elders are being directed to bring them.  If missionaries can afford a side bag and want to switch that is fine.
For our BIKE MISSIONARIES, we still believe that a camelbak type system is necessary for their safety/health.
However, we also think that a "bladder" can be inserted into these side-bags and attached with velcro tabs to create a hydro-messenger bag.

As we receive more instruction from our leaders, we will pass it on to you and your missionaries.


Sisters have had it cute for a couple years now...so I guess it is about time that Elders had some special attention.

We admire the obedience of our missionaries.  They try so hard to follow the rules and guidelines that the Church sets for them.

They are ambassadors for Jesus Christ in every way.  They look and act the part!

COTTONWOOD INTERVIEWS 7/13

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Today we went up to Cottonwood Zone for interview day.  Braden was with us and we found the perfect vehicle for him and brought it to inspections...I think some wheels in back might be a good start...
We love that our missionaries work so hard to keep their cars clean as they are on the Lord's errand.

 As we began the day, President Taylor pulled each missionary for their interview while the Zone Leaders began with a zone discussion, then I pulled them all into the gym to play a traditional INTERVIEW DAY GAME.
My game today was really different than usual.  Much more reflective and soul searching, but really fun.
We sat in a circle and tossed a ball of string while answering questions like:
When did you first know you wanted to serve a mission?

 What past missionary do you remember the most and why?
What is your vision for your mission?
What do you want to be remembered for in the Arizona Phoenix Mission?

When we were done, we had created a unique WEB or NET interconnected by what we all shared.

 It was perfect to then work together to keep a beach ball aloft.  That was fun.

They did a great job using heads, hands and by tightening up the strings.

We use the words TIGHTEN UP to describe how we try to live a little more consecrated, live the missionary rules more exactly.

 Elder Rodgers had his time to teach vehicle safety and to award CLEAN CAR AWARDS!  The missionaries really look forward to these and work hard to get a high score.

 We then had a "working lunch" as we watched the film "The 5000 Day Project: Two Brothers."
This film is really unique.  The film maker filmed two brothers over 10 years of their lives asking them questions and following their relationships and interactions during this time.
What we got to see was really a miracle as they lived the Gospel of Jesus Christ, grew and changed and opened up by sharing their thoughts.
We all found inspiring quotes and things we could relate to our own lives...just from two normal LDS boys.  This is what was so neat...to see how really, we all are so unique and have such potential for growth and change as we follow Jesus Christ.

Members of the zone shared their thoughts afterwards and it was very inspiring.

 The zone leaders, Elders Bangerter and Gorham then led a great discussion on the Doctrine of Christ and how obedience is tied to every aspect of the Gospel...FAITH
REPENTANCE
BAPTISM
THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST
ENDURING TO THE END
Each one relies on OBEDIENCE.
It is the first law of heaven.

I was really touched to notice something unique in this zone...after the meeting I noticed that all the elders had side bags.  We had discovered that the Church has new dress and grooming guidelines published for Elders that show only side bags...this zone, on their own, decided that this meant they wanted to be obedient to this new guideline and all got bags.
They look like a model zone!  We love them so much!

FLAGSTAFF INTERVIEWS 7/13

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Thursday we drove up to Flagstaff...into the coolness and the pines!  This was our first INTERVIEW DAY with this new zone and we were so excited to be there!
Elder Rodgers started the day with the vehicle inspection and then we met together as a zone while President Taylor interviewed each missionary.

 After the Zone Leaders opened with a discussion of zone strengths and goals, we went to the gym for an activity.  Our tradition is for GAME TIME WITH SISTER TAYLOR.
Today's game was different...much more thought provoking as we tossed a ball of string answering a series of questions that made us think and helped us get to know each other more deeply as missionaries in a zone family.
We answered questions like: What do you need as a newer missionary?  When did you know you wanted to serve a mission? What vision do you have for this mission?  What do you want to be remembered for in this mission?

 We were glad to finally meet our new couple serving up at GRAND CANYON!
WELCOME McDaniels!!
They are a great addition to our mission, serving in a Leadership Position at Grand Canyon Village.
They joined right in the game and fit right in!  It was so interesting to have their perspectives.

 We needed the time we had today to really get to know each other better, and it was an incredible journey.









Now here is some companionship unity!  Matching ties by elders C. Cardwell and Castro.

 As part of the training I did today, I had our missionaries watch the film "The 5000 Days Project: Two Brothers" a film BYU purchased about the lives of two LDS boys growing up and eventually serving missions.  It is an incredible look into their lives as they learn and grow and change.
It made each one of us look inside.
It was a beautiful experience to hear what we all learned from watching as we shared afterwards.
You have incredible children!  They are so much deeper than you may imagine.  Their understanding is so deep!

The rest of the day we celebrated July birthdays...just one in this zone.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ELDER STARR!

The Zone Leaders finished up the day with a discussion about the importance of obedience and how we can all tighten up on living the White Handbook rules, particularly starting our day on time, exercising, and getting to our daily schedule on time.  We recognize the blessings that will come as we try to be more obedient.  Our missionaries have such good desires to choose the right and through their obedience, to bless the lives of those that they teach.

We love being a part of helping God bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man as we serve our Savior Jesus Christ.