Mission Leadership Council 4/14

 PLEASE CLICK ON THIS LINE FOR ALL PHOTOS OF THIS EVENT

It has been a very busy couple weeks, so I am playing catch-up...story of my life!

We begin each month with MISSION LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
The interesting thing about this council is that we were beginning the month of April and we held the meeting on March 25.  Our April is so packed before transfers, that we had to take a week in March to get a head start!

 And what a great start it will give us!  We meet with all Sister Training Leaders and Zone Leaders here in the Mission Home.  They are amazing young people and it is one of the sweetest experiences to see how much they love those that they serve.  They are such good examples to me!

The day began with a doctrinal discussion about BAPTISM.  Last month we focused on Repentance, and continue that thought of "repentance unto baptism" with this month.

 The power that comes from our making and keeping sacred covenants is REAL.  We do not hesitate to let people know that we mean to change their lives by offering living water.  Water that cleanses and purifies through the next ordinance of receiving the Holy Ghost!

We also had discussions on things we asked them to teach last month...like praying with ward and stake leaders in their homes, praying with members and non-members in their homes, becoming problem solving missionaries through a love for obedience based on principles, and helping leaders empower other leaders in their stewardship.  Great, mature discussion!

We always celebrate birthdays for the month and to our surprise, there is only one member of our council with a birthday this month ELDER KING!  We love to honor him!  He is the executive secretary of the Mission and is the most generous and kind and fun man we have ever met and had the honor to know!  Really.

 Here we are in our spring glory!  Front: Sisters Taylor, Muhlestein, A Walker, E Walker, Carter, Summerhays, Neary, Probeyahn and Jackson.  Middle:  President Taylor, Elders Bryson, Leonhardt, Barley, Wade, Wainwright, Bryant, Wrigley, Pettingill, E joones, Barlow, wilson and W Larsen.  Back: Elders Arave, Nield, Mullenix, Ure, Barrett, Westlund, Wardle, Weiler, Rigby, Fackrell, Dart and Andrus.

 New to the council this month are:
Elders Pettingill, Mullenix, Rigby, Bryson, Arave, Sister Summerhays and E Walker (again)

 I had some pretty sweet help in the kitchen today!
My own sister, Susan was here for the weekend and was helping my dear friend Sister King from the Presidency.  I can always count on help when I need it to pull off a meal and teaching during this meeting!

 Our Sisters fit perfectly into the dining area of the mission home for lunch and it always sounds like a PARTY with them!  So much fun to get together!

 The Elders spread out over the patio and kitchen areas.

 I missed Elder Wilson while I was taking table shots, so I got an individual one for him!  We had sort of an Easter meal today, so that was really good food!

In the afternoon session, I started back off with a report on how the Sister Specialized Training went...check out that blog post if you have not seen it.  Our Sisters LOVE their special time and we feel they really need that time with other Sisters to feel supported.

Each set of our STL reported on one aspect of the day with our Sisters.  We felt it was good for the Zone Leaders to know what we talked about so they could be on the same page.

This is the purpose of a council...to council together.  We talk about ideas that work or ask for help with things we may need help on.  We train on skills that we feel our missionaries may benefit from and ask these great leaders to take that training and personally take it to either individual missionaries through exchanges or to a zone meeting.  This work is the work of the Lord.  It is OUR WORK, and I mean all of us!  We are to invite others to come unto Christ in any way shape and form that we can.  We thank you for sharing your missionaries with us.  They are amazing individuals and we are blessed to serve with them!  Have a wonderful week!  Love, Sister Taylor