Zone Conference Weekend

We have seen a lot of rain since arriving.  We've actually seen 4 days of sunshine.  But yesterday was a real downpour and it lasted all day long.  We've had 3 inches in 7 days and most of it was yesterday.

Sister Beesley called a bit back an asked us if we would like to participate in the missionaries Zone Conference.  In as much as we are CES oriented, she wanted to make sure.   She also asked that I teach our zone leaders, Elder Satini and Elder Martinez, about the Trek experience I attended that had been sponsored by BYU back in about 1986.  I invited them to the apartment and went over the activities that taught team work and the ability to do hard things.  The zone leaders then prepared a zone conference centered around Zion's Camp. 

We met Elder and Sister Powell from Rexburg.  They are in Haines and are service missionaries.  He actually has substituted in the schools there without accepting any pay.  The school was amazed that he would do this out of friendship for someone they met in Haines.  He works on cars a lot for people as well.  They do some proselyting.

Sister Beesley does a lot of the teaching when it comes to Zone Conference.  President Beesley spent a lot of time interviewing and giving counsel to the missionaries during the times when we weren't in meetings.  It is expensive to bring all of these missionaries in from the outlying branches and wards of the Inland passage, which is the Juneau Stake.  But it is also beneficial for them to know they are still part of the team and are not alone. 

Elder Martinez and Elder Satini planned a bit of a trek down on the beach above Auke harbor.  We first cleaned up the church trailer where they live.  After 28 missionaries hit a trailer lot it looks pretty nice again.  This trailer is located across the road from a piece of ground the church owns.  The members have their hopes high this will one day have a temple on it.

We went to the beach and in the heavy rain made our way to a covered gazebo that was walled in on one side with a huge fire place.  We all carried wood from the Zone leader's trailer to burn during the evening.  The Powells and Sister Waldron and I waited there to help the caterers bring down the food while the Elders and Sisters went on this trek.  I didn't get to see the activities they did in the hour and a half they were gone.  But they did have to carry a plastic bin with a back pack and their scriptures wrapped in a garbage bag to keep it dry.  The district leaders carried a 10 lb. weight in theirs as well.  They have more responsibilities.

We saw them cross an open area a half mile away as they made their way into a protruding point on the beach that was covered with trees.  When they returned we ate some chili and the fixins and had a wonderful testimony meeting.  The missionaries were soaked and many of them were cold.  As they stood in front of this roaring fire in the fireplace, the steam poured from their wet clothes.  It would heat the water up in their clothes until they would move away or shorten their testimonies. 

Here is a picture of a bear proof garbage can.

This morning President and Sister Beesley invited us to breakfast at "Grandma's Feather Bed."  Pres. Perkins, the temple president in Anchorage, owns some hotels and restaurants.  We discussed our assignment with them, received some encouragement and counsel and had a nice visit.  We are growing in this assignment.  It is raining again today.  But we are happy.  It is because we have a testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  We are happy with the knowledge the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored in its fullness to us, and for us, and for our loved ones that have gone on, and that are yet to make an appearance. 

Oh by the way, my recently baptized and fried phone has spent two days in a bag of rice.  We now are calling it Lazarus.