DECEMBER ZONE CONFERENCE

Our December Zone conference focused on the Bold Declaration and proclamation of the Angels at the Birth of the Savior. President took that focus and taught how we need to Proclaim and Declare the Restoration with Boldness. The Angels didn't Say " Hi Shephards, we would like to share a message about Jesus Christ," They declared, "Behold we bring you good tidings of great joy, for unto to us is born this day a Savior which is Christ the Lord." President taught that we need to declare that there is a prophet on the earth today, that we have the Book of Mormon, that Priesthood keys have been restored to seal families for eternity. He focused on the Book of Mormon and how it is the Key Stone of our religion. He gave each missionary a paper back copy of the Book of Mormon and asked them to underline every reference to the Savior, his teachings and His direct words. I taught them the process and value of their weekly planning, and goal setting. Elder Pickup taught them about the three type of Questions. Questions to access their needs, Questions of understanding in teaching, and questions that help them learn by faith and process what they really think and what they must DO to come unto Christ. Elder Nnah taught what it means to magnify your calling and the realationship between that and sanctification. We lightened things up a bit with a white elephant game at lunch. We had a white Christmas slide show and testimonies to finish up the afternoon.

OAKDALE CHRISTMAS PAGEANT

The Oakdale Christmas Pagaent has been a community event for 15 years. It is directed and spear headed by a lovely Baptist Woman and her husband, the Bradleys. This year our Senior couple and the sisters that serve in Oakdale decided it would be a good way to get involved with the community. They volunteered their services thinking they would be passing out programs or ushering. Well, Mrs Bradley recognized talent when she saw it. Our sisters sing beautifully and our Senior couple, Elder and Sister Vance have many talents. She invited them to the first rehearsal and the sisters decided to introduce themselves by singing I am a Child of God. Mrs Bradley was taken from that moment. She cast Elder And Sister Vance as Mary and Joseph, The sisters were asked to sing several numbers in the "Pre-Show" and they were narrator and shepherds. Our Baptist friends recognized the special spirit that they brought to each rehearsal and asked them to offer prayers and they always sung a hymn to start the rehearsal. Sister and Elder Vance had the opportunity to meet with the Bradleys and share what the missionaries were all doing here and a little bit about the Restoration. They admitted that it cleared up a lot of misconceptions they had always had about the church. The Oakdale Branch President, President Hazelton, and President and I were introduced at the beginning of the pageant as special guests and friends. It was a wonderful event of good will.

This is Sister Pedersen, Myer, Mrs. Bradley, Sister English and Sister Vance
This is Sister Porter, a member of the Oakdale Branch. She is blind, but you would never know it. She is so faithful and always makes us laugh.
This is the sisters, Vances, and the Worthens that serve in Opelousas, a few miles from Oakdale.
Mrs Bradley greeting one of her dear friends the night of the pageant

TRANSFERS-THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD

It was fun to have missionaries come close to Christmas time. We love having them arrive early in the day because then we can relax and enjoy them. They can help with the meal and even get a little nap. We had Elder De Los Santos that made us a native mexican cake. This was another group of faith filled missionaries. We Love Them

THANKSGIVING

Thanksgiving fell during our interview days in New Orleans and West Bank so we decided to combine that two and have Thanksgiving with 50 or out missionaries and three of our senior couples. We had six Cajun Turkeys from Popeye's. 45 lbs of potatoes, candied yams, dressing, wonderful green been casserole, home made rolls and fruit salad. Not to mention homemade cranberry sauce and the best home made gravy you ever tasted (that's another miracle)It was all home made and it was all made by three women and their sweet husbands (minus president) he was interviewing. It was a hoot and the kitchen looked like a war zone when we got it all on the table but there was such a spirit of love and fellowship, and deep gratitude for the sacred cause that brought us all together it was a joy to there. We had the extra blessing of having Our youngest daughter Sarah, and her husband Glen, here from Utah to be with us which just made all the more special for us.

MIRACLES IN OAKDALE

It is amazing the miracles that can be wrought by the love, patience, and diligence of a faithful senior couple and three sister missionaries. This little branch is in a town of 800 people. When the Vances got here, five months ago, there was no primary , and hadn't been for years, no official Relief Society to speak of, and only 10-12 people at church on any given sunday. The community had long standing families with ideas of how "things are." The Vances started lovingly letting the branch president know they were there to serve him. They were given a list of people to find and visit that were in anywhere from a 10 to 60 mile radius of back roads and Highway mail boxes. They started showing up on doorsteps (with the spirit as their GPS ) with apple bread and cookies in hand and a smile of love and hope on their face. They would spend sometimes an hour or more on a porch learning to "know" the stories of these saints and families that had lost their way. Sometimes hard feelings, sometimes tough times had gotten in the way. Day after day, week after week of calls and visits started to pay off. Sister Missionaries volunteering to serve and help in any way they could with their loving enthusiasm and expert teaching of the gospel. Organizing BBQs for 10 people to show up, but a few more at the next one, special music and loving lessons given by the sisters, and going through papers and files to help organize a bishop's office started to pay off. They now have as many as 30 people to church. They have a primary with children (3-5) every week, a Relief Society with called and set apart teachers, and visiting teaching being done and reported. It is the miracle of the pure love of Christ being exemplified consistently day after day hour after hour. We love you Elder and Sister Vance and Sisters Myer, Bunker, Pedersen, and English.