Zone Conferences of June 2011

Zone Conferences, June 2011

Zacatecas Zone

F: Elders Hansen, Mercado, Molina, Tellez, Lopez, Rodriguez, Orr, Lambert

M:Dastrup, Astete, Ogden, Toone, Bean F: Lopez Ayala, De Olarte

Torreon Reforma Zone

B: Elders Gonzalez, Pack, Smith, Butterfield, Gomar, Pedraza, Scothorne, Peterson, Hernandez Balbuena. M: Garcia, Montes, Rivas, Hna. Gonzalez, Hna. Ortega, Hna. Clark, Pdte. Clark Hernandez Martinez, Lopez Tovar, Payzant F: Elders Navarette y Rodriguez.
Torreon Mexico Zone
B: Elders Welch, Day, Belnap, Beltran, Strong, Young
F: Zambrano, Perez Alarcon, Pineda, Hna. y Pdte., Burgin, Juarez, Portillo, Juarez Castillo

Torreon Jardin Zone
B: Elders Abbott, Thompson, Perez Monroy, Castellanos, Olea, Ramirez Leon, McBride, Gomez. M: Elders Ruiz, Sandoval, Hna. y Pdte. Clark, Hernandez Mora, Curiel, Quackenbush, Solis, Canul F: Elders Lopez Olguin, Barragan, Rivera, Paskett, y Cruz Ostria. (Elders Gollner and Romero not in photo)

Madero Zone

B: Elders Olvera, Rasmussen, Carrillo y Jensen

M: Elder Nicio, Hna. Maqueda, Hna. Clark, Hna. Palma, Pdte. Clark, Elders Avila, Sosa, Jimenez, y Carter. F: Elders Kennedy, Garcia Pineda, y Davila.

La Laguna Zone

B: Elders Soriano, Archundia, Polo, Lopez Juarez, Lyon, Porter, Jensen. F: Hna. Clark, Elders Anderson, Myers, Chavez, Hnas. Gutierrey y Garcia, Elders Fuentes, Miranda, Macedo, Vargas, y Pdte. Clark

Gomez Palacio Zone

B: Hna. Clark, Elders Rasmussen, Poot, Zenil, Limon, Alarcon, Inga, Neser, Cruz, Pdte. Clark, Lopez Lagunas. F: Elders Franco, Martinez, Tarabilda, Sorenson, Porter, Edwards, Lunt, Perry, Andersen, Seiter, y Diaz.

Fresnillo Zone

B: Elders Martinez Hernandez, Larson, Lecca, Andrade, Jones.

M: Elders Ayala, Levie, Ragland, Diaz, Rodriguez, Felix, Quintana, Gutierrez.

F: Hna. Cuba, Hna. Clark, Pdte. Clark, y Hna. Mamani.

Durango Mexico Zone

B: Elders Hernandez Olvera, Roderick, Pdte. Clark, Thompson, Oehler, Munson.

M: Hna. Clark, Hna. Baquerizo, Hna. Silva, Elders Vargas, Bickmore, Garcia, Jiminez, y Cortez.F: Elders Cooke, Mejia, Aguirre, y Malpica

Durango Del Valle Zone

B: Elders Gil, Harman, Ellgen, Wagner, y Gallego.

M: Pdte. Clark, Elder Krebs, Hna. Clark, Elder Garcia Pech, Guardia, Can, Hyer, Olmedo, Venegas, Thomas, Barfuss, Hansen, Sanchez y Uribe. F: Elder Hernandez, Calderon, Maxfield, Davis, Teran.

Our last Zone Leader Council

The first of June rolled around way too fast and we held our final zone leader council. To start the day off right, President Clark and those who wanted to run did their traditional laps around the neighborhood near the mission home. He is going to miss running with this group. Elder Carrillo, Elder Guardia, Elder Zambrano, Elder Jimenez, Elder Rodriguez, Elder Davis, Pdte. Clark, Elder Beltran, Elder Mills, Elder Welch, y Elder Belnap.
At 8 a.m. we had breakfast of scrambled eggs, ham, corn bread muffins, bananas, y juice. You can pay attention in the meetings better on a full stomach.

Elder Payzant was happy to participate for his first time on the council. He served as financiero of the mission before this assignment.

Elder Payzant with President Clark and I

Here is our entire zone leader council. They really look sharp.

B: Elders Davis, Zambrano, Rodriguez, Quintana, Castellanos, Andersen, Guardia, Lyon, Vargas, Malpica and Belnap. M: Cooke, Jones, Sandoval, Poot, Jimenez, Pedraza, Payzant, Mills, and Carrillo. Front: Our assistants, Elders Welch and Beltran with us.

These guys surprized us with beautiful watches with the mission name and our dates of service engraved on the back. Thewatches are wonderful reminders of all of our 470 missionaries that we had the privilege to serve with.

What a surprise!

Elder Beltran shows his exhaustion after completing his first zone leader council as assistant. He's figured out that it takes a lot of work to be an assistant to the President.

He and Elder Welch will welcome their new president and his family on Wednesday, June 29th.

A Training Program for New Missionaries

Training the Trainers

We had the opportunity to launch a new church-wide training program for our new missionaries this change. All the designated trainers were invited into Torreon to be with their new companions for instructions the day after our normal change meeting. This required a little creative arranging of sleeping quarters and a little extra food (ok, a lot of extra food) but after it was over, we really felt that the new missionaries would be getting a great benefit because of this new system. Each companionship with a new missionary received a curriculum for study and they will use an extra hour each day for companionship study. This will be accompanied by video instruction using the two sets of Preach My Gospel videos which are excellent. As an added bonus, they will be with their same trainer for two full changes, if circumstances allow. Below are photos of the before and after of our training luncheon. The table is ready for hungry missionaries.
Now this is a pot of a lot of hot dogs!

Condiments, anyone?

The calm before the storm.

Chow time. Elders Welch, Diaz, Perez, and ?? digging in.

Elders Balbueno, Lopez, Aguirre, Molina, Toone, Barragan, and Lopez O.

Elders Beltran, Welch, President Clark, Elders Payzant and Edwards.

Elder Munson, Sisters Ortega and Gonzalez, Elder Jones and Elder Lopez O.

Elder Maxfield,Rasmussen, Meyers, Chavez, and Gonzalez.

Elder Lambert and his new companion, Elder Tellez.

Elder Olmedo and his trainer Elder Ellgen.

Elders Uribe, Diaz and his new companion, Elder Gutierrez. Elder Gutierrez was released as Assistant to take on the important role of trainer.

Elder Toone and Elder Andrade

This fine looking group is ready to work together to create better missionaries in the Mission Mexico Torreon.

Missionary changes in May 2011

Changes of May 2011

Changes again! It seems like the just keep coming around. With this change, we sent 10 great missionaries home to enjoy their families after their hard work, and welcomed 17 new missionaries ready to find, teach, and baptize. Below, Sr. Ortega poses with Sr. Perez who will return to Mexico City the next day. Elder Trujullo says goodbye to members and missionaries alike at the mission home. His companion, Elder Jensen, was sad to see him go. From left to right...Elder Beltran, Elder McBride, Elder Gutierrez, Elder Jensen, Elder Trujillo, Elder Poot, a member from the Alamos Ward, and Elder Welch.
Since the change fell on Mother's Day, Elders Valencia and Barragan made me a beautiful paper rose. They have talent.

Elder Martinez has been serving as a zone leader with Elder Belnap. Elder Martinez poses with his companion and says his final goodbyes.

A family of members from Latinoamericana Ward brought Elder Valencia in to the mission home. Sr. Perez was so glad to see them and visit with them as she had also served in that area during her mission time.

Elder Marin signals "Victory" He served with honor and returned home the next day. He is from Acapulco.

Elder Estrada looks up from his homework assignment for Sr. Clark. All of the missionaries write a few words that describe their mission experience and what it has meant to them. They also add their contact information so that we can keep in touch.

The Last Supper...so to speak. They always enjoy their lazagna meal on the night before they go home. We have ice cream sundaes after their testimony meeting. It all makes for a special last day in the mission.

Our veteran missionaries: Back: Elder Bonfil, Elder Marin, Elder Estrada, Elder Lara, Elder Trujillo. Front: Elder Castro, Hermana Perez, Elder Martinez, Elder Pacheco, and Elder Valencia.
Elder Franklin Smith Molina arrived separate from the main group of our missionaries the next day, as he and his sister, who began her service in Guadalajara, traveled together from the MTC in Lima, Peru.

We have been greatly blessed to receive this large group of 16 strong missionaries from the MTC in Mexico City all at the same time. No North Americans will be arriving until August so we were able to interview all of them and assign their areas that day.

Front: Elder Lopez Perez, Elder Balbuena, Elder Olmedo, Hermana Gonzalez, Elder Nicio, and Elder Gonzalez. Middle: Elder Alarcon, Elder Uribe, Elder Chavez, and Elder Lopez Olguin. Back: Elder Andrade, Elder Gomez, Elder Mercado, Elder Diaz, Elder Aguirre, and Elder Tellez.

Welcome to the Mission Mexico Torreon!

Babies on the way!

We are sad to be very near the end of our mission experience but we have three very exciting events that will help us with the transition...we will receive three new grandchildren this year. Below is a photo of our daughter-in-law, Stevie who is expecting their first baby in September, our daughter, Annette, who is expecting their first baby in June, and Melanie, who is expecting baby #4 in May. Below is Annette Clark Steele at one of her baby showers. The "man of Steele" shirt is perfect for their little boy.
And on May 5th, Melanie Clark Steere delivered baby girl Taryn Kae. She weighed in at 7 lb. 8 oz. and was 19 inches long. Two more to go!Here's our beautiful daughter looking quite content to finally have her daughter here safely.
Stevie Hartmann Clark is practicing for the time when she can old her own little girl in September.
Nate Clark is thinking.."before you know it, I will be the dad of one of these little bundles. Yikes!"
Taryn Kae Steere
Taryn is growing fast and we can't wait to give her loves and welcome the other two new babies. They all join Melanie and Jared's other three children so we will double our numbers this year. Our family is being blessed greatly while we are on our mission to Mexico.