Mission Tour 2014

Every year each mission in the church is toured by a General Authority.  He (sometimes accompanied by his spouse) comes to travel about the mission and evaluates the missionary work.  This includes traveling to different chapels in the mission for conferences with the missionaries, a review of statistical performance, sometimes inspections of missionary apartments and lots and lots of time with the Mission President and his wife (we think the primary reason is checking up on us).  :)

This past week our mission was toured by President Ian S. Ardern and his wife Paula.  He is the President of the Philippines area of the church and lives in Manila.  The Ardern's are New Zealanders and have great accents!  They are wonderful gospel teachers and great church leaders.  Our missionaries loved listening to them.

We had a Missionary Leadership Conference meeting on Tuesday at our home.  Sis. Ardern instructed our leaders on how to "ask, seek and knock."  President Ardern taught how to teach people not lessons.  He said, "as you live principles they become values that you defend to the death."  

You can see that our MLC loves getting together!

Wednesday and Thursday we had 1/2 mission conferences.  One was in Cabanatuan and one in Tarlac.  Each was attended by about 125 missionaries.  We had great instruction.  The Ardern's inspired and uplifted our missionaries with their love and wisdom.  

Baler, Bongabon, Cabanautuan, Guimba, Gapan and San Jose Zones

Tarlac, Angeles, Santa Ignacia, Camiling and Paniqui Zones

After lunch our missionaries sang our mission song, "Where the Finest Serve." 

Tuesday and Wednesday evenings were time for us to dine with the Ardern's, become better acquainted and learn more about our leadership duties.  We gained a deep respect for the Ardern's as they have lived away from home in church service for most of the past 10 years. We were greatly benefited by their visit and are honored to count them as friends.