Alicia District Conference

The Alicia District Conference was held on Jan. 8 and 9. President Carlos was the presiding officer and organized the proceedings. The conference started with a brief meeting with the district presidency and the mission presidency. Next we split up and went out to minister to some of the families who hadn't been attending regularly or who were new converts. Our car visited three amazing families. They welcomed us into their homes and seemed so grateful to come. One father explained that he felt guilty coming to church because he smoked. His family wanted to start coming again. (He had three beautiful daughters.) President offered to give him a blessing and the father agreed. When President Carlos was finished the father had tears streaming down his face and we were excited to see that family in the congregation on Sunday morning.
The afternoon was filled with priesthood and auxiliary training. Sister Carlos and Sister Breese taught the importance of receiving personal revelation in regards to our callings. They also conducted a Q&A session on the church's new Handbook of Instruction.
The Adult Session was held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.
Sunday morning began with a special session of investigators and new members. Many came and the spirit was so sweet. At 10 am the General Session began there was over 700 in attendance. We loved mingling with the special saints in Alicia before and after the meetings.

The Villanueva Family welcomed us with open arms. Their Tatay (Father) had passed away last June. His widow and three daughters and their husbands and families live together in their humble, but lovely home.

I was so impressed with the lovely decorator touches throughout their home.

Every inch of their home and yard showed such pride of ownership!

The wonderful couple recently joined the church. They have a darling little girl who was too shy to be in the picture. The father drives a trycie all day for his work, picking up passengers and goods to be delivered. He pays the trycie owner a fee and then makes whatever he can bring in above that after he pays for gas.