ZLC--CLUE! Captain Moroni

Once in a great while President feels the need to gather our zone leaders for an overnight training. They arrive at 4 pm and stayed until 1 pm the next day.

This time he wanted to do some training on examples of great leaders found in the Book of Mormon. So to get us all thinking in that direction we created a life-sized CLUE game with 6 Book of Mormon Leaders. Zone leaders were put on teams and had to run all over the mission home, office, and church building next door to find the "characters" make guesses and try to figure out what the clues were telling them. (They were to figure out a prophet, prophetic statement and a place.)

 King Benjamin aka Elder Shaner on his tower.

 Elder Mioli made a great Captain Moroni

 Elder Huffstutler made a perfect Nephi.

 Who else? It's Samuel the Lamanite on the city wall. (Elder Gottfredson)

 There's Alma near the Waters of Mormon. (Elder Mills)

It's Abinadi complete with his chains. Thanks Elder Laker, you are a great sport.

As teams were trying to play the game they were distract by our senior sisters who were trying to lure them to buy things and waste their time. At the beginning of the game teams were given wallets filled with Zarahemla bucks. (In a mission there are many distractions that our missionaries encounter--this part of the game led to a good discussion after.)

 Sister Gottfredson sold fresh, out of the oven, cinnamon bread sticks.

 Sister Mills was selling juice drinks, but the weather was cool and noone would stop and buy from her. She ended up begging for their money!

 Who could resist Sister Shaner's game of chance to win freshly baked oatmeal cookies?

Sister Laker actually sold out of her fruit kabobs, evidence that missionaries could be distracted from their focus.

If teams figured out the clues, they had to find the angel and make their final guess. (President Carlos was the angel.) The winning team won a briefcase full of candy.

The game brought our thoughts towards the great leaders in the Book of Mormon. After the game groups were given a section of the Book of Mormon to read about Captain Moroni. They were told to read the passages, discuss them and pull out the leadership qualities they could find. Next they were asked to create a 5 to 10 minute presentation about the leadership quality they most admired. The groups got right down to business.

 One team met in the bunk house.

 This team met at the top of the stairs in the mission home.

Getting creative, this team made costumes and all as they spoke of Captain's Moroni ability to prepare his men.

 This team is discussing ways to present their theme.They met in the office foyer.

And finally in the living room, this team was digesting their passages before deciding how they would present their information.

We took a break for dinner, which was Mexican Fajitas, Refried Beans, Spanish Rice. Everyone seemed to love them and ate to their heart's content.

After dinner we invited the senior couples who were available to come back and watch the team's presentations. They were fun and informative.

 Elder Schmidt, Amoreda, Delector and Valdez sang us a hymn that they felt exemplified some of Moroni's character traits.

 This team acted out the battle between the Lamanites....(Elder Rocaberte and Elder Gloria)

 ....And the prepared Nephites. (Elder Elgan)

 This team did an analogy of the Good Shepherd and how Moroni was also a great example of a caring, concerned leader. They sheep were especially good actors, they were Elder Averion and Elder Ziegler.

                                                   Elder Oliver was the good shepherd.

 Elder Needs, Elder Hamblin, Elder Wooden and Elder Galang made a title of liberty and took turns writing one of Moroni's best traits on it.

 Elder Huffstutler acted as an announcer for one group's skit. It was about Moroni and three fighers--Zara-Hem and La. All came to try to win a pot in an arm wrestling tournament. Of course none of them could beat Moroni and so he won all the money. Because of his great compassion he wasn't able to keep the money.

                                            Elder Williamson did a great acting job as Moroni.

After the presentations it was time for a little fun before bedtime snack, prayer and lights out.

 Indoor football? I have to admit I said a little prayer for safety when I saw this was going on.

Looks like Elder Schmidt was the quarter back.

                                                 Elder Caoayan challenges Elder Hamblin.

                                           Elder Hamblin headed right over for some ping pong.

 Movie--We watched David and Goliath (A musical starring a former NBA player)

                                                           Basketball in the rain!
Wednesday started with personal scripture study time and then a big breakfast of sausages (from the US) scrambled eggs, rice, juice or milk,and bananas.
Then our regular council began. It's a time where our leaders bring forth concerns or questions and the leaders council together. President ended the morning with a testimony meeting where every elder shared their testimony. The spirit was so strong, there were tears and words shared that were so powerful. I kept thinking I wish that every one of these young men's mothers could be a fly on the wall and hear their sons proclaim their beliefs with such strength. I am totally in awe of these young men. I love each one of them and feel it such an honor to rub shoulders with them. I love this mission and I love this church!