Zone Conference with a General Authority ~ March 2, 2015

President Carl B. Cook. . . . of the First Quorum of the Seventy

Yesterday we were so excited to spend the day with President and Sister Monga and President and Sister Cook.  President Cook was doing a tour of the Mission and the Pointe Noire Zone Conference was scheduled for March 2, 2015.  Elder Bailey went to the hotel Villa Madiba at 7:30 A.M. as President Cook wanted to meet with the Zone Leader, Elder Beutler and District Leader, Elder Etherington at 8:15 sharp.  Our missionaries arrived on time and were here at 7:30 A.M sharp!

We were able to hear from Soeur Monga who talked to us about staying healthy and eating right.  She is over the health and welfare of each missionary and makes sure that they all are eating their vegetables and fruits! 

President Monga talked about ways that we could improve our teaching especially by using "good" questions in our discussions.  We read out of Preach My Gospel and he challenged us to use questions that will bring out the learning and teaching of each of our investigators.  

Sister Cook talked about the "iceberg".... how what we see on the outside is not always what is going on in the inside.  She had us role play about trying to understand the concerns of why our investigators were not progressing in the Gospel.  

We then were taught by President Cook.  He taught us many things, among which were the difference between testimony and conversion, and also the "Pattern of Progression".  We learned about how we can know the church is true and yet not be converted to the Gospel. We learned about taking our investigators from the "natural man" to a Saint and the process that is needed to help them become converted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and be able to endure to the end.  

At the conclusion we went around the room and expressed what one simple truth the Spirit had taught each us that day. It was a very inspirational meeting for everyone.

We finished the day around 7:00 P.M. and took them to the airport to finish their mission tour in Brazzaville for the next 2 days.  We are so grateful for President and Sister Cook and President and Sister Monga for coming to Pointe Noire and strengthening our testimonies so that we will be the best missionaries for the Lord.  

Elder and Sister Bailey and President and Sister Cook. 

Back row:  Elder Sperry, Elder Nzoronka, Elder Beutler, Elder Muamba, Elder Etherington, Elder Bulendolo, Elder Mbikayi and Elder Andriamiasinarivo.

Front row:  President and Sister Monga with President and Sister Cook.

Elder Beutler is our Zone Leader and works in the Mpaka Branche.

Elder Etherington is our District Leader and works in the Pointe Noire Branche.

Elder Mbikayi works in the Aéroport Branche

Elder Sperry works in the Aéroport Branch also.

Elder Bulendolo works in the Loandjili Branche.

Elder Andriamiasinarivo works in the Loandjili Branche also.

Elder Nzoronka is in the Pointe Noire Branche.

and Elder Muamba works in the Mpaka Branche....  President and Sister Cook were impressed with how tall Elder Muamba was.  All of their five children are tall so they felt right at home with him.

We prepared a special musical number for the day, where we used the guitar for one of the verses.  President wanted to show us that he also has musical talent!

Elder Bulendolo, Elder Etherington and Elder Nzoronka look on.  Elder Etherington is our music major and directs us in our musical numbers for the special conferences.  We sang "Now Let Us Rejoice" for President and Sister Cook. 

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How grateful we are for the Spirit that taught us and for the valuable servants who dedicate their lives to be special witnesses of our Savior Jesus Christ.  How we love them!

The Church is True!

Until next week!