Zone Conference Is Like Christmas For Missionaries

The other day we told someone that we got to go to Zone Conference today and they told us that Zone Conference is like Christmas for missionaries.  After attending the Zone Conference we agree completely with that comment.

Here are some of the ways that today's Zone Conference was like Christmas for us.  Christmas is a time to gather as a family.  The other missionaries are like family to us already, we claim them all and thoroughly enjoy seeing those that we have not seen in a while. Add to that the great tradition of having a family meal together, the mission had Mama's New York Deli bring Chicken Parmesan Penne Pasta.  We got to eat with President and Sister Moon and Elder Hibbert and Elder Chhouk. What a joy.

Christmas is also a time to enjoy wonderful goodies that usually add more to your weight than you really want.  Sister Moon had cooked homemade chocolate chip cookies for the first break, and it did not take long for the missionaries to wipe them all out.  Another tradition that the Moons have done is banana bread for the missionaries when they have interviews with President Moon.  Sister Moon also baked small loaves of banana bread for everybody at Zone Conference.

You cannot forget the gifts for Christmas.  Again President Moon has had a tradition as missionary leaves to go home, of giving each a copy of a book that he wrote titled "To Thine Own Self Be True".  He decided to give all of the missionaries a copy of his book as a final gift as the Moons go home.

Zone Conference is really about training the missionaries on their duty, and plenty of that happened today also.  Sister Moon taught us about work. We are here to work hard and wise.  She used the scriptures and testified boldly.  President Moon taught us that the Church has changed the way that Sacrament Meetings are to be planned.  The Brethren have asked that they be planned in Ward and Branch Council Meeting now.  President Moon emphasized that the missionaries are suppose to be invited to the Ward and Branch Councils, and that they need to be actively involved in deciding what should happen in Sacrament Meeting.  There is suppose to be a special emphasis on the Sacrament and reverence. It was a fantastic Zone Conference as always.

At 4:00 p.m. we went to a meeting at the U.S. Embassy about healthcare here in Cambodia.  It was a very frank discussion about Malaria, Dengue Fever, and which hospitals to go to and which ones to avoid.  It was good to be on U.S. property, even though it is in a foreign country, and
to see a U.S. flag and a U.S. Navy Medical Officer in uniform.  We went out to eat with the Meinzers after that meeting, again it was great company and good food.