Merry Christmas! Leadership Training and Christmas Activity

During the month of December we held training meetings in the North and in the South. We invited all the missionaries to attend. The training was on "How to Begin Teaching". It was amazing as to the insights that we all gained as we shared experiences that we have had and also as we continue to role play.  We also had the opportunity to hear the testimonies of those missionaries who will soon be leaving.

After the morning meeting was over a Christmas Luncheon was served by the Sparks Stake Relief Society in the North and the Tule Springs Stake Relief Society in the South.  Both lunches were wonderful.  When lunch was over we returned to the chapel.  Elder Kiaha touched all of our hearts as he sang "O Holy Night".  We then watched the movie "17 Miracles".   What an incredible movie.   President Black asked if there was anyone who would like to share a miracle that they have experienced or felt in their life.  Many missionaries shared some pretty tender feelings as they shared with us the miracles that they have experienced.  The meeting was closed as President Black and I shared some of our own experiences and feelings and we all sang Silent Night.

The Las Vegas Stake Relief Society put together bags for all 200 of the missionaires in the mission. The bags were filled with a tie for the elders and a necklace for the sisters, toothpaste, a toothbrush, a pin, two boxes of cereal, some candy, a little book of quick and easy recipes, Christmas poems and stories.  Thank you!

South Activity

The Relief Society led us in a rousing version of The 12 Days of Christmas

Merry Christmas to all!

Love,

President and Sister Black

Thanksgiving - Turkey Bowl

 It seems to be the tradition that on Thanksgiving morning a few friendly rounds of flag football are played. There were also plenty of supporters watching from the sidelines. This year was no different! Representatives from all zones were out on the field. The weather was perfect and a good time was had by all!

The enitre Black family was there from Utah to

cheer from the sidelines.

Training for the new missionaries and the trainers

A new training  program has recently been introduced to the missions throughout the church. Because the responsibility to train a new missionary is so important and because the trainer has such a profound and lasting influence of the new missionary's attitudes, habits, and ability to fulfill his or her purpose, the new program allows for an additional 60 minutes to be spent in companion study for the first 12 weeks of the new missionary's mission.

The companionship will be following a training schedule that will include study from Preach My Gospel, watching DVDs that have been provided, and applying the training model through role playing; to explain, demonstrate, practice, evaluate and repractice.

Meetings are held for the trainer before the new missionary comes to the mission to teach how to apply the program. Once the new missionary and the trainer are together there is another meeting held to train the companionship together. Those who have started this program have thoroughly enjoyed it and appreciated the training that it provides for both the new missionary and the senior companion.

This is the group of new missionaries and their trainers

serving in the north area of the mission.

Zone Lead Council -- In the South and in the North

 Zone Leader Council is held the first week of each month. President Black and the Assistants train the Zone Leaders so that they can go back and train the Zones and the District Leaders. Because of the transfer and because so many of the previous Zone Leaders went home we have a number of new Zone Leaders called to serve.

North Zone Leaders

 Elders Summers, Andrews, Camp, Hensley, Theurer, Marks, Asay, Kiaha, Bunnell, Chamberlain

 President and Sister Rands; President and Sister Black

President Rands is a Counsellor in the Mission Presidency.  The Rand's live

in Reno and help take care of the Mission in the North.

 South Zone Leaders

 Elders Lento, Kiaha, Hugie, Corvalan, Sugiyama, Mathis, Smithey, Rice, Cooper

Elders Stevens, Miller, Bunnell
(Elder Bunnell and Elder Kiaha serve as Assistants to President Black)

And, again, the caravan moves on! Transfers...November 29, 2011

Two years later......

Another group of Elders finished their service as missionaries on November 28th. We had a farewell dinner and a testimony meeting before taking time to sign journals and settle down for a few hours of sleep. At, what seemed like still the middle of the night, everyone was up, showered, dressed, packed and eating breakfast before loading up the trailer to head to the airport. Again, it was a bittersweet farewell to a group we have come to love.

 Elder Bush

 Elder Towns

 Elder Robinson

 Elder Petersen

 Elder Simmons

 Elder Estes

 Elder Smith

 Elder Wilson

 Elder Pomee

 Elder Williams (and his mother)

 Elder Sine (and his mother)