Catania/Palermo/Malta Zone Conference

September 23, 2013

The zone conference for the Catania, Palermo and Malta zones was held in Siciliy in Catania.  This is the first time we have had Malta join with Catania.  The last two times since we have been here, we have gone to Malta.

It's a full two days for us.  President interviews every one of the missionaries.  With the huge number of missionaries we currently have serving, it's impossible to accomplish everything in one day, especially when we have three zones combined.  As far as the missionaries are concerned, it's a time to meet with their president and see old companions.  We, on the other hand, are rethinking how to fit everything in.

It's inspiring to hear the new missionaries bear their testimonies during their first zone conference.  Some of them are still timid and others are very forceful.  We also had two sister missionaries who bore their dying testimonies.  (I still think the missionaries use some strange terminology, but it all makes sense to them.  The final transfer at the end of their mission that transfers them back home is called the super transfer.)

We've been trying to do a lot of role playing to help the missionaries feel more comfortable in introducing the restoration pamphlet and committing to baptism.  We've had them doing it in the past two zone conferences and followed up by doing the same thing this conference.   I have a real testimony that role playing is key to preparing successful missionaries.  It's very hard for a new missionary to open their mouth to teach or ask for a commitment.  Role playing with a companion or other missionary helps prepare them for the real thing.

Native Italian missionaries

Native Italian missionaries

First Testimony

First Testimony

First Testimony

Final Testimony

Final Testimony