The lighthouse at Formentor, Mallorca

The background shows sidewalk tiles - "rajoles" - that pave the sidewalks throughout Barcelona. They were designed by architect Puig i Cadafalch for the entryway of a home. Since 1915, they have been used by the city to pave sidewalks, and have become emblematic of the city. One of the city's most famous chocolatiers, Enric Rovira, produces chocolate bars in the shape and design of these tiles.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

District Conference in Palma

In the mission we have one mission district and three mission branches. This weekend the Baleares District held their semi-annual district conference. Elder Johann A. Wondra, an Area Authority Seventy from Vienna, Austria, presided.

The Baleares District consists of five branches: Poniente, Levante (both in Palma de Mallorca), Inca, Manacor (other cities on Mallorca), and Menorca (a smaller island east of Mallorca). The Balearic Islands of the Mediterranean are located between Spain and Italy. They are one of the main vacation spots of Europe, where nearly every royal family has a home. And with good reason: the sun is bright, the beaches are white, the sea is blue, and the cities are beautiful. But even more attractive and the wonderful Latter-Day Saints of the Balearic District!

Pte. Hinckley, Pte. Vadillos (2nd Counselor in the District) and two of his children (Marta and Jorge), Lemar Varella (about to submit his missionary papers), Elder Wondra, Pte. Alfonso (2nd Counselor in the Mission). [Note the High School Musical bag carried by Marta - they recently returned from Disneyland Paris!]

We held a priesthood leadership session on Saturday afternoon, with a simultaneous session for auxiliary leaders (at which Hna. Hinckley was the only speaker). We then had a refreshment break where the District Relief Society provided an enormous buffet of Mallorcan "tapas" - empanadas, pizza, and the famous Mallorcan ensiamada! We then had a wonderful adult session before returning to out hotel.

Hna. Hinckley with the family of one of our leaders.

For the Sunday meetings the District had rented a larger hall, set up chairs, brought in hymn books, and had everything ready to go. We met at 10:00 with the recent converts (and at least one investigator), then had the general session from 11:00 - 1:00 p.m. Pte. Alfonso conducted the business (a change in one of the counselors in the district, two young men to be ordained to the Melchizedek Priesthood, and a change in one of the branch presidents), followed by the choir singing the 23rd Psalm. Pte. Gomez, the District President spoke, then one of his counselors, then a sister was called on to bear her testimony, and then Hna. Hinckley spoke. After an intermediate hymn, Pte. Hinckley spoke and then Elder Wondra took the balance of the meeting.

The Palma Missionary Zone. (Elder Reynolds is behind Elder Groves...)

The choir provided the closing hymn: "Come Thou Font" - but in Spanish the lyrics are the words from "Oh My Father." It was a wonderful arrangement, beautifully performed with piano and a small choir.

In the "wrap-up" meeting with Elder Wondra, the District leaders voiced two concerns: reverence and the fact that there were many who should have been in attendance but were not - further evidence that the Church is the same all over the world!

Hna. Diehl, Hna. Bentley, Isabel, Hna. Hinckley. Isabel is a 17-year old member who was in England on study abroad during the summer, and enters the University in Madrid this fall. She is an example of some the great youth we have in the this part of the world! (Elder Groves is smiling in the background!)

Hna. Hinckley with some of the Young Single Adults.


6 comments:

  1. Great report! Sounds like a lot of speaking. I want to hear "come thou font" in Spanish. Today in church we sang "The Spirit of God" & I cried thinking about when I sang that in Spanish at the Madrid Temple dedication!

    Thanks for always remembering to take pictures! The members look wonderful!

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  2. I never heard "Come Thou Fount" until I went to the MTC, and I love it! That would have been great to hear in Spanish! Sounds like a great meeting. I wish I was still there with Hermanas Diehl and Bentley!

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  3. the missionaries look so happy, and Isabel is gorgeous.

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  5. I'm Hermana Diehl's sister. She just sent us this blog address. Thanks so much for sharing, it's great to learn more of the Barcelona Mission! And I love the pictures!

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  6. Quien es Elder Groves que esta en cada foto?? Me gusta las fotos de Hermana Diehl, ella es muy linda!

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