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.