The Nativity in front of the Church Offices
Monday the 24th and time to divide and conquer! We have nothing made but a few cookies and need to give our two guards, three office missionaries, and the Hughes something for Christmas. So I stayed home today to cook and Elder Thompson went to the office to organize contractors to get some needed repairs done on a few "pensiones'. I made some zucchini bread and bars to go with the cookies for everyone. After delivering our plates of goodies, Elder and Hermana Hughes took us out to dinner to celebrate our birthdays. We decided to try out the Chinese Restaurant that we walk by every time we walk to the office. The food was great and the people who own the restaurant were so cute. They were from China and their Spanish was so bad. We had quite a time understanding them. But it was a great adventure. We will go there again!Ginger's Christmas package arrived in the mail today. Mindi's cards have not arrived yet. She sent hers a day before Kip and Tawnya and theirs arrived. Oh well, we have something to look forward to next week.
Tuesday the 25th and it is 90 degrees out today. We started the day at 9am. We helped load all 165 stockings that we made and filled into Elder Hughes van then went to the office with both vehicles to load tables, mail pouches, and 3 Elders. We drove to the La Reina Stake Center where the devotional and lunchen were held.
The gym was set up to feed 175
Everything was beautiful
And the Elders and Hermana's began arriving. They don't all get together very often so there was a lot of hugs and greetings. It did get a bit noise in the chapel.
The devotional was great. Each Zone presented a musical number and the President and his family all spoke, except for Grace who is in the stripped shirt. She has been sick but tried to come to support her dad and the missionaries. She didn't feel like talking so the President asked me to bear my testimony. So, after apologizing for murdering the Spanish language, I thanked these young missionaries for being willing to serve their Father in Heaven and let them know how much we love serving with them. President, his wife and two of his daughters spoke in between the musical numbers. The zone that asked for help with O Holy Night really did a pretty good job. It was first so no one remembered it at the end.
These two are the mission trainers, Hermana Otterstrom y Hermana Zacarias. They are the ones in charge of this special Christmas Day event. They did a great job.
Elder Hughes wrote a poem for this occasion and I am going to include it here so that we don't ever loose it.
"T'was the night before Mission Christmas
T'was the night before Christmas when all thru the pension,
All the Elders had been cleaning, having failed their inspection.
Clean stockings were hung in the patio with care,
The dryer was broken, wouldn't blow any hot air.
Brand new elders were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of baptisms danced in their heads.
Brother Hughes in his recliner and his wife on her couch,
Had just settled in from their run with the Pouch.
When down in the kitchen there arose such a clamor
Twas the Thompsons at work, with their tool box and hammer.
Then what to their wondering eyes should appear,
But the Mission Sleigh and 9 assistant reindeer.
Sister Brotherson was driving, well dressed, confident,
Seated beside her, our Santa President.
With secretaries, assistants and lead sisters they came,
And they whistled and shouted and called them by name,
Now Reque, now Torres, Saldarriaga and Rose
On Elder Gonzalez (Whom he just recently chose).
Now Ottersrtom and Zacarias, with their smiles all aglow,
And both Acevedos, from their bodega below.
As I tucked in my shirt and was turning around,
Down the chimney President came with a bound.
He was dressed in Temple white from his head to his shoes,
He held his scriptures, and Ensign and the most recent Church News.
His eyes how they twinkled, His laughter so merry,
His cheeks were like roses, His mind filled with query.
His smile so joyous, drawn up like a bow,
He was slender and tall, a right jolly old elf,
And I felt peaceful and calm, in spite of myself.
A wink of his eye, and a nod of his head,
Filled me with faith, that I had nothing to dread.
He spoke words of wisdom, said "Go --Do the Lord's work",
Then he filled us with challenges, like "Don't ever shirk".
And extending his arms, he gave us each a big hug,
We all felt as warm as celestial bugs in a rug.
But I heard him exclaim, to all sisters and men,
Happy Christmas to all - - -Just be in by ten.
After a lunch of barbequed beef and pork, potato salad, tomatos and cucumbers, avocado salad, lettuce salads, rice and breads and cakes, the right/left game was played. They ended up with the original gift they had brought so Elder Thompson got to shout out a few right/left commands as it was his birthday.
Elder Reque reading the right/left game
The whole group, Hermanas Acevedo, Hughes, Thompson on right side
The white haired two in the very back on the right side are Elders Hughes and Thompson. These two both had birthdays this month and turned 69.
We were able to video chat on WhatsApp with Tracy and his family, Ginger and her family, and Mindi and her family. We kept missing Shayla's call so we will have to see them another day.
Lon received a 50 piece puzzle from Ginger and put it together "all" by himself. I was good and kept my mouth shut so he could do it. We had a wonderful Christmas Day.
Wednesday we were inspecting apartments again. Here are a few of the buildings that our young missionaries live in:
from small quaint houses
to high-rise apartments
Elder Thompson with the young Elders carrying his tool box
to condominiums
and back to the quaint humble homes
We are teaching these young missionaries how to clean the filters on their washers and dryers and defrost frigs. We are repairing cabinet doors, drawers, toilets and whatever else we want to fix. The big stuff we assign out to one of our 5 contractors to do.
Thursday was a very long day. We went with the Hughes down town to the federal offices to work on Visa's. We left at 7:30 and got back to the office at 1. We did accomplish all that we went to do so that was a positive. Just a lot of sitting and waiting.
Friday was another day of inspections and repairs. We have now inspected 64 of the 74 houses. Only 10 more to do. It is nice when the missionaries call in with a problem that we can go to the file and see the house and know what they are talking about. We still need to get the Elders out of one of the apartments but have not found anything new to rent. Housing is difficult to come by.
I'll end with a couple of fotos taken from the top of the high-rises. We have definitely been to all areas of this city. We send our love to all and wish you a Happy New Year!
To dinner with the Hughes. After a busy week, it felt good to sit outside at the Peruvian Restaurant and relax with dear friends.
Till next week, Chao
No comments:
Post a Comment