Best Christmas Moments

At our last Zone meeting, it was a little sad because we had five missionaries going home. Two of them were from our district. I decided to make two batches of cookies, to say goodbye and Merry Christmas. As I sat there, I felt said the parents couldn’t be there. So I started taking pictures. When we had a break, I told the 24 missionaries, if they gave me their parents email I would send the pictures to all their parents. I sent over 40 pictures to the parents. I thought it would be sending a little Christmas gift. The next Monday we had four single military personnel and two missionaries over for dinner. I made three different kinds of soup.

I heard back from two parents, thanking me for the pictures. One of the mothers that thanked me was one of the missionaries that came for dinner. So I sent more pictures. Elder de la Bruere is a new, 18-year-old missionary. He's young, but he’s so smart!

Sunday was another delightful day. We walked with some of the unaccompanied to dinner from the church. Two different times I've had these soldiers pour out their heart to me and ask for my advice. It was humbling. The challenges they face are more difficult because they leave their families for a year at a time.

I am so grateful for the shoes my kids bought before my mission. We walked about 3 miles, by the time Sunday was over. Monday was here again. We always see what the group from Camp Humphrey’s wants to do for FHE. This week it was to play pool. One of the people from the group who heard about the activity after it was planned, brought his bathing suit and a towel! Wrong kind of pool! I made carmel popcorn balls and cocoa. It was a fun evening! Dan, I mean Elder Hawks, really got into the pool game. 

Temple with the Elders and Sisters

We usually go to the temple the first Saturday of the month with the military branches we work with. This time we went with some of the Elders and Sisters in our mission, on Thanksgiving day. President and Sister Turner were taking the Bastian’s to the Airport. Sister Black was sick so we went with Brother Black on the subway to the Temple. It was our first time to go on the subway. We were leaving from the mission home, so I was a little surprised how long it took to get there. It was a real work out! We walk to the subway. We only had to change the subway one time.    

Then we had about a mile walk, some of which was uphill. I cannot imagine walking that far in the summer. As we waited to get ready for the session, we visited with these missionaries that were in a different Zone than we were serving in.   

We asked one missionary where he was from; he said, “Utah, from a town you haven’t heard of.” I told him to just tell me. He said, “Cedar Hills." Chuckling I said, “I actually have heard of it. I built a home there 24 years ago.” Elder Price is from our Stake! Because the session was full of missionaries, we were asked to be the witness couple. After the session, it was fun getting to know these amazing missionaries.