It's been another busy time since last I posted, but that's why we're here...to love our neighbors, help them when we are able and to teach them all about our Savior, Jesus Christ. He is the reason we celebrate at Christmas time and throughout the year. He loves us and has given us the greatest gift of all, if we but follow him, keep the commandments, and endure to the end.
I hope that everyone has enjoyed the holidays and now it's a brand New Year, so I'm wishing you all a very Happy New Year!
We began the holiday celebration with an activity day with all the missionaries from a couple of Zones. It was fun to see them having such a good time together. Basketball, Volleyball, board games and lots of muffins, kept us going on the morning of Thanksgiving. I kept my coat on because the temperature was cool, but for the active ones, it was probably just right.
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| Playing Sequence with some of the missionaries |
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| Pictures with some of the "Sister" missionaries |
In the afternoon, we gathered again with a bunch of Senior missionaries and one of their families. We
enjoyed a wonderful turkey dinner with all the trimmings...and I didn't
have to cook the bird...just provided some homemade cranberry sauce...a
must have for me. Unfortunately I didn't take any pictures to document
the event. My bad!
We celebrated Thanksgiving again by attending the Marshallese Thanksgiving at the Branch. Two of my children, John and JaneAnne, came with their families to visit and participate. Don't know if they'll want to do it again, but it was nice to have them here. The Marshallese love to get together and to sing and dance, but the volume is always up. John and his family came early and helped us put up our freshly cut tree, and then strung popcorn and cranberries to add to its festive look. Thanks Goodwill for providing so many of our Christmas decorations
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| Anna, Sister Henderson, Joseph, Julie making tree decorations |
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| Sister Peterson and Sister Henderson with decorated tree |
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| Family attending Marshallese Thanksgiving |
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| Olsen Family came back for games |
A few days later, we arrived home after our evening appointments to find we had received a "snowflake attack" on our apartment door, with a plate of "goodies", as well.
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| A snowflake attack by the young women of the Branch |
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The celebration of the season continued the following week with a training session at the Home in Maple Valley, followed by a lovely dinner.
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| Sisters Moreton, Wilde, Loo, President & Sister Eaton, Sisters Henderson and Martin |
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| Sisters Henderson, Webb and Martin (local missionary) |
We made a trip to Maple Valley to view the wonderful Nativity collections that were beautifully displayed...over 600 of them. We took some of the Marshallese members with us and had a great time.
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| Glena and Ermios |
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| Sister Henderson, Peterson and Martha |
We participated at a baptism for a couple of young Marshallese girls. It's a wonderful experience.
We were able to take some Marshallese to another Nativity display; this time with a concert and the First Presidency Christmas Devotional included. It was at the Federal Way Stake Center.
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| My niece, Amy Parker, contributed several nativities in her display |
We were able to participate in a wonderful Multi Zone Conference where Elder Corbridge of the Seventy spoke.
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| Elders McKendrick, Giles, Corbridge, Sisters Corbridge, Eaton, Pres Eaton |
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| Me with Sister and Elder Corbridge |
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The whole Auburn Zone was invited to the home of President Miles of the Auburn Stake for a Christmas lunch. It's always wonderful to be around a bunch of enthusiastic missionaries and this time to hear their voices as they harmonized in singing Christmas carols.
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| View of Mt. Rainier from Pres Miles home |
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We had a fun Christmas party with treats and a white elephant gift exchange. Both Senior and young missionaries participated.
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| Sister Henderson wearing her "white elephant" |
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| Elder Evans decided he like it too, and "stole" it from her |
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| President Eaton in a surprise rendition with his accordian | | |
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We planned a Christmas Eve dinner with another couple of Senior sisters and this time, we did do the turkey and all the fixings. They seemed to enjoy the evening, as did we. We even read from Luke 2 and played a few rounds of Sequence.
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| Sisters Henderson, Webb and Rex playing Sequence on Christmas Eve |
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Christmas Day found us celebrating with the Marshallese. The organized a big lunch/dinner starting at 1 p.m. and after all the food was served the program began. There was lots of singing and dancing and visiting amongst all the attendees. It was fun to watch, but it is an all day affair and they spent hours beforehand preparing their musical numbers. I took pictures of a lot of the attendees to help me also with trying to remember all their names.
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| Josephine (often our translator), Rumi, Nora |
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| Glenna with granddaughters |
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| Fukiko and her children |
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| Inez and her children plus some friends |
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| Daniel, Glenna's grandson |
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| Eddy and Junior |
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| Texas, Henry, Noan, Damian, Kiwa |
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| Moses and Kuchi |
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| Luke & Kennadee, Charmi and Hyrum |
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| Kiala and Clara |
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| Bonifaco, Likien, and Bonie |
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| Sustela, Amylia, and Joseph all beautifully dressed for Christmas |
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| The Relief Society Sisters doing their number |
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| Alma and Lee |
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| Youth performing |
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| 48 Quart container filled to the top with rice |
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| This is a lot of hair and very long |
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| Another group of singers and dancers |
One last shot of the year. We were invited over to one of our Marshallese family's home for New Year's Eve and I was able to get a picture of the cook in the kitchen with his daughter. Fun evening, good food and we taught them to play Sequence. They had such fun that they said they were going out the next day to get the game.
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| Richard and Ariele |
It's been a wonderful year! Hope 2014 is another great one! Happy New Year!!!
