Christmas Phone Call :)

We enjoyed talking to Anziano Bulloch on the phone for Christmas yesterday. It was the highlight of the day. Russ, Ryan and I all had a handset, so we could all hear and talk at the same time. It was almost like sitting around the table talking like we used to. We loved it!

Ty is doing great. He is in the last stretch of his mission, with just a little more than five months to go. He loves his new companion Anziano McGuire and really enjoys working so closely with and getting to know President Dunaway better. He also likes having access to a car, instead of taking the bus, even if it is a stick shift and he had to learn how to drive it for the first time. :)

It was great to hear his voice and feel the connection to him. He sends his love to everyone and hopes you all have a great 2009.

Feliz Navidad!

We went over to Temple Square today - the grounds are looking SO beautiful. Poinsettia's are native to Mexico and grow very well here. This is an oasis in this city!

The Missing Ornaments are Finally Here!

Today the office secretaries delivered an envelope from my sister, Jill. It was postmarked October 20, 2008. Yes, the ornaments her cute little family sent FINALLY arrived. Who knows why they took so long, the envelope even had AIRMAIL on it! Thanks for sending them Jill - they are really cute. I'll send a picture of them to Ty. :) (I don't think the Mexican mail service wins many awards for speed)

A Christmas Story

On Fast Sunday we had a Christmas lesson - the teacher shared a really beautiful story with us. I asked her for a copy, and thought I would share it. It's a little long, but it is a good one. It helps me remember all the wonderful blessings I have in my own life.


In 1994 two Americans answered an invitation from the Russian Department of Education to teach morals and ethics, based on biblical principles, in the public schools. They were invited to teach at prisons, businesses, the fire and police departments, and a large orphanage. About 100 boys and girls, who had been abandoned, abused, and left in the care of the government-run program were in the orphanage. They related the story in their own words:
“It was nearing the holiday season, 1994, time for our orphans to hear, for the first time, the traditional story of Christmas. We told them about Mary and Joseph arriving in Bethlehem. Finding no room in the inn, the couple went to a stable, where the baby Jesus was born and placed in a manger. Throughout the story, the children and orphanage staff sat in amazement as they listened. Some sat on the edges of their stools, trying to grasp every word. Completing the story, we gave the children three small pieces of cardboard to make a crude manger. Each child was given a small paper square, cut from yellow napkins I had brought with me. No colored paper was available in the city. Following instructions, the children tore the paper and carefully laid strips in the manger for straw. Small squares of flannel, cut from a worn-out nightgown an American lady was throwing away as she left Russia, were used for the baby’s blanket. A doll-like baby was cut from tan felt we had brought from the United States.”
“The orphans were busy assembling their manger as I walked among them to see if they needed any help. All went well until I got to one table where little Misha sat. He looked to be about six years old and had finished his project. As I looked at the little boy’s manger, I was startled to see not one, but two babies in the manger. Crossing his arms in front of him and looking at this completed manger scene, the child began to repeat the story very seriously. For such a young boy, who had only heard the Christmas story once, he related the story accurately until he came to the part where Mary put the baby Jesus in the manger. Then Misha started to adlib. He made up his own ending to the story as he said, ‘And when Mary laid the baby in the manger, Jesus looked at me and asked me if I had a place to stay, I told him I have no mamma and I have no papa, so I don’t have any place to stay. Then Jesus told me I could stay with him. But I told him I couldn’t, because I didn’t have a gift to give to him like everybody else did. But I wanted to stay with Jesus so much, so I thought about what I had that maybe I could use for a gift. I thought maybe if I kept him warm that would be a good gift. So I asked Jesus, “If I keep you warm, will that be a good enough gift?” And Jesus told me, ‘if you keep me warm, that will be the best gift anybody ever gave me.’ So I got into the manger, and then Jesus looked at me, and he told me I could stay with him – for always.’
“As little Misha finished his story, his eyes brimmed full of tears that splashed down his cheeks. Putting his hand over his face, his head dropped to the table and his shoulders shook as he sobbed and sobbed. The little orphan had found someone who would never abandon nor abuse him, someone who would stay with him for always, and who would bring him comfort and joy forever,
At this sacred season may we remember that Jesus Christ is always there for each of us, bringing us comfort and joy! He is the end of death, tears, sorrow, crying, pain and guilt. He is the beginning of Joy, Peace, Love, and Life Eternal.

Hard to say goodbye (again)

We had another group leave us, this time we had sixteen Elders and one Hermana say goodbye.
We take them to the airport VERY early in the morning - but the traffic is really good at that time of day. :)

One of the Elders had a little mishap after arriving at the mission home, he was downstairs and passed out. He just happened to be right by the sliding glass door and fell against it. The glass shattered (I guess they don't have to use safety glass here) and he ended up with a large gash in his left leg, a small cut on the hand and a small cut on his lip. It was pretty bloody everywhere. Russ rushed him to the hospital and got him stitched up. They came back and we ended up having our dinner/testimony meeting only one hour late!

I didn't take time to take a picture of the broken glass, but the maintenance guys came over and got rid of all the glass and put cardboard in the door. Ryan and some of the other Elders played a little hoop while they were waiting for the Elder to come back from the hospital. He was able to go home the next morning on schedule. Luckily, his mom is a nurse.

The missionaries got their packets with their passport, visas, a little travel money, their release info for their stake presidents, and their tuberculosis test info.

We really enjoy having the missionaries come to the house before they leave, it's a very special meeting. We hope that we don't have anyone else pass out and need stitches though! :)

Second Stake President's Dinner

These are some of the other Stake Presidents and their wives that are in our mission. We've enjoyed getting to know them better. Reyna made her wonderful chicken enchiladas; she made them a little spicier than usual, knowing that it would be mostly Mexicans eating them. Mexicans like food a little hot/spicy!

One of the couples brought their daughter with them, and we also had Presidente Parra with us for the evening (he is Russ' 1st Counselor, far right on the second row). His wife couldn't come, she was in Italy helping their daughter. And of course, Elder & Sis. Cabrera (Area Seventy assigned to our mission, middle of the front row). It was a nice time.

New Missionaries

We got our seven delayed missionaries from Provo on Tuesday! It's great to have them here, we hope they'll adjust quickly. We took them to La Onda for tacos al pastor, gringas, and alhambre. Some of the favorite foods of the locals :) We almost always have the two secretaries with us, and also the two assistants. They enjoy going with the new missionaries - and they enjoy having some great tacos. :)

We'll do it again in about four weeks :)

Russ and I were counting it up - in 2008 we've had about 142 missionaries go home, and 142 missionaries arrive. That's 71% of the mission that is new this year. Next year will be more stable, and the groups that arrive and depart won't be so huge. I think the biggest group next year is 9. This year the biggest group was 26. I'm glad it will settle down a little - big groups are a lot of work!