OK, so I lied; I'm not really through posting about last year. But I just had to add a few memories of our one-and-only Christmas in the MTC. We'll be gone before next Thanksgiving, and there were so many wonderful memories of the Holiday Season with the MTC missionaries. First, we had a marvelous Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings. Our non-North Americans loved it as well; after all, how can you NOT enjoy a celebration that centers around gratitude for earthly blessings and a GREAT meal?!
Christmast Eve we invited the Temple Missionaries to join us for a "Christmas Eve Family Home Evening" including the re-enactment from Luke 2 & Matthew's account of the wise men. I was busy MC-ing and didn't get any pictures of that.
But then, Christmas morning,
Santa arrived:
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| President Sitterud makes a great Santa, but it was almost impossible to find a big enough suit |
Everyone got a special visit, which I've included for those who would like to see each missionary. I know it's a lot of pictures of the same thing, but not for the mom or dad whose missionary is pictured below. Enjoy......
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| Hermana Andrus |
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| Hermana Johns |
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| Hermana Samuelson |
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| Hermana Ramos |
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| Hermana Miller |
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| Hermana Demayola |
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| Hermana Davis |
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| Hermana Brumble |
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| Hermana Plummer |
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| Elder Anderson |
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| Elder Ryland |
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| Elder Dean |
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| Elder Marshall |
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| Elder Friese from Germany who is serving in Colorado, Spanish speaking |
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| Santa had a stocking for our teachers as well. Olga from Latvia |
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| Maestra Zane from Latvia |
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| Xavier Diaz, from Portugal |
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| Brother Marchan from Barcelona |
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| The Giorginos, from Rome, Italy |
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| And of course, Santa did not forget the Sullivans |
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| Later that day, all the missionaries took blankets and food sacks and went to downtown Madrid, the area called Sol to give to the poor and homeless. It was a very special opportunity and a wonderful way to celebrate Christmas. |
What a wonderful way to spend Christmas. Love you both.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a pretty happy occasion. You were each other's family for this holiday.
ReplyDeleteThank you, thank you, thank you for keeping this blog and posting pictures of the missionaries! My son, Elder Anderson, is in some of the pictures you have posted and it warms a mothers heart to see them. What a treat to hear about (and see) some of what happens in the MTC that we don't always hear about from our missionaries. It is wonderful to see the great work you are doing in Spain!
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