Christmas 2009

Dear Family and Friends,

We hope you had a wonderful Christmas celebrating our Savior’s birth. We had the privilege of going with the Spanish-speaking Sisters a few nights before Christmas to a family from El Salvador. The home was very humble according to worldly standards. Inside was a brilliantly lit Christmas tree, a gift from the oldest boy’s grade school.

In young Juan’s class the teacher asked each child what they would like for Christmas and he had said, “I only want a Christmas Tree. I have never had one.” When the school heard this they chipped in and bought and delivered a tree with lights and all the trimmings. Little Juan and his brother were so happy to show us their tree. It was indeed beautiful!

A high school girl and her family joined us when we went to visit our El Salvador family that night. The girl’s Spanish class wanted to provide Christmas for a struggling Spanish family and they had chosen Juan Sr’s. We helped the family carry in presents with the sister missionaries.

We showed the family a Christmas video about Christ’s birth and then we went around the tiny room and all 14 of us shared our feelings about our Savior.

The remarkable thing was the sister missionaries prayed before we went in to the house. They prayed the family might understand us even though they would be interpreting for us. This is where the miracle took place. As we each shared our tender feelings the room became bathed in soft light, there was no language barrier, and our hearts were full to over-flowing. We felt like we were “the privileged shepherds” visiting Mary and Joseph. Such a good experience.

Christmas Eve we returned from a Zone Conference in West Virginia. A very sweet family invited us to join their family for dinner and a Christmas program afterwards. There were several little children so they dressed up and did the Nativity. Between each reading we sang a Christmas carol accompanied by a hand held harp. The young lady playing slid a sheet of music under the strings. The paper had black dots under the string you were to play and anyone could then play the song. It was kind of like guitar hero without the paper moving.

The last carol was missing the sheet of music so Scott asked if he could try and he strummed a few strings and then he played the song for all of us to sing. Ah the gift of playing by ear! I was so proud of him.

Christmas morning we were invited to a member’s home to help prepare Christmas brunch for the elders. This member loves to invite missionaries and new people in the ward who don’t have family close by to spend Christmas morning with him. We had a wonderful breakfast and then played a few games while the elders took turns calling their families.

Today at church one of the sisters we have been teaching the temple preparation classes to said that she has the next two weeks off since the family she nannies for is on vacation. She said, “I am so looking forward to spending the next two weeks reading my scriptures and drawing closer to the Lord and getting my life in harmony with His will.” Wow!

This year instead of giving gifts I learned how to receive them. There have been so many sweet acts of service preformed for us and other missionaries. When we return to Idaho our Christmas celebrations will have a larger circle of friends for sure. We now know what it is like to be on the outside and away from home.

Thank you for your gifts of love you sent and your phone calls. It felt so good to hear each of your voices. We know this is the great work of the Lord we are engaged in. We see miracles everyday here and blessings on those back at home. Thank you Heavenly Father for your watchful care.

We love you all.
MOM and DAD