Christmas Packages and Fun!

Today dad and I went to the post office to pick up more Christmas packages for the missionaries. While dad was loading presents off the dock into the car I was inside putting stamps on our own Christmas Cards. There was a man in his late 30’s' early 40’s standing next to me doing the same thing. The following is our conversation:

“Hey, we’re both doing our Christmas thing putting stamps on Christmas cards!” I said cheerfully.

“I, guess.” He said, a little down.

“How many lucky people get your cards this year?”

“Thirty three.”

“Are your kids getting excited for Christmas?”

“I don’t have any kids.”

“Well, then are you getting excited for Christmas?” I asked as I kept peeling and sticking stamps.

“Not really. We are going to my in-laws for Christmas and I hate to go because it is boring. We never do anything. The only good thing is that we are only staying a few days.”

“Well, I guess because you love your wife you can do anything for a few days, huh? I have noticed some families just sit around and watch TV while others go outside and do things. Maybe you could look around and fix some things while you are there. That way you don’t have to be just sitting around getting bored.  I guarantee her parents will think you are incredible.”

“Well, I do like to fix things. But, I just hate not having the right tools.”

“Could you take a few of your own so you have the right tools?”

“Ya, I sure could.   BIG PAUSE    “I don’t know why I couldn’t!”  

He walked over to the drop box and deposited his letters. As he walked past me he smiled and said brightly, “You have a Merry Christmas, Ma’m!”

“Same to you, Sir!”

Aah, I do love Christmas.

Here are a few pictures of all the presents stacked up in President’s office. Every day we bring a full carload home from the post office. What good memories it brings back of Christmas Eve and pulling out all the gifts and putting them under the tree. What fun times! O—did I tell you I love Christmas?

 Packages

 More Packages

 Still More!

Click this one to see Dad!

AND MORE!

Click this picture.

Here is the mission staff. 

 Here is where I work

 Elder Ayers is helping me sort the mail before forwarding it.

There is a LOT!

Hit and Stay

A mission miracle happened this past Monday. The Friday before, Scott showed our last used mission car to a family in our ward. They loved it and were very interested in buying it. They were just headed North for Thanksgiving and needed to work their finances so they would get back with us in a couple of days.

All weekend we received phone calls on the car and had to turn people down. Monday morning rolled around and it was plenty busy in the office. We never heard back from the interested family, but didn’t think much about it.

President Jensen came into the office Monday afternoon and broke the news about an accident that had just happened that morning. A missionary in Kentucky was hit by a car while riding his bicycle and broke his leg, in two places! It was quite the story.

As President Jensen was leaving the office he turned around and asked if we had any available mission cars not in use because the injured missionary and his companion would need a car now to proselyte in. Aaaa, Heavenly Father was watching out for the missionaries and for us too.

If we had sold the car we would not have had a vehicle available when we needed one and perhaps the missionary would have to go home to get better. What a blessing that he is alive and he can still stay and do missionary work.

WAIT the miracle isn’t over yet! The man that hit the missionary has visited the missionary several times in the hospital. He lives in the same area as the missionaries and has invited them to come to his home.

Can’t you just see it years from now. The man becomes a general authority and tells about his conversion: “When I ran into the missionaries it felt just like a huge jolt. I didn’t see them coming!” What a great story to tell!

Our missionary had a pin put in his leg and he got out of the hospital two days after surgery. He is doing well and super excited to teach the man that hit him. Don’t you just love the fire and drive of a missionary! What some missionaries will do to teach!!

Love, 

Mom