Whirlwind December

This month has really flown by. The ward here is really big on activities, so it was a jam-packed month. Relief Society Party, Caroling at the big Grocery store in town one morning, Victorian Christmas Caroling at Gadfield Elm, Zone Conference (for which I made a nice Christmas dinner for all the elders and sisters. Also made stockings for all of them. What fun to see them react. They are so appreciative of everything we do, which makes it so much fun. Mission Christmas Party on Christmas Eve in Birmingham. So great to be with all 136 missionaries at once and see their spirit. President and Sister Ogden went to a lot of work for this event. It was a major feat getting all of the missionaries there all at once--some in cars, some on trains, and scheduling them with cancellations because of bad weather, and then getting them all back home by 9:00 p.m. they had a fabulous dinner of roast pork and turkey and the trimmings. And then we had a talent show that lasted about 3 1/2 hours. Some great talent in our mission --in some cases lack of it and just pure fun!! We then had a carol service which was awesome.

Elder Henry and I also helped with a live nativity that the ward had in the town center. All set with a live donkey and 5 of the cutest goats you ever saw. What a hoot! Mannaquins for Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus. It was the coldest, wettest day so far, and Elder Henry ended up with a bad cold and then had to share it with me. It was to raise charity for the Mayor's charity funds and was quite successful. The Mayor is an inactive member of the church also.

We spent Christmas day with the Bishop and his family of 10 kids. They are a wonderful family. Ann Cheshire (the sister who has just started back to church) also went with us for the day. She is a really special lady. She made us a BIG Christmas fruitcake that was delicious.

We did our traditional christmas activity of making plates of goodies and taking them around to friends. I think we made about 25 plates and took them to members in the ward. We also made a Christmas card that we gave to all the members in the ward, with a special Christmas message. It was a lot of work, but a wonderful way to visit with people in the ward.

We are looking forward to a busy new year. We are having members sign up for us to have Family Home Evening with their families and we will also be starting a weekly Study Group. Probably will study Church History. That has been the request by those we have talked to about it. We are looking forward to that very much.

We continue to visit several people every day and hopefully help them have a desire to come back to church. Even if they don't, or won't come to church, they are all so welcoming and want us to keep coming to visit. Maybe something will eventually rub off. We hope and pray that we can say or do something that will touch their hearts in the right way. We know the Lord has sent us here for a purpose and that he prepares those who are ready for the gospel. We love the Lord and are so grateful to be here serving Him. We pray you will all feel His love as we do and that you all have a wonderful NEW YEAR.

What a Marvelous Place

Winter Wonder Land

The Oldest Church in England

Our Christmas Tree and Sister Henry's 12 days of Christmas sent to her by her Book Club.

The Ups and Downs!!!!

Opps, I guess it has been two weeks since Sister Henry wrote. Time is flying.

The first week was very good. We had three visits which we really felt good about. One was with John and Phillippa. We did not formally teach them but we had a good discussion about her Patriaricle Blessing. She is a member and he is not. We then had a good visit with the man who hasn't been active in 40 years. He is looking for some friendship we believe. We think he might listen to the lessons again. We then had a good discussion with the man who would not accept that God was a man at one time. The spirit was there and he seemed to really listen to what we said.



This week was also very positive with a big let down. The sister we have visited most often came to an activity at halloween. She then came to the Relief Society Christmas Party this week. When she told us she was going to the RS Party she said, "Well, if I am going to the activities I guess I had better go on Sunday too." So she went to church today and after church she said that she was committed now. Our first real success.



Then the let down. The man we had taught last week told us that he was comfortable where he was. He is not going to come back to church. He indicated that he felt that he had received an answer to his prayers. What can you do. He did tell us we would be welcome in his home any time so we will continue to stay close to him and hope and pray that he will change.



Sister Henry and I did a comical Christmas Reading at the RS Party. We also sang "It's A Holly Jolly Christmas". It turned out pretty good. We are going to do it at the mission Christmas Party Talent Show. I hope it goes as well.

This week we have Zone Meeting and we are giving all the missionaries the Christmas Stockings Sister Henry made. We will fill them with a bunch of little goodies including Clementine Orange, puzzle, yo yo, Bubble Gum ect. Wednesday the 22nd the stake is holding a Victorian Christmas at Gadfield Elm. Sister Henry is playing the Organ for the Caroling. This Saturday is the Ward Christmas Party and The Elders and us are singing our version of the 12 Days of Christmas. Big Week.