Christmas #1, By David

We are settling in for a quiet Christmas here.  After having sunny weather for awhile, it is very overcast and rainy this Christmas Eve.  It actually makes it seem more like Christmas, and our apartment seems more cozy.  Of course, the temperatures are still warm, and people are wearing shorts and short-sleeved shirts out in the rain.

Yesterday was our Mission Christmas party, attended by 220 missionaries and senior couples.  The 40 missionaries over on Palawan had their own party last week.  Cheryl and I helped around the edges.  She was in charge of table decorations, and we transported the Mission Home help with her food to the chapel.  We also helped serve the meal.

Our assignment has expanded.  In addition to being the Housing Missionaries, Cheryl is now serving as office receptionist, and is in charge of entering the referrals into the software database and finding them on the map.  What normally are 5 to 10 each day has risen to 20 per day this Christmas season.  On transfer day, she processes the scheduling, interviews, and paperwork for the incoming missionaries, and arranges for transportation.  She has also assumed the work of the language training course coordinator.

I have, with trepidation, assumed the position of Financial Secretary.  The Elder who I replaced had an MBA and was CFO of Franklin Covey. 

The missionary work is going well.  Our mission has had 1000 baptisms this year.  The young Elders and Sisters are remarkable, and we love being able to support them.

Tables and decorations--$20 budget for 28 tables!

Missionaries getting ready for gift exchange

Our talented pianist, Elder Thurber

Santa, Mrs. Claus, and his elves arrive!
(President and Sister Ostler and the Assistants to the President.)

The festal pigs

As funny as it is to see a full-sized missionary in a star costume,
this nativity play by the missionaries was really very nice and
quite reverent.  They sang, I think songs from The Forgotten Carols,
and we learned what nice voices several of them have.
It was really very sweet.