Christmas Cards

Our Christmas cards are all still hanging on the door of our coat closet. I love Christmas cards always.  My parents sent Christmas cards and I try to do the same.  And I love the connections to friends and family who are far away. However. usually, long before February, I have taken down the Christmas cards.  But this year, I haven't wanted to.  I don't know if it is because we aren't at home and they make me feel connected to distant friends and family or if because I didn't do many decorations this year, these seem more valuable---I don't know.  I just like seeing them when I come into my apartment or walk by.  We will see when Jena and Gary get tired of them!
 

Hanging out in Syracuse

Thursday afternoon, Jena and I got to hang out with four of the grandchildren while Jessica and Elessia had a meeting and Liam was at school.  I brought some bubble wrap for them to pop and even Ezri knew exactly what to do.....

even though her stomping ended up with her falling down almost immediately.

I had decided that it would be fun to make chocolate chip cookies with the kids and surprise Liam when he got home from school with a treat.

Zander

Carter

Alex

I forgot how much of a production it was to make cookies with four little people.  Ezri hung out in the high chair for a little bit with frozen peas to eat, but then she wanted to be out of there.  As soon as I took her out, she went and found a step stool and pushed it over to the table, and then climbed up on it to be a part of the cookie making action.  She loved tasting chocolate chip cookies and pour some in the bowl.

But she was thrilled to be able to take her turn mixing like everyone else.  She just wants to be as big as they are.

The kids did great in taking turns and measuring things and our cookies were yummy!  And we were happy to take some cookie dough home and make some more cookies the next day (although there was some people--who will remain nameless--who snitched cookie dough!)

"Religious Tourism, Pilgrimage, and the Church"

Did you know that people studied and become experts in such a unique field?  Last Wednesday, the Church History Library had a Lunch and Learn presentation by Daniel Olsen, who is the chair of the BYU Geography department and that was the topic of his presentation.  He has written over 20 books or chapters of books or edited them on this general theme.  He has also written many many articles and given presentations on related topics.  He shared about his beginnings in the field and how he came to develop his interests and specialties in the field. Since I love geography and traveling and my religion--I loved it and found it all very interesting.  I hope maybe to take a class from him someday. 

It is an interesting question--why do we go to find when we visit historical sites related to our religion or those of other religions?  What about trips to places we share with other religions such as Israel? What do we hope to gain--to learn-and/or to feel?  Do we go for educational reasons or do we seek to declare our devotion to our God?  

Our fellow human beings are all very fascinating.  I love listening to people talk about things they are passionate about.

And the Devotionals "just keep on coming!"

Each morning on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays, we have a zone prayer meeting from 8:40-8:55.  We are so blessed to hear amazing stories and sweet testimonies as members of our zone and others present a short 7-10 minute message.  This past week was no different- Tuesday, Sister Debra Dixon (who is also one of our new assistant zone leaders) spoke about the mission scripture of the month which is Abraham 1:2 and spoke about the blessings of the fathers and the importance of being covenant makers and keepers. Skipping to Thursday, Elder Craig Barrus shared a photo and a story about the old "white house" the first home of Brigham Young in the Salt Lake Valley.  His story illustrated the truth-- to know the whole truth, and nothing but the truth" and talked about how important that was in life and in the history.

On Wednesday, we had a special guest speaker, Matt Heiss, who serves as a manager over the Europe/Middle East/Africa area of the Church.  About 25 missionaries in our zone serve under him in a variety of capacities.  He shared three stories along with photos about miracles which have been recorded in the Church History Library Catalog.  I wish that you could all have seen the photos and heard the stories.  I can't do them justice.  I will give a shorten version:

1.  A photo of a small tailor shop in Congo.  The tailor, David, is totally blind and sews on a treadle sewing machine and makes mostly beautiful women's dresses.  Customers select the design from pictures on his shop wall, choose a fabric from his selection, and he sews it for them.  He and his wife are saving to go to the temple to be sealed together with their children.  Matt has a child's dress made by David hanging in his office.

2.  A photo of a muddy river in Papua New Guinea.

A picture of a river in Papua New Guinea (not his picture)

Picture this:  Far up on the shore are a line of people dressed in their Sunday clothes,  then a long muddy bank, and in the water are two missionaries preparing to baptize two men.  Along the shore at the edge of the water there are several men with long sticks and rakes.  Their job was to beat the alligators and keep them away from the men in the water.  Matt said that they could only baptize in the river at certain times when the river was lower because otherwise it was too fast and too deep to be safe.  As a result, they had to walk through mud up to their knees to get to the water and then back up the bank to be confirmed.  He showed a few other pictures from this moment including one of the men being confirmed in his wet muddy clothes after hiking out of the river.  One photo I loved showed a missionary in a small local canoe in the river in his missionary clothes witnessing and making a record of these baptisms.  The feeling of this sacred event was powerful as Matt told the story even through the setting was like none that we had ever experienced.

3.  A photo of the Kyai Ukraine Temple under construction and then a photo after a micro burst came through and damaged the stake center next door but leaving the temple virtually untouched except a few pieces of scaffolding bent.

These moments in the morning are such a great way to start the day and also helps us get to know and love our missionaries better.  I will truly miss these meetings when our mission comes to an end.