Week of 8-14th December

Dear Family,
The weather was pretty cool for a few days this week, but has warmed back up into the 70's.

This week we traveled to visit all the Elders and their apartments. All 14 of the apartments had various levels of Christmas decor to brighten up the otherwise austere surroundings of a missionary dwelling. It was a joy for us to look into their eyes and see the anticipation of receiving Christmas packages from home. They also expressed some anxiety about the transfers scheduled for Wednesday.
We prepared and sent the "Elder Corless" Christmas package and hope it gets to Idaho safely and in time. We hope he enjoys opening it as much as we did putting it together. We wrote the Christmas letter and sent out almost 90 cards with it. Let us know when to get it. Our Christmas plans are firming up a little more as it gets closer . Thanks again to Rachel and Lara for the packages.
A few days ago we went with the Sisters to teach a Spanish speaking man and as usual we started by singing a song. During the second verse of "Child of God" song a little field mouse peeked out from behind the man's chair and ran along the wall to the kitchen. Thankfully, Mom did not see the little critter or the song would been punctuated with a bunch of screaming. Several minutes later there was noise in the kitchen to which the man commented that it was "only a rat". We left shortly there after.
Saturday, Mom got a call and we ended up helping to finish decorating the stake center for the Christmas Musical Program. It really looks beautiful.
Sunday at the branch we were treated with the Primary program. All the songs and talks were in English so for the first time I understood what was being said. In the evening, we were uplifted by sights and sounds of the Stake Christmas Musical program. There are some very talented people in this stake - it was wonderful!
We love to you all,Mom & Dad