MERRY CHRISTMAS

Can you believe that 2012 is coming to an end? So many good things have happened this year and everyone of us in the FJM are so grateful to serve as missionaries. To celebrate the birth of our Savior we gathered as a whole mission for an afternoon to eat, sing, testify, give gifts and worship our Savior. 

 

 

Below are pictures of the day

We began the day with a Contacting/Getting Referrals Activity Elder Ball, Elder Smedley and Elder Munford are working on the street, Celestial Way to find as many referrals as possible. 

 

Elder Schuyler, Elder Quintano, Elder Chadwick.  The large presents in the back have missionary gifts in them from the mission.  Each box is for one zone.

 

This is Elder Latu, Elder Tibbitts and Elder Faulconer.  The bags on the floor are from the wards.  Every stake in the mission prepared a bag for every missionary serving in their stake.  The bag has a gift from every ward in that stake so each bag has from 6-10 gifts in it.  KL stands from Kingsland so all these bags are from the Kingsland Stake to 'their' missionaries. 

TALENT SHOW

When everyone had arrived/done the Contacting Activity and socialized we started with a talent show.  We have a lot of talent in this mission.  We heard stories, saw skits, many songs were sung and original music performed.  It was a light and happy time.  We let our hair down a little and laughed. 





The Spanish speaking missionaries sang Silent Night - in Spanish of course.

 

Elder Eklof composed and performed a song about missionary life.  We laughed and sighed as he sang the truth about missionary work.  Good job Elder Eklof.

This is the elders acting out Elder Eklof's song.  What missionaries do!

President and Sister Barry love being companions as they showed everyone by performing a 'duet' - Jingle Bells. We can't do anything alone 

Haka!  Elder Latu (the only Polynesian in the mission) led a bunch of 'white guys' in this traditional Samoan War Dance. Even Elder Gao - from China- got into it.   

Elder Little wowed us with his piano solo of 'God, Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen".

Elder Bishop and Elder Howell are crazy.  They are singing "You are loved" Karaoke style.

THANK YOU, FAMILIES

After the talent show we gave the missionaries their gift from the mission.  In each of their bags were letters from their families and loved ones at home.  Thanks to all of you.  EVERY missionary received a letter.  Below are pictures of them immersed in the "love from home." 

 

MISSION T-SHIRT

In their bags was the new mission t-shirt.  Elder Hall designed this year's t-shirt.  Here he is pictured opening his t-shirt and realizing his design won. 

Sister Sheffer designed the back of the shirt.





Winning design.  Underneath that tie is a 'super' FJM missionary!



This is the sisters t-shirt.  We told them the sisters are already 'super'! There is no hiding it!
 

Dinner Time

After dinner and a mission picture we entered the Chapel for a Christmas Devotional.  We had spiritual musical numbers and recited the Nativity as told in all the scriptures.  A mission choir was formed and sang like angels.  We all felt the Spirit.

Many years before Christ's birth prophets prophesied and disciples looked forward to that time in reverence. Since then Christians look back in reverence and deep devotion to that time when the Prince of Peace came to give us hope and eternal life.  The missionaries of this mission join with all missionaries throughout the earth to declare this truth restored to the earth.  Our testimonies were strengthened this day as we sang and worshiped together. 

 

We all wish you a very Merry Christmas!