WASHINGTON D.C. SOUTH MISSION: CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS AT THE MISSION HOME

Saturday, January 16, 2010

CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS AT THE MISSION HOME

I Love Christmas time. There is just something about the whole season that makes people happy and smile and polite. We had a wonderful holiday season. The mission work was really great because people are open to hearing about Christ and act more like "Christians". I worried about all our missionaries being taken care of by the members in their wards. I shouldn't have worried. They all had lots of invites and were well cared for. On Christmas Eve we had the 4 Assistants: Elders Ross, Bell, Gifford and Shattuck along with 2 sisters who serve in a singles ward where most of the members had gone home "out of town" for the holiday and they came to celebrate with us: Sisters Arnett and Malmberg. We had a great Christmas Dinner and then played games. You can see everyone acting silly in the pictures playing "King Elephant". We then told Scriptures stories and the Nativity. It was a very sweet evening and it was fun to have both little children and missionaries around us and feel such a warm and loving spirit in the mission home.

The Sinquefields and Gramma Joyce

Playing King Elephant involves lots of silly gestures and moving from seat to seat.

Payton

Sister Arnett and Elder Bell

Elder Ross takes his turn

Sister Malmberg gets into the act

Nicole, Sis. Malmberg, Elder Bell, Taylor and Elder Gifford

Elder Ross takes a turn

Elder Bell is the Rhino I think

Nicole Sinquefield

Cannon is an ball of energy. Catching him sitting still on the fireplace is quite a feat

Sister Arnett

Baby Romney

Pres. Albright, That Elephant pose is the hardest

Elder Shattuck and Elder Gifford ( a Mosquito I think)

Taylor

Elder Shattuck does the fish

Taylor, elder Ross, and Elder Shattuck

Bailey, Pres. and Taylor

Nicole and baby Romney

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Stephanie Smith Fireside

Last Sunday evening we were privileged to attend a fireside in the mission. It was held at a beautiful old chapel in McLean. One of the pictures shows the inside of the chapel and the wood beams on the very steep-pitched ceiling of the room. The gym is under the chapel in the basement. I have never seen a floorplan like this one. Very unique. This fireside hosted Sister Stephanie Smith. Her story was in the Ensign sometime in the last year. She has a remarkable conversion story. She has held very high government positions and at one time was 5th in command at the CIA. She said something at the first of her talk that I wrote down: she said, "I've been on some remarkable adventures. But no adventure in my lifetime has been as extraordinary and life-changing as my path to conversion and baptism in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints. She then told about her introduction to the church. She was at a time in her life with tremendous worldly success achieved after clawing her way to the top without any regard for others, and she felt her life was shattering into a million pieces. At this time she turned to a colleague she admired who was a member of the church. He told her two things. That her Heavenly Father knew her by name and loved her and that Heavenly Father had a plan for her success. The next day he sent her a map to the temple visitor center. She told how when the missionary sisters came to her door, she didn't think she could relate to these young women. The first thing they did was ask if they could sing to her. They sang,"I am a Child of God." That was the beginning of her conversion, a long a beautiful story. You can read it on the web at Meridian Magazine. Her testimony was a real inspiration to me. There were over 350 people there and she does a great missionary work speaking to investigators. What a blessing to have heard her and felt her spirit.

Chelsea Our recent Convert

We have met the sweetest young sister. Chelsea is amazing. She joined the church during the last year and has an incredible testimony also. She never misses any missionary function and we were able to take her with us to the Stephanie Smith Fireside. She also came to the mission home a few weeks ago and we had family night. She gave the lesson and is was unbelievable. She is hoping to go on a mission next year. What a great young woman. This is a picture of her with Elders Ganaway and Gifford.