Zone Conference on Christmas Eve

Wednesday night before Zone Conference, we had a practice for the Christmas Program the next day. It was written by Sister Smith. These Elders of the Long Island District (and Ailinglaplap) sang "I Wonder When He Comes Again." (Clockwise)Elders Heimuli, Sanchez, Enlow, Pritchard, Moimoi, and Fa'alogo.

Zone Conference (Dec. 24th), watching "The Knife", by Elder Teichert and our daughter Kim and Nate Hoffman.

All the Sisters, except our mission Mom who was running around with a millon details on her mind.

The Sisters ready to give Sister Smith's candy leis as the Elders enter the dining hall...

Welcome to Christmas Dinner, Elders!

The tie and necklace exchange was a real hit!

At the end of the exchange, the exra ties brought by our president were given to a Marshallese young man who just received his mission call to the Oklahoma City Oklahoma mission - President Smith had invited him to come and announce his call to us.

Elders and Sister anticipating the Secret Santa Stocking Exchange.

JoJo and I just before she had to leave for a Stake YMYW Fireside - she is the Stake YW President, a returned missionary (Australia) and we depend on her for so many things in the office - see our matching flowers? We are sisters...

Typical responses to Sister Smith's Secret Santa stocking exchange...

Untypical responses!

I had Sister Avery, who is leaving our mission in January and is getting married in the Denver Temple. She was thrilled with her white Marshallese flower to wear on her wedding day and with Shelley's white handkerchief from the Nauvoo Temple Dedication and with all her other stocking gifts that held some meaning for her. She is finishing out her mission as a mentor to the other Sister on island - welcome back from Ebeye, Sister Avery!

A few days before Christmas I received a package full of fun Christmas gifts and food and LETTERS from my wonderful friends in the Creekside Ward.

It was a precious hour of opening your gifts and reading all your thoughts and feeling your love. I am trying my best to represent who we are as a ward and as friends who love our Savior - it is His love that unites us and gives our lives their meaning and provides us hope for what is ahead. I love you all!