From Portugal With Love: December 16, 2012

This has been a week of celebrations and probably a few extra pounds. We were able to get some work done, but we also participated in three different Christmas parties.

On Tuesday we had a Mission Conference/Christmas Celebration which was very enjoyable. We met at the stake building in Oeiras with all of the missionaries in the Portugal Lisbon Mission except those serving in the Azores and Madeira islands. It was just too far and too expensive for them to come. We had a wonderful meeting full of music, testimonies and speeches by two stake presidents and our area seventy and his wife. Then we had a wonderful lunch of turkey, dressing, and all that goes with it and a huge table of desserts. The missionaries had a fun “White Elephant” gift exchange and then we had a final meeting with more music, testimonies and talks by our Mission President Fluckiger and his wife. It was a very uplifting day. We were able to see missionaries who had served with us and then been transferred. Carolyn Hoer had told me about a sister missionary from her ward in Grass Valley so I looked for her; she was the third young lady that I asked, and we had a nice visit. The missionaries were each given a little bag of goodies to which I contributed 13 dozen Snickerdoodles.

During the week our computers were down for part of two days, so we had a little free time, but they finally were ready to go again and we were able to accomplish a portion of our work. We will have to make up for it this coming week, but we should be fine.

Our office Christmas party was on Friday. We also had a very nice devotional with speakers, videos, and musical presentations. Then we had a wonderful luncheon. Everyone who came contributed something for it and we had way too much food. I made two pans of cinnamon rolls. President and Sister Fluckiger and Elder and Sister Rose were also there so we enjoyed our visit with them.

We had planned to set up a booth in a downtown plaza with our elders from Caparica on Saturday, but the weather didn’t cooperate, so we will do that another time. On Saturday evening we had a ward Christmas party there. Other than being an hour late starting, it was a very fun occasion. We had musical presentations, dancing, a poem, and two delightful skits, along with a spiritual message by our bishop. Many from the ward were involved in the program. One of the young men dressed up as Papai Noel (Santa) and besides being in a cute skit, passed out gifts to the young children at the end of the program. We then had refreshments again. I took chocolate covered peanut butter balls and caramel popcorn.

Elder Henry and I have been asked to speak in Sacrament Meeting next Sunday, so we need to get busy working on our talks. I also have the spiritual thought in our office devotional the next day, so we shouldn’t wonder what to do with our time this week.

We send our love to all of our friends and family at this special time of the year. How blessed we are to have the gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives and to know of our Savior’s great love for each of us.