Christmas Day with our "kids"!

For Christmas I cooked a turkey and since Elders Nicholson and Jacobson got "stood up" for any dinner appointments, they joined us and we had a wonderful afternoon together. Elder Nicholson is from California and Elder Jacobson is from Palmyra, NY. They gave us a little picture of the sacred grove where Elder Jacobson likes to wander about and pray when he is in the mood to be alone. I gave them each a copy of my book, The Magic of The Bear. It was a special day....different than any Christmas in the past. However, we received a wonderful gift on Christmas Eve when Tygr and Laura informed us they are expecting their fourth child! We are so happy for them (and for us...15th grandchild!) 

Christmas Eve at our house!

This was the quietiest Christmas eve we have ever had! After a hectic week of travel we decided to stay home. We ate donuts and Kentucky Fried chicken in bed. Watched a Hallmark movie and then played "Santa Claus" to each other! Tomorrow (Christmas day) we go to church at 10 AM where John speaks; attend a baptism, where he speaks again and, then we will go home to a little turkey dinner! We will also have our own family home evening reading the nativity story together. This is a wonderful time of year and we are very humbled at the thought that our Christmas is truly is being spent in the service of Him whose birth it is and who we worship. It is such a blessing to have this opportunity to bring souls unto Christ and try to help others learn what they need to do in order to one day return to our Father in Heaven. 

The last Christmas zone conference for 2005

Showing off their new ties. There was a real battle for the best ties. Elder McDonald was scared to pick because he said the tie he picked last year was so ugly. You wouldn'' have believed it but, he actually picked exactly the same tie. I think he almost had a heart attack!

The Sisters from Arad, Cluj and Oradea

Wednesday, the 20th was our Christmas party for the two zones in the north west part of Romania. The sisters in these cities are (back row) Sora Richardson, Sora Huff, Sora Olsen, Me (Sora Ashby), bottom left: Sora Call, Sora Burgaust and Sora Lords. These are the best sister missionaries in the world! 

Two of our Zones pose at the end of our Christmas Party.

The elders are all holding up their new ties and the sisters are modeling their new scarves! 

Mateescu Family visit us for family home evening

This family is very special to us. John baptised the father and the youngest daughter. The whole family are members and will be dear to us forever. The lady in the pink shirt is the sister to Sister Mateescu and will be baptised on Christmas day! What a wonderful Christmas present that will be. 

Young Single Adults Christmas Activity Dec. 10, 2005

All of our young single adults from Romania and Moldova gathered at Cismiqui Park in the spot where Romania was dedicated for the preaching of the gospel by Elder Russel M. Nelson in Feb. of 1990. We read the dedicatory prayers of Romania and Moldova and took a few minutes to reflect on the great blessings of the gospel in these lands. It is a huge labor overcoming many obstacles. These faithful youth are the future of the church. They are amazing. 

Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus --- well, almost!

The week of December 12th was spent having a zone conference Christmas party and, a regular zone conference for four of our zones. Each zone had a party the first day where we played games, had the missionaries perform skits, poems, music, etc., had a present exchange (which consisted of ties for the elders and scarves for the sisters) and had a murder/mystery dinner from the Book of Mormon. The second day we had a day-long conference where we taught and bore testimonies and shared beautiful music. It was a special day and the end of a wonderful set of conferences. It was a very special way to celebrate the birth of the Savior....one we will not soon forget. 

The new group arrives!

Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2005 we take our graduating missionaries to the airport and welcome our new group, fresh from the MTC. After a sobering few minutes of listening to the dedicatory prayer for Romania, we pose in Chismiju Park. "We are finally here"! 

Hmmmph...no big deal!

Elder Snow is patiently tolerant as he takes his turn. 

Is this your favorite tie?

Elder Maylin swears it is one of many.....well, it is definitely the one that will be remembered in our mission quilt! 

Elder Van grins and bears it!

He's a good sport! 

We "severed" our ties with this mission!

Graduating Elders Metcalf, Vanderlinden, Gehrke, Snow, Maylin and Whipple pose with their MTC District. This is the last night they spent in Romania before going home to a new phase of their lives. They haven't been together as a District for the last two years. It was a great evening. But sad for us to see them go! We will miss them!