Gingerbread, Testimonies, Posada and Live Nativity, and an Apostle

Our new baby great granddaughter, Camille, is thriving and doing well.  I just have to share some pictures (can't be helped when you're a Great Grandma so far away).

Here's a picture of the proud Daddy, Shayden.

For Family Home Evening, we made gingerbread (graham cracker) houses with the YSA's.  It's the perfect time to visit and share with them.  While we were visiting with one of the sisters, we found out that she is a criminal investigator; she works for the Navy.  Now I know why she was so good at asking me questions!  I'll watch what I say next time (HaHa jk)

We attended two different testimony meetings this week.  At the last District Council meeting of the Transfer (every six weeks), we all share our testimonies.  Then, there is also a Departing Testimony meeting for the whole mission.  Those missionaries who have finished their missions share their testimonies.  It's a wonderful, sweet time to listen to the missionaries share their experiences of learning, growth, and leaning of their Savior, Jesus Christ.  Listening to these testimonies is a powerful witness to me of the inspired missionary program of the Church.  These young people gain so many life skills and experiences, as well as testimonies, that they would not receive without the hard and challenging experiences they have.

I mentioned that transfers were this week.  In the past, the missionaries would receive an email on Wednesday night telling them if they are being transferred, where they will be going, and who their new companion will be.  The President decided to change the protocol.  To prevent gossiping, they were only told that they would be transferred, but that was all.  Friday morning, all who were being transferred, met at the mission office building, found out who their new comp and area would be via an overhead screen.  I think this made it more stressful for the missionaries, not knowing for two days.  But, I get the reason.  Apparently there is some gossip that goes around when all is revealed two days before it happens.  Sometimes missionaries talk about other missionaries and tell things that might not be the most positive.  As our President says, he would not want to be judged by his worst day.  Neither would any of us!  

So our District changed quite a bit.  We no longer have any sisters - all Elders!  I will miss our Sister's at DC.  I love the Elder's too, just can't give them hugs.  

After the Transfer meeting, we went over to the La Jolla Institute building for lunch.  All the Senior missionaries who work with YSA's and all the Institute teachers were invited for this lunch.  The food was delicious and it fun to get to know some of the others working with the YSA's.  

When we drove up I-5 to the Institute we saw the San Diego temple off the freeway.  It is in a process of being remodeled.

That evening we headed up to the Mormon Battalion for the Posada, Live Nativity and music program.  A Posada is a reenactment of the journey Joseph and Mary  made trying to find an inn where they could stay and Mary could have the baby.  Near the Mormon Battalion, there is a street with historic homes.  This was the area used for the procession.  There was narration and singing as they went from house to house, ending up back at the Mormon Battalion where an outdoor stable was set up.  Mary, Joseph and baby, along with live animals, were staged for pictures and pondering by the onlookers on this momentous historic scene that changed the world forever.  It was really a beautiful and moving experience.  There were probably about 500 people following the procession.  

A stage was set up at the other end of the lawn and Primary children and missionaries put on a musical program with singing, stringed instruments, trumpet and guitar creating beautiful music about the birth of Jesus Christ. Stan was asked to sing in the choir.  We found out that there were hundreds of people from the community that came to this program.  They also had a service project set up, as well as hot chocolate and cookies.  It was quite an evening to behold.

We've found that Saturday afternoon is good for visiting, so we headed out with a list of names and addresses, bags of treats and a handout with a quote from Pres. Nelson.  We didn't have very good luck finding people home.  But we did have one success.  We found one young man home.  His mother answered the door and invited us in, when she realized who we were.  She invited her son in, and his girlfriend as well.  The young man's name is Hinckclair, which is an unusual name.  I asked him if he went by this name or a nickname.  He said he goes by Hinckclair, and that he was named after President Hinckley (an earlier prophet).  His mother proceeded to tell us that when she was pregnant with him (she was living in the Philippines) that Pres. Hinckley came to visit the islands.  When she was in the same room with him, she said the baby started kicking and moving around; she thought he was going to come right then!  So, that his why he is named Hinckclair.  Interesting story.  

Apparently he hasn't been to Church for awhile, but would like to come back, but he works on Sunday's.  We invited him to our activities and to Institute.  He attends college right across the street from the Institute, so maybe he'll come over for dinner and the lesson.  His girlfriend is a member, too, so maybe we can get them coming to Church again.

Sunday's can be a busy, but fulfilling day.  We started off with a Stake Missionary Correlation Meeting.  I'm impressed with the good works that are happening with the missionary work.  We have been asked to teach a Mission Prep class beginning in January.  This will be mostly high school seniors and young adults who are interested in preparing to go on a mission.  This should be a great experience.  We need to get the word out with some advertising, and work on lesson preparation.

We're also teaching a Temple Prep class in our ward.  I'm loving teaching about the temple and preparing the young adults to get a temple recommend.  It will be a blessed experience to go to the temple with these young people; I look forward to that day.

This evening we had the blessing of being able to attend a Devotional for the YSA's in the region up in Escondido, 45 minutes away..  Elder Gary Stevenson, an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, was the invited speaker.  We gave a ride to our newly baptized Eric from our ward.  We had a delightful visit with this amazing young man.  He is so committed to Jesus Christ and His Church upon the earth.  He told us that he wants to be part of the Church for the rest of his life and into the eternities.  That's commitment!

Because the devotional was for YSA's, we sat in the very back of the cultural hall.  We couldn't even see Elder Stevenson, except on the screen.  He gave a wonderful Christmas message, quoting scriptures from the Book of Mormon that tell of the birth and life of Jesus Christ.  He reminded us that we only have two weeks until Christmas Eve.  He showed on the screen this picture of a Christmas Tree made up of words and phrases of things we can do for others. (Not sure if you'll be able to read the words or not.  Sorry.)

He invited all of us to think of what we can do to show love, share with others, and invite people to come and see what we're all about.  He encouraged us to do the things that we were thinking about in the next two weeks.  Not to let this time pass.  

At the end he bore a powerful apostolic testimony of Jesus Christ.  The spirit was palpable.  I wondered what I did to be so blessed to have been in that room with the young adults and Elder Stevenson.  It was an evening to remember.