Christmas and New Year Celebrations

Christmas and New Year's in the mission field is like no other time.  We are collecting memories from every Christmas we experience. Here are a collection of pictures that will help us to remember the fun: 

Shopping for the pinatas!

Stuffing Christmas cards into envelopes

The generosity of others- thank you!

 Enjoy this poem shared by President Trayner during the lunch hour at Zone Conferences:

(those who speak Spanish will enjoy it more!)

‘Twas the night before Christmas y por toda la casa,

Not a creature was stirring-Caramba! Que pasa?

Los niños were tucked away in their camas,

Some in long underwear, some in pijamas,

While hanging the medias with mucho ciudado

In hopes that old Santa would feel obligado

To bring all children, both buenos y malos,

A nice batch of dulces y otros regalos.

Outside in the yard there arose such a grito

That I jumped to my pies like a frightened cabrito.

I ran to the window and looked out afuera,

And who in the world do you think that it era?

Saint Nick in a sleigh and a big red sombrero

Came dashing along like a crazy bombero.

And pulling his sleigh instead of venados

Were eight little burros approaching volados.

I watched as they came and this quaint little hombre

Was shouting and whistling and calling by nombre:

"Ay Pancho, ay Pepe, ay Cuco, ay Berto,

Ay Chato, ay Chopo, Macuco, y Nieto!"

Then standing erect with his hands on his pecho

He flew to the top of our very own techo.

With his round little belly like a bowl of jalea,

He struggled to squeeze down our old chiminea,

Then huffing and puffing at last in our sala,

With soot smeared all over his real suit de gala,

He filled all the medias with lovely regalos-

For none of the niños had been very malos.

Then chuckling aloud, seeming muy contento,

He turned like a flash and was gone como viento.

And I heard him exclaim, and this is verdad,

Merry Christmas to all, y Feliz Navidad!

New Year's Eve with the missionaries:

Tossing galletas at the missionaries

It's impressive- this Elder can crochet!

Christmas visit from some family members:

Hidalgo Festival of Lights

South Padre Island on Christmas Eve

This is what a mission president does when he goes to the "isla prohibida" on Christmas Eve and doesn't take any lounge chairs...

The arrival of Mary and Joseph