Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve

For Christmas Eve we had a get-together that was "put-together" by Elder Mott. He planned it and Sister Mott was in charge of the feast. There were twenty people there ... ourselves, Ryan and Brandi Mott, Elder and Sister Mott, Chambers, Drapers, Leavitts, the APs, the office Elders, and 4 other Elders that Elder Mott had asked to perform. We started at 6 pm with a delicious meal of Clam Chowder,Chicken Noodle soup, Shrimp Cocktail, and lots and lots of other wonderful dishes. Everyone seemed to really enjoy that. After dinner we had a program (again, put together by Elder Mott).

Sister Draper played three gorgeous musical selections (she is a concert pianist)

Elder Fangupo played the piano and sang "Oh Lord, My Redeemer"

Elder Abbot sang, "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas" (but the really cool thing was he wrote some of his own words about dreaming of a special Christ-filled Christmas... it was very touching)

The office couples (Motts and Chambers) sang the Mott tradition "Star Bright" (and at the last second 3 Elders joined us without any practice)

Elder Mott showed the "Grandpa Jones- The Christmas Guest" video that his Grandpa Mott showed every year

and last, but not least, President Summerhays asked many of the missionaries to bear their testimonies.

It was a really special night!

More Christmas eve

more Christmas Eve

The party ended with Elder Mott giving "gag" presents to President and Sister Summerhays. There were a lot of laughs and a wonderful spirit. Joy permeated the evening.

Christmas Eve

The Dog Box

Elder Mott in the "bog dox" for all his pranks :

Mail day at the office.

This is even less mail than the 2 days before received. We are supposed to be moaning that there were none for us.

President Teaching at the Live Nativity Do you think he is getting thru?

more caroling Elder Parkinson in had on left photo

Sister Montes

This is a free hand chalk drawing during a lesson on Lehi's dream by Sister Montes. This is Sister Montes with us.

Baptism

Elder Moffet, ward member, Mary, and Elder Schwanavelt. (his first baptism) When the man went into the font to baptize Mary, he fell and was baptized himself.

ON to Caroling with the Language missionaries

The Spanish Sisters and Elders and the Haitionary Elders caroling
Elder Seaver proudly displays his ripped pants. He is a Haitian Creole speaking Elder who often has us laughing

sisters Conference

WE are all gathered here as the close of our Sisters Training.

Naming the missionaries

Elders Prescott, Elmer, Meserve, Sisters O'Neal and Grover, Elders Johnson, Reist, Maughn ,Gates Larson and Zea are in the picture below

Car Trouble

Sister O'Neal and Sister Grover left something on in their car and the Elders will not let them forget it. . I can't see everyone so I will publish this and get a good look and then tell you who everyone is.

These Shoes are made for tracting

This is Elder Mott. He is wearing out his shoes just like the young Elders. We love our office couples so much. He is a dyed in the wool BYU fan so you can imagine our little spars. Well, last night I left a message on his phone which he played back for everyone today. I called him "Melder Dot" and I told him he was out of the
Bog Dox" That won't surprise any of you, but the office got a huge laugh out of it. The funny thing is that he talks the same way. He and Sister Mott keep our office running smoothly.

more of what I am missing

We went to the Brandon Stake tonight for their festival of the Nativity. It made me miss my nativities and the fact that I didn't bring any. Then I received this picture of my faraway live nativity.

Tender Mercy

For all of his life, President has found solace in nature. Some of our children will remember being in a car with him and seeing an Eagle on a tree. We stopped and he had us all get out of the car and salute. There have been times when he has been a wee bit down and he has been nourished by seeing a sunrise or an animal or something. He has always had a gift for seeing the beauty of the earth. I need to have it pointed out to me. One morning, early in our mission, he was feeling so inadequate and like there was no way he could ever do this. Suddenly 3 huge sand hill crane flew right over us-so close we could almost touch. He felt it was a personal blessing for him and again the spirit bore witness to him that Heavenly Father knew him and called him to this calling and that He would help him do it. It renewed President with an internal witness that was very personal to him. Today as we walked we came upon 2 more Sand Hill crane. They were very close to us. I tried to take a picture with my phone. They have become his favorite bird. Hopefully you can see the majesty of them. They are also very noisy. We love Florida and the beautiful wildlife that we enjoy. As we got home there were several Ibis on our lawn. We love our mission. The church is true!

Elder Hughes (UNLV golfer) and Elder Andreason both Spanish Elders

Now there is the grapefruit- straight off of the tree-delicious

Elder Wight and Elder Savage. Elder Savage has 2 connections with us. One of his best friends is Isaiah and then his last name of course

grapefruit and missionaries

This is some of our pickings while in Haines City
Oops Elder Litchfield and Elder Johnson-not graperfruit LOL