Saturday the 22nd we hosted a party for the YSA from our district. We had a "white elephant" gift exchange which was fun. Don't know how the term white elephant translates but everyone got the idea. We were happy that President Markelov attended - he is the local leader who works with youth and young adults. He is the one that will make things happen and we enjoyed having him at our activity. We are getting to know him and his family and that's a blessing.
Christmas day we enjoyed a luncheon at our apartment for twenty-four of the missionaries in our zone. That's about the largest group our little kitchen can handle! Sherry made stuff for tacos - homemade beans, Mexican rice, meat, cheese...as well as guacamole, nacho sauce, chips, deviled eggs, jello...and Sister Stevens made homemade rolls! There was PLENTY of food and the missionaries ate well. The habenaro sauce sent to us by the girls in the office went a long way towards spicing things up! Thanx!
The attached pictures show some of the presents we got - some fake mustaches, froggy shower toys, etc. Elder Stevens doesn't look quite as excited as I am, does he?
Pasha, the young man with the fake mustache, is waiting for his mission call.
We are working with President Markelov to have him organize a district youth committee and a district YSA committee. We feel that in order to have long term success the young people need to be involved in planning and implementing activities - to "act, rather than to be acted upon." President Sartori agrees with our feelings so we're moving in that direction.
In the next six weeks we go to Moscow for training on the EFY we are directing and also go to Turkey for a CES Conference. We get to ride the night train to Moscow, fly to Istanbul...lots of exciting stuff!
Next week all the missionaries are "locked down" on New Years Eve and New Years Day - we will stay in our apartments and avoid the craziness. All the stores sell fireowkrs for the celebration - it ought to be fun to watch and hear!
We read the story of the birth of Christ from Matthew and Luke and the missionaries were asked to make costumes for the various roles they were assigned - Mary, Joseph, donkey, sheep, shepherds,angels, innkeeper, etc. It was really fun! Elder Stevens - who has a wonderful voice - sang a solo after the nativity and we sang Silent Night and had family prayer together before we sent them back into the cold, cruel world!
In the evening the three companionships from our district came over at various times to Skype with their families. It was interesting to be on the other end of the Christmas phone call home. These young men and women are fantastic and dedicated servants but as they talked to their families they became kids talking to Mom and Dad and we got to see a different side of them. It will take a little while for them to get back into missionary mode, I'm sure. A few tears were shed.
Attached are pictures of the luncheon and few costumed missionaries...and Elder Stevens and me maintaining quality control on the food which we served. I particularly enjoy the donkey who in missionary life is our District Leader. He said next year he would like to be something else!
Mom is putting together the puzzle we got from the girls in the office. The Christmas Spirit is alive and well in Saratov....
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