SECOND CHRISTMAS AWAY (IN A ROW)

Although we have been on five full-time missions together, this is the first where we have been away from home for two consecutive holiday seasons.  We appreciate the blessing of modern communication and the opportunity to talk with almost all of our children and grandchildren on Christmas.

Yesterday, as I (Russell) served in the temple, there was a wedding (sealing) of a young couple.  While this is not an unusual occurrence, I was surprised at the number of people who attended that I recognized.  The couple were both former missionaries from our mission.  I also now recognize several of the patrons which frequent Saturday afternoons.  It occurred to me that I am no longer a stranger here.  I feel as if I belong, even if it only for a season.

On Monday, at our senior missionary FHE, Sister Kearns said her goodbyes and bore her testimony.  Later that evening she was released from full-time service by her stake president.  Sister Kearns was the mission secretary when we arrived.  She has been recovering from brain surgery most of this year.  I was surprised to hear her publicly thank Eileen for pushing her so hard to see a doctor about her headaches a few months after we arrived.  She credited Eileen with helping get her cancer diagnosed as soon as it was.

On Tuesday, Christmas Eve, we made a trip to Marshall MO.  We were taking the last of the Christmas gifts and letters that had come in to the Warrensburg Zone, and to Elder Nelber in particular.  Elder Nelber is from the island of Pohnpei (FKA Ascension Island), one of the smaller states in Micronesia.  Less than 37,000 people live on the island.  Elder Nelber told us of his surprise to learn of all the Islanders we have living in our mission.  His first area was in Trenton, where a large number of Tongan members of the Church live.  He told us they have an upcoming baptism of a Chuukese individual.  Chuuk is the largest state in Micronesia and famous for Truk Atoll, site of a famous WWII battle.  Elder Nelber told us they recently met a family from his home island while tracking.  He said they were astonished when he started speaking in Pohnpeian to them.  While some may chalk it up to coincidence, we know that with God’s work there are no coincidences.

On Wednesday, in addition to calling family members, we had a Christmas lunch with the other senior missionaries.  The White Elephant gifts were all things that had been cleaned out of apartments after the young missionary had left.  Among the things found were: a Christmas suit, two drones, four or five nerf guns (two large high powered ones), a mounted (replica) talking fish, and the crowd favorite - a biker jacket!  It is amazing what gets left behind in missionary apartments for other to clean up.

On Thursday we took the elders assigned to our ward our to dinner.  Elders Bell and Grant came to our apartment to give me a priesthood blessing while I was sick a couple of weeks ago.  I am grateful for the power of the priesthood and it’s role in helping me recover.

And today, Eileen played the organ for sacrament meeting.  I guess the regular accompanists were unavailable.  It was her first time playing in years (maybe decades)!  The members were impressed.

What a cute Christmas card from President and Sister Sommerfeldt.

                                         

Monday was Sister Kearns last evening as a missionary.  She has been an inspiration to us all as she has navigated surgery for a brain tumor and a long recovery. She has exemplified faith and love for the Lord during this difficult period in her life.   

Elders Nelber and Faiga serving in the Marshall branch.

The senior missionaries from the MIM on Christmas Day. We are not sure who did the balloon backdrop but it seemed fitting for a photo. 

Some of the senior elders.  The crazy suit Elder Dennison is wearing was found in one of the young missionaries apartment after they were transferred.

President and Sister Sommerfeldt. President is wearing the "motorcycle jacket" he won in the white elephant exchange. The jacket was also left by a young missionary.

Sister Sommerfeldt picked this great white elephant gift. 

I got this singing fish from the white elephant gift party.  It was quickly taken away by Sister Hunsaker. 

This white elephant gift is a toilet seat signed by several missionaries.  Russell ended up taking it away from Sister Creer and giving it to one of our APs who wants to keep it as a remembrance. I wonder what his future wife will think of it?

Our last Christmas in Missouri. 

Three missionaries returned home this week so they could get back in time for school at BYU.  Sister Birmingham is an awesome missionary who was so supportive of a sick companion.  

We had 3 missionaries in the hospital this week. One elder went into the ER on Christmas Eve in excruciating pain.  He went home on Friday so he could have surgery at home.  From the photo above you would never know Sister Johnson had been in extreme pain 2 hours earlier. She said it was ok for us to say she was passing a kidney stone.  Another senior sister spent the 26th in the hospital having surgery on 3 kidney stones.  We are grateful to live in an area where there is access to good medical care. 

Elders Grant and Bell had dinner with us on Dec 26th.  They serve in Independence 3rd Ward.

                                     

Sister Creer and I took advantage of the nice weather to visit the KC Zoo and their illuminated GloWild.  Elder and Sister Young tried to get us to go last year with them. Between Eileen doing the medical position and Russell the  automobile position last year we did not have the ability to leave to do something fun for an evening. 

While we were walking along the lighted path we saw this group of people coming along in their scooters. Sister Creer told me to hurry and take a movie. My sister said her family would rent these just to have races against each other. To each their own.

There was a mile long display of different glowing designs set up in the Zoo. It was really fantastic.

I can't believe I played the organ after several decades of not playing. Here Sister Creer is trying to learn how to do the stops so she can play if needed after we leave.  She was great at it.