MISSION HIGHLIGHTS: Celebrating Christmas with our Missionaries

Every quarter we conduct zone conferences throughout the mission. Our last zone conference for 2012 was held in October. So instead of coupling our Christmas party with zone conference, like we've done the two past years, we had separate parties and Christmas devotional.

We divided the mission in half and invited half of the missionaries to come on December 18 and the other half on December 20. So each day there were around 80 missionaries gathered.

The party started with each zone sharing a talent number. Those varied from serious hymn singing, to silly skits and wild dances. Each zone came through and we loved each one. In between their numbers we sang Christmas Carols and played the create a Rudolf Game, where they were divided into groups and given a bag of items--ribbon, panty hose, balloons. They had 5 minutes to turn one of their team members into Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer. Once the time was up the Rudolfs had to come forward and model for the big group. It was hilarious!Before ending the party each zone had fun with a gift exchange--where you could steal each others gifts. There was lots of laughs during the gift exchange.

Then it was time to go caroling. We divided into 4 groups and head off to 3 various hospitals and the jail. We were able to meander around the hospitals and sing for all the patients. It was a very sweet and humbling experience. Those who visited the jail also came back saying it was a wonderful experience. The inmates all stood at the bars and joined in singing. The jail has a little plaza area where our missionaries stood and the cells all look out onto the plaza. They have appox. 35 people in each cell with three huge bunk beds for the inmates to sleep in. I'm not sure how they can stand the claustrophobic conditions.

Then it was time for our luncheon. President made Chicken Ala King over rice and I made huge lettuce salad--with delicious cream puffs for dessert.

After the luncheon we convened in the chapel where several missionaries spoke about Christmas. There were several musical numbers. It was a very spiritual meeting. What a perfect way to end our Christmas Celebrations!

December 18

Missionaries were seated all around the Cultural Hall

With over 80 missionaries the room was packed

These missionaries are all serving in Solano--the beautiful mountain region

Santiago North Zone waits for the party to start

Tuguegarao South Zone started off the program with a medley of Christmas Songs.

Next came Alicia Zone with a funny skit that turned into a...

a great dance!

Solano rips it up in the dance floor!

Our Rudolfs!

Santiago North Zone performs the Haka (with 2 Polynesians we weren't surprised) but what did surprise us was Elder Proctor was the guy shouting orders! He's so mild and soft spoken but not when he's leading the Haka! We didn't know he could be so forceful! It's always so fun to see the little Filipinos, Americans or sister missionaries do the Haka!

Time for the gift exchange. Each missionaries purchased a useful gift worth no more than 200 pesos. It was fun to watch them trade and to see who ended up with what gift.

Decisions, decisions, which gift should I take or steal?

Tuguegarao South Zone gift exchange

My group caroled at the Esther Garcia Hospital and Dr. Esther Garcia led the way as we stopped and sang to all the nurses, hospital workers and patients.