Week 48

Dear Loved ones,

 

 

Merry Christmas!! Almost.  I have been celebrating all week.  Tuesday and Wednesday, we had Zone Conferences.  We usually divide into three groups for Zone Conference.  This week everyone was divided into two groups. It was more fun for the missionaries to be with a larger group. They so enjoy seeing old companions – there are lots of hugs and back slapping. The sweet Relief Society sisters that prepared our lunches went out of their way to make it Holiday special.  The President organized the morning into typical training sessions, then after lunch, the missionaries put on a talent show. To me it felt like a two-day Christmas party. Especially because Tuesday night was our Ward Party held at the Skating Rink. I had two days of non-stop fun. I will send pictures.  The skating rink would be a great place for our family to have a party -except Tuesday nights is the only time they have private parties.

President Hancock introduced the theme of the Conference with a wonderful quote from Marvin J. Ashton, who is Grandma Inee’s nephew by a different wife. I am going to put the whole quote here so I will have it in the future.  He used different parts of it at different times in his training. I love it!

“Real charity is not something you give away; it is something that you acquire and make a part of yourself.  And when the virtue of charity becomes implanted in your heart, you are never the same again.  It makes the thought of being [critical or verbally abusive] repulsive.”

“Perhaps the greatest charity comes when we are kind to each other, when we don’t judge or categorize someone else, when we simply give each other the benefit of the doubt or remain quiet.  Charity is accepting someone’s differences, weaknesses, and shortcomings; having patience with someone who has let us down; or resisting the impulse to become offended when someone doesn’t handle something the way we might have hoped.  Charity is refusing to take advantage of another’s weakness and being willing to forgive someone who has hurt us. Charity is expecting the best of each other. (Marvin J. Ashton, from Conference Report, April 1992; or Ensign May 1992).

Thursday, I took candy canes for the children who came to the Baptist Food Pantry. I did it last week because it was “Suffer the Little Children” day on the “Light the World” calendar.  It was so much fun, I did it another week.  My Visiting Teachers came after I got home.  One brought a yummy loaf of bread the other a fun battery-powered string of lights that I have strung across my living room window.

Friday, I had my teeth cleaned and had a haircut. Shopped for Sub for Santa. Saturday, I work hard on my Primary lesson only to learn when I got there today that the men where all going to teach Primary so we could go the Relief Society.  I tried not to be bitter that no one told me that ahead of time.  One of my Visiting Teachers, Leslie Koyle insisted on picking me up for church today in her 4-wheel vehicle because it snowed last night.  Everyone is so good to me here! Sister Missionaries gave me a “Heart Attack” on my front door, yesterday. I am going to dinner at the Pierson’s tonight. Jonas Pierson is one of my little CTR classmates. He is the very well behaved one.

I love you all and hope you are enjoying meaningful Christmas activities!

Love and Hugs,

 Grammie/Sister Shill