Transfers, Thanksgiving, Mission Tour, Interviews, Parties, Christmas...and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

BUSY, BUSY MONTH!!!

First...TRANSFERS...

Our departing missionaries...

Sister Russell (Nevada), Elder Baham (Utah), Elder Skidmore (Idaho), Elder Booth (England), Elder Kolste (Utah), Elder Bohn (Arizona), Elder Rawlings (Utah), Elder Berg (Utah), and Elder Tincher (Utah) left us. We love them and miss them already!
Our new missionaries are Elder Whillans (England), Elder Benthin (Denmark), Sister Morgan (Wales), and Elder O'Brien (England). They're already hard at work, teaching, and even baptizing.

The day after Transfers was Thanksgiving...

with our wonderful couple missionaries...the Longs (office), Karrens (CES), and Cables (CES)...

...the Fells (Church History missionaries) and the Byers (proselyting missionaries).

Wonderful, dedicated, self-sacrificing people!!!

The second week in December, we were privileged to have Elder Texeira (a member of our Area Presidency) come for a mission tour. His instruction to us and to our missionaries was so wonderful, and very helpful. I know all of the missionaries loved being instructed and uplifted by him.

The next week, we had another small group of new missionaries come in. This intermediate transfer was due to the holidays. We received a new couple, the Crandall's from Mesa, and three other missionaries. Elder Cadwallater from California, Sister Nemec from Croatia, and Elder Luu from Washington.

Elder Luu , Elder Cadwallader, Sister Nemec, and the Crandalls from Mesa, Arizona!!!

Any spare minute I've had this month has been spent on planning a Christmas celebration for our missionaries. It was a lot of fun...I hope it helped to make being away from home a littler easier for them.

First...MISSION JEOPARDY with Elder McOmber and Elder Hallows...

Then...a YUMMY DINNER...

...A TALENT SHOW...

Elder Clancy as Emcee

(I had some pipe chimes made so we could continue our family's Christmas Eve tradition.)

What fun and talented young men and women! We finished the evening with a presentation of the Nativity in song and scripture. It was a wonderful time!

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE ENGLAND BIRMINGHAM MISSION!!!!!!!