Monday, December 21, 2009

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!!!!!!!

8 comments:

Unknown said...

Looks like you guys are having so much fun. Can't wait to get over there with Jack to ruin your fun. LOL

Cameron Family said...

Wow, mom...those missionaries are SO LUCKY to have you! What a fun time. We missed having you here with us so much, but I see that you are even more needed there. You will be so blessed for all of your hard work! Love you.

Tanya said...

Your party looked like great fun. Glad to see someone else used their pipe chimes. I found mine after several years but unfortunately our family couldn't get it together so it was a bust! Next year it will be better. Merry Christmas and happy 2010! hugs, Tanya Cannon :)

Brett said...

That's awesome that you brought the pipe chime tradition to the EBM!

Larsen said...

We just have to thank you for all you do - it is much appreciated, by the missionaries and their parents.
We pray for you both and your loved ones often.
Happy New Year!
The Larsens in AZ...67 degrees

Annette I. said...

Thank you, Thank you for taking such good care of Elder Israelsen while he has been serving in Birmingham. The Christmas party looks like it was a lot of fun and work for you. I was so glad to read that you did the nativity with song and scripture, that is an Israelsen tradition on Christmas Eve. Again Thank you so much for the huge role that you have played in our son's life. May the Lord continue to bless the Birmingham mission.
Annette Israelsen

brianne said...

I bet they didn't give you as much trouble about the pipe chimes as we do!

carykate said...

President and Sister Ogden-
My mom told me about your blog and it is so great to see what you're doing!! I show my boys it all the time to see how awesome missions are :) I've just been called into YW and think of you both often and all the wonderful lessons I had from each of you in YW and Seminary. I still remember many details from both of you and use them all the time on my girls! The EBM is so lucky to have you. Love, Katie (Rojas) Dean