Lots of People...Human and Gingerbread

Our Christmas Conference was held on Friday December 21. It took many people all week long make our final preparations for this special event. Beginning very early in the morning, all 183 missionaries were brought by buses from their 11 areas or zones as they are called.

The Armstrong's have family visiting them for this Christmas. While Elder W. worked in the office last Monday, I joined their family to make "gingerbread people." As part of the Christmas gift to the missionaries Emily Armstrong (daughter in law) brought her recipe for gingerbread cookies. This is Laura (grand daughter)  standing with many of the 366 small gingerbread cookies that were cut out and baked. It took several days with each one being decorated on Wednesday. They were so, so cute. Each decorated like little elders and sisters. Two cookies were placed "gingerly" in a cellophane Christmas bag.  

On Friday morning, Pres. and Sister Armstrong, 6 office elders, some of the Armstrong family and Elder W. and myself all arrived at the chapel at 6:30 am. We sliced many loaves of orange bread and poured hundreds of cups of orange juice and yogurt. Serving that many missionaries takes a good deal of time, missionaries eating breakfast takes just minutes.

Each zone had been given the assignment to read and study certain scriptures about how the Savior served others. Each missionary was asked to prepare a 3 to 5 minute talk about what they learned from their this study. Also, as a zone they were asked to prepare a  Christmas song. Wonderful talks were given by 11 missionaries chosen by the President. After each talk, the entire zone sang their chosen song. After this portion of the conference, the missionaries were excused to go to lunch. This is what it looks like when they leave the chapel to go wait in the lunch lines.

A catering company did a terrific job. They came to the church, cooked the meal, decorated the tables, set up all the place settings, set up the three serving stations and served delicious food.

After a wonderful meal, we returned to the chapel and President Armstrong taught doctrine about how to do missionary work better! It was very inspired teaching. Because we have "valientes," (they are the missionaries leaving for home in January,) they were given an opportunity to share their testimony with the entire mission. It was a very special time.

At the end of President's teaching, the missionaries were asked to return to the cultural hall for dessert. Elder W., Hermana Armstrong, Hermana Barney (mission nurse) and President Armstrong and I did some reflecting about how the day was going. What a fantastic assortment of cakes, pies, chocolates and cookies we were able to sample. Not only did this catering company cook and serve wonderful food, they did all the clean up also. They took all the pots and pans, linens, serving pieces, plates, glasses and silverware all away. We had only to put the tables away and clean the floor.

A great deal of effort goes into planning and preparing for a conference. It was a special time for the missionaries and also for us. We have 15 new missionaries who came to us on Dec. 11th. They are still a little taken back by the mission life. It was good for them to be with their "oro" group again and to be able compare notes on how they are each doing.

We are blessed in the Montevideo Uruguay Mission, we have a great group of missionaries. They are talented, spiritual and obedient.

It is very hard for all of us to be so far from family and friends at this time of year, but we will return home in the future.

We love you and keep you in our prayers. We appreciate your prayers, we can feel them. Your good thought and service help buoy me up.

I love you and wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and the healthiest, happiest most prosperous New Year ever.

Until I write again,
xoxoxo