The Philippines has the longest Christmas celebration in the world, and it all culminated this week. Monday and Tuesday we held our Christmas conferences with half the mission one day, and the other half on Christmas Eve day. We had regular zone conference in the morning (Stewart and I teaching, along with assistants and—this time— counselors in mission presidency) and then our traditional roast pig lunch that the missionaries love. Dallin made a wonderful slide show with music and photos with all the missionaries in it, and then we had a talent show where brave missionaries (mostly Filipinos) sang, danced and shared talents. My favorite was a shy, quiet Filipino elder who did beat-boxing. The missionaries' favorite was the senior missionaries doing "Joy to the World" on the bells. Afterward we played some minute-to-win-it games and then we passed out simple gifts and sent them back to their areas. It was very fun to have Hannah and Dallin there on Monday and have Fenton join us on Tuesday.
In order to encourage the missionaries to keep working and not take a break for Christmas (missionary work is particularly hard this time of year because many people have returned to their family homes in the provinces), Stewart instituted a Book of Mormon challenge. He encouraged the missionaries to teach from the Book of Mormon at every opportunity, testify of it, persuade people they're teaching to read it, get members to read to them, and report back to their district leaders every night on how many Book of Mormons they have placed by sending selfies of the people they are teaching with the Book of Mormon. They are all working to meet a standard of excellence in the next three weeks and the response has been amazing. We've gone through all our boxes of Book of Mormons on hand in the office and are hoping for a delivery of 3200 more books any day. Stewart powerfully challenged them to "flood the Quezon City North Mission with the Book of Mormon!"
Tuesday night after we were all finished we drove to Manila in anticipation of midnight fireworks and gun shooting in our subdivision for Filipino Christmas. We were so exhausted we literally just went to bed in our quiet hotel room Christmas Eve and didn't begin our celebration until about noon the next day. Our Christmas gifts were very simple, and we were finished in less than an hour. We went to a nice restaurant for Christmas dinner and had a fun evening together.
Thursday Stewart read letters and we enjoyed more time together before returning to the mission late Thursday night for early-morning meetings on Friday. Friday night we went to local Chinese restaurant with counselor in stake presidency and the seniors to honor the Ogdens. Saturday two more reassigned missionaries came back from their provinces to get counsel from Stewart. Sunday we went to Santo Cristo Ward in San Jose del Monte. Three wards meet in that building so we saw a lot of missionaries ("President, we need more Book of Mormons!) and stayed after for a baptism. Fenton, Hannah and Dallin are good sports about our boring life here.
This morning we had a FaceTime call with the couple who will replace us in July 2020. They are excited to come. We can share their names on January 11.
We look forward to Sam and Celeste arriving tonight and Sarah, Dan and Derrick's family coming tomorrow. We will miss Abby and Mark, but they are probably relieved they are not on a flight for 20+ hours today.
Happy New Year! I'm so thankful that with the gospel of Jesus Christ we can begin a new year every day! As I taught about the Atonement of Jesus Christ at zone conference, I was filled with gratitude for the many second chances I am given in this life. Thank you for your support and prayers.
Love,
Mom
Baptism.
Christmas zone conference lunch.
Seniors playing bells.
An Elder’s mom made this quilt of Filipino flag for us.
Christmas pjs.
Goodbye Dinner for Ogdens—with their personalized quilt.
Another RM visit-pictures with assistants.
My contact at mall finally got taught by elders!
Baptism.
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