IT'S STILL CHRISTMAS!

Missionaries are the best.  We are uplifted by their spirit and energy and their love for this Gospel of Jesus Christ and the joy that it brings.  As the rest of the Christian world is putting away the trappings of Christmas, we are still in the swing.
Our mission party last Saturday brought out the festive in us all.  After the delicious ham dinner prepared and presented by the senior missionaries,everyone joined voices, . beginning with the traditional American carols, ," Silver Bells?" (missionaries from other countries, including Russian, German, French, Austrian and Italy had no clue).  As the program  moved into the international standards, we were all on the same page.

Each district or zone prepared it's own entry.  So much talent and so much fun.

Even the Senior missionaries didn't sound bad at all...

Beautiful voices and  instruments brought us all to tears.

The program ended with Silent Night being sung in the native languages of the missionaries serving: Russian, Spanish, German, French, Italian and finally English.  Different words, same feeling.

We know and love so many of these servants of the Lord serving  here in Moscow.  All missionaries sacrifice years of their lives and means in total devotion to their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Few have worked and prayed as hard as they do now.  

Few have felt so sustained and loved as they do now.  We all know the feeling, now so familiar, of being in the "spiritual bubble" of testimony and truth and such joy.

We are blessed.

BOLSHOI SPLENDOR

Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker performed at the glittering gem, the Bolshoi theater.  Russians are justifiably proud of this two century old performing arts center.  It was as dazzling as we expected it to be.  How fun to be joined by 20 or so friends for this memorable evening 

Seating for the Czar and Czarina

So, for another week or so, MERRY CHRISTMAS!