December 8, 2013

We had another week of transfers.  The picture to the left is us with Elder Resendez and Elder Dickenson at the Boston Temple. Eesendez as he served as an AP for the past few months.  He is from Chandler and was an outstanding missionary.  Elder Dickenson served down in Lawrence Mass. as a Spanish speaking Elder.  Got real close to him when improving their living conditions.  He is such a wonderful young man.  They both will do great in life.
The picture below is of the new missionaries that came in last Monday.  We had 6 come in and we had 6 go home.  I think the surge could be over. They helped decorate the tree in President and Sister Stokers home.  It sure is much easier when only 6 or 7 missionaries come in instead of 23 or 24. 
I am sitting her at my desk and watching is snow outside.  Winter has really come and it is beautiful.  We have already had a couple of accidents when missionaries are unable to navigate the slick roads.  Many of these missionaries have never driven in the snow before.  I think it is going to be interesting to see what happens during this long winter.
Miriam and I are attending the Manchester Ward.  Last Sunday at about 11:30 we got a call from the Bishop.  He needed Miriam to play the piano for sacrament meeting and me to speak.  Church started at 1:00 pm.  I was asked to give a talk on the Atonement.  The Bishop said everyone bailed on him for their assignments. Our Ward needs a lot of help.  We love serving there however.  Miriam played the organ for the first time for Sacrament meeting and she did wonderful. 
We have been invited to a members home Christmas morning along with our 10 missionaries.  The Lares family is wonderful.  I said to Brother Lares that I didn't want to mess their Christmas morning up with their kids.  He said that we couldn't mess it up unless we wanted to be there at 4am.  We are having our breakfast at 8am.  It sure is nice of them.