Getting Into The Spirit of Christmas!

December is here and it is time to think about preparing for Christmas.

We are off to a good start, thanks to our daughter-in-law, Lyndsay.

Danielle delivered a package from her when we went to Laramie.

It contained everything we needed to make a special Christmas tree.

The handprints of all 32 members of our family make the branches of the tree,  and our faces are the ornaments.  A trunk, silver garland, and a shiny star complete our tree.

This is a treasure, and it may possibly adorn our wall until our mission ends.

The next thing we received are these clever stockings from Allison.

They will be perfect for Santa to fill on Christmas Eve.

Bought this at St. John's Bookstore to add to our collection of Nativities.
This one depicts Mary and Joseph and Baby Jesus as Chinese.

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The Public Relations Department of the Asia Area Mission have planned events and service activities to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ by sharing testimony of Him through music and word,

 and giving the gift of service.

To help us remember the real meaning of Christmas, we wanted to be involved as much as time would allow.  

We actually got started in November on the 22nd, and

our first activity was cutting fleece for 1,000 blankets to be given to the needy.

Its part of their idea of
 BLANKETING HONG KONG with CHRISTMAS WARMTH.

Elders Lee and Chan went to great effort to put rolls of fleece onto the elevator to get it all from one floor to the other for cutting.

Can you breathe back there, Elder Chan?

Sister Rae Rancie and I make a great team.

Elder and Sister Orton 

Elder Bodily and the Rancies working together.

Elder Lee and 'Wan Chai' Chan teamed up.

Elder and Sister Coffey, known as the 'Mormon Coffeys'

Sister Chan and Lee paired up

The result of all that cutting were stacks of little under 1,000 blankets, waiting to be tied.

But, before Christmas came, 1,300 were finished and delivered to the elderly in Hong Kong and also in Mainland China.  Another 800 will be made and delivered during Chinese New Year.

By some coincidence a basketball was lying in the corner, 

and Elder Bodily couldn't resist shooting a few hoops before leaving, even with limited floor space.

That brings back memories.

After all that cutting and stacking, we were feeling hungry, so the Chamberlains suggested we get a bite to eat at Tava Quick.  Its turkish food and one of the area missionaries favorite spots.

After trying it for the first time, we agree.  The food is great, and even reasonably priced.   It seems to be run by a couple of nice guys, and one of them has been investigating the church. 

 Time to get home.  The ferry sounded like a good plan.

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December 4th attended the Christmas Concert, 'What Would I Give?'

Elder and Sister Chan's son-in-law, Wayne Burton was the guest performer.

Songs of the Heart singers performed a number of Christmas songs.  They are a group of Latter-day Saints who are music enthusiasts and perform with various art groups for the community.  A few of its members are ordinance workers at the temple,  who we have come to know. 

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After church on the 10th, we stayed at Wan Chai to attend a Christmas Concert held in the first floor chapel.  Christmas songs were performed by the Songs of the Heart community choir.  Several ward choirs from the Hong Kong Stakes each sang a song or two.  

 Sister Eleanor Luk sings in her ward's choir.

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Dec. 21st we went to Wan Chai to bake cookies to be given to those passing by as we caroled in front of the church on Gloucester Road.

Elder Bodily snitching before the baking was done.

We chuckled over finding this in the freezer.

If that is ice cream, we don't want any,

 and  there should be no worries of anyone else snitching, 

it is surely freezer burned by now.

After the baking was done with Sister Chamberlain

Carolers were Annie Wong, Sister and Elder Orton, Elder Chamberlain, and myself.

We were few in number, but it was enjoyable just the same.

How can we convince anyone there are no strings attached to what we are offering?

Elder Bodily was persuasive and convinced some to accept these scrumptious cookies.

When the cookies were gone and the songs had all been sung, we took a moment to get a photo with Elder and Sister Chamberlain and Annie Wong.

The Chamberlains have put a great deal of effort into these 2015 activities.

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This Nativity is displayed at the front entrance.

We loved looking at the various nativities displayed in the foyer from all over the world.

These are our favorites:

AFRICA

HONG KONG

MONGOLIA

 ANOTHER HONG KONG

 PHILIPPINES

 AND ANOTHER HONG KONG

 ANOTHER MONGOLIA

Nativities as a group.

Missed out on the Christmas Eve Program.
Stayed up preparing gifts and making brownies for the next day's Christmas party for the branch.

So glad we participated and attended what we could, because it all helped to bring us the
 Spirit of Christmas.