We want to take a moment to reflex on the birth of our Saviour and how grateful we are for Him. Here is our blog getting ready for that special day we celebrate His birth.
Christmas is a busy time, even on a Mission and serving at our Visitor Center, but we sure are enjoying it! It has really helped being away from family at this time of year.
The first part of November, our FM Missionaries were busy putting lights in our trees around our Visitor Center for the Lighting Ceremony that was held the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
Inside our center we were also getting ready.
Brother Jeffery, our Custodian, helped put up the large tree and even helped put the star on top.
Elder Godfrey helped straighten the star before all the decorations were put on the tree. Now it is ready to be decorated!
Sister Susan Allred and Sister Shelley Beatty, each year, bring their own decorations to decorate the inside of our Visitor Center. They always do a beautiful job!
The Sister Missionaries on shift were asked to help, which they loved doing so. We all got in the Christmas spirit with the decorations.
Our Director's, Elder and Sister Adams, attached the garland on the stairs and it was our job to "fluff" the garland and attach the bows.
Tables also needed to be decorated and we had fun decorating them also.
We had lots of help decorating the tree.
"It beginning to look a lot like Christmas"!!!
They also decorated the down stair tree with old fashion items around the base of the tree. Our whole center looks beautiful, ready for guest to come and enjoy the Spirit here with us.
The Lighting Ceremony was nice with the Mormon Chorale providing some beautiful songs. Pres. Medina, our Stake President, gave the spiritual message and then outside to turn on the lights. We had a good crowd in attendance. The lights are beautiful around our Visitor Center.
We have beautiful, live, poinsettias all around, here at the Visitor Center in Independence and also at Liberty Jail.
As the first of December came, we drew names to be a "Secret Sister" to one of the Sister Missionaries. For 12 days, we were to do something nice for the Sister (or Sr. Elder, what ever the case may be). On the 12th eve we had a small party to exchanged our final $5.00 gifts.
We provided snacks and then opened our gift from our "Secret Sister". There were some really cleaver gifts.
The best gift wrapped gift was given to Elder Godfrey from his "Secret Sister," Sister Hansen. She had used an old Ensign, that said Elder Godfrey, "Thou Art the Man!" It was a fun, enjoyable evening with all the Sisters and Senior Couples that serve at the Visitor Center.
We also had the opportunity to attend a presentation of "Handel's Messiah" put on by the community, held in the Historic Stone Church which was built in the late 1800s by the RLDS. The chapel was amazing inside. It reminded me of some of our old Tabernacles, with seating in the balcony, along the sides and back. The Choir and orchestra was directed by Sister Beebe, who also directs the Mormon Chorale. We enjoyed the performance very much.
We have also been having some special musical evening at the Visitor Center with families and friends around the community performing. There are some really talented people that live here in MO. One of the evenings, the musical numbers were put on by our own Sister Missionaries. NOW, THEY HAVE TALENT!
We started with a Bell Choir playing a medley of three Christmas songs. The sisters loved learning and performing using the bells, which most of them had never done before. I had my Daughter, Sonya, send me my bells, since I love bells at Christmas. I didn't have my Grandchildren with me to perform, so I used all the talent of our Sister Missionaries.
We also had duets and Solos performed by the Sister Missionaries; piano, vocal, and with instruments. They all did an amazing job in their performances.
Vocal Duet by Sisters Satterthwaite & Call Sister Wilson is excellent on the Violin.
The closing number was with all the Sisters singing "Angels We Have Heard on High". They are all our Sister Angels.
We are loving serving in the Missouri Independence Mission, especially in the Visitor Center. We reflect on the love our savior has for us, each day, as we look upon the Christus at our center. May we all remember the true meaning of Christmas and what Christ has done for us, not only this month but throughout all the year.
We love you all, and we wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Elder and Sister Godfrey
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