Clint mission #50 12/28/98
Dear Family,
The Nativity Party was a bit rough as the members didn’t quite get as prepared with the actual play. The costumes, decorations, etc. was great. We had a huge turnout, mostly young people. So many people that it kind of turned into a policing even for us Elders. The play was performed twice. The members did a pretty good job, but are not so familiar with the Christmas Story and also could have used just a bit more polish. After that the costumes came off because they too wanted to socialize. From that point on we were really policing as someone traded music from Babylon and the kids started throwing powder on each other. Needless to say it was more of a learning experience for everyone. ( Branch leaders, Elders, members) The thing that was the best for me was to see two people very inactive come to church. The one lady hadn’t been to the Church in over a year or so for any activity. Also some of our investigators made it.
We meet with people and need to share scriptures often. One scripture Elder Badger likes to share is 2 Nephi 1:23 about putting on armor and how we choose everyday.
Elder Badger and I both spent our first Christmas in the Mission Field. It was awesome! Definitely the most Spiritual Christmas and Christ centered of my life! After our great phone call the Badger Family called, then we went out for an hour and talked with some inactives, went to the President’s for a good lunch, gift exchange, and a little testimony meeting as each stood and told what they wished they could give the people. I wanted to give a Book of Mormon but someone took that one so, I said when we give them that Book that they can forget all distractions and honestly read and pray. Give it a fair chance. I was very impressed with Elder Brooking as he emotionally expressed how he wished he could give the people a peek of the future of the Church in this land.
However I think the highlight of the day may just have been the last appointment, a single school teacher about 50-55 and her 20 year old son. We talked, explained, and read Luke 2 and other scriptures as they never had heard the Christmas story. She especially liked as we read to her the announcement to Mary from the Angel Gabriel that she had been chosen to do a special work. It was special to tewll the story on Christmas day, a story that means so much to all of us, to two people who had never heard it. No better way to celebrate Christmas than that!
I hope you had a great time in San Diego. I’m glad Santa still found me there at 578 Cambridge.
Thank you again for a great Christmas!
Love , Elder Rogers