Live Nativity Pageant

Every year for who knows how many years the members of the Church here have put on a live nativity. This year some of our missionaries were involved, but most of the actors are locals.

It used to performed in an empty field where the temple now stands, but now they use the back corner of the parking lot for the stake centre. They set up chairs in the parking lot, and some people choose to stand for the short program. This year they cut the performances back to one showing a night for three nights, the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday before Christmas. Tuesday night got rained out, but the crowds came out in droves on Wednesday. When a lot more people than expected showed up, the missionaries brought out more chairs, probably scrounging from all the classrooms and doubling the seating. There still weren't enough seats, so lots of people stood.

The pageant lasted about 20 minutes and then everyone was invited inside the church for cocoa and cookies, with lots of free literature for those interested in learning more about our church.

It is very simply done but tells the Christmas story in a very powerful way!

We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. We love this time of year when people around the world unite in celebrating the birth of the Babe of Bethlehem, the Savior of the world.

Christmas Devotionals

A couple of weeks ago we had several missionaries in the office for their personal interviews with President Pratt. While they waited, several of the Elders decorated the tree. We were pretty impressed with how the tree turned out:

Christmas Devotionals were held last week throughout the mission, along the same lines as zone conferences, but the theme was Christmas instead of missionary work. We didn't get to travel with President and Sister Pratt to all of them like we did for zone conferences. At first we were a little disappointed because we enjoyed meeting all the missionaries last time. But then we found out why the previous office couple got to go--to speak and sing and say goodbye. We were just fine staying home, especially when the weather kicked in. We didn't get as much snow as Salt Lake did last week, but driving on unfamiliar roads in any snowstorm isn't fun. Besides, our winds were probably a lot more fierce than anything in Salt Lake.

After hearing some great talks and several awesome musical numbers, we broke for lunch. Then the fun began with a "talent show." Apparently all the missionaries were supposed to perform in some manner, although some of them didn't know it until the night before. There wasn't really too much talent involved, mostly good-natured parodies, like a song from Frozen (Open Door) changed to reflect the way people throw away the pass-along cards. Very cute, well done, but no one will win any awards for their music from that day.

Elder Hart (Sandy, Utah) and Elder Breinholt (Gilbert, Arizona)

The show stopper was a pair of missionaries who lip-synced and danced to a medley of jazzed up Primary songs for about 6-7 minutes. If that doesn't sound like too much, it's only because you didn't see the way they threw themselves into it. High energy is an understatement. Elders Mitchell Hart and Braxton Breinholt were amazing! Watch this (click on the second of the two pictures). 

There are some absolutely WONDERFUL missionaries serving here, both old and young. They persevere in spite of a mountain of obstacles, including physical disabilities, language issues, weather-related problems, and an office couple who still can't answer all their questions. :) We love these people! 

Just as we were getting ready to leave the office one day a couple of weeks ago, the phone rang at 4:55. Fortunately the night phone wasn't on yet, because once it is, we can't pick up calls, and messages are retrieved in the morning. A man asked to have President Pratt call him. He said his brother is serving here, and his dad had just had a pretty severe heart attack and they didn't know whether or not he'd make it. So glad we were able to talk with him. People asked if he'd be staying in the mission. Not only did he stay, but they've been working harder than ever and have had a lot of success. Here's his Facebook post from a couple of days later:

Elders and Sisters,
I got news today that my Father passed away. He had been going through a rough time these last few days because of a very major condition that suddenly came on. I would like to thank you all for all that prayers and faith on my Father's and my Family's behalf, also on my behalf as well. I have been feeling strength and guidance from your prayers and I know that I am being divinely helped in this trial. I am very thankful for you all and I know that this is the best mission ever. Because of the people, the places, and most of all the Missionaries. The Lord does everything for a reason and I know that trials come into our lives to strengthen and help us. I know that God is real, I as well know that the Savior lives today and that he has been lower than us. He knows us and he knows our pains and afflictions and all that we have felt. We can receive strength each day only if we ask and show the evidence of our faith through our actions. I know that choosing to be here on a mission was and is the best choice of my life and I know that it is as well for each of you.

Philippians 3: 8-14

Keep pressing forward and help others to come to the marvelous truths that each of us have in our lives.

I hope that we can all continually 'press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.'

Thank you all very much.

Love,
Elder Allsop

See what I mean about awesome missionaries? Great people, strong testimonies!! And supported by their faith in our loving Heavenly Father. It's wonderful to be around them. They bless our lives tremendously.

This is the most blessed time of year. Merry Christmas to one and all!

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

We checked the forecast on Sunday so we'd know whether or not we should plan to move some furniture around to various apartments on Monday. It showed 0% chance of rain, so we set everything up. And then we woke up to our first real snow! We thought we'd wait to take pictures until later in the day after it had accumulated. Then we started getting reports of the weather in Salt Lake. Way to take the wind out of our sails! Salt Lake hogged all the snow. So no pictures today, We can't compete, especially since by afternoon the snow had mostly melted. This morning we feared there would be black ice, but the overnight rain melted all of that. We'll let you glory in your beautiful white fluff while we try not to blow away--we've had some pretty fierce winds to move our rain around today, but no more snow. If our rain had been snow instead, we would have given Salt Lake a run for their money.

This morning there was an email from Church saying the offices in Salt Lake would close at 3:00 yesterday because of the weather. You don't hear of that too often.

This year we're supposed to have a very mild winter here. Let's hope they're right. That was the forecast last year too, right up until the snow started in February and forgot to stop.

Occasionally the stresses of the office get a little intense (understatement), but we'd rather be stressed and inside the warm, dry office than outside in the wild wind and heavy rain!

The Joys and Woes of Senior Couples

The Joy:

Benson David Holbrook
December 5, 2015 at 6:09 am
7 pounds, 2 ounces, 18"

The Woe: He lives next door but we're 4,828 kilometers (3,000+ miles) away from home

Congratulations Jeff and Becca!

Zone Conferences

Last week was a busy one. While still recovering from the busyness of transfers, we went to zone conferences around the mission. We got to meet all the missionaries, young and old. That's something we missed out on when we were in Russia--there we only got to know the ones who came to our town. There are some TERRIFIC missionaries serving in the Canada Halifax Mission. Since we're in the office, we'll get to know all of them.

Handing out candy bars at zone conference in an attempt to learn their names

We had a very minor part in each conference. Elder Holbrook told some good stories and gave examples of staying focused on missionary work, interspersed with some financial reminders. Sister Holbrook did her song and dance about mission "housekeeping" items, reminding the missionaries to turn in reports and necessary papers to keep things flowing through the office. Other than that, we sat back and relaxed.

President Pratt introduced his "le tour de Faith" (a take-off on le tour de France) where we really hit things hard for a week, focusing on different goals each day such as passing out Books of Mormon, most creative contacting, or the most invitations to church. The ultimate goal for the mission is to more than double 2016 baptisms from this year (they've dropped a little too much lately) and increase retention and reactivation. Very ambitious, but the with missionaries we've got, it's very doable.

We didn't think to get a picture of the entire zones until the last conference. These are the diligent missionaries serving in Newfoundland (we're missing half of one of the senior couples because he was out doing a car inspection). This is the smallest zone in the mission, just about half the size of any of the other four zones. Very good people. 

Newfoundland Zone with President Pratt on the front row on the left

Unfortunately, we got to Gander, Newfoundland, late at night so we didn't get to see much except windy darkness. The next day we had zone conference in the hotel and it was dark by the time we finished. Saturday morning we thought we might get a little sightseeing in, but woke up to a snowstorm and we chose to relax in our room rather than brave the icy winds. The people we met were warm and friendly. Maybe next time the weather will cooperate and we can see a little more.

Fun in our travels:
We got to Moncton the afternoon before the first zone conference. We'd heard about a place called Magnetic Hill and found it was close to our hotel so we decided to check it out. Because of stormy weather, the booth was empty and we didn't have to pay the entrance fee. We drove to the bottom of this hill (to the point it started going uphill again) about 200 meters in front of car, put the car in neutral, and coasted backwards up the hill to the picture site! Amazing. The car moved backward quickly, not just a slow roll.

Looking "down" Magnetic Hill

The airport in Gander had a fun waiting area. We didn't try out the low chairs (we weren't sure we'd be able to get out of them!)

Thanksgiving

Thursday we celebrated a quick Thanksgiving dinner with 5 other couples. Everyone brought a favorite dish. Like most Thanksgiving meals, we had way too much delicious food. For some reason, we can't get the pictures to transfer over, but trust me, there was lots of food and great company. Have we told you how great the missionaries are here? That goes for senior couples as well. The members are fantastic too.

It was nice to take a bit of a break and remember we have so much to be grateful for. Above all, we have a knowledge of our loving Heavenly Father Who sent His Son to atone for our sins. They love us in spite of all we do wrong! And They're beside us every step of the way, helping us throughout the trials--and good times--in our lives.