035 Tuesday to Tuesday (Dec. 17-23, 2014)

As we got closer to Christmas Day, we could tell the excitement was increasing among all our Missionaries (as well as ourselves). I remember being a child (yes, I was young once) and how much I looked forward to Christmas. While I knew we probably wouldn’t get much in the way of presents, it was so exciting just thinking of it. What a great place to be during the holidays. Christmas helps us to more fully appreciate how the children are excited about the idea of Santa and his presents. We look forward to the day that they realize that the greatest gift of all comes from our Savior. Where would we be if we did not have the Gospel in our lives to remind us of who we are and our possibilities in the Lord’s plan.

On Wednesday, I had to go with Denise to attend her monthly meeting as a member of her team. We could not take Timmy with us so Elder Lenhard had to babysit him. In the past, we’ve allowed Denise to use only a booster seat in our car to transport Timmy. I asked her once what the law was in Wisconsin about children riding in our car. She assured me that it was ok. Mallory and Brad actually clued us in on the law. She has to have a car seat, and we could be fined big time if we got caught. Not only that, but we had begun to realize that if anything happened, we would be in a world of hurt. So, we have stopped taking them anywhere if she did not have a car seat. On this day, they did not have one, so it worked well that Timmy was able to stay home.

Her meeting did not go well. She got into trouble with her finances.  She had received a small inheritance from her mother, and instead of saving any of it, she spent it all on Christmas for her kids. She wants her kids to love her more than dad, and she wasn’t thinking about anything else. She may have to start looking for another place to live sooner than she had expected.

We went by and saw the sister that last week we couldn’t get to see other than to say “hello, goodbye.” We visited with her for at least 30 minutes and found she had a lot more garbage in her life than we had originally thought. I just loved her little ones. We decided that we will get a couple of presents for the kids  and take them later.

Our last Pathway class came to fruition on Thursday night. All of our students have re-registered for the winter semester. We are excited to start the new semester as the students begin a math class and continue their study of the Book of Mormon. We don’t do the religious class, only the math one. I’ve looked at the new curriculum, and it is going to be fun.

Friday was a quiet day. The weather was once again gray and nasty looking. We didn’t really get rain, but it was humid and the wind blows just enough to keep it cold. Some days we are just grateful we can stay inside and make phone calls etc.

Saturday we had a few errands to run, and we were picking up Denise and Timmy for a Christmas party at Oak Creek Ward. It was a great party. There were a lot of people there, and it was decorated to the hilt. They had a live nativity by the children, and then they played the bells for several songs. It was great.

 Such a cute scene. I love watching the Nativity played out by the children.

If you look closely, you can see the children

in the front. Each child had a bell and a director led them in several carols. It was really good.

 

On Sunday, we had an all musical Sacrament meeting. Branch President Fritz narrated the program, and we loved it. Everyone ended up in one group or another to sing a song. Then our violinists played, and we had the pianists played, etc.  It was so special.

Monday saw us going to the gym that morning, off to buy a few presents for the family we had visited earlier in the week, That took a good part of the morning. Thank goodness Michael’s had 70% off of everything, and I was able to get a couple of nice things for little money. Elder Lenhard had to get a haircut, and I decided to wait on mine for another day or so. 

That evening we had been invited to President and Sister Cutler’s to celebrate Christmas with all the Elders and Sisters who served in the South Stake Building Wards. There were at least 20+ missionaries. The Cutler’s married daughter, husband, and little baby were there also Evidently, that day as they were making a soup, they had used some noodles they found were rancid. They then dug them out and had to start over with new noodles that they had to get from the store. Therefore, when we got there, the food wasn’t ready. YEAH! I’m not the only one who does that kind of stuff. When we ate, the soup was fabulous. We enjoyed it very much. Finally, we started singing Christmas Carols and almost sang all that were found in the Hymnal. It was really fun.

 

Fun night at the Cutlers.

 The next day we had to get Craig’s medicine from the drug store and off to a Zone training meeting we went. It was a great meeting as we studied Scriptures about Christ that fell into several categories: the pre-existence, mortality, spirit world, and judgment.  The Scriptures are replete with the Savior’s mission. We are so blest that He loves us so much that He was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for us.

Our Scripture for the December is 2 Nephi 25:26 –

            And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of

            Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to

            what source they may look for a remission of their sins.

This is a great scripture to teach the children. We love you all.

Elder and Sister Lenhard