Week 41

Merry Christmas Dear Family and Friends!  Yesterday was filled with Christmas joy as I attended 1 of 3 Christmas Zone Conferences at the Mission Home.  President and Sister Davis hosted about 60 missionaries at each conference held on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.  They presented inspiring  messages concerning the birth of Jesus Christ accompanied by beautiful music and uplifting videos.  A talent show followed with lots of fun and laughter.  Lunch, games and activities were next and concluded with Santa Claus, gifts and a video slide show with Christmas greetings from returned missionaries and leaders they had previously known.  The weather was so hot but everyone had such a good time. 

                                                            President Davis is the best Santa



                                    About 1/3 of the missionaries were present at each conference.



    Our wonderful APs (Assistants to the President) had us all laughing during the talent show.


They serve us well


         The highlight of the talent show was a fire dance by Elder Ah Sha from French Polynesia.  




The missionaries loved it!
   

 Lunch included a line with African food and one with American.  African food included sadza, varieties of rice, chicken, beef, vegetables and Mopane worms.  They were told just to take one worm.  I told them they could have mine. 

                                         

                                         Missionaries singing Joy To The World to the servers before lunch.

Games were going on all over the yard.  I only got pictures of this one.



It was hot.  Sister Green had to get a quick ice cream lick before returning to the game.  She has been here 3 days.  She is thrilled to be in Zimbabwe.  I think some of the young Elders are thrilled she is here also. 

We have the best Mission President.  After the games he played his guitar for a fun sing along that included the 12 Days of Christmas (in Zimbabwe), Santa Claus Is Coming to Town, Frosty The Snowman, Jingle Bells, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and others.  The American missionaries enthusiastically belted out the words while the African missionaries just swayed to the music because they had never heard the songs.  They had fun nonetheless.  

                                                      Santa Davis had gifts for all.

I am loving life at the front office.  Missionaries come and go all the time.  "Sister Stephens, we need more cases of Book of Mormons.  Sister Stephens, I need a new badge.  Sister Stephens, I need a new International Driving Permit.  Sister Stephens, I don't need anything.  I just wanted to say hello."  On this particular day they were waiting to be picked up to be taken to their Christmas Zone Conference.  






She ran over to me, as usual, after Sacrament Meeting to take my hand and take me to Nursery.  I tried to explain that there was no Nursery today, but she took me in that direction anyways. Next Sunday will be our last Sunday in this ward.  President Davis wants us to go to a ward where there are no missionaries.  My heart is breaking just a bit.  



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