Christmas Zone Conferences

Aomori Zone. At lunch we had a gift exchange. The rules were: gift must be white; cost less than 200 yen ($2.00) it must be wrapped. This pictures was taken just before they opened their gifts.

It was fun to see what the gifts were.

Elder Shaw got Mochi (pounded rice that is sticky)

Elder Dowdy gave the funniest gift of the week.

They are all holding up their new gifts. I think the missionaries liked the activity.

President Rasmussen giving a great training on "Finding".

The Aomori Zone Dec. 2011

Silly picture!

Morioka Zone ready to open their gifts.

Lots of laughs!

Sis Sato got a white toilet brush!

Nothing says a gift like a white finger puppet and a marshmallow snowman to eat.

I think this was a coupon book.

Elder Christensen got homemade custard from Sister Sato.

Proud of their treasures!

Morioka Zone Dec 2011

Silly Zone!

Sendai Zone

A Special musical number by Elders Ellsworth, Merkley, Taylor and Oikawa.

The Kamisugi Ward RS sisters made a HUGE chicken dinner for everyone. They had an assembly line for passing the plates to the tables.

Missionaries love to get together.

Ready to open their gifts at lunchtime.

Sis Jahana got a bunny duster.

Elder Narita for a roll of toilet paper with the mission scripture written on it.

Happy with their treasure.

Elder Ellsworth got a lucky rabbit foot that he attached to his phone. He would have left it there forever if we hadn't suggested he remove it at the end of the day.

Our wonderful AP's, Elders Lay and Ohira

Niigata Zone:

Elders Page and Sanders sang a Christmas song with the guitar.

Ready to open their gifts

Pictures of gifts received

Elder Kurita popped a dozen white balloons with gifts inside. Clever gift from Elder Shin'no.

Niigata Zone Dec 2011

Silly Niigata!!

In addition to all this fun, we arranged with all the parents of the missionaries to write their son or daughter a special Christmas letter sharing their love and testimony. We handed the letters out to be read just before the Testimony Meeting we had at the end of the day. What a spiritual meeting they were as their hearts were tender towards their families and the gospel.

The highlight for Gary and me was the video we made and gave to each missionary of each companionship standing by a rice field with the rice "white and ready to harvest". I think it will be special to them in years to come.

We also gave each a Temple Recommend holder with the picture that hangs in our home along with the mission scripture. (Moses 7:18)

We sure love our missionaries.