CHRISTMAS 2016

MESSAGE FROM MOM

I received the following note from Mom a few days ago. This is her testimony to all of her family. They are her words, but I want to share them with you as if they were mine. I feel the same way.

"This is a time of giving and receiving and being grateful.  I have decided that the gift I treasure most did not cost a lot of money—even though Satan tells us that you can buy anything with money.  The gift I treasure the most is the gift of my parent’s testimony to me and my brothers.  Each Christmas Eve they would share with us the story found in Luke, telling of the reality of Jesus birth.  Dad and Mom knew who that Christmas baby was and they loved to share it with us.  Looking back, this gift was better than any wrapped present.  They had a sure knowledge that Jesus is the son of God and took every opportunity to share that testimony with us.  They helped me begin my own testimony.  Now I know who that baby was — and who he is now.  He is my Savior and Redeemer and yours too.  Two thousand years ago, wise men were looking for this Messiah—this Savior.   I know that many are still looking for him.  My folks helped me find Him."  

FHE NATIVITY PROGRAM

Joseph and Mary

Thursday evening we were asked by the Torayas to prepare a lesson for their joint FHE. Remembering the wonderful 'Nativity programs' we always had a Mom's, we decided to see if we could put one on. After a couple of trips to the Salvation Army story we found enough material and Robyn went to work. I think everyone enjoyed it, especially the kids. We hope they remember this experience and it becomes a tradition for them too.

CHRISTMAS EVE NATIVITY PROGRAM

We spent Christmas Eve with James and Kaui and the kids. With a little encouragement from Grandma, we talked the kids into another Nativity program. Might as well use the costumes one more time. We had enough participants for one Joseph, one Mary, one shepard, one angel and one wise man. Kaui is going to keep the costumes for future Christmases.  Everyone except 'Joseph' was happy to have their photograph taken. :)

ROBYN'S 'BUTTON' CHRISTMAS CARDS

ZONE CHRISTMAS LUNCH 

Robyn decided to go all out and feed the whole zone for Christmas right after our district meeting. She took care of 20 hungry elders and sisters. Since Kelehua was on Christmas break from school, we brought her along to attend the first part of the district meeting and to help prepare the food. Kelehua has always talked about serving a full time mission, but I think seeing how these fine young elders and sisters got along and how they enjoy their mission really has solidified her desire to serve.

Santa's cooks

Our District

White elephant game

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DISNEY AND ZOE

We decided to surprise Disney and Zoe with a surprise birthday party at Fritz's restaurant here in Kansas City a few days before Christmas. Luke and Josh were invited along to help 'fellowship' :)
The kids were enthralled with the toy train that delivered the goodies. It is so much fun to 'spoil' these kids and their family. Disney, Ashli, Zoe and Kener and their mom are so appreciative of anything we do for them.

When I asked Disney what he wanted for his birthday, he said a sword.
We will see how long it lasts before his mom has to 'confiscate' it.

Zoe

Pre-Christmas activities

CHRISTMAS RED BAGS SERVICE PROJECT

This is the second year we have helped with the 'Red Bags' Christmas service project. We were really looking forward to helping again. Each bag represents a kid in foster care here in Kansas City. Volunteers purchase and wrap the toys and place them in the bags with the child's name on it. Everything is donated - the labor, the money and the facilities. Our ward chapel has served as a distribution center for the last 13 years. It is one of three distribution centers in the city. In the afternoon, the social workers come and pick up the bags for the kids that they supervise. This year, over 1500 foster kids in the greater Kansas City area will have a brighter Christmas

About half done, we unloaded and organized about 500 bags
Cultural hall, stage and Relief Society room were eventually all packed with red bags

Master checker
Every bag had to be checked in and then double checked for accuracy

lots of little bikes

Unloading the truck

SENIOR MISSIONARY CHRISTMAS PARTY

left to right
Sister Fuller (mission office)
Elder Boyer (maintains all the iPads)
Elder & Sister Treasure (records preservation missionaries)
Sister Peless (facilities maintenance)

All the senior missionaries in the Independence area are invited over to Elder and Sister Teftelers apartment on Mondays for a FHE. We try and go as long as we do not have an appointment to visit a family in the ward. This past Monday, 23 missionaries were able to come and we enjoyed a wonderful dinner. After which, we had a great white elephant game. I think the prize for the best 'white elephant' was a pair of reindeer slippers that Robyn bought at the local Salvation Army thrift store that afternoon. Elder Ross opened the package, but when it was Sister Dance's turn, she grabbed them. Elder Ross was not upset. :)

left to right
Robyn
Sister and Elder Carpenter (facilities maintenance)
Sister and Elder Metallo (mission office staff)
Sister Johnson (visitor's center missionary)
Sister Dance (facilities maintenance)

'I love Bacon' calendar
left to right
Sister Christensen (mission nurse)
Sister Boyer, standing (apartment checker)
Elder and Sister Fuller (mission cars)
Elder Boyer (iPad maintenance)
Elder Treasure (records preservation)

Elder Ross (housing) and his slippers
Elder Peless (facilities maintenance)

Happy Feet

'CHRISTMAS FAMILIES' service project

'Christmas Families' is part of the Red Bags project, but it is designed to help needy families instead of foster kids. It is much smaller in scope - with only about 60 families being served. The organization told our bishop that they could help 5 needy families in the ward. Robyn and I were asked some time ago, to help in sitting down with the mothers of these families to figure out their needs for Christmas. This past week, we picked up all the wrapped gifts for 2 of the families in our ward. We 'hid' the presents in James' basement and will deliver them late at night on the 24th. With his parent's encouragement, we 'recruited' Noah to help us deliver the gifts Christmas eve. I think it will be an eye opener for him to see the living conditions of some of the needy members in our ward and compare them to his own. I'm sure that is why his folks were pleased that we wanted to involve him in the project. 

Pick up location at the Overland Park Presbyterian Church. The numbers on the boxes and bags correspond to a family. We had to borrow James' truck because there were 11 large bags that needed to be picked up for the 2 families. The kids and their parents will have a wonderful Christmas. Again, all of the money and labor is donated by kind people in the Kansas City area. 

WARD CHRISTMAS PARTY  :(

CHRISTMAS CONCERT

Our P-day fell on the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, and we were invited to attend Noah's high school winter band performance in Overland Park. Noah's band chose to remember all those who lost their lives at Pearl Harbor and to honor all who served in the military during the second world war. The musical numbers they played were favorite WWII era pieces. They especially remembered the USS Arizona band. All 21 members of the band were killed when the main magazine of the Arizona exploded. They were passing ammunition to the guns above when the explosion occurred.
The high school band had over 200 musicians. So many that they were divided up into 3 groups who each took a turn performing. This does not even include the school orchestra which has almost as many performers. Seeing the facilities here and the great dedication of the staff and students, I commented to James afterwards, that I'm glad his family is here. It has taken me a few years to be able to say that, because we miss them so much. But I know that they are in a good place and that the kids are thriving in school and at church.
The names of those who served during WWII, that had a connection to a member of the band, were listed in the program. Noah made sure his great grandfather, who served in the Pacific in the Army Air Corp was listed. Honoring those who serve in the military may not be politically correct in certain parts of the country, but it is certainly alive and well in Kansas. Another reason I'm glad they are here.

Noah - percussion

Kelehua plays the viola in middle school.

'PASTOR' ROBYN

'Pastor' Robyn

We recently received a call from Crossroads Hospice, asking if we would be willing to help out with a bi-monthly devotional service at one of their senior care centers here in Missouri. The pastor who had been coming twice a month was quite overwhelmed with her work at some of their other facilities and needed a break. After discussing the needs and schedule with pastor Rachel, we agreed to come once a month to provide a short devotional prayer meeting for any of the residents that are interested. They sometimes have between 5-15 residents and guests who come on Wednesday afternoons. Pastor Rachel suggested we continue discussing Psalms, as that has been her main subject of discussion. We thought about it, but felt a little differently. Robyn and I decided that if we were going to spend the time to come, we were definitely going to talk about the Savior - his birth and ministry. And we were also going to bring in the truths of the Gospel as we understand them. It was an interesting experience. I concluded my remarks quoting Alma 7: 10-12 in the Book of Mormon. Nobody seemed to mind.

BACK AT THE TEMPLE

Pedro Porras

Another beautiful morning in the temple. Pedro was anxious to attend the temple after being away for a time. He and his wife, Claudia, attended our temple preparation class the past few months. Claudia joined the church last year and she will receive her endowments at the monthly Spanish session in a couple of weeks. Both recently immigrated from Mexico where Pedro taught music in school for many years. As you can tell from Pedro's smile, he is grateful to again be in the temple.

Happy to be here

THE GOSPEL NET 'GATHERS FROM EVERY KIND'

Cerestine Nsabimana

Cerestine and his family are refugees from the Congo. They were brought to Orlando, Florida about 3 years ago where he and his wife and six kids were introduced to the church and were baptized. Cerestine recently came to Kansas City to find work and better housing. With no transportation, we have been bringing him to church the past couple of weeks. His English is pretty limited and our Swahili is even more limited, but we manage OK. 

Robyn can now say, 'how are you' and 'I am well' in three languages... English, Spanish and Swahili :)

Swahili:

Habari gani - How are you?

Mimi ni vizuri - I am good.

LUNCH DATE WITH THE SISTERS

It is fun to spoil the elders and sisters in our ward every once in a while. Sister Sly (Las Vegas) and Sister Rodriguez (Vera Cruz, Mexico) really brighten up our day. We try and take the missionaries out to lunch once a transfer to get to know them better and let them know how much we love and support them. 

                                                EMAIL FROM THE TEMPLE

When his folks asked Orrin what he wanted for his birthday, he told them he wanted to go to the Los Angeles temple to see the Christmas lights. That night I received the above picture in my email. The visitors center has interactive computers that allow the kids to draw something and then email it to a friend or family member. Orrin likes rocket ships and temples... :-)

I am grateful that my grandchildren are learning at a young age the importance of the House of the Lord. 

Matthew and Teagan