MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!  We finally had a White Christmas!!! Of course it has been white here all month!  But before I get into our Christmas activities let me tell you about the whole week.  First Elder Shrope got a new computer in the office but of course now his printer will not work.  I got his old one because it was newer than mine and of course it will not recognize my printer yet, so no printing in our office!  But eventually the techs from upstairs in the service department will get it all fixed for us.

 On Thursday evening and Friday morning we taught the first 6 temple lessons to these three new missionaries.  Iggy was our translator and she will also escort these missionaries to Manila to the MTC and temple.  They leave tomorrow afternoon.
Yesterday morning all the senior couples had Christmas breakfast in the mission home.  It was very nice and very festive.  A great start to our Christmas celebration.

 Then last night we went to Nalaikh and had Christmas Eve dinner with Bolosaikhan's family along with the fulltime missionaries serving there.  We had Mongolian buuzs, potato salad, and fruit salad.  All very good.  Then there was singing, dancing, and even a little Michael Jackson impersonation.  Bolorsaikhan's father played the harmonica.  It was a fun night.  When we were leaving, we put money on the Christmas tree for the kids.  That is a Mongolian tradition.  Also they do not have gifts until Dec. 31 and they are brought by Father Winter (Santa dressed in white).
This morning we got to skype with our oldest son, Steve, and his family in Cedar City Utah.  Our granddaughter, Becky, played us two Christmas songs she has just learned on the piano.  It was so good to see and talk with them.  Boy the kids have really grown since we have been gone.

 Then we went to church.  We got there early and got to watch them practice for the sacrament program.  This is Enkhmuren and she conducted the choir.  Her mom is in the hospital and after church she returned to the city with us and came home with us to wait for the Christmas program put on by the district choir.

 

 This was part of the branch choir practicing.  They sang several songs including two in English.  They are all young people.  And they did a beautiful job.  The primary children also sang two songs and were just darling.

 Here I am following along as they do a run through of the program.  This is their first Christmas program that was a scriptural reading with songs by the Primary and choir intermingled in the readings.  Usually they just have speakers like any other Sunday.  It was great and they were excited to do it.

Then tonight we went to listen to the district choir program.  They did songs in Mongolian and English.  President Clark did a solo part in "O Holy Night."  It was a wonderful performance that really made it feel like Christmas.  And the Spirit was so strong during their singing that it brought tears to my eyes.  Except for the hour bus ride home from Nalaikh in which the bus was so crowded that we had to stand the whole way, this has been a wonderful and spiritual Christmas day!!  Hope all our friends and family also have a wonderful Christmas and may the Spirit of Christ be with you today and through out the coming year.  Love to you all.