Faith Meets Family

Here we are with a couple of our favorite Hermanas - more about this camel later!

Our dear friends Dave and Diane Nutter came to Houston on their way to their new home in Florida and they took us out to dinner. It was so great to have a visit from home!

We put up a tiny tree this week and were excited about the tiny nativity and missionary stockings we found at the new Latter Day Books and Gifts located in Houston near the temple! And we got our first Christmas card - hand painted no less - from our sweet neighbors Dan and Mary Beatson!

Aren't they so cute?!

On Friday and Saturday from 1:00 pm to 9:00 the Kingwood Stake put on their annual display of Nativities from around the world. I had heard about it but was not prepared for the amazing display!

It felt like visiting the Smithsonian Museum of Nativities from around the world! Displays like this filled three sides of the cultural hall!

I can't imagine the hours of work - setting up, arranging for hosts, clean up, etc. I think they said this was the 10th year they have done it and the whole community looks forward to it.

They had various artists and school groups perform both days.

They had a children's area set up in the primary room with less fragile Nativity displays and activities for the children. They also had a large, life size Nativity set and costumes in another room so that families could take a photo in costume!

This beautiful display was in the chapel where the new movie "The Christ Child" was playing on a big screen. There was a beautiful spirit there.

While we were there we ran into Sister Gerardo. She was one of the first people we met in Kingwood besides the missionaries at the office. We were at the bank one day and she was behind us in line. She was admiring my shoes and thinking that they would be great for her daughter who was getting ready to serve a mission in Canada. Then she saw that we had missionary badges and introduced herself. You know that if I look tall, she is very tiny! I just love her and want to get together again so I can practice some Spanish!

The highlight of our week was another evening at the Houston Temple. Our mission has an event on the first Friday of the month called "Faith Meets Family." The missionaries help new converts find family names and then come with them to the temple to do baptisms for the dead. This week there were 39 recent converts taking part. The mission presidency, senior missionaries and many of the young missionaries helped out. It is so amazing and we feel fortunate to be a part of it. This is what a mission is all about! 

President Hewlett is such a great leader and has a deep love for the missionaries as well as for those being taught and guided as they progress in the gospel. 

It was fun to gather for photos outside afterward and to watch the pure joy of missionaries and new members together at the temple.

We love these missionaries!!

On one of our walks I just had to document this giant Maple leaf that came from a very small tree.

We were finally able to sneak a photo of these two sunning themselves - we usually just see their noses peaking up from the water.

One Saturday the event at Town Center Park was much bigger than usual!

The trees were lighted and there were cute tap dancers on the stage!

This neighborhood is a lot of fun!

Our stake had an angel tree up to benefit children that are in protective custody. They haven't been placed in foster care, or they have reached 18 but choose to stay because they have no place to go. We delivered so gifts that we had gathered and it was humbling to think of children spending the Holidays in a cinder block building with a razor wire fence. Then we remembered that there are many similar places at our borders and around the country... and sometimes the thought of so many in desperate circumstances is overwhelming.

Hopefully a few gifts will make their holiday season seem a little brighter.

More taking missionaries to eat! This day was pretty cool. It was our P-day and we had signed up to take two elders to lunch. When we got to their apartment, I had them look at a list of places close by so they could choose one. We thought that we were going to a burger place that is popular, then one of the missionaries said "I've heard this pizza place is pretty good." So, we changed plans and went for pizza. As soon as we walked in, this same missionary ran over to talk in Spanish  to an employee that he recognized. It turns out that this man had come to their English classes a few months ago; then they lost track of him and and been trying to find him. It was fun to see them being guided - even in the simple decision of where to eat lunch!

We also took the Hermanas to eat dinner and poor Sister Litchfield got a giant sliver under her nail right when we sat down! Luckily Elder Davis had his trusty Swiss Army Knife in his pocket so she could use the tweezer - he is always prepared!

This week we also learned about a birthday tradition that apparently is common among Latinos here -  this guy was near us at a restaurant when they came out singing Happy Birthday to him and carrying a dessert. When they finished singing they smashed it in his face!! Note to self - do not celebrate your birthday at a Mexican restaurant! 

We were so excited to receive our new badges in Spanish this week. We thought it would be appropriate since we are attending and serving in a Spanish ward here and loving it! Hasta luego!