Christmas Day in Trujillo

Christmas is magical for me. 

Christmas Eve was a time we met with my Dad's side of the family and had a lovely dinner.  

We visited with our Papa, Aunts and Uncles, open gifts and played with our cousins.

We would arrive home, cut the special birthday cake that Mom had made 

to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

We would eat some, and then leave a piece for Santa in front of the fireplace.

On Christmas morning we would run down stairs 

and enjoy the gifts from our parents and Santa Claus.  

Christmas day was spent with my Mom's side of the family.

Again a time of laughter, fun and cousins!

As Kurt and I married and had children we started our own traditions,

Our first Christmas trees were adorned with the cards sent by friends.

Our children dressed in the Nativity Clothing and 

We read the Story of Jesus' birth from the Book of Luke in the Bible. 

I was still the first one up in the morning, and Kurt would tell me to stay in bed and 

not wake up the children.  That wouldn't last for long and we would all be up.

This year, true to form, I was up at 5:00am.  

Our Missionaries wouldn't be at the Primavera Chapel for hours, so I woke up Kurt and made him run down to the Christmas Tree with me.  

We opened our gift to each other and 

had breakfast (traditional cinnamon rolls and ham, sorry Jen, no soufflé  this year).

I couldn't wait to call my children, see our new grandson on Christmas morning 

and see what the grandkids received for Christmas... 

AND to get to the church to see all of the missionaries.

 We sang "Feliz Navidad ," and I put a Merry Christmas message on Facebook 

from the Missionaries to their parents.

President Marler and I spoke, about the Savior, and the importance of his message, 

about the importance of us sharing it with others. 

We then had a talent show and enjoyed our time with the missionaries.  

 We had our traditional cake in celebration Jesus' birth.

 Then we went back to work, what a great day to share the message of Jesus Christ!

My, how we love our family, 

all of them, our children and grandchildren in the U.S. 

and our missionaries here and all of their parents. 

Thank you for your Christmas wishes.

We love you.

Thanks for your prayers on all of our behalf!

The Christmas Program

I will be writing the next few blog entries out of order, 

We have had a full week of sharing the Gospel of Christ.  

We have blessed many with the opportunity to go to the temple, not only our missionaries,

but those on the other side of the veil awaiting these wonderful blessings.

We have invited thousands to come unto Christ, to watch the video about the Savior on (www.lds.org)  and the real meaning of Christmas, 

and to attend the Christmas Concert in the Plaza de Armas in Trujillo.

Our message was of Christ, and his great gift to us, 

not just at Christmas but each and every day, the gift of His atoning sacrifice. 

Through Him we are saved.

Saved from death, from pain, suffering, and from hurts to our heart.

His message is simple "follow me, do as you have seen me done, 

and all that the Father has will be yours."

 Our first number was Joy to the World with the entire choir joining in praises to our Savior, 

Jesus Christ.

Then it was "Ho Down Christmas with Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas by Elder Heward and his band,

with line dancers and all!

 Elder Lavado accompanied Elder Rodriguez and Elder Leon, "Chestnuts Roasting"

 Elder Johnson amazed us with "Believe."

Sister Rochette sang "I Heard the Bells" 

Elder Olsen and Elder Drescher performed a Piano Guys arrangement of O Come Emmanuel.

Sister Rodriguez, Sister Thruston and Sister Brogan a trio starting "Silent Night",
and then we sang Peruvian style with guitars, pipes and
Sister Tonga doing a hula and expressing the "Silent Night" in dance. 

Ben Haacke and Elder Bishop played the violin and harmonica to the hymn,
Once A Royal City of David.
It was beautiful.

Kurt's dad carried this Tenor Sax all the way from California earlier this year,
so our program wouldn't have been complete without Elder Terry and Sister Furness
playing, "O Tannenbaum"

 After each program (one on Saturday and one on Sunday, there was time for pictures and greeting of

friends we had invited to the program.  Many came from as far as Chimbote and Cajamarca to hear the program and the message of Christ.

 Alessandra Mendez came to Trujillo from Chimbote with her family to celebrate her birthday.

126 missionaries sang her the most beautiful rendition of Feliz Cumpleaños.

 Hermana Rochelle, Hermana Messei and Elder Farfan, getting in to the Christmas Spirit.

Sister Pineda and Sister Smith, ready to sing, "Still, Still, Still"

Elder Herrera, Elder Copa, Elder Males and Elder Ramirez, ready to perform!

 Elder Quiroz, Elder Rareba and Elder Babbel, I love when friends gather.

Elder Rojas, Elder Areas, Elder Mendez and Elder Wirthlin.

Elder Rodriguez, Elder Bolivia, and Elder Rios.

Hermana Torres and Hermana Vasquez.

Hermana Furness on the piano, Hermana Coleman and Hermana South on violins. 

Elder Valerio, Elder Berrocal and Elder Israel.

 Elder Heward, Elder Manley, Elder Coayla and Elder Benitez are ready for anything!

 I loved this picture with Sister Williams (center right in the white blouse) and Hermana Garcia.

Elder Copa, Elder Herde, Elder Ramirez and Elder Mallea are all smiles and ready to sing!

Elder Sotelo and Sister Schuyler performed "The First Noel", it was astonishing!

 Our own Penatonix groups performed arrangements of "Mary Did you Know", "Carol of the Bells, and  "Little Drummer Boy" were enjoyed by all!

 Beautiful Choir or our angels.

Elder Manley, singing "O Holy Night"

Elder Leon on the violin.

 Thanks to the Catholic Church for this addition to our program.

 Choir on night two, singing, Feliz Navidad.

 Missionaries come back for the program, Elder Obregon, Hermana Hidalgo, Hermana Hayton, Sister Boody, Elder Acuña , Elder Espinosa and Elder Cachique.

Elder and Sister Haws, temple missionaries are some of the greatest fans
of our missionaries.
Here they are pictured with President Davila (Primavera Stake) and President Marler

Elder Coayla, Sister Alvarenga and Sister Soto.

Sister Utley with the Marler's and her angel of a companion,  Hermana Ebach, a local 

young woman serving a mini-mission... 

Both nights were wonderful and as soon as the video gets to me, 

we will post it on youtube.