November 12, 2017

Thanks to Danielle's (Frawnda LeCheminant) for the yummy bags of snowy chocolate popcorn I have been able to share with some of the sisters here in Maryland the past few weeks!  She sent me a large box full of these fun bags to share, and they have been such a hit!!  And I enjoyed the candy she sent along with them!  It is wonderful to have such support from friends at home!
       We have been able to visit some wonderful sisters and feel of their love of the Gospel of Jesus Christ here in Anacostia,  They are desirous to understand and know more.  Sister Mangituka is from the Congo and we are trying to help her learn English (she speaks mostly French).  She is such a faithful and sweet sister in the Gospel.  Vera is from Ghana and is so eager to grow and learn more of the Gospel as well.  It is so great to meet and know these sisters, many are 1st generation Mormons,  and their faith and testimonies of the Gospel are so strong.

Evelyn in native dress from Congo

Vera from Ghana

Sister Brown with Sharon Jones' grandsons

With Sister Nosiri, R.S. President

 Sister Jones is another faithful and sweet sister, who loves tending her twin grandsons whenever she can.  They are a handful, for sure, but it is fun to visit her and get our "grandma fix" when we are able to!
        Sister Nosiri is a faithful and dedicated Relief Society president of the Anacostia Ward.  She was recently put in and is doing a terrific job!  We hope we can be some help to her in her calling. 

Esra with her art project

We also love visiting and working with Esra, a sweet and beautiful handicapped girl in the ward.  Her father is in the bishopric here in Anacostia and they live on the Air Force Base.  We love to go there to give her mother a little break once in a while, in her overwhelming responsibilities!

      We were asked to help the stake Relief Society decorate the Suitland Stake Christmas tree in the Visitor's Center by the Washington D.C. temple this week.  What fun that was to do.  About 10 stakes in the D.C. and Maryland area have trees there, and it was a fun project to be a part of!  Our tree has a missionary theme, "Go Forth to Serve", and the ornaments are pictures of missionaries from and serving in this stake, plus ornaments of small world globes and stars made of map paper, and bicycles in clear glass balls.  Then flags from countries all over the world were stuck in throughout the tree.  Yes, it was a lot, but it was fun and a great theme.  Two of the sisters serving in the Visitor's Center came and found their country's flags to put on the tree (Bolivia and Uruguay) - so fun to see their excitement!

Decorating tree at Visitor's Center

Kitty Smith decorating tree

Pattons helping with tree

Sisters with flags of their country

Saturday we thought we would check out the Christmas Tree store just for fun - to get us ready for the season.  There were rows and rows of Christmas ornaments, decorations and fun, but when we asked where the Nativity sets were, three rows is all they could find.  I'm glad they at least have "Christ" a little bit in their Christmas store, after all that is the "reason for the season"!

Christmas store in Waldorf

LOTS of decorations!!

3 tiny rows of Nativities in the whole store!

As you are getting ready for the holiday season, please put Christ at the center of your celebrations and remember what we are commemorating, enjoy the season with your families, and remember the Savior of the world, what He has done for us and given to us.  I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week.