What a busy and fulfilling couple of weeks this has been serving as a missionary! Not only have we been busy in the Anacostia Ward, visiting sisters, we have also been serving in a number of other capacities, representing the church in the Washington D.C. area. We loved being able serve at the Interfaith Concert a couple of weeks ago, where religious groups from throughout the community sang and performed. It is also so fun to work with some of the other senior missionaries and get to know them better! What special people they are!
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| Religious groups represented |
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| Sister Brown, the Morgans and myself |
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| Washington D.C. Mormon Choir |
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| Hindu dancers |
I loved hearing the Mormon Choir of Washington D.C., and really enjoyed seeing the Hindu dancers - they were fascinating to watch! There are many religious denominations represented at this annual event, and it is exciting to see how well the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is represented and respected in this community!
Last week we were asked to help at the annual "Feast of Sharing" put on by Safeways, where they feed about 5,000 people in the inner area of Washington D.C., along with giving them each a bag of apples, and free clothing that has been donated. We helped mostly with distributing warm coats, socks and other items of clothing which people were able to pick out. It was very interesting to be a part of and help.
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| Feeding 5,000 at the Feast |
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| Sister helping with clothing distrubution |
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| Crowds for "Feast of Sharing" |
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| Sister Brinkley sorting clothes |
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| Sister Brown packing boxes |
We also helped the Relief Society pack up boxes of food and clothing they had been collecting for the past 3 months to send to the Humanitarian Services for the hurricane victims. It was amazing to see all that this small ward had contributed - filling 22 large boxes!
We have really grown to love these sweet sisters in the Anacostia Ward. This is Sister Jones with several of her grandchildren that were visiting for Thanksgiving. What a cute family!
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| Sis.Phyllis Jone and grandchildren |
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| Droguett family |
And we were so excited to get to meet the newest member of the ward, Elena Droguett when we took them a meal and new outfit for their cute baby!! Of course, we always love seeing Antonio - he helps us have our "grandma fix!"
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| Antonio Droguett |
We had a "miracle" visit this week to a less active sister who has been in a wheelchair for 20 years, but we found out she also has a new baby - 6 weeks old, who is going in for surgery this week. We were able to inform the ward and a member of the bishopric and other brethren were able to go there to give him a blessing. How glad we were to find this out to share with the ward leadership to bless her life.
We loved being to Zone Conference over a week ago where Elder Ringwood (from the Seventy) and his wife were visiting. How wonderful to listen to their great counsel and advice to the missionaries and enjoy lunch with them, served by the sisters from the Calvert Ward, who we have known since serving there last summer.
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| Elder and Sis. Ringwod greeting elders |
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| R.S. Sisters from Calvert serving lunch |
We also enjoyed the Thanksgiving dinner our Anacostia Ward put on for the members of that ward the Saturday before Thanksgiving. What a great time to associate with the ward members and young elders serving there. One lady who came had two full plates of food and took home two more full plates covered with foil - for some this will be all the food they have for the week!
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| Anacostia Ward dinner |
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| Anacostia elders |
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| Sis. Brown with Evelyn |
And of course, the holidays are best spent with family! And how fortunate I have been to have family nearby in Virginia. We were able to go to Isla's special "Grandparents Day" at her preschool, to hear them sing, see them act out one of their favorite stories, as well as get a little loaf of pumpkin bread she had made at school! It was a special morning to be a part of!
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| Isla's preschool |
We were also able to enjoy a special Thanksgiving Day with Stacie, David, and their beautiful family, as well as David's parents, the Palmers. What a great day it was - the food was terrific, as well as the company, and a little program as well. Liam played the piano, Isla danced, and David's father, Stan, sang "How Great Thou Art" - a wonderful conclusion to a very nice day!
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| Beautiful table |
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| Delicious appetizers |
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| Isla ready to eat! |
It has truly been a wonderful Thanksgiving season and a time to reflect on all the blessings in my life. I am so grateful for family, what a joy and blessing they all are in my life! I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the Lord in this capacity as a missionary, for the blessings of service, for the joy in serving others. And I am so grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for the Plan of Salvation, and the knowledge and understanding of a Father who loves and cares for each of His children. May you each have a blessed week, and enjoy the beauties of this wonderful Holiday Season. I love each of you!
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| Liam and Stacie playing the piano |
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