What ????? Another week already ?   It's been a busy one. It was transport week again. We traveled to Richmond to safely help fourteen young missionaries return home in time for Christmas.  I got up early on Tuesday and made fourty homemade cinnamon rolls to take to the mission office. We helped prepare the "last supper " for the departing missionaries.  We enjoyed the meal in a separate room & then did the clean up. It's fun to see some of the missionaries we met when we first came out. One of them, Elder Tan , is from Singapore. He was our Zone leader for a time & came to Hope once a week for awhile. We really like him. When we would send pictures to his Mom, she invited to come & visit them in Singapore. Elder Tan told us he might be able to go to  BYUI; If he does, we will see more of him. Anyway, Tuesday evening we stayed in the hotel with the fourteen departing missionaries. We finally got to bed at midnight and got up a few hours later . At 3:00 am , we took half of the group to the airport . We keep them in a group, see that they are checked in and that their baggage is paid for. After that we went back to the hotel for an hour. At 7:30 am we took the second group to the airport as well. One in this group was our Stake Presidents' granddaughter.  That was fun. The first group had several different airlines & times to get to. The second group were all on the same flight going to Salt Lake City. I could just imagine the excitement and anticipation at the SLC airport that morning. It brings tears to my eyes whenever I remember the feelings of the day our missionaries came home. I look forward to that kind of joyful reunion magnified when I see Matt again. After the missionaries are safely going through security , we go back to the mission office to report & then drive back to Hope. It's a great assignment !!!
      Marlene's car battery died. Stan bought her a new one and did the "out with the old...in with the new "...process. She was so grateful. She came over to ask for milk this week. I feel so sad for her. We do what we can to help.
      We watched an Italian game show with Martin & Amelia. That was a hoot !  Amelia kept telling us to answer the questions.  "What was the question? " I asked.  We had grapefruit juice and frozen Apple something. It was good. She gave us a loaf of her home made bread. Yummy !
        Everyone told us it never snows here. We're in a rainforest. So last Saturday and Sunday it snowed and didn't stop. We had 60 centimeters of snow. That is equal to 26" or  2 feet.  Our branch president came and picked us up for church in his four wheel drive truck. The heat didn't work at the church either.  On Monday Stan shoveled snow most of the day. Luckily by Tuesday we were able to drive the 120 miles for transport.
        We enjoyed a very nice Relief Society activity on Wednesday night. Stan had a duel job, he was our priesthood representative and he played the eight Christmas carols we sang for the program. All  three of us sisters attended.  We all took appetizers to share so we had , bbq smokies, cheese & crackers & chips & salsa.
          On Thursday morning we woke up to frozen water pipes.  Well, the temperature was -17 celus. With a windchill of -24. Anyway our landlord called a plumber and two hours later we were back to the luxury of running water we so often take for granted.
        Tomorrow we are speaking in Sacrament meeting. Stan is teaching priesthood, playing the piano, & I 'm doing sharingtime. We love Sunday's because we can call all our kids each week.  It's so good to be able to talk to each one.
        Tonight we are invited to a "Yalda tradition "  with our Iranian friends, Hussain and
Fatima. I'll tell you all about it next week. We are taking  s'mores  to teach them one of our traditions.
      This Christmas season is the best. As missionaries we are really focused on our Savior, Jesus Christ ;  his life and mission.  It's a wonderful way to celebrate each day all we have because of his selfless love. We hope you are all enjoying the Christmas season. Here I have noticed everyone says : "Merry Christmas " because it's not a political statement right or wrong. It's fun that all our neighbor's in this fishbowl complex have given us a Christmas card. Even the pot smoking , living together apartment gave us a religious card about Jesus Christ. We hope you are all participating in "light the World " initiative from the church. It puts the extra special touch in our Christmas season.
     We love you all, pray for you , and hope your Christmas is Merry and Bright !

Love, Elder & Sister Fisher