Merry Christmas!!

Well...winter got off to a big bang and then fizzled! It's been cold but very little snow or rain. It was really sunny the other day and I thought I'd start my morning walks again. About three blocks later I was on the run home freezing in the 12 degree wind chill.

President Bosen assigned Sister Swenson and me to read a business book called "The Dream Manager". We're going to use the concepts in the book along with the 4 areas of the new Church program for youth. We will ask which of the YSA's want to meet and discuss life dreams, challenges and goals. After the interview's we will become mentors in helping them reach “fulfill their dreams". (meet their goals?) We really enjoyed the book and would recommend it to anyone wanting to help others reach higher. Sister Swenson is studying the Church material to come up with some interview forms to overlay the two ideas. Hope it works! Now we're reading a new book called "The Next Mormons." Lot's of facts and figures about the change of millennials concerning not only our Church but religions and belief in God in general. We've just started but so far its very interesting.  It’s really relevant to the age group we are working with and we think it will help us in understanding them and mentoring them.

When we first arrived in Vermont the Branch President called me and asked if we could come to his house for birthday cake. Sure! I never pass up sugar. We followed him in his car to a stop first at the home of Brother and Sister Fife.  Lynn had recently experienced a stroke and we were administering the sacrament to him and his wife. Most amazing people ever. We had several opportunities to serve sister Fife, especially when her house flooded during that crazy rain storm.  I was also privileged to give her a blessing along with President Bosen right after Lynn passed away.  This couple were the First couple to live in Vermont that were both return missionaries. Lynn was the first Branch President in Vermont, first District President, and also the first Stake President in the state. Both of them are very talented and Lynn has a PHD.

Dr. Fife

 Lynn was totally nonverbal just lying in a hospital bed that had been set up in their living room when we met him. But you could tell from his face that he understood a lot.  I guess this was my perfect conversation...I could talk and he had no choice but to listen! He had taught agricultural economics at the University of Vermont for 36 years and I wanted so much for him to respond and teach me. He taught himself to play the piano as an adult and became a very accomplished classical artist. And ALL of his kids are accomplished.  You could just look into his eyes and fill the love and depth of this great man. This last week Brother Fife died and we were involved with the funeral. All eight of the Fife children had musical parts on the program along with a young lady who is the pianist for the Chicago Phillaharmonic Orchestra. The music was all Mozart, Beehoven, Bach and other classical music renditions. The closing song was a congregational hymn, Families can be together forever, and you have never heard a pianist play it the way she could!

There is a street here in Burlington that reminds you of maybe Park City or City Creek Mall (Church Street). It's a downtown street that has been closed off to traffic and remodeled into an open air mall of sorts. A very popular place for Christmas shoppers.

Church Street

 Last Friday Sister Swenson spent all day making cookies for the event to be handed out in clear cellophane bags with a "Light the World" card attached.  (I helped put them in bags with tags) She made four different varieties of cookies that were each masterpieces! Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Craisin, White Chocolate Macadamia Cranberry, and Ginger--10 dozen in all. We went with the eight young missionaries in our district and set up our Easy Up tent on a Church street corner.  We served Hot Chocolate too (and it was a rainy evening but not too cold).  We furnished all of the missionaries with hats that had a headlight on them. The event was a huge success! On the back of the cards was the web address of the “Light the World” video which we asked everyone to go to and watch. The young missionaries were busy taking names and writing down addresses of people who would welcome a visit from them. Sister Swenson was a little anxious because I was giving the cookies away too easily without much interaction or commitment. That’s OK, I hope they enjoyed the cookie!

Funny story about how we got the photo.  I tried to stop a lady on the street to take it and she wouldn’t even listen to me and finally I said, I just want you to take our picture!  And she was so happy to stop and do that!

Sister Harrison and Sister Campbell with their hats!

 (Note from sister Swenson: I used the headlight hat a lot.  People would look at us funny and so I would walk up to them and say: I’ll bet you are wondering why we are wearing these hats.  And when they would make a comment I would share with them that we are trying to “Light the World” both physically and spiritually.  Then I would share with them about the “Light the World” campaign and video.   I actually invited 6 different people to church on the 22nd, gave away 3 BofM, and with the sisters had one lady who accepted the invitation to be taught!  It was a marvelous experience!)

We put up our Christmas tree that the previous senior missionaries left for us. It’s about 2 feet tall with lights but no ornaments. Then the other night Jillien and Daron, our favorite neighbors, rang the doorbell and delivered presents. They had bought us each a custom made pewter ornament. They are very nice and now we have two ornaments on the tree!

As usual it’s one week before Christmas and I have no idea what on earth I could get Debbie. I usually have Amy around for ideas! She’ll probably get the same as always...ME! Well, I better turn the computer over to Sister Swenson for her up-date.
So long and Merry Christmas!

Sister Swenson:  Last week at institute we had a little lesson about family history.  I was going to show them on the tv from my computer how to get started in Family Search.  Unfortunately the HDMI cable didn’t work so we were all gathered around trying to watch it on the laptop.  It felt like sort of a bust, but we served them pork loin roast and roasted veggies which was a hit!   I have found the most delicious recipe that is SO easy for a one pan oven meal.  If you want the recipe let me know.  WE are taking a break from institute for the next two weeks so I am not sure what I will do with myself!  Maybe I’ll invite the neighbors over for dinner😁

We are grateful that the weather has been so tempered.  Evidently all of these big storms across the country are hitting southern Vermont really hard but we have been missed!  We can’t get our snow tires on until December 30th!  (It was going to be the 19th but then Zone Conference was announced for the 19th so we had to change the date)  We are looking forward to this zone conference as I guess it is a special conference in conjunction with Christmas.  I’m going to go looking for an ugly sweater that I can take--they are having a contest.  I can’t wait to see what these missionaries come up with!  Have I told you how much we love and admire the young missionaries? ♥️

AND we will try to take more interesting pictures this week!😂