Ma's Place: It's Christmasy here in Rego Park

This week has been rather mundane. No travels nor new sights to share. However, life is never dull here in Rego Park, New York!

Wednesday was trainee/trainer meeting at the chapel next door. Last one, 6 weeks ago, I called "orientation for new missionaries." That was when I was still new to the program. Now I have learned the proper name for the meeting. See! I am learning!!

Tuesday I prepared the handouts and health kits so I would be ready for Wednesday. I wrapped some packages and sent them in the mail.

I received a box of lovingly made Christmas ornaments from my grandchildren and their mothers and aunts. I had fun decorating my home with them. I look Christmasy here.

My grandchildren made these cute ornaments for my tree but my tree is about
16 inches tall so I decorated my living room with them.

Hand prints made into a wreath. Love these hand prints and the hands that made them.

My little tree given to me by a senior couple who thought I should have a tree.

I have made candied nuts and bought some Lindor chocolates at Costco so I can put together little goodie bags for some of the members and missionaries.

I've had a few interesting missionary cases this week: rashes on various body parts, dog bite on the eyelid, bugs (lice and bedbugs), neck injury, and the usual colds and stomach viruses although things on the nursing front have been relatively light. I think they are all excited about Christmas and have been working extra hard to share the new Church Christmas video, A Savior Is Born. The missionaries have been showing it on the street, on the buses and subways, and anywhere the opportunity presents itself. They have been too busy to think about themselves and to be sick. This is good on all counts!!

I've walked except for two days when it was raining and I try to exercise. I'm so glad that no one can hear me nor see me down on the floor stretching and twisting and making grunting sounds. I even make myself giggle. I'm not as flexible as I once was. And that's an understatement!

I will miss being with my family and friends through the holidays. I will miss serving at Grace Mary Manor Christmas morning and being with my children and grandchildren Christmas night watching them enjoy one another and laugh and play.

I will miss singing with a choir in church although I am singing with a choir here in Rego Park. It is just not the same somehow. Being with the people you have known for many years is wonderful. I am making new friends here and they are wonderful too but…

We will have an entire mission get-together on Christmas Eve day with skits, songs, and food. Promises to be entertaining. (Report next week.) Christmas morning, Elder & Sister Prince and Elder & Sister Duke and I will have a brunch here at my apt for the five sets of missionaries in our immediate area. (I will send pictures next week.) My mission family is great and I love them all.

Saturday evening, I "crashed" the Spanish Ward Christmas party. The sisters and elders were doing a skit titled "A Day in the Life of a Missionary. I went to watch them. It was funny. Two elders sat at a table and two elders behind them were their arms. One of the sisters read a script. It was hilarious. I tried to take a video of it but it is not too good. I was too far away. Fun times and a good laugh.

Spanish Ward Christmas party.

Before I close, I want to share something with you. A few days ago, Katie told me about a presentation she is doing in Primary this Sunday. She is giving the children a piece of gypsum as an ornament. If you hold the gypsum up, you can see the light shining through it. She will attach a card that reads: "This gypsum ornament can remind you that you have been given the Light of Christ. The Light of Christ helps you to know what is good and to do good. It also helps to prepare you for the Holy Ghost. You can keep the Light of Christ shining brightly through you by 'praying, studying the scriptures, fasting, serving, and obeying the commandments'. Elder Robert D. Hales"

Our conversation about her presentation caused me to want to know more about the Light of Christ. The Light of Christ is the divine energy, power, or influence that proceeds from God through Christ and gives life and light to all things. Every person is born with the light of Christ within him or her. The light of Christ serves as the person's conscience and natural moral guide.

In the Doctrine and Covenants 88:6-12 I read: "He that ascended up on high, as also he descended below all things, in that he comprehended all things, that he might be in all and through all things, the light of truth; Which truth shineth. This is the light of Christ. As also he is in the sun, and the light of the sun, and the power thereof by which it was made.

As also he is in the moon, and is the light of the moon, and the power thereof by which it was made; As also the light of the stars, and the power thereof by which they were made; And the earth also, and the power thereof, even the earth upon which you stand. And the light which shineth, which giveth you light, is through him who enlighteneth your eyes, which is the same light that quickeneth your understandings; Which light proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space-"

Today in my scripture study, I was reading in 3 Nephi 8 about what happened on this continent after the crucifixion of Christ. There were tempests, earthquakes, fires, whirlwinds, and physical upheavals. Cities and people were destroyed. In verses 17 and 18 it says that the face of the whole earth became deformed and the rocks were rent in twain and found in broken fragments in seams and in cracks upon all the face of the land. All of this wreckage took place in the space of three hours. After this there was darkness on the face of the land. The darkness was thick insomuch that the people who were left could feel the vapor of darkness. In verse 21: "And there could be no light, because of the darkness, neither candles, neither torches; neither could there be fire kindled with their fine and exceedingly dry wood, so that there could not be any light at all."

In 3 Nephi 9, through the darkness, the voice of Christ proclaimed the destruction of many people and cities for their wickedness. He proclaimed His divinity and invited the people to come unto Him and be saved.

This total darkness - no stars, moon, nor sun- lasted for three days.

I couldn't help but think today as I read these verses, that the Savior had died. His light left the earth. He was resurrected in three days and then there was Light. I had never thought of this before and I have never heard anyone mention this or if they have, it didn't register, but to me in my mind, it explains why there was total darkness.

I am indeed grateful for the Light of Christ in my life and in all of our lives. The Savior lives and loves us. If we follow in His path and renew our covenants that we made at our baptism each Sunday as we partake of the Sacrament, we will be blessed as we serve each other, lift those who need lifting, and love everyone.

One of the senior couples who come to FHEdinner on Monday night's gave me this picture.

If you have a chance, you might watch this 3 part series of short videos called "Patterns of Light" in which Elder Bednar discusses how we receive and perceive light from God. It is worth it!

I pray that you will have the Light of Christ in your lives as you celebrate the day of His birth. I won't be with you in body but my heart and mind will be with you on this Christmas Day and always.

I love you my family and friends.

At Costco I saw this bag of chestnuts. 'Tis the season according to song.
I've never roasted nor tasted so thought I'd give it a try. Perhaps it is an acquired taste.
I think I'll just enjoy my chestnuts in music from now on.