New Year Blessings

Dear family and friends,

As the 2017 is rapidly moving towards a vivid stop, do we still have time to make a difference?  Not sure!  I just know that this year has gone too fast.

Here is a glimmer of the young missionaries as they gathered on Christmas Eve for food, movie, and eventually the gifts that all of us senior couples delivered to their flats while they were watching a Christmas movie. 

It is hard to capture all of them.

One of our new elders poised for the picture:)

Here is a small view of the Christmas Day Feast that the senior couples prepared for our young missionaries.

Lots of decisions by yours truly.

The young missionaries have their
first plate, so the seniors start.

Some need bigger plates.

This tree in the mission home has a picture
of each of the missionaries.  The seniors
decorated the house after Thanksgiving, so
it would be ready.

Christmas Day in the Majuro Islands shares its special traditions from a different angle.  Many people spend the day gathered in many different churches around the island and perform their 20 minutes of dancing and singing in celebration.  Our five wards performed at the Long Island Stake House.  Besides our seven wards, there were others who joined, too.  The Japanese group performed after us. 

We senior couples danced with all of our young missionaries as the first performance for the day.  Our young missionaries did a wonderful job and we added the comic relief for all the onlookers.

Elder Joseph from Ebeye was our leader, whistle blower, and a might fine dancer.  I don't know what he really could have accomplished since we only had one (yes - one) practice, but he tried.

Our Biit Dance/Song leader.

With his companion from Tennesse.

Along with these activities, Elder Preston spent the day in the Mission Office directing the young missionaries, so that communications could be made with their families throughout the Pacific Islands as well as in the US. I dropped by a few times, but my day was spent preparing more food for the luncheon, serving food, and of course the fun clean-up.  I'm so grateful to work along side of the Doigs and Seagers.  They are such positive outstanding senior couples.  We are truly blessed to serve with them as well as thoroughly enjoy their friendship.

We were happy when we finally had time to sit down and open our gifts on the evening of Christmas Day.  It was quiet and enjoyable.  We really didn't expect anything, since we only have three months left on our mission, but we still received some surprises.  

Elder Preston particularly enjoyed his newly arranged Twinkies.  It seems that the can of hard candy, one of my favorite, turned into a rolling pin.  

Carefully removing the Twinkie from the
wrapper.

Tastes like a Twinkie, just somewhat
condensed.

We thank you for your generosity and your thoughtfulness through your gifts, e-mails, phone calls, Skype moments, and particularly your prayers.

After the last of the Christmas communications were completed on Tuesday (unfortunately the internet and all phone were down from midnight on Christmas Day until noon on the day after Christmas), we took time to walk along a few areas in Majuro to capture some of the Christmas lights.  

Capitol Building Decorations.

Part 2.

ICC Building where we have many of our
big Diabetes Conferences.
The two people are E/S Doig.

As we close this year, let us all remember how fragile life is and that people are more important than all the worldly items that can be purchased.

Thank you for your support and love.  You daily make a difference in our lives.

We love you,

Elder and Sister Preston