A Busy Week at the Temple

This was a very busy week at the Temple. We were at the Temple on Tuesday and Wednesday to be with half the zones each day for their Christmas Activity. We took the Elders with us on Tuesday and the Spanish Sisters on Wednesday. We had to leave here at 6:00 in the morning ( so up at 4:45) to drive through Atlanta to the Temple and returned after 4:00 in the afternoon.. Half the mission was there each day. We met at the Stake Center next to the Temple, then went to one of three sessions at  8, 8:30, or 9. Some of those in the early sessions did some sealings while they waited for the others in the later sessions. After the Temple sessions there were talks by the Temple President and his wife about their conversion to the Church. It is a incredible story of President Ingall not wanting the missionaries coming to their home,  to their joining the Church, and him being called as a Stake President, Area Authority, and as the President of the Atlanta Temple. We had a great lunch, and then we all  watched the movie "It's a Wonderful Life." Two thirds of the young Elders and Sisters had not seen that movie. They were all quite touched with the special message of the 1946 movie. They then handed out presents from home to all the missionaries. Wednesday was a repeat of Tuesday, thus the whole mission had a special Mission Christmas. Driving from there both days after 4:00 made it s rough trip back home on the freeway.

This Elder Three-some bought special Christmas jackets for the party. We had great background music during the luncheon.

Some of the missionaries got up much earlier than us and they all rode a bus to the activity.

Gramma wanted me to take a picture of this missionary in the red striped tie. His large eyes reminded her of James.

By the end of the two days we were exhausted. On Friday night at 10:00 the Sisters called and their ride for "France" had fallen through and they hoped we could take him to the Temple in the morning to do baptisms for the dead with some other recent converts to the Church. We said yes and spent all of the next morning there again. France is a Jamaican and his faithfulness is something to admire.
On one of our walks this week we were confronted with thousands of Starlings it was like something out of the movie "The Birds". The picture doesn't do justice to how many were there.

Several times during the week Gramma focused on making her Christmas treats to share with others this season. During her hard work I continued to try to memorize my Scrooge lines for the Christmas Program. Old 70+ year brains find it hard to memorize.

Speaking of the program, I have never seen a Ward work so hard to put something together to help share the spirit of Christmas. Everyone had something to do.

Even Scrooge and Tiny Tim pulled it off.

But the hero of the story was a lady at the piano, who can sight read anything and keep a amateur choral group together and on cue. Everyone had great compliments for her.

The singing at the Golden Crest went well again thanks to Gramma, and the group is always happy to see us. We were concerned when Bob (the name spelled correct frontwards or backwards) had not been there for a couple of weeks. He was one of our biggest fans and always sang along with us. We found out he was very sick and had been moved to the hospital. The Elders and I went and saw him after Church Sunday and he was so grateful to see us. I could see no signs that he had had any other visitors.

While the Elders and I visited Bob, Sister Hammond stayed at the church and sang in and helped the choir get ready for next week's Sacrament Christmas program. There is a young man that wants to learn to play the piano and the only time he can come to the church is on Sunday. So after two Sacrament meetings and singing at choir practice, Gramma is spending time helping this young man. His name is Jonah.  Just like Samoa she is so willing to share her talents.

What a great week and what a opportunity to be in the Holy Temple. We love all of you and are hoping you have the best of the Christmas season. We really do think and pray for you each day.

In the words of Tiny Tim, "God bless you, God bless you everyone". Love ya'll. Grampa and Gramma Hammond.