We hope you all had a very Merry Christmas. We were happy to talk to all our children and their spouses. We love you all very much. We were happy to see all the missionaries here in Jamaica at the mission Christmas party last Friday. We had a devotional with talks about Christmas and Joseph Smith (since our gathering was on his birthday). I got to accompany while we sang. Then we had lunch of pizza and green salads. Each senior couple brought a large tossed salad and we ordered the pizza. We watched “It’s a Wonderful Life”. We also enjoyed visiting and took a large group picture. We worked afterwards at the office from 4-8 p.m.
Saturday we went to Yallahs in the morning for Javon’s baptism. The waves were higher than we have ever seen. While we were listening to the talk on baptism a big wave came up behind us (we were facing the river) and got us all wet! My skirt was wet up to my knees. We retrieved shoes that the wave swept into the river and then continued the baptismal service. After we got back to Kingston, I laminated copies of the Family Proclamation with pictures of Christ on the back for our gift for Yallahs branch members. I also made some bookmarks that Sister Prendergast (our branch Relief Society President) asked me to make for the Priesthood members of the branch. Earlier I made bookmarks for the ladies with the points of Pres. Uchtdorf’s talk at the General Women’s meeting. She thought it would be nice to also make some for the men with quotes about the priesthood. We did our grocery shopping and then got to Skype with Mike & LeAnn, and Amy, Bryce, & Lizzie. We were happy to watch them open gifts. Unfortunately ours weren’t here—“soon come”. We loved watching Lizzie learn to ride her new rocking horse.
Sunday we were grateful to renew our covenants and celebrate Christmas by attending church. We had 37 people come to Sacrament Meeting—a new record! We had a nice program with readings, scriptures, hymns, and special musical numbers. Afterwards we served muffins, cheese snacks, and sorrel drink. We have attached a picture (some of the people chose not to be in the picture). We came back to Kingston early to attend a dinner at the McPhearsons. They invited all the missionaries serving in the Kingston area and some of their family and friends. We ate in the back yard which is beautifully landscaped. She served chicken stir fry, turkey, ham, roast beef, caliloo, ackee and salt fish, rice and peas, and salads. The senior couples took cakes for dessert. The assistants to the President met us at our apartment afterwards. Elder Hoffman called his family while Elder Kraus played games with us. (Elder Kraus called his parents earlier in the day but Elder Hoffman’s family wasn’t available until evening). Then we enjoyed a nice call with Sarah, Craig, and Leo.
The roads have been very empty yesterday and today since they were Jamaican holidays. They moved Christmas to Monday, and Boxing Day to Tuesday. I gave the devotional thought Monday talking about music. Music helps me draw closer to the Lord. I especially love Christmas music. I shared some of the following I found on the internet about Handel’s Messiah: “The music for Messiah was completed in 24 days of swift composition. At the end of his manuscript Handel wrote the letters”SDG”—Soli Deo Gloria, “To God alone the glory”. The premier performance of the Messiah was a benefit for three charities: prisoners’ debt relief, the Mercer’s Hospital, and the Charitable Infirmary. Seven hundred people attended the premier on 13 April 1742. So that the largest possible audience could be admitted to the concert, gentlemen were requested to remove their swords, and ladies were asked not to wear hoops under their dresses. The takings amounted to around 400 pounds, providing about 127 pound to each of the three nominated charities and securing the release of 142 indebted prisoners.” I’m grateful for this beautiful music and the good that has come because of it.
The Larsen’s from Parowan, UT arrived last night and we went to lunch with the senior couples today to welcome them here. They will be serving in two branches here in Kingston. This is their third mission—first to Manchester, England, next to Guyana, West Indies and now here in Jamaica. They were friends with the Whiteheads while they both served in Guyana.
The Lord has blessed us and we are grateful to be serving.
Love,
Sister and Elder Daniels
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