Plaquemine Christmas Dinner

With the way this month has started, I'm fully expecting to be behind on this blog until January! The work in the office is on track and maybe even ahead. But I decided to do a "really little something" for the missionaries, but when you multiply it by 190, give or take a few, it's not so little anymore.

We did have a wonderful testimony meeting today. One of the things that really stood out was Sister Lindstrom's testimony. That girl is wise beyond her years. She's always so thoughtful and insightful. Among other things that she said was a quote from Elder Jeffery R, Holland. "You can't separate Bethlehem from Gethsemane, or the hasty flight into Egypt from the slow journey to the summit of Calvary. It is of one piece. It is a single plan. It considers the fall and rising again of many in Israel, but always in that order. Christmas is joyful not because it is a season or decade or lifetime without pain or privation, but precisely because life does hold those moments for us."

I found a portion of Elder Holland's words, but I think it's actually from his book, Shepherds, Why This Jubilee? Elder Holland continued: "And that baby, my Son, my own Beloved and Only Begotten Son in the flesh, born 'away in a manger, [with] no crib for his bed,' makes all the difference in the world, all the difference in time and eternity, all the difference everywhere, worlds without number, a lot farther than your eye can see.

[There] are sad experiences, terribly wrenching experiences, with difficult moments for years and years to come. But because of the birth in Bethlehem and what it led to, they are not tragic experiences. They have a happy ending. There is a rising after the falling. There is life always."

Great shot of the food but mostly just backs:(  Elder Lauper invited Elder Morrell and Elder White to join us at our "break the fast" meal today, which they did. Everyone was so happy to see Elder Morrell since he spent the first 8 months of his mission in Plaquemine. That's him, talking to Gavin and Chantal Hildalgo.

President Hebert, our Branch President

Chantal Hidalgo, Sister Lou (Williams), her granddaughter, Toomie and Sister Lindstrom
Chantal and Sister Lou are 2 of the stalwarts in the Branch. They both serve in the Primary--when we have any children in attendance. Sister Lou  is also the organist and a Temple worker in Baton Rouge Temple.