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| At Mission Inn downtown Riverside |
Yes, mission
presidents go on dates. Sister Hammon and I have dated every week for 38 years,
and we had a wonderful night on Friday. After eating at the local
Elephant Tai Cuisine restaurant across the street from the
Mission Inn, a world-famous hotel and spa, we sauntered over to the Mission Inn
and walked through it. A sweet older couple took our picture after we took theirs
in front of the big Christmas tree in the Lobby. Everything at the Mission Inn is decorated
in a dizzying array of lights, decorations, drummer boys, etc. We were front
and center when they flipped the famous switch at 5:00 p.m. Poof! The Christmas
lights burst in full color and beauty. We again walked through although this
time the lights were dazzling and bright. We enjoyed ourselves immensely and
will be bringing the family down when they come for Christmas.
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| Entrance to Mission Inn |
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| Mission Inn |
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| Inside Mission Inn |
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| Mission Inn |
Also, the lights and tree went up at the Mission Home this
past week. We haven’t had a Christmas tree for the past couple of years; so, it
was delightful to put up a tree in the Mission Home. Plus, Sister Hammon had
brought with her a variety of our Christmas things: the Mary and Joseph from
the Dominican Republic, various nativity scenes, and some of her Santa Clause
collection. The decorated Christmas tree, the nativity scenes, lights outside,
and the many pictures of Christ and the
Redlands Temple lend themselves to a
feeling of awe and wonder.
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| Christmas tree at the Mission Home |
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| Go Ye Into All The World ornament |
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| Santa collection |
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| Mary and Joseph from the Dominican Republic |
We had a delightful Trainer-Trainee meeting
this week. After four weeks of in-field work after they first arrived, the new
missionaries returned to the Mission Office with their trainers to receive
additional training on topics such as “The importance and purpose of missionary
work” (Sister Hammon); “Companionship Study and Expectation of Trainers”
(Assistants); and the First Twelve Weeks,” “Expectation of Trainees based on
the companionship of Alma and Amulek (Alma 8-15),” and “Come unto Me” (the
President). Of course, we started the whole training with delicious bagels and
yogurt.
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| Trainers and new trainees after four weeks. They are all doing great! |
Sister
Hammon and I went to the Moreno Valley Stake's "A Prelude to
Christmas," A Community Creche & Choral Festival. We saw over 1,000
nativity scenes from private collections, mostly from members of the Church although
some came from community members. It was a three-evening event: Friday,
December 1 through Sunday, December 3. We were finally able to experience this
great annual event on Sunday after viewing the First Presidency Devotional. We
were delighted to greet most, if not all, of the Moreno Valley missionaries.
Plus, the Moreno Valley Stake Christmas choir was fantastic!
Sister
Hammon and I were able to attend the baptism of Tabby and Thomas from the Echo
Hills Ward. Their father, Michael who was recently baptized and who recently
received the Aaronic Priesthood, was able to baptize both of his children. The
changes in this family have been amazing! Thanks to Elder Brown and Briggs (and
Elder Olsen) for teaching this family. Thanks to Elder Andrew and Elder Beddes
for the Restoration presentation. I was impressed with the Echo Hills Ward
members who came to the baptism. President Norman was able to attend Kevin’s
baptism (Hermana Hernández y Padilla) in Tres Lagos. President Hansen went to
both Juan’s (Elders Match and Shurtleff) in the ASL Branch and Jordan’s baptism.
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| Elders Briggs and Brown with Michael (father), Thomas, and Tabby |
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| Elders Shurtleff and Match and Juan |
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| Elders Heward, Steed, Ly, Jordan; Elder Steiner and Fairbanks |
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| Elder Osberg, Hermanas Padilla and Hernandez, Elder Bailey, Kevin, Elders Hansen, Svenson, Eldridge, and Sanchez |
We also had a delightful and spiritually-stirring Mission Leader Council this week. The zone leaders and the sister training leaders came to to the Mission Office, and we spent most of the day discussing and learning about miracles, accountability: the Lord's Way, and parables found in Luke 15 and how they relate to missionary work.
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| Mission Leadership Council |
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| Mission Leadership Council studying prior to beginning |
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| L-R: Sisters Harris (S), Grover, Harris (A), Hernandez, Schooff, Garcia, DiPietro, and Ruggles. |
We love this
time of year—the Light the World campaign about the light Christ shares with
all of us, the lights that adorn the houses around us, the gleeful smiles when
missionaries receive packages from home, the sweet Christmas music that reverberates
everywhere, and the kindness that enters the hearts of most everyone during the
Christmas season.
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| President and Sister Hammon: Light the World |
It’s no wonder
Isaiah’s words permeate the entire Mission Home, the California Riverside Mission, and, hopefully, the entire
world: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government
shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor,
The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).
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| Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World, picture on the wall at the Mission Home |
May your
Christmas season be incredible as you light the world with your love and kindness
just as Christ, our Savior, would.
We love you!
President
and Sister Hammon
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