'Twas the week before Christmas,
When all through the branch,
Not a member was bored,
But all were busily engaged in a good cause.
This Christmas, we enjoyed a sumptuous meal of turkey and ham, noodles and rice, salad and casserole, sundry dishes, and many desserts, both Chinese and Western. Before the Christmas program, our new mission leader, Da Zhao, presented our beloved full-time missionaries, Elders Kerby and McLane, with a special letter from home and a scripture case from the branch. Helen Mu and Michael Cunningham, our distinguished emcees for the evening, recited the story of the Savior's birth, with additional musical numbers by the Primary children, the youth, and the Relief Society sisters. A special guest, Zane Liu, favored us with a piano solo, "O Holy Night." The audience sang together a stirring concluding hymn, "Silent Night." After the closing prayer, the familiar Jingle bells began to ring, followed by the laugh of the jolly old elf himself, Santa Claus. The crowd cheered, the paparazzi followed, and the children, old and young, lined up anxiously to seize a chance to sit on Santa's lap, inform him of Christmas wishes, pose for a photo, and receive a special gift. While the work of cleaning up ensued, we mingled, hugged, and enjoyed each other's company. Many heartfelt thanks to Sisters Chen and Shen for their organizing of this special memorable event, simple yet meaningful.
0 comments:
Post a Comment