Sunday Dec 31, 2023

Christmas morning Dec 25, 2023 at the Chappell home in Tela Honduras.  Our Zone leaders, more specifically,  Elder Williams,  who live in Progreso couldn't stand to not be at the Chappell's for Christmas,  so at the last minute, they invited themselves to Tela to spend Christmas with the Tela district and do cambios with the missionaries here.  Hahaha, just a guise to be here for Christmas because they know that Hermana Chappell fixes wonderful meals for the missionaries here.  So we got an extra Christmas stocking for each of them and got two extra shirts, like the ones we had printed up for the Tela missionaries.  We had a great day with them.  We all got matching T shirts, with Tela and Telamar on the front and Felíz Navidad on the back.  I thought they turned out great.  Elder Williams made his "Famous Crepes" for brunch, then we all went out to the beach and flew a kite and just had fun on the beach.  It was a nice warm day after having been very rainy earlier in the week, but Christmas day was really nice.  The beach was great, with very few people out.  Later in the day there were more people out on the beach but when we were there it was really nice.  The sea breeze was just perfect for the kites it was a Christmas day like none that I have ever had, and will probably not ever have again.  Memories were made. 

In the afternoon we were able to get on a video call with Meggan and Janise and with Todd, Chelsea and their family.  It was so great to see and talk with everyone again.  We don't get to do that nearly often enough.  This is the shirt we did for everyone .......

Hermana Chappell always fixes great meals, and snacks, we ate and talked with family and just had a really great 24, and 25th.  We read through Luke 2 and have felt a special spirit with us here this year.  It. has been a Christmas we will never forget.  The lights and decorations around here have been nice, it is fun to see how different houses are decorated.  Almost everyone has a christmas tree, most are small, but it is a tradition to have a tree and lights here.  The gift giving is a bit different, they don't get gifts on Christmas morning from santa, but do the gift exchanges on Christmas eve for families, then on Dec 31, today for friends.  They were exchanging gifts today at church with each other, it was interesting.  This is a nativity that was set up on a main street here that we passed every day, a night picture and one in the daytime.  

This week has been very rainy and cool weather.  The streets are all full of puddles and mud, so many of the streets here are not paved and the drainage is not built in at all.  I went out with the Elders this week to teach a lesson and we just had to stop and take a few pictures because it was so pretty.  

The Elders were wearing boots just like I used to wear all the time at work at the dairy in Loa, the boots are a very common footwear this time of year here.  The Hermana's said that after a downpour they were on their way home and had to walk through an area where the water was up to their knees in order to get home.  

It is now new years eve, Dec 31, 2023.   What a year it has been.  We have so many things to be thankful for.  This past year has been a year like no other.  It has been very hard, very good, very hot, very different, than any other year we have ever experienced.  It was on Jan 2 that we began this mission at the Provo UT MTC.  What an adventure this has been...  So many memories.  I am glad that we have shared this experience together as we have learned so many things about each other as well as things about the church, missionary work, the health of young Elders and Sisters.  We have so many memories to take home with us when this is all over and done with.  Hopefully this blog will remind us of some of the highlights of our mission here.  We had the missionaries over for lunch today and they will all be back tomorrow for P day, never any rest.   I suppose we didn't really come here to rest anyway.  Maybe later. Tonight is a night of fireworks.  The rain has stopped so everyone is out celebrating the coming of the new year with fireworks, mainly firecracker type booms, some are very loud.  No sleep tonight.  Happy New Year.   

We had another Elder in the mission with Dengue, and had to spend time in the Hospital. The fun never ends!

 

Hermana Chappell and Dulce, she has the perfect name for her, Dulce is "Sweet"

The Zone leaders, Elder Lazo and the Hermana's pose for a picture on Christmas day.  Note that Elder Borders is not with them,  He is so very obedient,  I don't know exactly what the rule is but it is not to get in the water, and for him that was not even his feet.  He is pretty awesome.  It is great to see those who are obedient and those who are also obedient, for them.  It has been a great day.  

Here we are all with our new Christmas t-shirts on.  Thanks to Hermana Chappell.

Santa even had Christmas socks for all the missionaries.  They were all pretty excited.  For the gringos, the filled Christmas stockings is a tradition, but for the Latinos, it was a new experience.  There are Latinos, here from Peru, Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador.  It is fun to talk with them and learn about their Christmas traditions, and to share our's with them.  

Colleen and Doris and some of her grandchildren.  It is always fun to be with them.  

The Zone conferences this week were fun.  They all had a good time together.  

Elder Lazo, from Perú, me, Hermana Chappell, Hermana Lopez from México, Hermana Recínos from Guatemala, and Elder Borders, from Tooele.  

For my birthday on the 21st, the missionaries surprised us with a visit and a present, and candy.  This has been a really special week.  So busy but so wonderful.  I am sure that we will never in our lifetimes have a week like this past one.  The Lord has been so good to us!   We are so thankful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His restored Church.  This opportunity to be here in Honduras has been such a huge blessing for us.   We have had so many wonderful experiences here and have met so many wonderful people that we are so thankful for.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, 2024!