Joy to the world, the Lord is come;

Let earth receive her King!

Let ev’ry heart prepare him room,

And Saints and angels sing.

 We find the real joy of Christmas when we make the Savior the focus of the season. We can keep Him in our thoughts and in our lives as we go about the work He would have us perform here on earth. At this time, particularly, let us follow His example as we love and serve our fellowmen.
Christmas is the spirit of giving without a thought of getting. It is happiness because we see joy in people. It is forgetting self and finding time for others. It is peace because we have found peace in the Savior’s teachings. It is the time we realize most deeply that the more love is expended, the more there is of it for others.      

First Presidency 2015

Several months ago, Lisa and I knocked on the door of the Manumalo family in Snells Beach.  They had not been to church since we have been in Wellsford, so we went to introduce ourselves and meet them. We met Ilau and found out that she has 7 children and had to work on Sundays. Her husband was home on Sundays but did not drive, so there was no way for her family to attend church in Wellsford 30 miles away...but we invited them anyway. Within a few weeks, Ilau's shift had changed, her husband was driving and they began attending Sunday services. A few of the older children had previously been baptized, but Tenisha and Tipasa had not. The Elders soon began teaching the lessons to the children and invited them to be baptized.  It has been wonderful to see the progress this family has made, and we are looking forward to helping them with their progression toward attending the Temple as a family.

We spent several days baking goodies, wrapping Christmas books and preparing cards to deliver to our neighbors, members, friends and those that we associate and work with.

 

It has been pure joy working with the ladies of the food bank.  We assisted them in assembling 89 boxes of food and Christmas treats for needy families in Wellsford.

The dream team! Lisa, Irene (the director) and Lou! 

Our multi-denominational team taking a break after putting the boxes together.

Irene and Lou were so appreciative of our help....but they really couldn't stop talking about the two young Elders that we recruited to carry boxes out to the cars!

Pohutukawa, with its striking red flowers, is an important symbol for all New Zealanders. In Maori mythology, its flowers are said to represent the blood of a young warrior who perished while trying to avenge his father’s death. The Maori also used the flowering of Pohutukawa trees as a seasonal indicator, and when Christian settlers arrived in New Zealand, the blossoming of this species’ bright red flowers in December and January inspired its alternative common name of the New Zealand Christmas tree. 

Pohutukawa grows in coastal forests on New Zealand’s North Island, where its thick, twisted roots help it to grow on the cliffs. These trees withstand strong southern ocean winds, salt spray and drought, and can live for up to 1000 years. 

I put up the tree and a few decorations while Lisa was at her sewing group....otherwise we may not have had any decorations at all!

 

A few colors of summer!

Elder Evans is now the District Leader as well as the trainer of Elder Tholen who arrived in New Zealand this week.

We no sooner arrived back in New Zealand and we received news that Lisa's father was very ill and his health was declining rapidly. He passed away in his sleep today at the age of 83.
Ernest Joseph Anderegg  01/01/1936 - 12/22/2019

Elders Hunter, Suate, England, and Johnson each choosing a

 gift from underneath the Christmas tree.

 We enjoyed a wonderful Christmas Eve dinner at the Anderson's home near Bream Bay.

Brother Anderson trying to coax an eel out from

the depths of his pond.

The following is a simple message from some of our missionaries in Auckland -

https://www.facebook.com/pelikanipeaua1/videos/2857643520966294/

May the peace and joy that Christmas brings be with each of you this Christmas Season and throughout the upcoming New Year!
Elder and Sister De Lora aka Dad and Mom, Nana and Pop pop, Ed and Lisa