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Elder Nelson - Christmas 2018 in Virginia

Dear Family,

Mission NewsMonday (Christmas Eve) the senior missionaries felt the need to get mail and packages to the missionaries. Our mail man set an appointment with us to deliver mail and packages at 11:00. He was right on time. In short order we had mail going to the 8 zones in Northern Virginia. President and Sister Caplin came to the office and had a big box of socks, scarves and hats given to them from a family in St.George, whose son is serving in our mission. Sister Caplin made “packages” for missionaries that did not get much if any “Christmas” stuff. The missionaries we delivered to were excited as little kids to get the letters and presents.

Two wards in the mission contacted us to see if there were missionaries that needed a little help. One
of the senior couples, Elder and Sister Myers, have 9 grown children. They asked how they could help out at Christmas. Sister Caplin and some of the other senior missionaries made a list of missionaries that could use a little extra. The Myers family contributed around 30 or more presents and the two wards contributed about twice that much.

One elder is completely disowned by his family. None of them will speak to him. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to go “home” after his mission, because there was no one to go home to.

Several missionaries are from foreign countries. Shipping costs would have been prohibitive. One delightful sister is from the Philippines. Her parents cannot barely afford to write her letters. We dropped some mail off to their apartment. Her packages were stacked almost to the ceiling. She was so overwhelmed and excited.

Friday President Caplin had a baptismal interview appointment that he could not keep, so he asked me to do the interview. It was a question 4 interview. It was an hour interview. It has been about 18 years since I did a worthiness interview. Afterwards I needed to visit with the bishop about the circumstances.

Fun Stuff
This Philippine sister, Sister Banluta, came to our apartment at 8:00 AM to “call” home. Normally this sister is very quiet and reserved. She called from the bedroom and we were in the living room and kitchen. She is one of 10 children. Her whole family was there including nephews and nieces. This quiet sister was not at all quiet with her family. They were laughing and yelling and having a great time. We just had to smile at all of the ruckus coming from the bedroom.

While Sister Banluta was visiting with her family, her companion, Sister Rossberg, cooked us French
toast with cinnamon bread. Wow that was good. These same sisters came by at about 8:25 and we played dominos until they had to return at 9:00 PM.

Sister Rossberg, Dad, Mom and Sister Banluta 
I enjoyed all of the presents a lot. Thank you! Sometimes before and after we make a trip to a church building or to meet some missionaries, Mom and I will look at the big map and trace our path. We can tell already that we are getting a better sense of where we are. Sometimes I will tell Mom, “You can turn off the GPS now. I think I can get home by myself.”

My map, new gloves, tie and vest 
My siblings gave us stockings full of fun stuff like pistachio nuts, energy bars, a light for our key changes, fancy soap, breath mints, floss, chocolates, hot chocolate mix, jerky, Aunt Terry’s jam and garlic.

The best part of Christmas was visiting with you. It seems like you all had a good Christmas.

WES
December will be a strong profit month for WES. For some reason our costs are down even with our sales being higher than normal. I will have to review our financials to see what is going on.

Family News
Malia made her singing debut.

Derek and family no longer have a home in California. After Jessica’s sister’s wedding in Phoenix on Jan 2, they will fly to Florida for a new adventure on January 4.

Keri and family are booked to fly to Dulles Airport on February 13 and return on February 20. On the down side they are coming on the coldest and bleakest time of the year. On the upside, there will not
be nearly as many people at the places they visit. Keri and McKay are polling their friends who have
lived in the area about their “must see” things. It looks like they/we will have a full docket.

Keri and family and Chelsea had a fun time in warm St. George at Kent’s over Christmas and are now
back in the cold snowy north.

Love,
Dad

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