Our last blog focused on Thanksgiving. This one focuses on Christmas. The past three weeks have been filled with planning, practicing, rehearsing, and performing Christmas programs, as well as buying, wrapping, and giving cards and gifts. Along with our service in the Paris Temple, we've been pretty busy. Of all the Christmas activities of the past three weeks, however, the most "Christmasy" thing we've done was visit (along with several other ward and mission friends) a seriously ill dear friend in the hospital today. With the bishop's permission we presented her with the same Christmas program we did at church, including bringing her the sacrament. While the singing wasn't as good as with a piano and the ward choir, the Spirit was strong as the Christmas story was told, interspersed with Christmas carols. We even managed an "a capella" rendition of "Minuit Chretiens" (O Holy Night). It was a deeply touching experience and helped us feel the true spirit of Christmas - serving others as Christ showed and taught us while He lived on Earth. Although they're hard to see, this picture of Thorvalsen's Christus in the temple garden happened to catch a flock of green parrots in the leafless tree in the background.
Here's an earlier close up of the same flock.
We enjoyed another spiritual experience for Family Night when we invited the other American Temple Missionaries over to our apartment for some hot chocolate and cinnamon twists after watching the First Presidency Christmas Fireside. We serve with truly wonderful people.
We had a typical ward Christmas program with lots of music and food, but with one big difference: we ate in three distinct courses: appetizers, main dishes, and then dessert. When the appetizers were first brought out, I thought we'd be really short of food until I realized that that was only the first course. Janet made some delicious cabbage salad.
Members and missionaries mingling at the ward Christmas party.
Setting up the ward Christmas party.
Wayne tickling the ivories with American Secular Christmas music. You can't actually play "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire" or "I'll Be Home For Christmas" at church! (Or at least I don't think you should!)
More ward Christmas Party decorations from Janet's phone!
Everyone knows how much Janet loves mangers.
This was in the ward cultural hall for the Christmas party. Simple but elegant!
This manger is in the visitor center. She really likes this one!
The local community set up this Christmas event for children. There was a train ride, a jungle gym, a puppet theater, and lots of food for sale.
Here's the train ride.
Here's the line waiting to see Santa.
The man in the suit in the middle is Alexis Defranchi, the wonderful tenor I accompanied at a visitor center concert. He sings with the Bordeaux opera company He also plays the flute beautifully. His friend with the guitar sang two numbers alone and sang with Alexis on a beautiful duet of "Minuit Chretiens".
We also had a wonderful lunch in our apartment with two of the visitor center sister missionaries. They don't often get Magnum ice cream bars for dessert.
A few days ago a missionary walked up to Janet and said he remembered her as his principal a few years ago. Back then he was actually shorter than Janet. Along a similar vein, I had a young man and his wife come to the temple last week who told me that I looked very familiar to him. We eventually figured out that he had taken my astronomy class 7 or 8 years ago when I was a teacher at Northridge High School. He now lives in Luxembourg and speaks pretty good French. It is truly a small world.
Every year it seems like Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas are only about a week apart. It's hard to believe that 2019 is nearly over. We wish all of our family, friends, and neighbors a Merry Christmas. We pray God will pour out His richest blessings on you in the coming New Year. Jesus Christ is truly the reason for the season and our true source of happiness.
