Celebrating Christmas in the Mission--2009

Sr. Velazguez and Sr. Salas made all of these hats out of paper. The Zona Mexico Reforma was definately in high spirits as we celebrated the season together. B: Gonzalez, Pacheco, Marin, Kunz, Venegas, Williams, Ramos, Can, Carrillo, Man, Hernandez I., Flores. F: Pacheco, Hna. Velazquez, Hna. Salas, Pdte. y Hermana Clark, Elder Orme

Christmas 2009 in Mission Mexico Torreon

With the help of 5 Stake Relief Societies, we were able to provide a special Christmas dinner for each of the missionaries here in our mission. Here are some photos of the missionaries enjoying the spirit of the season. We encouraged them to enjoy a "White Christmas". By that, we hoped they could all experience the beauty of seeing one of their investigators enter the waters of baptism during the season when we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, who made it possible for all of us to live with our Heavently Father again, by obeying the commandment to be baptized.

Zona Torreon Mexico

B: Elders Grover, Ponce, Layland, Perez L., Zizumbo, Mills, Van Orden, Bonfil.

F: Castro, Sanchez, Strawn, y Slaugh

Each zone prepared songs to perform after dinner.

Hermana Del Rio of the Torreon Mexico Stake made this beautiful table and all the wonderful good food possible, with the help of her family. She makes the best tamales known to man.

Enjoying the day...

This meal was fabulous. The missionaries had all they could eat and more.

Stake leaders and the Del Rio family participated in chime ringing after dinner.

In Durango Mexico, President and Sr. Bretado enjoy visiting with other stake leaders. Brother Bretado serves as counselor to President Clark and also made our chimes to use.

Durango Mexico sings to everyone...

Sisters! Hermana Lopez, Hermana Gonzalez, and Hermana Clark visit after dinner.

Zona Durango Del Valle

B: Villeja, Thompson, Sepeda, Phillips, Montoya, Osuna, Lamb, Rodriguez Cordova, Adams, Robinson, M: Pedraza, Galeana, Amador, Pineda, Watson, Santana, Betoni, Hernandez M., Pdte. ClarkF: Martinez V., Nava, Hna. Lopez, E. Carlson, Hna. Gonzalez, Hna. Clark

Zonas Torreon Jardine y Madero

(the quality of the other pictures of this group was too poor to post.)

Zona Durango Mexico

F: Blanco, Morales, Hernandez V., Maguayal, Franco, Naumu, Perez Z., Morales C., Marquez, Pdte. Clark, Rios. B: Rivera, Von Bracht, Glauser, Moreno, Checketts

Elder Bonfil, Mission Secretary, leads a group in Christmas Carols while waiting for dinner.

Elders Betoni, Hernandez M., and Carlson

Elder Checketts is always ready to help out on the piano.

Hermana and President Segura of the Durango Mexico Stake

(President Segura was released the Sunday before our dinner)

A team effort in Durango.

Our new Stake President in Durango Mexico, Pdte. Garcia and wife, are in the center of the group.

Fresnillo Zone

(sorry about the poor quality)

F: Benson, Jimenez, Sorensen, Castro

M: Ruiz A., Rincon, Bautista, Almaraz, Chatu, Shepherd, Stevens,
Ruiz V.

B: Mair, Barton, Packard, Trujillo, Gutierrez

Zona Zacatecas

F: Hermanas Cabrera and Romero

M: Guerrero, Lara, Lopez, Barton, De La Cruz, Mera, Miranda

B: Clonts, Diaz, Kober, Libby, Conner Nelson, Chagollan, Romero

Zonas La Laguna y Gomez Palacio

Clark, Valencia, Guevara, Robb, Masterson, Maxfield, and Kjar

Elder Jones, Hermanas Espinoza and Perez, Bonfil and Weyland

Elders Michael, Stoor, Cruz, Santana, Hurtado, Galt and Barragan

A heavenly choir led by Elder Mora

Playing chimes with Hermana Clark: Hna. Espinoza, Elders Espronceda, Cruz, Navarette, Abbot, Robb and Masterson

The entire group in Gomez Palacio

(La Laguna and Gomez Palacio Zones)

Photos!

As a Christmas gift for all the missionaries in the Mision Mexico Torreon, I took candid shots of all of them and put them on a CD with music. Here is a sampling of what the missionaries received as a souvenir of the mission. (this first one is for you Brother and Sister Meador. Doesn't he look great?! Sorry I'm so slow at updating.)

Elder Michael and his new companion, Elder Sandoval at Zone Conference in La Laguna

Elder Sorensen waiting patiently for interviews.

Elder Bensen and Elder Gutierrez

Elders Hernandez, Glauser, Morales, Pineda, Von Bracht and Marquez waiting for someone to unlock the gate to the chapel in Durango Mexico.

Elder Layland in front of the mission office

Elder Mann and Elder Ocampo at the mission home waiting for Elder Ocampo's final interview with the president before he returns home.

These elders are known for sharing their beautiful singing voices in whichever zone they are serving. Elder Moynihan, Turley, Robinson, and Osuna while in Estaca Torreon Jardin.

Elder Weyland and Elder Robb waiting for interviews in Estaca La Laguna Gomez Palacio

Elder Morris!

Elder Orme--there are none quite like him. Oh wait, he has a twin serving in South America!

Elder Tyler Stevens waiting in Zacatecas (he is also a twin)

Elder Jones joined us from Missouri this April and he definately has the "Show Me State" attitude. He is a missionary on fire!

Elder Atwood in the mission office

Elders Lopez Rueda and Limon are excited about the newly released Bible in Spanish.

Elder Trujillo is happy to finally get his conference edition Liahona.

Elders Hernandez Vergara and Roman shine their shoes while waiting.

Elder Williams accompanied his companion to the mission home in this big rig. Some members of their ward brought them and he just had to have his picture taken to prove it.

Elders Velazco, Miranda, and Ray enjoy lunch made by the Priests in the Fresnillo Stake at a mission preparation activity.

Elder Rodriguez Casas shows the Companionship Language Study manual that was introduced last summer. The Spanish-speaking missionaries have the opportunity to earn a certificate from BYU if they complete the course while on their missions. The program depends on the help of the American missionaries.

Zone leaders Noakes and Rincon go over an area book with Hermanas Lopez and Espinoza.

Elder Nelson in Zacatecas

Elder Galt is setting the example for his future missionary friend in front of the chapel in Villanueva.

Sr. Clark usually brings bananas to zone conferences for a snack. These elders are without ties in compliance with the request from the President of Mexico during the influenza epidemic last winter. The missionaries were a little uncomfortable with it at first but seemed to adjust.

Elders Calleja, Roman, Bautista, De La Cruz, and Ruiz Arretche.

A sunny day in Torreon--Elders Torgerson, Galt, and Miranda

Elders Zizumbo, Guevara, y Lopez Cortes

Elders Pacheco, Moynihan, Valencia, Velazco, and Kent

Elders Rincon, and Noakes

Elders Aguero and Rodriguez Cordova