Coming Home July 2011

"TO EVERY THING THERE IS A SEASON AND A TIME UNDER THE HEAVEN." ECCLESIASTES 3:1

Working on new material for the blog!

It has taken me awhile to decide what to do with the blog. I felt lost not posting pictures of the missionaries and I've felt lost with not having my missionary routine. We are starting to settle into a different routine and I have decided to start blogging again. It will take me a little while to get things squared away but we are rolling into the next phase of our journey in life - recovery from the best experience of our lives ( the mission), knee surgery( Tim's), physical therapy for my back, and the economy with our business. We look forward to continuing our growth spiritually and preparing for what comes next!

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Thursday, December 31, 2009

Christmas in Donetsk

We did about the same as Kharkov but let me fill you in on the gifts - calendars with pictures of the church buildings, missionaries, sites in the various cities, quotes from Preach My Gospel & from General Conference. The missionaries loved it!!! The games we played helped to build unity in the missionary districts. Each district built a tower out of spagetti and gum drops. It was so fun to see what they did. We gave them 30 minutes to do it. They all started out well but some began to tople over. After the aloted time, we then shook the tables to see which one would stand the earthquake. Then we talked about working together and buiding strong bonds in our districts as well as strong testimonies that could with stand anything. The next game - we created a thunderstorm. That was really awesome - with the rubbing our hands together, then snapping our fingers, then patting our legs and then jumping. Again we talked about working together to make the thunderstorm work. Then we play egg, chicken, dinasour and leader. It's a game of challenging each other to rock, paper, sissors. When you work up to be a leader then you help others to become a leader. It was really interesting to see some immediately help others to work up to be a leader and some leaders band together and just watch. We talked about how good leaders help others become leaders. These all were so fun to do and watch and I feel that we all learned something. The last thing we did was to make up jinggles for our districts. That was hilarious and so clever! It was great fun and I think all in all it was a great day!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Twas The Day Before Christmas

Twas the day before Christmas and all across the world
The Kingdom of God was being unfurled.
Missionaries of every kind were spreading the word;
Jesus is The Christ! to those whod not heard.
The Book of Mormon placed in each backpack with care,
With faith therell be someone to receive it out there.
The missionaries that morn knelt in prayer by their beds,
While visions of baptisms danced in their heads.
And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap,
With presents on the floor we continued to wrap.
When outside on the steps there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the floor to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The sun on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre like diamonds to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But two young men in suits, with a smile ear to ear.
I opened the door and invited them in.
They taught us of Jesus and repentance of sin.
Of how Joseph, in the grove had knelt down to pray.
Of Christs church being restored in these latter-days.
Of Moroni, of Peter, of James and John too.
Of John, The Baptist, our testimonies grew.
They came back and taught us again an again.
We wanted to be baptized, they asked us when.
We now are members in a ward thats close by.
Each year, 'round Christmas, tears of joy fill our eyes.
Thankful those young men came to our door.
And taught how our lives could be filled with much more.
Knowing Christ was born and will banish Satans strife
A Merry Christmas to all, Exaltation, Eternal Life.

Written by Brett Martin Smith