Coopers Croft Mission: Christmas in Dagupan Philippines

I have just had a really lovely christmas here. Christmas Eve. My companion Sister Walker had her family visiting, so I went out with Julene Lopes the Bishops daughter who was waiting to go out with me a full hour before we were due to leave she was so excited to come with me as my companion. We joined up with our local missionaries and went to visit the childrens home that we have been working with. We met at the ERC office at 9.30 am I left the car to be cleaned and we travelled to the home on a cheepny.we gave out some books of Mormon and I explained where the Bof M came from to one of the other passengers. The missionaries had bought food and presents for the children. Julene helped to give out the gifts that our YM and YW had prepared. The missionaries played games and did some magic tricks to entertain the children, we shared our testomonies and sang the children also sang and danced for us.when we had finished at the home we parted company I collected the car and took Julene home.

When I got home Bro and Sister Ventenila were waiting for me to go out with them to visit some less active members and some of the not so well off we took food and the gifte YM and YW had prepared. The dropped me back home and I then got ready to go to the third ward Christmas party where Sister Walker and family joined us for the evening.

Apple and her new husband Nathan also arrived back from their wedding in Manila so more celebrations.

Sunday Christmas day we had a short service at our ward all went home for snacks and then on to the Children's home once again. Sister Walker's family bought lunch for all the children and helpers plus our selves. There were songs again. Sister Walker's great grand children enjoyed playing with the children as much as they enjoyed having them there. Rivka Sister Walker's daughter in law had brought goody bags with a mixtuer of things in them. We all had so much fun watching the children enjoy themselves I am going to miss them so much.We finished off our evening back at our house and had some supper before the family returned to their motel.

I was able to get hold of nearly all my children and speak to them so a really nice end to the two days.
We do not have a day off on the 26th here We had returning missionaries for a Career work shop. I had arranged for Wendel to come and help but he had a rush order with his business to finish and was late so I had to do most of on my own. Sister Walker spent the last morning with her family befote they moved on to another part of the Philippines.