Christmas Conference in the TSAM

On the 17th of December we had a Christmas Party/Conference with all the missionaries in the mission.  Because we have about 260 at the time it is hard for all of the missionaries to come in from all over the mission and get together so this was a special occasion for all of us to see everyone.

All of the missionaries in the TSAM

It was a cold day.  The temperature had taken a dive just the night before and the wind was blowing.  We had pictures early in the morning hoping to get them before the rain came and we just barely made it.  It was cold standing out in the parking lot waiting for our turn for pictures durning the hour we were there. 

Brother and Sister Zilker, D.Williams, Adair, Antuar, Greer, President and Sister Slaughter, Presser, Clark, M.Williams, and Studevant

We had to get up early to get Nathan on a plane for Utah so it was an early morning for us to begin with. 

All of the TSAMers that served under the former Mission President, President Jones that are still here

Elder and Sister Williams daughter Kim Park owns a photography studio and takes pictures professionally so they had her take the pictures.  They were taken outside on the sloping landscape of the University of Texas at San Antonio Institute building.  That is where they also held the conference.

All of the Elders in the mission

After taking the pictures we were able to go inside and visit for awhile.  A couple of senior missionaries had made presents for all the Senior Missionaries that they asked me to pass out anonymously so I made my way through the halls of missionaries talking and visiting and getting last minute hugs and finding the Senior Missionaries to give them their gift of a pair of earrings and a bell in a small brocade bag.  As I love to talk this was a fun time for me. 

All of the Sisters in the mission

We had a great conference.  President Slaughter talked about how Christ is God and gave several examples from the scriptures where it says this.  He pointed out that he was the only person who could have completed the atonement because of that fact.

Mission Leadership, Front row is the Assistants to the President and the President with the Sister Trainer Leader Leaders

We had a great lunch.  There is a member of the church that likes to prepare barbecue with all the sides for groups of  people several times a year.  He does not do it as a business but it is run as professional as a business.  It was wonderful barbecue that they prepared and I don't think I have had any better in Texas.

After lunch they had a slide show of all the missionaries from pictures that they have sent in and a talent show.  There are some very talented missionaries in the TSAM and it was really entertaining.  Many people have great talents in singing and playing instruments but there were some really clever skits and comedy pieces as well.

After that they had a closing in the Chapel and we all went home about 3 or 4 pm.  Larry and I immediately went to the apartment to pack for our trip to Hawaii to see BJ graduate as we were leaving in the morning early- about 8:15 a.m.  We still had several things to do to be ready.