We are excited that this week is done.
We had our "Santa Run" where we delivered Christmas packages to the missionaries. Three locations in the Northern half of the mission on Thursday, and 3 locations in the Southern half on Friday.
We met at the office at 600am to drive to Redding in Northern CA for our first delivery, and then went down to Chico, and then to Yuba City. We made it home at 600pm, and we were in bed and asleep by 730pm. Friday was a little easier because we did not have to travel as far.
Mom took care of accounting for all the packages and letters, while I took care of all the logistics of getting the right package to the right place. I am sure glad Mom dealt with the parents because I may not have been as diplomatic. You really become attached to the missionaries. Mom started the process the middle of September, 3 months ahead of time, with an email to all the parents, she then followed up with a letter. She corrected the email and addresses by contacting the missionaries of those parents who had not yet responded, and send another notice. Slowly but surely she contacted all the parents she could, even making multiple phone calls. We pretty much got all the packages together, but the frustrating part was getting emails the week before the event asking if it was too late to send a package. We went ahead and prepared gift packages for all the missionaries who did not have a package by our deadline. If packages came later (which some did) we were not going to let "our guys" not get something because of their parents. If they ended up with 2 packages, so be it. We were not going to risk it. As Mom wrote in her letter, she also ended up supplying 47 "personal letters from home". That is 25% of our missionary force that did not get a personal letter from home. That is very disappointing when you think about it. These guys (and gals) sacrifice so much, tears come to your eyes when you hear their stories.
Well, the logistics part went very well. We only had one package end up at the wrong place. A package was packed in the bags for the first location, and it should have gone to the fifth location. That was an easy "recovery". Imagine if it had been the other way!!! But that was the only mix up. Everything else went smooth and everybody was happy.
After receiving their gift box and letter from home, it was pretty quiet. Everybody was content.
They also had their picture taken with the Mission President and his family.
At Yuba City, all the girls wanted to have their picture taken.
After we came home from deliveries on Friday, we still had to host a Zone Gift Exchange party at our house. These are the guys I called on to help me sort the packages, and to load the trailer. I guess it is one of the missionary trademarks, but they are always willing and anxious to help us out. We sure love them and think they are beyond wonderful.
The missionary receiving the gift had a Santa Hat pulled over their eyes, and had to unwrap and guess what the gift was.
Saturday was finally our day to vegetate and do nothing. Well, there was laundry, grocery shopping, and cleaning house that we normally do on our "Preparation Day". Well, there was also Mom practicing for her duet with the non-member organ guy for their performance on Sunday (It went great today. We each had a part in the Christmas program). And Mom checking on one of the Sister Missionaries in our zone.
Saturday evening we had a wonderful meal together and were able to do "Face Time" with Ross using our IPads, and seeing Lisa' family and Joie too who were gathered at Ross and Dixie's house for Christmas Eve. After the musical performances, and the lighting of the candles on the tree in Cathlamet, I participated in the video conference by reading for everybody from Luke 2, just like when we are at home. These are great gadgets.
That evening, after finishing the face time, we opened our presents, and called it a day.
Merry Christmas to everybody.
Love, Dad
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