Pre-Christmas Celebrations 2023.....Joy to the World

The lights at the mission Training Center Provo set the mood

Brigham Young proclaimed "This is the Place" as the first members of the Church of Jesus Christ entered the valley in July 1947, after a long and very arduous trek from Iowa and farther east. The monument in Salt Lake City is the memorial to their sacrifice. At Christmastime it is the scene of a very authentic German/Scandinavian Christkindl Markt held each year with booths and performers. It was snowing hard and very cold so I didn't get photos outside to capture the spirit.

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A new Provo Christmas favorite for me is "Christmas Around the World" held at BYU's Marriott Center, with dancers, musicians and fabulous colorful costumes and choreography. Here are a few photos...

India, Ireland, the Philippines,Mexico, Poland, Ukraine, US, Hungary, Serbia, and many more countries are represented by talented students

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The theme of our Edgemont 1st ward (congregation) party this year was a Scandinavian Christmas Chaired by Ken T. with authentic food, Santa Lucia parade, and singing-dancing around the Christmas tree. 

Cold and snowy,Utah (from my house), but hearts are merry & bright!

        We just finished our ESL term. Here are most of my students                  "graduating" from Level 1. Most will continue on in January.

Janeth (Ecuador, helper), Miriam, Edgar (Colombia), Julia (DR), Rocio (Mexico), Romina (Chile), Manuela (Peru), Nikki (assistant teacher). They are wonderful hard-working immigrants in Provo!

A more advanced class taught by the Cushenberrys (Karen Knight C. grew up around the corner from me in Palo Alto. 

I'm still holding out with a real tree. Taggart Pace (10?), next door, came rushing over to help me set it up! Below are some of my favorite creches, collected mostly from my missions...

   Chile (Mapuche indigenous tribe mostly in s. Chile) Clay and wool

Peru (above and below)

Ecuador (those below have acorn bases)

                    Spain (above), Dominican Republic (below)

                          and other favorites......

Nnamdi Okonkwo (b. Nigeria, 1965)

Kate Patterson, Lari Cabanilla, Kerstin Grimmer, Guinevere Woolstenhulme

Emily Taylor, Emily Deans, Marian Taylor (friends from Palo Alto), Miriam Cloward, Kerstin Grimmer, Laurie King

        Marian Taylor giving her favorite lotion gift to Emily Deans

 On the church front, Elder Patrick Kearon, raised in the United Kingdom and the Middle East, is the newest member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

He replaces Elder M. Russell Ballard who recently passed away.

“This sacred call is so very daunting and humbling to me,” said Elder 

Kearon. “I will need to place all my trust in the Savior as I seek to 

become what He needs me to be and share my witness of His love and 

light. The abundance and grace of Jesus Christ have brought immense 

joy into my life, as well as healing balm in times of trial. I love Him. I 

will strive to serve Him to the best of my ability.”

Elder Kearon, 62, was raised in the United Kingdom and the Middle 

East, “Of course in many ways we are all far from home,” 

Elder Kearon once taught Brigham Young University students. “The 

metaphor here with our eternal home is clear. … Our Eternal Father 

has not let any of us leave home, leave His presence, without the 

opportunity to access His love and guidance every day of our lives.”

 Until its dedication on January 21, the new Orem Utah Temple is now open for free

open to free tours by appointment Monday-Saturdays. 

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/featured/orem-open-house?lang=eng

https://www.ldsliving.com/take-a-look-inside-the-new-orem-utah-temple/s/11810