Happy New Year!

Happy New Year Everyone! We are so excited for what this year will bring to the Canada Calgary Mission. I think our missionaries are ready to work, and as much as they loved the holidays, they are ready for people to be back into a normal routine, which will help them in their work. They all loved their Christmas phone calls home- for many it was their first phone call, which is always exciting and special. For a few, it was their last as they go home next week!
We had a nice relaxing Christmas Day where we were able to talk to all of our children at different times and share a little in their day with each of them. We also began our reading of the Book of Mormon with our mission, which we are loving. Along with this our missionaries have been looking through the scriptures- the Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price, for their top 10 scriptures that describe 'What Think Ye of Christ'? Steve and I have also been coming up with ours, and it has been a neat experience to be reading in the New Testament, Old Testament, and the Book of Mormon, and D & C to find the ones we would put on that list. I still haven't decided exactly on my 10 yet, but I did just put one on it from Isaiah 41:10 &13, where the Lord tells us to 'fear not, for I am with thee..I will strengthen thee: yea, I will help thee..I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand..' I just love those words from the Savior telling us how He will help us, and I have felt it personally in my life. He is so kind, and so loving, and truly does carry us in our times of trial. You ought to try this if you want to have a wonderful experience.
The weather the past couple of weeks has been downright freezing! As we drove to Lethbridge on the 26th our temperature gage in our car reached -29, which was a record for us while driving. And then the next morning it was -30! That is COLD!! Needless to say, I have been wearing tights and another pair of socks over them, and layering like crazy! In Lethbridge we were able to complete our interviews down south, and while we were there we were able to attend a great district meeting in Taber with our missionaries serving there and in Coaldale. We got home Thursday evening and then on Friday had a great 'retrainer's meeting' with all of our new missionaries and their trainers. We discussed and addressed their needs, referring to Preach My Gospel, and it was just a great meeting. We are so blessed to have these missionaries that have such a great desire to be the most effective missionary they can be and to go spread the gospel!
Sunday, New Year's Eve, we had dinner at the mission home with 5 of our missionaries that were returning home the next day, after completing their missions. It was great to be with these wonderful missionaries that have truly consecrated the last 2 years or 18 months to the Lord. Following dinner we had a nice little intimate testimony meeting with them. As always, it was very special to hear them all share their testimony of the Savior and how much they love Him, and also their testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon.
Then on Monday morning we took them to the airport and sent them on their way home to have wonderful reunions with their families.
This week we are preparing for transfers next week and for the 10 new missionaries that will be coming to our mission!