We had gotten approval from our Area President to have an all-mission meeting. The request was denied and then was approved when Glen pleaded the cause of how it would help us so much with me recently having had surgery on my foot.
It turned out to be such a blessing because we had all the missionaries in one place when Glen needed to talk to a bunch of them. So, during the talent show, Glen was having the assistants call them out one by one.
I was so sad Glen, the assistants and two zone leaders were doing phone audits and interviews while the rest of us were at the talent show.
The Vista stake had put on a Christmas production and they had constructed a beautiful stage for their performance which made a nice backdrop for our talent show.
Elder Garner and Elder Taylor were the MCs for this year's talent show. They had several changes of outfits and did a wonderful job.
Various missionaries had volunteered to perform. We had a variety of acts such as singing, Highland dancing, acting out a morning missionary routine, ballet dance, group dance, piano solo, Hula dance, gymnastics, modern dance, musical instruments, missionary rap, story telling, etc.
At the end, every missionary who had performed came onstage for a final bow. I appreciated everyone who had been willing to share a talent or do an act. I was just so very sad Glen and a few of our leaders hadn't been able to watch the performances.
Lunch was a success as it was catered by When Pigs Fly. A member owns that restaurant and he brings his whole family and they enjoy serving the missionaries every Christmas. It's a very easy way for us to get this many missionaries fed in a timely manner.
From there we went into the chapel and had a very spiritual, wonderful Christmas devotional (despite all that had been going on during the talent show). We shook every missionary's hand and wished them a Merry Christmas as they left the chapel.
The missionaries collected their Christmas mail and gifts while Glen continued to interview some of them for a while after the meeting. He spent the majority of that day in the Vista stake's high council room meeting with missionaries.
From some phone audits of some of the missionaries, it was determined there were some things amiss that needed to be addressed. It was very evident that some of the missionaries were saying and doing things that were contrary to missionary conduct and standards.
Glen, the assistants and two zone leaders spent hours and hours and hours compiling data and time lines to determine which missionaries were involved.
It was a long, drawn-out process which included more interviews with missionaries, calls to stake presidents, calls to the Missionary Department, communication with our Area Authority, calls to parents and eventually plane tickets for the missionaries who needed to be sent home.
It was sad and heartbreaking and we were devastated as we sent groups of missionaries home starting on Christmas Day and going through the week until we sent the last group home on New Year's Day.
It was definitely not the way we had envisioned spending those two holidays. And it was definitely not the way those missionaries and their families had envisioned spending those holidays either.
There was one festivity that we participated in during that tough time when we felt like we were in deep mourning and had no desire, nor time, to attend any parties.
We had been invited to President Marín's home to celebrate the return of their middle son from his mission. His home is so beautiful and we wanted to go and support him and his family.
The missionaries in the Spanish Ward had been invited to have dinner there that evening. They love to eat at the Marín's home because they know the food is always delicious.
Their home is so spacious and beautiful and was all decorated for Christmas. The Van Aarles took a moment to pose with President Marín for a photo.
We just love the Marín family. They all attended the talent show and devotional and I was able to get a family photo of them then. President and Sister Marín have been called to preside over the Mexico Cancún Mission. They will be such a blessing to the people in Mexico and to the missionaries in their mission.
I was happy we had gone to their home because I saw this woman who we see at all the Spanish baptisms and at almost every Spanish ward we attend. She is 94-years-old and is spunkier than most people decades younger than her (including me...!). She reminds me a bit of Glen's mom.
She absolutely LOVES Glen!! She always makes me laugh. We had seen her earlier that day at a Spanish baptism and I had thought about how I wanted to get a picture of her so we can remember her, but I didn't get the chance to do so at the baptism.
And then there she was at the Marín's home that evening. Hurrah!
Andy and Amanda's family came to visit us the day after Christmas. First to arrive was Austin and Lindsey.
The rest of the family took a little longer getting here because their car had to stop a couple of times for both Andy and Rachel to throw up. We were all feeling bad for them being sick on their vacation.
The two sick ones spent the next day here at home while the rest of them went to the beach and did things people do when they are on vacation. We were hoping and praying for a big recovery for the two sick ones so they could enjoy the following day with their family.
That next day was promising. Glen fixed French toast and Amanda fixed broccoli omelets for breakfast.
Preston was the lucky recipient of Glen giving him a lecture about dating and other things of importance now that he is home from his mission.
Then they were off to spend the day at the San Diego Zoo. Preston proudly showed us his zoo purchase.
I was very happy we were able to spend one evening playing Qwirkle. After all, it was Maggie and Rachel who introduced me to my new favorite game two years ago when they were here for Christmas.
The pineapple cutting board was a gift from the Marín family. We enjoyed eating some of the dried fruit while playing the game and then Andy's family took the rest of it with them to eat on their car ride home.
I have enjoyed using the cutting board as a dish to serve freshly-sliced pineapple. It makes for a pretty presentation.
Shortly after they arrived, it was time for them to leave. Fortunately they were all well and we were well as well and we have stayed well and as far as I know the rest of Andy's family stayed well as well. WHEW!! We enjoyed their visit.
I will post some of the Christmas photos the family was sharing with us to try and cheer us up during our rough holiday. Enjoy!!
