Branch and Zone Activities

Our Branch Activities

Two weeks ago we attended our branch Christmas party.

Not only did Santa appear, but Mrs. Claus tagged along.

Last week in sacrament meeting we were blessed to hear a talk from Earline.

Earline is 94 years young and brought a special spirit to our meeting.

Today we were part of a special Christmas program for sacrament meeting.  The primary children accompanied the adult choir and sang the chorus of "Angels We Have Heard on High" by themselves.  They sang with such gusto that everyone's heart was touched and felt the spirit of Christmas.

"Gloria, Gloria a Deus nas alturas!"

Zone Activities

A week ago Friday we again had the privilege of attending the temple with the Roswell Zone.

As we sat in the Celestial Room together, you could feel their love, strength and power.  And the real blessing is that, because of their humility, they are totally unaware of that power.

Here we have Sister Erickson, Elder Erickson the elder, and Elder Erickson the younger.  

Unfortunately, the young Elder Erickson is not related to us, but he is a tremendous zone leader.

Every transfer (six weeks) the mission holds two zone conferences with half the mission (four zones) attending one and the other half attending the other.  During these conferences we receive instruction, guidance and inspiration pertaining to missionary work.  At one of the break out sessions last week, the Roswell zone practiced creating "great questions of the soul" that lead to personal revelation and how the Book of Mormon can be used to answer those questions.

On that day Sister Ellis celebrated her birthday and also her one year anniversary as a missionary.

A few of the 65,000 stripling warriors on the earth today.

Missionaries are the greatest!!

The Family

We are very proud of our youngest son, John, who recently just completed and presented his masters thesis in mechanical engineering at the University of Utah.

We really wanted to attend the presentation but that is just one of those little missionary sacrifices that only serves to further strengthen our eternal family.  Mas, sabe como é.  (But, you know how it is.)

Sister Erickson and I send our love and wish y'all a very Merry Christmas.