On Christmas Eve we attended a service project with the missionaries at a retirement center in Palencia, the same one we visited last year. We saw some of the same people we visited last year, and it was great to be a part of a project bringing joy to some "forgotten" elderly citizens. It was delightful to watch the missionaries visit with the residents for more than an hour. There were a few more missionaries than residents, so everyone got plenty of personal attention.
Every lady got a manicure from the sister missionaries. Each person was able to visit with the missionaries, and all were entertained by the missionary choir with violin accompaniment. Then each guest received a Christmas gift bag with socks, gloves, Chapstick, personal hygiene items, treats, and a picture of the Savior.
This woman did not come to the activity room, but the sisters took a gift to her. She is blind, but felt the items in her bag and tried to identify each one. Rick got a "salute" and a big smile from
The General (shown below) when Rick gave him one of his shirts. We remember him fondly from last year. He is a deaf-mute who was found and brought to this center. No one knows his name, but he is happy and obviously enjoys attention. He played hand-clapping games with the missionaries where they would clap rhythms together. And they also helped him beat to the music he could not hear.
We've been cleaning out things from our apartment, and this was a good opportunity to donate them to someone who could use them. The mission also provided lots of basic foods. The facility is run by a young family who has a little boy, and Sister Watts had presents for them, too.
It was a great way to spend the day before Christmas!
