President and Sister Watts always make Christmas a special time for the missionaries by organizing various service projects throughout the East Mission. This year they held seven projects for children in orphanages and senior citizens in care facilities, and in addition took gifts to two other orphanages where they were unable to hold an activity. The projects are sponsored by donations from family and friends at home, and we express our appreciation to our family who contributed. Because of other assignments we could not attend every project, but these photos are from the morning spent with the children in this orphanage in Guatemala City. Missionaries and children played games--duck-duck-goose, red light-green light, and assorted children's activities like jump rope, coloring, and jacks. A number of the children, perhaps half, had special needs, either physical and mental, and the missionaries were creative in finding ways to help them participate, even carrying children in their chairs if they couldn't walk. 
Games were followed by singing Christmas songs together. And that was followed by presents! Every child got a bag of toys--dolls, coloring books, cars, marbles, soccer balls, Frisbees--personal items, candy canes, and a picture of the Savior, each bag tailored for a particular child. The facility was also given a number of bulk food items--bags of beans and rice, eggs, corn meal, etc. This activity brought joy to the children, while helping the missionaries forget about family and festivities at home, and celebrate the birth of the Savior with Christ-like love.
Games were followed by singing Christmas songs together. And that was followed by presents! Every child got a bag of toys--dolls, coloring books, cars, marbles, soccer balls, Frisbees--personal items, candy canes, and a picture of the Savior, each bag tailored for a particular child. The facility was also given a number of bulk food items--bags of beans and rice, eggs, corn meal, etc. This activity brought joy to the children, while helping the missionaries forget about family and festivities at home, and celebrate the birth of the Savior with Christ-like love.
