The timing of emails, Christmas and going to the Caribbean means that we have to go back in time slightly before we can move forward. Just before Soeur Holt left the MTC she was able to celebrate Christmas. This was a bittersweet time for all of us; it was the first Christmas where we weren’t together as a family. Soeur Holt had a lovely day and we were able to speak to her in the evening.

Being in Provo it is maybe unsurprising that it was a white Christmas.

The day began, as usual, with present opening. Below are before and after pictures of her Christmas package.

Most of what she received was consumable or fun- the missionaries seemed to have fun with the ‘Face mats.’ Thank you so much to everyone who remembered her with cards, packages and emails this Christmas.

In the morning the whole MTC had a devotional with Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his family. On his Facebook page he posted a picture and description:

On Christmas morning, 23 of my family members then in Utah (plus six babies—great-grandchildren) provided a 90-minute Christmas program for 1,200 missionaries in the Provo Missionary Training Centre. This was also broadcast to the other 14 MTCs worldwide. This was a joy for all of us.

Following a Christmas Dinner, Soeur Holt phoned us for half an hour. It was so lovely to hear her voice and how happy and enthusiastic she is. While we wanted to hear everything from her, she wanted to hear all our Christmas news. We also asked her to share something with us in French- she shared her testimony/ beliefs.

The evening was spent in a devotional with David Archuleta (a music star, and member of the Church, who was the runner up on American Idol a few years ago).

Two days after Christmas it was time for Soeur Holt to leave the MTC and say goodbye to her companions and the vast majority of her district. It was nice for people to come and see her off despite the late hour.