Love those Colombian flowers.

Birthdays are always more fun with beautiful flowers and good friends. What a fun surprise.

Our assistants and office secretaries.

Elders Jorquera, Yanez, and Serey all from Chile are teaching Elder Mills from Georgia, and Elder Machacuay from Peru, how to make Chilean empanadas in our kitchen.

Flour up to their elbows.

Elder Mills on the left is learning the techniques from Elder Yanez on how to make the real empanadas.

Chilean empanadas are the best.

These are the final results of the elder's empanadas.

Reeds for making baskets.

Near Duitama, there is a marshy wet land where many reeds grow. The people cut the reeds and then weave them into baskets to sell.

Baskets anyone?

Along this road to Duitama, there are many places where baskets are made and sold. Many shapes and sizes.

The Hacienda de Salitre has a lot of charm.

We love this old hacienda that is over 500 years old. It sits in a beautiful valley near Duitama. We never tire of going there.

A very early morning call.

The Petersons' worked very long hours in the institue program. They would start at 6:30 A.M. and go to 9:30 P.M. Never a complaint from them.

One last lunch together.

We are losing many of our adult couples in December. We have been very greatful for all of their help. I am sure they will all continue serving.

Waiting for the elevator for one last time.

We hated to say Good-bye to Elder and Sister Peterson. They worked with the institue students. They came from Brigham City, Utah, and served very faithfully.

Everybodies favorites.

All the missionaries loved Elder and Sister Boulter. The sisters in Bucaramanga were no exceptions;.

Peruvian chefs cooked Peruvian Christmas feast in Bucaramanga.

Cucuta Zone with lots of smiles.

A feast for three kings in Bogota.

Two stake presidents and their wives in Bogota.

On the left we have President and Sister Moreno from the Suba stake, and on the right we have President and Sister Santa Cruz from the Bogota Stake. Both are great leaders in the church.

The Christmas Nativity was acted out in three devotionals.

Camila waiting for Papa Noel.

We enjoyed being with our favorite Colombian family for Christmas Eve. Camila is six years old and was very excited to have us in their home to celebrate with them. Children all over the world love Christmas.

Christmas Eve with two families.

This is the home of Nidia, our employee with her family and friends. We talked, laughed, ate good food and waited for midnight to open the gifts. When one gifts was selected everyone clapped, and then after the gift was opened, everyone cheered like someone had just won an academy award. It was a fun experience that we will always remember.

Of course we ate Ajiaco for Christmas Eve.

Many Colombians have the tradition ot eating Ajiaco, a potato and chicken soup, with rice and avacado on the side. It was delicious.

A Colombian Noche Buena for 2011.

This year on Christmas Eve we enjoyed a typical Colombian Noche Buena with our good friend and empleada Nidia in the middle with her family which consists of her husband, her four daughters, two sons in law and their little grandson. We were in their home and had a wonderful time. The Colombians celebrate Christmas at midnight and open their gifts. Papa Noel found the family as well. All the young people get new shoes to wear on Dec. 24.

A typical Christmas treat.

This is a very typical treat we had at many Christmas activities. Natilla is like a thick pudding. This flavor was Arequipa like a carmel flavor, and little fried yummy balls with cheese in the middle are called bunuelos.

His English certificate.

Elder Araya was very proud of his certificate for learning English. We are very proud of all our successful missionaries and their certificates for learning English. Way to go Elder Araya.

Getting ready for Christmas.

Elder Teuquil was getting ready for Christmas and going home to be with his family.

Saying Good-bye to our last group for 2011.

We said good-bye to these seven missionaris from Chile. We will miss their enthusiasm, their accent, and their faithfulness. From left to right, we have Elder Ortiz, Montecino, sister and president Hacking, Elders Cea, Araya, Vergara, Teuquil, and Lopez. We wish them well.

Our last new missionary for 2011.

Elder Sandoval, from Colombia, was our last missionary to arrive for 2011. We hope all the new missionaries in 2012 will be as good as this new Elder.