December 28th, 1964

 Date: 12-28-64

Well ,Christmas week is one of the busiest. We visited most of our investigators and gave them the mobiles that we made from walnut shells. We also gave the kids little mechanical beetles. It sure made them happy. One evening this pat week we went Christmas and caroling to the prize investigators. We had more luck than the Elders I Basel 2 which received a bucket of cold water on their heads!! 

This investigator, Scarpellini, seemed to be making a lot of progress. He just got out of the hospital after 30 days just before Christmas and he has really looked for an answer by praying. I think he already has one but just doesn't know how to tell us. We hope we can get him in the water soon. He about three months back asked that if he should die tomorrow if we would do his work in the temple. 

Christmas was really great. We haven't been so good for a long long time. And there have been parties. The Relief Society had one for the Elders where we got presents (candy and hankies). The 24th we were with our investigator's, Moll, where we cooked turkey and made American style apple pie. We spent the evening there. They gave us presents also. Then at 12 midnight we went to Zanoncello's where we met Gayer, Badker & Maria. These three girls would have been alone on Christmas otherwise. We stayed there until 2am. We gave each of the girls a mobile and received a couple of presents from Gayer (candy & a book: Wilhelm Bursch) The book was real neat just what I wanted to by anyway. The 25th we went to church where we met two other elders and two L.M.s we sang songs and played Monopoly all the afternoon. Then that evening we went to Zanoncello and had a nice dinner. Silvice also came plus some other missionaries we had a big dinner then we went to church for the Sunday School party, Sunday proved also to be excellent- Sunday school class was great! After we had Fondue with a member girl. Then later we went home so I could prepare a talk for the Sacrament meeting which I did. It turned out pretty good too !! Then Sunday evening we played Monopoly until 2am in the morning. 

Now, I'm just about back to normal. There is just a little anxiety because I know that on the second of January there will be some transfers. That could mean that I can again go South of the Alps for the rest of the winter. I could use that very much because I don't like the cold weather right now. I've had a cold for about a week. It has been giving me a headache. It is quite peculiar because it comes just about every evening. 

The day after tomorrow will put us in Bern for a conference which will be a 2 day affair. We shall also have the opportunity to go through the temple again. Well it has been an enjoyable Christmas.

Apfelkuchen: Apple Pie

Christmas Dinner at member's home (comp: al becker)