Giving Christmas - Sharing the Love of Christ

The youth organized a Sub for Santa this year for their combined December activity. The goal: to provide much needed items for a refugee family from Somalia - the Sanweyne Family. They have 7 children and, as most refugees, are need of the most basic necessities for living as they try to learn English and adapt to a new, more modern way of life. Senior missionaries for the church and other volunteers work with the state of UT to help these refugees get on their feet with the hopes that they will become self-sufficient.

Sister Redford, our sister missionary contact with the refugee families, sent us a list of needs and the youth went to work. They organized sign-ups, announcements, fliers, the collecting of supplies, etc. The ward members were very generous in contributing what they could to fill the needs. After we received all the donations, the ym and yw had a combined activity where they wrapped all the gifts and prepared them for delivery.

We delivered the gifts on December 20th and the family was so welcoming and gracious. The sight was wonderful to behold: a constant stream of youth and leaders going in and out of the home, one by one, arms full of wrapped presents to give. The youngest children were jumping up and down, touching all the wrappings and bows, eyes wide and smiles big in anticipation for what they were receiving. Once all the gifts were piled in their living room, the father invited everyone in to warm up inside for a minute. We all saying "I Am a Child of God" before departing and wished them a Merry Christmas.

Service opportunities like this warm the soul. It not only serves as a great reminder of how much we have to be truly grateful for, but it also gives us the chance to share the love of Christ through our actions. We're so thankful that the youth chose to do this as their service and got to participate in this experience.