Scottish Premier League

The Old Firm rivals Celtic and Rangers have both been drawn against Scottish Premier League opposition in the 5th round of the Scottish Cup in holders the Hoops will go up against the winners of the 4th round replay between SPL newcomers Dunfermline Athletic and Inverness Caledonian Thistle, who were dumped out by Celtic at the quarter-final stage last season.

Rangers, who crashed out In the round's other all-SPL tie, Hearts go up against fellow league high-fliers St Johnstone in Hibernian will take on the winner of the replay between 1st division Dundee and Kilmarnock at the 5th round last year and they face a tough home tie against Dundee United.

A draw has been kind to last year's runners-up Motherwell, who will face Greenock Morton, Aberdeen have also drawn lower league opposition in Queen of the South and the remaining ties will see Ross County take on the victor of the replay between Hamilton Academical and St Mirren, Ayr United go up against Falkirk.

Draw for fifth round of Scottish Cup:

Hibernian v Dundee/Kilmarnock

Motherwell v Greenock Morton

St Mirren/Hamilton Academical v Ross County

Inverness Caledonian Thistle/Dunfermline v Celtic

Ayr United v Falkirk

Rangers v Dundee United

Hearts v St Johnstone

Aberdeen v Queen of the South

Mosiah 18:35

"They were numbered among the people of the church of Christ; and their names were taken"

Moroni 6:4

4-5-0

Eduardo was excited to be the 450th convert baptism in the mission in 2011!

FINAL THREE: Who should win the 2011 Fifa Ballon d'Or?

Lionel Messi Won:

2007: Third

2008: Second

2009: Winner

2010: Winner

Cristiano Ronaldo Won:

2007: Second

2008: Winner

2009: Second

Xavi Won:

2009: Third

2010: Third

On Monday January 9 in Zurich, the best player in the world for 2011 will be crowned and a 3rd year in a row, the Fifa Ballon d'Or to previously just the Ballon d'Or is dominated by players who ply their craft in Spain's La Liga.

The Reigning world player of the year Lionel Messi of Barcelona and Argentina, last year 2nd runner-up Xavi of Barcelona, Spain and 2008 winner Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid and Portugal are the 3 nominees for the 2011 award in the same three finalists in the 2009 edition.

Who should win the 2011 Fifa Ballon d'Or?

Cristiano Ronaldo 47.71%

Lionel Messi 43.32%

Xavi 8.96%

Villa Striker Darren Bent No contact From Liverpool

Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish insists he has not had any contact with Liverpool about a possible move for Darren Bent and the rumours have suggested Liverpool are weighing up a move for Bent as they look to bring in cover in a attack with Luis Suarez currently serving an 8 game ban for theracially abusing Patrice Evra.

He Villa chief executive Paul Faulkner and McLeish had all previously said the England international was going nowhere and McLeish insists they would not consider selling the former Tottenham and Sunderland man and we have not heard a thing from Liverpool," said McLeish aware of the speculation.

There has been no contact with this club and I think you've had three parties telling you that even if there was contact, we would not entertain that (selling Bent) for we wouldn't want to entertain selling our top scorer of last season. He is a prolific marksman.

Personal life for a born in Tooting, London, Bent is of Jamaican descent to his father, Mervyn Bent, was a player in the youth systems of Wimbledon and Brentford and he moved to Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire at age of 10 and played for the Godmanchester Rovers youth system.

International career for a Bent has represented England at under-15, under-16, under-17 and under-19, under-21 and senior levels to he made his under-16 debut against Finland on 31 July 2000, making 10 appearances and scoring three goals for the team with his last appearance coming against Finland on 27 February 2001 in he retained his place for England's Euro 2012 qualifier with Wales to make his 1st competitive international start on 26 March 2011 in scoring England's second goal he took his tally to 3 goals in his last 3 matches.

Rio Ferdinand Says Manchester City Did United a Favour Nut to Create History

Rio Ferdinand is confident Manchester United can overhaul Manchester City in the title race after admitting the 6-1 humiliation in October provided an important wake-up call and the Red Devils will be looking to draw level on points in the local rivals at the top of the table on Wednesday night when they travel to St James' Park to face Newcastle.

A United have been in fine form over the past couple of months and traditionally grow stronger during the second half of a campaign in they became league champions for a record-breaking 19th time last term and Ferdinand believes they will again emerge triumphant he asked what United have got in their favour, Ferdinand said in The Sun: "Loads of things. I don't like to say we've got this and you have not.

The Ferdinand has been proud of the way United have performed since bowing out of the UEFA Champions League at the group stage, especially as Ferguson's resources have been stretched to the limit in the defender added, we have got a crazy amount of injuries and illnesses, yet we're still managing to get the results and long may that continue a most important thing is the way the squad is playing now to the manager has said at the beginning of the season it's not about 11 men in since we went out of the Champions League we've shown a great resolve in our squad.

Xavi Hernandez, the best playmaker in the world for the fourth consecutive year

The International Federation for Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) named Barcelona's footballer Xavi Hernandez as the best playmaker in the world.

This is the fourth consecutive year the Catalan player receives this honor. Xavi outranked Barcelona teammates Lio Messi and Andres Iniesta, and many other popular players like Cristiano Ronaldo and David Silva. 

Here's the final ranking made by the IFFHS: 

1. Xavier Hernández Creus "Xavi" (SPA/Barcelona) 232 puntos

2. Lionel Messi (ARG/Barcelona) 147

3. Andrés Iniesta (SPA/Barcelona) 110

4. Mesut Özil (GER/Real Madrid) 59

5. Cristiano Ronaldo (POR/Real Madrid) 47

6. David Silva (SPA/Manchester City) 31

7. Wesley Sneijder (DEU/Inter Milan) 22

8. Xabier Alonso "Xabi" (SPA/Real Madrid) 19

9. Diego Forlán (URU/Inter Milan) 17

10. Cesc Fábregas (SPA/Barcelona) 15

11. Andrea Pirlo (ITA/Juventus) 15

12. Franck Ribery (FRA/Bayern Munich) 10

13. Bastian Schweinsteiger (GER/Bayern Munich) 9

14. Luka Modric (CRO/Tottenham Hotspur) 8

15. Frank Lampard (ENG/Chelsea) 5

16. Javier Matías Pastore (ARG/Paris Saint-Germain) 5

Uefa President Michel Platini

A Uefa president Michel Platini salutes ownership structure of both Barcelona and Real Madrid and the Frenchman believes that clubs should belong to and be answerable to their supporters and cites the two Spanish sides as the best examples of this ethos.

The Uefa president Michel Platini has hailed the ownership model employed by both Barcelona and Real Madrid to the two Primera Division giants belong to and are effectively answerable to their fans in those who are fully enlisted members of the club.

This system, which allows supporters to have a greater say in the running of their club, is most desirable, according to Platini to i love the management structure of Real Madrid and Barcelona because the members remain responsible for the club and their decisions, the former Juventus man told L’Equipe and the both preserve their identity and the popularity of football lies precisely in the fact that there are such strong ties with the fans.

And the Football is popular because of its human values and that includes its mistakes,” he argued to “If we are to prioritise the business value, then we will lose that popularity and the ootball is great as it is even with its injustices, like that Germany-France semi-final in 1982, or with the hand of [Diego] Maradona. Or [Thierry] Henry to the despite Platini’s in Fifa president Sepp Blatter recently admitted that video technology could be introduced in time for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

City Midfielder Nigel de Jong Still in Roberto Mancini's Plans

Manager Roberto Mancini insists out-of-favour Manchester City midfielder Nigel de Jong remains an integral part of his plans and he made his first start since November at Sunderland on New Year's Day and was removed at half-time by Mancini to the Netherlands international, who had a spell out in August and September with a foot injury is out of contract at the end of next season and is yet to agree a new deal.

A Speculation has surfaced over whether the 27-year-old will remain at Ethiad Stadium but Mancini still regards him as an important player and the manager said, Nigel had too many problems when we started the season for the two months off for injury.

The After this the squad played a different system with two strikers, two offensive players like wingers and only two midfielders in this reason Nigel did not play a lot of games but he is still an important player is no change in this situation and now he can play to i think it is normal that one player, when he doesn't play, is frustrated to for him it is difficult but now we are playing 5 games in 16 days and we need our players.

Thierry Henry Here To Help

Arsene Wenger believes Thierry Henry could give Arsenal the same short-term boost provided by Sol Campbell when he returned to the club for a 2nd spell in 2010 and the Arsenal manager has confirmed Henry to the club's all-time record scorer, will sign for the Gunners on a two-month loan deal if insurance agreements can be agreed with current club the New York Red Bulls.

And he hopes the deal will prove as successful as Campbell's 11-match stint two years ago when he filled a defensive void to the Wenger said: "Sol was fantastic when he came back in Sol is like Thierry and the once they are committed you know you can rely on them.

They have i remember when we went to Tottenham, Sol was absolutely amazing for a guy who, 3 weeks before, you wondered if this guy can still play in Premier League and he had such a capacity to fight and they have that pride to we have to continuity of the special link to our former players in the Wenger warned Arsenal fans not to a expect the Henry of 10 years ago and he decided after one training session to ask the 34-year-old to rejoin the club in wenger said, You do not find players on the planet of this quality who are available for two months.

A You can never take away from people what they have done, that will remain forever Nobody expects him to be what he was 10 years ago to he is here to help out, not to suddenly be the leader, the main player in the squad. He and I are conscious that he is 34 years old, but he has not lost his class or his brain in Wenger wants Henry, who is available until the MLS season restarts in March, to fill the void which will be left when Marouane Chamakh and Gervinho leave for the African Nations Cup next month.

A Spanish Attacker Is Reported To Be Close To Re-signing.

A Spanish attacker is reported to be close to re-signing for his former club after enduring a disappointing start to the season at the Vicente Calderon outfit and the atletico Madrid winger Jose Antonio Reyes is on the verge of completing a move to Sevilla, AS reports.

A 28-year-old has been linked with a move away from the Vicente Calderon in recent weeks after finding himself on the fringes of the action under former boss Gregorio Manzano in the appointment of Diego Simeone as coach was expected that Reyes would stay on at the club and the former Arsenal man admitted he was still assessing his options to spanish sources claim that Simeone has given the go-ahead for Reyes transfer as he only wants players who are 100 per cent committed to Atletico.

The Reyes will reportedly sign a contract which will run until 2016 with Sevilla, who he left in 2004 to pursue his career abroad with the Gunners to a sevilla president Jose Maria del Nido has called a press conference for 14.00CET, and reports suggest he could announce the signing of Reyes at the event.

Have we not reason to rejoice?

A YEAR OF MIRACLES
How great reason have we to rejoice; for could we have supposed when we started [this year] that God would have granted unto us such great blessings?
2 And now, I ask, what great blessings has he bestowed upon us? Can ye tell?
3 Behold, I answer for you; for our brethren…were in darkness, yea, even in the darkest abyss, but behold, how many of them are brought to behold the marvelous light of God! And this is the blessing which hath been bestowed upon us, that we have been made instruments in the hands of God to bring about this great work.
4 Behold, [451] of them do rejoice, and have been brought into the fold of God.
5 Behold, the field was ripe, and blessed are ye, for ye did thrust in the sickle, and did reap with your might, yea, all the day long did ye labor; and behold the number of your sheaves! And they shall be gathered into the garners, that they are not wasted.

11 I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God.
12 Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.
13 Behold, how many… of our brethren has he loosed from the pains of hell; and they are brought to sing redeeming love, and this because of the power of his word which is in us, therefore have we not great reason to rejoice?
14 Yea, we have reason to praise him forever, for he is the Most High God, and has loosed our brethren from the chains of hell.

23 Now do ye remember, my brethren, that we said unto our brethren [back home], we go up to the land of [Spain], to preach unto our brethren… and they laughed us to scorn?
24 For they said unto us: Do ye suppose that ye can bring the [people of Spain] to the knowledge of the truth? Do ye suppose that ye can convince the [people of Spain] of the incorrectness of the traditions of their fathers, as stiffnecked a people as they are…? Now my brethren, ye remember that this was their language.
26 But behold, my beloved brethren, we came into the [mission field] …with the intent that perhaps we might save some few of their souls.
27 Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren… and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success.
28 And now behold, we have come, and been forth amongst them; and we have … traveled from house to house, relying upon the mercies of the world—not upon the mercies of the world alone but upon the mercies of God.
29 And we have entered into their houses and taught them, and we have taught them in their streets; yea, and we have taught them upon their hills...
30 …and all this, that perhaps we might be the means of saving some soul; and we supposed that our joy would be full if perhaps we could be the means of saving some.
31 Now behold, we can look forth and see the fruits of our labors; and are they few? I say unto you, Nay, they are many; yea, and we can witness of their sincerity, because of their love towards their brethren and also towards us.

35 Now have we not reason to rejoice?
(Alma 26)

When we began the year, we set a goal to help bring 450 souls into the Kingdom during 2011. During the early months of the year, it seemed virtually impossible, but as we approached the last few months we all felt like the Lord had prepared these people. During the last 50 days, one companionship of missionaries fasted each day and all missionaries prayed daily that the Lord would lead us to these prepared people.

By the end of the last Sunday of the year (Christmas Day), we had seen 448 people baptized and confirmed during the year! And then, as if to remind us whose work this is, a few more miracles took place this week. A young girl in a small branch, whose mother is an active member but whose father had never allowed his daughter to be baptized, had a sudden change of heart and agreed to let his daughter be baptized on Wednesday night if she could be confirmed that same night (as he refused to attend Church on Sunday when the confirmation would normally take place). On Thursday morning, the membership secretary, who had been working on a missing membership record of a convert from early in the year, received the baptism record for this convert, bringing the total to 450. And on Thursday night, another baptism and confirmation, due to special circumstances, took place in Palma. It has been a year of miracles!

Elders Allphin and Bennington with Juan and Nancy.
This great couple, 2 of 451 converts this year, were baptized in November.
Their 12-year old is preparing to be baptized on January 7th.

Oriol Romeu Looks They Could Re-Sign Him In The Summer Of 2012 For €10million (£8.3m) or €15million (£12.5m) in 2013.

Oriol Romeu's agent has hinted the Chelsea midfielder will resist the option to return to Barcelona and stay until 2013 at the least and the Catalan giants sold the 20-year-old to the Blues during the close season, although it was believed they could re-sign him in the summer of 2012 for €10million (£8.3m) or €15million (£12.5m) in 2013.

A Andre Villas-Boas insists Barca have 1st refusal on Romeu, which only comes into play should the West Londoners wants to part company with his services to had been thought that Barcelona were mulling over re-signing Romeu at the end of the season if Seydou Keita leaves in search of a fresh challenge in Italy's Serie A.

"Will Romeu return? His dream before leaving was to be a Barcelona player and that still stands and we cannot ignore the opportunity Chelsea have provided," agent Javier Magico Diaz to Marca he has made a name for himself in the Premier League and is playing regularly to committed to the club and we cannot leave them hanging."

He added on a possible Barcelona return, We'll have to see if it's appropriate for the club and the player to we need to know if he'll keep developing at Chelsea and playing in the "Maybe it will be more convenient to stay for the another year and then return in 2013."

THE NEW CAMP NOU

The Camp Nou of the 21st century

 

After 50 years, the Camp Nou can look to the future with optimism. The prestigious Foster + Partners team of architects is in charge of the project to remodel the stadium.

On the basis of Francesc Mitjans’ original design, the Camp Nou is set to become an essential architectonic reference for the 21st century. The renovated stadium will be seen as an architectonic entity in its own right.

The whole stadium will be contained within a clearly defined volume, with a unified appearance from the outside. The added spaces and installations are totally integrated both functionally and architectonically.

When the work is complete on restructuring the Camp Nou, visitors will be able to enjoy a renovated stadium offering a unique and distinct image of FC Barcelona, which will be totally integrated into the city’s architectonic heritage. From street level it will look like a totally modern stadium, but it will also look that way on the inside, with large service areas, and electronic escalators to take spectators up to the highest levels.

 

 

This is the new Camp Nou

The new Camp Nou will be seen as an architectonic entity in its own right. The whole building will be contained within a clearly defined volume, with a unified outward appearance created by its mosaic design.

Characteristics

When the work is complete on remodelling the Camp Nou, visitors will enjoy a stadium offering the following characteristics:

• The image of the renovated stadium will be unique and distinctive of FC Barcelona. Its carefully constructed architecture will be strong and vibrant. It will make sure that the image of the Camp Nou is as powerful as ever and has been based entirely on elements that define FC Barcelona’s identity.

• Everybody will see the new image as a strong and daring item within the urban environment. The design will be totally integrated into the architectonic heritage of the city of Barcelona, with so many colourful and distinctive buildings. From the street, people will appreciate a fully modern stadium that has been proudly built on the basis of local heritage.

• Barcelona fans will be able to enjoy a transformed public leisure area. The new escalators will take them to the higher parts of the stadium, where there will be a large number of new areas aimed at the general public, and plenty of service areas to cater for spectators.

• The renovated stadium will separate the routes taken by visitors and by club staff through the creation of new vertical and horizontal routes.

• The stadium will cover all of the spectator safety requirements and will be totally adapted to the needs of disabled people.

• Spectators will enjoy a much clearer and more logical distribution of entrance points into the respective zones on either side of the stadium.

• The new stadium will have a two-directional service lane at a 360 degree angle, as well as a new circular all-round walkway for the club’s operations staff.

• The stadium will offer visibly improved facilities for the media that will be separated from the public zones.

 

 

• The players and auxiliary staff will enjoy brand new dressing rooms, new work areas, a new presidential zone and new offices.

• VIP guests will experience improved hospitality services in the new exclusive areas on both sides of the stadium. The VIP zones will offer an exceptional space and top standard services to ensure that the high demands of such zones are respected.

• The new facilities, given their majestic nature, will make FC Barcelona an excellent basis on which the club will be able to look towards the future with even more confidence than ever.

 

Barca to meet Osasuna in Copa del Rey Last 16 Knock Out Round

FC Barcelona has been drawn with Osasuna for the next round of Cop del Rey clash. The draw took place today morning and had thrown up some interesting posibilities for next round. Guardiola wouldn't be happy with the dates for the Last 16 round. The frist leg will take place at Camp Nou between jan 3 to Jan 5. That could see the South american contigent being used in limited capacity as they would be just back from holidays. Having the second leg away from home means that Barca has to take a definie advantage in the first leg and that too with our problem usually after the breaks. The talk of the town is not the clash with osasuna, it's the supposed Quarter Final Clash with Real Madrid. Madrid has been drawn with rich boys Malaga for the round of 16. If both Barca and Madrid win, then the first leg of Quarter Final will take place at Bernebeu on January 18th.

A Real Madrid Striker Gonzalo Higuain Has Emerged As A Target For Chelsea To The Club.

A Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain has emerged as a target for Chelsea with the club seeking to get hold of the player’s representatives to see if he would be interested in a move to Stamford Bridge and according to The Times, Andre Villas-Boas will find out if the 24-year-old is available as he seeks to re-adjust his faltering forward line.

Argentine has a phenomenal scoring record with the Spanish giants and averages a goal every 53 minutes this season in netted 12 times in La Liga despite making just seven starts to the daniel Sturridge has proved to be a real bonus on the wing for Villas-Boas with 9 goals in the Premier League and Juan Mata has slotted well on the other flank in his debut season following his summer move from Valencia to the Portuguese boss has problems in the forward line with star strikers Fernando Torres and Didier Drogba both having scored just 2 goals in the league apiece.

The Londoners are expected to sign Bolton Wanderers defender Gary Cahill next month but with problems persisting up front they could make a move for Higuain to has had to settle for a place behind Karim Benzema in the starting line-up as Jose Mourinho only plays one striker in his system to any move would rely on the former Chelsea boss being willing to sell the 24-year-old to his protege madrid are top of La Liga and targeting success in three competitions as they seek to end the dominance of rivals Barcelona.

Alex Song Has Been Trying To Persuade The Striker In Training To Rejoin Arsenal Midfielder Says Frenchman's Return Would Lift Squad.

Alex Song believes Thierry Henry would bring a lot to Arsenal if he does return to the club on a short term deal in January and henry is the all the time leading goalscorer for the Gunners following a phenomenally successful 8 year stint in North London earlier in his career.

He left for Barcelona in 2007 before linking up with New York Red Bulls to he has recently been back in training Arsend Wenger squad in the MLS season came to an end of a wenger is currently mulling over whether to try and re-sign Henry to his attacking options set to be depleted in the coming weeks when Gervinho and Marouane Chamakh head off to a African Cup of Nations and the arsenal midfielder Song understands that Henry has nothing to prove but has been trying to persuade the Frenchman in training to agree to a deal.

The Song feels Henry could still perform in the Premier League and recognises what a boost it would be for the whole club if the 34-year-old did come back in the when I see him training, I am teasing him, You could still play with us, you know? he has never replied and just smiled, Song told L'Equipe in What he achieved during his career is just amazing to he has nothing more to prove in football and the "Today he has the opportunity to give us a help in "A player with such stature, such potential. He would bring us a lot."

Sir Alex Ferguson is Confident that Manchester United veteran Ryan Giggs is capable of playing on for Another Season and the United Boss sees no Diminishing in Midfielder's Qualities

A 38-year-old maintained his record of scoring in every Premier League campaign by netting in last week's 5-0 victory at Fulham to after the game in the Welshman revealed he is enjoying his football more than ever now that he is playing in a central midfield role and confirmed he was set to discuss his future with Ferguson.

The United boss does not believe Giggs abilities are diminishing and sees no reason why the clubs record appearance holder cannot compete at the top level for another year and a think Ryan can play another year, said Ferguson.

"I think Ryan can play another year," said Ferguson and there is no evidence at this moment in time that his energy, stamina or speed are decreasing. In fact it is a exactly the same as it was the last 2 or 3 years. It's amazing and i know it's mid-season now and it all depends on what Ryan thinks about his future, too he knows he can't go on forever, we know he can't go on forever and the evidence of what we're seeing at the moment, I think he can play for another year."

A White Christmas in Barrio 2

Saturday there were four wonderful baptisms in Barcelona Barrio 2. Each of our three companionships working in the ward (the office Elders and the Ayudantes) had a baptism. The ward had set a goal early in the year to help 30 people enter the waters the baptism during the year; with these four new converts they exceeded their goal by 1!

Cindy, Ligia, Sebastian, and Carmen

Every convert is a miracle, and each of these four wonderful new converts has their own miracle story. The Elders found Cindy´s name in the Area Book. She is the niece of one our Filipino members and was taught about 4 years ago but her parents did not want her to be baptized. The Elders got back in touch with her and her family (her parents are still in the Philippines). She wanted to get baptized, talked to her parents, and they agreed to give her permission.

Ligia was found by the missionaries several months ago. They taught her and her friend, and her friend was baptized within a few weeks, but Ligia was out of town and then had a difficult work schedule, and only in the past few weeks were the missionaries able to again begin meeting with her.

Sebastian showed up at Church a few weeks ago with his wife who is an active member. They live in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, but spend a month each year in Barcelona visiting family and friends here. Sebastian had never been baptized because of a smoking habit, although he attends regularly with his wife in Bolivia. The Elders Quorum President here immediately befriended him on the first Sunday, heard his story, introduced him to the missionaries and asked them to help him prepare for baptism. The EQP and the missionaries gave him a blessing to help him overcome his addiction, and he asked if he could be baptized by the EQP before returning to Bolivia. He kept all of his commitments, was baptized on Saturday, confirmed on Christmas, and returns to Santa Cruz today where he will attend Church on New Year´s Day as a new member!

Carmen is a young university student from Honduras who recently came to Barcelona. In one of her first classes the instructor asked each student to introduce themselves, and when Carmen found another student from Honduras, Diosana, she immediately felt connected to her. Diosana is one of our great Young Single Adults, and invited her new friend, Carmen, to Church on Sunday. Carmen was baptized Christmas Eve and confirmed on Christmas. Her older sister, just arrived from Honduras, came to Sacrament meeting on Sunday to see her confirmed, so this story is not yet over.

We love miracles!

Christmas Conferences

Following the mission tour with Elder Causse, we made the rounds one more time to have Christmas lunch with all of the missionaries. We had our traditional pizza lunch, enhanced by Hna. Hinckley´s homemade chocolate chip cookies. Each missionary also received a small gift - a lighthouse ornament with "El Faro 2011" written on it. Most of the ornaments we purchased at the lighthouse in Tossa de Mar earlier this year.

The missionaries also had a little gift exchange - "something white" - and we concluded our get-together with a slide show of the year, the new Church videos on the birth of Christ, and testimonies. It was a wonderful time to be together and feel the spirit of Christmas!

We begin in the Lleida Zone, a short day-trip from Barcelona:

Next was a flight to Bilbao to meet with the wonderful missionaries of the Vitoria Zone:

And from Bilbao´s rainy skies, we flew to Palma where the weather was markedly better:

From Palma we flew to Valencia:

And from Valencia we took the train back to Barcelona, where we met with the combined Barcelona and Hospitalet Zones for our last conference:

Bon Nadal per a tots!

Mission Tour

Elder Gerald Causse toured the mission from December 6 to 9. We met him in Bilbao the evening of the 6th and held a wonderful conference there with the Vitoria Zone on 7 December. We then flew to Valencia for a conference on the 8th, then took the train to Barcelona where we met with all the other missionaries (4 zones combined) on the 9th.

It was a wonderful three days of inspired instruction. Elder Causse concluded each conference with a special Christmas present - he played a piano solo for the closing song.

One of the aspects of the conferences was a clear message that we are entering a "second harvest" in Spain. The first great harvest occured in the 1970s, when missionary work was very productive and when most of the current leaders of the Church were baptized. We are seeing the beginning of this second harvest already - this year we have already seen more convert baptisms than we have seen in any year for the past two decades, and with fewer missionaries than in any year except 2010. Elder Causse encouraged us to think of Spain as part of Latin America rather than part of Europe! This is an exciting time to be a missionary in Spain!