24 Dec 1927
John Griffin to Mother / Montpelier, France

I would rather wait until tomorrow and write on Christmas Day, but we are going to Nimes in about an hour to stay for Christmas and I'm afraid if I waited, the letter wouldn't get written. I just received your letter of the 8th with $5.00 from Jerry. Thank him for me and as soon as I find time I'll write him. I also got the letter from Ben with $2.00. Tell him thanks, too.

Here it is the day before Christmas. It looks and seems like the middle of October here. It is raining, or trying to. It isn't very cold. I don't think it is even cold enough to see your breath. If it wasn't for the calendar you would never know it was the day before Christmas. There seems to be no excitement, no mobs tearing around down town, no flighty kinds, no Christmas tree, etc. Quite a change from last year. Oh Well they say, variety is the spice of life. After all I think I'll enjoy my Christmas with the thought that you are all happy at home and are having a very merry Christmas.

I think now I'm really beginning to enjoy my mission. I've been here long enough for the climatization and am really enjoying the work. It used to be that I hated to go to bed because when I got up I knew I'd have to go tracting. Now I quite enjoy tracting at times, and am really beginning to see why missionaries say that their mission is the happiest time of their life. I am also beginning to like France a little better and maybe even the people. They are a funny people...and when you get used to them, they aren't so bad after all.

The work I think is progressing fairly well. We started a Bible class last night at one of our friends, and prospects look good. We have also found a hall and will start holding meetings sometime towards the last of January. This means speeches in French, and more hard work, but I'm sure it will be a means of finding some new friends.

Yesterday I received a packed from Dot. I suppose you know what it was. Anyway it was a lovely white silk shirt, and a beautiful hankie from her mother. The duty cost 35 franks, or $1.50, but it was really worth it. The shirt must have cost her a young fortune. I think I'll just salt it away somewhere and keep it until I get home. I think someone ought to give her a right good scolding for spending her money that way. I daresent so I guess you'll have to.

I am still saving the big fruit cake and the two stockings - I will start on that when we get bacck from Nimes. Frere Nelson and Creer say to tell you thank you very much. It was the best cake and candy they've ever tasted. I'll also verify the statement.

Tell all the kids hellow for me and I hope they've had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and before I forget, I want a photograph of every one of you - I mean a photographer's photograph. You and Dad too. The sisters think it is terrible because I havn't even a photo of you and so do I.

All the missionaries received a copy of "The Philosophy of Mormonism" by Dr. Talmadge as a special gift from him. It's a good book. It got it yesterday and have read almost all of it already. We also got a letter from President Rossiter wishing us a Merry Christmas and congratulating us on our work.

On the 13th of January we leave for Besançon for the big Missionary Conference. I suppose it will be quite a keen affair and a chance to see all the missionaries again. I'm afraid you were disappointed in the Christmas gift - anyway I hope they fit. I will try to do better in the future, and will send things like that with missionarie. Well, it's time to go so I'll have to say goodbye and will write to you soon again.

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