2016 STILL HERE AND LOVING IT

The missionaries after an early Christmas dinner:

Big turkey and dressing dinner with the crew

Thursday, the day before Christmas, we had District training at our house followed by a great USA style Christmas dinner with all the gooood stuff!. Thanks to Alecia and her cooking talent. 

After dinner we had a great gift exchange, $10 max to drawn name.

 Alecia also told them the story of the Christmas orange. For those who don't know the story it goes like this. Gayle, her dad, told his family that he forgot to give them their orange and he threw one out to all of them. He said that when he was a boy it wasn't unusual to just get an orange, a few nuts, and a piece of candy. As Alecia was sitting next to her mother, she was told to OPEN her orange. She was totally confused at such a strange request but did so any way. To her great surprise, her dad had taken the top off the orange, rolled a $100 bill up and stuffed it  in the core of the orange, and then super glued the top back on the orange so you couldn't even tell it had been done.. His Christmas gift message that year was, "It's what is on the inside that counts!". We gave each of the missionaries an orange with a $10 bill rolled inside and Alecia shared her father's message.

Such a great time was had by all that no one wanted to go back to their flats.

On Christmas Day, we were invited by Sharon Lavery to her home for Christmas dinner Kiwi style..

Remember, Christmas time is in the summer here,so we were able to sit out on the deck for dinner. Sharon's mother, aunt, son, niece, sister were ther also and very fun to be with. We have had a sort of family home evening with her in her home, given blessing, and shared parts of the gospel with her family. Sharon, a member, is the young women's president and has become quite the BFF of Alecia out here.

Here is a beautiful view from here deck.

As you may remember from a previous post, we have been involved in the teaching of a beautiful young woman from Holland who is here on a working tourist visa, Aurora Greenwood. Well she started out the new year right by being baptized.

She was so nervous about making a "mistake" in getting baptised and sure enough, she had to be dunked twice because her elbow popped up the first time. We had such a great turn out from the branch in support of her. Members brought food for a feed after and she has been loved into the branch by all. She was worried that "her" missionaries would be transferred before her baptism and when they weren't she was so greatful and took it as a tender mercy from Father. This young woman came here on her own nickel, didn't know anybody in town when she got her, and went to church her first Sunday here to meet some friends and continue her search which had started with sister missionaries in Holland. We love and adore her.

We finally got the Green family to church with their new Sunday clothes. We have been teaching Zerjei and Zander for several weeks now and hope they will come into the church soon. Zack and their mom, Zylla are members already. 

Here we are with them on the beach for a lesson from the missionaries and a FHE activity.

This lady is Alecia's new hero. She is Dot Smith and is building a castle on the same grounds that she has established a 5 star restaurant, and a home decor shop. She grows a lot of her own food for the restaurant and also has a dairy farm of over 750 head of cattle and milk cows she uses for her restaurant also. She has always wanted to live in a castle since she was a little girl and was called a princess. Isn't it fun to have your dreams come true- especially if you work to make them so.

 

We love you all so much and love being involved in helping build the Lord's kingdom. We hope you have a wonderful 2016!!

" WE'LL BE (NOT) HOME FOR CHRISTMAS"

OAMARU TOWN CHRISTMAS TREE

ALECIA " FIXING" THE BOWS. WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Christmas time is really different here. For one thing it is summer time here. Summer is relative though. Two days ago it was 95 degrees which was an all time high and then yesterday it was 55 degrees and raining. 

This little store is all they have for decorating. No TJ Maxx, Tai Pan, or Hobby Lobby, or Home Goods.

But they did have one window decorated--the only one in town!

This is our only clothing store. No Dillard's, J.C. Penney, Nordstom, Old Navy, or ....notice the Christmas decorations- top left corner.

This is our " Mall". No South Town, Layton, or Fashon Place.  By the way, this is our city center.

Shopping for things for Christmas goodies for gift treats has been a real adventure. Things we think of as normal just aren't around. We first thought of small gift baskets but we're only able to find these.

Then we decided to stuff some stockings and went to the candy isle looking for green and red candies. Oops no candy isles, and no familiar candies not to mention Christmas candies. 

Next thought, fruit for stocking stuffers but the fruit didn't look the same either.

Little oranges--close

Pears--red-at least Christmas color. 

Lemons or limes? Hmmmmm?

Are these lemons or limes?

The sign said these are grapefruits???

While we are at it, the next 3 pictures rare potatoes-no Idaho russets here!

They all mash up good though.

Check out the eggs. Just out on the shelves, never refrigerated.

We could only find one Christmas sock so we decided to go with " missionary" dress socks and stuff them with oranges( with hidden $10 bills alla Gayle Stevenson "it's what on the inside that counts"). 

Last Thursday we had District Training at our house and then made gift boxes for the Elders and Sisters to give to their investigators. Sister O and the Sisters baked cookies and rice krispie treats for the boxes. Notice that they are pink. You can't find packages of white marshmallows here. They come with pink cherry flavored marshmallows. Hence the pink color and cherry flavor.

 We filled the boxes with candy canes, oranges, pears, apples, cookies, and rice krispie treats.

Crowded kitchen area but it all worked out any way.

What was left for us to distribute after the Elders and Sisters took theirs.

Aurora Greenwood,from Holland, is here for the summer on an adventure and to work at the penguins  tourist venue. She is just an amazing young woman and has been taking the lessons in our home, attending institute class, church, and helped with the Chrisrmas gift boxes with the Elders and Sisters. We absolutely love her and love being her New Zealand grand parents.

Then we gave our house up for some members to give a Christmas party.

Looked like they had a fun time. This picture is of President Kaufi and his family. Love them!

This is a picture from the combined branch Christmas dance. They took a little break from dancing for the young men and young women to put on their prepared dance. 

Here are some of the members enjoying the dance. You don't see any pictures of us dancing because we WERE dancing. I had some great moves, I think, although I'm not sure because every time I looked at Alecia she had her hands over her face and was laughing. Go figure. Just like Hitch said, I was keeping it in close.

This next picture is of Calvin McPherson who just retuned home from his mission in Australia. They loaded him up with candy leis which each family member made from scratch. Great tradition. His mom and dad are in the picture too. They have sent 2 missionaries out and she, the mom, has never joined the church. She is such a giving women, has brought me a great big chocolate cake for my birthday and had us over for dinner twice now.

We had a baptism last week where two brothers were baptised. I was privileged to give a short talk and loved being there with the missionaries, families, and members. THEN the Tongan feed afterwards was huge, yet typical of branch activities. These people don't have that much money, but they will give all they have to put on a huge feed for someone. They just love their neighbor.

The mom of the boys. Side note, dad not a member, YET.

PIGS, YUMMMMM? Didn't try it. Maybe next time.

We had a member of the Pacific Area presidency visit our zone last week also. President Hallick, his wife, mission president Hudson and his wife instructed us.

We also got a picture of Elder Osburn seeking after and then feeding the lost sheep.

You should have seen me slipping and sliding climbing up the hill to get to the fence. My city slicker shoes didn't handle the wet grass too well and I fell into a drainage ditch coming down from there. 

Lost sheep???

Feeding the sheep.

While dreaming of a white Christmas, we kinda got a taste of one during a hail storm.

HERE IS A PICTURE OF A REAL NEW ZEALAND CHRISTMAS TREE

We have loved serving Him whom this season celebrates. We have learned to love him more than we ever have, to trust Him more than we ever have, and to want to serve Him more than we ever have. Heavenly Father has given us His son as a Christmas gift. It is our prayer that each of us can feel a fullness of gratitude for that most Holy gift, and in turn give of our selves to others. We are greatful  for our children giving of their normal Christms gift so we could give to those in need here. The funds that we gave to the branch presidents for anonymous gifts were thankfully received and seen as answers to prayers for those receiving them.

What ever home you are at or come from, we hope you have a wonderful Christmas and think of our Lord who made it all so meaningful and precious.

We miss and love you all.