CHRISTMASTIME IN SOUTH AFRICA

Christmas Greetings to all of you!  So hard to believe it's really December 9th today.  The days keep getting warmer and warmer.  86 degrees on Saturday. The mall across the street does have a few decorations up but it sure it nothing like home.  (which may not be a bad thing) The children are all on holiday (as they call summer vacation) and most families travel to the beach or other resorts for Christmas.  Braai (bar-b-que) is very popular and all the displays in the store are for Christmas cook outs.  Many families also go to the bush camps for their holiday.  One of the Senior Couples who is leaving shortly has 5 of their children here and they have all gone to a bush camp for 4 days.  It all sounds very exciting.  They expect to see rhinos, lions, elephants, cape buffalo, giraffes and just about all the magnificent 7 as they call them here.  Last night we had our Christmas Party with the Area Presidency.  It was so nice and we sang carols and really got into the mood.  We have been so terribly worried about how we are going to manage the temple after two of our couples go home and two of our single sister missionaries leave in December.  That only leaves us 5 couples and one of those has had some serious health problems so we found out from Elder Cook, the area president, that we are receiving several South African couples who will also live here in Duke's Court.  Also the Area Presidency's wives are going to help us out in the Gate House (the youth Center where we tend the children while their parents are being sealed.  That will be an incredible help to us.  They even talked about diverting some of our patrons to the Ghana temple because we are so busy here.  Anyway they are determined to help us and we feel a huge relief today. IElder Jarvis has been asked to take over the management of all the missionary and area people's flats here at Duke Court.  Huge job for him but I know he will do great. Its just the time thing.  When you are in the temple every day it's hard to figure out how to get everything done. We had an incredible Saturday this past week.  Everyone of our sessions beginning at 6:00 a,.m, had to be split.  We had people in line to do other ordinances and it was all in all a great day.  Sunday was our fast and testimony meeting at the ward we are assigned to.  Quite a day.  We left before 8:00 so I could get there in time to do the music for them.  However, someone decided to close two of the major highways that we take to get to Soweto.  We think they were filming a movie or an advertisement...anyway we were diverted to downtown Joburg!  Oh my was that scary!  We were taking one of the African missionaries with us to church and she had us stop and talk to the police and they helped us find our way out of the metropolis!  I think Joe could probably drive in Hong Kong or New York City after that experience! Anyway we were a little late for our first meeting but the testimonies were just incredible and the people were lining up to be able to share their feelings.  As I have mentioned before these people really understand what a testimony is.  Even the little children...they are just amazing.

Yesterday was Pday and we went with the Senior Couples to an area with gorgeous waterfalls and rivers about 1 1/2 hours from the city.  There was also a Snake and Animal Park to visit there and of course as always that made my day.  Love these African Animals....well not so much the snakes but the lions, and the meercats just steal your heart1

We have been invited to dinner on Christmas Eve at one of the Family History missionary's flat.  Their name is Elder and Sister Hale.  His Mom is the famous  Ruth Hale from the Hale Theatre.  Anyway they heard we were not going to the resort with the other missionaries and invited us to spend it with them so that was very nice.  We have a week of MTC missionaries, excursions from Congo and Botswana and several wards right here in South Africa so this will be a good, busy week.

Hopefully we can get a Christmas Letter written in the next few days but please know of our love for each of you and we send our best wishes to all for a very special Day as we celebrate the birth of Our Savior Jesus Christ. We love the Lord, we love and adore our precious family and we love the amazing people of Africa.
May the Lord Bless and Keep you always!