We're fine, thinking of you all and feeling bad we are missing another Christmas with you.
We passed out suckers yesterday after our 3 hour block at church. They don't melt, they came in quantity because you never know how many will be there, easy to take out to our branch, not messy or hard to dish up, and something that would not embarrass the people by costing too much. They were wrapped in pretty colored foil. The people were very excited. We gave the children's illustrated Book of Mormon to the families with kids--usually only 2 families, yesterday there were 5 and no one left early, so I was one short--(I doubled the amount in case.) Anyway, I gave away a easy hymns (the little boy comes our piano lesson before church) to that family and promised to get them a B of M for next week.
I rolled out sugar cookies this weekend, then frosted them before we left for the office this morning. The president gave his devotional message on the Estrella de Belen (the Star of Bethlehem.) So that fit together. The lady Ramona who cleans the office, we got a Christmas towel, some candy, and money that would help her family. Also the 2 guys who guard our apartment day and night. And of course a gift bag for the President and his family and the other senior couple.
Jim put more suckers in packages by zones and they were sent out today in the mail. And then the fun one, a gift bag for each of the 4 elders in the office that we will put under our Christmas tree for when they visit us on Christmas day. Amy bought a tie from the mall in Layton for each one when she came in September. We gave one to the president for his birthday last month. We found a $40 spiral ham in a store and hope to make potatoes, jello, fresh pineapple, yams etc. and pies. The pie crust here won't roll so I pat in into the pans. The ovens are Celsius, so they are not like at home,but they are "better than nothing." Jim and I are giving each other dinner coupons. There are some nice restaurants here, very expensive--$20 or $30 dollars a plate. The food is like what we are used to, it's safe, and the atmosphere is fun. (Johnny Rockets or Tropical by the water, or a Chinese buffet.)
Anyway, we've enjoyed the experience here, we have learned so much, got to know each other on a 24/7/18 months deal, and met so many wonderful people, and seen how the Lord loves people everywhere! But when the time is up we will return to clean water, my kitchen, carpet, vacuum, ice maker, central air, nice post office, wonderful stores. But most important: back to the wonderful people that we left at home!
