Christmas

Merry Christmas to you all with a bright and cheerful call.  That's part of a song that we sang when we went caroling.  I'll tell about it later.  We've been having some really fun activities to celebrate this Christmas season here on the island.  Last week, family home evening was at the Collette's.  The first thing we did was prepare an apple streusel for our dessert.  It was a recipe that Elder Collette's mother has made for their family for many years.  He made the dough, and we put it together.  We all took hold of the dough and pulled and stretched until it was a big, thin, circle.  Then, on went sliced apples, raisins, cinnamon and sugar on top of the dough.   Then very, very carefully we rolled it up and put it on a cookie sheet.   While it was baking, we had a little program.  I brought a Christmas reading from home that I've hung onto for many years.  I got it back when we served an inner city mission in 2004.  Our branch at the VA hospital used it last year for a sacrament meeting.  It has several parts to read, mixed with Christmas songs to sing.    By the time the program was over, the streusel was ready!  We had it with vanilla ice cream.  DELISH! 

Last monday evening we had a progressive Christmas dinner together.  We started out at Sister Tuckers for appetizers; Davidson's for soup and salad; Lindeman's for dinner, and dessert at our apartment.  We had ham, au gratin potatoes, veggies, homemade rolls, and cherry cheese cake for dessert.  It was all so good.  We had our Christmas dinner early because as I mentioned before, the Collette's are leaving to go home for a couple of weeks.  Two of their children are getting married.  Sister Tucker is going to Santo to help Elder and Sister Ipson with the missionary Christmas on that island.  Elder and Sister Davidson are going to New Caledonia to help Elder and Sister Jean with the missionary Christmas there.  We'll be here with the Sackley's and Lindeman's to help with the missionary Christmas at the mission home.  Sister Granger asked if the senior missionaries would provide the desserts.  She asked me if I would make cutout sugar cookies.  Of course I will!  I love to make cutout cookies!!!

Wednesday evening we all met again for another evening of fun.  We went caroling in our apartment complex.  We met at the Sackley's with a big batch of our favorite homemade Christmas cookies.  We put plates of cookies together to deliver as we caroled.  With the rest of the cookies, we had a cookie exchange.  We didn't catch too many people home, many have gone home for Christmas.  We sang the cutest little song.  I wish I could give you the melody, but here are the words.  We sang it in a around.  Maybe you know it.

Merry Christmas to you all with a bright and cheerful call (sing twice)

Hi Ho let us sing an echo bring Hi Ho

Merry Christmas to you all.

The people that we visited seemed to really enjoy our little presentation.  We visited with each one for a few minutes.  We weren't finished yet, we also  had a white elephant gift exchange.  We were to each bring a 1,000 vatu ($10.00) gift.  I mentioned in the prior letter that we bought a native wood carving, and a basket for our exchange.  They were popular gifts.  We ended up getting a set of headphones that works quite well, and candy.  After our exchange, we played charades.  It was a fun evening.   

It's hard to believe Christmas is almost here.  We've been thinking about all of you at home, and how much you mean to us.   We love and miss you all, especially during this holiday season.  We want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year.  Love, Greg and Ann       

                             

 P.S. This is Elder Robison taking a chance to tell everyone that Sista Annie is doing quite well, considering this is, at almost the age of 60, her first Christmas away from home.  I have missed many; with my first mission, military, and airlines.  Really, I'm the one having more trouble being away from home than she is. I think you know who the trooper in our family is. With her help, I can get  through this.  Now, If I can keep her from taking this out.  Merry Christmas  Love again, Greg and Ann 

Mosquitos

Isn't it a beautiful Summer morning?  Oh wait, I mean cold wintery day?  I guess it depends on where you are in the world?  It certainly isn't cold here in Vanuatu.  We're all blotting our faces with cotton clothes and drinking plenty of water.  We can expect to be uncomfortable until about May.  It's starting to rain more, and with the rain comes malaria and denge fever.  I haven't heard of too many cases of malaria, but denge fever is pretty common.  We thought one of the newest elders had it, but his blood work came back negative.  The symptoms are similar to the flu, but worse.  The more severe cases can be life threatening.  We have all been warned to wear mosquito repellant and we do. 

There's a  group of missionaries preparing to go home.  We've been here eight months now, and have become quite attached to some of them.  Elder Gray will be return home to Kaysville, Utah.  I'm jealous! He's anxious go to Bowman's Market and get a maple bar.  I love their maple bars!  It will be nice for this group because they will be home for Christmas.  This generation of young people are so amazing with technology.  The instruction book that we put together for the district presidents was in a program that was challenging at first, but these cute elders helped me out, so I was able to get through it.  They are always willing to help.  As we say, "many hands make light work."  Elder Gray and Elder Bybee helped alot.  I made them each a batch of their favorite cookies as a reward.  I also brought a tray in for any other missionaries that drop it.  They were thrilled!  As many of you know, I love to bake cookies! 

This past Saturday, Greg attended a coordinating council meeting.  Elder Johanson, and the District Presidents, came in from four islands and three countries to attend.  The first meeting he attended was just a few weeks after we got here.  It was a little challenging because he didn't know anything about church auditing.  He's much more comfortable with the auditing business and how it works now.  He really enjoys meeting with the District Presidents.  The meeting/training was at a hotel here in town.  Afterwards they had lunch at the restaurant in the hotel.  These good men very rarely eat in restaurants because they don't have them on their islands.  They may have a few little road side places, but for the most part they don't eat out.   

On Sunday, the Granger's had them all to the mission home for dinner.  They invited Greg and I also.  It was so fun to see them all again.  I get to travel with Greg, so I get to meet all these sweet men.  We were all happy to see each other again.  They are really trying hard to learn the policies of the church and the sacredness of the Lords money.  Luckily, Greg hasn't found problems with improper use of the funds they are given.  He's been told of instances of what they call defalcation.  That is where church funds are used improperly.  We sure hope that doesn't happen on our watch.  It's a sad thing to have to deal with.

We've started having transmission problems with our monster truck.  The other day we were driving along and Greg heard a clunck, and third and forth gears were gone.   We could still drive it (well, not me), but he could still drive it.  The mission may just trade it in depending on what it will cost to fix it.  Everything is expensive here, I can't imagine what it would cost to fix a transmission!  yikes!  Anyway, we've been without transportation since Monday.  We've been riding to the office with the Davidson's (office couple)and spending the days there.  We have a few office duties, so it hasn't been so bad. Besides, we get to interact with the young missionaries that come in and out.  Sister Davidson asked me if I would help her make cookies to take to government people that she deals with daily.  So, I left with her that afternoon to make cookies.  Greg stayed and  worked on a project for President Granger.  We had a great time making cookies, her kitchen looked like a bakery.  We made five kinds of cookies.  They were all yummy.

Yesterday, Sister Davidson and I walked uptown to Mama's handicraft market looking for Christmas gifts.  It was a hot and humid 15 minute walk!  As couples, we are having a progressive Christmas dinner on Monday night.  We all end up at our apartment for dessert. After dessert, we are exchanging gifts.  We are each to bring a gift of no more than 1,000 vatu ($10.00).  They are suppose to be gender neutral.  We both found our gifts at mama's.  I bought a carving  of a popular statue here in vanuatu.  They say if you keep it in our home it will bring you happiness and prosperity.  I also bought a cute basket.  Both made by the people here.  If your not careful, you get the stuff made in China.  They sell all that stuff at Mama's too.  I'll attach a picture of the mama's weaving.  They are so sweet.  The Davidson's leave work at 4:30.  They take turns walking home from work for exercise.  It was her turn to walk home so I walked home with her.  It only took us about 40 minutes, but we were drenched with sweat.  Exercise is good.

Next Wednesday night we are going caroling to the people in our apartment building.  We will also be taking them a plate of cookies.  Five of the Seniors will be spending Christmas off the island.  The Collette's are going back home to New Mexico for two weddings.  They have a son and a daughter getting married December 27th and 29th.  The Granger's asked Sister Tucker to go to Santo and help Elder and Sister Ipson with the young missionaries and their Christmas.  Elder and Sister Davidson are going to New Caledonia which is a French speaking Country.  They will help Elder and Sister Jean with the Missionary Christmas there.    There are missionaries there that also speak English so they will be able to get along okay.  They are excited to go.  The Granger's have invited those of us that are left here to go to the mission home and spend Christmas with the missionaries here in Port Vila. 

We hope you are all having a wonderful Christmas season.  We think about home and all of you.  We miss you all.  Stay warm and we'll try to cool off!    

With much love, Elda and Sis Robison

Fiji

Bula everyone!  That is how you say hello in Fiji.  Greg and I attended training in Suva, Fiji, this past week for the Assistant Area Auditors.  The flight was about  a 2 1/2 hour flight, west of Vanuatu.  We were one of four couples who attended from our area in the Pacific.  Elder and Sister Oldroyd, originally from Provo, Utah, are serving in Tonga.  Elder and Sister Hanson, originally from Highland, Utah, are serving in Kiribati (pronounced "kitty bus").  Elder and Sister Gurr, from Sandy, Utah, are serving in Somoa.  I knew Elder Rickey Gurr from my days working in Draper at the Utah National Guard Headquarters.  When I saw his name on the list, I wondered if it was him, and sure enough.  We had a great time reminiscing about the good ol' days in the Utah National Guard.   After talking to Sister Hanson, from Kiribati, I will stop feeling sorry for myself. Kiribati is located in the central pacific, and is comprised of about 33 coral isles stretching along the equator.    She was telling me how hard it was when they first got there to find food!  Whenever a container comes in, they head right to the store.  You never know what's coming in on the boat. They find it especially hard to get protein, and when they do find it, it's expensive.  They can usually get chicken, its other meat that's hard.  She said she bought a pretty lame steak that cost her $23.00.  She had to cooked it all day in the crockpot to tenderize it.   A container came in one day with cabbage on board for $47.00 a head!  Four of the sisters serving with them wanted it bad enough that they bought it and split it!  I like cabbage, but not that much.  While  in Fiji, they went to a market and bought a ton of stuff to take back with them.  When you spend time in places that don't have what you're used to having, you really learn to appreciate what you have, that is for sure.  I wouldn't give this experience up for anything though.  When you do hard things, its good, it makes you stronger. Your gratitude meter really rises!   One afternoon we had the chance to attend a temple session.   The Fiji temple is a small, but beautiful temple.  We enjoyed the session very much,  because we don't have a temple that we can attend while we're here. 

Elder Johanson, an Area Seventy, in the Pacific, spoke to us during our training.  He is such a spiritual giant, and so enjoyable to be around.  He is a big man, with a big heart, from Tonga.  I'll attach a picture with him in it.  Glen Reid, the Area Auditor, our boss, has been released.  We have loved working with Glen and will miss him.  His replacement, Barry Mitchell, is a good man too.   We found the training very helpful.  The next audit cycle starts the middle of January,  so we'll soon be traveling to the other islands.  We all met together in the hotel restaurant each night to have dinner.  It was an open restaurant, so you could see the GORGEOUS sunset over the ocean each evening as you ate dinner.  I love taking pictures of sunsets, and have quite a collection.  Some I have shared with you.  I just wish you could be here to enjoy them with us.  

We all had the chance to go downtown Suva and look around.  It's a crowded, busy place.  It does have smooth roads though!  The people are so sweet and friendly.  There are alot of Indians from India that live there.  We were reading an article on the plane ride over, about the Indians in Fiji, and how they got there.  It said,  back in the 1800's,  Fiji was a British colony.   Though Britain had outlawed slavery, Fiji needed people to work in their sugarcane  fields.  So, they went to India, who was also a British colony, and brought back indentured " labourers" to work their sugarcane fields.  The Indian's don't have alot of opportunity because of the caste system (being born into the lower class and poor), and suffer many prejudices.  They were told that at the end of five years of working in Fiji, they were free to go.    They say 40% of the people in Fiji today are of Indian decent.  Our taxi driver was Indian, but has never been to India.  He wants to visit  there someday.  He seemed very happy to be in Fiji.  It turned out to be a good thing after all.

The Pacific Mini Games started today in Port Vila.  There are teams from many of the island nations all over the Pacific.  It's hard to get around town,  but it's exciting for the people.  They don't have alot going for them, so we hope they have a good time.  We're going to try to get to some of the events.  It's so hard to get around, there are buses in traffic jams all over the city.  We did watch the opening ceremonies on TV last night.

The other day, we went to the Chinese stores looking for a Christmas tree.  We obviously can't get fresh trees, but  we did find a cute little Charlie Brown tree that will do just fine.  This will be my FIRST Christmas away from home.  Greg has spent many holidays away from home, now I know how he felt. The Christmas season just isn't the same without snow.  Some how hot, humid, weather just doesn't cut it!   We do have some fun things planned as couples to celebrate.   Above all, the real celebration of course, is to honor the birth of our Savior, and his gift given to all of us, through His atonement.  What better gift could we ever receive?  Let's not ever forget.

The internet has struggled mightily this week.  It will be okay one minute and down the next.  Everything I've tried to send fails.  That's why you haven't heard from us for a while.  Hopefully it will get better.  We love you all, and think of you always.  Enjoy the snow!!  

Love, Elda and Sista Robison