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