Christmas Botswana Style

Christmas 2011 will be the one of the most memorable ones for the Woolfs.  First of all, it is hot here and it is crazy to sing "Jingle Bells" in 90 degree weather.  And second, the members and missionaries here made it so fun.  The day before Christmas, the zone got together and went caroling to the three branches.  We went to members and investigators.  One dear lady, Lucy, is wonderful to go and visit.  She brought out her hymn book and sang along with us.  There were two other ladies that came and joined us when they heard the music.  At an investigators place, there was a man who was wearing a hat and he removed it when we started to sing the Christmas songs.  The dear Sister Missionaries made sugar cookies to take with us.  At a new members place, the Jacks, we asked the husband his favorite song, thinking he would tell us a Christmas song.  But no, we sang "Rock of Ages."  They love that song here. We enjoyed singing with the missionaries.

We then went home to get ready for Sunday.  Elder Woolf knew he needed to speak at church.  We read the Christmas story that evening for our Christmas Eve tradition.  When we got to church, President Mabote told Elder Woolf to hint to Sister Woolf that she would be talking also.  It was a good thing that I had read an old December Liahona that I had found at church.  It had a good missionary Christmas story that I retold.  Speaking on Sundays is getting to be old hat now.  We had 23 at church and we actually felt good about that.  Many of the members leave and go to their villages for two or three weeks during the Christmas holidays.  We will be glad when they all get back.

Christmas dinner was held at the Risers.  It was a fun time and we all enjoyed being together.  We had lots of good food: baked potatoes, ham, jello salad, peas and corn, rolls and desserts that everyone brought.  After eating we shared family traditions, memories, or whatever.  Sister Riser shared a family tradition with all of us.  On Christmas Eve, she reads the "Polar Express" and afterwards talks about believing not just in Santa Claus, but believing in the Savior for one more year.  She then put a bell around our necks and asked us to believe for one more year.  Their family has done this for many years and we were glad to have that tradition shared with us. 

Three of the elders came and skyped their families on our computer.  It was fun to just visit with the elders that weren't talking to their families.  We have a new zone leader who is from Scotland.  I was getting skype set for him and I got his mother on line.  I could not understand one word she said, and I think she was speaking English!  We had the most delight time skyping our children and grandchildren for Christmas.

Christmas in our home in Francistown.

Themba, Elder's Quorum President in Gerald, helping us sing Christmas songs at Lucy's home.  The girl in the salmon colored shirt is the one who just lost her father.

My young friends singing Christmas carols.

Getting my Christmas Bell.

Christmas Carols

We have been able to go to two totally different places this past week to sing Christmas Songs.  The first place was at a hotel and we were suppose to sing out side, but it had been raining all day and it looked like more rain when we were suppose to start.  We were given candles to have while we were singing.  It was a fun experience.  We had our hymn books and we sang out loud!!  Some of the songs had many more verses than we know or some had different melodies than we know the song with.  But hey, that didn't stop us from singing along.   When we had sung the religious songs, we started singing the Santa songs.  In came Father Christmas.  His suit is much different than the Santa we are use to, but the spirit is the same.  The children were excited to see him. 

The children were asked to come up to the front to sing "Away in a Manger'"

Father Christmas

The Sister Missionaries - Nelasiba, Lovell, Collister, and Hadlock by the Christmas Tree at the hotel.

Then two days later we sang and read scriptures to women in a prison for illegal immigrants.  We also gave them personal hygiene kits that one of our branches had made.  It was a humbling experience and one we won't soon forget.  The people have been there for years or just arrived.  They don't know how long they will be there.  Make sure you thank Heavenly Father for all your blessings!!

Thanksgiving

We were able to have a Thanksgiving Lunch with the other missionaries here at our house.  Since turkeys are just a tad too expensive we had chicken.  But I don't think anyone minded, it was just fun being together.  There are 14 of us here in the Francistown area: two couples and the rest are young missionaries.  I love being around the other missionaries - they make me smile. 

The cute Sister Missionaries

The handsome Elders

My Knight on his white steed.

Kasane

Margett here putting some pictures on the blog for all the world to see.  They took a six hour drive from Francistown to Kasane where they met with the branch there.  On their drive they got to see many native animals.  Elder Woolf's favorite were the Lions.

 Sister Woolf's favorite.

 This  is our church in Kasane until we get the one we are trying for. All the equipment for it is up to Kasane already and in the members homes.

 Branch President's wife.

 The first councilor and his wife.

 A one trillion dollar bill on the post where they ate at.

 They were able to go on a river tour and had such a beautiful sunset.

The cute missionary couple 

Kasane

Sunset on the Chobe River -
It was an amazing weekend in Kasane - spiritually and seeing all the animals.  We stayed with a young single sister, Corniella, who is a very strong member.  She along with two young couple have been through the temple, and that makes so much difference.  The group at Kasane is very strong, there are about 13 members.  We had a training meeting with them on Friday, a supper Saturday night and then church on Sunday.  They meet in a very small room but it is filled with the spirit.  Their fast and testimony meeting was one of the most humbling meetings I have been to.  They are trying to get into their very own chapel soon.

We were able to go on a game drive early Saturday morning.  We saw lots of animals: jackal, cape buffalo, elephants, kudu, black sable antelope, and lions and their cubs.  The lions went right in front of our truck and it was so cool.  Because it was cooler that morning, the guide said that the lions were more active.

That afternoon we went on a river ride and saw the animals coming to get drinks.  There were lots of elephants and their babies - so cute.  We saw baboons, crocidiles that move fast when you least expect it!!, lots of hippos, birds, buffaloes, and the most incredible sunset.  It was a great expericence.  It was so funny, in town, wart hogs travel all over, just like dogs.  Kasane is a beautiful place. 

Lions and cubs just in front of us.

Home Sweet Home

First day we were here in Francistown, it was Dennis' birthday and so Sister Riser had him blow out a candle!
We were able to get into our own "flat" this past Saturday.  We had been staying with Elder and Sister Riser from Roosevelt, Utah.  Talk about serving the Lord!!  They have been there and done that!  If we can be just half the missionaries they are, we will be successful.  They treated us so nice and was so helpful to us.  Come to find out, Sister Riser and I are cousins!!  She has some Winward blood in her!! No wonder she is so awesome!!

Trying to get into our flat took many days and lots and lots of paper work.  It wouldn't have been so bad but it is soooo hot here.  It just zaps the energy right out of you.  Even those who live here are telling us how hot it is. 



We love the people here, they are so willing to be taught and are so happy.  Those in the branches are just wonderful and even those we just see at the store or on the street smile back at us once we make eye contact with  them and smile first.  I think because we are white and we are wearing a badge, they are wondering about us.  There are some white people, but you don't see them too often.

We had four of the young missionaries leave this week. Two went home and two went back to South Africa.  It is hard to see them go.  Because we are up here so far in the mission - 10.5 hours from the mission home, we are close and look out for each other.

We can't believe that one month has already past by.  Incredible!!

What, not going to the game!!

Dennis thought it would be best if we didn't go to the Aggie game tonight.  I think I could have had my arm twisted to go, but we are home packing our suitcases getting ready to go.  We had an incredible five days at the MTC.  It is good to see what the young missionaries go through in the MTC.   I loved being there with the young missionaries.  I would have spent my whole time there visiting with them if I could have gotten away with it.  We had 102 couples there and it was fantastic.  Teaching discussions is scarying but no one died from doing it.  Our trainers were wonderful.  Isn't the church wonderful. 

Elder and Sister Woolf

Dennis and I were set apart tonight by President Peterson.  What a humbling experice.  I am so grateful that our family was blessed during the blessing, it will certainly help.  We were blessed with so many wonderful "blessings."  But for me, the most special feeling was when President Peterson started to talk about the sisters in Africa and I had the most warm, loving feeling for those sisters - I love them already and I am anxious to get to meet them.  Well, here we go - our adventure starts tomorrow morning!!

Missions pictures

I am learning how to blog with my cute neighbor Necia. So hope this all works.

We are still waiting for our back ground check for our visas. Patience is a virture or so I have been told. We are just hanging out getting some things done around the house. Tony and Dennis are goiong to go on a bike ride around the Bear Lake loop today. Dennis is borrowing a bike and Tony is taking the Shadow.