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.