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.