Hoping everyone has enjoyed a very Merry Christmas. I found myself (N) being nostalgic sometimes that this will be our last Christmas in Malaysia and other times being a little homesick and missing home and family at this time. But we're grateful to be healthy, happy and busy. (well, I'm down with a sinus infection today, but it will get better soon, I hope) We had a great Christmas. As we left church on Sunday, so many people stopped and grabbed one of our hands and said, "You come to our house.?" So we piled 4 elders into the car and went to 8 places - eating dinner at each one - Oh My! It was a full day in more ways than one. During the afternoon, we received a sweet Christmas text from Carrie Lyn on the cell phone about the family Christmas party. It was tender and caused me some emotional moments. Thank you for thinking of us. We didn't skype with our family, because we wanted the elders to have the skype time for their families. 8 elders times an hour or two a piece took a chunk of time on the 24th, 25th and 26th. We really did try to not eavesdrop on their conversations - giving them some privacy, but at times it couldn't be helped. It was both poignant and funny to hear them greeting their families and we were really happy to get to meet some parents as well. Tender times. Another pic of our Christmas caroling - which has been very successful for meeting friends and families of members. All have invited the missionaries back to learn more. This week-end, we have 8 baptisms on Saturday and 2 on Sunday. Because the elder who was to do the baptismal interviews was ill, Garald was able to do those. Sweet experience. We've ordered new baptismal clothing for the new branch building, but won't receive it until January, so in the meantime, we're borrowing from JB branch and trying to come up with enough. We have been in on some of the teaching of one really great family and so happy to see them accept baptism. Grandparents, parents, children and one son-in-law. The father has never had a word of wisdom issue as some of the others have. It's so nice to see someone who has avoided those harmful substances even though it was not for religious purposes. We loved watching their faces as they learned about the Book of Mormon, apostasy, and Jesus Christ. We don't understand all in the Malay language, but the feeling as the elders taught and as we testified was very sweet.
Yup - this is some of the outdoor scenery here in December. Beautiful orchids from the S'pore orchid garden, but sometimes I really do miss snow!
Sister Norma and Mei 'hamming' it up as we were ready to serve the dinner at the Masai branch family Christmas party. That was a harrowing day for us, as I was doing dinner for the JB carolers before they went out, and then we had a baptism at 5:00 before the dinner at 6:00. In the midst of it all, we had a serious car break-down. Garald went with the car as it was towed to a car repair place quite a ways from here. After he'd left, we remembered the baptismal clothing the elders had put in the trunk. Garald had no choice, but to take a pricey taxi drive from the car repair place to the Masai building - arriving just in the nick of time for the baptism. But he couldn't stay - had to go back to the car - finally got fixed and he came and picked me up and we hurried to their Christmas party where we helped with a spiritual program, did a game (saved from last year) and served dinner, had Santa Claus, etc. Then on our 4th trip taking people home, the car konked out again. DARN! We had to leave it by the side of the street and it was towed again the next day. They didn't think it could be fixed. So for a couple of days we were back on the rickety buses and taxis - not that we really mind that - but it was a good reminder of how fortunate we are to have a car - even if driving is still somewhat of a 'white knuckle' experience. We worried that we would be without a car for the remainder of our time here and we can see that we can't be nearly as effective or visit and reach as many people. The elders were concerned about it too as it helps them out on many occasions. We're grateful to report that after a couple of days, heartfelt prayer and a rebuilt computer, it seems to be once again getting us all around.

Masai Christmas party - just before the blessing and serving of the dinner - 95 people. This is a branch that started with top attendance of 40 when it began in July. But the need for leadership is so great - it might be ready to split again before leaders can be experienced enough to take over.
"Our elders," enjoying a little Christmas treat from us. They're great - some of them are biking many miles to meet and teach investigators - practically always in pouring rain. Still smilin' though.
Okay, I have to say I nailed it when it came to the turkey and potatoes and gravy for JB branch Christmas. I was so worried about not having enough turkey drippings to to turkey gravy when I realized they wouldn't really care if it was chicken or turkey gravy. So I did a small pan of turkey and large pan of chicken. The JB elders helped us peel potatoes and Garald mashed - all is well. Well, we wouldn't let them cut up the turkey with a cleaver - the usual way of cutting meat around here - Garald sliced and it was delish.
JB party Christmas tables right before eating. They were beautiful. Eunice (RS pres) and I had shopped for green and red fabric for table coverings and then found some glitzy gold fabric for diagnoal squares in the middle. Figuring the amount of yardage and converting between metric and traditional - well, it made my brain tired. But they turned out beautiful.
After district meeting - elders wall to wall. We watched "The Last Leaf" before going out in the rain this week. We had fried chicken and potato patties made from the left overs of the mashed from the Christmas party. Just a view I liked of one of the streets where we were visiting a home on Christmas day.
One of the meals - Garald has cooked monitor lizard here. The son had killed it with a flipper. She (Juana) also had lots of other things including some kind of small shell fish. I ate the bananas...

Actually the day after Christmas the elders who went with us were sick with all the ear marks of food poisoning. Both of us escaped it this time - thankfully. We often avoid the meat that has been sitting out in plastic dishpan type of containers on the floor in the afternoons. Although at this particular home, things were not sitting out, so it seemed a bit safer. Apparently it was.

Hope everyone enjoys a great beginning to a new year. Thanks for your letters and emails. You're in our thoughts and prayers.

Earlier this week, visiting with part of the family that is going to be baptized on Saturday.