December Musings

We are getting into full Christmas mode now, well as much as we can without Christmas trees, Christmas music, Christmas lights, and family.  Eating and partying have been ratcheted up.  Yesterday we had the annual south island Christmas zone conference.  So many of the young elders and sisters that we know have gone home now and it was a sea of new faces.  Each district performed a skit.

Here the Canterbury District’s super obedient missionary tries to convince Santa (Elder Neider) that he shouldn’t be working on Sunday this year.  The other elder is asking Santa for a new companion.

This district did a lip-sync to ‘I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas’.  When he came to the word ‘white’ in the lyrics, he pointed to the face of the white elder (middle of back row) and got quite a laugh.  There really are very few white elders here.  Mostly islanders who can really pack away the food.  The sisters of Cashmere ward provided a beautiful lunch with ham, turkey, lamb, and all the trimmings. 

Starting at the left: Sister Risenmay, Elder Neider, Sister Neider, Janice, John, President Kezerian, Sister Kezerian, and Elder Risenmay.

We had a white elephant gift exchange and the nose warmers were the hit of the day.  (Thanks, Kathy.  We hope you’re not offended that we passed on some of your handiwork.)

I couldn’t believe that some young elder would part with these.  I was also a winner in the gift exchange.

Elder Tuipulotu, who goes home this next transfer, told of his mother in his parting testimony.  He said that she had written faithfully each week for two years.  She had a very hard time writing in English, so the bulk of her letters were written in Tongan with a one-liner in English underlined for emphasis.  She wrote such things as, “Son, please don’t teach girls.”  She wanted him to stay on the straight and narrow.  And, “Son, please lose some weight.”  She knew that he would be fed in every Tongan or Samoan home he visited.  And she wrote, “Son, love your companion.”

John’s mother could have written the same advice to him and she would have been pleased with the results.  He lets me take care of the girls, he has definitely lost weight, and he has loved me and served me unfailingly.  I was thinking about our mission the other day and realized that he might have been happier serving a different kind of mission.  The new sisters, Chelius and Nation, are family history missionaries who spend each day photographing records in the archives of this city.  It is technical work, done one on one with a camera—the perfect mission for an introverted photographer like John.  I’m the one that loves the interaction with these students and who is energized by teaching and visiting and activities.  And yet he has cheerfully gone along with my desires and served the kind of mission I knew I would love.  Don’t get me wrong, he loves the kids and all  that goes with them, but it takes an effort for him—an effort that he has so willingly expended.  He has ridden the roller coaster of emotions a mother away from her children, grandchildren, and home can create, and he has done it with nary a whimper.  He is the best of companions.  I, on the other hand, am still me. 

Trevor Anderson graduated from university this year so we had a little celebration at family home evening.

The majority of our young single adults are not enrolled in university.  The area authorities are stressing education knowing what a difference it will make in lives and in the future of the church her in New Zealand.  We are proud of Trevor and know of the work that goes into this great accomplishment. 

We sang ‘A New Zealand Carol’ in Relief Society a few weeks ago.  The words will always remind me of Christmas here on the other side of the world.

Carol our Christmas, an upside down Christmas; snow is not falling, and trees are not bare.

Carol the summer, and welcome the Christ Child, warm in our sunshine and sweetness of air.

Sing of the gold and the green and the sparkle, water and river and lure of the beach.

Sing in the happiness of open spaces, sing a nativity summer can reach!

Shepherds and musterers move over hillsides, finding, not angels, but sheep to be shorn;

Wise ones make journeys, whatever the season, searching for signs of the truth to be born.

Right side up Christmas belongs to the universe, made in the moment a woman gives birth;

Hope is the Jesus gift, love is the offering, everywhere, anywhere, here on the earth.

Merry, merry Christmas to our beautiful family and our wonderful friends.