The very best part of Christmas!

We have spent two Christmases in Samoa.  When I first realized that was going to happen, I was quite sad.  I did not know how I would be able to bear being away from my family not once, but twice!

I began remembering past Christmases and all the fun things we did together. 

(Waiting in line to see Santa was never a fun memory for me, but the pictures I got were worth the wait.)  We sifted through all those pictures and combined them with our past Christmas letters to make a book that we gave to each of our kids and my parents for Christmas 2010. 

But none of those Christmas memories was quite like what we have experienced here in Samoa.

I want to record some things about our two Samoan Christmases before I forget them.  Two scriptures come to mind.  For our first Christmas,

• The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.
                                                                          -Psalms 145:9

Our first Christmas, we were blessed by the tender mercies of the Lord in gentle ways that we did not fully realize until Christmas had already arrived. 

When we arrived in Samoa, President (now Elder) Haleck assigned us to a Samoan ward.  Up until that time, all the  senior missionary couples attended Pesega Lima, the English speaking ward.

(except for the Eves who decided themselves to attend a Samoan speaking ward)  

President Haleck was truly inspired when he assigned us to Pesega Lua.  Of all the wards anywhere, Heavenly Father knew this was where we belonged for our first Christmas away from home.

Pesega, translated to English means singing.  And sing they do, especially at Christmas!

Our assignments in the mision office kept us constantly busy during the day. 

And in the evening, there was choir practice...several nights a weeks for several hours at a time.

 Once the performances started, we were even busier than ever as we traveled to various locations to sing our Christmas music.

The choir had a "uniform" to wear.  Most times it was a white blouse and a dark skirt.  One time, we wore all white.  I loved that!  (I remember also that this was the first time I realized how much my ward members enjoyed having their pictures taken.  This was one of the funnest nights of my life.)

As you can see, the men's costume was simpler.  A long sleeved white shirt and a red tie.

You have to hear this choir sing!

So many times I thought of Mike Stephenson or Ken and RoJean Bassett and wished them the same luck with ward choirs when they are called to serve.

There were lots of other things to keep us busy that December as well.

We watched the nativity being built on the temple grounds and I even managed to get a picture of my camera shy husband standing next to it.

We decorated the mission offices and our apartment...

...using simple decorations that had been sent to us from famiy or handed down to us from past senior missionaries.  Beautiful.

We watched Afulua and her daughters weave a Christmas tree out of coconut leaves.

And we wove placemats...

and Christmas tree ornaments!

Sister Haleck organized a cookie baking project with the sisters.

And there was a wonderful Christmas Conference with the combined Upolu and Savaii zones.

Food was, of course, one of the main activites.

I'm missing some of these elders this year.  And, Sister Tolman!  I've thought of her so many times and  I doubt that she knows how much I've relied upon her wisdom and advice this last year.

(I decided to add this picture while I was thinking ot it!)

...time to get back to Christmas 2010...

 So, it was not until Christmas Eve when the carolers came around that I shed my first tear; and then it was as much in gratitude for my blessings as it was from homesickness.  Mike and I both agreed that it was a tender mercy of the Lord to have been too busy to get homesick.


This Christmas was also joyfully busy.

The office was still full of people.  (I think this was taken pre-Christmas because Faauliuli and Smithing are in it, but I love them so much I chose to include it here)

We had several fun zone conferences on the islands...

 ...With a variety of talent displays from each zone...

 ...like you would only see in Samoa!

Singing...

And more food!

And, once again, the choir from Pesega Lua sang.  We joined with them many times, but missed when they went to the "home for the old"  Oh, how I wanted to have attended that event!

Pesega Lua's Choir  even came to the Mission Home and sang at a senior missionary event. 

We finally got a recording of the Halalujah Chorus!  I have tried to post it several times, but it must be too long.  But, suffice it to say that there were no dry eyes that night.  President Leota summed it up when he said, "I will never forget this night!"

 In the spirit of things, I finally got brave enough to wear my pulutasi.  We were a hansome couple!

 And, Mike surprised me with this beautiful ulu that was delivered Christmas Eve!  (we were still receiving guests at 11pm that night) I surprised Mike with a keyfob from Sasha's new salon.  She had included two in a care package and I hid them before he saw them.  That was pretty much all that we gave each other for Christmas this year.  Our friends and family spoiled us so thoroughly that we didn't lack for a thing.   "Stuff" just isn't as important here in Samoa. 

I guess that brings me to my Christmas scripture for 2011. 

"Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace, goodwill to men"

That's what it felt like for me.  I hope I never forget.