On December 2 Noumea officially welcomed the season with a lighting ceremony at the Place des Cocotiers (Place of the palm trees) downtown. The music, including traditional carols, was provided by a small group of singers from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The evening was balmy, who could resist. We were en plein aire for the evening with small children laughing and running everywhere blissfully safe without being guarded by their parents. The choir sang and the mayor spoke. We walked leisurely afterwards visiting with missionaries who had come with their 'amis de l'eglise and we visited with these amis. A lovely evening. We are grateful to have Christmas in the summer!
The children of Noumea are in summer vacation which started at the beginning of December. That includes Seminary graduation for the lycee attenders. Some attend early morning, others a weekday evening class. The evening was to have been presided over by the CES superviser from Vanuatu, but the airport strike complicated matters so that he could not come. Several of them spoke sharing testimonies and appreciation for their teachers. Tender moments. I enjoyed the opportunity to address a few remarks to the youth of the district. The evening included presentations of graduation certificates as well as certificates for all those participating. The District President and I shook hands with and congratulated each of them.
We have been helping one of our missionary teams teach a young woman. She is also something of a cook and very interested in learning to make new treats. Elder Huuti concluded that he could get more of Sister Mautz's chocolate no-bake cookies and teach his amie de l'eglise a new recipe. So one afternoon they arrived with ingredients and Sister Mautz conducted a cooking class. Julia Child would have been proud. The results weren't quite up to Sister Mautz's standard as the cook wanted to substitute brown for white sugar. But the elders certainly did not complain!
We attended our first branch Christmas party last night. We enjoy this branch for its unity led by a great, young branch president. The evening began in the chapel with some songs, the reading of the Christmas story from Luke and the Book of Mormon and the sharing of a wonderful experience from Madagascar told by the recently returned mission president who is a member of the branch. The talks developed around the Christmas star as a representation of the light of Christ that leads us all to welcome the Savior into our lives.
A poor, humble villager who worked long hours raising rice, met the missionaries in Madagascar. He could only come to Church on foot until he was blessed with a bicycle. Soon he would ride the 17 km to Church with one child, then return for another, then his wife. Sometimes as many as 5 precariously perched on the beloved bicycle. He joined the church. His family followed. His fellow villagers wondered what had happened to him as he no longer worked on the Sabbath. Soon they asked questions. He talked about his new faith and its blessing to his family and his life. Some of them wanted to come to Church. He was authorized to have a small service in his front yard 3 Sundays a month. Then the rainy season came and his small home couldn't accommodate the growing congregation. The church provided a small tent. They outgrew it. On the hillside a larger tent structure was erected over a plat carved out of the hillside and proudly bearing the name of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Directed by local leaders, our humble rice farmer, now the branch president. We were grateful to be there.
After this time together, we moved to the cultural hall for a feast of local dishes and gifts distributed to the children and each family by several wisemen who had somehow come into possession of Christmas stockings loaded with cookies, candy and a picture of the Savior. They bore a strange resemblance to the missionaries serving in the branch.
A final set of pictures shares views from our morning walks. Early now as it is pretty warm by 7a. Blue water, palm trees, nearby mountains but no snow.
And so what does a missionary want for Christmas. A package from home. The long awaited only twice-a-year phone call with the family. All wonderful. But best of all is the blessing of preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and serving Heavenly Father's children in whatever way he or she can. And should one of these children of Heavenly Father accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ, how great is the joy of that missionary for the worth of a soul is great in the sight of God.
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