The Reason for the Season

What can I give Him,

Poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd

I would bring a lamb.

If I were a Wise Man

I would do my part,

Yet what can I give Him?

Give my heart.

(Christina Georgina Rossetti)

President Monson tells this story about a Christmas when he was a boy.

"Christmastime had come. We were preparing for the oven a gigantic turkey and anticipating the savory feast that awaited. A neighborhood pal of mine asked a startling question: “What does turkey taste like?”  I responded, “Oh, about like chicken tastes.” Again a question: “What does chicken taste like?”  It was then that I realized my friend had never eaten chicken or turkey. I asked what his family was going to have for Christmas dinner. There was no prompt response, just a downcast glance and the comment, “I dunno. There’s nothing in the house.”  I pondered a solution. There was none. I had no turkeys, no chickens, no money. Then I remembered I did have two pet rabbits. Immediately I took them to my friend and handed the box to him with the comment, “Here, take these two rabbits. They’re good to eat—just like chicken.”  He took the box, climbed the fence, and headed for home—a Christmas dinner safely assured. Tears came easily to me as I closed the door to the empty rabbit hutch. But I was not sad. A warmth, a feeling of indescribable joy, filled my heart. It was a memorable Christmas."

Christmas is a time to remember the birth of Jesus Christ.  It's his birthday.  It is always nice to get gifts on your birthday, isn't it?  Have you thought about what kind of gift you could give to Jesus for His birthday?

Here are a few ideas that you could give for a gift:

Say prayers every morning or every night, or both!

Read the scriptures every day.

Or choose something from this list to do.  You could even make up a little calendar and write down what you do each day.  On Christmas Eve, you can look at your list and know that you have truly given a gift to Jesus.  

Always remember that we love YOU!

 

Corporal James

Last week as we were waiting for someone at the airport, we almost got a ticket for parking on a double yellow line that did not exist.  The officer was not very pleasant and we had to talk a blue streak to get him to not give one to us.

Today, we had to go to the airport again and guess who was on duty?!  We pulled up in the loading zone and he came over (to ask us to move, because they always do.)  We were looking at the arrival board and it said that the flight was on time but there was no Sister Shirts.  He was kind enough to go to the desk and ask the airline when the flight would be in.  It would be another hour so we left. 

We came back an hour later and the same thing happened.  He came to ask us to move, we asked him if the flight was in, he found out it would be yet another hour and a half so we left again.

I started thinking about him.  We are going to be seeing him a lot so I thought we should try to become friends.

The last time we went, another officer came up and asked us to move and I asked her if I could talk to that other nice young officer.  He came over and I told him that we appreciated that he was just doing his job the other day.  That we were still learning things because we are new here and appreciated his patience.  I told him that I hoped we could be friends because we would be seeing a lot of each other.  I told him my name and asked him for his.  He said it was Corporal James.  Then he told us we could park in the staff parking lot until our Sister missionary arrived.  That was so nice!  So we did.  I hope we have made a friend.

I had to swallow my pride a bit.  We were not in the wrong when he tried to give us the ticket.  The pictures clearly show that there were no double yellow lines where we were parked.  (Those are his feet in the first picture.)  I realized that it is more important to be friendly than right.   Many things are more important than being right.  I learned a lesson today.  Have you?

We love YOU!

Danger Sneaks up on You!

The other night we decided to watch the sunset on a section of beach that jutted out in the water.  It was surrounded by water on three sides.  We were sitting on a bench at the very end when we noticed 9 horses!  They went to the sand and rolled around in it.  They seemed to be really enjoying themselves.  We felt safe where we were.  Then they slowly started walking towards us.  They kept getting closer and closer and closer!  I started getting a little concerned because horses here are on the wild side!  Finally, some were so close that I could have reached out and touched them.  We decided that we should try to get off the little peninsula before it got dark.  We didn't want to startle the horses so we started carefully walking around the side.  A security guard was at the other end and she said, wait!  Be careful!  We waited a little while longer and then gingerly and quietly walked as far to one side as we could.  The horses left us alone and we made it to safety.  The guard told us that sometimes the horses can act up without any provocation and she was grateful we had made it to safety.

Sometimes we find ourselves in a situation where we thought we were safe.  Maybe we are at a friends house or at school and everything seems fine.  Slowly, things change.  Maybe something comes on TV or the radio that we shouldn't see or hear.  Hopefully a little "alarm" goes off to warn us that we are in danger and that we should leave.  We have to decide what is the best way to do that.  Sometimes if you make a big fuss, it will cause more problems.  Sometimes you just have to quietly leave and never let yourself get in that situation again.  The Spirit will whisper to you what you should do.  Listen to it and you will not be led astray.

We love YOU!

Sacrifice

When you go on a mission, you sacrifice a lot.  You leave a comfortable home, and probably lots of clothes and gadgets.  You also leave behind loved ones.  It can be very hard to leave all that behind, but usually it will all be there when you get back.

Sister Joseph also made lots of sacrifices, but not like you and I have/will.  (She is on the far right in the blue top and black skirt.)  She left a very humble home and just came back to it.  That's her home in the background.  It's made of cinder block and is about 14' by 20'.  There are 5-7 people living in it at any given time.  I noticed the shower is outside in a small enclosure.  For Sister Joseph, it was a great sacrifice for her family to let her go.  The unemployment rate is very high in St Lucia, and even if they are employed, it is not enough to support a family.  The mother (on the left) cleans rooms in a small hotel.  She has to walk a couple of miles each way to her job.  When Sister  Joseph left, there was a loss of income from her job, plus her family supported her as much as they could.  They have no computers and no internet so she rarely got emails or letters from her family. 

Is that too much to ask of a person?  To leave your family when they are in such need of your help?  I think if you asked this family, they would say NO!  It brought blessings beyond measure!  The Mom is so proud of her daughter and the missionary learned so many skills that will bless her family FOREVER!

Sometimes what seems like a sacrifice, is really no sacrifice at all.

We love YOU!

Let the lower lights be burning!

The last few mornings as I have woken up, I have had this song running through my mind.  It's not a familiar hymn so I had to do some searching to find it.  I really like the message of it.  Let me tell you the background of it.

Many years ago a ship was trying to make it in to a harbor in the dark.  There was a light house with it's beacon shining, but there were no "lower lights". The captain asked: “Where are the lower lights?” “Gone out, sir,” replied the pilot.  “Can you make the harbor, then?” asked the captain, to which the pilot answered: “We must, sir, or perish.”  (read the story here:  http://www.plymouthbrethren.org/article/10378)

Well, they didn't make it!  The ship wrecked and many died.  When a man heard about this, he wrote the song that is on page 335 of the hymn book.  As you read it, think of the light house as being Christ and we, his helpers, are the lower lights:

Brightly beams our Father’s mercy
From His lighthouse evermore,
But to us He gives the keeping
Of the lights along the shore.

Chorus:

Let the lower lights be burning!
Send a gleam across the wave!
Some poor fainting, struggling seaman
You may rescue, you may save.

I have been thinking about this a lot.  Christ always has his light shining for us and wants us to come to him.  Sometimes there are rocky harbours that we must pass through.  It helps to have "lights" closer to the shore to lead us along.  We are those lights.  We can help those around us to see our light and lead them along the way.  We may rescue!  We may save!

We took this picture today as we left church in Vieux Fort, St Lucia.  That is a light house, high on the hill.  We hope you will always try to head straight for the light house and let the lower lights lead you along.

We love YOU!!!

Coconuts rolling on the Caribbean Sea

Here's a little song you can sign for FHE. I hope you get to see coconuts rolling in the sea someday!

I looked out the window and what did I see,

Coconuts rolling on the Caribbean Sea.

The waves have brought me such a nice surprise,

Coconuts rolling right before my eyes.

I can take an armful and make a treat,

Of coconut pie that will taste so sweet.

It wasn't really so, but it seemed to me,

Coconuts rolling on the Caribbean Sea.

Heed the Warning!

"The Manchineel tree, is known as the most poisonous tree in the world. In places where it grows, it is often marked with a red band to warn passersby not to get too near it.  The tree is poisonous on so many levels that if you ever spot one, it is better you stay at least a few yards away from it. Its fruit resembles a small apple, but eating one could land you right in the emergency room. It was supposedly named ‘manzanita de la muerte’ (little apple of death) by Christopher Columbus. But it might just be the least dangerous part of the tree."

"The manchineel’s milky white sap is incredibly caustic and poisonous as well – even a drop could cause skin blisters, dermatitis, swelling or burns. This happens a lot with unsuspecting travelers who use the tree for shelter from the rains. The sap is so caustic that even the rain drops coming from the branches can cause burns. The bark is poisonous too – burning it releases a smoke that causes temporary (and in some cases, permanent) blindness. Considering all the ways it can hurt you, it’s no wonder the manchineel currently holds the Guinness record for world’s most dangerous tree."

http://www.odditycentral.com/news/the-manchineel-worlds-most-dangerous-tree-for-several-reasons.html

 

 

The other day, we went to a beach and saw many of these trees with the red stripe on them.  We even saw this woman laying under the tree and hanging her clothes and towel on it!  We spoke to her two friends and told them the tree was very dangerous.  They replied that they knew it was dangerous if it rained, but they did not feel it was dangerous now.  We felt bad that they did not listen to our warning but felt helpless!  There was nothing else we could do.  I wonder if the sap got on her clothes and if she suffered the pain that it would cause.

Does Heavenly Father feel the same way?  He warns us about dangers in our lives and how to avoid them, but sometimes we choose to suffer the consequences.  In Alma 3:26-27  we are told: "26 And in one year were thousands and tens of thousands of souls sent to the eternal world, that they might reap their rewards according to their works, whether they were good or whether they were bad, to reap eternal happiness or eternal misery, according to the spirit which they listed to obey, whether it be a good spirit or a bad one.

27 For every man receiveth wages of him whom he listeth to obey, and this according to the words of the spirit of prophecy; therefore let it be according to the truth."

 

"The Manchineel trees have shiny green, oval leaves and can grow over 50 feet tall. They apparently lure people into a trap – providing shade and fruit that tastes sweet at first but later has devastating effects. Fortunately, injuries have been rare thanks to the warning signs about the tree’s dangers."

We pray that you will not be lured into a trap by the shiny things of the world.  Stay safe!  Be obedient!  We love YOU!

Bats or Birds. Truth Revealed?

There was another beautiful sunset tonight and the bats/birds were out in full force again.  We got a good picture of one.  It kind of looks like the Batman symbol, don't you think?  (I still think they are birds.  It helps me sleep better at night!)

 Is that Batman swooping in?

Another beautiful sunset from our back window.

Recipe for Success

The other day at District Meeting we were taught what the recipe for success is.  It is found in Alma 26:22:  "Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing-unto such is given to know the mysteries of God; yea, unto such it shall be given to reveal things which never have been revealed; yea and it shall be given unto such to bring thousands of souls to repentance, even as it has been given unto us to bring these our brethren to repentance."

How does this apply to you and me?

1. We must repent.  (Just change something bad for something good.)
2. We must have faith.
3. We must do good works.
4. We must pray continually.

And what do we get in return?  We get to know the mysteries of God!  And have things revealed to us!  And convert people to the gospel!

This recipe is good for other parts of our life, too.  We will always be blessed when we do those four things.

And since we are talking about recipes, I want to show you this picture of a "salad" that a couple from our Branch made and fed our whole zone.  All 12 of us!  We had this beautiful salad and fish and chicken and rice and three kinds of ice cream and chocolate cake!  Imagine how awful this food would have been if she hadn't followed a recipe!  We are given recipe's, or commandments, to make our life easier and more enjoyable.  We pray that you will always choose to keep the commandments and have a happy life!

 

 Our beautiful salad

 The Laquembie's.  They have a beautiful home and are beautiful people.

We Love YOU!

Learn while you can!

Today's thoughts are about preparing for a mission while you are young.  This young man just turned 12 and is sooooo excited to pass the sacrament!  He comes from a wonderful family.  His mom and brother and sister are strong in the church but his father is not a member.  Therefore, he has never been taught how to tie a tie.  Grandpa offered to teach him.  Arik still struggles with it and really needs someone to show him how every Sunday until he gets it.  All of you are lucky enough to have two parents who are happy to teach you things.  For the boys, it's as simple as learning how to tie a tie.  For the girls, it's listening when your parents teach you to dress modestly.  That is a big problem for the girls who are not members of the church.  It's a lot harder to learn when you are older.

It is our hope and prayer that you will listen and learn from your parents.  You will find life so much easier if you do!

We Love YOU!

Birds or Bats?

Every evening as the sun goes down, the sky fills with these UFO's.  They are swooping around eating flying insects.  (I hope mosquitoes!)  I think they are birds, Grandpa thinks they are bats.  What do you think they are?

The World is a Beautiful Place!

Since it's a holiday weekend, We will just share some pictures of a beautiful garden we went to last Monday.  We are so grateful for beauty no matter where we live.

 Isn't that beautiful?  It was about the size of a grapefruit.

 How many hummingbirds can you count?

 Bats just "hanging" out.

 Gremma and Grandpa by a really beautiful plant!

 See Grandpa way up high on the suspension bridge?

Those are mahogany trees.

 Some really interesting plants!

(And can you see Grandpa?)

 That is a giant fern!

How many birds can you count on those red blossoms?

The French make Chinese food way better than the Chinese do!

We had FHE with these people on Monday.  They wanted to fix us a big dinner.  It was fabulous! Paul is still working on his Moroni creation.  If you look carefully, you can see the tiny gold plates and the hole that they will go in and the rock that will cover the hole in the Hill Cumorah.  He is even had painting some leaves!


While we were waiting for dinner to be cooked, we played Don't Eat Pete, with the kids.  They loved it!  I asked Carol if she had been reading the Book of Mormon.  She said, only a little.  She was only on page 300!  We had given it to her 6 days before and she went away for the weekend! She is reading about Alma the younger now and she says she had a similar experience. When she was 25 years old, she did not believe in God or see a need for Him.  Then she had a "vision".  She didn't say what it was, but she knew that God was there and now she needs "spiritual" in her life.  She says there are many things in the book that she has experienced in her life.  It was amazing!  Now she is up to 500 pages!  (There are more pages in a French Book of Mormon than an English one.)

I know that the Book of Mormon can relate to our lives today, even though it was written hundreds of years ago!  Just like Carol, we can read it and see how the stories apply to us.  I hope that each of us will read out of the Book of Mormon every day.  We should always ask ourselves, "how does this relate to my life?"  Will you do that?

Behind the Blue Door

One day, the missionaries were out tracting.  They walked up a long hill.  They noticed this beautiful blue door and wondered where it went.  They could not see anything else behind it. They felt that they should walk over to it.  They saw a bell so they rang it.  They met the nicest family! Paul, Beatrice, Inez and Chloe live here.  We got to meet this family.  Paul and Beatrice have read and love the Book of Mormon!  In fact, they love it so much that Paul is carving a figurine of Moroni!  While we were there, a neighbor came to pick up her daughter who was playing there.  The mother is Carol and the daughter is Kenzie.  We were able to talk for a long time about eternal families.  They want this so badly!   Carol asked if she could have a Book of Mormon, too!  We are going back on Monday to have Family Home Evening with them.  We are going to play "Don't Eat Pete" with them after the lesson.  Will you pray for us so that these people will feel the spirit and have a desire to be baptized? 

It is always important to listen to what is being said quietly inside your head and your heart.  We are glad the missionaries listened to the spirit and wanted to see what was behind the blue door!

March 21, 2014

We got to go to Mom's last radiation treatment.  She is a trooper!  Then I got a hair cut and pedicure.

March 20, 2014

We left Raymond in a blinding snow storm .  We were so grateful that Lake and Anita Duncan were able to drive us to Great Falls to catch the plane. 

The adventure begins!

e

Our Mission Call!

On December 23, 2013 we opened our mission call!  We had it sent to Steve's house and they brought it with them.  We opened it Monday morning when we could Skype with Kristi and her family, Mom and Mary and Stan.  Doug and family were here as well as Steve and family.  It was so great to have family with us when we opened it!  We are going to the West Indies and report in the MTC on March 24, 2014.  We are very excited!

Thanksgiving in Idaho

 Trek looking especially cute

 What Mom chose to wear as we left so we wouldn't forget her.

 The corn maze!

 Kade getting a hair cut.

 Steven did some target practice.  In.the.house!

 King Ridge and Princess Nali ready for the party.

 Prince Trek

 Doug and Sarah at the Olive Garden

 Ridge

 Isaac and Kade at the Olive Garden

Steve, Heidi, Trek, Nali and Trek at the corn maze.