The Day Before Christmas

It was the day before Christmas and not in our house
a baptism was happening
plus feeding our mouths.


The Youngs, the American family in Volcan, invited us all for Christmas dinner on the 24th. It is a very kind thing to do. Lots of work, as she makes wonderful homemade rolls.
After the dinner we went to the church for the baptism of Yiniva, one of our students. This is she and her family before the baptism. She asked for Rod to baptize her. I'm sure the elders were disappointed, but they were cool about it.
It's a bit difficult to juggle languages when the host family only speaks English. The Latino elders get left out. I decided we could play Go Fish (I Spy) as an English learning exercise. It worked nicely, and their daughter, who has Down's Syndrome, enjoyed it as well.
Rod peeled the apples for our first apple pie. We borrowed a rolling pin and got a crust recipe from the net. It wasn't great crust, but we enjoyed it. We knew in advance that the dessert for the day was brownies, ice cream and chocolate sauce. Brother Young requested cherry and apple pies. We made the apple one in an 8x8 glass dish, and the cherry one in a loaf pan. I looked at the store for foil pie pans, but we couldn't find them.
The branch Christmas party Thursday night had a short program by the children. The older ones sang the verse for Angels We Have Heard on High, and the tiny ones the "Glorias". It was fun to direct them. I hadn't expected to attend, but we had a student cancel and it worked.
This was our Christmas present from the President and his wife. It is a "MOLA" or an applique of the mission slogan. I'm hoping Edyn might think it would be fun to help me make it a center for a quilt when we get home.
Some people said they were going to put theirs on a shirt, but I don't think so.


Here is the mighty photographer couple at work videoing an unusual tree full of 'social' birds -- cattle egrets. We often see them in the field with the cattle, but early in the morning and perhaps early evening we see trees full of them.



We enjoyed a video Blythe sent us today (above). It was of our children enjoying a waffle breakfast and Christmas craft time together. It was fun to see them just talking and laughing together. She got the children to say Merry Christmas, but the parents didn't know they were being videoed. We are grateful for all of them. Almost as good as being there -- OK OK! I do know you aren't supposed to lie on a mission. Liars go to where it is really hot -- ?Panama?

Merry Christmas to all.