Saturday, January 2, 2010

A Very Merry Chuuk Christmas

Kevin had a very Merry Chuuk Christmas. Thank you to the Duncans, the senior missionary couple who live on Weno. With the help of their children, who live in the states, they created a memorable day for the 10 missionaries in the Chuuk zone. I have copied the following passage and pictures from the Duncan's blog.

Elder Duncan Plays Santa



Missionary Stockings



Elder Tuaitanu and Elder Mitton


I see Kevin!


Elder Kuss

How wonderful it has been to spend the Holiday Season in Chuuk, involved in the Lord’s work. Hearing the old, familiar Christmas songs in Chuukese was great.
With no children living with us and no grandchildren close by, it seemed we would not have the opportunity to play “Santa” this year. But our ten children in the States sent Christmas stockings and lots and lots of goodies and gifts to stuff them with so each Elder in Chuuk could receive a “Surprise Stocking”. We had so much fun going through all the gifts and treats our children sent and then dividing them up into the stockings.
Christmas morning at 8:25 am, the Missionaries arrived. They thought they were coming over just for a nice Christmas breakfast. But we had 10 filled stockings hanging, with their names on them. We were ready to get their reactions recorded with cameras. It was so much fun to watch their faces as they looked at the stockings, and then realized that THEIR names were on them! In about 30 seconds flat they went from 10 missionaries, to 10 happy kids. They dug through their stockings, big grins on their faces. Lots of laughs and comparing and “Wow! Look at this!” all around. Also we heard, “Yes! I NEEDED socks!” and “Hey! I got a new tie!” We heard one Elder ask another, “What did you get?” And the answer: “Just about everything I wanted.”
So, we did get to play Santa, and we really appreciate our children helping us do that. The Elders enjoyed their Christmas breakfast and then dutifully wrote thank-yous to their benefactors.
These Elders work so very hard and deal daily with disappointments and discouragement and exhaustion, it was so nice to see them, just for a few minutes, be happy and carefree and giddy with joy. It made our Holiday just wonderful.

1 comment:

  1. I was wondering if you had a link to the Duncan's blog. I'd like to see more pictures.

    Thanks


    Jerry Butler
    jerrywbutler@hotmail.com

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