On Wednesday, December 15th, the combined East and West Tarawa Stakes held a Primary activity. We were delighted to see even the youngest children enjoying dancing. No wonder the adults here enjoy dancing so much. They grow up with it as part of their culture.
It is a rule in the Sumner house that someone has to make raisin filled cookies at Christmas time. So here she is, in all her glory, baking raisin filled cookies. Only raisins are called "sultanas" in Kiribati, she's really baking sultana filled cookies! Notice her clever use of an empty tuna can and an empty jar as a cookie cutter.
On Saturday we went to the Temaiku Branch Relief Society craft fair. When we arrived, they were playing a game which had everyone howling with laughter. The people here really know how to enjoy being together. Notice the many sisters wearing the Relief Society colors, gold and blue.
Here are some of their handicrafts on display. We purchased quite a bit of their work to bring home with us. When the children saw I was taking pictures, they all came running over to be in the picture.
Here's another view of their crafts on display for sale. Sisters Waldron (left) and Alldredge also bought a fair amount of their handiwork.
We were amused by their weight loss tally board. Those are actual names and weights in kilograms, of course. This would NEVER be done in the states!
Elder Waldron bought a beautiful hand printed lava-lava, and had to demonstrate a few hip swivels while trying it on, much to everyone's amusement.
Later on Saturday evening Sister Sumner shows off her perfectly cooked world famous melt in your mouth English toffee. I have tasted it and can attest to its excellence. It wouldn't be Christmas without it.
With the palm trees, mid-eighties temperatures and the ocean breezes, it doesn't look like Christmas here. We still feel the spirit of Christmas in the love and happiness of those around us. As we contemplate God's gift of his Son, our hearts are filled with gratitude and love for our Father in Heaven. We are grateful to step away from the shopping, the programs, and the busyness of Christmas and to contemplate the peace of that first Christmas night. Like it says in the song, let us all "Let Him in" this Christmas season. Make service a part of your celebration and find someone who needs a little extra love. We think of this as we tip the disabled boy who helps us park our car whether we want it or not, give money to the crippled beggar at the grocery store, feed the neighbor's cats, give food to the starving dog who licks clean the cat's bowl after they are done, or just smile and greet others as we walk in the morning. "Find a way, make Him room, let Him in!"
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