President Probst has had 2 warnings from the Area Office about road safety issues on Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Alcohol consumption is a problem most of time, but the holidays are a time of even more drunkedness. The elders were told to come in early from their areas on Christmas Eve, so we all met at the Windhoek chapel for a Christmas activity which lasted from 6:30 to 9:45. By then, the roads were clear of traffic. The Namibia Zone presented "The Best Christmas Pagaent Ever" with the Windhoek elders acting out Samuel the Lamanite's prophecies of Christ's birth and the accompanying signs. "Samuel" was very enthusiastic as he raced back and forth on the "wall" (make-shift stage made of risers) delivering his message. The other 7 elders were equally enthusiastic "Nephites", determined to silence "Samuel" with play bows and arrows, darts, and a club! The Katutura elders portrayed The Nativity from the New Testament. "Mary" (where did Elder Judd get that wig!) was watched over by a caring "Joseph", a very obedient "black sheep" (an African elder) heeded the nudging of his "shepherd", and the 3 "wise men" said their line (Oh, look, a star!) perfectly from the back of the room before coming onstage, and the narrator read from the scriptures. It was fun to see their creativity in making costumes and props from the few materials they had access to. For example they used ties for headbands, Baby Jesus was a rolled up towel (elders do not play with dolls!), and the manger was a large plastic wash tub. After they all took their bows and posed for pictures we sang hymns and gave the elders our gifts--a printed copy of Elder Russell M. Nelson's dedicatory prayer opening the country of Namibia for the preaching of the gospel (which we also read and discussed), a Nam bumper sticker, and a can of bathroom air freshener which has been a very popular supply item but is no longer on the approved list. The evening ended with snacks while watching a DVD of "Mr. Kruger's Christmas" and a short re-telling of The Nativity using real people and scenes of The Holy Land.
Since the missionaries were expected to be in their areas on Christmas Day, we thought we should be involved in our work also, so we went to the Katutura building and worked on the wall project. In case we haven't mentioned it, the wall is to divide the existing room in two--the front part for the clerk's office where the computer and fax machines are and where the cleaning supplies and curriculum materials are stored, and the back part for the Branch President's office. Late afternoon, the elders came in from their areas for their Christmas calls from home.
The elders have been counseled to come in early on New Year's Eve so we will have another activity at the chapel--a DVD about Emma Smith, snacks, and board games. President Probst said not to go out at all on New Year's Day except to the church for an activity. The zone leaders have planned some physical activities--chair soccer, basketball, etc--a brai (bar-b-q), board games and/or "The Other Side of Heaven" DVD.
Serving our Lord Jesus Christ as missionaries at the time we celebrate His birth was special, but without family or snow and with the intense heat, it was rather a strange Christmas indeed!
We bear witness that Jesus is the Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. This is His true church and the means by which we learn those commandments we need to know and have those ordinances we need to perform to return to His presence. We are happy, healthy, and doing what we can to move the word forward in our little part of the world.
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