Merry Christmas 2013

It is hard to believe we just passed our second Christmas here! So much has happened over the past year.  Met some wonderful people, saw some exciting sites, and had some experiences we never thought we would have!  We thought we would share what our Thailand Christmas was like.

 They love to take pictures - girls and boys. And whenever there is a display, they jump in and take each other's picture.   TRUE is the cable and internet company like Comcast.  Rabbits and bears are used quite often.  Guess it means fast and strong?







 
Sometimes, you look and wonder what they are thinking. Here's a Santa octopus???We have no idea, but it's quite popular, especially with children. To have their pictures taken with octopus Santa is what Christmas is to them

This little girl held still while we took her picture. As we said, anybody will pose for a picture.  And they love to take your picture.  Neither of us will be able to send our pictures to each other.

We caught these two guys taking picture underneath the tree. We watched them for a while, as other people jump in to have their picture taken in from of the tree of lights.

We started to look close at what they were looking at because they spent a great deal of time, moving and discussing things

Here is what they were looking at.  It's a little figurine of a girl playing a piano.  It was fun then , watching how they were setting up the figurine to get just the right Christmas picture.

This is a long walkway that steps down as you pass blue light arches. If you look in the background you can see that it ends at the Christmas tree. Quite a long walk.

Christmas is all about the songs and snow and Santa Clause. They love dressing in Christmas clothes like the young girl with her Santa outfit. 

 The mission had a Christmas party after our zone conference. Lots of food and treats.  About 70-80 people.

You have to love the exuberance of young missionaries. They have so much energy, and truly love what they are doing. In November, they baptized 120 people. In December, it was 97 people.  The mission president has taken them from the lowest baptizing mission in Asia to the top.  One hundred people a month is 1200 people in a year!!   In January, they are approaching 180!!!

We  sang Christmas carols on Christmas Day in two hotels around Bangkok. They also sang at the hospitals.  Most people stopped and watched. Some actually joined our carols.  One thing for sure, they do love Christmas songs though they have never been dashing through the snow!!

The elves and reindeers

Caroling at hospital

 Christmas packages received from home for all the missionaries. A lot of work to get these to those out in country. Exciting time for them. everyone was calling the office to see if they had received a package.  We hope they all did.  Think about that with any missionaries you know that are out. They love receiving mail even in this day of Skype, Twitter, Facebook and emails.

Merry Christmas from Thailand