Merry Christmas to all!

We had a wonderful combined Udon branches Christmas party. The primary children sang "The Nativity Song" and presented the cutest manger scene!

This is often where I am found--

The Branch One choir performed "The First Christmas in Zarahemla". Their hard work really paid off. They put a lot of thought into their costumes and performed the narratives and music with great feeling. I give it a "WOW" rating.

The missionaries always give 100% support to the branches! We love our eight missionaries!

Two of our English students surprised us by attending the party. They said they really enjoyed it. Beam made us a lovely Christmas card and Sangchai gave us a beautiful "crown of thorns" plant he grew from seed. We really love our English students. 

Outside was a lot of activity--food, games, prizes, and visiting. The evening was well planned, well attended, and enjoyed by all.

We continued some Christmas traditions like baking Granny's cookies for home teaching families and friends.

We went to the market and bought watermelon, pineapple, and oranges to go with the cookies and fudge.The tiny little mandarin oranges are so sweet and juicy. All of the fruit is so good!

We had fun decorating the tree with the elders and sisters. (Notice two helpful missionaries in the background continuing to do dishes.)

Christmas Eve found us gathered in our apartment singing Christmas songs, reading Luke 2, and sharing feelings about families, missions, and the blessing of the birth, life, and atonement of our Savior.  It was a special time.

When all of a sudden, there arose such a clatter, we flew to the door to see what was the matter. Actually, it wasn't a clatter at all but joyous singing by some of our great friends from Branch One who came to wish us Merry Christmas! It was great fun! We gave them each a Danish butter cookie, hugs, and good wishes.

They came on motorcycles and in a red and green balloon-decorated tuk tuk driven by the Relief Society president. What a party!

We had Michael buy these stockings from the dollar store at home. The postage to get them here was four times the cost of the stockings, but Santa had to have something to work with. We filled them with cans of A&W rootbeer, oreos and other cookies, candy, apples and oranges. We also printed off several Christmas stories for them to enjoy. I think it was the first Christmas stocking for the Saengwians and Sister Sumittra. They all seemed pleased.

Christmas morning at 8:00 sharp, the missionaries were at our door for breakfast. Two pans of homemade cinnamon rolls, chocolate milk, fresh watermelon, pineapple, and somo.

There was excitement in the air because there was food to eat, presents to open, and Skype calls to be made to families soon.

Merry Christmas, Elder and Sister Brown!

 Everyone enjoyed seeing what was sent from home!

Sister Hatch added a Thailand Bangkok Mission ornament to our tree that her mother had sent her. We all want one, too!

After Skype calls and preparation at our house, we all gathered again for Christmas dinner: prime rib and beef tenderloin, loaded mashed potatoes, carrots, rolls, coconut cream pie, apple crisp, and cheese cake. There were no complaints about the food! Smiles all around!

Sister Embley, Sister Hatch, Sister Sumittra, Sister Tauteoli, Elder Martin, Elder Mageno, Elder Darby, and Elder Winsor

 The missionaries had to be back to their regular missionary work at 6:00 p.m. So, after all the busyness and cleanup, Ray and I settled down in front of the television to watch our favorite movie which he downloaded from I-tunes:

We both still get teary-eyed when we hear: "To my big brother, George, the richest man in town!"

Even though we were far away from our family, we were still able to stay close via technology. Matthew and Meghan called us early Christmas morning (Christmas Eve Utah time) to wish us Merry Christmas and give us our Christmas present. It was a beautiful memorial book for Emma which Meghan had put together on line and published. They showed it to us on FaceTime and sent us a digital copy by email. It was so sweet and we both cried. It is waiting for us when we get home in February.

Friday morning, the 26th, we FaceTimed/Skyped our kids after they finished their Christmas dinner at our house. They all gathered around the tree in our living room and we watched them open the gifts we had sent to them and the family gifts. They gave us a beautiful bronze statue titled "Eternal Companions". (More tears!) It is also waiting for us at home--much too heavy to send. We are so grateful for our wonderful family and their support of us. We love them!

It is a remarkable to be in a country that does not recognize Jesus Christ. We are grateful for Him. He is our great hope and salvation. We are so blessed and honored to serve in His name.