JOYEUX NOEL

Joyeux Noel Nos Amies,

It is Christmas in the Southern Hemisphere:  Twinkling red lights loop our balcony railing, the music of the season fills our few small rooms, Mr. Gecko is sporting a Santa hat, and we have six gorgeous red and lime green anthurium, the size of salad plates, on our dining room table.

We will celebrate Christmas with the missionaries on Monday, December 23, with a very special dinner, secret Santa gifts, a program, and the showing of The Christmas Devotional on a large screen TV in the St Denis primary room (more intimate).  Christmas is wonderful wherever you are in the world; as a friend of ours always told her children when they were away at Christmas, or any other time, "Make it special.  Create happy memories; it is up to you", and that is what we are trying to do.

Brent and I need to assure that each missionary is set up for that "all-important" phone call home, either on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.  The members are generous to share their homes, computers and telephones with the missionaries, but occasionally there will be a companionship whose arrangements fall through; we want to make sure that isn't a problem.  Holiday invitations have been warmly offered to us, but our first priority is to be a back-up for the missionaries, so we will be home in case they need to come here.  Later, on Christmas morning, one of he branch presidents has arranged to have all those in his branch, who are alone at Christmas, come to the branch to be together and enjoy a Christmas brunch.  His wife is cooking; they wanted to provide for their flock...probably five, who will be without anyone, (many people here have families in Madagascar) so we will happily share that time - and some of the preparations - with them.  After that...who knows? but it will be a Merry Christmas as WE also make OUR all-important phone call home.

May the warmth and wonder of this most blessed time of year fill your hearts and your homes.  Thank you for your prayers for the missionaries, and parents...THANK YOU FOR YOUR MISSIONARIES!

                                                    MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

PHOTO GALLERY:

At this time of year the Flamboyant - the tree of Christmas - blossom, and they are stunning!  The natives say, "We don't need to decorate for Christmas; the island decorates itself. " The tree down the road from our apartment is on a corner that we round several times a day.  This picture does NOT even begin to capture the beauty of it; I was so disappointed.

 The next two pictures are from Le Port; we took these pictures after district meeting.

This last picture is from the St Denis church parking lot.  If you look closely you can see our little white Yaris in the background patiently waiting until I find the right angle.  Notice how the fallen blossoms decorate the ground.  It really is so beautiful.

Now, we bring you the fruit of Christmas...the letchi.  You peel the top off the outside shell, squeeze the bottom, and this absolutely amazing flavor-filled ball pops into your mouth.  It has a seed the size of an oblong marble in the middle.  In late November, when they first appear, they can be as high as 10 euros a kilo, but now they are only 1.50 euros per kilo.  This morning, we bought 2 kilos...a big sack, soon to be eaten.

We wish we could send some of these home to you; we guarantee that you would love them.  You buy them in bunches still on the stem, OR if you are really feeling extravagant, you can buy them without stems.

Finally, let us introduce you to... the people in centre ville, enjoying the season, shopping, talking, and some school children taking a field trip, all dressed in red and white.

      A little holiday cheer "chez nous" (at our house).  Three of the sister missionaries live just above us.          They actually have a tree with lights, but it wasn't on when we took this picture.

WE'RE DREAMING OF A WHITE CHRISTMAS!

WITH MUCH LOVE AND GRATITUDE,

THE CASTAWAYS