I love that your ward choir is getting ready for Christmas, so is our branch choir. They sing ´´Christmas Carols´´ in the middle of the city here December 8th. I guess it is a real crowd pleaser. They really do call it ´´Christmas Carols´´ which is funny to hear them speak in porguese from the pulpit on Sunday:
``Então Irmãos, vamos preparar pela actividade das Christmas Carols, vai ser divertido e a uma boa oportunidade para compartilhar O Evangelho....``
So great. I was telling Bil in my response to his email that this Branch is uniquein a lot of ways. For one they have a lot of people who speak english perfectly and they love to celebrate American holidays. It is a riot. The halloween party we threw was a big hit and then for Thanksgiving they threw a dinner. The missioanries ate for free! There was turkey and potatoes and ´´stuffing´´ and chocolate mouse for dessert. I don´t know who remembers how much I LOVE Thanksgiving, but it was a huge blessing to have this cozy branch dinner.
After everyone ate their dinner, the branch president got up to talk a bit about the importance of the dinner. He said that this was a tradition in the branch for years. He explained that in the United States Thanksgiving is comparable to Christmas in it´s importance and that they have always had this dinner for the missionaries sake. Because they are far from home and the branch wants to take care of them.... It was so tender. They gave the four of us (the elders and us) keychains to always remember the Island. It was so great. So Thanksgiving was really special.
Also the city of Ponta Delgada is decked out in full blown Christmas cheer!!!! There are christmas lights lining every cobblestone street and ally. The mian part of the city is in the Elder´s area which is probably a good thing because Imra morrison and I would get easily distracted by the spectacular displays. My favorite part is how no one here holds back with saying ´´Feliz Natal´´. or ´´Merry Christmas´´. ´´Happy holidays´´ or ´´boas festas´´ is rarely seen in the store windows. It ALL about Christmas. It´s different than back home. Kinda cool. Kinda different.
The weather is absolutely nuts now. flash floods one minute, beautiful clear skies the next. The ocean is out of this world. I can easily say it is the most beautiful sight I´ve ever seen. We walk to our appointments and gaze out across this vast ocean right by our side...its so humbling.
Sorry it´s short this week. I love you all.
Irma McCrery
Ok i´m trying to attach photos
1st- Me loving my food at Thanksgiving...Eldr Mateer thinks he loves Thanksgiving more than me...not possible.
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