This is most of our group of Elders here in the Beira district. Wonderful group of hard working elders!!
On Christmas Eve, they all came to our apartment for a party and some of them to call their families. We are here in Elder and sister Castro Deus' apartment which is across the hall from us. They have a larger area that is open. Sonja and I furnished a baked potato bar, salad, rolls and chocolate cake and the elders brought soda. It is quite a feat to feed 38 young men who eat to fill their shoes! Before the meal we sang carols, learned the Mozambican National Anthem, read the Nativity and each took 1 minute to tell us their most special moment this year and small gift exchange. It was very, very nice.
This is our apartment, After dinner the elders from Manga, Dondo, Munhava and Inhamizua used all our electronics to Skype and call their families. While companions waited for their turn, we watched movies (Christmas Story and Christmas Carol), played a fun and fast paced card game and visited.
On Christmas Day, the Palmeiras and Baixa elders came over and called their families ( they live much closer to us). Larry made every elder a large cinnamon roll to enjoy after the phone calls. The elders LOVED them and for many was that little taste of home (for the others it was a new taste). It made for a very busy few days around our apartments.
By the end of the evening, the chappas had quit running (they don't go to Dondo anyway) so the Castro Deus took the Manga elders in the mission van and we piled the rest into our Ford Ranger truck and drove the Munhava, Dondo and Inhamizua elders home. It was quite the trip and in the states would have been really illegal!! Here it is just another chappa ride.
The Snelson's left the mission for home about the 17th....we will miss them but are glad they could spend Christmas with their family. We had a wonderful Christmas with the Castro Deus and the missionaries. We will always treasure our memories from here. Whenever I wear my African capulana that matches the one all the ladies from Inhamizua have I will remember Mozambique.
We enjoyed our last Christmas in Mozambique. Merry Christmas to one and all.
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