During this Christmas season as we celebrate our Savior's birth, we remember the glad news the angel announced to Mary, and later, to the shepherds keeping watch over their sheep: "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord." We remember this glad news. At a special Area Presidency Christmas FHE Devotional, Elder Ellis reminded us that the angel also said, "Fear not" during this momentous occasion. Notice how many times this was said in the time of preparation for the birth of the Lord. When the angel of the Lord first appeared to Zacharias in the temple he was troubled and fear fell upon him. But the angel said unto him, "Fear not, Zacharias, for thy prayer is heard;" (Luke 1:13). The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream saying, "fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife.." (Matt 1:20) When the angel appeared to Mary she was troubled at his saying. And the angel said unto her, "Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God." (Luke 1:30) And on the night of the Lord's birth, when the angel appeared to the shepherds, they were "sore afraid". And the angel said unto them: "Fear not, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people". (Luke 2:10).
It seems a strange thing to speak of fear at Christmas time. It is a time of great joy and gladness. But the angels did tell Zacharis, Joseph, Mary and the shepherds to "Fear Not". I believe the fact is that we cannot feel joy and gladness while we are afraid. So part of the miracle of Christmas time is how our Savior has taken away our fears by His coming. The fear of the unknown God so he came so we can know God; fear of the evil that surrounds us so he showed us how to live amidst sin and temptation; fear of being alone in the world so he taught us that God is always there for us; and the fear of death so he overcame death and was resurrected.
We like Zacharias, Joseph, Mary and the shepherds should "Fear Not" as we journey through this life. At Christmas, as we think of the Lord's birth, we can think of all of the things He has done to take fear out of our lives. Let's not only celebrate the peace our Savior brought to the world but also the fear he took away.
The first few days of this week was spent in the center working on French oral histories, finding pictures and a layout for an area Church History poster that we are developing, watching the First Presidency Christmas devotional and enjoying the wonderful people that call this land home. On Tuesday, I helped out at the Gatehouse with 19 children from Congo and Zimbabwe. I so enjoyed my time with them as they waited to be sealed to their parents and family. We also had a special lunch with Cecil Wood, the maintenance man for the area office, and his two daughters. I have been anxious to meet them because he talks so fondly of them. So we made arrangements for them to visit the area office and have lunch with us and enjoy a chocolate cake that I made. We also had a surprise visit from the Shongwe's and Chosen. I love surprises like this. Mac spent the night with us. Love that we have a place where people can come.
A group from Zimbabwe...love these people that we get to meet in patron housing
Elder Greg Weeks bought ice cream cones for all the kids in the canteen. They were delighted!
Thursday, 10 December President and Sister Ellis of the area presidency, invited the senior couples over to watch Scrooge, the musical, a Christmas tradition for them. Don't remember seeing it before and was so glad that they invited us to join one of their traditions.
Dinner at Mike's Place before our evening of Scrooge!
11 December was only a half day in the office. At noon the entire area office employees and missionaries, joined together at Sunnyside Hotel for a Christmas devotional and luncheon. The program was great with music and spoken word.
Saturday, 12 December we arose early and joined Greg and Shirley Weeks at Irene Market. We had a great time. We later went to the Irene Farm, Monte Casino where we bought tickets to the play of Singin In The Rain. In the afternoon Dominic and his family came over for a surprise visit, we visited Elder and Sister Beckstrand and Dennis met a man in the lobby that is an inactive member but expressed his desire to have the missionaries come teach his wife, child and him. A great invitation.
This is about the only Christmas decoration we saw.....but look how cute! It danced for us.
Me and Sherry Weeks
Dominic and his family come to visit
Sunday we drove for over an hour to visit the Witbank Branch where one of our former elders. Edwin Kuwanatsoka, in Swaziland was just set apart as the branch president. He looked quite comfortable in front of the pulpit. We met some amazing people, trained the branch clerk and was able to help Santa Claus deliver treats to the Primary children. They go home after Sunday School because it is a 2 hour block because of the lack of attendance in the branch. It was once a ward, gone down to a branch and now may be dissolved into other branches because of the non growth. I pray that President Kuwanatsoka can use his spirit and leadership skills (he was AP) to turn the tide in this branch. Great people.
Tony Parsons, Witbank Branch Clerk
Dennis, Edwin Kuwanatsoka and Me
I have never experienced a mass exodus until 14 December here in the area office. Seriously, we arrived Monday and there were many employees and senior couples gone. Tuesday, even more disappeared, Wednesday was a national holiday and Thursday there was just a skeleton crew. It was hard to accomplish what we needed to do but still had plenty to finish up. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday we worked in the center, did oral histories, worked on a Church History poster for all units in the Africa Southeast Area, attended a special devotional the Area Presidency put on for the senior couples in their garage, hosted Tami and Betty from America in our home, played games, delivered Secret Santa, went to Irene's again and attended a 60th birthday party for Dominic's mother.
Area Presidency Christmas FHE Devotional in their garage
Tami and Betty come to visit South Afria
Wednesday, 16 December was a national holiday and the office was closed, so we went back to Irene's Market with couples that had never been there before.....Sister Walton and Peterson, Grafs and Powells. This is the last day it will be open until February.
Celebrating 60 years of a wonderful life
Mabel Tshabalala
"Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people, for unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior which is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:11)
9 December, 1972 our life changed forever......our first child was born. There was no other parents on the planet that was as thrilled as we were. We began our journey as parents with our little son, Ty Allen Lombardi. Happy Birthday to a son that we are so proud of. You have made this journey a joy.
16 December is a special day in our family- Cassie's birthday. We are so blessed to have her in our family and grateful that 15 years ago on 21 December, our son Koy chose to marry this special young lady in the Salt Lake Temple. HAPPY BIRTHDAY and HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!
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