Colombo Post Office Nativity

Last week we posted our blog before we had the opportunity to skype on Christmas Day with our children and grandchildren.  We had the privilege to see Jason's family, Mandy, and Parker's family opening their presents on Christmas morning.  We spent almost an hour with them watching and talking to them.  Then Kyle and his two boys, Wesley and Jonathen, skyped with us.  Wesley had a bag that his mom had made for him.  Inside the bag he had his Book of Mormon.  He was excited to take it to church with him.  I was touched that Wesley was so excited about his Book of Mormon.  We thank all of our children for making it possible for us to see and talk to them at this special Christmas time.  It made the distance seem not so far.
We have given two discussions this week.  Both men have been raised as Hindu.  It is interesting to teach someone who doesn't know about a God.  Robbie is 26 years old.  He has had two discussions and seems to be interested in the Church.  His girlfriend from India came so we will be unable to continue the discussions until his girlfriend leaves on the 7th of January. The other gentleman, Kumar, is around 50 years old.  He is a nice man but it is hard to read what he is thinking.  We ask for your prayers to help these men feel the Spirit.  We know if they feel the Spirit they will know what we are telling them is true.
We went with our friend, Maljini, to dinner on Monday night. We went to an India restaurant, Amrith.  We had Naan Bread with several different curries. I enjoyed it, I'm not sure about Elder Meyers. Maljini is a Buddhist.  She has made friends with several of the missionary couples that have been here.  She ask lots of questions about the Church but says she isn't interested in joining.  We met her at the Colombo Branch Christmas Party and we hit it off.  We are learning a little about the Buddhist also.
Brother Merrill was having chest pains so the doctor put him in the hospital.  We went to see him and he asked Elder Meyers for a blessing while we were there.  Anura, our tri-shaw driver, and Elder Meyers gave him a blessing.  Merrill is in a ward with 48 people.  There is no privacy so everyone is looking to see what is going on.  Even though they don't understand, they all get quiet as the blessing is given.  On the way back from the hospital Anura took us by the Buddhist temple.  We were there a few months back and took a picture of an old elephant.  That elephant died shortly after we saw him and they now have a new younger elephant.  I feel sad for this elephant because he will live the rest of his life in that one place, chained by the ankle.
New Year's Eve was an interesting night.  We attended the branch party that was held.  No one seemed to know what was happening.  When we got to the Church we saw a program.  Elder Meyers was on the program for a talk.  He quickly came up with an idea and did just fine.  I played the piano since no one else was present that could play.  There was no one to lead the music so we just sang.  After the program a dinner was served.  Sister Visaka had made all the food.  There were about 50 people in attendance.  We left around 9 pm and came home.  I think they were going to dance but I'm not sure.  Fireworks were being let off all through the night.  At midnight I got woke up by something that sounded like a bomb.  I am told that was the big fireworks display that Colombo does.  This morning as we went to Church we saw paper all over the streets from fireworks.
Tonight we had dinner at President Anton and Sis Ann's, we would say with them but really it was just us eating and them watching.  That is the custom here.  We had potato curry, chicken, fried rice, cucumber olive salad and ice cream.  We talked and played with Milli, Codi, Anjini and Jared.  We enjoyed the evening with them all.
We wish each of you a happy and prosperous 2012!

Robbie

Maljini

New elephant

Visaka