January 21, 2010
Dear Family, Friends & Loved Ones.
On our P-Day Sister O and I went to a large train museum with our RS Pres. Sonja and her daughter Sonika and her baby. It took about 3 hours and was really interesting. It was mainly all about the history of the steam engine etc. with a lot of old trains. They also had a lot of old antique cars and some old buggies and stage coaches. They also had a large display of small electric trains that you could run. That was really worth seeing. Bonnie and Bob will love seeing the Train Museum.
I got sick with a flue bug and then Sister O got it but we are fine now. There are a lot of people around and some of the Elders don't and have not felt to well. Sister O couldn't get out of bed one morning her neck hurt so bad. It had been bothering her for some time. I finally talked her into going to a Chiropractor and after a couple of treatments she is doing good now.
We are seeing Clifton & Elizabeth again as they called us and want us to come and visit again. I think he has his problems worked out and they seem to be good now. We are so anxious for Clifton to get his divorce finalized so that he can marry Elizabeth and they can get baptized. I guess it is one step at a time and in the Lords Way. We are still making a lot of visits and fellow shipping but I won't go into all of that unless something special happens.
We have had a few fairly warm days but nothing very bad. There has been some really hot days in Cape Town, between 40 & 44' C. Our nights have always cooled off nice though. It is good! If only it would rain a LOT so we could have more water. I guess you can say we are in Africa and have only a little water. taking a bath is out of the question for a while I guess. Oh well we do what we have too.
Another Senior couple came by a stayed to night on the way to Cape Town and back It is always fun to have them as we can go out to dinner, and play some games with them. We played pollock rummy and a Golf cards game. We really enjoy that a LOT. It is so nice to be able to do something fun once in a while.
We visited a new investigator last week referred by a new member friend the Olivier's. She seems very interested and I think she will be really good in time. She only has a 2 room house. The Kitchen, Living room and Bathroom combination. We had to sit on the corners of the bed and on a small chest of drawers. There was only one stool in the Kitchen and there wasn't room to bring it into the Bedroom.
On Saturday Jan 16 the Elders & I did a service project. We were going to help an investigator Sister move. We thought this would be very simple, she has a small place and not a lot of furnishings. We were moving it to her daughters place which was right behind the lot she was on and over one. The corners of the lots connected. Well after that she wanted the whole house dissembled and moved. We took the roof off which was a tin roof. Then we took what paneling etc off that she had and room separators. Then we took down all the walls. We had to separate the walls in ½ and then carry the walls over to the other lot. We put everything on the ground as there was no cement slab, no footing or anything. That took us about 4 hr. Then this lady wanted us to assemble it all back together on bare ground. This is impossible with no foundation or any thing. No nails or anything. All we had was 2 hammers to work with. I think she was disappointed that we couldn't
> do that all in one day.
Anyway that was quite an experience and we were really tired. (well I was any way) Ha!! She couldn't believe I was 72 :)
On Sunday we had our YM Pres. by the name of Shephard to be confirmed to the Mel. PH and to be ordained to an Elder and he wanted me to do it from him I was happy for the opportunity to do this for him. I do this as Pres Matsaluka was there an is such a good man as was our Mission Pres. Pres. Probst. Shephard asked me about a month ago when he knew that he would receive the Mel. PH. It took that long to get it done. Then Sister Day in our branch asked Sister O if I would come over on Sunday afternoon and give her a blessing and I was grateful for this opportunity as well. We receive blessings in so many ways when we give them. I know there are many struggles on a mission but it comes back two fold.
On one morning last week our RS Pres. Sister Sonja & Sister O asked me to take them to play Golf for 9 holes and let them try it. I was skeptical about this but it turned our OK and quite fun. They did much better then I thought and they had a lot of fun. Sister O asked me if she was to old to learn and I told her NO, so I think she wants to try some more. I will probably end up being a golf widower.
We also had a young couple that was recently baptized ask us Sunday after our SS class if we could teach a couple that are friends of theirs about the gospel. We said we would be happy to. They live in Oudtshoorn which is about an hour drive away. That is a little out of our area but being a senior couple we are allowed to do this. They want to contact them first and make sure they are interested in seeing us and hearing about the gospel and he will let us know. But he is sure they will want to hear about the gospel.
Well I guess it is time to close but first we want all of you to know how much Sister O and I LOVE the gospel of Jesus Christ. It brings so much love into our lives and helps us to love each of you even more with the knowledge that we all can be an eternal family and that is so important. There is only 2 things in life that really matter, and that is the gospel of Jesus Christ and ones family and the knowing that we can be sealed together for ever. This is so comforting and it makes one want to live life to be worthy of the blessings. We must be forgiving of each others and the weaknesses just as our Savior did and has are we will come up short. This is a commandment from our Heavenly Father. Sister O and I Love all of you so much and are so grateful for such a wonderful family. Thank you all for your LOVE and your prayers for us.
I wrote earlier if any of you would be willing and able to donate a little each month to be put into an account for our African Son George to go on a mission. We only receive one response from on person. "THANKS JACK"
If you can please let me know so I can set up an account with someone in American to take care of this for us. I promise that your lives will be blessed and we all need the blessings of our Father in Heaven.
Remember we love hearing from you at any time. Don't for get us in Africa PLEASE let us hear from you often.
Love to all from the O'Dell
Friday, January 22, 2010
Saturday, January 9, 2010
New Years Letter from SA 2010
January 8th 2010
Dear Family, Friends & Loved Ones.
Well the holidays are over and we survived. They were great because we got to talk to all of our families. That's what makes Holidays so special.
On Saturday after Christmas, Sister O & I had Gary & John O over for a braai with the Elder Cane and Cooney. We had been wanting to do this for some time. Just as we set down to eat we received a call from Sonja Sister asking me to come and come right now they need us to come and help them sort something out. It sounded like we really needed to come right over. Sister O and Sonja (Branch RSP) are really good friends. When we got there Sonja was having a serious depression, she was having a very hard time coping with all that had been going on with her ex husband. So sister O talk her into coming home with us for the night so she could take care of her. Sister O stayed by her and talked to her for a long while. Then neither of them went to church they stayed home and tried to help her get things sorted out. She is fine now and doing well. Hard times sometime really get to us.
Also on Saturday night I was ask to talk in church plus I had my SS class to teach as well. I Believe my talk turned out very good, and I was happy with it . About ½ the people there said how much they enjoy my talk. We had a lot of members missing because of the Holidays, but we had a lot of visitors there to take there place. They have a month Holiday here for Christmas time.
For Sunday dinner we had a braai, mostly what was left over from Christmas. Sister O had been so busy with Christmas and Sonja she didn't have much time and she needed some rest.
Well on Monday P-Day the Elders and I played golf at a small course near Knysna. It was a par 55 and I shot a 60 and I was very happy with that. Missionary work is slow right now as so many people are out of town on holiday. We visited with Gary and john O on Tuesday and things are looking good that they will be married and baptized. On Wednesday we spent a few more hours with them and they said they were going to be married and baptized. This is so thrilling to us to have them commit to having the gospel in there lives. They have wanted baptism but there smoking problem was hard to get through.
Sister O is sort of having a crisis at this time. The water problem is so bad that our landlord suggested doing our laundry at a laundry-mat and to save our bath and shower water to flush toilets with and to try and cut down on using so much water for baths. This is really hard for sister O as she likes to go swimming when she takes a bath.
Well today is Thursday New Years Eve. We are going to pick up the Knysna Elders and go to Tsitsikamma to visit George and begin teaching his cousin Elizabeth. It is 233K to there from our home. We usually meet at Plettenberg Baai. But we didn't want him to hiking on New Years Eve as it is not safe with so many drunk drivers. We taught from the Ensign on the talk by Elder Holland on the Book of Mormon. Elizabeth is a very intelligent person and a sweet lady and she really wants to learn more about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She has a one and ½ month old baby boy and wants us to come to Knysna on Sunday to give her son a name and a blessing and I said I would. So that means that I will have to get a substitute for our Sunday School Class.
We had all the Elders for New Years Eve. Then Knysna Elders came over to do a Baptismal interview with Gary & John O as the plans are that they will be married and baptized on Saturday. About 9pm on New Years Eve I went with the Elders to the Church and we watched he latest Harry Potter movie titled "Half Blood Prince" It was over at 12 midnight. It seemed so strange that it is already 2010 time flies so fast.
Well today is Saturday January 2, 2010 and we survived the new year ( Boy was that hard) and it will be and exciting day. Sister O and I are taking Gary and John O and Sonja for the Wedding at noon at the Knysna Chapel. It was a beautiful wedding. Pres. Atkinson and they both looked so nice. I think we are as excited as they are. We then went back to George for the baptismal service, but first we took them to the Botanical Gardens for a lot of wedding pictures. They look so happy together.
I gave a talk on baptism and being confirmed and receiving the Holy Ghost. Then we went to the river for the Baptisms. I baptized Gary and Elder Cooney baptized John O. This was so exciting as we have been working with them a long time. John O told us that this was the Happiest Day of her Life. That was so great to her she really did look happy and excited and we were so happy for them. That evening Sister O and I took them and Sonja out to dinner for a wedding president. Today is Sunday and the day of their confirmation. I really hated to miss this as they wanted me to confirm them, but I had already committed to give a blessing to Elizabeth's baby son in Knysna. We also heard that John O bore her testimony and that she did a beautiful job and almost every one was in tears. After the blessing of Elizabeth's son we gave her a lesson on the restoration. She seems very excited and interested in learning about the gospel. I'm sure she will embrace the gospel as did George and be very strong in the gospel. There missionary experiences can be so wonderful and we again encourage more of you senior couples to think about going on a mission and enjoy these wonderful blessings.
We sew a movie for FHE at Sonja's last night with Gary and John O It was called "Mr. Bones" part one. I hope all of you can find a copy of this and watch it. You can see the real Africa if you can survive all the laughing. It is so funny.
Well it is time to close and to tell you how much we love and miss all of you. Sister O and I are so lucky too have such wonderful families. You are all so Great and we are so proud of all of you and we really do love and miss you.
Elder & Sister O'Dell
Mom, Dad Linda & Woody
Grandpa Papa Grandpa Woody Linda Grandma
Dear Family, Friends & Loved Ones.
Well the holidays are over and we survived. They were great because we got to talk to all of our families. That's what makes Holidays so special.
On Saturday after Christmas, Sister O & I had Gary & John O over for a braai with the Elder Cane and Cooney. We had been wanting to do this for some time. Just as we set down to eat we received a call from Sonja Sister asking me to come and come right now they need us to come and help them sort something out. It sounded like we really needed to come right over. Sister O and Sonja (Branch RSP) are really good friends. When we got there Sonja was having a serious depression, she was having a very hard time coping with all that had been going on with her ex husband. So sister O talk her into coming home with us for the night so she could take care of her. Sister O stayed by her and talked to her for a long while. Then neither of them went to church they stayed home and tried to help her get things sorted out. She is fine now and doing well. Hard times sometime really get to us.
Also on Saturday night I was ask to talk in church plus I had my SS class to teach as well. I Believe my talk turned out very good, and I was happy with it . About ½ the people there said how much they enjoy my talk. We had a lot of members missing because of the Holidays, but we had a lot of visitors there to take there place. They have a month Holiday here for Christmas time.
For Sunday dinner we had a braai, mostly what was left over from Christmas. Sister O had been so busy with Christmas and Sonja she didn't have much time and she needed some rest.
Well on Monday P-Day the Elders and I played golf at a small course near Knysna. It was a par 55 and I shot a 60 and I was very happy with that. Missionary work is slow right now as so many people are out of town on holiday. We visited with Gary and john O on Tuesday and things are looking good that they will be married and baptized. On Wednesday we spent a few more hours with them and they said they were going to be married and baptized. This is so thrilling to us to have them commit to having the gospel in there lives. They have wanted baptism but there smoking problem was hard to get through.
Sister O is sort of having a crisis at this time. The water problem is so bad that our landlord suggested doing our laundry at a laundry-mat and to save our bath and shower water to flush toilets with and to try and cut down on using so much water for baths. This is really hard for sister O as she likes to go swimming when she takes a bath.
Well today is Thursday New Years Eve. We are going to pick up the Knysna Elders and go to Tsitsikamma to visit George and begin teaching his cousin Elizabeth. It is 233K to there from our home. We usually meet at Plettenberg Baai. But we didn't want him to hiking on New Years Eve as it is not safe with so many drunk drivers. We taught from the Ensign on the talk by Elder Holland on the Book of Mormon. Elizabeth is a very intelligent person and a sweet lady and she really wants to learn more about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She has a one and ½ month old baby boy and wants us to come to Knysna on Sunday to give her son a name and a blessing and I said I would. So that means that I will have to get a substitute for our Sunday School Class.
We had all the Elders for New Years Eve. Then Knysna Elders came over to do a Baptismal interview with Gary & John O as the plans are that they will be married and baptized on Saturday. About 9pm on New Years Eve I went with the Elders to the Church and we watched he latest Harry Potter movie titled "Half Blood Prince" It was over at 12 midnight. It seemed so strange that it is already 2010 time flies so fast.
Well today is Saturday January 2, 2010 and we survived the new year ( Boy was that hard) and it will be and exciting day. Sister O and I are taking Gary and John O and Sonja for the Wedding at noon at the Knysna Chapel. It was a beautiful wedding. Pres. Atkinson and they both looked so nice. I think we are as excited as they are. We then went back to George for the baptismal service, but first we took them to the Botanical Gardens for a lot of wedding pictures. They look so happy together.
I gave a talk on baptism and being confirmed and receiving the Holy Ghost. Then we went to the river for the Baptisms. I baptized Gary and Elder Cooney baptized John O. This was so exciting as we have been working with them a long time. John O told us that this was the Happiest Day of her Life. That was so great to her she really did look happy and excited and we were so happy for them. That evening Sister O and I took them and Sonja out to dinner for a wedding president. Today is Sunday and the day of their confirmation. I really hated to miss this as they wanted me to confirm them, but I had already committed to give a blessing to Elizabeth's baby son in Knysna. We also heard that John O bore her testimony and that she did a beautiful job and almost every one was in tears. After the blessing of Elizabeth's son we gave her a lesson on the restoration. She seems very excited and interested in learning about the gospel. I'm sure she will embrace the gospel as did George and be very strong in the gospel. There missionary experiences can be so wonderful and we again encourage more of you senior couples to think about going on a mission and enjoy these wonderful blessings.
We sew a movie for FHE at Sonja's last night with Gary and John O It was called "Mr. Bones" part one. I hope all of you can find a copy of this and watch it. You can see the real Africa if you can survive all the laughing. It is so funny.
Well it is time to close and to tell you how much we love and miss all of you. Sister O and I are so lucky too have such wonderful families. You are all so Great and we are so proud of all of you and we really do love and miss you.
Elder & Sister O'Dell
Mom, Dad Linda & Woody
Grandpa Papa Grandpa Woody Linda Grandma
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Christmas Letter from SA
Elder Cooney opening his gift in his grandmother's robe.
Elder O in his Africa shirt
Sister O in her Africa Dress
Sister O Opening her Gifts
Elder O in his new pointed toe shoes
Sister O in the trunk of the car; she can't stand to say good by to the Elders on Transfer Day!
All the Elders going to zone conference
All the Elders around the tree on Christmas Day
Dear Family, Friends & Loved Ones,
Well it was the night before Christmas and now it is the morning after Christmas and we hope everyone had a GREAT Christmas and survived. We are a little behind in writing so we can't get into as much detail as usual. Our Branch Conference on Dec. 12 & 13 was Great. We had a really large and enjoyable SS class.
On Monday, P-Day Elder Caine & Cooney had to work as they took an afternoon off last week to watch some rugby. There were teams here from all over the world and it was fun to watch. I took Elder Mathipa & Moyo golfing. It was Elder Moyos first time and he really did good. I was happy as I was only 3 over and for an old man, I will settle for that.
We had a number of lessons and visits during the week and all seemed to go good and especially Gerard & Desiree. They left on Wed. to go to there farm and then to France for the Holidays. They gave presents to all of us and we thought that was so nice. We left at 7am on Friday to go to Zone Conference in PE. We stopped in Tsitsikamma to see George and to try and teach his Aunt. It was rainy and foggy and they were not there. We couldn't even see the bridge because of the fog. We the went to Storms River Mouth to see a large suspension bridge. It was about a 1k walk to get there and Sister O didn't go because she had no walking shoes. When we got there, there were actually 3 swinging bridges. It was really neat and see and walk over.
At Zone Conference we had lots of good pizza for dinner. Then we all watched a really good movie called The Christmas Shoes. Then the Elders did a talent show it was very good and entertaining and we all enjoyed it and most of the Elders did something. On Saturday we had a Great conference from 8am until 3:30pm. They had a lunch of chicken and salads etc. We got home at 9:30pm. Well that night I got really sick (and I mean really sick) with food poisoning. I was up all night. I went to church as I needed to take care of my SS class but they sent me home after Church.
For Sunday Dinner we had a braai of Hamburgers and Corn on the Cob. I had the Elders do the cooking. We found out that about ½ of the people at Zone Conference got food poisoning. Pres. Probst got really sick with it as well. Well this coming week we don't have a lot of Missionary work planned. On P-Day (Monday) we went to a place called Jubilee Creek. Sonja our RR President has wanted to take us there for quite a long time. It was close to Knysna there was a water-fall she wanted to take us to. It was about a ½ hour hike. Well the area is dry and short on water. They water fall was only a trickle. It was more like a garden hoes running. We will have to go when there is more water. There was a deep pool where a lot of people were swimming and jumping in. Where we parked the cars, there was a large grassy area with tables etc. The creek was running with more water there. We had a nice picnic when we got back there.
On the way home, Sister O and I stopped at an area called Buffel's Baai. It was beautiful we want to go back again when we can take pictures because it is so beautiful. That night we had FHE at the Pangel's house with Gary and John O Leen The Elders were there also. Sister O stopped and got some sweets for refreshments. Sister O essentially did everything. She did most of the Christmas Story, helped the children sing and then led us all in some carols. Then it was time to go home again, and I was really glad as I was getting sick again.
On Tuesday we went shopping for Christmas Dinner etc. We got a lot of toys and etc for stocking and things to wrap for the Elders.
We had 2 senior coupes by in the evening the Harms & Forsgren's. They wanted us to go and spend some time with them the next day. We met them and had a nice breakfast. We then went to Oudtshoorn to the Cango Caves and then to and Ostrich farm. I got nice bruise on my lip as the guide had 4 men hold a food in our mouths and the Ostrich would peck it off. Well she pecked it off really good, I guess I got a harder kiss then normal. It was time for dinner when we got home. After dinner we went to Victoria Baai and set on some rocks and visited and enjoyed the gorgeous view. We enjoyed the gorgeous view for about an hour.
On Thursday we took some sweets and cookies (that sister O cooked) to some families that we have bee working with and it was a lot of fun. Christmas is very different here. It is summer time, none of the homes we have been to decorate there homes, no trees up, no presents etc. They all talk about Christmas but you don't see much evidence of it. They mall is so crowded with shoppers so I guess some of them at least give gifts.
Christmas eve was very special for Sister O and I as the Elders took us out to a nice restaurant and stake dinner and they payed for it. They picked us up, opened the doors for us and everything. We thought that was wonderful on there part. On Christmas AM Sister O family called us at 3am our time and we got to talk to everyone. That was fun and great. We called my family at 4:15am. It is so wonderful to talk and hear from family. I wished we had talked to the grandchildren but we didn't. All the Elders came over on Christmas Morning and went through their stockings we opened gifts and so forth. We drew names for a small gift of each other. Sister O and I fixed a nice breakfast of cantaloupe, cinnamon rolls, bacon and eggs and french toast. We all ate too much. We then did the dishes and the Elders and I went to play Golf. After Golf we came home and had a Braai of stake, lamb chops, bor wors and sister O had potato salad, green salad and Vega's, fruit salad and all kind of sweets for desert. It turned out to be a wonderful day. It made it so special that we had a wonderful prayer together offered by Sister O. I love her so much! Then the Elders made their calls to home which took several hours. We let the American Elders use the Vonage phone to call home. They all left about 10pm to go home.
I tried to call Connie and her family but didn't reach them. Then I called my Sister Norma and Russ, and my Brother Wayne was there so that saved me a call. Sister O Called her best Friend Pam, her brother Jack but couldn't reach her sister Bonnie. All in all it turned out to be a wonderful Christmas. As good as it could have been with out being with family. We thank you for all the wonderful gifts you sent, we love them all and our beautiful day.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL ! Talk with you next week We hope you miss us as we miss you!!
Love Elder & Sister O'Dell
Mom & Dad Linda & Woody
Grandpa, Papa, Grandpa Woody & Grandma
Elder O in his Africa shirt
Sister O in her Africa Dress
Sister O Opening her Gifts
Elder O in his new pointed toe shoes
Sister O in the trunk of the car; she can't stand to say good by to the Elders on Transfer Day!
All the Elders going to zone conference
All the Elders around the tree on Christmas Day
December 26, 2009
Dear Family, Friends & Loved Ones,
Well it was the night before Christmas and now it is the morning after Christmas and we hope everyone had a GREAT Christmas and survived. We are a little behind in writing so we can't get into as much detail as usual. Our Branch Conference on Dec. 12 & 13 was Great. We had a really large and enjoyable SS class.
On Monday, P-Day Elder Caine & Cooney had to work as they took an afternoon off last week to watch some rugby. There were teams here from all over the world and it was fun to watch. I took Elder Mathipa & Moyo golfing. It was Elder Moyos first time and he really did good. I was happy as I was only 3 over and for an old man, I will settle for that.
We had a number of lessons and visits during the week and all seemed to go good and especially Gerard & Desiree. They left on Wed. to go to there farm and then to France for the Holidays. They gave presents to all of us and we thought that was so nice. We left at 7am on Friday to go to Zone Conference in PE. We stopped in Tsitsikamma to see George and to try and teach his Aunt. It was rainy and foggy and they were not there. We couldn't even see the bridge because of the fog. We the went to Storms River Mouth to see a large suspension bridge. It was about a 1k walk to get there and Sister O didn't go because she had no walking shoes. When we got there, there were actually 3 swinging bridges. It was really neat and see and walk over.
At Zone Conference we had lots of good pizza for dinner. Then we all watched a really good movie called The Christmas Shoes. Then the Elders did a talent show it was very good and entertaining and we all enjoyed it and most of the Elders did something. On Saturday we had a Great conference from 8am until 3:30pm. They had a lunch of chicken and salads etc. We got home at 9:30pm. Well that night I got really sick (and I mean really sick) with food poisoning. I was up all night. I went to church as I needed to take care of my SS class but they sent me home after Church.
For Sunday Dinner we had a braai of Hamburgers and Corn on the Cob. I had the Elders do the cooking. We found out that about ½ of the people at Zone Conference got food poisoning. Pres. Probst got really sick with it as well. Well this coming week we don't have a lot of Missionary work planned. On P-Day (Monday) we went to a place called Jubilee Creek. Sonja our RR President has wanted to take us there for quite a long time. It was close to Knysna there was a water-fall she wanted to take us to. It was about a ½ hour hike. Well the area is dry and short on water. They water fall was only a trickle. It was more like a garden hoes running. We will have to go when there is more water. There was a deep pool where a lot of people were swimming and jumping in. Where we parked the cars, there was a large grassy area with tables etc. The creek was running with more water there. We had a nice picnic when we got back there.
On the way home, Sister O and I stopped at an area called Buffel's Baai. It was beautiful we want to go back again when we can take pictures because it is so beautiful. That night we had FHE at the Pangel's house with Gary and John O Leen The Elders were there also. Sister O stopped and got some sweets for refreshments. Sister O essentially did everything. She did most of the Christmas Story, helped the children sing and then led us all in some carols. Then it was time to go home again, and I was really glad as I was getting sick again.
On Tuesday we went shopping for Christmas Dinner etc. We got a lot of toys and etc for stocking and things to wrap for the Elders.
We had 2 senior coupes by in the evening the Harms & Forsgren's. They wanted us to go and spend some time with them the next day. We met them and had a nice breakfast. We then went to Oudtshoorn to the Cango Caves and then to and Ostrich farm. I got nice bruise on my lip as the guide had 4 men hold a food in our mouths and the Ostrich would peck it off. Well she pecked it off really good, I guess I got a harder kiss then normal. It was time for dinner when we got home. After dinner we went to Victoria Baai and set on some rocks and visited and enjoyed the gorgeous view. We enjoyed the gorgeous view for about an hour.
On Thursday we took some sweets and cookies (that sister O cooked) to some families that we have bee working with and it was a lot of fun. Christmas is very different here. It is summer time, none of the homes we have been to decorate there homes, no trees up, no presents etc. They all talk about Christmas but you don't see much evidence of it. They mall is so crowded with shoppers so I guess some of them at least give gifts.
Christmas eve was very special for Sister O and I as the Elders took us out to a nice restaurant and stake dinner and they payed for it. They picked us up, opened the doors for us and everything. We thought that was wonderful on there part. On Christmas AM Sister O family called us at 3am our time and we got to talk to everyone. That was fun and great. We called my family at 4:15am. It is so wonderful to talk and hear from family. I wished we had talked to the grandchildren but we didn't. All the Elders came over on Christmas Morning and went through their stockings we opened gifts and so forth. We drew names for a small gift of each other. Sister O and I fixed a nice breakfast of cantaloupe, cinnamon rolls, bacon and eggs and french toast. We all ate too much. We then did the dishes and the Elders and I went to play Golf. After Golf we came home and had a Braai of stake, lamb chops, bor wors and sister O had potato salad, green salad and Vega's, fruit salad and all kind of sweets for desert. It turned out to be a wonderful day. It made it so special that we had a wonderful prayer together offered by Sister O. I love her so much! Then the Elders made their calls to home which took several hours. We let the American Elders use the Vonage phone to call home. They all left about 10pm to go home.
I tried to call Connie and her family but didn't reach them. Then I called my Sister Norma and Russ, and my Brother Wayne was there so that saved me a call. Sister O Called her best Friend Pam, her brother Jack but couldn't reach her sister Bonnie. All in all it turned out to be a wonderful Christmas. As good as it could have been with out being with family. We thank you for all the wonderful gifts you sent, we love them all and our beautiful day.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL ! Talk with you next week We hope you miss us as we miss you!!
Love Elder & Sister O'Dell
Mom & Dad Linda & Woody
Grandpa, Papa, Grandpa Woody & Grandma
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