Maligayang Pasko!
It was an interesting Christmas. Good, but different.
People seem to have the spirit of christmas. They have a different kind of open-ness to the message of Christ. Especially here where people have a strong belief in Christ (although it's sometimes slightly skewed). The hard part is finding people who aren't busy. A lot of people leave for their provinces to spend Pasko. The people still here are very busy. Plus you have the constantly blasting karaoke coming from next door. The merry-making and alcohol drinking definitely makes it harder to share the Gospel. That is if you are lucky enough to survive the explosions from the bombs they set off that they call "fireworks." New Years is supposed to be far worse...some missionaries liken it to a war zone. Pray for me as I go to battle.
People tend to be a more generous. We went caroling as Priesthood holders two days before Christmas. As the Elders, we suggested most of the names of people we should visit and bring gifts to. This was a great opportunity to help people out that we care for so much. A lot of times I want to give people money or food or something, but we aren't allowed. The members purchased a lot of food and someone bought 16 leather-bound triple scriptures and put everything in grocery bags. It was great to see the gratitude on the people's faces, especially the people whom I know needed it the most.
The Christmas party... if you can even call it a Christmas party. It was more of a giant hip-hop dance performance. There were several different numbers in which the youth or single adults would do routine dances to inappropriate hip-hop songs. It was a riot. The title of the party was Our Ward's Got Talent. Like the tv show. The word Christmas wasn't even written anywhere. No Christmas colors. No tables to sit and eat food. Just a cultural hall and stage with lights, 20 inch speakers and a couple rows of chairs along the edges of the room creating a dance floor in the middle. The four of us elders planned to sing a Christmas song...then we saw what was going down. We had to fit in just a little or else we were going to be booed off the stage. 10 min before we performed we decided to interrupt Hark The Herald Angels Sing in the middle of it and have Elder B sing I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas while the rest of us interpretive danced. This went over well. The crowd loved it. We saved Christmas. After the party, the second counselor in the bishopric asked us about the music choices and asked us if they would have been used at our wards in the States... the truth had to be told. He was worried that was the case. Also, since the damage was already done, I performed a beat-box version of Santa Claus Is Coming To Town. This definitely earned me some street-credit with the ward members. It was a roundabout way of building relationships of trust...but it worked!
We also had a Christmas conference as a mission on Christmas Eve. President, his family and the APs spoke. There were musical performances. We watched videos from lds.org. We had a tie swap. They prepared a delicious meal for us. It was good.
I also want to thank everyone who contributed to the box of thoughts on note cards that my family sent to me. The messages you have shared with me have helped me during times that have been rough. I am thankful to have such good friends as you all. Thank you!
I sincerely hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and I wish you all a Maligong Bagong Taon!
Elder Stallings
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