Bonjour tout le monde!

Bonjour tout le monde!

Wow this week was packed with stuff! As a missionary this time of the year is such a great time to talk about Christ and to serve and that is basically what we did all week. Our senior couple, Elder and Sister Dimond, organized two days where we got to show the church’s new christmas video right outside the two church buildings and it was so great. We had our whole district working both of the days talking and handing out brochures to everyone. There were a lot of people who were very interested and enjoyed watching the video. I got really sunburned those days, which is not normally what happens during this time of year but it happened here which was fun. I also got to help with the first district primary activity they had ever put on. It made me so happy to see all the little kids in our district dressed up as either a sheperd or an angel. Then the missionaries helped run all the games and holy cow that was exhausting. My station was pin the star on the christmas tree with Elder Kite and it was fun, but the kids were soo excited to play. Telling them to get in lines and to give us some space was a little difficult, but in the end everyone was happy so it worked out.

Christmas day was pretty great too. We woke up at 430 in the morning to 5 guys who were “caroling” with their instruments to celebrate the holiday. It was so early and it created a few grumpy missionaries but I really enjoyed it. There were 2 playing the trombone, 2 playing huge drums, and another playing the trumpet. We heard them nearly the whole morning playing up and down the street, it was pretty great. Later that day we had a mangez-vous (a rendez-vous where we were going to eat) with a certain sister. We were a little surprised when she wanted to have all 14 of us elders over to eat with her, but we agreed. I was very humbled when we got to her house. She made us all food but her house was just big enough to fit us all. We had 5 missionaries on a couch and then less than 2 feet away nearly the rest of us sat on her bed to eat. The couch and the bed where the only things in the room and there was a tiny little room that she used as a kitchen. The whole house was smaller than my room back at home. It was very humbling to me and especially the fact that she had enough love to feed all of us. That was the real spirit of christmas right there. She did not have much, but what she did have she shared with others. After that meal I got to skype the family and that was pretty awesome, except when I found out they finally decided to get a dog without me. That was pretty rude haha but I cant wait to see her when I get back. For those who might not know we have never ever had a pet before which is why it’s a big deal. The end of the day was probably one of my favorites because we had a little christmas meeting in our apartment where we exchanged out secret santa gifts. We sang some french cantiques and then handed out the presents. Everyone was so excited and loving it was such a great time. All the americans bought presents for the africans and vice versa and there were some awesome presents. Elder Idumu gave me a very cool watch. It was a very awesome bonding moment for a bunch of missionaries.

Well I hope all of you had a great Christmas and I wish you all a happy New Year! Don’t party too hard.

Love you all,

Elder Scoffield