A Kiribati White Christmas

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

First off, something cool. Kiribati is the first country to enter a

new day because it is right in the international date line. I woke up

before midnight on Christmas eve and said "Merry Christmas" right as

the clock struck 12. That means I am the first person in the entire

world so say "Merry Christmas" on Christmas day 2016. I'll sign

autographs later.

We had two baptisms on Christmas eve. When someone is baptized, they

wear all white. So...we had a white Christmas here in Kiribati!!! It

was awesome.

Anyways, Christmas here was actually pretty good! All the missionaries

in the mission gathered here in Tarawa for a bootaki (party). We have

six elders staying in our house meant for two. So...yeah. It was so

fun to see everyone from my intake again. We ate lunch together...real

food! There was coleslaw, pasta, chips, water, and fried rice. I ate

soooooo much. AND....desserts! I just about passed out when I took a

bite of my first brownie (yes, that implies plurality). We just

chatted and took pictures for a few hours. They put all the Christmas

packages under a tree. It was SO nice to get something from home.

Thank you family!!!! I also got a gift from a member...a pair of short

shorts and a bar of soap. Not sure what the message there is supposed

to be...

We had two Christmas dinners. They were both pretty fun! We had the

classic Christmas dinner with a big juicy turkey and stuffing

and...just kidding, we had fish, rice, chicken, and octopus. I did get

some candy in my package, so that helps to break up the monotony of

eating the same thing every meal. I'll get used to it.

Definitely the best gift was getting to Skype with my family. The

internet here is really spotty, so Skype doesn't really work if there

are a lot of people using the internet or if there is bad weather. I

prayed that it would work for me so I could see my family for a short

few minutes. On the morning of Christmas Eve I went to the stake center.

It was pouring rain. I was so disappointed. I tried the Skype just in

case and...it worked! It was kinda broken and kept freezing, but I got

to see my whole family and talk with them. It was so good to see them.

The first thing they said to me was "Kaleb!!! Your hair!!" (I got it

cut the day before. The elder was from micronesia and his English

wasn't super solid. I told him "just a little shorter." I think he

only understood 'little' and 'short.' So I'm pretty much bald right

now.) We talked for about 45 minutes and we sang Christmas carols

before I had to hang up so another Elder could use it. But it was

seriously the best Christmas present ever!!!

Just seeing my family for a little while makes me realize just how

important families are. God gave us families as a place to learn,

grow, and find joy. You want to know the best part? We believe that

families aren't just for this life. Why would God want us to lose all

that joy, friendship, and unity we spend an entire lifetime working

towards? I believe that families are central to God's plan for us.

They are meant to last forever, not just for this short time on Earth.

Seeing my family for just 45 minutes makes me so grateful that God has

a plan for our families to be together forever. I can't think of

anything better.

Of course, there is someone else that is central to God's plan for us.

He's the whole reason we have Christmas! CHRISTmas!! I know that Jesus

Christ is our Savior. It gives me so much hope! The world is a crazy

place. It's not easy. But I know that because of Him, there is hope.

We can find joy. And that's why I love Christmas (even here in

Kiribati)!!!!

I'm actually getting transferred sometime soon to Tarawa-Ieta. I don't

know much about it because there have never been missionaries there

before. We don't even have a house yet. I'll be openeing it with Elder

Peeti. I would say I'll keep you posted, but I'm told there is no

internet.

Tekeraoi te Kiritimati (Merry Christmas)!!!!