December First and the Beginning of Christmas!

Two months ago yesterday we entered the MTC.  In some ways it seems like a year ago, and in other ways I can't believe all that time has elapsed.

SK and I took the bus today and wonder of wonders, got to Church without any bumbling around.  Of course, that might have something to do with the fact that another member of the branch got on right after we did, and we just followed him when he got off the bus! The temperature said 46 which is quite pleasant, but the wind chill factor took it down to very chilly.  I had several layers on under my coat and still felt that wind go through me.

The messages in church were inspiring.  One young man came in late for sacrament meeting.  He was new to the branch.  I visited with him afterward.  He is from somewhere in Africa and has served a mission in South Africa.  He said the Church is growing there rapidly.  His mission was split and he ended up staying for 2 1/2 years.  I invited him to come to Family Home Evening at the Center and also Institute on Thursday.  He said he would come to both....and bring his girlfriend!

After Church we (5 of the senior missionaries, and the APs) were invited to a Christmas concert by a lady who lives near the mission office.  The missionaries have been teaching her.  She is in the theater and is a very interesting person with striking curly red hair.  She is in her 40's and has a 17 year old daughter.

We were supposed to meet her at 3:30 at the town square.  We stood around shivering in the wind and talking about the concert we were going to hear.  In a few minutes she came striding across the square, hair blowing in the wind, her light-weight coat flapping open and wearing summer clothes.  She hugged all of us and proceeded to tell us the story of the production we were about to see.

It was a play!  It was a family play presented in a theater that is older than our constitution and for the most part in its original condition.  It was a wonderful old building.  The play was a holiday tradition with a very small troupe of about 6 people and two musicians.  They acted out a story in traditional old clothing that Danish country people might have once worn.  It was an amazing little play.  We had several families sitting around us, and the children laughed out loud in delight.  We talked later about how much we have missed that sound.  It has been awhile since we heard it!

These pictures don't do it justice....a tiny little lobby with old stairs leading up to an intimate little theater that holds perhaps 100.  Can you see the large flying angel overhead?

The walls and windows and even some of the decor is original to the building.

Our host pointed out the queen in her balcony....about the size of a large doll.

Can you tell what a small place it is?

Chatting with a cast member...who was enthusiastic and so friendly.  

The sister who took us to the play had arranged everything for us...even the coat check.  She said that she had tickets for it already, but I hope that is true because it would have been very expensive otherwise.  We all thought we had been invited to a choral concert in a church, so we were somewhat misinformed, but it was important to this lady for us to see it.  The APs are the ones teaching her right now, and the mission president had given his permission for us all to be there.

It was a cute fairytale like story, with wonderful acting, props, music and scenery.  One scene that I thoroughly enjoyed was with 3 very good sized rats (puppets) chatting over a woodpile.  They looked all too real, and very hilarious.  It felt like we were transported in time and space.  What an experience!

We walked out onto the square at 6 p.m. where the Christmas lights had all been lit tonight to officially start the season.  I love it!