Maligiyan Pako talaga! Merry Christmas It is really here!
I cannot believe how fast the time as flown by it is
already Christmas ready or not! I will first share that
a Filipino Christmas has a few traditions , they are
HUGE on caroling here but they give out money to
carollers it is a requirement. So all the little poor kids
run around all the rich neighborhoods and beat on plastic
milk can drums and sing at the top of their little tone
deaf lungs its kind of cute and kind of sad, As missionaries
we cant give them money but we do give them little food
treats and the love me and the other white American sister
in the house their treat is just touching our hair ( Sister
daily also has blond hair and they think it looks like real
gold! Another tradition is Videokie! I know sounds crazy
but EVERY single house that is able to afford a vikeo will
have one this Christmas and they will sing as loud and out
of tune as you can imagine. The other thing is fireworks.
I remember last  year a bunch of street kids chased after me
throwing fireworks at my feet( and you thought dogs were bad!)
but this year it seems like I'm in an area that maybe is
not quite as big on the fireworks so t hat is a blessing.
 A blessing among many we are so excited to have two
baptisms this Saturday on Christmas day. The biggest
blessing a missionary can ask for. In the thought of
Christmas though I would like to share with you a thought
that I jotted down yesterday in sacrament meeting as
I was listening to the speaker talk of what the true gifts
were that we could give to the Saviour this Christmas.
I thought of what that means to me as a missionary and
thinking of this Christmas and what I would report to the
Saviour of my first year in the mission field. What gifts
do I have to give to him. What have I done or have yet to
do to give him as an offering. Maybe it isn't the
Frankincense, Gold or Mir that the Sheppard's gave
but I know that my willing heart to be obedient, my
diligent mind to stay focused on the work, and a pair of
well worn out shoes representing my whole sole given up
in serving the lord with all my heart might mind and soul
sounds to me like the gift I want to give to the saviour.
I hope and pray that this can be my report to him and
to you at the end of my time here in the field and for now
at Christmas I am just grateful for every day left to bring
others closer to this Christ this reason for the season.
His gift to me is the opportunity to be his representative
and my gift in return however humble it may be is my whole
might, mind and strength.
With love and Christmas wishes to all,
Sister Quinn