Kasper Sabbatical: 2008

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Choir Chirstmas Party

This was the last party of the Season for us. These people know how to have a good time! We invited them to our home and laughed and enjoyed their good company! Here you see us gathering for dinner (at 9:30 p.m.!!!) but there is always time to stop and pose for a picture!!

Some of the choir members couldn't make it but there was enough of us to have a good time.

Madhu had my camera and took a lot of these pictures. That's why I'm in them! Doesn't happen that often!!

Smiley Face Sirisha! Love this girl. She is Primary President and so valiant in everything she does. She has taught me a lot about serving and loving others.

Hema went to Visak to be with some family members for Christmas and wasn't coming back for the party. We were so happy when she walked in the door. She said, "I didn't want to miss the choir party!" She has the cutest laugh. It always makes me smile.

Vani and Shilpa.

Vani is Relief Society Pres. in 1st branch and I hear wonderful things about how she is making things work! Vani is what I would call "Most Improved" Choir member. I don't think she knew what a beautiful voice was inside her.

Shilpa has been the choir director and I love her. We've had so much fun making the choir work.

Rajesh and Mary are some of the first people we met when we came to Hyderabad. They were close to the Lyerly's and that made them dear to our hearts from the beginning. Rajesh is one of the most humble men I know and now I'm learning he is one of the funniest too!

You can tell by looking at them they are a fun couple!!

Speaking of "Clowns!!" If Shaker and Madhu are around we're having a good time! They are very serious about the choir and that's helped to pull it together also. It's interesting how a group of people come together and their talents and abilities add to the success of that group. Love these guys!!

Mary

Hema

Saritha. Saritha is my prize piano student. She works hard and wants to learn. She has learned what that talent can do to make her home better too! She has 2 darling children and it's harder for her than any of our choir members because of her responsibility as a mother. We love her dedication and don't know what we would do without Saritha!!

Shaker looks like a pro doesn't he?

If he's such a pro why is the choir plugging their ears and tearing their hair out. Poor Rajesh is even crying! But it was entertaining!!

We did a gift exchange that was very fun.

I'm not sure who is most crazy here...Look at Shaker's eyes! I vote for him!!

Oops! Caught.....maybe it is me and I just don't know it!!! Shaker still looks like the cat who just ate the rat and didn't get caught!!

Hema got watermelon from Noel and Rajest decided to test his strength out! Pumping Watermelon??? OK.....

It was 11:30 p.m. and most of them had started out the door when Madhu realized we hadn't taken a picture by the tree. Not that you can see the tree!

Well...here they are...Our choir...always having a good time. You should see them when we try to settle them long enough to sing or practice a song! Truly....they are a blessing in our lives. We love them and enjoy spending as much time with them as possible. Can you see why???

Christmas Night

Caroling while at Pres. Gutty's Christmas Party....Christmas Night.

This is Pres Gutty holding his little boy. (1st counselor in the District Presidency) Tinku (standing) is Madhu's brother.

Sudha is Pres. Gutty's wife. She is a very gracious host! We enjoyed being in their home.

Singing "Popcorn Popping."

Domnic Family

This is Brother Julian Francis Domnic's 3 daughters. We went back last night to see the finished "Crib." Mom and dad were still at the church but the girls are lovely hosts!
Smitta (left)
Hema (Middle)
Kavitha (right)

The "Crib" now has lights and grass. They have cut about 2 inches off the top of the grass since it started to grow. The other pictures we took were taken on Dec. 24th. So in 5 days it's grown this much and had to be trimmed 2 inches.
So clever

Friday, December 26, 2008

Christmas Eve in Mettiguda

On Christmas Eve we went to visit some of our special friends. We had lunch with Madhu and his mother. (They live in Begampet) She taught me how to make Poppits. My favorite food snack here! I didn't get a picture of them because I forgot to take my camera. they are a good family and we are so happy they are part of our lives at this time. This is a typical neighborhood street scene.

We made another stop to Kennedy's family. (Kennedy Right) Mommy in the middle and Don left. They have a brother Alex on a mission. He's serving in KGF right now.

Christmas at Kennedy's home.

Sunderaj and Rani were another visit we made. These are there darling children. The little girl is so sweet I just want to scoop her up. But she's afraid of me because of my white skin. Many of the children don't know what to think about our white skin. They know it's different, I can tell you that!

Sister Anu Domnick was busy getting things ready for Christmas. She had made a lot cut outs on styrofoam and then colored them and hung them on her walls.

Building a "Crib" is a big deal here. The brown is dirt with grass planted. The grass just barely started to grow in this picture. Her stable also made of Styrofoam but not covered yet....and a path leading to the well. Her figures glow in the dark. I hope to go back and get a picture when the grass has grown.

Caroline Devawker is not a member but her girls are. I teach Jane Piano. Caroline made a beautiful Crib and was waiting for the grass to grow. Her stable was covered and lights already in place.

Christmas Fun in 4th Branch

This is 4th Branch's Christmas Party. Daniel was one of the 3 kings.

AmidRoy also was a king. Doesn't he look grand!!

The little sheep and animals were cut out of styrofoam and so cutely decorated.

Our Kings

So much work went into making each skit perfect...

This was the 3rd skit. It was done in Telegu and we couldn't understand much of it but we know it was a crowd pleaser because the people laughed and clapped a lot!! These guys were so funny. They were movie producers. More interested in producing movies than doing their Home teaching or going with the Elders

JayPrakash (left) was Michael Jackson and his brother Karunaker was his assistant. Michael Jackson had time to do his Home Teaching and always went with the missionaries!!

This was the idea they were trying to put across in their skit. You put God first and things go better!

3 skits were done....

1st Nativity Skit

2nd Scrooge (so cute....India style)

3rd..Put God First!!

Deepak

Deepak and his wife Sirisha are investigators from 4th Branch. They gave me a letter holder that you hang on the wall for Christmas and Elder K a Randy Travis Christmas CD.
We're having fun getting to know these good people.

Watermelon Carvings

We had a party at the 4th branch on Tuesday before Christmas. There was a nice young man that was carving watermelons. This is some of his work.

You try it if you think it's easy. I'm sure it's a lot of work. He did these in a few hours.

A work of art in progress.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Hyderabad Zone Christmas Party

Elder & Sister Fullmer entertaining the missionaries. She read and he acted it out. So good!!

Believe it or not this Is ELDER Nixon of 1st branch. He surprised us by showing up all SANTA like!! Very fun.

The zone party was on the roof of our building. There is a very nice open area with a conference center and it is a great place to party! So we did!

That's our Tree and our tableclothe in the background and my little sweet honey, Elder Kasper.

There are 31 in the zone. These were the 1st to arrive so we took some pictures.

The sisters came so we had to take another picture. Look at that big gift someone brought to give. We did the gift exchange where you can open or steal. Only 2 steals or we would have been there way to long.

Couples wanted to make sure we were remembered as having been there! LaDukes on the left and Fullmers on the right.

Sister Yada in red

Sister Arza in the Middle

Sister LeFevre on the right (from Utah)

Sister Yada in a skit acting like Elder Moses acts. She also sang. Wowed everyone. She has a very nice singing voice.

1st branch takes a bow. They did a skit centered on how Elder Moses acts!!! Everyone took a turn acting like Elder Moses and they had 3 judges. Elder Sukhoo was Pres. Nichols.