I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills...

 By popular demand, we headed back up in the hills to hike on Nui Tram. We were there in September and Allen and I felt like we were just there, but only one of our young missionaries was with us then, and she's the one who wanted to go back. Since this was the last "fling" before 2 of them were transferred south, we gladly obliged.

This is where we start out exploring the cave/pagoda at the base of the mountain, braving the bats on the ceiling...

...and we see where Ho Chi Minh spent some time hiding out in 1947. On this trip to the mountain (our 3rd), crews were leveling the floor in the cave in preparation for putting in some kind of flooring--tile or cement--and fixing up the entire area to make it into a really nice, attractive place for visitors to come.

And then we headed up into the hills!

The best thing about this climb is the views...

Oh, yeah... And the people!

After we'd made it to the bottom again, Allen discovered an old pagoda in the process of being renovated. We can never pass up a good, old building!

Especially if it involves climbing stairs...

                                                                                                      ...steep stairs...

Above this building was a bell, affixed right into the rock itself! Pretty cool looking...

And with some persistence, we could climb above that through a crack in the rock wall and come out on top for a fun view.

It was a very fun p-day, and a good memory for a last time with that particular district.

Our Tuesday started us off with 2 new Elders who have transferred into Hai Ba Trung Branch, Elder Haight and Elder Sprague, and a brand new Elder to arrive Thursday. At this point we hadn't met him yet, but we knew he was coming. We also had a new Sister, Chi Kiphibane, who has been here a few months, the same as Elder Sprague. Game night was their introduction to our branch.

The real introduction to the District came on Wednesday in our District Council Meeting, where the missionaries come to our apartment, eat lunch together, and then do training and teaching together, and discuss how to be successful in the branch for the upcoming week, and transfer. This is usually held on Tuesdays, but with transfers this week, and with 2 of our members leaving and 3 new members coming, the schedule shifted to Wednesday for this week only. (It does this for the first week of each transfer.)

The meeting began well, and we were beginning to get to know each other, except that Allen wasn't feeling well and was lying down for a bit. And then he took matters into his own hands and asked for a blessing because he REALLY wasn't feeling well. And it wasn't long after that before he decided a trip to the hospital was in order. We opted for an adventure of a different kind and had to call the meeting to a premature close--although the missionaries did get to take their brownies with them--while I accompanied Allen to the hospital. This was a good decision, as it was soon discovered that he was experiencing a kidney stone, and as anyone who has had a kidney stone knows, those can bring a tear to your eye. And this one did.

We were reminded how grateful we are for doctors and nurses and machines and pain medicine!!

After 7 hours in the emergency room, and a few good hits of pain meds, it was decided that Allen would do just as well at home. He had no more pain for a few hours so they sent us home with a large supply of medicine in case it was needed; amazingly, it has not been needed! Since Wednesday, he has been tired, but not in pain! We have no idea if the stone has passed, and as long as it leaves him alone, we don't care. He will go in to see the doctor tomorrow (Monday) to have his blood checked, but as long as there's nothing amiss, he has dodged a bullet, as they say!

Thursday was a day for sleeping in for him, and a day for cookies and banana muffin making for me. We were receiving a new contingent of missionaries today, and I had the pleasure of providing them with some treats for their first day in Vietnam while they waited for their orientation and their first interviews. Allen was feeling up to it, so we delivered our treasure trove to the mission home in the afternoon and met the newly arrived missionaries, 5 Elders and 4 Sisters--1 Elder was from Vietnam and 1 Sister was from the Philippines, all the rest are from the States. We are so grateful to have more missionaries in Vietnam. Our number is hovering just above 50, and we would love it to hover above 50 by a wide margin. But we know the Lord knows what He's doing; we'll get more when they're needed. And our new Elder in our branch is Elder Woodland!

Friday morning I had an Asia Area Health Council Meeting, which includes all the missions in Asia. Today's topic was dengue fever, and I'm happy to say that missionaries in Vietnam are not bothered by dengue so far as I know. (Let's keep it that way...)

After the meeting, Allen wanted to go for a walk to look for decals to put on all the mission bikes to help him keep track of where they are, which is his job, and which has been a bit of an unexpected logistical nightmare this transfer. Our walk ended up taking us to Hoan Kiem Lake again, which I never mind.

For some reason, maybe the warmer/cooler weather, the young women were out in droves wearing their ao dais and taking every picture they could, hoping for the perfect shot. It made for an entertaining--and beautiful--scene.

Saturday was the big day of our branch Christmas party!

We were planning to have the nativity play this year; last year there were not enough people to participate and also to watch. This year, we had an amazing number to do both! In fact, 3 of the actors this year were not even members. We counted about 60 people total attending the party, and there were around 20 who were not members; we were delighted with the number of friends who were attending.

Wise Men, above. 

Today was Christmas Sunday, with 4 speakers and then a special devotional from the Asia Area Presidency shown instead of the 2nd hour class. It was very good, and I'd like to have a copy of the devotional to keep and watch it every Christmas after this one, just for the memory.

Christmas in Vietnam is unique. I have been trying to insert Christmas into the days and weeks, but it's not easy, and now Christmas is 4 days away. The one thing that is easier on a mission is to remember Jesus Christ each day, so I'm glad of that. I remember that He is the reason we are here in Vietnam, and He is the reason there can still be joy in a fallen world. We want to help the Vietnamese people find joy in their lives by finding Jesus Christ, and that is the reason for the season. We hope you have joy in your lives because of Jesus Christ, and if you don't yet, don't give up. Look up His names in the scriptures and learn about Him. He wants nothing more than for you to feel the peace and joy that come from knowing Him. I love Him. We love Him.

                                                                    Merry Christmas.