Bonne Année

Happy New Year!!!
From the Gates in Pointe Noire, the Republique of Congo

How we spent Christmas Eve & Christmas Day in the Congo

Christmas in the Congo was very different. There was very little in the way of decorations... and few people had trees. Most of the shops and stands were open. But there was a cheerful spirit about everyone that helped us to feel the Christmas spirit. One branch had their Christmas party on Christmas eve, and the other had it on Christmas night. I was asked to help the Relief Society with the dinner for Christmas night. Ed decided as a special service project for our family Christmas Service gifts. He helped make sure that the sisters in our branch, who were called to be the Relief Society Presidency last Sunday, were able to provide dinner for over 200 people the following Saturday, which was Christmas day. We dedicated our Christmas Eve and most of Christmas Day, to helping them to their food, prepare it and transport it to the church, because they don't have cars. They would have had to haul it out to taxis on the main roads (over 3/4 mile) because the taxi's don't go through the big puddles into the neighborhoods. Ed had 17 people plus the food, when he finally drove them to the church.

These are a few photos of what our 2 days went like. This first picture is Ed pulling a bus out of deep puddle.
This is the traffic Ed was stuck in for 3 hours, trying to get to the butcher to buy the chicken.

This is Ed changing his flat tire.
This is the butcher chopping our chicken.
And this is the chicken that we took home to cook (in the oven) for the party.

This is cooking chicken African Style. By the way, Ed baptized this Sister about 3 months ago. She is now the Secretary of our Relief Society.

We had a fun slumber party with the elders and exchanged white elephants.


Sister Headlee, our mission president's wife had African ties made for all the Elders. Ed got first pick when Sister Headlee was here... and then we wrapped the others and did another white elephant exchange with the ties.
We woke up to Christmas Casserole for breakfast (our family's traditional Christmas breakfast)... and then we headed off for a 9:00 am WHITE CHRISTMAS...THE BEST KIND OF ALL!

We hope you all had a Joyeux Noel!

Our Christmas Corn Roast (minus the corn)

As most of you know, in California our family has a tradition of going to the beach for a Corn Roast for special occassions. Well, we tried the corn and it tasted like I would imagine the colored corn that is used for decorations on Thanksgiving would taste like. Totally bland, hard, unchewable kernals. However, we didn't let that stop us. We were losing 3 great elders and decided to have a beach party for Christmas, while they were still with us. We found some interesting hot dogs, and used baguettes for buns... the only marshmallows we have are pink... the chocolate bars don't melt... and we used a cookie for the graham crackers. I guess the Elders didn't think we were serious about going to the beach... because they all showed up in their tracting clothes... but all in all... it was a huge success!


This is a photo of Ed asking who thought the occassion needed a Christmas Tree... They all voted Yes, and he went home and brought our tree to the beach. I love that Man!

The Gates Family Season of Service

This year was the second year of the Gates Family Season of Service. Traditionally, the six Gates children, their spouses, and Ed and Kriss exchanged gifts every Christmas. In 2009, with families spread across five of the United States of America and on both coasts, we decided our tradition was too costly and difficult. Amy, the second Gates child, suggested that instead of the commercialized practice of buying small gifts only to pay high shipping costs, we each perform acts of service in the name of the sibling whose name we were assigned at random. And thus was born the Season of Service.

The "blankets for Africa" tree

Just like last year, our good friend Carrie Collins drew the names and notified each of us privately to keep secret who was doing good in your name. On Christmas Day, we revealed who we had by posting how we chose to celebrate the new tradition on the specially created Gates Family Season of Service blog. We love to have visitor's welcome read the blog and comment, so please stop by!

This tradition has helped us focus on serving our communities and one another during the annual celebration of the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Elder Gates' 2010 gift of service given
Sister Gates' 2010 gift of service given

Elder Gates' 2009 gift of service given
Sister Gates' 2009 gift of service given

Finally… Packages from Home!!!

After 2 months of checking the post office box, we got 2 packages in the same day. Mitzi’s had been here for a month, but they misread the PO Box number. Carrie Collins also sent us a box and it was as exciting as Christmas!

Mitzi sent us and our elders hooks to go over the bathroom doors so our towels can air out and dry. She also sent some luxuries that we have been missing… Hershey’s Cocoa, Country Time Lemonade powder, Shout stick with a scrubby on the end, Flavor Ade Popsicles and WALNUTS!

A highlight was Carrie’s detailed letter. It was so fun to hear about the Collins and our own kids in detail. We even know the names of Cheryl’s cats they were fostering… we wonder if she kept them...?? The best thing about the package is knowing that it is possible to get things, if we are patient. Thanks again!

Branches and Districts in the Church

Some of you may not understand some of the terms we use in the church and our kids probably have questions about why are we branches and not wards. Hopefully, this will help you understand better. Let us know if you have questions.

A branch is like a ward, which is a congregation comprised of a neighborhood. A district is like a stake, which is comprised of several wards. In order to be a ward bishop or in the stake presidency leadership, you must have been through the temple, to receive your endowments and make covenants that you will live the kind of life the Lord wants you to live and be sealed to your spouse. This is a problem in this area because the nearest temple is in South Africa, and it costs a fortune to get there.

When the congregations are in areas that are still growing and not quite ready to become established wards and stakes, the groups are called "branches" and "districts." Sometimes it is because they are small in regards to attendance and membership. However, we have about 180 active members in each of our branches, which is large enough for a ward.

Our area in the city of Pointe Noire is not even a district, but still under the direction of the mission president (President Headlee). They can't become a district until they have enough strong priesthood leaders to form two branch presidencies and quorum leaders. We are planning on splitting and having a third branch before Christmas, and then the plan is for us to become a district in the spring. This will be a big relief to our mission president, who now serves as the "district leader" (like a stake president) in 3 areas of the mission... as well as having all the duties of a mission president.

The hope is that by Spring of 2011, we will have enough members trained to start a 4th branch in Pointe Noire. This means having enough strong priesthood men to staff all of the wards... plus enough women to be in Relief Society, Young Women and Primary presidencies. We have lots of work cut out for us over the next few months to help train them. Many are willing to help, but they haven't learned to be leaders. The men are the Kings of the Jungle... and I have to try and not get too dramatic in trying to get these women to step forward. This is the main reason I want to learn French, right now. I can't tell these "sisters" how wonderful they are until I know how to say it!

These are our 2 great branch presidents with their counselors and clerks.

Several of them have been to the temple.