Christmas Parties in Saipan

This is "Noche Bueno" a Christmas Eve Celebration of the Filipino culture.   Most of our neighbors in the apartment complex we live in are young Filipino families.  We were so glad that they invited us to join them.  We women had matching dresses from when Cherry Labana (2nd mom in from the right) had a surplus clothing sale at her apartment a few days before.  We thought we were very funny to wear matching dresses and it surely made me feel part of the group!   Elder Jones was asked to give the blessing on this midnight feast and we felt a closeness to all of these people. The Labana's and us, the Joneses, are the only LDS people who live here right now.

This is also Christmas Eve, but in the afternoon.  This is a little "servant's house" next to the big house that our Bishop lives in.  Sister Gloria is his housekeeper and the Relief Society President in our ward.  She made a huge array of Filipino food for us and Elder's Allred and Roco.

Here we are with the missionaries in our apartment.  Standing l to r, Elder and Sister Jones (in her Christmas dress), Elders Delphin, Roco, Allred, and Butler.  Seated, Elder Cook, Sister Ika and Sister Vano.   In the picture above is also Brother Roy Dolon, our wonderful ward mission leader.

Now here is a party at the Church.  It was a week before Christmas and we really got into the spirit with this children's game that was taking place on the stage.  The children were asked to line up and take turns at the microphone to see who could say the loudest and longest "Happy Birthday Jesuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuussssssss!"
Thank goodness the Bishop quietly and tactfully got it changed to "Merry Christmaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaassssss!"

And one more game to show what good sports Elder and Sister Jones were in playing the "marriage game." 

another picture of Christmas Eve