Santa's Using Zebras

This song made me cry last year- I'm good this year!  Enjoy!

Santa's Using Zebras- Video! Hear the song here!



Santa's using zebras now
to pull his Christmas sleigh
'cause a boy in Africa
wrote to him one day.
"Santa please stop by," he said,
"and bring some toys with you."
Santa's using zebras now
south of Timbuktu.

Donner, Blitzen, all the reindeer
put him on the spot -
they were used to ice and snow
but Africa was hot!
Then some zebras came along
and they pulled Santa through.
Santa's using zebras now
south of Timbuktu.

See the pyramids go by
and there's the Nile below.
Watch out for that tall giraffe;
mustn't fly too low.
Hello hippopotamus
the season's joy to you!
Hello Mr. Crocodile
merry Christmas too!

As they gallop over jungles
lions stop and stare,
wonderin' what those zebras could be
doing way up there.
While the reindeer wait for him
back home in their igloo,
Santa's using zebras now
south of Timbuktu.

Morning rush hour in Cotonou, Benin

Ganvie Fish Market

October 22, 2013- A Day Later!

On Monday, I waited hours to hear from Elder Gundersen. I finally got two brief messages around 8 p.m. his time.  The first was the flight itinerary- I'm glad he has it too, we are all on the same page.  The second message was a quick, "I will write tomorrow I just didn't have time today so we will get on for a while tomorrow afternoon."

Yes! At least I will get some chat time this week.  Tuesday, he was true to his word and sent me a few messages.

He is still alive. The picture from conference, he was not sleeping...he was sick with a stomach ache. He's feeling better now.

Front, left- sick, not asleep!

 

 

"Check my account so I can buy stuff. Elder Odonkor says hi. Tell Wes hi because he is not answering me. Zac's baby looks like a baby. I have to go now so tell everyone hi for me and have a good week."

 

The message to my Mom was a bit more informative...

 

" dont have much time today i just stopped by to tell everyone i am
alive and that the work is doing well. we are getting a couple married
hopefully by the time i leave they will be baptized. they are a
wonderful family and an answer to your prayers in september about
finding a family. we found them on the 4th of that month. i hope you
have a good week and enjoy the flight plans!!"

 

It's good to know that he is still working hard in the mission in spite of being ready to come home.

 

Thanks to everyone for the prayers and support on Elder Gundersen's behalf.  You are loved and appreciated.

October 16, 2013- Travel Papers!

It's official!  Elder Gundersen's flight plans were sent today!  Of course, he made sure that they were sent to WES and not to me.  I had to punch Wes in the arm to make him show me the itinerary.

 

As of October 16, 2013- this is how many days we now have remaining!

 

 

Without making you do the counting yourself, I'll just tell you...

 

DECEMBER 26th! Woo Hoo!  What a fantastic Christmas present! 

October 14, 2013- Really Trunky

This week we are patiently awaiting the travel papers for Elder Gundersen.  The travel request has been submitted by the mission office and it needs to be approved by the church travel office and then they can purchase the tickets and send notification.  Seems like it should be a fairly quick and simple process.  It feels like it is taking forever.  I will be the first to admit that I am probably more trunky than Elder Gundersen.

Anyway, this week in our chat he did a lot of school planning.  Apparently, it would be very bad if I register him for any art or music classes. Let's see...no math, no arts, no music...what is left to take?  We chatted about laptops for school, cell phones, registering his truck, and all the other things that are important to a returning missionary. It's almost as much work getting things ready for them to come home as it is getting them ready to leave. (It's not a complaint, just a fact. I'm MORE than happy to accommodate!)

This week he finally received his last package that we sent.  He got it without having to pay a crazy amount of customs fees for it. He and Elder Lynch have not had the chance to sample all the candy in the package yet. I told him about the video I posted of the rain water running down the road.  He said that it is hard to believe the amount of water that runs in the road.  "It puts water over the hood of the mission trucks". That has got to be an amazing site to behold with your own eyes.

The mission challenge of the week...trying to get your companion to stop unplugging the fridge every time you leave the apartment.  Guess he thinks he's saving electricity???

Bleck sent a few pictures this week and a video too!  It's so cool to hear Elder G's voice.  Listening to him speak French is a bit odd.

On the bus-

President and Sister Weed

 

The back of Elder Gundersen's head and Elder Kunz!

The scenery out the window is very pretty.

 

The video is a bit long and you'll need to turn up the volume on your device.  It's neat to see the apartment and where they meet for church.  I am grateful for technology...pictures are worth 1,000 words, but video and hearing voices is indeed priceless! Enjoy!

 



Rainy Season in Benin- Near Fidjrosse!

 

This made me smile a bit!  Fidjrosse is where Elder Gundersen is currently serving.