Thanksgiving Fun

For Thanksgiving we all met at the Marriot Hotel for their buffet lunch. Elder Fullmer arranged it and requested turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. It was a very good Thanksgiving dinner and we were in good company. You can tell by the smile on these elders faces that we enjoy being with them.

Elder Toleofoa what? Taking a picture of yourself.....What's that all about?

So many of these faces are brand new. Because the mission grew so rapidly Oct, Nov, and Dec 2006....We are seeing many new faces. The lord is sending the valiant to serve here because there is no time to be a green missionary. They are having to take charge and be leaders immediately.

These 3 sisters live a few blocks from us. We love them so much. Sister LaFevre (left) is from Utah. She was adopted from an orphanage in India when she was 8, along with her 2 sisters. The other 2 sisters are native to India. They are awesome missionaries and bring something to the mission the elders can't.

This was our view as we ate our Thanksgiving Dinner. So beautiful. The flowers are wonderful here. We never had flowers like this in Idaho in December.....

Linda...if you are reading this I just want you to know I still cut my own hair! I hate my hair sometimes. Right now it's in an OK stage....but I will never in this life time let Elder K. (kasper) (not Krupp) cut my hair! I just think you look so good and Elder K. (Krupp) does a great job....But you were brave to let him.....

These cute elders love to have their picture taken. I think thats why they came on missions to India. That same traite is one the Indians have. People here adore having their picture taken.

Marriott has the best dessert bar. You can have almost anything you can imagine. Here the elders are lining up for choice of ice cream flavor and then they will choose what candy, nuts or fruit to put in it. The chef is mixing it up and then will put it in a bowl. The elders loved this part of Thanksgiving. I think their motto is "I am thankful for dessert."

3 couples in Hyderabad. The Fullmers (he's standing and she is next to him) came from Sri Lanka when it was closed because of Visa problems. The LaDukes who serve as humanitarian.

After that big dinner I had 3 scoops of icecream with snickers candy bar in it. I'm sure it was a deadly combination as I was full for the next 2 days....

Happy Thanksgiving to all our friends and family and you are what we are grateful for.

Missionaries are always doing their job. This missionary was telling them about the gospel and our savior Jesus Christ. We love all the elders and sisters and its hard to watch them get transferred.

Rebecca, for your information, we don't get transferred. We are planted. For that we are also Thankful!

Piano & Guitar Lessons

After our grand Thanksgiving meal we went back to the church and I taught piano and Elder K taught guitar lessons. Elder K said Nikhil was so good that 10 more lessons and he'll be teaching Elder K. Nikhil is very talented. He is also good at the piano. He accompanied the primary children for their program a couple of weeks ago. His first time! I was so proud of him. He also sings in our choir and he will perform a solo for the Christmas fireside.

Jane is one of my younger piano students. She's 13 and we've had so much fun getting to know her and her sister Crissida.

These are some of the sights you see a long the street as you walk along. This man was having a nap. It's common for them to lay down where ever they are. Under the flyover...Along the street...In their auto along side of the road. At night you see them laying on the street... Not just one....but a whole family...This is there home.

These are our street friends. As we walk to the church we meet these people and look forward to seeing them and hearing a friendly hello. This man sells coconut for his living. Mostly people just drink the juice of the green ones. We pass him every day because he is near the church.

This is our shoe repairman and this is his shop. He fixed Elder K.'s shoe and we've been his good friend ever since. His business is just a few steps from the coconut man and a bit closer to the church.

This man waved and smiled when he figured out I was taking his picture. THey love their picture taken and if possible I always take a copy to them because it makes them so happy.

Another common site on the street. As we keep walking down this street we come to the coconut man and then the shoe man and then the church. All on the right side of the road.

On the left is a wall they use to relieve themselves.....Sometimes you will see 6-8 men lined up doing their thing.....I wonder what the women do? They never use the wall......Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!

Not just people take a break. We get a kick out of the animals taking a break.

This man and his family have an ironing business. Here he is doing his work There are lots of these little places. One on every street. This is the same little ironing shop. We live up this street, turn left and then turn right....So not far from here.

Beauty all Around

It's winter time and I am constantly reminded of the beauty we are surrounded by.
This bush is at the apartment right next to ours. We pass it every day and I had to share it with you.

So many beautiful colors and hedges of flowers that we pass on our walk to the church eachand every day.

Our friend Praveen

Praveen is our friend that is contantly talking on 2 phones. Usually one is at his ear and if he is talking on the otherone it is next to his mouth like this. He is 22 (I think) and quite the business man!!!
Member of the church for 6 months.

TRANSFERS

Elder Toleofoa with the guitar (from Hawaii). He is our new district leader. Elder Allred (with the camera)
Elder Bernard...

Elder Evans was trained by Elder Allred. (2nd br.)
Elder Mehan just came to serve in 4th branch. He's very tall and all the members noticed it. Tall people are not seen every day here!!!
It's good to have these elders with us.



Elder Alred looking at his camera went home last week. This was our last get together at our apartment.
Elder Bernard Looking at E. Allred's camera got transfered.
Allred 2nd branch
Bernard 4th branch
Great Elders that we miss already.



Sister Arza was taking a picture of me while I took a picture of her. Sister Lafevre from Utah sleeping through it!!

This is the flyover that we talk about. When street areas get to busy they make a flyover. It takes a long time to build one.
Kristina....the yellow and black little car is the AUTO I refere to.
Elder K. says that I always take the pictures when there is no traffic. That's because I like to go early in the morning when the traffic is less.....This really is an unusual sight!

Hindu temples all over the city. We have 3 within 10 minutes of where we live. They are always ornate and pleasant to look at but come in different sizes.
Notice the billboard. I don't know if you can see it very good. Even the billboards are colorful and fun to look at.


I love how the women ride sidesaddle on the bikes. Often carrying 2-4 kids with them. It's so interesting to see how comfortably the whole family rides on a bike. I've yet to get a really great shot of that!!

Golconda Fort

This is a place you go visit in Hyderabad to see the ancient ruins of kings who ruled the land. It dates back to 1143 A.D.
You are looking at the entrance here.

The huge door is made of metal.




As we reached the highest peak we realized how huge this place is. The fort consists of land as far as the eye can see. This map makes it look small. It's 5 miles around.

The first walls we came to within the fort were these. So many places to climb and explore.

After we got through the first building this is the view we saw. I thought Golconda fort would be one building or 2...It's a series of buildings and structures and walls!

Breathtaking!! Am I in Camelot? It almost makes you think that King Arthur will ride up at any moment and call a meeting with the knights of the roundtable.

We were fascinated with the variety of structures.

This was one of the many man made lakes. Some of these were used as bathing areas.

Elder K. Being silly!!

Madhu and dad were trying to decide "Who is the most afraid of heights!" You can't tell, but they were a long way up in this photo and both afraid of standing to close to the edge.

You can see the Mosque we are headed to.

We were surprised to find a hindu temple near the top.

The thing in the tree is a common sight. It is for good health.

Elder K and Madhu in one of the narrow stairwells of the ruins.

This shows you some of the stairs we climbed. You can see the wall of the Fort in the right corner of this picture.

Another good view of how these ruins are situated in the middle of the city.

Happy Birthday Teresa

Teresa is the only one in our family with a birthday in November!

Happy to You Teresa Michelle!!

Thank's to SKYPE

I don't think Kristina will be thrilled about this, but as you can see....Erik is!!! Isn't my baby beautiful!! She's talking to me!!

Puff cheaks or fish! That's what I get?

You are to cute Kristina!!

Some of my kids have SKYPE...

This is what I see when I call them....Crazy KIDS!!! We are grateful for SKYPE...it keeps us in touch.