Griffiths Greetings 2010

From the Family Home in Historic Virginia…

Griffiths Greetings 2010

A Re-Cap of our Year’s Top Stories:

HONG KONG, CHINA – March 13. Seeking to fulfill unrequited yearnings for intellectual religious stimulation, 120 expatriate LDS women gathered at their annual women‟s conference today, a welcome respite from the distractions of their frenetic lives at home. “After 20 years in Asia, it was a delight to see so many old friends,” commented Jeanne Griffiths, a regular conference speaker. Back in Bangkok, where her husband is posted at the U.S. Embassy as Economic Counselor, Jeanne continues her work with South Asian refugees, especially teenagers, and her stake calling to get Thai church members in Bangkok to sing like they do in Utah.

CAIRO, EGYPT -- April 5. Having set off to spend their spring vacation visiting old friends, Robert and Jeanne Griffiths made their first foray into Africa here today. “Really, the prospect of avoiding hotel expenses had nothing to with planning our itinerary,” assured Robert, “I came to learn more of the engineering skills of ancient pyramid-builders.” “Well, after our unrequested seven-minute camel ride (“Sir, sir! How about a tip? $40 would be good!”), we probably learned more about entrepreneurship in the local tourism industry,” Jeanne observed. Working as a docent at Thailand‟s National Museum, Jeanne has a deep appreciation for antiquities: “I could have spent days in the Cairo museum!” she exulted. “Yeah, I got lost too,” Robert confessed. “But they sure do have a lot of really cool stuff in all those ancient cities and buried tombs. What would you think about a decorative faux sarcophagus for our place, honey?”

KAMPALA, UGANDA – April 10. Staying with another Foreign Service colleague here in what the British referred to as the Pearl of Africa, Robert and Jeanne Griffiths look forward to visiting an island full of monkeys, discovering for themselves the origin of the Nile, and attending church with local converts.“Who would guess that in the land of Idi Amin we could now find the best Indian food I have ever had!” declared Jeanne. “Maybe we should stay in the Foreign Service until we can get a posting in Africa—the nature parks, the ethnic history… maybe an Indian cook??”

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMERITES – April 17. Staying with old friends from Shanghai, Jeanne and Robert Griffiths scoured local markets today in search of frankincense and myrrh to give their kids as Christmas presents. “Wow!” Jeanne exclaimed from the observation deck on the 124th floor: “I had no idea the Burj Khalifa was nearly twice as tall as the Sears tower in Chicago!” “Yeah, said Robert, gripping the hand-rail, “If we held our church meetings here, I would really be on the high council!”