MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!!!

It doesn't feel much like Christmas here in Ghana with the heat and humidity.  We see some decorations in a few of the stores but otherwise there aren't a lot of signs of commercialism.   People here celebrate Christmas with their families and have a nicer meal than usual; which might mean they have some chicken or butcher a goat and have some rice. 

We will spend Christmas Eve with some of the other senior couples and are having lasagna, green beans, coleslaw, garlic bread and trifle for dessert.   We are then doing a white elephant gift exchange.   

Tomorrow at lunch time  we are gathering at the MTC (Missionary Training Centre) with all the couples and the 37 young missionaries who are at the MTC right now.  The cooks at the MTC are making chicken and rice and we will all take a vegetable or salad or cookies.    I think there are some games planned and and then we will head back to our apartment and hopefully be able to skype and facetime our families.   

It is hard being away from home at this time of year and away from our family and friends.   We are grateful to remember and ponder the birth of the Savior and what that means to us.  That is the reason we are here in Africa.  We feel like we have the best mission assignment because we are able to give to the people here and provide clean water to communities, equipment to hospitals and clinics, and books and supplies to school children.   It helps them so much and they are so grateful.  We hope all we do here will hopefully change their lives for the better.  We hope there will be less sickness due to clean water and we hope that a child will have a better future than they might otherwise have had.  

We wish you all a wonderful Christmas.  We love and miss you!  We would love to hear from each of you.

Much love to each of you!!