OUR CHRISTMAS MIRACLE

ROWAN CRUMP.....BORN 2 MONTHS EARLY. AN EARLY BIRTH, LIFE FLIGHT WITH DAVE, TRISH ALONE IN ANOTHER HOSPITAL SHE WAS NOT SURE HOW HE IS DOING. A MESSAGE CAME IN ON MY IPAD SAYING "IVE HAD THE BABY".  IT HAS BEEN A JOURNEY ACROSS THE MILES OF FAITH. ROWAN IS SHOWING SIGNS OF GETTING STRONGER, BUT STILL CANT BREATHE ON HIS OWN. THIS PICTURE IS THE FIRST TOUCH AND KISS AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF HIS BIRTH. MIRACLES ARE NEEDED.

LOVE HAS NO BOUNDS! HEAVENLY FATHER WITHIN YOUR CARE I BELIEVE!

CHRISTMAS TIME

WHAT A SEASON TO BE MERRY AND BRIGHT......

MAY IT BE SO THROUGHOUT THE UPCOMING YEAR.

OUR GIFT EXCHANGE NIGHT WHERE BACON AND THE BLACK SANTA WAS TRADED TILL YOU COULDN'T STEAL THEM ANYMORE. AND I SO WANTED THAT BACON!

WE SANG EVERY CHRISTMAS SONG IN THE HYMN BOOK, AND THE MELODY WAS BEAUTIFUL. ELDER CURTIS, AREA PRESIDENT, LEAD EVERY SONG.

A COUPLE'S CHILDREN HAD COME OVER FOR CHRISTMAS AND ALL THREE GIRLS ARE MUSIC MAJORS. THE SOUND OF THE PIANO, HARP AND VIOLIN WAS BREATH TAKING AS WE SANG SONG AFTER SONG.

WE HAD OUR CHRISTMAS BRUNCH AT PRESIDENT'S HILL HOME, WHO HAD LOST HIS WIFE A MONTH BEFORE. HE HAD COME BACK TO CLOSE OUT HIS MISSION, AND WE ALL FELT THE PRESENCE OF HIS DEAR WIFE AND OUR FRIEND. WE WERE ABLE TO CELEBRATE IN HIS HOME AND WISHED HIM GOODBYE. A TRULY DEDICATED AND GREAT SERVANT OF THE LORD.

CHRISTMAS EVE NIGHT AFTER SONGS AND BEING GATHERED TOGETHER WE WALKED OUT INTO THE NIGHT SKY AND THE MOON SHONE HIGH ATOP THE TEMPLE. IT WAS FOR  ALL INTENSE AND PURPOSES LIKE THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM THAT LEAD US ALL HERE TO SERVE THE SAINTS OF THIS GREAT LAND OF GHANA. I STILL FIND MYSELF HOLDING MY BREATH WHEN I SEE AND REMEMBER THIS MOMENT.

SOMETHING IS STRANGE

I'M THINKING THAT SOMETHING IS VERY STRANGE BACK IN AMERICA.....WHEN I SAW THIS POST THE OTHER DAY, I HAD TO DO A DOUBLE TAKE. SERIOUSLY YOU HAVE CREAMER OUT NOW IN THESE FLAVORS. I CAN TELL WE ARE GOING TO HAVE SERIOUS SHOCK EFFECT WHEN WE COME HOME AND GO TO THE GROCERY STORE.

CHRISTMAS TIME

IN OUR HEART LAND OF GHANA WE ARE BLESSED TO SHARE THE BIRTH OF OUR SAVIOR WITH THOSE NEAR AND FAR. WE ARE HUMBLED ONCE AGAIN TO HAVE ONE MORE CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION BEFORE RETURNING HOME. AS ALL OUR FAMILY BACK HOME ARE TUCKED IN AND BLESSED, WE FEEL THE HOME OF CHRISTMAS WE SHARE HERE. I PAUSED MULTIPLY TIMES DURING THE VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES THIS LAST WEEK, AND PONDERED OF HOW TO IMPRINT THIS SEASON OF CHRISTMAS THAT WILL LAST ELDER T AND MYSELF IN THE YEARS TO COME. IT IS SIMPLE, GIFTS ARE GIVEN TO OTHER OUTSIDE YOUR FAMILY, IT COULD BE SHOES OR PANTIES, A CHICKEN AND SOME BREAD. I LOVE THAT CHRISTMAS, AMONG THE FAMILIES WE KNOW HERE, IS MORE ABOUT GIVING TO THOSE OUTSIDE YOUR FRONT DOOR. I'M HOPING WHEN WE RETURN THAT WE WILL HAVE LESS WRAPPING PAPER ON THE FLOOR OF OUR LIVING ROOM, AND MORE IN THE HOMES OF OTHERS THAT ARE TRULY IN NEED. OH, I PRAY THAT I WON'T FORGET HOW SIMPLE THE LOVE THAT WAS BIRTH IN A STABLE CAN BE OURS OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

WE BECOME MORE STARTING JUST WITH WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN US!

THE NEW NATIVITY SCENE THAT GRACED THE TEMPLE GROUNDS THIS YEAR.

REBECCA OUR SWEET SISTER WHO SITS AT THE RECEPTION DESK EACH DAY AND GREETS US WITH HER BEAUTIFUL SMILE. SHE IS WITH CHILD AND SHE RADIATES SUCH LOVE.

SHE DECORATES THE TREE EACH YEAR, AND WE TOLD HER SHE WAS OUR MARY THIS YEAR WITH HER BABE YET TO BE BORN.

ElDER T AND HIS TEAM ARE THE MEN IN BLACK, AND WERE JUMPNG FOR JOY WITH CHRISTMAS COMING. 

ONE OF THESE THINGS ARE NOT LIKE THE OTHER

I'M THANKFUL THAT THEY LET ME JOIN IN THE PICTURE WITH A GROUP OF MEN THAT I SO ADMIRE. THE POWER OF THE PRIESTHOOD ALONE IN THIS PICTURE STANDS AS A TESTIMONY BEFORE MY VERY EYES.

MY DEAR DEAR MISSIONARY FRIENDS WHO ARE AS CLOSE AS FAMILY. WE CALL MANY OTHER PLACES OUR BIRTH HOME, BUT GHANA IS OUR HEART HOME! THOSE SMILES ARE JUST A REFLECTION OF OUR LOVE HERE!

MARTHA SITS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER FROM OUR OFFICE, AND OUR SANTA KEPT WALKING OFF FROM OUR DESK. I CAUGHT HER N THE ACT, AND SHE SAID, "HE TOLD ME HE WANTED TO GO HOME WITH ME".

COLORS EVERY WHERE I LOOK!

ALL THE COLORS ARE BRIGHT AND INVITING.....I'VE LEARNED THAT I DO NOT HAVE SELF CONTROL WHEN IT COMES TO CLOTH HERE. I SAY I DO ONE MINUTE AND THEN THE NEXT I FIND IT IN MY ARMS NOT BE RETURNED TO THE SHELF. THE MYRIAD OF COLORS AND THE COMBINATIONS ALWAYS INVITE ME IN TO THEIR WORLD OF HOW THEY DRESS EACH DAY. HOW COULD YOU NOT LOVE THE COLOR PATTERNS OF THEIR LIVES IN YOUR ARMS.

ANOTHER VINTAGE KENTE CLOTH COMING HOME.

AND ANOTHER.....

A LIFE TIME SUPPLY OF TABLE CLOTHS AND BEYOND!

MY FIRST ATTEMPT AT MY NON PROFIT (AILC) LOGO ON CLOTH....WITH MORE TO COME!

THE NEXT DESIGN AND COLORS FOR AILC....CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HOW IT TURNS OUT!

EVERYDAY

EVERYDAY WE ARE NEVER SURPRISED BY WHAT WE SEE....EACH TIME WE TRAVEL BY CAR OR FOOT WE ARE ALWAYS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF DAILY LIFE HERE. WE PURCHASE MANY BASIC THINGS ON OUR WAY HOME FROM WORK EACH DAY. WE LOVE HOW IT SAVES US FROM GOING IN TO A STORE. WE BUY BANANAS, APPLES, MANGOS, EGGS AND EVEN CLOTHES IF WE NEED THEM. THAT WOULD BE WITHOUT EVEN LEAVING OUR CAR. SOMETIMES WHEN WE CRACK OUR WINDOW WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL BE FLYING IN. WE LOVE HOW LIFE IS HARD HERE, BUT THE PEOPLE HAVE A HAPPINESS THAT KEEPS THINGS SIMPLE.

EVERYONE HAS THEIR OWN SHOP.

WHO NEEDS U-HAUL. WE HAVE SEEN WHOLE KITCHEN TABLE SET CARRIED ON TOP OF THEIR HEADS.

WASH DAY AND THEY REMOVE EVERY STAIN.

FRESH FROM THE SEA!

OUR FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES ARE WONDERFUL, AND THEY GET A BATH OF CLOROX AND THEN A DIP IN FRESH WATER BEFORE BEING STORED IN THE FRIDGE. THIS WOULD BE MY CORNUCOPIA OF GHANA'S HARVEST.   

ZONE CONFERENCE

EVERY TWO MONTHS...WE HAVE ZONE CONFERENCE, AND WE LOVE OUR TIME TOGETHER AS WE ARE INSTRUCTED AND BROUGHT INTO WHAT THE REST OF THE WEST AFRICAN MISSIONS ARE DOING? EACH TIME 2 SENIOR MISSIONARY COUPLES GIVE A REPORT ON THEIR MISSION TO THE GROUP. ELDER T AND I WERE ABLE TO STAND AND BEAR WITNESS OF OUR MISSION AND THE FRUITFUL BLESSINGS THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED. ELDER T REPORTS ON THE TECHNOLOGY GAINS IN THE AREA, AND I REPORTED ON THE PHASE II OF THE LITERACY INITIATIVE AND ITS SUCCESS. WE  HAVE DIFFERENT MISSIONS, BUT ONES THAT WILL BLESS US TOGETHER IN THE LAST PLACES WE WILL SERVE BEFORE RETURNING HOME. IN OUR LAST FEW MONTHS, WE WILL BE GOING TO TOGO, NIGERIA, SIERRA LEONE AND LIBERIA. I HAVE AN ABIDING TESTIMONY THAT THE LORD'S TIMING IS PRECISE AND PERFECT AS TO WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE HE WANTS US YET TO GO. THE MIRACLES OF MISSIONARY SERVICE CONTINUE TO POUR INTO THE WINDOWS OF OUR LIVES.

PRESIDENT CURTIS WITH THE GREAT GROWTH OF TEMPLE WORTHY MEMBERS. 1/3 OF ALL NEW UNITS IN THE CHURCH WORLDWIDE COME FROM THE AFRICA WEST AREA MISSION.

OUR FAMILY OF DEVOTED MISSIONARY COUPLES IN THE ACCRA AREA OFFICE. WE HAVE EXECUTIVE SECRETARIES, MEDICAL DOCTOR, FAMILY HISTORY, LITERACY, HUMANITARIAN, PUBLIC AFFAIRS, AUDITING, SEMINARY AND INSTITUTE, PATHWAYS AND TECHNOLOGY. ELDER/SISTER CURTIS ARE TO THE RIGHT OF ME, AND THEY ARE EVER SO DEVOTED TO FURTHERING THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST. I MARVEL AT EACH AND EVERY ONE THAT IS IN THIS PICTURE, AND KNOW THAT WE ARE HIS SERVANTS CALLED AND SET APART TO DO HIS WORK!

GOOD TIMES

GOOD FRIENDS.....SPENT SOME TIME AT CAPE COAST WHERE YOU CAN COME TO FILL THE WELL OF FRIENDSHIP AND SERVICE.

THE SANDERS.....A VIEW FROM A WINDOW OF SERVICE.

SHE SURE CAN MAKE ME LAUGH!

SO EXCITED TO BE HERE!

ONE LAST PICTURE BY THE BOAT, AND OFF TO CHURCH! THIS COUPLE IS AMAZING AS SHE IS A NURSE AND ELDER SANDERS IS AN EMT. THEY TAKE CARE OF OVER 150 MISSIONARIES. IT WAS FUN TO LISTEN IN ON HER CALLS, AND HEAR OF THE STORIES OF SOME OF THE HEALTH ISSUES OF THE YOUNGER SISTERS AND ELDERS THAT SERVE HERE. SHE WAS AN EMERGENCY ROOM NURSE SO NO PULLING ANYTHING OVER ON HER!

SNORKELING OR NOT

ELDER T AND HIS WISH.....HE HAS ALWAYS WANTED TO TRY TO SEE IF ANY SNORKELING COULD BE DONE HERE IN GHANA. I CAN SAY THAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND, BUT THAT DOESN'T MATTER. HE TRYED AND FOUND OUT THAT THE RIP TIDES, THE HIGH WAVES AND LACK OF CLEAR WATER WAS NOT AS HE HAD HOPED. I'M SERIOUSLY THINKING WE NEED TO DE-GERM HIM FROM HEAD TO TOE, BECAUSE OF ALL THE TRASH THAT WASHES UP ON THE BEACHES HERE. I'LL LET YOU KNOW IF HE STARTS TO COME DOWN WITH ANYTHING. IN THE END, A WISH IS A WISH IN THE LIFE OF JUST TRYING AN ADVENTURE!

THINKING SHOULD I GIVE IT A TRY!

HE IS OFF....

ALMOST GEARED UP!

READY

ALMOST OFF...

STILL SMILING EVEN THOUGH.....

FISH MARKET AT CAPE COAST

FISH, FISHERMEN AND WOMEN WHO CARRY SO MUCH.....THESE ARE SOME PICTURES TAKEN IN THE MARKET OF CAPE COAST. FISHING IS THEIR DAILY WAGES.

BOATS COMING AND GOING WITH THEIR CATCH!

EEL FOR DINNER...

ALWAYS AMAZED AT HOW THE WOMEN BALANCE THEIR DAILY LIVES!

EVEN FISH NEED A TAXI RIDE!

ALWAYS WALKING AND CARRYING!

IN THE DOORWAYS OF LIFE!

SISTERS BY SISTERS

MY GROUP OF SISTERS.....THIS GROUP OF AMBASSADORS ARE EVER CHANGING, BUT WHEN SOME LEAVE OTHERS COME TO JOIN US. IN THE NEXT GROUP TO LEAVE , SISTER HILL AND THE TERRY'S WILL BE GOING HOME. IT JUST DOESN'T SEEM IT COULD EVEN BE POSSIBLE. WITHIN THE FACES OF THESE SISTERS, I FEEL AND SEE GREAT LOVE!

SISTERS SCRIPTURE STUDY GROUP

SISTERS IN THE SHADOWS OF THE TEMPLE.

SABBATH DAY

WE SERVE BESIDE GREAT FAITH.....THERE ARE THOSE DAYS THAT YOU LITERALLY FEEL THE HAND OF THE LORD IN THE SMALLEST DETAILS OF YOUR DAY. TODAY WAS ONE OF THOSE DAYS. WHEN YOU ARE SUPPOSE TO BE SOMEWHERE, AND FIND OUT AFTER SACRAMENT MEETING THAT YOU ARE IN THE WRONG WARD. OR ARE YOU WHERE THE LORD JUST WANTS YOU TO BE. TODAY ALL 4 OF US WERE JUST EXACTLY WHERE WE NEEDED TO BE. ELDER T WITH THE NEW WARD CLERK, I TAUGHT LITERACY CLASS BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT A TEACHER, SISTER SANDERS BEARING HER TESTIMONY. YOU ARE NEVER LOST WHEN YOU SERVE IN FAITH.

ELMINA WARD WITH THE SANDERS IN CAPE COAST!

MY LEARNER GEORGINA....A HEART FELT STORY THAT WILL BE IN MY JOURNAL!

NURSERY CLASS.....

THE EYES OF WONDER!

HIS LITTLE ONES LOOKING IN.