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".