This and That

This is the road to a little village called Apaakrom. We make the 30 minute drive on this dirt road 1-2 times a week to visit a family from our branch. Currently we are in the harmattan season. It looks like fog but in reality, it is dry, dusty wind from the Sahara. The thick dust obscures the sun and covers everything with a fine dust (inside and outside). Our days are still hot but now very dry and hazy.

On January 13th we said good bye to our dear friends and fellow missionaries, Sister and Elder Kiffer. They headed back to Alaska after a job well done. We love them and will miss them!

Our Ghanaian son, Patrick and his finance' Charlotte entering their soon to be first home together. It is a small apartment with 2 small rooms and no running water. But they are grateful they were able to find a place they could afford. They are planning on getting married in February. We are so happy for them.

Barbecue in January

We were invited to a neighborhood barbecue in January! That is definitely a first for us. Our landlord, Jos, had a grill made out of a large drum. It worked amazingly well!

Elder Saunders and Jos grilled chicken, fish, and calamari. Jos and his wife own the building we live in. They live in London but came for a few months to do needed repairs and improvements.

Kathryn is from Washington State. She is a retired art professor who started a non-profit organization that raises money to send children to high school here in Cape Coast. Every year she comes to Ghana for 6 months to make arrangements for the following school year. She has made it possible for many young people to complete their education when they had no hope or resources to do so. She has made many dreams become a reality for children in Ghana. I want to be like her when I grow up!

Kathryn, Carol (Jos's wife) Elder and Sister Saunders, Jos, David, and Moises. We had a wonderful afternoon with our wonderful neighbors and friends! Life doesn't get much better than good food, good friends, and a warm January afternoon!

Celebrating the New Year In Abakrampa

The party begins around 9:00 am on December 31st when the women gather to prepare food for everyone. This group of sisters are pounding fufu to feed the crowds. While they pound, the men and children play games, visit, sleep, and watch movies across the street at the church.

Another group of women are cooking over hot fires, making rice, soups, and stews. This is Mary checking the rice with Beatrice standing on the left and Vida standing on the right.

Later when the Elders arrived they gave the sisters a break and took over the fufu pounding. In the process they quietly taught a great lesson to the young priests in our branch who quickly followed their example and also helped with the pounding.

We had over 140 people join us to celebrate the new year. There were games, music, dancing, visiting, and plenty of food for everyone. A few street vendors and lots of children stopped by to see what all the noise was about. They were all welcomed and fed. We love the wonderful people in the Abakrampa Branch. They have become our family here in Ghana.

Wild Christmas Party

On Christmas day we met with the couples in the mission home for a delicious feast. We had turkey, brisket and all the trimmings. Honestly one of the best meals we have ever had! Dave is wearing an apron because he is the official dishwasher at all gatherings! After Sister Lamb's incredible apple pie, the party became a little wild when Sister Sabey brought out the crowns and the poppers.

The Sabey's began the celebration by pulling the strings and beginning "the wave" so they popped all around the table. As they popped open, out came a prize and a joke!

There was even a joke from Alaska for Sister and Elder Kiffer! What do you call a cow in Alaska? An Eskimoooo!! Yep, the jokes were simply hilarious! However, the crowns were very appropriate for these wonderful couples. They are certainly royalty in our eyes and the eyes of our missionaries!

Christmas Eve

We spent the Holiday with the other couples in our mission. The Kiffers, the Sabeys, the Lambs, and the Bennetts. We had Christmas Eve dinner at Coconut Grove, a beautiful resort in Elmina. As the sun set, I gazed out at the ocean and felt the sea breeze on my face and realized I will probably never have another Christmas Eve quite like this one. I had an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for the beauty around me and love for these dedicated and faithful couples. Our time spent with them has greatly enriched our lives.

Earlier, the Abura Sisters came over to our apartment and performed the dance that they did for their Christmas gathering. They also sang a Christmas carol for us in Fante. They are amazing young women and very talented! We love the sisters and enjoy it when they come to our apartment to visit and entertain us! L to R: Sister Anyango from Uganda, Sister Evans from Ghana, Sister Mafabi from Uganda, Sister Afrani from Ghana and Sister Izidor from Nigeria.

Our Christmas Gathering

This year for Christmas the Sabey's held 4 separate Christmas gatherings. Two were held in their home, one in the Bennett's apartment in Suyani, and one in the Lamb's apartment in Sekondi. Here we are in the mission home, with Elder Smith and Elder Meinzer. They are the first full time proselyting missionaries to serve in Abakrampa! We are all standing by probably, one of the only Christmas trees in Cape Coast!

We met with the Cape Coast and Assin Foso Zones. President Sabey gave an amazing presentation on the First Christmas using his Ghanaian Nativity set. We sang songs, ate good food, received gifts and just enjoyed the Christmas spirit together.

A week earlier we did spot this Christmas tree in Accra! Looks a little out of place with blue sky and green grass! And the decorations....well we can only imagine the time and planning that went into decorating this tree! :) Hey and why not use it to do a little advertising?!

Departing Elders

At the Accra Temple with six departing missionaries. From left to right, Elder and Sister Lamb, President and Sister Sabey, Elder Hill (Utah), Elder Ayim (Ghana), Elder Balyejusa (Uganda), Elder Ajeifio (Ghana), Elder Valentine (Florida), Elder Isikor (Nigeria) and Elder and Sister Saunders.

With Elder Hill who served as an Assistant to the President.

Elder Ajeifio, who happens to be one (we have many) of our favorite Elders.