December

   You know when life gets busy and it feels like time goes by in the blink of an eye? I think that was December. I hadn't really realized what all happened in that one month until I went through my pictures just now for this post. There were highs and lows this month and everything in between.

The first Saturday of December we had a very fun ladies and girls day. We celebrated Heidi's birthday and had a baby shower for Kaylene. We all enjoyed playing with food and decorating. We might not have access to Party Supply but we decided we did pretty well with our limited resources. The filled egg baby carriages were so cute!

                                     

Dessert table. We played games, soaked our feet, and enjoyed visiting.

We had gotten up early that morning to be at this church for a baby naming ceremony for one of the Salt employee's baby boy. I find this tradition fascinating and this service was very nice.

There hasn't been an administrator at Salt since March so Kenny has been working there some. We are thankful Jay and Miriam are spending several months here over the winter to administrate that.

This was pay out day for a savings group. All the money that the group saved is divided out to them as well as any interest they made from making loans to their own group members during the savings period.

The boys love to walk back to this creek on the other side of the village. Sand washed up on the bank from upstream farther when we had the flood and they decided to just make block right there.

A lot of charcoal gets made in the bush in that area.

The Ghana school term ended and we were invited to two graduation ceremonies. This one a family from our church goes to. We left with many more questions about how to help these people. When schools promote and teach things we would consider immoral, what hope does the country have?

This graduation was in our village. The little ones had memorized parts to say. This little girl is dressed up in traditional African clothing.

The students from Kindergarten 2 graduated to first grade. The 6th grade class graduated to JHS. And this is the JHS 3 class that will go on to Senior High School which is boarding school.

One Saturday our mission spent the day with the Eastern mission north of Accra. It was a wonderful day fellowshipping with like minded people who have the same goals here as we do. We saw this truck on our way there. It is full of plantain.

We attended the funeral of our friend Richard's father. The ceremony in the afternoon was for five funerals and each family had a chief. Before the service started each one took a turn going to greet the other chiefs. They each carried a pole with a carving of something on top. One was a parrot, one a man hunting a lion, and anything else they could think up it seemed.

Our homeschool group had a Christmas program. Each family did a skit, recited something or sang something. The children played a game and exchanged gifts and then we had a yummy treat. Our group is a diverse group of people from vastly different backgrounds but I appreciate each of these ladies and the broader social circle it gives our children.

The missionaries school at Assomdwee had a school program as well. Once again we stretched our creativity and did a charcuterie board for lunch. 

Teacher and students put a lot of work into their program and we all enjoyed it.

                                               

Kelsey and I enjoyed baking pies for our missions Christmas dinner. It brought back many memories. Grandma Laura's pumpkin pie, Grandma Lydia's pecan pie. Kelsey decided baking made it really seem like Christmas.

Christmas was an enjoyable day. The men and children played baseball in the afternoon. The ladies and girls played human Dutch Blitz later in the day. Even though we sweated and missed our families, we were all thankful for the mission family we have here,  and it did feel like Christmas!

Kelsey and two dear friends. Lordina, the older one has been going to a school for handicap people and we were so pleased to see she has put on weight, her English has improved, and she seems brighter than ever. And Charlotte is sweet as always!

January looks very busy and exciting. We have a lot of people coming and going. Pray for the ones travelling and for our mission team here. That everything would go smoothly, that everyone could be strong and healthy, and that we could take one day at a time and enjoy each one.