Looking Back to December 2014

Day One: December 15,  Kumasi

        A year has gone since these events so it's time to catch up on some good times that failed to get posted. Six couples were heading to the north of Ghana during the middle of December 2014. We got permission from President Heid and headed off. There were the Watsons and the Calls, the Packs and the Cannons and us and the Wildes. As with anything relating to distance here in Ghana it always takes longer than you expect because of bad roads and too much traffic. We made our first day's journey as far as Kumasi. This is the sight of another one of the four missions in Ghana, now presided over by President and Sister Cosgrave, who were back in Utah at this time and waiting to return to Ghana in July of 2015 and the mission that our friends from the MTC, the Brinks, are assigned to, though they are even farther to the north in Tamale. Looks like tamale, our Spanish word, and yes, I would love some tamales right now, but is ta-ma-lay. Only three more months until Mexican food.

Following trucks piled high.

The trees here have amazing trunks.

Always following black carbon. Don't talk to me about emission control.

Some interesting churches along the way.

         In the villages fruits and vegetables that are not grown locally are brought in by semis and then dumped in piles by the side of the road. I don't know how anyone knows how much is theirs and how they pay for their goods. It's an interesting custom.

A Truck full of Plantains

It's always fun to see how people perch on trucks.

We stayed at a new hotel called the Golden Bean.

Wades, Wildes, Canons, Calls, Watsons, & Packs

        The afternoon in Kumasi took us to the Arts and Crafts Cultural Center. They have demonstrations of weaving, batik making, pottery making, drum making and other crafts native to Ghana. It was late in the day so we missed most of the actual demonstrations but we got the idea.

Gorgeous hand weaving

Gathering in the batik that had been drying in the sun.

More batik.

Batik printing blocks.

Pottery kiln.

The Wildes

The Packs

Mothers and babies passing through the market.

Ghana is one large sidewalk sale.

Kumasi streets like anywhere in Ghana, full of vendors and interesting sights.

        That was our day from Accra to Kumasi on our way to Mole.

Looking Back, Looking Forward

 Into the New Year 2016

  

One of our Accragio concerts was at the American Embassy.

An Open House at the Mission Home brought out Elder and Sister Webster.

This toy lady has gifts from Mr. Claus himself.

Sister Hill and Sister Sanders entertained at our Christmas Eve gathering. Dr. Hill and Sister Graham looking on.

Our afternoon Christmas Concert included Sister Curtis, Mary Richards with her daughters Emily, Caroline and Jenna visiting from Utah, playing violin, harp and piano.

Singing Carols with Emily on violin.

President and Sister Assard from Cote d'Voire are serving in the Temple. Barry loves to use his German with them as Sister Assard is German born.

Barry having his turn to choose from the gift table. We so enjoyed getting together at President and Sister Graham's home.

Christmas Day

After a brunch at President Hill's home we went to the MTC for games with the missionaries and a Christmas Dinner. Here some missionaries are teaching us another way to play Owaree. It's not the same as we usually play.

The Clarks introducing Yatzee

Sisters Hill, Sanders, and Webster teaching Sister N'goran from Cote d'Voire.

Spending the holidays at the MTC 

Sister Peprah and her companion Sister Bambi

Boxing Day

A party at the home of the Charge d'Affairs of the American Embassy

That is the title of the Deputy Ambassador

Melinda Tabler-Stone is the Charge d'Affair and also a Thunderbird Graduate, class of '80. A fellow Alumni with Barry.

Games.

Wonderful food, including a Butterball turkey and cranberry sauce. Most of it prepared by Melinda, candles and china. Lovely!

 

More games and conversation

Sunday after Christmas

Elder Helm doing the tie tying honors. Missionaries are very adept at this.

More of Cameron's Legos for the Primary children.

I made pillow cases for all the Young Women.

        We look back at what a wonderful and fun-filled Christmas Season this has been. We celebrated our Savior's birth for the second time in Ghana. We were able to add more music to this season and that was wonderful, something that I have really missed. We realize that the life of the Savior and His example are more meaningful to us each year. We treasure the family and friends that we have at home and the new ones we have made here in Ghana. This has been an incredible experience. 

        We came out of the Grahams home after our Christmas Eve gathering and on to the Temple grounds to this spectacular view. Though a week premature at that time I see some symbolism here. In Ghana the big celebration is not Christmas but New Years' Eve when we cross over into the New Year and remember the good and the not so good of the year past and move into a clean and fresh new year. It is a time to look forward and pray that we will be together again at this time next year.

        The Temple even in the darkness is a beacon of light. The Temple binds us together not just for the year to come but for the eternities to come. May we all find that beacon of light that will guide us through the year 2016 so that "through the years we all will be together, if the fates allow. Hang a shinning star...." May we all shine forth, being better, more loving, kinder and happier than we ever thought we could be in this year 2016. Make it a good one. Love to you all, Kathryn and Barry