Welcome to Christmas - West African style. We don't have many Christmas decorations but we thought we would share with you the ones we do have. This is a real Ghanian carved wooden nativity made from odum wood. It was carved by Wisdom Anani who is a great wood carver and a member of the Church. The tree made from grasses is a replica of the African bao-bao tree and is considered by the West Africans as the "tree of life" since the people use all parts of it. The tree also has special medicinal powers and is used for healing. We thought it appropriate to add this tree of life to our special nativity. Remember you can double click on any of these pictures to see them in a larger size. Mery Christmas from our house to yours!

This is a close up of our favorite nativity. The wise men each are wearing hats from a different tribe in Ghana. 

This is a Nigerian nativity set made out of wood and only about 3-5 inches high. 

This is our African doll nativity. The 3 wise men actually look more like 3 wise women. If I can find more of these, you'll probably each get one next year. 

This is a soapstone nativity made in Ghana. We thought the animals added a decidedly African flavor. 

This is our funny little Ghanian Christmas tree. You can see some of the ornaments that I can get. It didn't photograph very well. The baskets are actually sitting on little pads that are supposed to hold candles, but those will have to wait until next Christmas. We love our tree! 

I have a few of these little African elves hanging on our tree. They aren't cheap, but I just couldn't resist them. 

This is a tiny little basket we have hanging on our tree. I can get more for our Festival Tree if you think they are cute 

I could make each of you one of these for future Christmases. It's so simple even I can do it! 

Some of the things I have been doing to keep busy. I'm so glad that Joan Child likes to applique and quilt and likes to teach others to do the same 

This is my first helicopter ride and we're on our way from the aiport to Freetown. We could either take a 40 minute hovercraft ride or this 10 minute helicopter ride to get from the airport into town. We opted for the shorter ride. Seated with me is Sister Lynette Gay wife of President Robert Gay of the Accra, Ghana Mission. Part of their mission includes Liberia and Sierra Leone. Lynette is a real trooper and had done quite a bit of humanitarian work in Africa before this assignment. But for me, this is quite an adventure for a little housewife from Utah!

We took two new elders (just finished the MTC) plus the assistants to Sierra Leone with us. This will be the first field of labor for the two on the left. They just all happened to be white, which is very unusual. The two new elders will have a Zambian and a Nigerian for companions when they land. 

These are typical of some of the beautiful people we encountered in our training in the Freetown District. Notice the beads in the little girls hair. She looks a little like the dolls that we brought home from Africa. She was absolutely a doll herself and we couldn't resist taking a picture. 

This is the Grafton Branch in the Freetown District of Sierra Leone. It is located near a resettlement area that was created during the war. It has about 70 members that come regularly to this little "tabernacle in the wilderness" and President Gay said if they had just a little better building they imagine they would have about 100 people coming to this branch. Would you have enough faith and testimony to stay active and faithful in a building that looked like this? The Church doesn't yet have any of their own buildings in Sierra Leone. All of the buildings that they use are rented facilities or like this one are on leased land. The Area Office hopes to acquire our own properties in the future. Most of the other buildings are much more substantial than this one. This is the poorest facility that the Saints have to meet in. They hope to erect something more substantial on the cement pad in the foreground in the next year, but they will need a few more tithe paying members. Pretty hard to find in a country with 80% unemployment

This is Elder & Sister Anderson. They are our lone missionary couple in all of Sierra Leone. He is the District President of the Freetown District. They are truly some of the greatest and most valiant souls in the Kingdom of God. They are unflappable and extremely positive and hopeful and are also having the time of their lives. 

Not the sturdiest of classrooms and I have no idea what they sit on during classes. We forgot to ask. 

This is the inside of the Grafton tabernacle. You are looking at the chapel and some of the classrooms. 

You can see the roof of this "building" is made courtesy of the UN and the bags they ship refugee supplies in which have been recycled here to keep the rain out. 

Outside the Grafton Branch were they hold Primary under this tree. It would be easy to teach about the Savior as the good shepherd with the neighbors sheep wandering through Primary. Sister Gay and Sister Anderson are discussing the geckos that scurry in and out of the tent during the meetings. 

We crossed a bridge over this stream on the way to the Grafton Branch. This is where many of those from the relocation camp do their laundry and bathing. It is quite a communal experience and they were having a good time.