Trip to the Ocean

Our Sabbath Day has been delightful as we took a leisurely Sunday drive (after attending church in the McCarthy Hill Ward) to see the OCEAN. We've been in Africa for 3 1/2 months and had still never actually seen the ocean--even though Accra looks like it is right on the coast. Where we live is inland about a mile but because of the city buildings and trees, we had to travel a few miles to find a place where we could walk on the beach and feel the waves at our feet. The place we chose was Milly's Resort--it had a true African fishing village flavor. Elder and Sister Johnson were our host companions for the day...they did the driving. We had prepared a picnic lunch and ate in an elevated hut that gave a beautiful view of the ocean.

Thinking of Christmas on the drive home after a true tropical afternoon, is creating a memory of the Savior associated with surroundings different than snow, decorations, shopping, and Christmas music. Without all the usual trimmings, we have to stop and truly contemplate the meaning of Christmas. The Son of God came to earth as a babe, to save mankind by living as a perfect example, and atoning for the sins of us all through sacrificing his life and taking it up again that we might all live forever. The gift of eternal life is offered if we strive to live righteously and keep his commandments. We are anticipating our Christmas experience in Africa by focusing on the life of our Savior. We pray that we may all 'remember the reason for the seaon' and have a Christ-centered Christmas. We are grateful for our traditions and for all of you for being part of our lives. MERRY CHRISTMAS! Love Elder and Sister Brown

Big Milly's Munchies where we had lunch

Huts and palm trees in the resort compound

Sister Brown inspecting the homemade boat

Boats, flags and ocean

This little boy is shaking the sand out of his shorts (oops!)

This little girl just saw her first white man

Great fun covering Mama in sand

Sisters on a stroll along the beach

Ocean Trip Continued

Elder & Sister Brown

Elder Brown in front of lunch hut

Elder & Sister Johnson

The 12 Days of Christmas

We received this from our missionary friends in the Church Office Building. I thought it was a worthy addition to the Christmas season to pass along.

There is one Christmas Carol that has always baffled me. What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially the partridge who won't come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas?

This week, I found out.

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.

-The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.

-Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.

-Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.-

-The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.

-The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

-The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

-Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit--Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.

-The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.

-Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit--Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.

-The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.

-The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.

-The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.

So there is your history for today. This knowledge was shared with me and I found it interesting and enlightening and now I know how that strange song became a Christmas Carol...so pass it on if you wish.'

Merry Christmas Everyone

The Christmas season was ushered in here at the temple compound with a lighting ceremony last night. It 'tis the season even here in Africa. I found the craziest Christmas tree at the local grocery store--just had to take a photo.

while this is posted by Kassie Jane it was an email that I received from mom and dad. I enjoyed it enough I thought I'd share it with more than their children.

Ghanaian Stake Conferences and other things

This is the street in front of the Temple Grounds

A Temple excursion of Nigerians, while their own Temple is closed

Mom and daughter ready to perform for a church video

President and Sister Breillatt of the Ghana Temple

Elder and Sister Brown accompanied them to Adenta Stake Conference

Ghanaian Sisters in Ghanaian dresses

Family at Stake Conference

I took most of the rest of the pictures to show the dresses

Notice the twin girls in this picture

Pretty dress

This is Wendy and her son. Wendy's husband is in the USA going to school

Wendy works in the area office as secretary to the Area Presidency

More Beautiful dresses and sisters at Tema Stake Conference

Kathy is having a dress made out of blue fabric

We ran across Elder Jeremy Reid from Gunnison while at the Tema Stake Conference

He looked good and so did we

How's this for a head dress

This is the congregation at the Tema Stake Conference, some people were in other rooms

watching on closed circuit TV, about 2,000 attended. Our Boss, Daniel Yirenya-Tawiah is the Area Welfare Manager and the Stake President of the Tema Stake, that's part of the reason we attended. The other reason was to meet and talk to the Perpetual Education Fund Students and Specialists

Saw this lady at the Fruit Stand with her colorful fabric and matching headress