An African Christmas

We had scheduled a District Christmas Devotional to be held the Friday before Christmas and had decided to hold it at the Penkwase Chapel as it is the building with the largest hall. It was truly a lovely evening. The children from all four branches began the festivities by singing "Jingle Bells" while they each rang a tiny bell. They love this song, even though none of them have ever even seen snow and they didn't know what a sleigh was. I told them it was like a wagon without wheels. That seemed to satisfy them. I had spent several months making three-dimensional nativity masks for each of the branches. Each child was given a mask. We had only planned on about 30 children but they came in droads. We used every single mask and even had 4 Marys and 4 stars--they didn't seem to mind. They had never practiced together but when they held up their little masks and sang "Away In a Manger" it was absolutely breathtaking! Several inspirational talks were given and then we showed a video projected on a wall of the Savior's life accompanied with a musical background by the Tabernacle Choir. There was standing room only and we even had people seated on the porch....about 160. The Christmas spirit filled the entire building!

It was unlike any Christmas we have ever had and probably unlike any we will have in the future. We had waited to open our one Christmas package until Christmas Eve and I figured it would be a picture of the Grandkids with Father Christmas. We were so surprised when we opened it to find an entire book entitled "While You Were Gone" highlighting all the things we have missed in our children and grandchildren's lives this past year. It was incredible! We turned every page and laughed and cried and then cried some more.

We weren't certain how the next day would turn out and went to sleep Christmas Eve listening to the drums which seemed much louder than usual. We had previously arranged with the Sunyani Regional Hospital for a group of us to visit the Children's Ward on Christmas Day. We met our twelve missionaries, who are serving here in Sunyani, in the parking lot along with President Owusu and David so we would have someone who could interpret for us as none of us speak Twi. Elder Larsen gave a beautiful prayer and then we paraded in through the front doors. It was eerily quiet. This hospital is usually bustling and crowded with hundreds of people waiting to be seen for some ailment or another. Today it was empty. We met the nurse and she led us through several of the barracks-type buildings until we reached the Children's bungalow. We went in and the nurses explained that a lot of the children had gone home for the day if they were able, and that only the very sick ones ot those that did not have families remained.

We then visited every bedside and gave them biscuits (cookies), juice packets and some silly little plastic toy glasses that David had found in the market. They loved them! Some of the situations were heartbreaking. Some of the children would only smile faintly; others were very cheerful and funny. Some were frightened and others not frightened at all. The nurse then proceeded to take us to every one of the wards and we sought out every child in the hospital, whether a patient or just visiting. Everyone truly appreciated our efforts. We left the remaining toys and treats for the sick children who would be returning the next day. We were thanked again and again by the doctors, the patients and their families, and the nurses. It warmed our hearts.

At the last station, we gathered together with the nurses on that ward. David gave a simple, humble, beautiful prayer blessing the children and praying that they would get better. As he prayed, from somewhere in the hospital we could hear the song "Angels We Have Heard on High". When he finished not a word was said. We all just looked up and the nurses as well as some of the missionaries were quietly crying. It was such a touching moment-one I hope I will never forget!

We then went to Nkwabeng and had a chicken and rice dinner with the missionaries and let them watch a movie before going back to their apartments to call home. This Christmas was unpretentious, uncommercial, rather quiet, yet touching and simple--the way I guess it really should be.