Christmas in Nigeria 2012

Here it is, the day after Christmas, or Boxing Day here.  We had a wonderful Christmas with many events.  Elder and Sister Brown, Elder and Sister Winget and Tim and I, made a Christmas basket for Pres. and Sister Adebayo and gave it to him a couple of days before Christmas.  We went to the Ukorebi's home on Christmas Eve to eat dinner, sing and enjoy the Nativity story, put on by the children.  The donkey was the father, Bro. Ukorebi.  All the missionary couples have adopted the Ukorebi children as our grandchildren here.  They run up to us at church and other events and want us to be near by them.  It is pretty awesome! 
Christmas day Tim and I made some food for the guards who would be on duty all day and then helped make brunch with the Wingets and Browns.  We ate with them, the Adebayo's and 5 of the Elders.  It was a wonderful day. Merry Christmas from Nigeria, Africa!

Ward Christmas Party Nigerian Style

 We went to the ward Christmas Party.  It was announced to begin at 2:00.  We went at 2:00 and no one was there.  So we went back to the apartment and came back 45 minutes later and that is when most of the people came.  There was a program first.  The Primary Children Sang, there was a skit or two, a family sang and then came Santa Claus...at least one of his helpers! 

 We know Santa and his helpers to be a little on the chubby side.  Not this one!

 I just thought this little girl was so cute with these balloons.  I asked if I could take her picture.  She was good to let me.  Here, you don't take a picture, you "snap" the picture.

Looking into the eyes of a child.  Mailyn  looking deep into my eyes.  She is a cutie!

Conference and Training in Ghana

 We have been enjoying our stay in Ghana.  We are to talk over plans on how to make PEF more effective.  Even though we have spent many hours in a room talking and discussing plans we still have a little time to get out and do things, like go to the ocean for a few minutes.  There were tons of junior high aged kids on the beach.  We were the old folks.

 This morning we began our day at the Ghana temple.  The first time I saw this temple I thought of the words to the song, "I Love To See The Temple".  I had to choke down a few tears.  We haven't been near a temple for a very long time!  The inside of the temple is beautiful.  Breathtakingly beautiful!  It was the very best way to begin our day.

 Those who went to the temple are the same ones who we have been working with to get great ideas of the PEF program.  Left to right, Patrick,  Bro. Brown, Rebecca (Funmi), Fred, Ike, Tim, Dianne, Elder Heid, Sister Heid. 

This is my favorite nativity set from Nigeria.  The person who sold it to us is the artist who makes it.  At least that is what he told us. 

First Nigerian Wedding

Saturday, December 8, 2012 we were able to attend the wedding of Godlyn and Richard.  We were invited because everyone is expected to come if you are in the area and want to.  We were encouraged to purchase the material from the bride to make an outfit to match the friends of the family.  We wanted to be friends of the family, and they wanted us to dress like we are friends, and so we did. The wedding cake was made by another one of the catering students we know.  She did a darling job.

Freeway Flat Tire Adventures

To begin a post you really need good news first.  That would be the authentic Nativity scene.  We had a young artist come to our office and sell us the nativity scene.  We weren't sure how to get him to leave without purchasing one set.  Now that I am here and looking closely at the nativity set, I really appreciate the artwork in the details of the faces.  Maybe you just have to be here to appreciate it.

We travelled to Victoria Island to go Black Friday Shopping.  We took a young man with us to drive.  While on the Third Mainland Bridge our tire blew out.  Elder Jennings and Elder Brown directed traffic away from the van while Elder Winget and Ike changed the tire.  When we told the mission president about the flat tire he was very upset that the vehicle had a tire on it that looked this bad. 

FIELD OF DREAMS...FSD

 Tim and I, along with President Adebayo, Ike Ibe (pronounced E-Bay) Sister Winget and Elder Winget went to Field of Dreams or called FSD to talk to the owner (woman in black) of ideas to help her educate more people and more skills.  She is very excited to think of the possibilities.  Not to make herself richer.  She is interested in helping her country grow and prosper.  She is a woman of high integrity and intelligence and vision.  It is always an honor to work with her.  Hopefully I will have more to post when we work out the details.  If it works, it will be thrilling!

Catch up time

I haven't been posting for a while because I couldn't get any pictures to attach to my blog.  I was able to get a few pictures to attach, so, here is a few notes.  

We have many students and friends who think we need traditional African clothes.  I have a dress made out of the same cloth that Elder Jennings has this outfit from.  It is beautiful.  There is one small problem.  The seamstress made it too small.  I had her take the seams out and it is still too small.  I will try once more to get it the correct size.

We have gone shopping 3 times to Balogun.  Twice we have been rained on.  The first time it rained very hard on us.  It was an adventure for sure.  First you walk very carefully through the water puddles and then you get so wet, it really doesn't matter.

 

We have had a few water issues in the entire building.  When the building was built the plumbers put in too small and inferior pipes.  This is a 4 year old building with water pipes breaking.  We had issues with water leaking out of a wall.  We were moved out of our apartment for them to fix it.  Our two day project turned into two weeks.  We are back in now.

On one day of adventures we got into a car to leave and noticed we didn't have enough gas.  Our driver found some gas and poured it into the car.  We have been having some serious gas shortages in Nigeria.  It looks like it may be ending.   There for a while most gas stations were closed...out of gas.