December 15, 2007
December 15, 2007
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
It is hard to believe it is the holiday season already. Since the weather has been getting hotter here and not colder it is even harder to believe. The Ghanaians claim to �celebrate� the Christmas holiday, but we have not seen much evidence of that so far. I guess buying a tree, lights, and d�cor would just be an extra expense that they can not afford. We get very excited when we hear Christmas music playing around town, although it does not happen too often. We are almost done Christmas shopping. We are looking forward to starting our own family traditions this year. On Christmas Eve we are getting together with some of the younger couples to play games, watch �It�s a Wonderful Life� and eat. On Christmas we are going to spend the morning as a family and then for the evening the whole team is getting together for a gift exchange, white elephant exchange, food, and fellowship. We will certainly miss our families over the holidays but having a team here will certainly help.
Thank you for all of the birthday and anniversary greetings. Brett spoiled me on both days like he always does. I think our anniversary was the hardest day I have had since being here in Ghana. Thinking of our wedding, honeymoon, and previous anniversary trips to Chicago had me longing for home and some sort of luxury. Brett got to get away from work for a day, and we went to a local hotel and had a nice time of relaxation.
The Kalapp�s just came back yesterday. It is nice to have them back. We have missed them. Pastor School is only 5 short weeks away and from what everyone says about last year it is going to be a crazy, busy five weeks of preparation and work. I am sure it will be worth it all when Dr. Schaap and the rest of the group come. Brett and I are looking forward to seeing everybody.
It has taken me a solid 18 weeks but I am finally 100% back to normal now with a raging appetite! I am 19 weeks tomorrow and have only gained 3 pounds so far but with 21 weeks to go there is no telling what can happen � Please pray =). Brett has lost another 10 pounds since it has gotten so hot. His size 36 pants are barley staying up on his waist and he is on the last whole in most of his belts. Jackson on the other hand is growing nicely. After he eats he has the roundest, cutest, full belly in the world. He LOVES to eat so that�s good.
We have still not gotten used to the �bugs� in our house (or at least I haven�t). I think we have at least 100 colonies of ants living somewhere in between our kitchen and our bathrooms. Even after the whole bathroom is bleached from top to bottom they will still be scavenging around for food. Jackson seems to be allergic to them. When he gets an ant bite it swells to the size of silver dollar.
The church has continued to grow steadily. Last week their was 977 in church. Not bad for a one year old church. Our Sunday school class had 272 children in it last Sunday and that is not uncommon. They can be a handful sometimes. Our tro-tro route is also doing well. Brett has had the opportunity to witness too many of the riders families and it has been very encouraging for him to start to see changes in many of the riders lives. I saw 3 Muslim ladies saved today. I am praying they will come to church tomorrow. Well I guess I better sign off for now. Thanks to Mom and Dad Beil, Mom and Dad Guarneri, Mrs. Goddard and her Sunday school class, Grandma and Grandpa Campbell, Katye Mccoy and Jessica Guarneri for their thoughtfulness on our birthdays and Christmas. We love all of you and miss you more