Yes!  This woman is carrying a sewing machine on her head!  I have seen this so many times here in Ghana but I could never get a good picture.  I finally did. (Although it It is just unbelievable to me that they can balance this on their heads and also carry something in their hands!  The picture below showed up on a senior Area West blog the same week I snapped this picture.  The little girl in the picture is a sewing machine hauler-in-training! They start them young here.

 

We celebrated Elder Garrison's 69th birthday on January 8th. It is such a joy to serve with him here in Ghana.  I made him a chocolate molten pie that was a bit over cooked!  I will need to try it again to get the molten going better!

You already know that I have an obsession of taking pictures of children on their mommy's backs.  This little one was being so rambunctious on Sunday, but as soon as her mommy put her on her back, she settled right down and was asleep in no time. 

This is Jared....the little boy of the District President in Obuasi.  He was born right about the time we arrived.....he is 15 months now. He was just getting ready to fall asleep.....isn't he beautiful?

                         Here is a picture of the one in the picture above before she fell asleep!

This little toddler was just so cute that I had to take a picture of her. She is full of it! 

After church last Sunday, we went to the district center in Obuasi and I had the privilege of  training the District Relief Society Presidency.  Pictured above from left to right is the second counselor: Tracy, the president: Dorcia, the 1st counselor: Kathryn and the secretary: Augustina.  When we were done with the training, I asked them if they had any questions or comments and Kathryn just said so sweetly:"we just want to sincerely thank you so much for your training, to help us do our callings better."  That is just how sincere the people are here......

This is a picture of at the airport picking up our new missionaries (from left to right) Alex Cobbina (our driver and my right hand helper), Elder Anderson (he was at the office to train the office elders to take over the social media for the mission) Elder Amoah (one of the Assistants to the President), Elder Beck (office elder) Elder Harnois (the other Assistant) and Elder Nijarayafa(an office elder). These are all fabulous missionaries. These are the people that we get the privilege of seeing and working with the most as we are in the office. 

Here is a picture of the new group of missionaries that we received on Tuesday.  In the mix are 7 missionaries from Tonga and one from the Phillipines (the first from these countries since we have been here).  It is wonderful to have missionaries from so many different countries serving together in Ghana.  

Last Sunday, Elder Holland and his wife gave a worldwide devotional from St. George, Utah.  It was a beautiful devotional and at the end of meeting he gave an Apostolic Blessing.  The words that he spoke were just so beautiful.  I loved the one that I posted above.  I truly do believe that Our Heavenly Father loves us and that He hears our prayers and knows what is best for us.  We just need to trust in Him and in His timing.  

Hard to believe that two more weeks have gone by for us.  We just have two more transfers to go before we finish up here in Ghana.  We have learned so much and felt the guidance of Our Heavenly Father, we have NO DOUBT that this is His work and we are blessed to be a part of it. Thank you for your support and prayers....stay stong and steadfast.

Love,

The Garrisons