We had a very Merry Christmas here in Ghana. On Christmas Eve, the house was as busy as most houses before a holiday. We were decorating, cleaning and cooking. The older children, staff and Sister Stan joined Mary Clare and me for 8pm mass where we celebrated the Christmas Vigil mass. It was very beautiful, almost the entire mass was reverently sung After mass ended, about 2-1/2 hours later, we went into the dining hall and played music, danced, drank pop and had fried chicken!! The Christmas celebration had begun!!
The next morning, Mary Clare and I prepared pancakes with Nutella spread on them for everyone for breakfast. At one point, I had Mary on my hip trying to make and flip the pancakes in hot oil... it was a challenge to say the least! The pancakes were a hit!! Then there was the usual crazy getting ready for mass, although since everyone got a new Christmas outfit and sandals, finding clothes for the kids to wear was a snap! Mary Clare and I also received new Christmas dresses in traditional African fashion. The kids and the staff were so excited to see us dressed Ghanian style!! Mass was not as reverent as the night before, with all the children there for this mass, it was noisy, but still beautiful. Between Mary and Emmanuella (that is Gmarlia's new name... we call her Ella) I had my hands full, but so did Mary Clare with 5 boys about 4 to 6 years old in her pew!!
After mass we took pictures because everyone looked so beautiful and sharp, then we danced the day away and had lots of food!! Mary Clare made awesome peanut butter cookies, and I made a rice dish with pineapples, peppers and onions in it, the kids loved it all and kept saying, "Thank you... God bless you!!"
Well into the night we danced, then on the next day, Boxing Day, we danced some more! We had dancing competitions and played musical chairs. Mary Clare and I did a Christ-centered activity with the kids and made a mural of the Nativity scene for the wall in the dining hall. Sister made fried chicken again for lunch (it was ssssooooo good!) and then we had a simple supper, followed by Mary Clare's cookies and a dessert from Father Isadore. Dancing is big here for celebrations, just in case you didn't clue into that by now!!!
Mary Clare and I both had gifts for Sister Stan, which she loved and treasured each one, and she got a kick out of the coffee-less coffee pot. Some missionary friends, Mama Paula and her husband Tom are coming here in a month (yea!!!!!!!) and will hopefully bring some coffee with them!
So, today and tomorrow are cleaning days and getting back to normal, then Monday and Tuesday will hopefully be a little calmer before the second installment of the holiday season, New Year's Eve, where I hear we will attend midnight mass (those of us who can stay up) and then... can you guess... dance!!!
It was a different Christmas without my family, and without Santa Claus, but it was beautiful and fun just the same. I am so happy to have been able to celebrate a beautiful holy day like Christmas in a different culture with different traditions and foods. It is one I am sure never to forget, no matter what happens next in my life.
I hope you have had a beautiful Christmas day as well, and I pray the rest of the Christmas season be just as beautiful, prayerful and Christ-centered as the holy day was. Cheers to you and yours!! xo
