Pageants . . .

There has been lots going on here. We should try to post more frequently, but sometimes the length of time it takes to download the pictures is a little discouraging. This post, however, does have quite a few pictures because they will really tell the story of what is going on.

We should let you know that we did have a great Thanksgiving. It was definitely different, but still good. We had zone conference with 24 Elders. For lunch we tried to help the American elders feel a little like home and give the African elders a little idea of what Thanksgiving is. We had chicken (turkey is VERY limited and expensive), potatoes and gravy, plantain, dressing and rolls. We then had a pumpkin dessert. What a great way to spend Thanksgiving--if you can't be home with your family.

One thing that I forgot to include in the prior post was an activity that the District Relief Society (the women's organization of the Church) had here in Freetown. They had been promoting it for a few months and the sisters were very excited. Some of the different branches even came dressed in the same material. (I think in some of the pictures below you can see some of them.) They had a potluck picnic (with each branch bringing enough food to feed their sisters) and all shared their food. The District made additional food to make sure that everyone had sufficient food. At the activity they had a "Miss Relief Society" pageant. Each branch had one contestant who was to model casual wear, executive wear, sports wear, evening wear, and Africana wear. The branch was to assist their contestant to have all the assessories, etc. The purpose of the fashion show was to emphasize modesty. Because of the "fashion" here, many of the dresses are off the shoulder, low-cut backs, etc. Elder Jones and I were two of the judges. The other two judges had either just moved into the area or was a nonmember. The only problem was that all of the other activities ran too long. The event was slated to start at 10:00 a.m. or noon (both times were announced). As people arrived, music was playing and lots of dancing went on. All the family was invited. I think it was interesting for the little children to watch their mothers have such fun. I think the activity started officially around 12:30 or 1:00 p.m. They then had schedule a 2-3 minute song or skit from each branch (12 branches). Those usually became 10-15 minutes in length. They also had a couple of round of musical chairs--with 2 contestants from each branch participating. Boy I will tell you, they play a competitve musical chairs here. By the time we started the pageant, it was around 5:00 - 5:30 p.m. When we got to the question portion of the competition, it was too dark to read the questions without a flashlight. We then had to try to tally up the points and figure out who was "Miss Relief Society" and the 2 runners up. We also had to figure out (in the dark) who was the best in each dress category. We didn't want to give those to the winners, so it took some figuring out. All the while (during the entire event) the music was blaring so loudly that we couldn't talk without being right next to the person's ear (they had put the speakers right in back of the judges). Anyway it was a great event. This gives you the overall flow of the day/evening. Enjoy the pictures (with a little added comment).

A fight for the chair!!!!

The ultimate winner of musical chairs--Sister Charles from Dwarzak Branch (wife of the 1st counselor in the district presidency). You can tell they really rally around the winner from their branch.

A cultural dance by the Thunder Hill Branch.

The gathering!!!!

The "Miss Relief Society" contest

I wish we would have gotten a front shot of the winner (she is the one directly above modeling her casual wear). She was the best in every category in both attire and in modesty.

On December 4 and 5, the elders provided "Journey to Bethlehem". It is a short drama that takes you along the trail to Bethlehem encountering other travelers going to Bethlehem, Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, the wisemen, arriving at the inn (finding no room), and sharing the stable with Mary and Joseph (watching Luke 2). The elders were divided into two groups because of the distance for the members. One "Journey" was done on Friday night at the Lumley building, and two "Journeys" done on Saturday at Belliar Park (where the mission office is) and at Wellington. The events took place in the late afternoon because of the inconsistency of national power (which then means that you use a generator) and it makes it pretty loud. We also didn't want the members to have to travel home when it was too dark.

You will note the many creative ways to use sheets, pillow cases, towels, scarfs, shirts, and even pants. In many cases, it was a good thing that the elders came in their white shirts and ties. The ties came in VERY handy for belts around sheets or around the head.

Elder Andersen (welcomed people) and Markus (announced that everyone needed to be taxed and should go to their assigned city).

The other travelers (Elder Nyarko and Elder Lowe) with some branch members.

(Elder Kpodi--the innkeeper)

Elder Jones with Elder Stice (Nephi--who testified of Christ's birth to the people in the Americas.)
(from left: Elder Adjei and Elder Massey with a branch missionary--the 3 wisemen)

Elder Eshun (one of the welcomers at Wellington branch)

Elder Hickey (a shepherd)
A group shot of the cast at Wellington.

Well, that's it for the pageants. All in all we had a wonderful time at both events. It is so great to be a part of the lives of the people here. One event we didn't get pictures of was a young men and young women activity at Goderich. We didn't get in on all of it, but were asked to come and teach them some fun camp songs. We had a blast teaching them songs like "Mrs. O'Leary" (it was fun to see them jump up and sing "fire, fire, fire, fire"), "Fried ham, fried ham"--in various styles, and "Father Abraham" (they really got a kick out of that one). To get them ready for the more spiritual part of their activity, we taught them "Walk Tall, You're a Daughter of God." (except we changed daughter to child) and then testified of the truths taught in that song--that we are children of our Heavenly Father who does love us. That fact should make us live by a different standard than the world wants to set for us. We are truly of infinite worth!!!

With the Christmas season approaching rapidly, may we truly realize the price that Heavenly Father puts on each of our worth that He would send His Only Begotten Son to pay the price for each of us. Our responsibility is to accept and live worthy of that gift.