Christmas Thoughts

"Round and round the coconut tree, drinking coconuts with the family. One for you and two for me! Christmas a week away!

Wishin hopin packages to open, but we agree it's right to wait. Fufu and dressing after the blessing and there's just a night to wait! La la la la la la" 🎵🎵

Pacho afishi apa is the thing to saaay on a bright Ghanaian Christmas day... That's the African greeting we will send to you, on a land where palm trees swaaay. Here we know that Christmas will be green and bright. The sun to shine by day and all the stars at night! Pacho afishi apa is a wise waaay. To say Merry Christmas, a very merry very merry Christmas tooo yooou. (Overly loud trumpet solo.)

MERRY CHIRSTMAS CHARLIE! (Kermit's voice)

Man I'm "exceedingly astonished" that Christmas is already this Sunday! It kinda creeps up on you when it's 90 degrees outside ;) I can't believe this is my third out of 4 phone calls home too! The mother’s day one will be like "See you next month..." man that's crazy talk!

I do admit that I have really missed the traditions we have at home. But this year is way easier than last time since It's my last time I'll ever have Christmas in Africa! Our mission president said that this week we need to give Christ a gift by working extra hard this week. So I made that a goal.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I love music. Whenever I'm down I always go to the piano or listen to music. One of the biggest reasons I love Christmas so much is the Christmas Music! All these songs bring the Holy Ghost so fast it's remarkable. I absolutely love the song "What shall we give?" by Mac Wilberg and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. We sang it in Choir so I know the words pretty well. It also makes an excellent lullaby if you can't sleep ;) (That's by personal experience. Except I think I was exhausted anyways. But you can still try it) I would like to share the lyrics with you to ponder in this Christmas Season:

"What shall we give to the Babe in the manger, what shall we offer the child in the stall? Incense and spices and gold we've a plenty, are these the gifts for the King of us all?

"What shall we give to the boy in the temple, what shall we offer the Man by the sea? Palms at his feet and hosannas uprising, are gifts for Him who will carry the tree.

"What shall we give the Lamb who was offered, rising the third day and shedding his love? Tears for his mercy we'll weep at the manger, bathing the infant come down from above."

Here's a link to the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNHJCREmhdg

I love that song so much. It made me think of what I would do if I was able to come and see him at the manger. It also reminds me of the Light the World Initiative. What will you give him this Christmas? Will you can share something with someone, even if it's just a smile? will you read your scriptures more faithfully and sincerely? Will you pray to God in gratitude for his sacrifice and love for us? Will you forget yourself and only think about others? Will you forgive someone completely? If we do these things I know we too will "Weep at the manger."

Let us remember Jesus Christ even more this Christmas. Let us love one another. Let us give something spiritually valuable to him this year is my prayer in the name of his mighty name, even Jesus Christ Amen.

I love you all! I hope you all have a Merry Christmas! I'll TALK to you soon family! :D Also sorry for no pictures! Sleep in heavenly peace!

-Elder Keaton Ballard