Week 10 - Goodbyes and Hellos

Happy New Year Family and Friends!

     I always get a little nostalgic looking back and saying goodbye to one year while anticipating good things for the coming year. 2015 was a great year for us. Just this week I began learning about Ghanaian traditional symbols. One of these symbols known as sankofa (return and take) teaches the wisdom in learning from the past to help improve the future. What a great idea as we start 2016.

      We also said goodbye to President Hill, who received a Book of Mormon with 150 favorite scriptures underlined and signed by 150 devoted stripping warriors. A treasured possession for sure!

     Hellos and birthday wishes to President Snow, our new Mission President and his wife occurred Saturday when we met them at the mission office for lunch. (The mission office and the mission home are just two doors apart on the same street). Ironically the Snows lived in Pres. Hill's home when they were serving here 6 years ago as Area President. They have a sweet story about their call but it's too long to include here. Let's just say they were prepared and willing to come on very short notice.

     This was a quieter week but we still had some adventures. While shopping, two men approached "Auntie" Lambert and thought it would be a novel idea to have their picture taken with an "Obromie", so Sister "Auntie" Lambert obliged them! Pretty funny! This led to a conversation about the wonderful people of Ghana and the Church. They wanted to know more so we got their phone numbers for the young missionaries to contact them. Within fifteen minutes a young man working at a new restaurant came up and pointing to our missionary name tags said, "I know your people, I have served them" He really wanted us to come into his restaurant so we took a minute to sample the ice cream but we couldn't stay because of commitments. However, he insisted on wheeling our shopping cart to the car, and I felt impressed to give him a Book of Mormon with the promise we would come back and visit him again. ...Another example of the goodness here. He genuinely wanted to help us, which actually happens quite a bit. You may like to encourage your children to do something similar and see the smiles on the faces of those they help!  We even have our scriptures and bags carried into the Church, but always having been "Self Reliant" it is an adjustment for sure. Oh, the people are so good! We love them!

     Thanks to those of you who have commented on the blog Kristi is keeping. We appreciate the support and love you all.

Elder and Sister Lambert

P.S.  I have the funnest time taking pictures of random signs!

Pic #1 Vicious guard dogs?

Pic #2 Not uncommon to see signs like this along the road in the most religious country in the world.

Pic#3 Need home tutoring? Here's the number to call!