MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR

I hope everyone had a good Christmas! As for me I enjoyed my Christmas in the village. On Christmas Eve I went to the Missionary family's house for dinner. They had croissants filled with turkey and turkey gravy drizzled on the top, and then cooked carrots. Not gonna lie, my taste buds were really happy and partially in shock as they were reintroduced to seasoning and yummy gravy. Being at their house, it felt a little more like Christmas because they had a Christmas tree up, but as soon as I stepped back outside into the heat I was back to feeling like it was summer time. Celebrating Christmas with no snow on the ground is the strangest feeling. If it was up to me, I would live in the warm sun everyday of the year with the exception of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I do not miss the cold, that's for sure!

After dinner I left their house, and went with Fo Dela to church service. It was suppose to start at 7 and I'm pretty sure it was about 8:30 when we actually started. No, no... we weren't misinformed of the time, but in the village if someone says 5 that translates to 5:30 or 6. So basically I think that I've been reunited with my people (lol). Joking, but I always tell Dela that being on time is not my thing either.

Christmas morning I woke up and I cooked 4 loaves of bread worth of french toast for some of the people in the village. Mary and Eunice helped me (they are the two woman that cook for me). Everyone really liked it a lot, so I was happy. Cause, dang that would have been bad if I served all those people some food that they thought was nasty. After I cooked, we went to church for Christmas service. One thing about the church I go to is that they be jammin! They have the drums and some other instruments and it just moves your spirit. It's really nice.

After praising the Lord, me and Fo Dela went around and greeted a lot of people just wishing them a Merry Christmas. One of the preachers in the village invited us to come eat dinner with him and his family so we went over there and ate. We had rice with pepper sauce, beans, and something similar to coleslaw. They kept insisting "eat more, eat more" so I was so full when I left. I also talked to my family on Christmas and it was so nice to here everyones' voice and it put a BIG smile on my face. (Love you family!!) So that was Christmas in the villlage. Everyone cooks and eats and shares with their family and neighbors. No gifts, no Santa Clause, just unity and celebration of Christ's birth.

On Friday and Saturday, our bible study group fasted from 6 am to 12pm (not so much fasting but kinda). During this time, we went to the church to sing, pray, and also hear the Word preached. At first I didn't really want to do it, cause I was like "I went to church Monday Wednesday and Thursday" and I just felt like it was overload, but when I completed the fasting I was really happy I had gone and done it. It was long but it was really powerful. So that was Friday and Saturday.

Sunday, was voting day. They had to do a second vote because none of the parties had 50% + 1. Fo Dela didn't even try and get out of it this time cause he knows I would lecture him (lol). So, today we are just waiting for the results to come to see who will be the next President.

Okay my people, I'm out of words. I hope that everyone has a safe and fun New Year's. Whatever changes you need to make in your life, let 2009 be the year to do it. Don't wait, don't resitate, live your life to it's full potential and with no regrets. So until next year, peace and love.