Last night, at church, we sang 'it came upon a midnight clear'.  Most people would recognize the first couple of verses to that song.  We sang a verse though that I had never heard before.

O ye beneath life's crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow;
Look now, for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing;
Oh rest beside the weary road
And hear the angels sing.

I thought it was such a good verse.  It really describes some of the things I have seen in Africa.  People crushed beneath life's load.  Their bodies are bent low from physical ailments and from emotional turmoil.  They walk along life's way with painful slow steps.  Then the verse takes a happy turn.  It talks about hope.  Looking to the future because golden hours are coming.  

Sometimes it's difficult to see beyond the problem that needs solving right now.  To see the future and the hope and rest that is there.  Looking outside of right now is not a skill that people are born with (usually).  it's something that you must consciously think about.  Next time you feel stressed i hope you remember this verse and know that glad and golden hours come swiftly on the wing.

Today we had a big thank you event for the dignitaries of Ghana.  The president was supposed to come but he ended up being out of country.  Then the vice president was supposed to come but he cancelled.  It wasn't quite what i was expecting.  But it was still awesome!  We had such lovely food and gorgeous decorations.  I don't have very many pictures but here are the ones that I have (more will soon follow, once people make them available)

Chocolate puff pastry pinwheels

Platters and platters of food served by our wonderful volunteers

Doesn't Jenny look lovely? and official!

I don't look official at all! 

Olga, one of the nurses who is working in the galley till we start surgeries again in Togo, setting up the fruit and cheese/bread display (and Carol doing jazz hands in the back!)

After we were done we went and watched all the dignitaries come onto the ship.  It was really fun people watching! Seeing everyone all dressed up and all the different traditional dress.

This guy was wearing a toga.  I was told though that the fabric he is wearing is the most expensive stuff you can get in Ghana and it's a HUGE sign of wealth to wear it.  (not gonna lie...i didn't really like it and it was weird to see a guy with his shoulder exposed at a formal event)

The day was good! it was really long and i'm quite looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow.  I really hope we don't have a fire drill.  I would be really upset if that happened.  But such is life :) 

Goodnight all!