Merry Christmas...from This Side of the World!

My hat goes off to moms around the world who, in times past, have not had the conveniences of technology as their boys have served missions.  I’m especially grateful for Monday emails…and am looking forward to a CHRISTMAS PHONE CALL!  But, with all of the commotion right now in the Ivory Coast and the missionaries having to evacuate to another country…there’s absolutely no hope at all that Bailey will receive any of our holiday packages (kind of a bummer!).  So, we got together the other night with Brent’s family and put together some Christmas wishes to send in his email this week!  For we know…more than anything else…that the holiday is about honoring and celebrating the birth, life and resurrection of our Savior.  It’s about our families, serving others and making time in our lives to become more like Christ. 

Westin, KayDee, David, Kimber, Kayt, Jessica, Jordan, Whitney, Courtney, Tyler, Stacie, Tom, and EJ...some of the cousins, sisters and brothers wishing Elder Shaffer a Merry Christmas!

Here's a wish from Grandpa and Grandma Shaffer!

Uncle Brian, Uncle Larry, Aunt Julie, Aunt Sherri, Mom and Dad say, "Joyeux Noel, Elder Shaffer!"

(How's our French?)

Togo..it is!

Togo.  One year ago I'd never even heard of the country...now it's Bailey's home.  We received word today that the non-African elders in the Ivory Coast Mission are safe and sound, just in different countries.  I was excited to find out more about the country of Togo...this is what I learned!



Togo is about twice the size of Maryland and is on the south coast of West Africa.  It borders Ghana, Burkina Faso and Benin.  The full name of the country is Togolese Republic.  It's capital city is Lome.  There are about five million people in the country.  The country is situated just a little above the Equator. The area includes marshes, lagoons, savannas and plateaus. The climate is tropical and humid for seven months and from November to March the desert winds bring a bit cooler weather.

About 75% of the people live in rural villages.  French is the office language, but tribal languages are also commonly used.  Togo is a poor country.  Roughly about 43% of males and 47% of females (over the age of 15) are literate in Togo. 

Togolese usually have two or three meals per day, each consisting largely of a startch product such as cassava, maize, rice, yams or plantains.  A hot, spicy sauce is served with their midday or evening meals, consisting of fish, goat, beans or beef.  Women and men are kept apart in most social gatherings.  Women usually eat after men, but before the children. 

Bailey's excited to be there...to be able to be out teaching the gospel and sharing the message of Jesus Christ with the people in Togo!  I'm VERY EXCITED to talk to him on Christmas and to hear all about his adventures.

So Much to Be Thankful For!

During the past month or so, tensions surrounding the presidential election in the Ivory Coast have intensified, causing the missionaries there to be grouped all together and kept inside where they would be safe from the escalating danger.  Throughout his mission, Bailey has reminded us of the blessings of living here in America.  However, this little experience has brought to our minds so much more for which we are thankful! 

Today, I'm so thankful for the knowledge of the power of fasting and prayer!  We are thankful that our Father in Heaven listens to our prayers and is mindful of His missionaries.  What a blessing it is to have a stake president, mission president and priesthood leaders from the other side of the world looking out for the safety and health of the missionaries.  We're so grateful for miracles and for tender mercies!

Christmas Devotional

It's a tradition...and a wonderful way to start off the Christmas Season.  Attending the First Presidency's Christmas Devotional is one of our family's favorite ways to spend a little time together each December.  We drove to Salt Lake with Whitney and met Jessica and Jordan at the Conference Center for the devotional.  The Tabernacle Choir sounds so amazing in that building!  The messages delivered by our church's leaders was a perfect reminder of the reason we celebrate this time of the year.

I especially loved Pres. Uchtdorf's talk!  He started off by quoting the Grinch from Dr. Seuss's book, "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas."  He then said that if we look for what is wrong with Christmas, we will certainly find it.  But if we look for the good, we can see Christmas with new eyes...perhaps even with the eyes of a child.  He suggested three ways that we can focus our celebration of Christmas this year. 

1. Rejoice in the birth of our Savior.
2. Ponder His influence in our lives today.
3. Look steadfastly for his coming.

He ended his talk by saying that maybe if we focus our celebrations this Christmas Season on the things he suggested, then maybe we will be able to say with the Grinch, "Maybe Christmas doesn't come from a store.  Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more."