Thanksgiving Leftovers for Christmas

Today is Christmas Eve and my heart is heavy.

Yesterday, I went to Labadi Beach with Ann and Roland and had a nice time taking in the sun and enjoying the huge waves and wonderful breeze despite the hoard of beach salesman trying to sell everything from masks and bracelets to live renditions of "No Woman, No Cry" and choreographed dance routines. 

Later in the evening, I went out to this nice local night spot called Bywel to take in some live music, good food and drinks.  I had a wonderful evening with wonderful company.  On the way back to the hotel, we passed through the Makola Market that I mentioned a few posts back - the one with the pig's feet and plenty of people everywhere - and I must say that I wasn't really prepared for what I saw.

The same people who just a couple days earlier were selling all manner of goods and services in the street, were now sleeping in those very same spots - women, children and all.  People were everywhere, laying still and flat in the pitch dark in a very organized fashion.  If I wasn't looking closely enough, I wouldn't have realized that hundreds of people were laying around on the streets, sidewalks and loading docks and appeared to have retired to rest hours ago.  I saw a woman "tucking" her daughter in on the sidewalk and it brought tears to my eyes.  And ironically, it was very calm and quiet, not at all the kind of noise or violence you would expect to arise from these living conditions.

I definitely was not foolish enough to think that homelessness doesn't exist here in Ghana, but I would have never imagined this.  Just on the other side of the front gate of my hotel is a "shanty town" - a community of flimsy homes most of which don't have running water or indoor plumbing that I assume are relatively easy to get and free to stay.  I just assumed that everyone who was "less fortunate" stayed there but I was very wrong.

This year will be my first Christmas without family or loved ones.  But I don't feel alone or unloved because I am spending the day with new found friends and loved ones.  I know the workers here at the hotel have hard lives outside of these gates and I know God will bless them and their families as they have blessed me during my time here.  I also  thank God for always finding new ways to remind me that my success is not my doing but his and that I have an obligation to share it with my brothers and sisters here and at home.  


I know in America, we see Christmas as a holiday to buy gifts and spend unnecessarily because we're so lucky to have a whole 'nother day dedicated solely to giving thanks for our blessings.  But this Christmas, I encourage everyone to reach back a few weeks to Thanksgiving and send a million "thank you's" to God for every single blessing he's given.  And there is no blessing too small or insignificant because we have brothers and sisters here in Africa and all around the world who praise him much more for much less.

So ya'll, I'm having leftover "thanks" for Christmas and you should do the same.

The cutest little beach acrobat...I gave this little boy wayyyy too much money!

The bootleg African beach version of Bob Marley and the Wailers...they were taking requests so I got my "No Woman, No Cry" on at the beach! =)

Sunset...this was before seeing the people sleeping on the street made me very sad.