Week of 21 August 2016

We almost had a normal week this week.  I say almost because of a couple of things that happened.
Monday the President told us he would be out of town all week.  There were two Zone Conferences he would be holding in Tarkwa and Mpintsin.  Then he and his wife would be spending some time alone to celebrate their wedding anniversary.  They will be back late Sunday night.  After attending Stake Conference in Takaradi.

the Sorensen's drove down from Praso to get some things down in Cape Coast.  So they stayed with us for two nights.  We had to take them to the doctor's office to take their blood pressure and pulse so that the area office doctor knew they were alive and well.

This is the doctor's office we go to.  All the rooms are open and it really smells, but they did what we told them we wanted.

I've been meaning to take a picture of this place where people come to wash their clothes.

After they are washed, they put them on the pile of gravel next to the hut to dry.

And here is one of the women bringing wood for the fire to heat up the water.

I don't know how they do it!

On Wednesday we got a call from the IT person in the Area office telling us he would be down on Thursday and Friday to install Windows 10 into our computers.  We have 4 computers in the office and the president's computer in his home. So we knew it would take some time for him to do them all.  I also got notification from the Missionary Travel in Accra that the seven Nigerian missionaries that are going home in a couple of weeks had their itineraries changed.  So I had to contact all of the Stake Presidents from their stakes to let them know of the changes and to make sure there was someone there to pick them up from the off and let the parents know.  None of parents have email addresses so the only way they know that their son or daughter is coming home is through the SP to the Bishop.  Then I had to make a copy of the travel itinerary and send it to the missionaries via their lds.net email.

So Brother Mensah showed up on Thursday and started with my computer.  I could do anything but sit and watch.  We have a little room in the back for all of the supplies and there were boxes of bleach and dishwashing soap that the elders hadn't put on the shelves yet, so that's what I started to do.  Since everything food wise that we purchase here has to be washed in bleach, the mission supplies that to the elders and sisters.  We also have to wash our dishes in a combination of the soap and bleach.

It was our FM person's birthday on Thursday, so I made a cake for him.  It was almost all gone by the time he got to the office.  Between the AP's, supply elders, and three other elders that had come in to Cape Coast to get there non-citizen card renewed, I had to hide the pan.  One of the elders that came in to the Cape from Dumkwa was an Elder Sullivan.  He is from Page, Arizona.  I happened to ask if he know the Gardener family (our daughter-in-law's family) and he said yes, very well.  It is a small world.

On Friday when we got to the office, I couldn't get on my computer.  Neither could the APs.  And Brother Mensah was no where to be found.  We kept calling and finally got a hold of him in the afternoon.  He was able to connect us to the secured church line and finally I was able to get some things done.  At 6:30 pm we were able to leave the office and go home. 

So Saturday things got interesting at home.  We had noticed that by our front windows, there was a lot of strings coming off of the curtains for about a week or so.  We have the curtains tied up in knots, because they are too long.  See picture below.

Anyway, we decided to spray the curtains with Raid.  So Wayne started to untie the one you see in the corner and something jumped out at him, then ran up the curtain.  He started swinging with the broom. 

(We're getting pretty good with a broom) Then we saw something climb up the curtain and run across the rods on top.  It looked like a little squirrel.  It squeezed through a little hole between our wall and window.  After we shook the curtain a nest made up of the threads dropped to the floor and there were 4 little baby squirrels.  They were about an inch long.  Out to the garbage they went and Wayne puttied up the hole.  

Then that afternoon we went into the office and the computers wouldn't even hook to the internet.  And Brother Mensah wouldn't answer his phone.  So we got in the car and headed for Takaradi.  Just to see some sights.  Takaradi is larger than Cape Coast, but looks just same.

On the way there, we saw lots of villages where the huts were all made of clay.  We tried to get some good pictures, but there were always people standing around. So here's a couple that we were able to get.

This is the entrance to one of the villages.  There were probably 50 - 60 huts in there.

Also, the fishermen build their own boats out of trees they have cut down.  I think I  had another picture, but this shows the boat really well.  They go out into the ocean in these things.

Scary!!!!

                   It took us about 4 hours to go and come back.  So it filled up the afternoon. 

On Sunday, the bishop had a newly returned sister missionary come up and stand next to him and read her release certificate to everyone.  And then he told the young men in the ward that she was available and ready to settle down.  Everyone got a good laugh, but how embarrassing!

During Relief Society, they had a cake for her and Elder Adams sang a song as he played his Uke.  I snapped the picture just as the Bishop put his hand up.  She really is a cute girl.

We love it here! 

Love all of you and miss you.

Week of 13 August 2016

Another week.  Wayne and I were very busy in the office.  But I think we got it down.  It should be easier from now on.
We had Zone Conferences this week.  The first in Takaradi, next in Telecom and then Praso.  Each were at least a 2 hour drive from the Cape.  President Stevenson had everyone write down what their worst fear is and then he had them all throw what they had written down in a fire.  To get rid of their fears.  It was really neat.

We took a picture of a termite mound.  This is at least 5 - 6 feet tall.

Here is the snake we found in our house the night we were robbed.  It was so long we couldn't get the whole thing in the picture.  I know it doesn't look that big around, but it was scary, nonetheless.

 We went down to the center of town to do some shopping.  Had to go to 3 stores and two outside vendors to get everything I needed. I made a carrot cake the other day and the Elders ate all of it.  There's no cream cheese here so I just made a white frosting.  Here is one of the stores we go to.

Just the bottom floor.  The other floors are other businesses.

And here is one of the streets we go on for the outside vendors.  One way and very crowded with people.

So here is a picture of our chapel and the Greenhill chapel.  Greenhill is all the way at the top of the hill and there are always chickens and goats all over the stairs.

This is Elder Ubani.  It was his birthday at MLC so we sang happy birthday to him.  And here are some pictures from MLC which was on my last post.

To top the week off we had a baptism in our Nkanfoa Ward.  It was a wonderful baptism.  everyone shouts "akwaaba" (welcome)

                                      to the new member after he comes back from changing.
                                                                      So here is Ishmael.

I think we are getting use to the weather.  We sleep with a fan blowing on us all night.  But it works.

We met together for priesthood and RS again this week because of the lesson from President Hunter was on eternal marriage.  They asked us how long we had been married and when we said 47 years they all oohed and aahed. 

Well that's it for this week.  We love you and miss you all.

Week of 7 August 2016

Fast Sunday was interesting.  We really didn't understand anything whether the people spoke English or Twi or Fanti.  It is hard to understand anyone.  Even the English speaking elders have picked up the "twang".

Monday the office elders turned everything over to us.  Keys and all.  I guess we're on our own, but we know they are close by.  President Stevenson is pleased that he is able to get those two missionaries out teaching.

On Wednesday  we had to go to the MLC (Mission Leadership Council) meeting with all zone leaders and sister trainers leaders.  I had to explain the new rules about baptisms.  All the records can now be entered by the ward or branch clerks right after the person is confirmed.  I know they have been doing this in the US for some time, but now they can do it here.  So now I won't have to do it.  Yeah!  They fed us lunch there.  It was chicken and rice.  So all of their food is spicy.  And they mix the rice with beans which is very dry.  And they had a malt drink that was really nasty.  Wayne drank his, but I couldn't stomach it.   Anyway, back to the office to finish up a few things and then we went home.  We got there about 6:30 pm.  When we entered the living room, we knew right away that something was wrong.  The TV the church had there for us was not on the stand.  The DVD player was gone, so was our computer, my Kindle, and my purse was on the floor all torn apart.  We turned on some lights and went thru each room.  The alarm clock and a small flashlight was gone, so was Wayne's universal  tool.  The blender I had just bought and hadn't used yet. They went through all of out drawers and closets.  So we called Samuel, who is the Church FM person for Cape Coast.  He came right up to the house.  Anyway, our back door was wide open, so we knew how they got in and the barbed wire on the back fence was on the ground.  They pulled it down with a rake or something.  All of the things that we lost on our computer.  I am just sick.  So that was one thing and then in the back room we found a big green snake.  Didn't know if it was poisonous, so Wayne stayed by the door with a broom so it wouldn't go any where.  Then I found a great big black spider.  The body was the size of a fifty cent piece.  I tried to knock it down from the curtain, but it wouldn't budge.  I started spraying it with Raid.  Once again, Wayne and I must have looked really ridiculous when Samuel got there.  He had another person with him who promptly went and killed the snake and spider.  So that night Samuel had the place fumigated and we went to stay with President Stevenson and his wife.  I just cried most of the night, not because of the animals and what had happened but my computer was gone.  I can't put any pictures on this week, because they were all on the computer and the IPad doesn't have the capability.  So maybe I'll go buy a new computer or start taking pictures with the IPad.

They also fixed the doors with new bolts and locks.  So now it really looks like Fort Knox.  I'd like to see anyone get in that house now!

Thursday night after we closed the office, the president took us and the Hanlons out to dinner.  The Hanlons are leaving to go home on Sunday and I think the president felt sorry for us.  We went to one of the finest ocean resorts in Edina, Cape Coast.  It was beautiful.  We ate on an opened dining area and the beach and ocean were right in front of us.  We didn't have a camera, but hopefully we'll be able to go back.

We went back to sleep in our home Thursday night.  It still kind of smelled like bug spray, but we needed to go and not be afraid.  So when I got up and went into the bathroom, there was the biggest centipede I have ever seen.  I just started laughing.  Wayne picked it up,and flushed it down the toilet.

Friday was a normal day. No bugs, no excitement, no problems.  We did go shopping and bought some fruit and vegetables.  We found a little store that had honest for goodness Kellogg's Honey Nut Cereal.  We bought some and tried it on Saturday.  Very good.  So the Clements called us and said that they blew a pump and asked if they could come down and spend the night with us, while it was getting fixed.  We made pizza for dinner and had a good time with them.
Our grandson Benjamin is getting baptized today up in Oregon.  Tim and Tracy drove up for a couple of days to enjoy the beach and waterfalls.  James and Jill drove down from Washington to be there also.

Another week of excitement.  Hopefully, it will just be dull and boring next week.
                                                We love all of you.

Week of 1 August 2016

We finally got the internet in our home, so I can work on the blog here instead of in the office.  This past week was very busy.  Monday night at our planning meeting with the president, we finalized what would take place with transfers and the missionaries going home.  But last Saturday night, we had a transfer party with the zone leaders from Cape Coast.  Elders Simpson and Johnson were in charge of making food for the get together.  They decided to have breakfast burritos.  Wayne and I helped them get everything cut up.  We did the green peppers and the sausage.  I also helped Elder Simpson make the tortillas from scratch.  It was fun.

Everyone seemed to have a good time and enjoyed the burritos.  

This is everyone gathering.  We made 40 burritos.  They are at the end of the table wrapped in tin foil.  Sis. Stevenson brought over some tomatoes and cookies.  

The two eating the burritos are the office elders.  Elder Jager and Adams.  Standing in between is another Elder Johnson.

On Tuesday, I had to finish up the packets that are given to the returning missionaries.  Lots of things go into the packet.  It was very time consuming.  And the next group of missionaries leaving is 16.  

On Wednesday, every missionary leaving was at the mission home for dinner and a testimony meeting.  Plus the senior couple were invited also.  And they served fufu.  Oh boy!!!!

Everyone finding a place to sit.  They had peanut soup and kind of like tomato soup.  The fufu was placed in the middle of the bowl and you also got two pieces of chicken.  And the bowls are huge!

Here is Elder and Sister Sorensen.  They just arrived the day before.

Elders Hanneman and Stulce.  This was their bowl of fufu.  Everyone eats it with their fingers.  You dig down to the fufu, get a piece between your two fingers and then sop up some soup while you bring it to your mouth.  And you don't chew the fufu.  Just let it slide down your throat.

After the testimony meeting everyone was to get final this put together and then to bed.  We had the Clements and the two sisters stay in our home for the night.  Then we had to be back at the presidents home for breakfast by 6:00 am.  After breakfast and a few pictures, everyone was on their way to Accra.  A four hour drive.

  

This is the bus for the missionaries.

Here are the departing missionaries.  Elder and Sister Hanlon, Sister Makombe, Pres. and Sis. Stevenson, Sister Baah, and I can't tell the rest.

Here are the senior couples with the president and his wife.  Elder and Sister Hanlon, Wayne and me, Elder and Sister Sorensen and Elder and Sister Clements.  We got to Accra about 11:00 am.  Just in time to eat some peanut butter sandwiches and get over to the temple.

We ate in the cafeteria of the Area Offices.  Our temple session started at 12:15.  Wayne and I got clothing in the temple.  They only have one ordinance room with 40 chairs.  The room was full.  But what a beautiful and sacred moment for us.  Who would have thought that we would be in Africa attending a temple session.  It was awesome!

Accra Temple

We spent the night in Accra and went shopping before coming home on Friday.  It only took us 3 hours and 15 minutes to get home.  I had to attend a meeting with Elder Jager about how to enter baptisms in the MLS system.  That lasted for two hours.  The Clements spent the night with us again and after a breakfast of scrambled eggs, toast and mangos, they left to go back to Takaradi.

It was a busy week, but very spiritual and with new and everlasting experiences.

Love you all.

Week of 25 July 2016

It's Monday and the Elders have their P-day today.  We came into the office but really couldn't do much so we decided to go explore.  We finally made it down to the ocean front.  These aren't the real nice beaches that tourists come to, but we did see a lot of boats and fisherman.  You can't see them because of the haziness.  But they make their own fishing boats from fallen trees.  You can see them on the side of the road with their machetes digging out the boats.

So we did get lost and the road was scary.  We couldn't turn around without thinking we were going to hit a person or their little shack.  So one gentleman came up to us and started to help us manuvere.  When we got back to a place we knew where we were, we decided to come back to the office and wait for our 5:00 planning meeting with the president.  Sister Stevenson makes "ballfloats" for everyone.  It's like a round doughnut which she cuts in half and then puts Nutella on top.  They are kind of good, but I wouldn't make a trip to the store to buy them.

We talked about transfers which will take place next week.  And the agenda for the special meeting they will have for the 10 missionaries going home.

By the way here is Elder Simpson and Elder Johnson.  They are the Supply Missionaries.  Two wonderful young men.

So once agin it had been raining.  One of the deep ruts in our road to our home was really getting bad.  So someone decided to put some garbage in it to fill it up.  We tried to get a good picture, but just use your imagination.

When we got home Monday night we were attacked by these flying bugs.  They even got in our home.  Wayne and I were swatting them with a towel and broom in the kitchen.  If anyone had come to our door, I 'm sure they would have thought we lost our minds.  The bugs wouldn't die.  And when they did finally bite the dust they lost their wings and you can sweep them up.  There were over 50 of these little bugs.  I lost count after awhile.

Then the next morning, we woke up to find some little gecko in the back bathroom.  We just left it and went to the office.  The poor thing died right where we left it.  We have a couple of huge slugs on the wall to the side of our house.  We watch them climb the wall every morning while we are eating breakfast.

It's been all training this week and trying to make the farewell packets up for the leaving missionaries.  They get a lot of things to take home with them.  

Sunday was interesting.  We went to the same chapel.  They started right at nine.  And once again all the chairs filled up and people were standing in the back.  So the Bishop said our names and said we would talk for 5 mins each.  Wayne and I got up and both bore our testimonies.  Then after Sunday School, the women went to the RS room and the men went to the room for Priesthood opening exercises.  We each sang a song and said our opening prayer and then we met together.  They talked about reactivation and once again the bishop called on us to say something about it.  I don't like thinking I'm going to have to talk every week.  

After church we drove again over to the other chapel on the hill for three more baptisms.  The Sisters in that area are really working hard.  We made it in time to see the actual ordinance.  They filled the outside font with about 2 1/2 feet of water.  It was amazing they were able to get them under the water and not have them kick their feet up or anything. 

Another week gone by.  We are getting use to things and the weather.

We love you all.