March 2019

October 2017

We’ve been in Ghana for three weeks now with the first week handling issues of jet lag and exhaustion.

Probably the biggest challenge for us has been when traveling because of the horrible drivers especially on round-abouts. But Blaine is actually doing well with it, with only an occasional panic. The motorcyclists and the bicyclists seem to have a death wish. We are also often in bumper to bumper traffic which is tedious. Tro-tros (passenger vans) charge on and off the roadways picking up passengers.

But the good thing here is that the community folks are friendly and always say hello. Blaine and I try to go for a daily walk in the mornings for a little exercise when we can and we are observing that the salutations are pretty much all they know in English and don’t have more to offer. The language of the area is Twi pronounced “tree.” A lot more English is spoken at church by the members.

The folk here are very interested in religion. The “tro-tro’s” or transportation vans cheaper than taxi’s, usually have some religious statements printed on the back of the bus: Still God is Great, Exceeding Expectations, Praise the Lord, Great Grace, Stand Firm, It’s God, Let Us Pray, Prayer is the Key, Almighty God, Thank You, Jesus, Still Future, Never Loss Hope, Lion of Judah, Dada Rex…etc.,

Mornings are calm and full of beautiful bird noises. We have had massive rain storms with terrific lightning. It rains so hard you can hardly hear while talking. But it is good for our garden which Blaine is attempting to cultivate with hand tools. While digging in the sod he came across three lizard eggs, which are now in a container incubating on our kitchen counter (8-10 weeks).

What we have been doing as missionaries:

Missionary apartment inspections, led music at baptism, witness at baptism, attending district and zone conferences, visited with new members, more missionary inspections, met with branch president to see what he would like us to do – probably primary for me, more new converts visiting, talking with Sister Wakild obtaining literacy materials, shopping for food for members going to the temple. Prepared food (pbj sandwiches, cookies, water and banana) for 38 for temple trip, temple trip, picked up literacy material. The temple experience was so uplifting and certainly worth all the effort to get there. Two of our new members we helped fellowship were at the temple. Daniel and Olivia received their recommends to do baptisms for the deceased. West Africa is so blessed to have the Accra Temple.

We have had a lot of help in getting around by two missionaries, Elders Oldham (Alaska) and Ndubuisi (Nigeria) who have unending patience with us. It will be hard with their eventual transfer..

This week we traveled to Swedru, Odoben, Aboso, Asikma and Winneba to do apartment inspections and distribute materials. This is our first adventure outside our area.

We have sat in on several discussions with our missionaries. They are amazing to work so hard under difficult living conditions and still carry the spirit of the gospel to these incredible people. It surely is the “Day of the Africans” in the church.

We are grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives and want to serve to the best of our abilities. I am also grateful for my wonderful companion who I lean on constantly.