March 2019: September 2018

September 2018

Beginning September we were busy. The first event was a zone activity at Kasoa Stake Center. We provided the food for all 30 participants. Fried rice and vegetables, chicken from Yoo mart, hard boiled egg and Shito of course, all was served in a plastic food container with fork and napkin. We added sachet water for all. The missionaries played football and Sister Russell taught some to play Skipbow.

We took Elders Curtis, Helu and Alton to Accra for updating their non-citizens cards. We ate lunch at Burger King in the Accra Mall. Later I took them to the Kaneshie Mall to buy Kente cloth.

For two days we did not have adequate current so our refrigerator defrosted. This is a common recurrent problem and the solution is to replace a booster so we get all phases of the electrical current. Some day!

The workers next door completed the tile work and installed the two doors today. Looks like they are getting ready to put up the blocks on the upper floor.

Rain came today in a good shower. This is the rainy season and so far we have had little rain. Today was promising.

The work goes on. We had a discussion on our front porch last night with Patrick Adioo and his brother Bright. Elder Memmett and Elder Adijka taught a lesson after dark. We have 7 large portable washing machines on our front porch ready to be distributed to our missionary apartments, no more washing by hand (until the machines no longer work!). We are doing apartment inspections this week prior to another transfer day. The day after transfers we are having a mission tour meeting with Elder Kacher( the first counselor in the West Africa Area).

Now a report on our students: Olivia and Samuel are back in school. We paid for another semester (850 cedi = $250). They are our special children. I also supported Grace and her sister Barbara by paying for the entrance fees for her secondary school at a boarding facility (1000 cedi = $300). Lastly, I bought notebooks and supplies for Dennis and little Ivy in grade school (70 cedi = $15). It could never end if you don’t limit your assistance. However, education here is so much less expensive than in the states.

There are workers building the home next to us. They come each day early and leave late. The house is being finished on the bottom floor and nothing is done on the second floor.

I have something new to report on for the week. On Sunday night we smelled something burning. In the laundry room on the wall is the main electrical supply box. It was hot to the touch and burning inside. I called our maintenance person, Ben and reported the find. He had me talk to an electrician and was told to take the fuses out of the main box on the front porch. Isaac and an electrician came out and opened the box to find melted wires. It was quickly repaired but had to by pass the control box.

On Monday we took Elder Lundquist (district leader) and Sister Akofu to Accra to prepare to travel home. They have finished their missions. We stayed the night with the Simpsons and slept on the floor of the mission home office. In the morning I was told by Elder Dalton my right front tire was going flat. He directed me to a tire repair shop so I spent the morning getting the tire fixed. A small wire had penetrated the tire and caused a slow leak. I also had the vehicle serviced while in Accra.

We picked up Rx for Elder Adjida who has a heart condition. I have been monitoring his blood pressure which is consistently very high. His father just passed away this week (probably high blood pressure).

To finish our day in Accra before coming home, Sister Russell had her hair cut then we shopped at the Marina Mall and had lunch at KFC. Our trip home was uneventful.

Tomorrow we meet with the multi-zone missionaries and Elder Ketcher, a member of the Area Mission Presidency.

It will be noteworthy to mention “Lights Off” for the last two days. Following a busy day of travel and interviews we came home late and just before dark. The missionaries left our home and on their way to catch a Tro-tro to their apartment a transformer blew up right in the middle of town. Electricity was off so I cranked up the gas driven generator. It operated for 15 minutes and started to choke. On inspection the fuel added to the tank was diesel not petro. So we spent the evening and today without power. This mission is preparing us to live anywhere with or without electricity.

Four elders were here today for dinner and we prepared a spaghetti dinner. Using our propane stove without the aid of electricity is becoming a way of life. We also store water since the bore hole can and has gone dry. Also, we have no water when there is no electricity.

Tonight we are so fortunate to have the air conditioner on once again. Sundays are very busy for us. We both have preparation for teaching in our branch. Plus we feed missionaries every Sunday along with a couple of kids that drop in.

Closing in on the end of the month, today I was in Ashtown helping the elders put together working bicycles. I took four bicycles from Buduburam apartment and took parts for the elders in Ashtown. Bicycles are a constant concern for us. We take in the worn and spoiled bikes to Accra Mission Office and leave them with Isaac (repairman) and pick up replacements. There is little maintenance done by the elders and they are rode hard and put away wet!

This week we traveled to Brakwa (250 KM round trip) to do a special interview for Comfort. In order for her to be baptized it is necessary to assure she has overcome any serious obstacles. She was delightful and had repented and no reason not to be baptized. I asked about her testimony and she told me she had a dream (I have heard from others that dreams are a media in which they get inspiration). The dream put her in darkness then led by a person into the light and given pure “living” water to drink.

It followed a truth to assure her knowledge of what it was to repent.