06 June 2018
Today, I just finished burying a young African cobra found dead in the flower bed. Our gardener, Linda, found it and was terrified. This is the fourth venomous snake we have seen in our neighborhood. The first was a carpet viper on the trail above our home, the second was a green mamba across from the Odoben chapel, the third was a puff adder at the GMAD school and today a young cobra, which gives us cause to be cautious when out and about.
Fortunately, the folks in our community are so kind and gentle we have no problems with our neighbors. It is such a delight to live in Ghana.
This week was the multi-zone conference in Kasoa. Each conference is filled with instruction and the spirit of revelation. Our missionaries instruct as well as our mission president. We were also shown a video of Pres. Nelson’s conference talk on “receiving revelation”. In addition, we also saw Elder LeGrand Curtis’ talk on the Book of Mormon and the church established in West Africa.
Also, we just returned from a three day stay with the Hills in Oda. We left our home due to the fumigation efforts of our apartment managers using Dursban organophosphate insecticide. The agent is too powerful for us to stay until it is diminished.
Oda is higher elevation and slightly cooler. We visited the community of Kokobeng, where there is a group started attached to Ansini branch. We attended the baptism of two new members from that area on Saturday. We visited the bakery, market and the beautiful Oda ward chapel. On our way home we stopped to see the West Africa Giant Tree.
Dawn is struggling with sleep issues. I am very concerned since she cannot get good sleep and is very anxious during the day. Her problem comes from using other sleep agents that begin to show serious side effects and then withdrawals follow. She also suffers from the heat and humidity common in Ghana. I seem to do better.
There is much more to be said about the growth of the church here in our part of the mission and the business of caring for the missionary needs. This is regular service for us and it has become routine.
There is another part of our living here that I can mention that takes up much of our time and resources. The children and some adults that are in need, tend to congregate at the Russell’s home. We feed them, work them, care for their school needs and often clothes that need repair or replaced. Care for the poor and needy is truly a part of this mission that needs to be managed well.
Moving right along in mission progress, next week is inspection week and then six week transfers once again. Progress has been made on the mission cook book. Sister Russell has refined it for printing after including all the recipes received from our missionaries. There are some eighty pages of fine entries. Now we have to print it and assemble it before delivery. Pres. Simpson has encouraged us to follow his directions in putting it together.
We visited Sena Breku with four of our full time missionaries. The community is about 40 minutes toward the ocean near Winneba. We have taught two lessons to a family and talked with several others in the community. We are hoping to start a group meeting soon. In Senya there is an old Dutch fort, Fort Good Hope. The facility was used to collect slaves and considered one of the nicest holding on the African coast. So sad to think what happened in the slave trade here in Africa.
The construction of the second home on the property is still underway. It will not be too long and the second story with be constructed. We hope it will be complete before we leave.
I returned from a long trip with Solomon, social worker, to Krobo to visit with Martha. She is doing well and we continue to support her care and medicine needs. The success lies in the fact the family are pleased to have her back and functional and Martha is as happy as can be expected.
Between our recent multi-zone conference and district meetings we get to be among the greatest missionaries in the church.
The beginning of another week here in Awutu Breku serving in the Accra Ghana Africa West mission and we are busy supporting the mission. This last week we visited all the apartments in our assigned three zones. There were 18 in all. We are still unsure of the locations of the apartments in the Kanishie zone. It is so difficult to find Gbawe ( Weija) and New Gbawe because the streets are not marked and are not streets but auto paths. Our GPS will indicate a road and there is no road.
This week is transfers and we assist missionaries in coming and going in our assigned area. Besides picking up elders and sisters we pick up spoiled bicycles and take them to Accra.
Brother and Sister Wood are here from New Zealand and will be staying with us for two weeks. They are arranging to move Eric (a crippled young man). They were missionaries in Kumasi for nearly two years. A lesson to be learned, whenever you assist anyone here it never ends as to the amount of help they need. We are assisting three young people with their education expenses. It will not end until we leave Africa.
Home! All is well with Julia and Ben to date. We want so much to have their health sustained while we are away. We put their names on the temple rolls this month. On the other hand, Joshua has caused us considerable grief. He is accusing us as abandoning our responsibilities as parents and grandparents to him and his children. It stems from his misfit ideas on the importance of families above all else in life and in church doctrine. He is disgruntled with the bishop of his ward and has withdrawn his support and trust. He has established strict belief in what members should do to preserve their families and excluded or altered doctrine to support his new beliefs. As a result of our serving a mission and not being there for his family, we have been labeled neglectful. Robyn had similar feelings but seems to accept us more for our service here and not so much as being neglectful. All the other children seem to be OK with us being here.
The end of June marks the half way mark in our mission. We have been here 9 months and 9 more to go. I am concerned because it is going by way to fast
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Mission 2018
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Sunday, July 8, 2018
06 June 2018
Tuesday, May 29, 2018
May 2018
The first week of May we see a
change in the season, it rained twice this week and today there were many
clouds. Hopefully, it will continue to rain. The dry season was very long and
hot. Sister Russell and I got caught in the rain on an extended walk and we
were soaked. Two families along the way invited us to take cover in their homes
but we were out enjoying the warm rain.
Each Saturday we clean the
chapel. Sister Russell and I are often accompanied by one or two other faithful
members of the branch. We sweep every floor after the chairs are put up and
then mop all the floors in the classrooms, chapel and offices. It takes us
about two hours to do all the work. The last thing we do is clean windows and
put chairs back for the Sunday meeting.
Missionary couples have to pay
for their expenses. Our budget includes several costs. We pay our mission
expense on-line through our ward account in the US. The expense for Ghana
Africa West mission is $650/mo which includes our vehicle and housing. We also
pay $520/mo for Aetna foreign medical insurance. We are paying half of the
mission cost for Elder Alyworth and Elder Baker (our grandsons) another
$400/mo. After tithing, FO, and food and living expenses our monthly total is
around $3000/mo.
“Lights Out” is the phrase the
local people use when there is no electricity. The rainy season brings on loss
of electricity. There is often an electrical storm which damages the power
supply. We lost power for over 12 hours
this week.
We moved the James Taylor family
this week from GMAD to an apartment across the road.
The house construction next to
our home is undergoing. The hand construction is remarkable and all without
mechanical or modern tools. We are photographing the progress of this four
bedroom home.
Olivia and Samuel Buffeo are two
children we have grown to love. Their parents live in a small one room home
with 5 people sleeping inside. Samuel recently joined the church and we see
them regularly at our place. Sister Russell and I are of the opinion the
government education system is no advantage to their education and are putting
them into private school tomorrow. It is not expensive, around $30-40/mo for
the two of them.
Next week we start the apartment
inspections, 18 in total before transfers coming up. It takes us three full
days of driving and carrying supplies to the missionary apartments.
Unfortunately, we have to travel through the suburbs of Accra and gave up our
“bush” travel to the Hills.
Lastly, I am feeling much better
from virus infection that turned into a bacterial lung infection. Fortunately,
I had 10 days supply of Ciprofloxin antibiotic on hand.
12 may 2018
Well, poor Samuel could not take
the change in schools. He was missing his friends and did not want to change
schools. So he is back into his old school. Olivia, however, is very happy to
be in a new school, so she is going to continue at the new school. She will
have such an advantage over her brother in the future.
The apartment inspection went
well, with regards to visiting all the apartments except New Weija. The elders
were not home when we could be there. The boot of our truck was completely full
of supplies needed by the elders. Even so, we did not have all the items they
needed and will have to return in the near future.
This weekend is Stake Conference.
We will go to Kasoa Stake tomorrow.
“Transfer Day” – Well, prior to
transfer day we do apartment inspections. There are 18 apartments in our three
districts which we inspect. Three days time is required to travel to all the
apartments. The roads are rough and the traffic is heavy. It takes a toll on my
back. Then following the inspections we are very busy with transferring
missionaries to their destinations or transfer stations so they can travel by
tro-tros leaving our area. On Monday we took three missionaries back to Accra
mission office. On Tuesday we moved Breku back to the Buduburam mansion and
then Elder Mashos to Bawjiase. On the way we stopped at Kasoa 1-4 , Kaso 2 and
Ashtown. We took Elders Staples, Kabaya and Bakam to the Tro terminal with all
their luggage. Back from Bawjiase we brought Elder Antwi to Ashtown. By the
time it was over we had spent 12 hours traveling the mission.
We have a new district leader,
Elder Lundquist. After today’s district meeting we took Elders Davies and
Tuatuvuki to teach Balinda in Ojobie. Then we drove to Ansufal to spray an
apartment for insects and deliver a package. On the way back we picked up Eric
at GMAD and had a birthday party for him. I had cooked goat light soup and
bought banku with birthday cake to finish the meal. After taking him home it
was way after dark.
This has been an interesting
week, especially since we also had to arrange for Samuel to be put back into
the better school. His parents insisted he go to a better school. We purchased
shoes, backpacks and notebooks for him and his sister Olivia.
The month of May is full of
events as usual. Eric from GMAD had a birthday. I took him to Yoo Marta to buy
drinks and biscuits for the kids at the orphanage. Then I picked him up on
Thursday to celebrate his birthday here at our home. I cooked his favorite food
of goat stew and banko. Eric is a paralyzed from waist down from a car accident
when he was 3 years old. A missionary
couple (Woods) ,have cared for him on their mission.
Kwime and Belinda from Ojobi are
our good friends have had us to their farm several time while the family sat
for missionary discussion. There is rift with him and the stake president. He
claims to have never been married to the mother of 3 children before he civilly
married Belinda. We have been in the middle of the debate. Ghanaian laws and
traditions make or brake marriages.
Sister Russell and I have been to
Swedru on several occasions from assignments from Pres. Simpson. Any time there
is a serious sin we have to do a special interview to determine the worthiness
for baptism. There have been very special and spiritual meeting with those
wanting to be baptized.
Last week was inspection week and
transfer day. Wow, busy times! We inspect three districts: Buduburam, Kasoa and
Kaneshie. There are 18 apartments so it takes us three full days. Also we
arrange to supply them with necessities. Transfer day was sun up to sun down
work! We had to move companions in and out of apartments. We had to take
missionaries to bus terminals. We had to
drive back and forth to and from apartments.
In the middle of inspections and
transfer was Kasoa Stake Conference. The meetings are always an opportunity to
haul members to Kasoa. We had a load of people in and in the back of our
vehicle. There was standing room only. (A lady said this week that our church
was a “white man’s” church. Well among the 2000 at conference I counted 7 white
people. Every meeting was officiated by our black leaders.
Then on Monday, 21 May 2018 we
met with Elder Nash and Elder Soares (our new apostle). We met in the
auditorium of the new MTC. All three hundred missionaries (Accra and Accra West
Ghana missions) shook their hands. The messages were profound with spirit.
Elder Nash was so inspired to speak about Truth-Agency-Integrity and how they
connect. Elder Soares spoke about the mission handbook and obedience. It was
all very wonderful.
The temple trip this month was a
disaster! We were expecting to take two of our friends (sister Linda and
brother Daniel) have collected their family members to take to the temple. We
prepared indome and egg meals for 50 people. Then Pres. Sackety called the
night before to tell us it was primary kids not adults going to the temple.
Wow, switch! We ended up taking 9 primary kids to the temple. Five young girls
in the back seat and 4 boys in the boot, it was stop to urinate, stop to get
food, stop to throw-up. The traffic was heavy and we were late. The meeting
with the kids was a walk around the temple, a couple of short talks and then
drawing paper to sketch the temple. We were so glad to get home and I had to
take the truck down to get it cleaned up.
Our district meeting are in
Buduburam every Wednesday at 11:00am. In our district there are two groups. We
rotate the two groups of missionaries to dinner each Sunday evening.
This week I had invited the
children to cook chicken and vegetables on the cook pot charcoal stove. Then a
couple of other kids show up and it ended up in a fist fight and I had to send
three boys home.
Samuel and Dennis had hair cuts
costing me 3 CDs each. Then I bought an extra two flashlights for children
walking home after dark. I also bought notebooks for Dennis and Ivy.
Lastly, I am in the snail farming business. Linda (our friend) has given me a number of snails to raise so we can have a feast. I had to build a box to keep them in and feed them so they will get FAT!
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| Elder Soares |
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| Cooking |
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| Building new house |
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| Temple Trip with Primary |
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| Linda |
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| Rain!! |
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| Senya Castle |
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| Spider bite! |
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| Snail farm |
Sunday, April 29, 2018
April 2018
General Conference today, we
traveled to Kasoa Stake center to view conference. We were able to see the
Saturday afternoon session and the Saturday priesthood session. To our
pleasure, we listened to Pres. Nelson as he introduced the “new” ministering
approach to home teaching. We also learned about the “elders” quorum being
composed of both elders and high priests. We can read the other conference
reports as they come to us on-line or in the Liahona.
Wednesday we had our first
district meeting with our new district leader, Elder Staples. We were busy in
transfers on Tuesday. I had to portage beds, missionaries, bicycles, literature
and packages to Ashtown, Buduburam, Breku, Bawjisae and Kasoa. It was a very
busy day for me.
Friday we began our day visiting
the sister missionaries in Kasoa 5 and replacing may of their lights in and
outside the apartment.
Now for the big occasion this
week. Saturday began at 7:00am as we traveled to GMAD to have our vehicle decorated
for the wedding of Abu and Anita. The wedding was scheduled to be held at Kasoa
stake center at 10:00am. Well we waited for the bride to be made up at GMAD
until 12:00. By the time we drove her to the wedding it was nearly 1:00pm.
After the wedding we drove the groom and bride back to GMAD for a grand
reception. Tired we arrived home to have 7 kids over to play soccer while we
took a nap.
The real reason we needed rest
was the fact it started to rain at 5:00am. The first rain for months! It was a
hard rain for one hour. It was most appreciated and an answer to prayers.
As we entered April it seems so
sudden and now it is half way through the month and I have not realized two
weeks have passed into this transfer. There has been a lot of talk about the
two major policy changes made at conference. Our new prophet, President Nelson is a shaker
and a mover at 93 years of age.
This week following conference we
visited Aboso (not in our assigned area) to do a special interview with a
sixty-two year old lady. She had nine children and two husbands of which both
had expired. The sisters of Aboso were teaching her needed a special interview
due to a mistake she had made in her youth. The atonement can cover so much of
what we do wrong with true repentance.
Our Sunday meeting was the
regular sacrament with primary for Sister Russell following then I joined in as
the teacher of the Teachers for the last hour. It is not so difficult now since
I no longer have the Priests and Deacons.
Monday Sister Russell and I took
Eric from GMAD to shop at the West Hills Mall. He is the crippled boy in a
wheelchair who is incontinent. We endured the smell and glad to have him with
us. He is sponsored by the Woods from New Zealand, former missionaries here in
Ghana.
This week we traveled to Accra to
exchange bicycles and pick up supplies from the mission office. We also went to
the pharmacy, then picked up two bicycles before heading to the mission office.
After saying hello to Bill and Binki we traveled home. The next day we began
our deliveries after our district meeting. Elder Staples, the new district
leader is outstanding.
The weekend has been spent
hosting the mission president (Simpson) and his wife while he interviews his
missionaries in Winneba stake. Sister Simpson road along as we attended to
business. Each evening we played cards to relax and enjoy their company. He is a busy man and had to deal with the
Lord’s army, right or wrong. He was heavy hearted having to send an elder home
early for breaking the rules.
This weekend Bishop Eggan from
Tema arrived to tell us the builders will be here Monday to finish work on the
house next to our living quarters. The foundation is in place and now we are
surrounded with all kinds of building materials ready to start the work. Bishop
estimated about two months to completion! We shall see!
The birthday party dominated this
week. Since we have been caught up following the visit of our mission president
and the missionaries are settled following the transfer, the last few days have
been quiet. We did take the Breku missionaries to visit a family we invited to
learn about the gospel. Following the direction we prayed for on Sunday,
President Sacatey visited with our missionaries in our home pleading for more
families to be brought into the branch. That was Sunday. Then on Wednesday we
had the birthday party for Samuel Buffo. He turned 11 years old. I ordered a
cake to be made by Rose (the home econ teacher at Winton School). The family of
Samuel came to the party. Samuel cooked sausages on the cook pot and I grilled
chicken on the BarBQ pit. Dawn and Georgina made rice and pineapple. With the
building crew, missionaries and family members we had over 20 people here. We
gave Samuel his own Book of Mormon and exercise books in math and science. All
in all it was a very busy and exciting time.
This week began with a busy
Sunday as usual. I have the Teachers quorum third hour each Sunday. Monday we
had the Shepherds family over for dinner. I picked them up at GMAD where they
are staying for several months. Cody his wife, Rachel and four children are
here on an extended stay. They need our help in shopping and transportation.
They are struggling since the children do not like the food they are serving at
the orphanage.
We spent the day in Kasoa at the
multi-zone conference. It is always good to hear the president instruct us. He
wants the missionaries to include temple preparation following baptism for all
the new converts.
We took Cody and his family to
the West Hills Mall today. Sister Russell got her hair cut by Rich the stylist.
She asked about coloring her hair and he said they did but had only one color.
“What might that be”, said she? He responds, “Black”.
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| Painting Gloryham School |
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| Samual's birthday cake |
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| Kite time |
Obiya and family
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| New home construction |
Thursday, March 29, 2018
March 2018
The beginning of March marks the
5 month of our mission. We are in a long transfer period of 9 weeks instead of
6 week period. That gives us more time to do the apartment inspections. The
Hills have now moved on to Oda and so we do not have their help. This week was
spent providing materials to the missionaries and taking Elder Cox to the
hospital. He, Elder Christopherson and Elder Mashos all thought they
had malaria, but are suffering from another infectious agent, most likely a
virus.
I have been called to serve as
the young mens' president for our branch. There is a new teacher for the youth
Sunday School so I will be just teaching the Teachers and Deacons on Sunday.
This last week there was a young mens' activity where they built money boxes at
the church. What a deal! There were twenty five boys and several leaders
sawing, hammering and painting their constructed boxes used to collect money. I
provided all the materials and food and drinks for all.
This next week we are going to
the temple to do baptisms for the dead and then the following week we are going
to Winneba Beach for a day's outing. We are very busy with Awutu Breku branch
activities.
In addition, Sister Russell and I
do her visiting teaching of five sisters in the branch. It requires some
travel each week. Basically we are on the road all the time. Each day there is
usually a full schedule.
We are now planning to assist
with the temple excursion on Saturday and the Luau on Monday with the Kasoa
zone missionaries. Lots to do and so little time!!
The month of March is dry but no
“homitan” so the air is clear and very hot. Our branch in Breku had a temple
excursion to Accra Saturday and there were about 40 youth who did baptisms and
confirmations for deceased family members. Dawn and I supplied meals for all which consisted of vegetable rice with one boiled egg, a dab of shito (hot spice) and
two cookies wrapped. All was set in a small Styrofoam container closed with a
rubber band and tucked aside was a disposable fork and napkin. No clean up
required. We bought two bags of water sachets. They devoured the meals and
water.
This week we had a work party
here for the district elders. They helped me clean up our entrance by
restacking a huge pile of construction boards back on the foundation of the
unfinished apartment. We also placed 4 – 300# concrete lids on top of our sewer
(tough job). Then they helped construct a 3’ concrete block wall around the Bar
B Que pit we will use to cook the pigs on Monday. Finally, we moved a huge pile
of granite rock from off the driveway to clear the drain path to the outside
wall.
After the work party, Dawn took
the elders to the Gloryham school to paint the multicolored walls in bad
repair. Grahm, the headmaster of the school, bought oil based paint and what a
mess it was to clean up. We still have much to do there.
Now a report on Martha….Nearly
two months ago Dawn and I saw a woman sitting on the road side near our home
for 4 days. Dawn gave her money to buy food, she said nothing. Then on the 5th
day we saw her sitting on a rock near a neighbor's home. She had started a fire
near the cassava field and the men were putting it out. We asked about her and
they knew nothing concerning her. She was very unkempt and Dawn said we are
going to take her home.
We walked her home and she told
us her name was Martha. Dawn took off her clothes and showered with her to clean
her up and shampoo her hair full of weeds. She stayed with us for two days
until we could get an appointment with a psychiatrist referral from Dr.
Blackwell from the mission. After much effort and expense we
were able to admit her to the Accra Psychiatric Hospital, a days drive down and
back. She has been there over a month under medication. We have visited her
twice since she was admitted.
We found a social worker, Solomon, at Ghana Make A Difference orphanage and hired him to find out more about her.
We took Solomon with us to see her and he was able to speak with her in her
native language of Krobo. We found out where she had come from. Then Solomon
took the next day at our expense to go to a very distant place to find out more.
He was visited in Samanya proviince the community of Krobo but was unable to
establish her residence as Martha said she was fromMesaoa some three hours
drive on dirt from Krobo.
We three decided to all go to
Krobo the next week. On our way I was convinced we needed to take Martha with
us in case she could be recognized or help in the search.
Once we reached Krobo after
several hours of driving, we stopped atthe same gas station Solomon had
inquired about Martha the week before. While we were talking with the attendant
a young lady heard our conversation and look in at Martha. She said she knew
the family.
We ended up in a market place where
the local people recognizedMartha. Then we were told she had family living
there. We were able to take Martha to her aunt’s house and they knew who she
was.
This is what they told us: Martha
had been gone for 2 1/2 years. She has three children when she became mentally
ill. Her husband had taken her to the same Accra Psychiatric Hospital for
treatment. She returned under doctor's care and was living with her aunt
because her parents have died and her husband was so far away from available
medical help.
Martha stopped taking her
medication and became deranged then left with nothing after a disturbing episode
with the aunt.
Once we found the family in Krobo
and her aunt was willing to keep her, I arranged with a pharmacist and doctor
at the local Catholic hospital to make sure she got her injections and tablets.
I ended up paying in advance for the medication and then added a large sum of money
to help the aunt support her in our absence.
We left Krobo after Dawn read
stories to the children living within the housing where Martha is staying. I
brought FanIce treats for all 17 of the kids and then we departed. There were
lots of tears andthank you as we departed.
The rest of the story: Today I
got an early phone call from Solomon letting me know that the aunt called and
they had lost Martha but found her roaming the neighborhood. She got her
medication and then the aunt called me to say thank you once again and Martha
was fine and would stay.
This has been a good experience
for us while on the mission, notrelated to our work but related to our cause.
FAMILY!
A day in the mission: this has
been one of those days which lately have been coming quite often. Up before
dawn getting ready to go over on Saturday morning to clean the chapel and all
the classrooms, by sweeping and then wet mop all floors. We have a skeleton
crew each Saturday so we really feel we must be there to help. Following the
cleaning we get ready for the baptism services. Five candidates are being
baptized. Two of them are people we have been fellowshipping. I am on the
program and afterwards take all the wet clothing home to wash and dry. In
addition, coming home with 4 missionaries in the truck and 5 youth in the back,
we are always open for visitors. We fed the youth FanMilk and sent them home.
The 4 missionaries ate the PBJ sandwiches I put together while Sister Russell
took a nap. After cleaning up the dishes and kitchen we all relaxed until time
to go again.
Sister Russell took the 4
missionaries to Glorygram school to finish painting the walls as a service
project. I drove over to the branch president’s house, Pres. Sacitey and we
headed to Kasoa to pick up the Relief Society president. After an hours drive
through heavy traffic, we were 17 minutes late getting to Kineshie Stake
center.
As the Young Men’s president I
was asked to attend a 4 hour meeting on preparing the youth to serve full time
missions. The Area Office provided the meeting content with Pres. Vincent
presiding and Elder Quasie conducting. After extensive instruction, videos,
slide show and lengthy discussions we broke for a snack before the final hour
of council groups.
Following the meeting I provided
a ride for the branch president, the relief society president, the first
councilor and the primary president. We had to stop at Yoo Mart to pick up ice
cream and supplies for the 68th birthday of my beautiful wife. Once
I got everybody home and unloaded the truck I had to start the meal for
tomorrow. We are having a family from Owjobi here to eat goat soup and chicken
and noodles. I had to get the soup going while Sister Russell stayed up and
finished her song chart for tomorrow’s primary.
Fortunately, I had got my lesson
material ready for tomorrow’s priesthood class. We have lots to talk about
following the meeting today. I am tired and want to go to be but first had to
have Mac and Cheese since I had not eaten since morning.!!! A day in the
mission!
PS. I have got to get up early
before church to bake a cake and prepare chicken for the meal while we are in
our meetings. We are as busy here are we were
in Marysville, CA with major callings in the church i.e. high council and RS
president.
Just returned from apartment
inspection in the Kasoa stake, it took us all day until 5:30pm. The Kasoa zone
is spreading out. We are now driving to Bawjase north of Kasoa 45 minutes out
of town. We have four elders (Helu, Ofosu Hene, Tutulavuki and Roberston)
living there for the first time. Setting up the two apartments takes a lot of
supplies and time. We delivered bicycles, white boards, curtains and all
necessary supplies for the two apartments next to each other. I loved how the
curtains were installed by Elder Helu from Tonga. He pounded nails into the
curtains of the window frames and wah-la finished. These elders are not
sisters!
Winneba district were here last
night for tin foil dinners. The six elders put their selection of potatoes,
carrots, squash, onions, pineapple and meat (hamburger and hot dogs) into the
tin foil and I put them on the fire of my huge bar-b-que pit. Sister Russell
supplied cookies and ice cream for desert. We played Apples to Apples to
entertain the elders. After we passed out the mail and Liahona they ventured
home by Tro-Tro.
Work around the house. We have
done extensive work outside around the home where we live. I had a lot of help
from the elders in doing the work. We put concrete lids on the septic tank (5
lids each over 300#) and cleared the driveway of lumber, large granite rock and
piles of dirt. I reconstructed the bar-b-que pit and cleared off any debris.
With Richard’s help in cleaning up the lawn and clearing out the weeds, it
really looks much better.
I continue to repair the walking
bridge near the Glorygram school. Our service project is ongoing since the
bridge gets heavy use and in need to constant repair.
We have followed up on our visits
to our missionaries and have just one more day of inspections coming up the
last Tuesday of the month.
I received notice Susan Marusha
from H&R Block has completed the 2017 tax statements. Dennis Croft, our
neighbor will take in the payments due this week and thus ends another tax
year. We pay a lot of taxes both federal and state. The convenience of on line
document submitting makes it possible for us to file taxes living in Africa.
The last week of March is the end
of our first six month of the mission. The week has been full of entertaining
KIDS! Each day after school we have 4-6 neighbor kids show up to visit us. Some
have recently been baptized and some are taking the discussions. Nohad is a
young boy who has dregs and is very bright. His father did not want him to join
the church because he is a Moslem and Nohad will loose his inheritance.
On our walk today with Samuel
(another young man we visit with) we saw two very large black Emperor
Scorpions. I sent a photo to Elder Baker along with a gecko lizard in my first
letter to him from Africa.
Lastly, the cultural event at the
Kasoa stake center this week was grand. Each of the units represented a tribe
with dancing, singing and drum playing. At the very end there was dancing to
“the Twist”. Sister Russell and I got up front and showed them how to do the
Twist!! So fun!
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| The Hills and Russells at the beach |
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| Gorginia's Classroom |
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| Young Men project making Money Boxes |
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| Martha and her family |
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| Painting Gloryham School service project |
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| Preparing meals for the temple trip |
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| Winneba tin foil dinner night |
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| Sister Russell serving meals at the temple |
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| Our yard following clean up |
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| Saturday's baptism |
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| Goat stew with FuFu |
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| Lunch with Bawjiase elders |
Wednesday, February 28, 2018
02 February 2018
This week we had a primary activity at the branch on
Saturday. The children played several different games i.e. sack race, musical
chairs, pin the tail on the goat etc. I believe we can only do this once a year
because of sanity reasons. However, the popcorn and FanMilk was well accepted.
Sister Russell has had the young women over for an activity
and as they arrived we had a wonderful rain storm. Much needed rain fell
heavily for 30 minutes. The young women then ate noodles and veggies and
popcorn as well.
The Hills were with us as we traveled to the apartments in
Ansufal, Swedru, Odoben, Brakwa and Asikuma.. an all day event of over 250K.
They are having a hard time with the heat and require constant air conditioning
in the car and in the house.
Today Bro. Hill and I delivered light bulbs and tire pump to
the Kasoa elders. Our home had visitors for two days, the Hills and the
Simpsons. However, the pull on the electricity from all the AC units and fans
caused the fuse to fail. So we spent the night in a warm house. Thank heavens, I got a comfortable sleep
since we did not have the cold air blowing on us.
We have visited many of our missionary apartments with Bill
and Binki. We made the rounds in the Kasoa Stake to Kasoa 4 in Millennium City
to pick up bicycle then on to Ashtown for deliveries. We did a small amount of
shopping at the Kasoa market but Binki was not feeling well.
Saturday was the funeral for Constance. We all attended a
very lovely eulogy by members of the family and message from our stake
president, Pres. Simons. Finally we went to the grave site near Bonotrase.
The week of February 14 was our trip to Mole National Park.
After staying with the Simpsons we left early in the morning from Accra to
Tamale, then a long Land Rover ride to Mole. The scenery was different, very
clean and very dry.
Our stay at Ziana Lodge was outstanding. It was first class
with comfortable tent cabins of the highest quality. Each day was filled with
safari style travel to see all the animals i.e. elephants, antelope, birds,
crocks and a variety of monkeys. The food was exceptional and the
accommodations were great. The swimming pool was beautiful above the look out
area beneath a watering hole. Each day was special and our visit with 4 other
couples from the Area Office was enjoyable.
Once we were back in Accra we stayed with the Simpsons and
attended the Moodabi ward before traveling home. The Hills greeted us with
dinner prepared. How wonderful.
The next day on Tuesday we traveled to Accra to begin the
couples conference for three days. Much was given in the way of instruction and
review of mission statements from the Area Office and our mission president. As
always the food was plentiful and delicious. I did manage to sneak away and
swim in the complex swimming pool at night. Then on Wednesday we traveled home
with Bill and Binki driving as our truck was filled with bicycles and supplies.
This week Dawn and I visited for the last time the Winneba
stake apartments. They will be given over to the Hills once they leave for Oda.
This week was the last week with Bill and Binki Hill.
Yesterday we went to the beach near The West Hills Mall. Abraham, a young man
at the beach, helped us park and then started a meal of lobster cooked over a
small fire and boiling pot. Then I helped fishermen dry dock their boats. They
had fish and I bought one for $20 cedi. Abraham grilled it up. We ate with our
hands at a small handmade table.
This week we also traveled to Accra to visit with Martha. We
had with us Solomon, a social worker from GMAD. We are making plans to take her
back to her residence.
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| Baptism at Awutu Breku |
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| Tin foil dinner at Russells |
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| Binki Hill and Dawn with baby goats |
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| Zaina Lodge safari |
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| Swimming pool at Zaina Lodge |
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| Elephant at Mole Park |
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| Day at the Mole Park Animal reserve |
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| Boat trip with the group from Accra |
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| Inside the lodge |
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