Stumbling block - tank of water

 We were talking with a family a bit ago about their daughter who turned eight in March. She was excited to be baptized and everything went smoothly in the program until she was asked to step down into the water. She was absolutely terrorized. She has never taken a tub bath, never been swimming in a pool, never gone in a lake or river. So she didn't get baptized that day. 

Her mom and dad have done everything they can to help her get over her fear. 

I've thought a lot about the experiences that I take for granted and the knowledge that I have. I remember all three of us as children in the bathtub together playing in the water. Rafted on a pond, had swimming lessons, gone tubing in rivers, and floated on lakes and ponds, I even went to the ocean as a toddler. I tried to imagine a world without playing in water....but there are too many memories for my imagination to ignore. 

For her to be baptized takes a lot more courage than the average US child. I am praying it all works out for her soon. 

Pool Party

 We call it a pool party, but actually it is all about the exercise. The Area presidency's wives, the temple matron and I get together at 7:30 in the morning to do exercises in the pool. It has been so fun getting to know each one of them. We try for Monday, Wednesday, and Friday - but they are often going to conferences and mission tours. The temple matron sometimes has early shifts to be to. But whenever we can, we get together and have a "pool party" morning.

I, Lucie, Funmi, Hannah, and Doe

Sunday Dinner

 The table is all set. Savior's family asked for Jollof Rice, we have watermelon, and fried chicken. Then we waited. Later we found out they have a baptism for their cousin they had gone to so it took longer until they could come.

It was so fun. His niece and their three little girls told us what they were going to do when they grew up. We learned how Savior and his wife met. They brought ice cream and I had muffins too. It was such a nice afternoon. 

Jeffrey had to leave for a zoom call at 6 pm but they stayed chatting for a little while. They are a very interesting and fun family. 

Its the girls!

Sevandah (his niece who lives with them), Eleanor in pink, Raya in pink in the front, Justina the mom, Emma who likes to be different, and Saviour the dad.

Full Circle

While I was in the Ivory Coast, we went shopping at a little mall. Though I could not speak French, the ladies at the stall could understand enough to know what I was looking for. It was fun. I brought back some materials that I really didn't have a purpose for. I just like them.

When Comfort came over a little later, she noticed the material and said she liked it, so I gave it to her. Today at church she had a new outfit that came from that material. I didn't recognize it until I looked very closely. It sews up differently than it looks laid out. I thought she looked nice.

Balance

 I seem to have a routine and a normal for me. Though I did not go through cultural shock or have to adjust to sight, smell, hearing, and taste all over again. I am still trying to find balance in this new life.

Yesterday I made some Morning Glory muffins for a Relief Society food preservation meeting that was happening in the afternoon. As I thought about how quickly the banana bread disappeared in an after Relief Society linger longer, I made another batch. Then since is was before noon I decided to make a large pan of school house peanut butter bars. 

At the meeting - only 13 people showed up. I am reminded of that scripture which says, ".....and stumble because of my over anxiety for you." Yup, over anxiety can cause a tip in the balance of my life. Next time, I will not prepare so much.

I stumble on a few things, then have to readjust how I go about life. Another example is one day working in a temple session for the first time. It was a chaotic type of day. Many missionaries showed up speaking different languages. There were many Elders versus the sister who came. I could see that the brother helping out on the other side was overwhelmed. I stepped in to be efficient and get the session started. A week later a temple matron asked to speak with me and we went arm in arm down the hall, but when she ushered me into a room and shut the door, I felt a little like I was talking to the principal. In the nicest, kindest way she asked my opinion and let me know that brothers take care of brothers and sisters take care of sisters. Efficiency should never take the place of allowing others to do their job. I assured her I could do things the way that she wanted. Lots of next-times in my life here. Luckily I am an old dog that can learn new tricks. Life is good.

Set ready to go with everything I though I needed

We had a meeting where everyone shared tips and ideas on how to make food last longer, and how to take advantage of crops when they are in season and store them for later when they are not. Water storage and use, fuel, and even documents that needed to be saved in a flood were all discussed.

It was a good meeting. I noticed that all the refreshments were taken and gone. Missionaries down the hall, another class, and of course all the ladies present took care of them all. 

Pathway to Nowhere

 About 10 years ago in 2014, I began a dream to finish my bachelors degree. Pathways was being advertised as the way to "finish what you started." I am not sure what other advertising they used or said as that was the element that sold me on going back to school in my 50's to finish what I started in my 20's. 

It was exciting, hard, interesting, and both kinds of phun and fun. I am glad I continued after we were called on a mission in 2016 to finish up my studies in 2019 and finally get my degree. I feel like I was a much better missionary and person because I went to school. I do know I had realized that I could do hard things and learn new tricks. 

When I arrived in 2020 and we began our mission in Accra, I still had the satisfaction and furor of how good getting my degree was. I talked with several missionaries. One in particular was from Nigeria and was intelligent and hoping for a better life for himself. He had already begun in Pathways and was looking to finish school when he got back home. We talked about life and schooling and how difficult it was to find jobs. 

Two and a half years later, I meet this returned missionary again and he is married and moving on in life. But I was very saddened when I asked how Pathways turned out for him to hear him say the same thing I've been hearing from other young people who have tried out Pathways. He said, "It is the Pathway to Nowhere." 

Evidently the program here is touted as a vocational school, but it doesn't have the elements necessary to get a job. I am not sure if the advertising is off, or if there just are not enough classes, or if the degrees from an online school just do not have the necessary requirements to enable these young men and women to find a good job.

I remember going to a wood carvers home in the Philippines. We had traveled for many hours to get to his place to see where he did his work. The whole town was dedicated to functional and art wood carving. He must have grown up around the whole craft. I thought about the many hours he had to travel to sell his wares to the missionaries at the Area office as he was a member of the church and knew which items senior missionaries would want, but most especially - pay for.

But on his wall was a degree certificate of Engineering. My heart sank when I realized how much time, effort, and especially money was spent for a degree that he could not find a job in. He had a family that he needed to support. Wood carving was what he did.

I am very sad that the young adults are not finding what they need in an area that I felt so happy and strong in. I am sad that the job situation is so bleak. I am sad that the educational program that is touted to be worldwide, is only serviceable to those in the United States. It is so sad. I hope an answer is found.                       

In Awe of Women Here

 I went to the market the other day with three Ghanaian friends. They were very accommodating of my wishes and needs. They also laugh a little about my comments, questions, and the wonder of the things I witness.  

For all of them, it is perfectly normal to see a woman with a baby on her back carrying a load on her head. Sometime even holding the hand of another child or carrying something else in her arms. You see it everywhere! As I watched one particular woman, I wanted to get a photo from the back - as I know people don't like their picture taken by random people. As I tried to get a picture other cars got in the way, then she turned toward me......but Eugene pulled over as she walked down the street until I had my picture. Nice guy to wait and aid in my endeavor to photograph her. Awesome mother.

Good things to do each day

 Sue came over yesterday to finish sewing up her bean bags (made with rice) to bring to the school today for a game. I love the fact that she finds good things to do while she spends two months here while her husband does his work. 

I wonder what I would do if in that situation. Always changing homes, friends, and people around you. She is very gracious and kind. She does not want to go to any kind of shopping as her suitcase is already full. 

So watch for our adventure next Monday. We are going to go see a man who makes Kente cloth. I told Sue I was going to take video of her trying the little machine out making a row or two of the cloth. If you are on Marco Polo, wait for it!

Kente cloth has been around for many, many years. The kings were the ones to wear it in the old days. Now everyone can wear it and there are many, many different styles and colors.

Gathering Place

 I love, love, love the whole idea and implementation of the idea of gathering together to learn something and share. I have only gone to the sewing class that is held twice a week at the stake center - though I know there are three other kinds of classes. The need to learn skills that will bring in a little money for the family is so important in this country that has market prices skyrocketing but salaries remain the same. 

I was tickled that they were cutting out dresses from the fabrics I sent over last week. The ladies were in a fun mood and teasing and joking around with each other. It is nice to be in that atmosphere. The gentleman teaching the class is superb at his job.

I brought 100 of my drawn out Christmas stockings on red and white fabric, instructions on how to make them, and some pieces in stages to show how to make them. I also handed the teacher an envelope with money to pay for them to be made. I wanted them to have success in sewing up something and being paid for it. He could see how easy the stockings were to make and said they would be done by the end of October. Fun, fun! [Now I have to think of what to put in them!]

This young adult is Ava and she is from our ward, the teacher is Antwi

Addo is also from our ward

Patricia sewing up her dress

Gifty is from our ward too

exuberance of life

These dresses are fully lined. I love, love the sharing of ideas and teaching that is going on.

Ava took me aside and we had a chat about marriage. Evidently she heard my testimony of marriage and had some questions. I didn't recall giving a testimony about marriage, but I did remember giving a short testimony in Relief Society of the power of prayer. I must have brought up my marriage as an example of prayer. Good chat.

Languages

Picture taken by Asante

 There were visitors from the Ivory Coast and another French speaking country that came to the temple today. I had a shift from 1 to 5 though the session got out a little after 6 pm - I got home about 6:30. I had fun! We had French speakers everywhere along with a few other languages, while English was a small minority. The sessions were all run in French, so I wore headphones and when I helped out, I had a page with French and English on it. I had to hope they were saying the right things at the right time. It was a challenge that I found fun and inspiring. I love to mingle with people from many different countries. 

For one segment of my shift, I asked if the ladies could just read along in French while I said the English version - but they couldn't read! So they got two parts in French and one part I just did in English. I really need to learn a few paragraphs in another language!

Juliet came over in the morning to drop off containers that used to have banana muffins. She collects the empty containers back from the departments that she gives out the full ones to. so nice for me. 

I had to smile as I was frittering away some time and when Juliet came over, I had to start getting something good accomplished. I remember that I would be at the temple today and thought about making Fried Rice as that would be an easy heat-up thing for Jeffrey. Juliet offered to make him Jollof rice. It was perfect! She used the. ingredients in my own home and I had no small green peppers, so it was just right!!

When I came home late, it didn't matter as Jeffrey had already been taken care of. We had a nice chat about scriptures and the resurrection of the just. I found it fascinating.  It was all in English! Though to be sure, the scriptures are their own language that can be tricky.

Authentic Ghanaian Experience

 Dumevi offered to take Sue and I to the market and then go to his home and prepare a typical meal, so we could see how it is done in Accra. 

Fun! We went to the oldest fish market in Ghana - Adabraka Fish Market. They have fish from the Volte River and the ocean. Lots and lots of smoked fish in baskets everywhere. Of course all kinds of other fish too. Intermixed in the baskets of hundreds of different kinds of fish are beads, bright vegetables, spices, material, shoes, kitchenware, grains, etc. Dumevi picked up some smoked salmon and got some tomatoes, onions, and little green hot peppers, salt, and then he picked up charcoal to use. Sue and I wound around and through all the people following wherever Dumevi in his white hat went. 

You could smell the fish long before we got to the actual market. It was crowded, bright, and colorful. They sold everything I could imagine - even mattresses. There is a YouTube reporter that you should watch so you can see (sorry you can't smell the market) and see the experience we had. 

Those of you who watch my Marco Polo adventures will see segments on the market and the preparations at Dumevi's home.

Sue stirring cassava flour and maize flour with water and a little salt to make banku.

Pricilla cuts up the onions, tomatoes, and green pepper into little pieces

Dumevi does the hard work of stirring the thickening dough

Sue gives it a shot. Notice there are two rods holding the hot pot that she puts her feet on to stabilize it while she stirs. Eugene is fanning the flames on the other side. 

Sue took her turn at crushing the vegetables with pestle

Eugene and Dumevi finishing up the banku

Sue is reading with the girls out of their anatomy book and explaining where the different parts are in their own body. 

Dumevi forms balls of banku for individual serving.

Pricilla is finishing up the pepper sauce or "stew". Notice how fine she got all the ingredients. She adds a little salt and stirs it up one more time.

Dumevi roasts the smoke salmon over the coals, then Pricilla peeled it off the bones.

Salmon bites, onion, and the pepper stew. Banku balls are in the bowls. To eat, break off a bit of banku, dip it into the stew and catch some fish with it. Put it in your mouth and swallow the banku, fish, and pepper sauce. Pricilla made it at children's strength pepper - Sue and I had burning mouths.

Nice meal with friends

Sisters

 Today is my sister Diana's birthday. Back in the days when she was born, no one knew exactly the gender of the baby until it was actually born or they had a blood test. We were all excited when she came. Diana had LOTS of black/brown hair. She was this little bundle of joy.

I am missing my sisters. I know they will all be getting together sometime this weekend to celebrate together. Sometimes they have a tea party with a theme, sometimes a lunch at Kneaders, sometimes a picnic in the park, or sometimes a spa day. I don't know what they will be doing but it will be fun.

I am wrapped up in my apron from my sisters - I think it was a fudge day where they all got matching aprons. I was away at the time, but got the apron! 

Sisters are important part of life. Whether they are born in the same family, in the neighborhood, or somehow in the same circles, sisters are very vital and necessary to me. Baaba and Comfort are becoming my sisters along with Juliet. There are some missionaries who are become my sisters too.

Today, I'm thinking about my birth sisters.....

Happy Birthday Diana!

Aging -

 It is tough getting old. Some limbs just hurt when they are used. Forgetting is normal. I have to check off each day when I take anti-malaria pills and vitamins - so I don't overdose or forget all together. Having an ankle that is almost always swollen. Having to wear compression socks to run around for a day or go hiking or on a trail. Then there is the tiredness after activity. Getting old also means that sleeping is not something to look forward to anymore. I frequently wake up for any number of reasons. I really hate the "old people" breath that I have. I don't like grey hair. Then I can hear what people actually say.

But I am sure thankful for the opportunity I have to be on adventures and to learn new things and to meet really nice good people, and have the opportunities, challenges, and fun that I get to enjoy.  It is all living in balance. I love the opportunity to lift and aid people in their life. I hope my help is actually help and not a hindrance to their progression. Life is good - usually.

Did you know some trees are killers?

 On Monday, Sue, Dumevi, Eugene and I went to the Botanical Gardens in Aubri. These Gardens were set up in the late 1800's and have been doing very well. Many of the trees that were imported and planted then, are now over a 100 years old. Some of the trees that were already there, show some very interesting developments. 

On particularly interesting tree does not start out as roots in the ground from a seed and work it's way up. No that is too simple. This tree starts as a fig from the mother plant and is carried by animals, up in the canopy to another tree - or a windy storm, etc. The fig get very ripe and send out tiny shoots that grow and travel down the host tree until it reaches the ground. Then it changes into roots that feed this new plant. Lots and lots of tiny vines set out and reach the ground. After time those tiny vines widen and harden and become a tree - that is surrounding the host tree. Usually the host tree cannot get the sun and air it needs and dies, then rots leaving a hollow in the middle of the Strangler Tree or Rubber Shade Tree. Interesting.

Very interesting type of tree.

I walked into the trunk of this 'hollow' tree and looked up at the "windows"

Windows left from where the host tree used to look out.

Avenue of trees planted over a hundred years ago. I believe these came from Cuba.

Not all hosts are strangled. There are many plants that grow on trees and just enjoy the view and seat on its host. Sometimes they are mutually beneficial. 

Another interesting thing we learned was that some trees come in male and female. Take for instance the nutmeg tree. There is a male and a female tree and if you don't have both, it won't pollenate and grow the nuts for the spice we use. They usually find a male nutmeg tree (in its youth the leaves are larger than the female) and plant him in the middle. Then they find four female nutmeg trees and plant them around the male. Everybody is happy and the four female trees produce the fruit with nuts that are turned into two spices, nutmeg powder and mace (which is the around the nut). That's the theory. Really they use grafting and other gardening techniques because it take eight or nine years to find out exactly which type of tree it is. If you want the details here it is in Wikipedia.

We saw cinnamon trees where the spice is ground from the bark. The guide told us the branches on the sides or up at the top are the ones that are cut as you do not want to kill the tree for the bark. As he showed us all over the spice trees and bushes, Sue and I agreed there is a good reason spices cost so much. 

There are many, many kinds of palm trees which we saw. Some are actually short and small, and some are very tall. All of them produce different things. Palm nuts and coconuts are not alike. Palm nuts are small and used to make soup or oil is extracted. Coconuts are huge have husks that are broken off then a hard layer that is cracked open until you get to the coconut water/milk and meat.  I use the meat of a coconut by shredding it up and putting it in my banana bread. Dates, Acai berries, and other nuts are on palm trees too.

We also saw plants that curl up when they are touched. Sometimes hunters used to watch these little cover plants to see if someone had walked ahead of them. 

One tree was used by a wood carver for eight years until he died. He was carving a "Tree of life". It is a depiction of people helping other people up. then some who are standing on others, pulling some down.

The king is sitting at the top while his advisor is holding him up

I am going to let you decide in the next pictures who is living and helping and who is lifting and who is pulling others down.....

I couldn't resist taking a picture of the elephant and giraffe. The artist did not get to actually 'finish' his work as he still had things he was working on before he died.

Sue and I had Waakye for lunch and also a drink of watermelon juice with a little lime (refreshing). Our Waakye was very hot so we enjoyed just a little. I asked for vegetarian and had it with an egg instead of a meat choice. It is basically beans and rice with lots of add ins. 

All in all it was a very fun, educational day. Even the trip up and back was interesting. Colorful salesmen and vistas to see. 

Accra has over three million people in the population.