Friends

 I am not sure what the reason was for all the temple ladies coming to our ward last Sunday. It was so nice to see them in a different setting. Usually we only whisper in conducting and organizing the work to be done in the temple. 

I also happen to be teaching Relief Society that day so if I had hoped for a small group, it didn't happen. It was nice that they supported me in my ideas and made really great comments.

For the lesson, I had outlined the three things I wanted to emphasize in President Eyring's last general conference talk, and then had it translated into French and Twi. I wanted anyone who came into the class to have -at the minimum - a knowledge of what we were discussing. I would give my part in English and then one of the ladies read it in Twi. I noted the lady who spoke French read through the notes and then just looked on. Lots of times I am the one looking on while Twi is being spoken around me. 

One of my temple lady friends told about her Primary children who have no hesitation inviting their friends to come to church and Primary with them. She says that often there are many children that are not members of the church. Sometimes if the child is really interested in learning more, the missionaries will follow them home and introduce themselves to the children's family. My friend said that the simple doctrines of the gospel have a great influence on her Primary children's friends.

Tradition Continues

 

Elders from our ward come to talk about questions with answers from the scriptures. We have run into two or three men who used to come three years ago to our Beaufort apartment. One man is a gifted violinist who played on Friday night for Light the World Christmas celebration. 

Christmas Preparations have begun!

 Starting last Friday, I have been attaching stockings to ribbon and then taking them to Mabel in the Area Office where she strings them up on the wall and puts push pins in - Fun to see them!

Today I have been writing out the names of the security guards and tomorrow I will finish the grounds crew and cleaners. I have no idea where they will string their up. I am enjoying myself. I hope others don't think it is tacky to have stockings hanging on the wall. There is no convenient mantel here.

Leadership Training

 We were asked about three months ago to come to a leadership training on November 23. All the Young Women, Primary, and Relief Society leaders were to come at 6:30 pm. 

When Comfort, Baaba, and I walked over together, hundreds of parents and children were just coming out of a children's devotional that ended at 6:30. So we sat for half an hour waiting for the meeting to start. 

The Area Presidency and their wives and the women from the Primary and Young Women and their husbands came about 7 pm from the Area Office where they had refreshed themselves from the previous meeting. I guess that had been the intention all along. Interesting.

I got pictures before the meeting started - don't think I am unaware that you don't take pictures of meetings in the chapel. 

Sister Morrison was hidden by the pulpit

So.....the ladies spoke and each started out really well and strong with very good points. But....it was dark, many had been at the Chapel for hours, and the ladies kept talking....and talking.

Elder Morrison got up at 8 pm and introduced a picture of Moses with the men holding up his arms. Elder Morrison said we needed to be like these men and hold up and aid those who need our watchful care and support. Amen. 

Ok, I can remember all of his speech and it was motivating. We sang a song, had a prayer and went home. 

New Experience

 Last Saturday we were invited to a wedding. Here is where I learned a bit more about marriages in Ghana. There are the traditional tribal marriages which are recognized by family, friends, and other villages, etc. For many this is the extent as civil marriages are expensive.  After traditional, there is the civil marriage that is recognized by the government and for official documents. And then there is the sealing in the temple that is recognized by God and the church. 

Brenda works on the same floor and side of the area office that Jeffrey works in. She invited him to come to her wedding.  This is the first wedding in Ghana that we have been invited to. I have since been invited to one in December. Nice!

I found out that Brenda had been in the traditional wedding the day before. It has lots of very formal parts, including the groom asking the father (in front of everyone) for her hand in marriage (actually negotiated beforehand) and giving them bride price etc. Then there is lots of celebrations depending on the tribe. I have never gone to one of those, so it is all description and speculative on my part.

Then on Saturday Brenda and her groom went through the civil ceremony. The came to the Stake Center and probably had their Bishop marry them - (it wasn't our Bishop).  Lots of people were dressed up and I was especially noting the fascinators that the family wore. Lots of people in the audience too. I saw that many were wearing white and found out that close family or very close friends wear white. It is an auspicious color of life. 

She was solemn as she walked down the aisle with her father. A bridesmaid and her mother followed. Her groom turned around and waited for her and then they sat in chairs right in front of the pulpit with his groomsman and her bridesmaid. 

They stood took their vows. Then went up and signed a register. The couple, her parents, his parents and I think a witness or two. Then they had an exchange of rings and more music and a prayer before she walked back down the aisle to the wedding march.

Later that day they were sealed in the temple.

A Joyful Noise

 Anticipation of the Kick-off to Light the World

Last Friday we watched a lot of action going on at the stake center. Chairs were being put up outside in the parking lot, and a screen went up.  The parking lot was blocked. We could see all this stuff going in and out in and out and you knew there was something big was going to happen. They’ve been putting lights in on all the trees around the grounds and on the fences. A lot of work with a lot of people has been going on in the temple lot. 

I worked in the temple on Friday and wanted to get out at 6:00 pm so I could go over to light the world celebration. They planned to have some really special guests come and sing and entertain.   I went on over there saw how beautifully the Stake Center was decorated! Somebodies had really gone to a lot of effort to make everything look really nice with lots of Christmas decorations on the handrails and the stairway and different kinds of lights all decorated to make it look really festive and beautiful. 

 

The woman who was advertised to come singing was an opera style singer. She had an incredible voice and was very good. Everyone who participated was really good. Expert at what they did.

 I didn't stay for a long time because I was just sweating down my back, dripping and it just kind of makes me a little bit nauseous when I get too hot.

 

One different and really interesting note was they were singing all of these religious songs at the church, but they were applauding and hollering and there was lights flashing, strobing around and there's a very slick MC and cameras all over the place - and in her face. It feels so different when there is holy music even in the culture hall at church with Los Vegas style flashing lights, cameras, and loud soliciting of audience participation. 

All the benches had been taken out of the Chapel and we were turned toward the stage in cultural hall. But still I knew I was in a church.  Super nice, great singing of Christ centered Christmas songs and people are hollering, clapping, and it was just different. 

When you sing about Christ and it wasn't reverent, it feels odd. It wasn't bad it was just a joyful noise. Though I had to come back a little early, I could hear the music from my house when I opened the window. I wasn't able to see the dancing but the music could be heard from my place. It was just a really nice evening with a lot of very talented people who did their very best.

 The grounds are all lit up and the nativity is there with Mary, Joseph, the donkey, and of course the baby Jesus.  

Fresh Eggs

 We are lucky to get a driver from an Egg Farm to come and deliver fresh eggs to the ladies in the Area Office. The eggs are in flats of 30 and have not been washed. I consider that good as there is a natural protection that washes off. I wash my eggs when I'm going to use them.

Our eggs arrived at 5:30 am. last Friday morning. It was nice that I was up and aware. We never know when the eggs will arrive. Sometimes on Thursdays early to late and sometimes on Fridays early to late. Sometimes they come in a car, sometimes in a tax, and once on the back of a motorbike. I have found the eggs to be better than the ones in the grocery store. Probably because they have not sat around for long.

I have began to be the facilitator of the egg orders as I pay with mobile money (Sendwave) so that the delivery person doesn't have to connect with me to get paid when he drops off the flats. If I'm not there, he will leave them at the front desk or with the security guards.  Since I am paying for mine, it is just as easy to pay for someone else. Some of the ladies were getting frustrated because they can't be at the Area office when the delivery man actually arrives. So last week my order was for three flats which came at 5:30 in the morning, and this week I have eight flats arriving for different sisters. Very nice service.

Wisdom Anani, the Artist

 

Wisdom came with a set of napkin holders. I am so happy. 

Comfort is making food again!

 I am sitting here just writing and looking up to watch Comfort in my kitchen cooking red-red, she started out making a pineapple orange drink (which is going to be so nice!) Red-red is some kind of bean and rice that is very famous here. Luckily she made the regular strength for all who are coming and the little pepper for Jeffrey and I. That is so nice of her to cater to both kinds of heat. 

Now Baaba is sewing up buttons on a dress and shirt. We are discussing what kind of goals we need as a Relief Society presidency to take to the stake meeting about our aims to get sisters to be closer to God.

It has been a nice afternoon all doing our own thing - together.

straining the pineapple 

Erica came at the last. We all enjoyed Comfort's red-red with fried plantains and some jollof rice.

Nothing like sitting next to a Celebrity

 Sister Doan had told us that she would show us some quick tricks for quilting if we wanted to stay after Sister Scripture Study. It was awesome and I should have taken pictures as I was sitting right next to her. But I can remember as it was so easy. 

Two contrasting squares sewn together, cut diagonally both ways. You will have four quarters of your square which you iron and pull out into four little squares. Position into a pinwheel and iron again, then cut up the pinwheel 2 inches from the center on four corners and then the fun begins!  There were about five different ways she put those eight quarters. It was awesome. 

I found out she is quite a celebrity in Hamilton, Missouri. Image her being here with us on a mission to Accra. I will have to find out her story and what she is doing here. I wonder if she is here for her husband, her kids sent them, or something she wants to accomplish herself.

Here is the YouTube that tells her story:

Jenny Doan 

So if I come home with a new skill, you will know who I was sitting next to.

Sister Scripture Study

 Every Thursday we have a sister scripture study where each of us take a turn and teach a lesson - usually one of the conference talks of the conference that has just happened. 

Sister Findlay was the teacher today and she told us about a touching part in the October conference when the children were singing. She played it on screen and while we were listening, Sister Doan took my hand and I realized she had the hand of the other lady on her other side, so I took Sister Brox hand who took, Sister Penner's, who took Sister Meredith's hand and around the circle we all went. The song was very touching and wonderful. 

Sister. Findlay had a wonderful lesson and my take aways were being closer, more in-tune, and not forgetting our Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ. There are a few moments sometimes when we all feel something together and we had a moment with the song. (So I took a picture)

Happy Couple

 Today on my way to the Area Office, I ran into a couple outside of the Distribution Center. I had talked with her at the temple yesterday while I was working there. She didn't know the exact date she was going to get married because she needed to get her visa first. She told me about her family and where she fit.

I asked where she had met her fiancé and she said in Cape Coast while he was on his mission. I missed the part where she either said she was a missionary too, or lived there. Obviously she is old enough to have a temple recommend. 

They were so happy this morning and said they would be getting married on the 18th of January in the Washington DC temple. They got her visa approved yesterday! Both are very excited and happy.

Happenings

 I've just come to expect that Tuesdays will be different and unique.

The first of the day was spent in frustration as I tried to make a prototype of bag so the gathering place ladies can  make them from the pattern I would make.

It is not easy to make just the right kind of bag. I used most of my liner material trying to figure out the best way to make a bag in depth, height, so it would stay closed, etc. When I would finish one, I would critique it and find out the many ways to improve and make it better. 

Asante came while I was sewing, and brought me a FanIce. They are sold by the men who push a cart with befrot rolls in the front compartment and usually ice- cream in the back - they toot a horn. I put the ice-cream in the freezer so I could share it with Jeffrey.

Asante came back and picked up my hard shelled coconuts and brought them back all grated up. So nice!

Jeffrey came home so we could walk over to the MTC together. He had an emergency call for a Patriarchal blessing before the missionary left for his mission on Wednesday. We used Elder Lords' office and as usual I am happy to be a witness of the great things the Lord has in store for these young men and women. 

On the way back we were walking past the stake center and ran into Bishop and Sister Addy. He was carrying two ukulele bags and said they were for me. I didn't remember ordering them, but hey I have more grandchildren.  We talked about some of the things she had left at my house that I wanted to use for gifts. Jeffrey paid her for all the things she had made. 

While we were chatting, I realized she was the answer to my prayers! So I asked her to come over to my house and pick up some material to make and design a bag for temple use. Oh my! A professional tailor to make bags. She said she would make a pattern for the gathering place ladies to use. I have assured her there is PLENTY of bags for many people to make as we will never have enough. So many people come from other countries (speaking different languages) and they all come in and go out with the plastic bags their clothing first came in. 

Yes!  Soon we will be able to offer something for them to take their sacred clothes to and from the temple.

Cutting out and sewing prototypes for a temple bag

A gift - we both enjoyed it.

Coconut all grated up, ready for banana bread

Sister Addy left the ukulele bags and brought material back to her home!

No adventure today

 Instead of an adventure Monday, I just asked the guys to take me to a series of shops to get supplies. I wanted most important to get materials for making bags for people to carry their clothes in when they go to the temple. 

We went to Rita's, picked up material for bags, and a new dress, then we went to the shop near Rita's where I picked up necklaces. We started out at the Movenpick pharmacy where I picked up a prescription. I was surprised that it was cheaper here than in the US. They did not take my insurance card and I was a little worried about what it would cost. I guess it is common enough to be readily available. Nice for me!

That night at 5 pm we had the Wilson's over for dinner. They are the new couple that moved into our complex and have taken the Burdick's place as the Area Presidency Secretary. What a delightful and fun couple!  It looks like she wants to go see things. Hopefully she can come on a few of our Monday adventures - probably after they get used to being here.

It was so very delightful to spend time with them and hear their stories and how they got here. They actually were trying to go on a humanitarian mission. Sometime you end up on a mission in a different life than you expected.  Sorry, we were having too much fun to remember a picture.

Serendipitous Sunday

 My Sabbath day was wonderful. Both of us woke up feeling refreshed, we had a thoughtful sacrament meeting and I went to a class where one lady was waiting. It turns out there were only the two of us. We chatted about our families and then we got on a great discussion of how prayers work in our lives. She has been through some great challenges and knows that prayer can change things. I gave her my testimony of how big things and little things can all be answered by prayers. It was a beneficial sharing of testimony and ideas.

Jeffrey and I went to the MTC where he gave some Patriarchal Blessings. Both of us were moved and awed by the blessings that God has in store for the future of these young men and women. 

We then went over to the Danso home as we had been invited for a late lunch. She is from Samoa and he is from Ghana. Her family moved to Hawaii and then she lived in Utah. He was inspired by his father to work very hard so he could go to school and step out of poverty. Brother Danso went to BYU and started his own business after working for the Church for a few years.  He has a firm testimony of how entrepreneurial businesses can be made by students who learn specific skills. He mentioned how the Ghanaian government sends people to Canada to learn to be welders to work on government projects. The Canadian reputation for skilled workers is very high. Those men will always have good jobs.

Jeffrey grilled him on how Pathways is and is not viable at the moment and what it would take to make it great. Jeffrey was inspired and uplifted and hopes the information he learned will be useful and helpful in the future.

It was really a very good day. In contrast to the anxiety and frustration of Saturday. I think Sunday looked so much better because of the angst of Saturday. 

We see these ladies in the MTC lobby almost every Sunday

Fun with the Seniors

 Leaving the pool party early, Jeffrey and I went out to pick up the Manwarrings and meet the other senior missionaries at Moka's. Rebecca Manwarring is very good at setting up Saturday nights with other couples and Kipp Manwarring is always on the lookout for good places to go. 

One of my favorite things to get is a drink that is rainbow colored. It has avocado, strawberry, mango, and now they have included a raspberry top. Delicious and almost a meal in itself. I usually just order an appetizer to go with it. 

We had a very good time talking and getting to know the new couple and then walked down the street to a cheesecake shop that Kipp had discovered. Several of the couples bought dessert to bring home.

It was a beautiful evening and very nice for sharing stories.

When we got back the last of the pool party participants were leaving. Baaba came up to our place and hemmed up some temple pants for some very important people coming from Utah. They were scheduled to go to the temple on their trip to Accra and preparations were made to have clothes ready for them. Baaba was the one getting them ready.

Baaba is a very dedicated and generous lady.

Pool Party

 For our November activity in Relief Society, we decided to have a pool party. I knew in advance that I had a commitment at 4 pm, so I planned to do the set up, Comfort would organize the food, Baaba would be in charge of clean-up, and Erica would advertise the party. 

Three weeks in advance, I got permissions, told the security guards, asked Lawrence who does maintenance what I was needed i.e. chairs, tables, pool noodles -  to have a pool party for the Relief Society. I got assurances from different people that is was okay.

When I came out at a quarter to 2 pm, nothing was set up. When I called Lawrence there was no answer. When I asked the current security guard, he had no notifications of any pool party - but he did unlock the door where the noodles, rings, extra chairs, and lounge chair covers were. On Thursday, I had gotten a snippy passive agressive note from a missionary (that I have obviously offended) about the noise, and new directions from the Area Presidency's wife on what could and could not happen. I was feeling a little unsettled about this party.

I previously saw the tables down a stairwell on my way in and out the side door of our apartment, so I and another lady hauled the table over to the pool, she then went over and hauled the other table by herself. She is about 5 feet 4 inches and skinny! She put that table on her head and brought it right over - I sure wish I could give you a picture of that! Meanwhile, I was hauling chairs out of the store room and bringing the noodles and rings to the pool. As you can tell we didn't need maintenance to set up. 

It turned out to be a good party! The guests dribbled in slowly and the four children who came early were in the pool immediately. About an hour later we had a nice group of ladies chatting and laughing - but no music per the request of the AP's wife. Some of the ladies were posing and taking pictures, some chatting at poolside, and a few were in the pool enjoying the water. There was plenty of food, water and some drinks. Only one lady I could see was swimming the butterfly stroke. Everyone else floated around. 

Sure wish I got the picture three seconds earlier. This tiny 5 foot three or four inches woman, carrying a table longer than she is tall, on her head, then swinging it down to set up!

I left early and later Baaba said it was very difficult to get everyone out of the pool. They all had a really good time. When Jeffrey and I got back at about a quarter to six, the last three ladies were headed to the gate.  Baaba had asked to do some sewing on my machine for some guests from Utah who are coming to Accra - after the pool party was over. She hadn't even started and we got home before she came. I laughed at her description of everyone eating and then jumping back into the pool while she is trying to say the party is over. Good times.