Nothing broke

 Everyone carries things for me - even my bags. I am getting familiar with this custom though it still feels irregular. When the eggs FINALLY came on Monday, I went out to the taxi to give the man his egg crates and pick up the four dozen eggs I'd ordered for the senior missionaries.

Juliet came by and insisted she would carry them in. My heart went up to my throat when she put them on her head. Even the taxi driver looked dismayed (so it wasn't just me). And she carried them gracefully into the area office to the cafeteria. Ah, so far so good.

Wisdom the Artist

 I love Wisdom's work and the care he takes. He brought my napkin rings on Saturday. He did a very nice job on them -- as usual. We talked about Mrs. Magleby's school kids and I told him to make 30 pieces for her by July. Probably little elephants. I wonder if she is still teaching? Even if she is doing something else, I'm sure she can find homes for 30 tiny elephants. He does great work.

Me? I just handle these napkin rings. I love the feel and shapes.

Where did everyone come from?

 On Saturday nights, Jeffrey has a meeting for missionaries to talk about scriptures and questions they have. My job is to have refreshments and water available. I hang out in the back room doing my thing. 

Last Saturday night I walked out when I thought the meeting was over  --  to a room full of people. There was an older lady from the ward - not a missionary, two young men who may go on missions but not missionaries, four real missionaries, and Elder Morrison. I was very surprised.  I realized I had not laid out enough banana muffins for all, so I brought out another loaf of banana bread and cut it up. Meanwhile Wisdom came over to bring me a set of napkin rings so I gave him a slice also.  I couldn't help wondering why all these people had come...........to a meeting for missionaries......uhmmm

Encouragement for goals

 

Comfort, Stella, Patricia, and Gifty

The Early Birds who came for exercise on Saturday Morning

We have a delightful set of sisters who encourage and help each other with their goals. One is exercise. We walked three times around the temple complex and then went up to the gym to have aerobics. Our teacher didn't show up so we all did our own thing to the music. We added a few more ladies as we went along. Fun!

After the walk, ready for round two

Ines took the selfie for the aerobics

Patricia, Peggy, and Comfort

Nona's House

 Yesterday Jeffrey flew off in the morning to go to meetings in Nigeria. I invited Baaba to stay the night instead of going all the way back to her apartment. The inducement was a real bed to sleep in. Baaba is only a few years older than my daughter and could easily be the age of a child of mine. She made herself at home and knew where to get what she needed. Since she came late at night, she looked through the fridge and got her own dinner. This morning she made her own breakfast and then lunch as I went to the pool this morning and was shopping in the late morning. 

Baaba made me a new dress. 

Bobby came to clean the apartment and was happy to have the banku and okra stew that had been frozen for him. 

Yesterday, Asante and Lawrence came to visit. They wanted to know if there was anything I needed done. I asked about the sticky shower door and wanted hot water in that shower also. Lawrence looked around and found the water heater hadn't been turned back on in the electric box - despite the on/off switch being turned on, on the wall. He unstuck the shower door. Two down, one to go. I asked him to check on the TV and see why only BYU TV was the only channel. 

Lawrence set the TV remote up so it would click directly on to the sports channels (which is really what Jeffrey was looking for.) Nice. Just like my kids at home can do.

Asante wandered around and asked if I had something he could eat. I had my elbows in a project and nodded with my head to the freezer and he found Jollof rice package from Comfort. I told him about the cooked chicken in the other freezer. He was happy, happy and took some plantain muffins for he and Lawrence. He got his own "rubber" from behind the door as he knew where they were. In Ghana a rubber is a plastic bag.

Lawrence makes it all work

Score! for Asante

Today they were back again. The wanted the Jollof rice and chicken and took the last of the muffins (dropping some off to Sister Kaku's apartment). It feels like my house back home with kids who need and want things that I can give. 

While they were still here,  Comfort arrived. I told her that her meals were all going swiftly and that everyone loves them. I gave her some cedis to make more meals.

Luckily Comfort brought bananas. She brought them for the sisters who are meeting for an exercise time at the church tomorrow morning so I can make banana bread.  Now Bobby, Asante, and Lawrence would like some banana bread. Comfort would like to give some away too. 

Imagine that - I'm making banana bread again. I'm loving life!

It's grand central station with people - and I love it, in a few hours they will all be gone and it will be peaceful and calm and Jeffrey can come home to a clean house with groceries in the fridge.

Ah life is good.

The Tie - part two

 I am getting all the elements together to present a recognition of service to Brent Belnap. Back in October I thought that Brent would be coming to the ALC cluster meeting we are having next week in Kenya. But it looks like he won't be there for that meeting. Regardless, I am still moving forward in having it all put together. 

The Tie, a poem, an African made box, and hopefully an audience. Wisdom finished a box with symbols on the sides, a rod to drape the tie over and a plastic lid to keep it all together. When I asked my sister Laura to write a poem, she sent back exactly the feeling I had been looking for. I think she is very intuitive and understands more than I could explain. Of course I have had The Tie since Brent left Ghana in July of 2021. I was hoping for the audience to be other ALC's, but maybe Lee Wright could give it to him with his peers in Salt Lake City. The only element I have left...I am hoping that Bishop Addy can fashion a small title on the top of the box, "The Tie". 

Covid Artifact

In an empty office, cold and wide,

Brent wore his tie with quiet pride.

The world was distant, far away,

As chaos spread, both night and day. 

He helped them all, the missionaries dear,

Guiding them home through doubt and fear.

On planes they flew, across the sky, 

While Brent remained, though questions high.

The world was lost in fear and strife,

As boarders closed and changed each life.

The halls were still, the floor was bare, 

Yet he stood firm, with quiet care.

A tie, a symbol of his grace,

For duty, for others, in this strange space .

No eyes to see, no praise to earn.

Just him, the tie, as the world would turn.

A tie, a symbol, strong and true,

He kept steady when all withdrew.

A simple tie, a humble thread,

That he kept wearing, when all had fled

By Laura Tesch after hearing the story from Linda Ann Adams

Edward Walker comes with his friend

 I knew I should have written it down - but now the memory is gone.....

Old age, I really don't recommend it. Anyway, Walker came over a few days ago and brought his girlfriend over. She is so very sweet and nice. I did know her name and I hope it jumps back into my memory. We enjoyed talking with them and getting to know her.  Comfort made jollof rice that morning and had also cut up mango. It was a nice dinner and the conversation was wonderful

I am so happy to have lasting friendships. Walker has been an important part of our whole Ghana experience and it is great to watch him growing close to his beautiful girl. 

The things you learn....

 It was a very slow day in the temple today. There were not many visitors and the groups from Benin and Liberia had done most of their work in the morning.

So I was prowling around looking for something interesting to do -- the good workers waiting were reading their scriptures, but I wasn't.  When I got to the recorders office, Baaba looked like she had a few piles of files in some stacks doing something and I thought, "Why not?" I asked her how I could help.

Did you know that all the cards used in the temple are one - recorded and accounted for - and two -- they are washed and disinfected?  I was going through each set of cards in each folder and washing and disinfecting them. I didn't get through the whole drawer before my hour was up. I told her I'd do that again sometime with her. Interesting. There are so many little things that make up a good working place.

Since I'm here I'll have to tell you the story of the morning. I met with Sister Sackley outside of the temple to talk about menu ideas for a dinner in February at the Area President's home. Since she was going through a session, I came early. After our discussion I went inside and got ready for work. I was a whole hour early!!!! So I went walkabout to find something to do before my preparation meeting.

I ran into a little group. Elder Desshler was waiting to talk to a gentleman talking with the recorder, so I told him I would wait and get the information from the gentleman as Elder Desshler needed to go somewhere else right then. I waited around while the. man got his things recorded and then Catherine in the office asked if I would show him over to the Baptistry to help him out.

When we got there he asked Elder Hobdy (who seemed to be the baptism recorder), if the gentleman could get on the schedule? He said they were just done and the next session wouldn't start until about 3:30 pm. The man was disappointed. 

Sister Hobdy came over and knew his whole story already. She said she would help him and they arranged for a young missionary to do the baptism. As I sat down with the gentleman in the witness chairs, I learned that he was getting the baptism done for his late wife. That is when I recognized the wonderful service that Sister Hobdy was doing! She was going out of her way (and getting completely wet in the process) to do this service for him. I am not sure if he had two names, but one elder and then Sister Hobdy got baptized. After his wife's name was checked off, I went into the confirmation room and was confirmed for her. We went back to the recorders office to get the name scanned and stamped (proof work was done), and then I took her name over to the next room and did the initiatory work. Back to the recorders office to get it scanned and stamped. With permission, I left her name to have the endowment done by the next sister who came in. Then I started my shift. Nice.

Baaba has a new hair-do that I tried to show. It looks fun and good on her.

Rub Shoulders with Famous Friends

 Today when Jeffrey and I came out of the  room where he gave patriarchal blessings, we ran into Elder and Sister Ahadjie. They are both famous for sticking up for the church in the early days when there was a freeze on all of our churches in Ghana. 

They were so nice to let me have a picture with them in the MTC lobby. I am not sure if I would have ever known about the importance of their early lives if it hadn't been for Debbie sending a link to her podcast and asking if we would see or meet them when we came to Accra.

Yes, she was two door down on the third floor and head of the Communications department. It has been nice to see and talk with her once in a while. Today I met her husband for the first time. From others I heard the stories and he is just as important and famous. People name their kids after them.

Success for RS Activity

 We enjoyed a very successful activity for Relief Society in three parts. 

1. Exercise

2. Breakfast

3. Church cleaning

Exercise:

We met with six ladies and started out with a chat about health and the importance of exercise and how it will help when you are old (there is nothing like being the oldest one there) and after stretching out we walked three time around the temple block. By the time we got back to the church we were adding to our number and the next part was aerobic exercise that was part line dance - Fun, fun!

Ladies and two children who started out with a brisk walk

Line dancing around the gym

The only reason I have pictures is because these powerhouse women ran me into the ground. I was too tired to move (but not to take pictures). 

Breakfast:

We had porridge, brown rolls and Kose, and since the Bishop's wife wanted banana bread, Comfort brought me bananas so I could make some. We had lots of water.

So when I saw the porridge, I worried that we didn't have enough cups.....Didn't need them.

Gifty showed me that they just drink it like they do the little water bags. 

The brown rolls and kose were really cool. 

The "brown" came because whole wheat flour was added to the roll dough - nothing different from California. But the Kose is made out of beans and then they fry little balls. The ladies put the Kose in between their bread and ate it as a filling. It was actually very tasty. I wonder if people eat Kose plain?

I asked Baaba and she said yes.

Brown roll with Kose

I had to split it open to see what was inside

Kose is made from beans (white with the black dot) In America we call them black-eyed peas. Some people dry them out make a powder and then whip them up lite. Some are cooked and then mashed and whipped up lite. Either kind has seasons added and is dropped into hot oil and the ball is fried. Very tasty.

Church Cleaning

It is nice to have help and someone to talk to when there is a dirty job to do. Good day.

She got help from friends

Hanging around perfectionism

 Baaba is making me a dress from some red material that I fell in love with. I got talking about some other dresses that I had made the last time I was here and why I don't wear them. Baaba said, "I can fix that."

So she took of the sleeves and made another two and they look great. But when I tried on the dress (and approved of the sleeves) she said, this doesn't fit right. During the course of the evening she took apart ever seam and dart along with the zipper and then found the hem wasn't straight either. I don't think there was one seam she didn't redo. I have an entirely new dress that fits me much better. I can get out of it on my own. 

Can't wait to wear both of my new dresses! I am just waiting on the button holes for the red dress as Baaba's machine for button holes is on the fritz. She has three machines and dreams about another one she saw that is fast and industrial. She is taking the red dress home to Cape Coast where her family lives and will finish it up while she is on vacation. 

Above and Beyond

 I have noticed a big difference in how people clean. One lady who begged me to let her clean my house was not chosen as I watched her at church cleaning the chapel. She would swish the broom around looking busy, but never had a pile of dust to pick up. 

On the other hand, Bobby has always been a perfectionist and wants every job to sparkle. Comfort and Baaba for different reasons were planning to come before Bobby was done. I told him to clear the kitchen first as it would be in use before he left. He did and when Comfort came she had a new clean kitchen to use. But.....Bobby always does the floors last and has all the floors mopped when he leaves. He didn't disturb Comfort in her cooking but hadn't mopped that floor. I told him it was fine.

At 1:30 pm he started to change out of his work clothes to his normal clothes, but noticed that Comfort was leaving. She had decided to go get bananas so I could bring banana bread to the Relief Society event the next day. Bobby immediately changed back to his work clothes and went in to vacuum and mop the kitchen before she came back. He left at 2 pm knowing he had finished everything in the apartment. 

I really enjoy and savor being around a perfectionist who wants the job done right.

Going above and beyond expectations - brought up water for the week AND cleaned the tops of the bottles so they would be ready to load.

Is this AI generated picture?

 Scrolling through Facebook, I found a great picture I wanted to send to my grandson and then tell him about it. Though looking at the picture touched my skepticism. 

This is the blurb that went with the photo:

“This fish [Congo Tiger Fish] is only found in the central part of the Congo river system, which is a place where nobody really goes from the outside world, so most people don’t know about it. This giant predator is one of the largest of the order of characids, which also include tetras, and piranhas. They are thought to be one of, if not the most dangerous freshwater fish in the world.

The teeth on this one are an inch long, which is about the same size as the teeth on a 1,000-pound great white shark.

They have a double hinged jaw.

This means they are able to open their jaws a lot wider than other fish, and as a result its teeth point further forward when it strikes prey, allowing it to take chunks from their flesh.

They have been reported to attack crocodiles, and humans.

Photo: Jeremy Wade with a goliath tigerfish. Image Credit: DCL | Discovery.”

When I looked up Wikipedia, Jeremy Wade's name is mentioned there and the fish is called Hydrocynus goliath.  You can read the article here.  It sounds like an amazing fish and has only been found in the Congo - cool! 

But even the pictures in Wikipedia doesn't show this mouth open gape with teeth showing like the fish had been taxidermied and then put into a picture with Jeremy Wade and maybe a river added too.

Having taken fish (though a thousand times smaller) out of the river and lake - they never looked like they were going to lunge and bite with mouth agape.   

I have to tell you the picture worked. I stopped, read about it and learned about a new fish I'd never heard or seen before. I am not a sports fisherman and will probably never get close to one of these in my life. Still it is interesting. Another tidbit from Africa.

 

How Creating Works

 I asked Baaba to sew up a dress in a beautiful red that caught my eye. Actually Comfort wore a new dress to church and I told her I loved the fabric - so she got me some. Now Baaba is asking what I want and I have a vague idea like straight down, maybe a small puff sleeve, blue solid on the top, and then I told her the things I don't want. Namely skin-tight bodices and arms like the fifties style. Good looking but claustrophobic trying to get out of. 

Baaba began to create as she goes along. No patterns, no directions, just measurements and an idea of what I want. She sometimes draws things out on the material and then goes from there. It is amazing how she works.

Monday is Adventure Day

 I like to schedule our adventures and going out to see new and old favorite things on Mondays. Sister Manwaring is going to be leaving in March and wanted to visit Abri one more time.  Sister Braunberger had never gone to Abri. So I scheduled with Eugene on our way back from the grocery store to go on Monday morning at 9 am.  I have actually already gone with Sue, just a few months ago, but the OGC ladies wanted to go. 

Well, Baaba has come over quite a bit lately to finish up some projects and have a place to hang while she is waiting to get into her new place that the construction will be done on next Saturday.  When I got talking about the trip on Monday, she mentioned some really wonderful experiences she had there. It is like a sacred grove to her. 

Of. course I invited her to go along with us. BUT, I didn't know if Dumevi was going to come or not. He has always gone on our adventures, sometimes planning them out. I decided to use my Sunday evening excuse of needing to stay near a bathroom if Dumevi came on Monday morning. 

He did, so I bowed out after making sure everyone had what they needed. Like my car and gas for instance.  They seem to have had a lot of fun, so I am guessing it was worth it.  Of course, now everyone keeps asking if I am okay. I'm doing great!

Caught Baaba eating a Bofrot roll that Dumevi brought over

Good times......

Peaceful Sunday morning

 I feel so thankful for Jeffrey and the fact that the Lord lead me to him and that we have been able to make a beautiful life together. I am especially grateful for his dedication to the scriptures to study them (feasting) to make sure he understands. He has brought some really significant things to my understanding and life that are enabling to the reasons it is needful and important to live a very good life dedicated to the Lord. It is important where my goals are in this life and the next. I make conscious and unconscious decisions based on those goals.

Jeffrey is also wonderful and good to me. He enables me to do so many things that I want and desire to do. He is kind, generous, and very loving. My life is so rich and full because of him. We are waiting a little bit to go to the MTC so he can convey a couple of blessings.  Life with Jeffrey has been a really good forty years in the making!

Saturday starts well

 I started Saturday out right exercising in the pool at 7. Just as I was getting out, the Wilson's came to go swimming with me. I turned around and we had a nice half hour of exercise and talking. I asked to tag along when they mentioned they were going to the Butterfly Market.

It is a very nice market held in gardens which I presume will have lots of butterflies at certain times. Saturday it was filled with booths under canvas pushups. All kinds of treasures and items to buy. Sister Wilson found some silk that was within her price range then debated and debated until we talked her into a lovely piece that came with a piece of chiffon of they same pattern so she could make a dress, skirt, or maybe a soft jacket.  She will decide later.  

I bought an apron from Bernice's shop and we made arrangements to visit her with the Wilson's on Monday. woooo, ahhhh, I just remembered that Sisters Manwaring and Braunberger are going with me to Abri......I'll have to make sure we do everything at different times. I was looking for a basket to keep at the Kaku's doorstop so I can put bread and other goodies I make for them.  I also ran across some material that looked familiar and asked if this was from Esther's shop. "Yes", the young man replied. I had to stop and get about 5 or six yards of different colors. I am going to start my African Queen Quilt and maybe a few others since I will be getting acquainted with Sister Doan. 

A lovely morning though when we left I had sweat dripping down my back and front. I made banana bread after Juliet called and reminded me I said I would make some for the people cleaning the chapel. Then I came home and made some more for the missionaries who came at 7 pm. Jeffrey got an extra two young men who had been cleaning the chapel that I told about the missionary scripture discussion. It was a good day all around.

I love Relief Society Days

 Last Thursday, the ladies came at different hours and times to my house. Comfort came first and made some jollof rice and cabbage stew. Jollof rice for Ghanaians that I froze to use when friends come. She also made jollof rice with no peppers and Cabbage stew with no peppers for Jeffrey and I - Delicious!!

A little later in the afternoon while Comfort was still in the kitchen, Baaba came and finished a few things she was making. The cool one was a pleated dress and then she put together a pleated skirt. Lots of ironing in the pleats before they are sewn. 

I love this sense of industry before we sit down to discuss what is needed in our Relief Society, and what we feel will be of benefit and blessing to the sisters. I sure hope we get it right!