Sitting in a car waiting for others to come back, I noticed a sign across the street. I had to ask Eugene how it is pronounced and asked whether it was male or female.
He said, "Ne-f-e" and it could be male or female. Very interesting that this name is still in existence from 600 b.c. Though we say it Nee-f-i and think of it as male and know the name as a prophet of God.
What fun it is to see the other ALC wives living in or near Africa in Morocco! Gayla Allen lived in the Clayton 1 Ward with two little boys and then moved away a long time ago. It has been nice to catch up on her life and doings. Marie Stanford, I met in London where we connected on a bus going to a tour. She grew up in France until she moved to Canada when she was twelve. She seems to adapt and find a good place wherever she goes. We all met Merri Gilespie who is serving in Abu Dhabi opening up the new Area. What an adventure she is having! Getting staff, getting new apartments and having the help of one senior couple to help run and organize. The seventy who is president lives in Utah, but the two counselors live in Abu Dhabi. Lots of phun!
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| Linda Ann, Gayla, Marie, and Merri |
We skipped out of the last day of classes and took a train to Marrakech and a famous shopping place, Jemaa El-Fnaa Square. I am pretty sure I've seen this place in a movie somewhere.
We rode coach going to Marrakech and Merri bought first class tickets back to Ben Guerir. It was a shared paying as none of us had coins or the right Dirham bills. So we paid for each other during the day and Merri figured it all out when we got back.
I was the one to fall into the first tourist trap. Cobras dancing to the music. But really I think they only care about the hat coming their way and had no interest in the music played for the tourist.
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| The salesman [though I only paid him 30 dirham as I knew he wouldn't have change for my 200 bill] |
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| The owner stands in the center and dishes out what is wanted from there with little scoops and bags. |
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| As I didn't come to buy, I was happy I didn't buy lots of materials - good thing my suitcase was a carryon and didn't have any room to spare. |
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| Looking over the balcony |
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| For a few more dollars, there is a lot more comfort |
Merrie sent a picture after going back home of her poufs filled and set out. Gayla sent the advertisement of the poufs cost in America. I think both had the feeling they had gotten a good deal - if of course you don't count the cost of the flight to get to Morocco.
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| Looking good - they cost a little over $30 each |
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2025/04/57nelson?lang=eng
You can listen to President Nelson's Conference address, "Confidence in the Presence of God" in the above link. I have been thinking about it for a few weeks now.
As you may or may not know, I am a visual and manipulative learner. Jeffrey is an analytic learner, and I know a few auditory learners also. But I am a hands on or "show me through a story" type of student. Words just fly over my head unless I can "see" them. So....President Nelson's talk in conference........
As a preface, Michael is the only one who said, "Whatever", when I asked if I could talk about him on my blog. I got a few adamant no's and some maybe not's from the others. So just because I'm using Michael's story doesn't mean God isn't in the details of my other children.
So Michael's Eagle project story came to mind while studying President Nelson's talk about charity and virtue being vital to approaching God.
First, I obtain an assurance:
I asked if an Eagle project could drop into Michael’s lap as the other two projects we came up with didn’t thrive. Todd Porter said benches were needed at a day care for those waiting to pick up their children.
Second, I was not defensive, critical, or judgmental of those who declared the project was too hard and would take too long for the time allotment. That falls under charity.
Third, while asking for God’s continual help, we didn’t waver through roadblocks and obstacles in doing this project. Virtue is steadfastness, excellency, value, etc. We tried to do the very best we could on this project while negotiating approval (I personally wrote Michael’s project up with the fussy, persnickety woman who gives final approval in mind). Michael built a model out of popsicle sticks. According to Michael’s report, she was amazed and loved the project and write-up. Another of God’s tender mercies.
Keeping the assurance in mind and counting each miracle, we persevered (virtue again) in getting supplies, people, safety measures, and permissions needed. I think God touched a few hearts as some of those who said it couldn’t be done were our greatest strength in completing the project.
President Nelson promised: “We will begin to experience spiritual power that exceeds our greatest hope.” Micheal and I can witness that God does answer our prayers, he will turn hearts toward us. He can make things happen that ‘exceed our greatest hope.’
The last example is on the day Michael and I were trying to get everything lined up for his board of review. We had spent the greater part of the day after school (he got out early that day) making sure we had every bit of paperwork done – meaning we were running around to stores getting safety specifics – so that the director at the scout office would sign off.
The director looked through the papers, found them in order – and then said, “You don’t have your reference letters yet.” He wanted to put signing off to another month. When Michael came out where I was waiting in the car and told me what the man said – I reminded Michael of all the miracles that had happened and told him to go back and show the man the policy in the directions that said we didn’t need the reference letters to get signed off. As Michael went in again, I prayed that the man’s heart would be softened, and permission would be granted. It was.
I know that trying to do the right thing, not getting defensive or judgmental at people, and remaining steadfast with the assurances from God will make miracles happen.
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| Michael and Michael getting their Eagle Scout awards together p.s. I was dismayed to find I hadn't written up this miraculous story in 2011 or 12! Listening to conference.......makes a difference. |
18 May
Jeffrey and I along with the Kyungu's flew to Casablanca in Morocco. It was only the week before that I learned that Casablanca is a city not a nightclub in a famous old movie. I have never seen the movie - maybe someday I will. Anyway, I like the little I saw of the city as we drove out and then back in a few days later.
In the drive through the countryside on our way from Casablanca on the coast to Ben Guerir, I noted that the hills were shades of brown with selected farms and orchards that were green. I will bet Morocco is having a drought. You can see the farms and orchards that have died. It is just like going down hi way 5 in California during the six year drought where wells dried up and farms died. Looks like the same thing going on in that part of Morocco.
The other thing that stood out to me besides the smooth freeway, was the fact that there were no hawkers in the street, shacks lined up to sell, or beggars at the intersections. Most of the buildings were painted. There must not be any snow as all the roofs were flat. I think Morocco is more affluent than Ghana - despite their drought.
We arrived at the DoubleTree Hilton that is on the campus called Mohamed VI Polytechnic University or UM6P - [University Mohamed VI Polytechnic] and has quite a cool history and purpose. You can read about it here.
After checking in we found the conference at a domed building on the campus just a little ways away. I found out later that the campus is HUGE! The Kyungu's were already there so we went to sit with Luci Kyungu as Elder Kyungu was one of the keynote speakers.
He was the very best of the group. One man spoke in Arabic with a translator brought in during his speech who wasn't prepared. Another lady joined in at the last minute and went on too long. In fact I was a little disappointed in the Conference this year as the technology and organization were not as good as past conferences. New people in charge dealing the learning curve I guess.
It was really great to run into old friends!
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| We meet every year and I waited till he was in full garb before getting a picture! |
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| Lloyd and Gayla Allen listening while Brent Belnap is taking pictures |
It is fun to see friends and I loved taking pictures of Brent taking pictures. He is usually behind the camera. We met up with the Allens and the Stratford's and then met Merri (sorry, can't remember her last name) and her husband who are the brand new ALC's in Abu Dhabi.
They are setting up the Area offices and finding apartments, beds, etc. for the new missionaries coming to help them. They do not have office staff like travel, ICS, family history, auditors, real estate, humanitarian, etc. either. It is all being set up now.
I enjoyed meeting and greeting and getting to know other people too. It was a good conference - mostly.
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| Amberlee at Dumevi's home for dinner prep |
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| Dumevi and his daughter with Amberlee at dinner |
24 May
Asante bought some eggs for Amberlee to try. Sister Braunberger and I decided not to. I have already "enjoyed" an egg with pepper sauce. Asante ate his in one bite. I think Amberlee thought that was the way you are supposed to eat them.
The lady with the eggs, peeled them, slit them open a little and put red sauce inside then handed them through the window.
We all had a good time Saturday morning
24 May
Asante was walking around the compound and stopped to talk with Amberlee, our new intern for OGC. He expressed his concern that she wasn't seeing much of Ghana besides the compound. So we decided to go on Saturday and let him show her around a bit.
On Friday while shopping, I asked Eugene to stop at the basket makers and ask if we could come by and video tape him weaving. The man said yes. So on Saturday that is the first place that we stopped.
Sister Braunberger, Amberlee, I, and Asante went out Saturday for the morning to look and see sights in Ghana.
I Marco Polo-ed the basket weaver and we all asked questions. Asante is the one who found out that the cane used to make the strips for the baskets, chairs, end tables, lamps, etc. is from Cape Coast and is grown only there. The owner was concerned because the cane hadn't arrived. He wants us to come back when the cane arrives. I bought two baskets for 100 cedis, and Amberlee bought a little plate basket for 40 cedis, I told them all that we paid the Oborni price because I had gotten the same baskets for only 40 cedis the last time I bought baskets and Amberlee's was way overpriced. I told Asante he hadn't negotiated. He laughed. Oh well, it's the white tax.
We stopped at the Italian Embassy turn off to pick up fresh produce. I told Amberlee she needed to take a picture as this was one of the most beautiful displays of produce and makes a good title page to any show and tell she begins about her adventures.
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| Lots of senior missionaries buy from here |
We took pictures of the president's Jubilee house in the shape of a stool on our way to historic Jamestown.
I started telling Amberlee about the stool and its significance to Ghana and politics and asked Asante to tell what he knew. He referred to me and said I was doing a good job. Ahhh, I am American.....
You can read here or the bigger story about it here.
Then off we went to historic Jamestown. It has changed so much since the last time I was here in 2021! You can hardly see the old fort and Light house. New installations from the Chinese have covered the old port. In fact the Chinese transferred the people who lived here to another beach. I was just a little shocked at how much had been wiped out. The fishermen come in from the sea to the dock and all of their goods (fish) is taken up the hill between the Chinese buildings past the guards and straight to the market about a mile away. All the Chinese produce (fish) are taken to the buildings on either side behind electric and barb wire fences. Our guide told us the Chinese have hired some Ghanaians. I'm thinking whole families have lost their livelihoods and this port has been commandeered by the Chinese - though our guide never said so.
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| There are school boxing clubs and basketball clubs on what was once the fort |
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| Jamestown lighthouse still exits but much of the rest is gone |
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| Chinese installations cover what was once rubbish, rubble, and a fishing industry |
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| A little of what is left of the old fort and the grounds around it |
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| Going down into what once was the storage sheds where people were kept till they rode off in ships |
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| Last remnants of the old fort |
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| Modern buildings cover the old port |
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| Jamestown lighthouse |
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| Warehouse storage |
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| Part of the fishing fleet |
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| Coming back up |
Then we went to the Black Star Square to look at the Black Star Gate for freedom and justice. Asante couldn't tell us much about that either.
But you can read about it here and here and the symbolism here.
Asante is a great driver - not a tour guide.
