Great Answer to Prayers

 How Prayers are Answered

We got back to Ghana on Wednesday night beyond exhausted. We unpacked and fell in bed. The next morning I woke up chipper and ready to go. I asked God if I could make the most of my morning as I was going to go to the temple to work later in the afternoon. 

I accomplished so much in the few hours I had before Sister Scripture Study and several people texted, so I got even more accomplished than I had planned. I was able to give most of the goods that the missionaries ordered from Amazon. 

Sister Scripture Study was amazing and went right along with my new goal to not waste time. We talked how our focus can change when we know "why" we are fulfilling goals and aims. If we put our love of the Savior in the front of our minds, the goals or "lists" can have a focus that actually accomplishes the reason we put the goal down in the first place.

Unexpected Blessings

Shuana Braunberger made sure I had a lunch as the lunches she ordered didn't arrive in a timely manner for me to attend the temple. She wanted to make sure I had a lunch so she went downstairs with me and bought me lunch. Since my things were all in Jeffrey's office while he had a meeting that was really thoughtful of her. I was able to pay her back when his meeting was over.

I ran to the temple to work on my afternoon shift. I asked God to help me be awake and helpful.

 Attending the preparation meeting I was surprised when I was assigned to be the veil coordinator. It was so nice to have a job that required me to think through something new to me and stay on my feet for a half hour or so at a time. I was awake and aware through the shift. I could feel the drag of sleepiness though I was able to work right through it. Two blessings, one I ate before I left which was helpful for energy rather than relying on the crackers I had with my vitamins in the morning. And two, having a job that required thinking and standing. Isn't God wonderful?!!!

Coming out of the temple I noticed a fellow temple worker was outside painting the cement on the flower borders. I can say I have never thought why the temple looks fresh and clean in a tropical climate that eats away at everything. It only takes a year or so for any paint job to look old. Mildew is very prevalent and chipping and damage from the humidity, rain, and coastal breeze is evident in many buildings here. But not at the temple - which I have always just taken for granted. But now I know.

K'Aby Emuh works in the temple and has a painting company - which he has painted in the temple for refreshing and obviously paints outside the temple also.

Finding new friends

 Eugene took me shopping just before we left for the United States. I wanted to get some food sacks and go to the little Costco before I left. So we went to the market and to Badia Spices. At the market I asked to get a picture of Eugene and the lady who always supplies my food sacks. He calls before we get there and she rounds up all the supplies - nice. I feel like I am acquiring friends every week.

This is her shop

It's complicated

After I met Baaba when we arrived in Accra, I watched her fashion clothes and make them from just measurements. I also watched and heard her frustration in her living arrangements. Some kind of construction next to her building, sent something through her roof to knock down a portion of her ceiling. Despite asking for the landlord to fix it, nothing was done. She had to live with a downed ceiling and then portions of the wiring going out. It became hazardous to live there. In October of last year she was really anxious to get into a new apartment. 

Another complication is that one of her sewing machines had gone down. She couldn't find anyone who can fix it. She comes over to use my simple machine sometimes, and brings her serger so she can go between while making clothes. I have watched her sew up many things without patterns. Only one stand-up ruffled collar gave her many problems. I watched her sew it up and take it out numerous times until she finally had success. But getting out a sustainable production of garments while working in adverse conditions is tricky. So people wait (or go to another person) because she can't always sew up the dress, shirt, pants, etc. that her clients want in a timely manner.

A great day when this collar worked!

She finally found a place and then had to wait 2 more months to move in. And then the electricity didn't work. The landlord paid the electric company for 10 units though he has 13. Getting that worked out was tricky and took a few more weeks. Then the water only comes on a few days a week. She has to be there to fill her barrel when the water is on so she has water when she needs it. Like I said, it's complicated.

The other complications come when she can't get a ride on a trotro on a Sunday morning as one or two don't show up. Another interesting thing is her kitchen is too small to house her oven so it is outside.  Running back and forth is unwieldy. Her deep freeze is in the living room with a lace cover on top. Again, unwieldy, useable, but unwieldy. 

She does love having a bigger place and room for her sewing and other items to use her talents. 

As I get closer to my friends I have found that most of them have different complications. One lady has to go get water as the tap that supplies water to the whole neighborhood is broken. Nobody can fix it as it runs through a leach field that is over-run by more homes than were expected to use it. Hauling the gunk out is complicated by politics and who is responsible for what. Meanwhile it is problematic to clean clothes and wash floors etc. for those that live downside of the broken pipe.  Drinking water has to be bought and brought in.

And then I live in Disneyland where everything is taken care of. Plenty of running water from the taps, electricity that runs everyday, garbage is picked up twice a week, lawns are mowed by someone else, the pool is cleaned weekly, someone washes our car every Tuesday. Comparisons are pretty stark.

The feeling of success!

 Erica came to visit and bring items she had made for my granddaughters. She has an oven at home. She was going to visit her family later that day. Erica asked if I would show her how to make banana bread. I asked her if she wanted muffins or a banana bread loaf. After thinking about it she opted for the muffins so there would be no problems between her siblings - just hand them their share in a muffin.

I had her make the banana dough herself. Her daughter wanted her attention so she gave her a toy and wrapped her on her back while she kept on working. 

You should have seen her face when she brought out the finished product from the oven. After setting it down, she danced around the kitchen. She triggered a memory of when I was ten and successfully baked some bread my family enjoyed. The satisfaction of a job well done. I am hoping the same success will happen in her own kitchen. 

Erica is talented in many ways. I appreciate her for making clips and bows for the granddaughters. She is dedicated in all the details to make something beautiful.

Carefully placing each brilliant on the bow.

packaging with little details

When she was done, she was just as excited to have created her items. It is fun to be around a happy, creative person.