Somebody in Heaven Loves Me

 This is the second morning Jeffrey and I walked to the Area Office. It was nice that it was overcast and a little cooler than normal but I still was dripping with sweat when I arrived. No worries, I brought a dress and some sandals to change into. 

Today was the third annual Strengthening The Family conference held at the Christiansborg Stake Center next to the Accra Temple. We were asked to be ushers, greeters and to help move people where they needed to go. I had a great time greeting all who came - chiefs, men surrounded by policemen, ladies in African dress and media personnel along with members of the stakes and some others who were interested. 

Kenneth Andy Agbe-Carbonu was playing a keyboard with back-up instrumentation and singing hello to everyone. It was a very dance-able music that just made you want to tap your toes and had a few of us stepping out to the beat.  He played "Love At Home" a few times and ad-libbed songs to say things to and about the people coming in and good things about families. Several times I would hear Sister Adams good morning in his song patter. I had to get a picture with him.

Upstairs and downstairs and around the building I went. But it was greeting people at the front door that was the best, but also the hottest. My nicely curled hair was straight about a half hour in. My feet were done about an hour and a half in.

This was Communications baby and Emelia Ahadjie and Elder and Sister Parry were directing traffic and taking care of all the little details. I thought it looked and felt very successful. The halls were lined with different "booths" or tables with Pathways, Young Single Adult materials, Family History booklets and genealogy pages as well as making stories, there was a Self-Reliance section about a number of things like job enterprises and also Child and Youth development pamphlets and brochures. A really cool section was all about Gathering Places and what educationally is available in small locations all around West Africa. Lots and lots of reasons why the family and it's development and structure are important to society.

When my job was done, I slipped back over to the opposite side of the compound to the cold Area office. But when I sat down I was too tired. Luckily Jeffrey was tired too and willing to work from home. I asked the Lord if we could find a ride home as we walked down the stairs. Going out of the office I didn't see anyone I knew by their cars, walking down Independence Avenue the cars were going too fast and in the wrong way. One taxi honked but I think it was at another car. As we turned left around the corner, the Despains happened to be turning right off of Independence Avenue onto the same street. 

Elder Despain rolled down his window and asked if we wanted a ride. I told him he was an answer to prayer though he was more worried about what was in his back seat.

I told Jeffrey as we got off the elevator on the second floor while the Despains went on to the fifth floor that the Lord answered my prayer. He asked if I had really prayed about getting a ride. I reply, "Yes, I did, and it just goes to show that somebody in Heaven loves me."

Father's Day

 Lots of things "I meant to do", one was to call my sons and tell them how proud of them I am for the choices and decisions they are making. 

One I did get done with the help of Samuel and his brother Charles. I sent them off to do shopping (note I did not go myself) and they went to a Mall somewhere in Accra and bought a briefcase and a backpack for Jeffrey. I did feel bad when they got caught in traffic on the way home and spent two hours getting back.

Jeffrey really enjoys the presents! I think the world of him and it sure has been fun having him around this week.

A Week of Protection and Blessings

A week ago Sunday, I knew I had been watched over and protected in the car accident. On Wednesday, Jeffrey was protected by police in a car cavalcade going to an appointment, and then on Friday he was about 50 yards away from a huge explosion in Nigeria while at his hotel. The tank truck blew up instead of sideways. On Saturday he found one of his colleagues he was traveling with tested positive for Covid. Jeffrey has still tested negative in subsequence tests. Blessing and protection seem to be following us for which we give the Lord our deepest thanks.

"Do You Want to Go Out For Gelato?"

 It is awesome to have friends who think about me when they know I am alone on Friday night!!!

The Despains called and asked me to go get gelato with them tonight. I couldn't resist trying the Sobolo sherbet and the passion fruit sherbet. They didn't mix well, but were great separately. I love going anywhere with the Despains! Don was making faces and playing with the little girl in front of our table. Anything he would do she would mimic. He was making all kinds of faces and hand movements. He danced with Sherri right outside the door to the music coming from the Lounge across the street. Life is good with friends.

Out with Friends

 In between his trips, Jeffrey was able to go out to dinner with the Despains and the Munks to the Capitol Cafe and Restaurant. The Munks had only been here for a few days so it was lots of fun getting to know them. 

New place for Jeffrey and I to try

JoAnn Munk, Sherri Despain with Don Despain talking

Brother Despain and Brother Munk chatting away

My true love, Jeffrey

The meals were beautifully prepared and we all enjoyed ourselves!

 

Anticipated gift on Monday

 When Anita had a shower last week, Juliet made a watermelon/mango drink to bring for the guests. Rebecca from the Area Office was there and told Juliet the next day that she appreciated the drink. Juliet told me about it and wondered if it would be possible to make up some more for her. I thought it would be a great idea to bring in juice drinks for all the ladies at the office. Of course I have no idea how many there are, but we decided to give out juice drinks to some of them that we know.

Juliet went shopping for fruit and some bottles to put it in, then came back to my apartment where we had fun making the juice bottles today. I put them in the freezer so that when we bring them on Monday they will be fresh. We didn't bring them in today as many choose to work from home on Fridays.

Sobolo

Dried flowers (a variety of hibiscus)

Pineapple

Ginger

Sugar (put in hot water to dissolve)

The dried flowers and pineapple rinds are set to boil and then seep for a bit for flavor

Juliet cut up all the pineapple and we blended it core and all

The ginger was soaked in water for awhile and then cut up and blended

After the flowers are seeped for awhile, the mixture is put through a strainer to collect all the pulp and seeds and the pineapple rind.

The ground up ginger is pushed through the strainer with some sugar in hot water. The pineapple is blended and pushed through the strainer with a little filtered water also. Then all three are mixed together, tasted, and filtered water is added when needed. Juliet thought maybe some would not want ginger in the sobolo so we set aside two bottles without ginger.

When I tasted a little of the finished product I couldn't help thinking that I knew that flavor. I had never heard of Sobolo and couldn't understand Juliet when she explained about the dried flowers. I had to laugh when I looked it up on google and found it was a hibiscus drink. I had been drinking hibiscus tea the few months before I left for Africa. I hadn't had it with pineapple or ginger before.

This article refers to it as a native drink from Ghana.

Watermelon/Mango drink

This drink is exactly what it says, Watermelon rind is cut off, chopped, blended and strained. The mango is cut up and blended. Both are mixed together and filtered water is added. Chill. Drink a yummy drink.

Mango juice

We had some extra mangos so Juliet cut and blended them up, added filtered water. Done!

Three juice drinks ready to go for Monday!

Continuing Aid

 Samuel was very considerate and helpful last Sunday and has asked if there was anything else he could do to be of assistance. I thought about it and since I didn't have a car, I thought I'd let him run an errand of shopping for me. I told him about a briefcase and backpack I wanted to pick up for Jeffrey for Father's Day. He said to send him a picture on WhatsApp and he'd go get them. I did and Charles and Samuel went shopping at some Mall somewhere and sent pictures of what they found. I picked (from a picture) what looked about right and they bought it and brought it back. Accra traffic being Accra traffic they got caught in the nightly traffic gridlock and it took them two extra hours to get back. I was very grateful for their time and assistance.

Waterproof backpack with cord for phone

After they got back and showed me their purchases, they found out I was giving it as a present and asked if I would like it gift wrapped. Yes! They went out and wrapped it up and even brought back plantain chips. Full service!!

Happy Father's Day Jeffrey

Retrospection

 It is only in retrospect that I know I have been blessed and protected and watched over. Running through my mind on Sunday, I was only concerned about how I was going to get the cedis to the two men without the use of their legs at a certain corner. I was the driver and no one was in the passenger seat, so I was thinking about the ins and outs of how to make sure they got their cedis without bottling up traffic. But I only got about 500 yards down the street when the street on my right had a car that wasn't stopping at the corner. I swerved left to the side of my street but it was not enough. There was a sickening crunch and slide as the other car ended up heading behind me.

My car is the one with the door open, the black car is not involved just going around. I am standing next to the "other" car. Everyone appeared ok though I had the shakes. A lady was driving, a little boy and another lady were in the other car.

I can't tell you my dismay in being in a foreign country where different languages are spoken and I don't always recognize the English that is spoken added to the fact I had no idea what I was supposed to do.

Her car was damaged much more badly than mine was.

Though mine car wasn't pretty

Three or four security guards came out from I don't know where and it was apparent that no one was "in charge" after everyone asked if anyone was hurt. I opened my glove box and got the instructions out "What to do if you are in an Accident". I called the name on the list and he told me to take pictures and get the contact information from the other driver. He said something about being in a meeting and would call later. 

When it was apparent that "the man" I called wasn't coming the other driver took her crippled car (something was bent on the tire and it could barely move) and went home.

Looking back I realize that I was helped, aided and blessed in quite a few ways. First I had a calmness that was interesting. Shock? But I was never anxious. If you know me, that is very interesting to have a calmness when I was clueless. Second, one of the security guards was very adamant that I call the police and make a report. He let me know (when I started listening to him) that it was critical that I have a report and make sure I was taken care of. Other security guards backed up his point. So a taxi driver that had been waiting, watching, and witnessing the commotion took me over to the police station and stayed with me the entire time. He would translate at times and told the officer what happened - I guess - it was mostly in a different language. The officer wrote (laboriously by hand) everything in English. one of the security guards named Samuel had given me his number because I had told them I needed to pick my husband up from the airport. He had a brother who drives people around.

After 45 minutes of writing, calls, and talking with the taxi driver the inspector got in the taxi with us and went back to the scene of the accident and called the lady involved telling her to come back. Her car was already in the shop. He spoke very sternly for about 10 minutes on the phone. The security guards, taxi driver and maybe others all spoke to the inspector. I was asked if my car was drivable and I thought it was, so they asked me to drive my car to the police station.

I thought it was very interesting that everyone assumed I was just fine and strong and could do whatever was necessary. They didn't see me flinching at cars coming up. Another blessing, prayer got me where I needed to go.

Another hour at the police station talking and writing calling and where I was asked to write my experience. Both the inspector and taxi driver helped me fix the few things I forgot in my story. The inspector wrote on three different pages and had me sign in different places. He told me that it would be cheaper if I took my car to the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Lisencing Authority) myself on Monday morning as my car was drive-able instead of leaving my car at the station to be inspected later. I thanked him and the taxi driver showed me the way back to my street.

Thinking about how wonderful and nice the security guards were for helping me out, I made cookies and brought them down close to the place of the accident and called as I already had Samuel's number. I told Samuel and Prince that they were my heroes and thanked them for their help and advice. I told Samuel that I would go pick up my husband as I had a drivable car. While I was talking, Lorinda called and asked me to pick up others at the airport as she and Brent needed to get Covid testing so they could leave for Utah on Monday. I motioned to Samuel to stay there and then asked him if he could arrange to pick up four people with me at the airport that evening. No way was I going to watch people trying to get into a dented car where the doors don't open on one side!

He arranged for two cars as that was a lot of people. We met later and I met his brother Charles and a close friend who drove the other car. It turned out very serendipitous that Richard Burton could have his own car to drive to the hotel and Jeffrey and I with the Eastmonds in the other car dropped them off to the Area Office parking lot by their car then Jeffrey and I went home. No one at the time realized I didn't bring my own car on purpose but felt I'd helped them out expeditiously. God works in mysterious ways.

Jeffrey was adamant that night that I have the person from the travel office with me when I went to the DVLA. I think he was prompted and inspired. Otherwise it would have been a nightmare.

On Monday morning I met with the man from the travel department Syvanus Komla Fenuku, first we went to the police department while the two of them (Inspector and Brother Fenuku) spoke a different language and Brother Fenuku got the whole story again. The lady from the accident had shown up and surrendered her license. Then, we drove to the DVLA. 

The compound has yellow buildings all around that say things like Building E, G, A etc. in the middle  cars parked filling the center. At the back of the compound was another lot and an open building with a drive over pit. We drove over to that building and thats when the crazy music begins. We were told to get an eye exam and something else. Going to the different buildings we'd be told to go there and there would tell us to go over somewhere else and when we got there they'd tell us we'd have to pay first and going to pay was two different places and the eye exam was actually somewhere else. All forms and procedures were hand written and took as much time as possible.We criss-crossed and went upstairs and down and over and back to the open pit building where the man examined our papers again and wrote something out on another paper and told us to go have it typed up which resulted in more crisscross places to visit to go somewhere else. I thought I was holding up pretty good following him around like a duckling, but something clued him into the fact I was lost. He told me to go sit in the car out of the sun and he'd get the papers we needed. Nice. Another blessing. When he arrived with the paper the man in the open pit just signed it and off we went back to the police station - where I sat in a nice air-conditioned car while he finished up with the inspector. 

Looking back, I know I was protected, blessed, aided and helped out the whole way. The fact that I am safe, well, and content in my apartment is the first clue.

I made cookies for Brother Fenuku and a double batch when I found out he has five children.

My car is in the shop for repairs, I don't have to go to court because "we" are just looking for a settlement and life is good.

I have a new friend Samuel who is running errands for me and texting about the goodness of life.

Yes life is good.

How do you play soccer (futbol)?

All the players had one leg and crutches

Jeffrey said these guys were having fun!

Run on crutches, plant, kick

The goalie has two legs....and one arm

 This post is deserving of more attention, so when I get the "rest of the story" from Sister Eastmond I will post again.

First time after Covid - Going to the temple

 My friend Jeralie Hymas asked if I wanted to go with her to the temple to do sealings. She had an appointment. YES! It was so very nice, peaceful and beautiful inside. Filled my heart.

Baby Girl!

Anita is having a baby girl due the first week in July. Lorinda had planned to have a shower on Friday at noon during lunch time. She called me Thursday and asked me to bring games and food, though Esther had already decided what to order so it was no problem. Lorinda only asked because she was madly getting everything in order to take a unexpected trip back to Utah with her children.  Without help as her husband was getting home from Sierra Leone on Sunday and they were leaving Monday.

How to reach the ceiling when the ladder is too short

When we arrived we all pitched in and decorated and wrapped the presents, then took pictures with Anita and her wrapped presents. We had a great lunch and played a game before most of the ladies ran back to work.

Everyone who came helped prepare

Esther is the full deal, she ordered the presents to be delivered after we decided what we wanted to give/ and then brought the decorations and even ordered the lunch to be delivered.

Lorinda wanted Anita to "open" her presents, so she found her fabric and ribbon and 'wrapped' them all.

We had a lot of fun and chatted and got to know one another better

This is Anita Otoo who will be having a baby very soon. I have a baby raffle going on the date and time. If you get close to her time or get close to the date, you get either a ginger drink, a plate of chocolate chip cookies or brownies - your choice.

Wrapping up the goodies!

I had a great time and hope everyone thought it was just as fun as I did. It was nice to see Anita go home with a car load of things to make it easier when the baby comes. We pitched in afterwards so Lorinda would not have a clean-up. We made sure Anita had all the decorations for her babies room!

Dancing

 Sister Kacher asked if anyone wanted to come learn some African dancing? Several of us said, "sure". Sister Despain and I said we'd show up at the 6:30 pm time but Sister Kacher said it would probably be at 7 pm. I had to laugh that she told the dance instructors 6:30 and the sisters 7 pm.  She was correct and we waited for about half an hour until Sister Kacher used a large water bottle turned upside down to beat on like a drum and showed us how to warm up. It made us sweat, but nothing like how the instructors danced.

Three drummers walked in about 7:15 with their drums and two others came in after. They lined us up and the drums began to beat in fast rhythms while the instructors showed us what they do. African dancing is a whole body work out. They have a fast one, two three right, one, two, three, left while their hands, arms, legs, hips, heads, and shoulders are all moving. I would watch the feet and my hands wouldn't move much, if I watched their hands and heads, my feet didn't move much. I'm not sure how they were all so coordinated and energetic.

We made promises that videos would not be populated to maintain our ego just a little bit. Those instructors were very good at what they did, but not so good at being able to get our bodies to do what they could do. Except for Sister Belnap and Sister Kacher. Obviously Sister Kacher had experience and seem to know what the instructors would do next.

The middle drummer is very intense and watched me as I tried to dance African style. When the lesson was over, he came up to me and asked if I remembered him. On the first day of touring Accra to stay awake (December 5) we went down to the ocean and Brent Belnap took us to see how drums, baskets, and crafts were made and I met Moses there. How he remembered me is a mystery. But I pulled out my photos and sure enough there he was!

This is the crew!

Belnaps with the drummers and dance instructors

Little bit of a drum lesson. The palm, fingers, base of the palm and side of the hand are used on different places on the head of the drum for different tones and pitches.

December 5 Moses with the same intensity and longer hair

First full day in Accra when I met these men. 

That morning Sister Belnap got word that her father in law had died. They were preparing to go on an emergency trip home as soon as her husband and the rest of the OGC team got home from Sierra Leone. I watched her let loose on the floor and wondered if she felt it was a good release of tension. Of course we all applauded wildly and someone took a video. It was really amazing. 

Oops, sometimes good things go wrong -

 Just before Jeffrey left for the week, I told him about the various endeavors that I would be doing and asked for cedis to accomplish them. He went to the bank and I put the various amounts in little baggies with names written on them so I would be organized. 

Tiles that have water under them are ripped up 

Cement is laid down and tiles are put down and re-grouted

At the first of the week, I told myself if I had money left over I would give some to the apartment workers to buy lunch as a thanks for the extra work they are doing because we have had tiles pounded up and replaced. Cement dust is EVERYWHERE and the apartment staff workers mop, dust, and clean off all the outdoor halls, windows, balconies, and public floors extra times a day so life is breathable. 

When I met with Juliet and Dumevi outside of the Area office I handed them baggies of cedis and unknown to me I handed him the baggie I'd earmarked for the apartment workers to Brother Dumevi. It had double the amount I had in a baggie for him. 

When I handed Petra the cedis for a thank-you lunch, I told her there was 400 cedis in the bag, but she came up a few minutes later to show me the bag didn't contain 400 cedis. That is when I noticed Dumevi's name on it. Big oops! Brother Dumevi probably thought I was being extra generous until I texted him the problem. We got it worked out. He didn't act disappointed at a all, just gave his thanks for the meals. He told me who he was giving meals to. Margaret who wasn't on his list, called me that night and said Thanks for the meal - which was very nice of her.

Brother Dumevi going out with his meals for ward members

Cooking with Juliet - Observing

Juliet came yesterday for another cooking lesson.

 I very loosely define these cooking lessons with Juliet. Having observed three women who have shown me how to make something, I have found they put "some" of this and "some" of that. Everything is in proportion to what "tastes good". Having no idea what the ideal is suppose to taste like, leaves me at a disadvantage. 

Elder Dumevi had distinct feelings for what he wanted to hand out to families in the ward, so we asked what he wanted Juliet to make this month - and we'll probably ask him again next month.  His immediate first choice was ground nut soup. I noted Juliet made it with different ingredients and it tasted different than the last time. I can enjoy it much better as I have become accustomed to the tastes and flavors here. It is a good thing I like spicy foods. [Well not as spicy as Jonah would eat her noodles!] The mellow flavors of the peanut sauce hits your mouth and then after you swallow there is a soft burn of the spices. It is great.

Juliet simmered dried fish and skinless shin bones of beef and at the end she added three different fish

I taste tested her peanut sauce and it was wonderful. To the peanut sauce she added all the different meats that had been simmering. She always adds onions, garlic, ginger, salt and an oil. Today it was sunflower oil that she started sautéing the onions in.

She brought a cool looking spoon to stir and mix her soup.

When she turned the rice over in the big pot, the handle was above her head

  

These are the hand sized rice balls she made for people to pinch off and eat up the soup with

Adding all the meats to the peanut sauce

Juliet also made an egg stew for me. She had the same sauce she makes for Jollof rice and cabbage stew, but this time added whipped up eggs for a scrambled egg stew. It was tasty though the texture is different from the cabbage stew.

Finished ground nut soup!

The lady at the front desk of our building was interested one day when I told her about the cooking lessons. Ever since Juliet has given her a portion on her way out. The lady's name is Petra and she expressed a thanks for the ground nut soup.