The Tie

 Wednesday was the last day Brent Belnap was going to be in the office as the ALC for Africa West Area. He had a few shirts and things he was wearing that he wanted to give to the missionaries as he had already left all his white shirts and things instead of trying to find one more space in his luggage. As it was, he had to pay for extra baggage.

So when I received two shirts and a sack as he was putting his bags in our car to go to the airport, I noted the tie. I asked him if this was The Tie. Yes it was and he didn't want to see it again. It is a very nice tie. The story behind The Tie is a Covid story.

In March of 2020 the Area President at the time urged the missionaries to go home, either to serve remotely or to come back to serve at another time. Then he strongly urged the missionaries to go home. The employees were told to serve from home as much as possible. Brent and Lorinda were helping missionaries obtain air flights and driving them to the airport and were packing and trying to decide what they should bring or leave. The watched those around them leaving in big groups as they drove them to the airport.

The Belnaps thought they were required to leave but at the last minute realized it was a choice. They chose to stay. The  Area Presidency was in transition so some stayed and missed their home leave (like the Belnaps too) and I know the Hymas chose to stay too. I heard someone say there were eight couples that were left in Accra. (rumor not fact) The MTC had all gone home and the Area missionaries too. One visiting Mission President with his family got stuck in Accra as they were not allowed to go back to their mission.

Brent faithfully walked to work every day into a deserted Area Office. He was alone in his office and on his floor. He decided he didn't need to decide which tie to wear everyday as no one would see any ties. Every day through Covid pandemic in Ghana, Africa he wore that same tie to work. 

I'm not sure I can turn it over to a missionary who won't know the story behind this tie. I think I should put it under glass and frame it.

I was so happy to see him wear the Kente tie we had given him. I knew when I saw it that he felt he was not alone anymore.

In Person is Better than a Phone Call

I asked the Lord to help me with my calling helping missionaries transition from the mission to a new phase of life outside of the mission experience. Many missionaries have all kinds of difficulty because getting a job, education, and sometimes even a place to live is very difficult.

When I texted the missionaries, one Elder wrote back and said yes, he would like a little help. We had a little difficulty when we were speaking due to people knocking on the door and others interrupting, and then his charge on the phone was too low; so I asked if I could talk with him on Thursday. He said sure and the next day I texted him my schedule. He wrote me in an email as his phone gave out. I don't know where he got another but when I talked to him, I found he was in Accra not very far from us for the day. I asked if they wanted to come to supper. They came and we had a really good meeting.

He has two choices: Go home to his sister's house (his parents died 4 years ago) where he will have no interaction with the church, or two: go to a town where he know no one and has no friends but they do have regular church meetings. I do not know which he will choose, but I'm looking up what kind of options can be available. He has been accepted to the Pathways program.

I couldn't help feel that this was a really cool answer to prayer - to actually sit down and talk face to face with the missionary instead of over a phone or something else.

One Elder from the DR Congo, one Elder from Sierra Leone, with 2 missionaries from California

 

"There are no coincidences."

 For a little while, I have been struggling with not having a purpose for being on this mission. Yes, I am busy and find ways to stay busy, but I broke down and asked God to help me find a meaningful purpose for the rest of my mission.  

Juliet and Brother Dumevi came today dropping off ingredients for Juliet to make dinners. Brother Dumevi brought eggs, flour, potatoes and biscuits for beggars that I had asked for. 

He enjoyed my homemade rolls (making me feel good) and told me about the ward's Wednesday activity where they had a discussion and then watched the clips from the church webpage on Pioneers around the world. We were dropping someone off at the airport, so I wanted to know how it turned out.

He then turned to me and said, "I have something to tell you." "There are no coincidences." "When we do something it is because God has arranged it." I chimed in and said, "But we can muck up the plan and He will have to do another plan." He agreed and went on to make his point.

Brother Dumevi told me that he brought dinners to different families. he said it makes a difference in their life. The last time a lady cried because she had no idea what her family was going to eat that day and suddenly there was a meal on her doorstep. He had been guided (no coincidence) to the one person in the ward who needed it that day.

Though I gave credit to Juliet's amazing cooking skills, inside my heart was warmed and filled because of all the days to say something, Dumevi chose today to thank me for the meals going to families. 

I am so thankful for a Heavenly Father who answers my prayers and feelings and that I am making a difference to someone. It's like one of the starfish that has been thrown back into the ocean saying thank you as he goes back into the water.

Juliet making groundnut soup today!

Going to the Lord's House

 In the ward we attend, Jeffrey and I "teach" the family history class. In actuality, we spend most of our time getting people on to the church site, getting a username and password, and then the next week forgetting one or the other and finding out how the recovery process works. There is not a lot of teaching of doctrine involved.

Last Sunday was different. First the ward members are trying to print out names to take to the temple as a ward. The youth are going to do baptisms for the dead while the adults will go through sessions. Second, the Bishop called us in and talked a little about his new business when we asked, and then called Jeffrey to teach a few members who will be going to the temple for the first time. I will continue to help whomever comes to get on the church sites with a username and password. We have found it to be helpful to write down every bit of information they have and tell them to change their password after they get familiar with the site. Otherwise we spend too much time trying to recover their accounts. 

I am so excited for the youth to go to the temple! They had chosen a day but when they went to make an appointment they realized all the times this week are already full because so many people are coming. Everyone has felt starved for some spiritual enlightenment and comfort that the temple can bring and are arriving in great numbers. It will be really nice when the Kumasi temple is built, dedicated, and opened - too bad it won't happen while I am here. There are so many people who want to come to the Lord's House.

Friends who care

 A couple of weeks ago, Jeffrey was gone on business to another country. Sister Despain calls me up and asks if I want to go get pizza and a gelato with them. She is a very thoughtful and kindhearted person. Being busy during the day is okay, but at night I get to missing Jeffrey and Sherri invited me go with them on a dinner excursion.

It is so nice to have friends! I can borrow four eggs or go on a little trip. I know she will ask for flour when she is out. But most important, she cares about me.

Start of a New Business

 Juliet is finding her way to make a bigger business. She sells groundnuts and peanut butter and has expanded her business to sell fresh fruit drinks. So far the pineapple/ginger is the most popular drink, and the watermelon/mango comes in second. The watermelon might sell as well as the pineapple but she has only brought a few bottles of the watermelon at a time.

I thought I might figure out how to use the pulp to make fruit leather. I wonder what a watermelon/mango would taste like dried?

Can you Believe it?! I was On The Niger River!

Did you know that if you go far enough North on the Niger River there are still hippopotamuses living there? We weren't even close but it was easy to see how they could live in that large river. I just didn't want to run into a crocodile.

There was a little concern watching him bail water out of the boat we were getting into....

As our boat was pushed out into the current past all the waterlily plants and other bushes, I couldn't help thinking about Marion watching her little brother Moses in the Nile river. What were her concerns? What did she pray for?

As our canoe/boat was so close to the water, I just hoped all the crocodiles were gone from our part of the river. All I saw were birds, lots of birds.

We were about six inches from the water

Because of the rainy season, the river was running high. Some of the plants were floating by much faster than other bodies of plants

We had a nice shaded roof covering the boat

Sister Lewis scooped up a lily and we could see the root system below

Beautiful, but full of garbage

When the boat was turned to explore the other side of the river, we got treated to a wonderful sunset.

A whole new community is being built, this house we named Hogwarts

A lovely beautiful night on the river.

Nature of Prayers

 The nature of prayers can be subtle or very clear. On our trip to Mali, my answers to prayers seemed very clear to me but were not seen by all those around me. Jeffrey fell ill the first night we arrived, though it didn't have the symptoms associated with Covid, I was concerned for the test the next morning as I didn't want him to be stranded in Mali if it turned up positive. All tests were negative. 

We had to go to a different hotel as the water stopped working and a few things weren't quite right at the first hotel. The second hotel was great, but it was evident that Jeffrey was very ill. He didn't make it to any of the meetings or any sight seeing at all. Though I went out with the rest for a few events like the Mali church legal meeting and visiting with Yeah, I had come on the trip to be with Jeffrey, so I stayed with him Friday morning to chat a few - very few times and then had a wonderful time on the Niger River boat trip at sunset and out to eat with everyone. 

My prayers on Saturday were multiple. One, that the day's travel would be smooth, no roadblocks or shenanigans. Two, that Jeffrey (or any in our group) would test positive for Covid unless they actually had it. I even prayed for bodily functions to work properly and when it would be convenient. Sitting in the lobby at the hotel in Mali, trying to pay for Covid test in Accra and give a health declaration was tricky as nothing would go through on the internet.  Lorinda rose at midnight from a sickbed to pay and apply for Covid tests for all of us when we arrived in Ghana. Everyone's came through by the time we landed in Togo.

Some in our group said how interesting it was that there were fewer people so we weren't crowded on the plane from Mali. In Lomé, Togo we didn't get on busses from the car to the terminal, we just walked right off the plane into the airport and the immigration had four lines running so we were through in about 15 or 20 minutes. The trip scheduled for 2:15 pm arrived about 1:50 pm. Arriving in Accra, we were the first plane of that hour, so the only wait for the Covid test was the people in our arriving plane. Everyone tested negative and we didn't have to wait more than 20 minutes for the results. We were out in a surprisingly short amount of time. No bodily function issues came up during travel. Life is good.

Some will tell you what a coincidence it all was. We just happened to be traveling on the right day, etc., etc. Not me,  I know the power of prayer.

Banana Bread

 I sent some banana bread with the dinners last week. Brother Dumevi asked me to make banana bread for a Wednesday night meeting with the ward. I think they are going to be meeting every Wednesday for the youth and the ward members. I'm not sure how it all works out, but I think it is easier to get people to come if most of the family is involved. 

He brought me over a BIG sacksful of bananas, so I picked up the Greek yogurt and brown sugar, then made six batches of banana bread. I ran out of eggs and Greek yogurt so I sent the extra bananas back with Brother Dumevi.

It must be a good recipe has I have had lots of comments on it. Here it is if you want to try. Sally'sbakingaddiction at https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/best-banana-bread-recipe/#tasty-recipes-66473-jump-target

I am so sorry for those in the States (except Hawaii) because the flavor of the bananas are just not good enough like they are here in Africa. The bananas are much smaller but packed with much more flavor.

I gave some banana bread to the workers in our apartment complex and they indicated they like that way of saying thanks.  So ironic to be making desserts all the time!!

Legal Entity

Members of the 'legal' entity of the church in Mali meet with friends

 I got to be part of a meeting that is a legal requirement for the church to be recognized and legal in Mali. It is so interesting to see another part that isn't thought about very much or often. 

We all know we can get revelation, impressions, or promptings from God. We know that President Nelson gets revelation, promptings, and impressions for the church and organization of the church. Then all down the line of apostles, seventies, quorums, class, teachers, and individuals we all get messages from God to empower our lives, bring light and intelligence and strengthen our lives. We get callings and responsibilities and use our service for the benefit of others. This is the real church.

Then there is the legal details. A different side of the church. There are seven members of the legal entity of the church in Mali and four of them were present at this meeting. There was a script read and translated into French, motions given, seconded, and passed and about 15 maybe 20 minutes later the legal entity for the church is voted on and passed for another year. 

Do I know the future President?

 I am in Mali Africa in the capital city. Last night at dinner, I met a fascinating man named Yeah Samake who is going to run for president. He feels strongly that Mali should be a thriving country and should be shipping goods to other countries not receiving aid and help because of the multiple natural minerals and natural resources that are not organized or are just wasted. I think he said there were 160 or 170 cities and he wants each city to have 5 tractors and to make sure the farming and agriculture assets are used correctly. He doesn't like how gold melts across Mali's borders.

He name is Yeah just like Yeah we won! When he was small he grew up very poor and knows that life. He got a chance to go to BYU (I didn't get that story yet) and took the missionary discussions but was not allowed to get baptized. Later when he was in Colorado he again took discussions and wanted to be baptized but since he was going back to Mali, it was deemed to risky for him to get baptized as some one in charge felt like he might be in serious trouble when he went back. Yeah has never felt threatened by his neighbors. 

When he went to New York he was able to get permission through Brent Belnap's help to get baptized the day before he left for Mali. He has a strong abiding faith in God and feels if he wins the presidency it will be because God wants him to be there. He feels he has honesty to share, strong work ethic, and a vision of Mali giving to the rest of the world. If he doesn't make it, he knows he can be a king man. Someone to help someone else make it strong. He says his wife doesn't like the spotlight or politics and just wants to finish the work on the farm they are constructing.

Evidently the party he is part of had a man who had served as president and his time limit was almost up. The man who was going to replace him died of Covid. That is when Yeah felt he should step up to the plate.

Yeah feels he is in a unique place to be of real help to his country and needs to spend the time to make it all happen.  

I took a small Marco Polo to introduce him to my grandchildren as the next president of Mali - Cool that I know him!

If you want to know more about this wonderful man here is his website: www.yeahsamake.com 

Belnaps are trickling away......

 We had another luncheon in a very posh fancy hotel the Kempinski - evidently they are all over the world. It has four restaurants in it, beautiful grounds, superb art, indoor fountains and decorations. There is even an outdoor garden and swimming pool on the third floor. Did I tell you it is very large? We chose a buffet that was excellent.

But watching people leave is tough. Lorinda and Nathan are headed back to Utah and Brent will leave in 10 days. We will have one more trip to Mali with him and then he will be gone too.

After a wonderful dinner, the presents were opened!

The ladies from the office showered gifts on the Belnaps

Lorinda's gift to Sharon as an expert legal coordinator's invaluable help

Lorinda gave Esther a gift for her work too

Gifts given to Brent from Emelia Ahadjie

Married to an Introvert

 There has been one issue that has come to stark light during this Covid process during this last year. It is that fact that I'm married to an introvert who deals and enjoys time alone to think, process, and create. Being more on the extrovert side (in my own greater family, I am considered more of an introvert) that needs to have conversations and interact with people on a daily basis, I try to accommodate his needs.  Studying, pondering, or creating without an interaction for six hours doesn't do it for me. Jeffrey on the other hand is happy to have "no interruptions" all day. When he is especially expedient or under pressure the situation escalates to silence demanded and exasperation noted for any interaction. Since March of 2020, these different needs have been brought to the surface as neighbors, friends, and family disappeared from my daily life. It didn't use to be so noticeable as I did "my thing" and he did his. 

Now that we are serving 'together' on this mission, Jeffrey will try to come home with stories about his work and sometimes makes sure I am going or doing something with another person.  Jeffrey is so interesting and has these really well thought out insights because of his deep analytical nature. Everyone learns and loves to listen when he talks about things he has thought out and loves,  He is very interesting to talk to and enjoys talking with people, just not all day.

My last mission was perfect in that regard as I went to a dental office and interacted with others all day long and was able to come home and share stories with Jeffrey before we turned in. This mission - after Covid - is very different for me. If Jeffrey has been interacting with people all day, he finds it hard to go out or be with others at night. I on the other hand have finished all my secretarial work and would love to go out to enjoy others.

I am trying to do good things every day for someone(s). But when I invite people to our little apartment doing projects, it is tough for Jeffrey to have someone in his space or having people who want to talk with him after a long day. It is all a matter of balance. I try to have group projects finished before the end of his work day.

When we invite someone over for Family Home Evening, I tell him in advance so he can gear up. When he has had an especially fraught day, he lets me know he just needs to be alone for awhile. So the sharing time we give each other is really rich and nice. Jeffrey comes home at noon sometimes with stories or sometimes after work with stories or insights to share that I know are especially thought out for me. I make sure I have personal projects to do so I don't need to have him entertain me.

 I have learned to value and know the gifts of time and thought he gives to me. I am so glad we have this mission where we are together without family around that has helped us hone our time together in a sharing, loving way that has deepened our relationship. He misses me when he goes on trips, and is happy to come be with me after working long hours. It is easy for me to run off to see the grands when I'm home, and easy to be distracted going somewhere else. So this time together is very nice.

I have no problem running off with others to get gelato or out to dinner and I just claim we have two different missions. We will always have two different missions. The time together when we share is very valuable as a result.

Epiphany moment

 Two weeks ago, I had Juliet over to my house three times for different projects. The fact that we cannot speak freely to each other hasn't seem to hinder our association. I have known Juliet for six months starting out buying peanuts and peanut butter from her before the impulsive moment I asked her to come show me how Ghanaian cooking works. [complicated] And now it has blossomed out into making fruit juice drinks. She has given drinks out to the Area office ladies and a few men twice in the last two weeks. These are the people she got to know by working in the cafeteria before Covid struck. When the cafeteria stopped, she lost her livelihood and started selling peanuts [groundnuts]. 

In the course of our 'conversations' I found that she is going to the temple three times a week and praying constantly for aid from our Father in Heaven. When she was talking the impression came strongly to my mind that I was her answer to prayer. WHAT! No, I'm not anybody's answer as I don't know enough to be anybody's answer in a foreign land! But you know how impressions work, you just have to go out and find the answers.

SO.....I asked her what she would charge if she were going to sell her juices. She said 3 cedis. What? I told her that would be highway robbery of her time and efforts. She would be selling the juices for almost the cost of the fruit. I told her her time and efforts and the fact that she brings it right to them is what they are paying for. They can go out and get fruit and make it themselves if they want it cheap. We talked about it a bit, but it was Elder Dumevi who was the key. One, he could talk in her language, and two he is quite sure what sells, and what needs to be done to sell. The last time we were together he told her she needed to find a place to make the juices besides my apartment as I won't be here long term and when I go traveling, she couldn't use the apartment either. Her home is much too small without the items necessary to make the juices.

Now I am investing in her business, getting the tools and items and the first fruits to get started until she can get her fledgling business up and started. She has made the first batch which is in my freezer at the moment waiting for Monday morning to go sell them at the Area Office. We'll just have to see if she can make it work.

 

Sobolo (hibiscus flowers) with and without ginger, pineapple with ginger, watermelon/mango all waiting to be sold on Monday.

Juliet and the Missionaries for dinner

 

I invited Juliet and her son over for Family Home Evening and she asked if the missionaries were coming. I told her she would have to bring her own missionaries because the missionaries that had been coming to our home from our ward, found out that we actually live in a different mission! I guess we are on the border line of the two missions and since we were assigned to a ward, we don't actually live in the boundaries of the ward or that mission. 

She came over with the missionaries but her son had to be at school. I did not have Juliet cook as I wanted her to just be able to relax and I knew she was making sure someone else had food who was visiting the temple. I lined the counter with chicken, rice, tomatoes, green peppers, cheese, salad and other fixing for tacos or burritos and put out taco shells and tortillas out. Fruit, cookies and banana bread and I called it done.

I showed the missionaries and Juliet how Jeffrey like his with melted cheese and adds all the other fixings. They all decided they wanted the same thing. I think they liked it but I couldn't be sure. The elders went for seconds and after the evening was over they boxed up the leftovers and took them home, so it couldn't have been bad.

Jeffrey really enjoyed the discussion with the missionaries. He asked them to ask questions and they all went through the scriptures finding answers and stories. I enjoyed myself and it looked like Juliet did too.  By the end of the evening, Jeffrey had arranged for the missionaries to come after their appointments are over on Saturday. They said 8 o'clock at night

When they all left, Jeffrey gave me his thanks and said how awesome it was that he could talk over scriptures with the missionaries again. He has missed the last few weeks having missionaries over on Saturday nights.