Thanks Love

 I'm so glad with Jeffrey comes home, glad as I can be. Clap my hands and shout for joy.....and give him a big hug and kiss. 

I had brought banana bread over to the travel department in the area office as a thank-you for all the service they have given us. Jeffrey brought back the platter and also the eggs I bought. A man brings them to the area office and sometimes he is really late. Today is was just past 5 pm. He was trying to make it by 2 pm. Traffic must have been very bad. I hope it doesn't take so long to get home for him. Jeffrey was kind enough to pick them up and bring the flat home for me.

I sure love this man!

Jeffrey has been working some very long hours. He has been energized and happy to be the boss. He loves the challenges. His hours are really whacky hours because he deals with what is happening here in Africa and then is communicating with Salt Lake City people in the evening hours. Once in a while he will be awake very early in the morning answering emails. It is nice we have a big place with lots of room to spread out. I am hoping he can deal well with stress and enjoy his free hours. He has given a few patriarchal blessings and that has been a joy and an uplift for him.

Sister Scripture Study - Not to be missed!

 It is very wonderful to sit down with a group of women who all have the same agenda but with completely different life styles. All of us have chosen to be in a foreign land, to serve the Lord for a time, and dedicate time to be of service. We are all older, but in different decades. Each woman has dissimilar concerns and challenges to face. For instance, one woman has no children that are in the church, one woman is serving because her ward members are paying each month for them to be here, and one has serious health concerns. Everyone has insightful comments in our class, and this is a time of incredible epiphanies. I love this hour to hour each week that I do not want to miss. I feel my soul expanding and being edified.

Rebecca Manwaring didn't want me to be left out of the group pictures

When I get with Sister Powell, I am going to update each of these pictures with everyone's name. This is not all the sisters as many are working at the temple, MTC, or their special projects. I am sad that many will be leaving soon. At least five couples will be gone in a few weeks. 

I love the ideas, connections, and testimonies that are given. Life is really good.

Goodbyes and Goodbyes

It has been many goodbyes and lots of goodbyes to come because the Area Presidency is changing in August. But each couple is taking their home leave at different times. The second counselor Elder Kyungu and his wife have been gone a couple of weeks, Elder Klebingat left today and Elder Nielsen will leave soon (after the Kyungu's get back). Elder Kyungu will be the new president in August so it makes since that they have their leave first.   The Klebingat's are getting a new assignment in Utah and were the next to leave. While Elder Nielsen holds down the fort until the Kyungu's arrive back in Ghana.  

We have had a party at the pool in this compound on Monday for the Senior missionaries, temple presidency, and the office staff for the two outgoing presidency members. On Tuesday was a devotional that turned into a long farewell party lunch for all the employees for the Nielsen's and Klebingat's. An hour and a half devotional was followed by a lunch celebration that went on for about two and a half hours. Opera singing and drums could be heard throughout the building.

I did attend the family home evening pool party and enjoyed the farewell speeches of the Nielsen's and Klebingats. I was struck by the memory of seeing the temple presidency the last time I was here all in white at the temple doors. On Monday they were lined up sitting by the fence when my memory kicked in. Evidently the temple presidency is changing too.

These farewells mirror all the senior missionaries who are leaving last week, next week, and several in July. In August there will be a whole new face of the Africa West Area.

Mable, the one who made the party possible!

Very cute bite size sandwiches, burgers and cups of salads

McGlochlin's and Sister Nielsen in the pool

Area presidency staff

Current temple presidency sitting at the family home evening together

This is Mabel and her crew who put on this lovely party

I looked through all of my pictures and could not find the temple presidency pictures. They were not there. I have to conclude that I took the pictures with my issued phone which was wiped when I left. So the only pictures I own are the pictures on this blog about the day in October 2021 when I saw a group of Saints in white on the temple steps and took a picture. Turns out it was the temple presidency.

Here is the screen shot:

October 7, 2021

Thank you for your time and efforts

 Today is starting out just right. I stayed right there in the kitchen until the banana bread was in the oven and all the dishes were cleaned. No be-bobbing around today.

I've been making a ton of banana bread for lots of people because everyone likes it, Ghanaian, Nigerian, American, Australian, and military folks. It is tricky sometimes to find a universal food, but only those who hate bananas won't eat banana bread.

Today I will be saying thank-you to the travel department. They work for all of us behind the scenes in so many ways. Not just getting us to Ghana, but then getting non-resident cards so we are square with the government, and then resident permits so we are legally in the country, and then in our case they are taking care of getting our storage unit out of customs and to our place. I think fleet is a subdivision of travel but there is the whole complicated process of getting a driver's license.  And of course they get us a truck, remind us of maintenance and the laws here in Ghana. They all certainly deserve our thanks and respect. 

Banana Bread is all well and good, but I am looking further down the line and have some ideas floating around my head. One is Christmas stockings - okay it isn't even July, but - the first week I got here one of the men on the third floor said, "Oh hi Sister Adams, you are the one who brought stockings! That was so fun." With that kind of feedback, of course I decided to do it again this year. But then I went to the gathering place and watched sisters learning to sew on paper and cheap muslim and thought about what kind of projects they could do with real fabric and real money to do it. What about hundreds of stockings? If I can get some material and show them how to cut it out, sew it up, and make stockings for the third floor, grounds keepers, security, cleaners, etc. we could have a lot of fun at Christmas time. I can pay them to make all those stockings.

I'm also thinking it might be a good idea to have a simple project first. So I thought about making cloth napkins. Four straight seams and mitered corners. So I'll need to get some material for that too. And maybe a measuring guide. So many possibilities. My kids probably won't be surprised to get napkins as a gift. Maybe my siblings too. Ah life is interesting. 

I'll have Wisdom make me some napkin rings again so I can use them here when I have company. I'll keep you posted on how it all turns out.

The Party that the Banana Bread was for

 A surprise party was planned for Cherice, the outgoing Relief Society president. Wendy and Gifford Nielsen were part of the party planners and did a good job of keeping her distracted until the party was all set up. The Relief Society room was turned into party central in just a few minutes. Irony that Cherice taught the lesson that day. We found out many call her Cherish. Very apt according to the stories told about her.

Preparations: 10 minutes

Cloth was taped down, balloon brought out, and food placed at the end. Then we waited for the Nielsen's to bring Cherice back........

Ready? Set? Go!

Surprise!

Then the members sang all THREE verses of "Sister in Zion"

The Previous trio 

Erica, Cherice, and Boatemaa

Speeches were made and presents presented

The wonderful Siebert family to be remembered by the Cantonments ward.

And then everybody ate the food that was ready to go! 

There were many choices, Jollof rice, kebabs of different kinds, samosas, spring rolls, banana bread, cookies, and drinks. There may have been other things that were served but I was taking pictures of the ladies for the roster.......I didn't get everyone's photo, but gave it a good shot. 

This was a good party!

Sunday Guests

 We have a two week tradition going and it just might catch on. We had Sylvanus family over and after Elizabeth the mom wrote down all the names for me, I realized that was his first name and not the family name. But I can say Sylvanus, it's a toss up if I can say their last name.

Elizabeth Mellis Fenuku, Mawoli Bryan Quami Fenuku, Senatu Knox Quassy Fenuku, Michelle Ewur-Esi Fenuku, Sedinam Fenuku, Sewarnu Ralph Quami Fenuku, and Sylvanus Komla Fenuku

That is way too much information to drink in. I'll let you know a little about what I have learned about this cool family. First Sylvanus helped me out when I was t-boned on my way to church a few years ago. He is very knowledgeable about the how the system works. He helped us get drivers licenses too.

Dumevi brought our dinners from Sister Arthur. She packed each dinner seperately in grand style. It was impressive and the family enjoyed it - well maybe not the salad, but they are kids. Everyone liked my banana bread and cookies thank goodness!  Jeffrey had asked each of the what their favorite thing to do was and what their favorite subject in school was. Knox said he wanted to be a doctor and we found he loves music. 

Our after dinner entertainment. Knox can listen to a song and then play it.

While Knox played, I grabbed some pens and paper so the rest of the family could do something.
Next time I will have peanut butter play dough available.......or something......

Ralph wanted everything just right but jumped right in

Bryan jumped up and started playing the piano when Knox got off. He is very good!

Watching Knox play, I could tell he was a musician in his heart and mind and was the type of person who just needs to learn the mechanics of an instrument to play it.  I ended up giving him my ukulele as I think he will definitely use it. He actually wants a guitar, but that I don't have. 

It was hilarious as Sedinam was very anxious to have his own ukulele. But I only had one. I will have to look for one for him because I had my Michael who DID NOT want to be last. I am pretty sure that is how Sedinam feels also. So I will get one for him. I am not sure about the other two boys. Bryan was so quick to follow his brother and Ralph was the quiet one. You have to watch out for the quiet ones.

Michelle is looking forward to going to high school - I really thought she was already a high school student - and seems very solid in her direction in life. 

Jeffrey and I had a very enjoyable time with the whole Fenuku family. We'll see them again sometime.

Second Kathy Knowles library on Saturday

 This library too was near Jamestown but further away from the ocean. The library was big and had children who were reading to each other. There were creative art projects though not as many as the other library. I think the thing that struck me was the shelves were not full of books. Real books are very valuable in Accra. All the books had plastic protectors on the outside. You can tell that there are many uses for the library besides the children's reading hour.

Need for help in the system: https://accrabooksandthings.wordpress.com/2009/11/15/kathy-knowles-speaks-again/

A book about Kathy Knowles work: https://greatplainspress.ca/books/the-library-tree/

I loved the atmosphere in this library and the fact that the children had no fear at all with white people. I got a couple of hugs just because the children were so young. Mothers were smiling. Some of the ladies were outside making soap bars. You could see laundry out on the bushes to dry.

Down the street was a funeral, but a very nice gentleman showed Sister McGlochlin where and how to park. When we left he helped us out of our place and directed traffic so we could go. I did tip him if you wanted to know. 

Sharon and Sister McGlochlin

Elder McGlochlin, Princess Khadijah, and Sister McGlochlin

Making soap bars

The Kathy Knowles learning libraries

 Our day was not over as Sister McGlochlin wanted me to know and experience the libraries. She selected two in the Jamestown area to visit with me. 

Kathy Knowles is from Canada. Her family of four children came to live in Ghana when her husband got a job here. She noted the children who could not read and the absence of reading materials. She started a weekly reading circle - which lead to libraries and reading opportunities. She has authored quite a few children's books with Canada and Ghana protagonists. Here are a few links if you are interested:

https://www.strongnations.com/gs/show.php?gs=3&gsd=6867

https://munakalati.org/nurture-childrens-thirst-for-knowledge-kathy-knowles/

Books: https://booknook.store/book-author/kathy-knowles/

https://osuchildrenslibraryfund.ca/author/kathy/page/2/

There are other mentions and blogs out there about her and her wonderful work.

I was surprised and impressed at the other libraries I visited as one is three stories and the other is a large building with a large grass lawn and play structures. I think the OSU library is her first one and the rest were much larger with more help and funds.

The first library we visited was three stories high, beautiful and impressive. The second floor was very large and filled with adults and teenagers with a few children.  The first floor was meant for children and had lots of books and decorations from children. It was impressive.  

We had to go up to the highest floor to look out over the ocean - but a funny thing - all the hand rails had oil on them to protect them from the ocean saltwater which corrodes everything, Some tiles were oiled too. I did wonder how they were supposed to be used. I of course had to wash my hands the second we started up the stairs. 

We were intrigued by the art work that had ordinary things turned into really cool art. The spirals were plastic bottles painted then cut into spirals and hung by the bottle top. 

The matches and paper were very cool. I only showed one, but took pictures of about five. Someone has an eye for detail and is very creative.

Just a quick note, Elder McGlochlin talked to me! He told me a story and we had a conversation. He is an interesting man. His wife does the driving and much of the talking, but he is fun too.