Africa West Area

A blow-up house seems a bit out of place in Accra. We attended a 'gathering place' launching in Tema, one-half hour away. It was a community event inviting all to attend. They did eye and medical checks, a blood drive, and lots of African food and fun. A gathering is where members and non-members can come together to participate in Pathway (on-line education program), family history, self reliance, English/French lessons, job searches, etc. The building in the background is the former Missionary Training Center before the large compound we now have that includes, the Area offices, Temple, Stake Center and new MTC.

The cooking was done under the tents in make shift fires on the parking lot. Notice the little boys asleep on the carboard mat.

Silly, but such a find, scraped, wrapped carrots, only 11.20 cedis about $2. Eating vegetables (from lettuce to eggs) is such an ordeal. Everything has to be washed in a bleach bath and rinsed in filtered water. These came from Koala, our high-end local market where I get bread every 3-4 days because it doesn't last any longer. The price of the whole wheat bread I buy has gone from 9 cedis to 12, inflation. Directly across the street from this store a lady was cooking over an open fire. She didn't have anything for sale so maybe she was just cooking for her family.

This is my local cobbler. He sits at an old table and bench and repairs shoes. My wonderful orthotic sandal was losing it's sole. On our morning walk, I left it with him while he glued it and I came back around the block for the finished shoe. I was thrilled with the results. These are so comfy and withstand the rain. I bought them on our previous mission in Hawaii so they've been around the block. It was 2 cedis, about 50 cents. I gave him a 5. I bought a loaf of French bread across the bumpy road from this fellow also. The first thing women do is ask if they can come work for you. She had a baby on her back also. You just have to feel so badly for their way of life. They are all out cooking, working with babies on their backs and selling at 6am.

Several of us senior missionaries walked to a local market on Saturday. We handed out some prepackaged cookies. They kids absolutely mob you and just grab it out of your hand. They are extremely strong and fighting for the food. I actually felt threatened when they grabbed everything from my hands. The street beggars are from Chad and Sudan, they don't know English, and don't go to school. Even the African people don't like them or know what to do with them. I saw an African women chasing after them with her broom to get them off her corner.

Funerals are BIG, BIG business in West Africa. A body can be preserved for years waiting to save up for the funeral service. Of course that costs more money also. Funerals can last for several days and the family is expected to feed the mourners the whole time and give money to extended family. It's quite the racquet. These obituaries are on the backs of cars or made into large billboards. On the right-hand side it says, List of mourners...you can be one too!

This fellow was in front of me on a morning walk. That's his mobile sewing machine. His pockets and backpack are full of his sewing notions. Good idea to go to your client to do their mending and sewing. This may be the fellow I saw once working outside sitting on the sidewalk mending a pair of pants.

This is stake conference (many ward congregations gathered together.)

It was a full house back to the stage in the cultural hall. 

Busses and tro-tros brought the the members from distant locations. Remember, most folks do not have cars.

We are waiting in the Mission Training Center with Randall and Diane Gibb. Elder Gibb is the area MD for missionaries. Every time we serve in the Temple with the missionaries we have to have a Covid test. The Covid protocols from Salt Lake City are very strict.

One of the busiest intersections in town and we're sharing it with the goats.

Steve gave a presentation to our senior missionary Family Home Evening about his work as a therapist to the young Elder and Sister missionaries. His work is really fascinating. He and Elder Gibb, the green tie missionary doctor are available 24/7.

Borngreat and Naomi are in our ward. They just got married a few weeks ago. They are both returned missionaries.

These young men all take the keyboard lessons. They are practicing before our Sunday meetings begin.

Our favorite barber, only 25 cedis ... about $5 plus a tip. We love supporting the local vendors and buying on the street when possible and safe.

This is Richard working on the gardens at the NGO library. Most of the yard work everywhere is done with a machete. Who needs a shovel?

This sweet little girl never uttered a sound but loved it when I helped her trace her letters and color. She has never come with the children to the library before and I don't think she had ever held a pencil. I couldn't even crack a smile from her.

Another local vendor on the street. I'm not sure what he has in the wheelbarrow.

TIDBITS:

We senior missionaries enjoyed a dance class one evening. One couple met in a dance class in college and were happy to provide music and instruction. We focused on the swing. I think they'll plan this once a month and go through the cha-cha, waltz and the tango. It was pretty fun. It was held at 5pm so we were home by 7, in time for Steve to start calling missionaries.

We got to enjoy General Conference at 4 pm and again at 8pm on Saturday. This left us plenty of time to take our new neighbors to the Du Bois morning market. It's a lovely, small market held under huge trees geared for the local expats. You rarely see Africans shopping there. Everything is sold from food, fabric, clothing, every kind of souvenirs, carvings, drums, jewelry, weavings, paintings, etc. We then enjoyed lunch at one of our favorite restaurants. The day was topped off by watching two sessions of general conference.

The dry season is creeping upon us. Though there was very little 'wet season'. The big difference is the temperature. It's getting closer to 90 degrees with very high humidity of course and full sunshine. We've enjoyed lovely, cooler temps in the upper 70's and low 80's with cloudy skies for several months. 

We follow several podcasts that teach from the Come Follow Me lessons. We especially enjoy Tyler & Taylor from Book of Mormon Central, Tom Pettit, the stories behind CFM and Scot and Maurine Proctor from Meridian Magazine. We've had to put ourselves on a strict schedule to get everything done in time for Steve to call missionaries in the mornings. I walk from 6-7am while Steve gets ready for the day, then we listen to the podcasts from 7-7:30, then Steve starts calling missionaries. In the evenings we take a walk together about 5:30, quick dinner followed by missionary calls and notes from 6:30-10:30.

Several of the missionary couples order lunch from Juliet every Tuesday. She's a local church member who caters food as her livelihood. She prepares the food in one of the sister's very clean kitchens and then brings it to the area offices where we eat together. The servings are huge so we make one order of 2 pieces of chicken with jollof rice (very spicy) or fried rice. This is only 20 cedis/$3.50US. We're happy to support her and it's a nice change from our sandwiches.

While we eat we'll bring up some old TV shows to watch on the computer. Remember, Rockford Files, Monk, and This Ole House? We've found a show called Chateau DIY. It's all about couples that buy and fix up old French Chateaus and rent them out as B&Bs or wedding venues. It's pretty entertaining with plenty of beautiful French countryside and plenty of fixer-upper projects.

A couple of good books we've read lately are 'Sea Stories' and 'Make Your Bed', both by four-star admiral William McRaven. He was commander of special operations (Seal Teams). He led the operations against Saddam Hussain, Osama bin Laden, the pirates that overtook Captain Phillips and many other operations that you'll find familiar. Reading through our phones is our wind-down at the end of the day.

From the short book 'Make Your Bed', McRaven shares exciting Seal Team stories to illustrate his secrets for a happy, fulfilling life.

If you want to change the world...

            Start off by making your bed.

            Find someone to help you paddle.

            Measure a person by the size of their heart.

            Get over being a sugar cookie and keep moving forward.

            Don't be afraid of the Circus.

            Slide down the obstacle headfirst.

            Don't back down from the sharks.

            Be your very best in the darkest moments.

            Start singing when you're up to your neck in mud.

            Don't ever, ever ring the bell.

We both just finished Steve Young's book, QB. This is another great book to add to your book club. I know very little about football but he made it so exciting to read about many of his games. He was very candid and open about the debilitating anxiety he suffered through most of his life. Youtube has brought his plays to life for me. I've had fun watching all things Steve Young including his funny TV commercials.

If you read to the end of this blog, let me know and I'll bring you a donut when we get home!! I remind myself that this blog journal will be turned into a book to remember our mission. I appreciate those who are reading it.