Transfer Conference-Preparing for the new and old

This next week, we will send 4 of our missionaries home and receive 7 from the MTC.  To prepare for that, President Heid decided to do some major shuffling.  Some missionaries have been in their current areas for 8-9 months, mission leaders are returning home, and we need 7 new trainers.  With those things in mind, President went to work and came up with a transfer that impacted 50 companionships. Since most of them would be coming into Accra to make the switch, he decided to have a"Transfer" Conference.  

Attending the Conference were two other senior couples, the Jones's in the forefront, and the Haglunds, who are in Koforidua, about 1 1/2 hrs. from Accra.  Sister Jones is the mission nurse and gave a Power Point Presentation about keeping sheets on mattresses. Her son-in-law wrote a funny poem about Fred, the dust mite, who wanted to live in a mattress!  Sister Jones also encouraged the missionaries to wash their sheets weekly.

 The Stake building on the Temple site has ceiling fans, but no AC in most rooms.  We were sweltering at 10 am!!

Sister Heid posed with newly called Sister Trainer Leaders:  Sister Nwagbua on the left and Sister Eromosele on the right.  (They look like they planned their coordinated outfits.)

At Sister Scripture Study, Sister Pierson, was introduced from Idaho.  Nancy recognized her, but she didn't figure out the connection right away.  Then Sister Pierson mentioned that she and her husband lived in Salem, Oregon for about 20 years and served on our Wednesday morning Portland Oregon temple shift for a couple of years.  Then the Piersons went to Russia on a mission and moved to Idaho.  They will be temple missionaries here in Accra.

Brother Osei-Brobbrey stopped by our office this week.  He served as an AP, and was released from our mission in October.  He is currently residing about 2 hours away.  He is working on earning money by selling pillows for airline and bus travelers.  His goal is to earn enough money so that he can apply for a visa to train with the UK Army to be a mechanic. He has been accepted for an initial interview, but has to support himself in the UK until he is officially admitted into the program.

Palm Alley

Saturday we went with our neighbors to the Aburi Botanical Gardens, about 45 minutes from our apartment.  Just going about 1,000 feet up in elevation made the weather somewhat pleasant.  It was a diversion for the week.

"The gardens were founded in 1890 for the advancement of the Gold Coast Colony...to teach approved methods of planting and preparing their produce for market." (internet). While the Botanical Gardens were not as impressive as similar "attractions" in other countries, we saw a few interesting plants; cocoa, nutmeg, cinnamon, etc.

Kapok Tree - White Cotton Silk tree over 75 meters tall. 

 The size of these termite hills are amazing!

This tree is a Traveler's Palm originating in eastern Madagascar.  It is so named because water can be found at the base of the tree and offers refreshment to "travelers".

This was one of the few flowering plants we found, a bougainvillea.

A yellow bamboo tree.

We are not sure why this very dilapidated helicopter was in the middle of the Botanical Gardens.  There was no explanation.

We also stopped by the Aburi Woodcarvers' Craft Market. The carvers are excellent, but we always get "bombarded", because we happen to show up when there are no other customers. We didn't buy anything this trip,but met Nickolas, a member of the church, who sells his wares there.  He has been a member of the church less than two years and serves as 1st Counselor in the Branch Presidency.  We will return when we get more serious about buying!!

 Elder K was willing to vacuum the mission vehicles on his P Day.

Stan is very glad we have a small number of mission vehicles to manage since traffic is so crazy here. This was the accident report for this week.  Top picture:  motorcycle came sideways at the Jones's pick-up at a high rate of speed, never slowing, and went over the top.  Fortunately, the driver and motorcycle passenger were not injured.  Bottom picture: Tro tro misjudged distance changing lanes and clipped the pickup that the AP's were driving.  Of course, the Tro tro did not stop!!

To be honest, because the way people drive here, we sometimes don't go out.  It is like subjecting yourself to cruel and unusual punishment.  Who would do that voluntarily???