With an Eye toward Cape Coast

We thought that this past week was rather routine thus the reference in the title of our post, "With an Eye toward Cape Coast."  (An anticipated trip to western Ghana).  But upon closer examination, there was much going on, especially for the finance "minister".  Monday was the day that about 100 ATMs were tested by our missionaries as they withdrew their monthly "allowance".

Generally speaking, things do go quite smoothly.  This week, we had a few "misplaced" cards and some that just didn't work.  It is discouraging when a missionary calls and says that the ATM took their card but gave them no money.  A quick check of their account by Elder Pace will show that there was a transaction with funds deducted from the account, but no money was dispensed.  This has happened about 10 times since we have been in Ghana.  The bank in the US has to repair those problems.  

Another missionary card transaction reacted erratically with a request for funds.  The record showed that it completed a withdrawal, but then, immediately reversed the withdrawal, then completed another withdrawal only to reverse it again.  Sometimes we can correct this by sending them to another ATM.  Other times we have to have the bank in the US help us.

You might be interested to know that one of Elder Pace's responsibilities is to request the money missionaries receive each month.  Of course, these are funds that are donated by the missionary's parents and members of the Church throughout the world.  The amount the missionaries receive is 400 cedis.  This is the equivalent of 100 US for a month.  Although this isn't a lot of money, and they still have to manage well, the missionaries do ok on this amount.

This is Ghanaian currency.  The largest bill is the 50.  (about $12 US)  Quite colorful!

Our mission facility manager, Gilbert Oppong, is the proud father of Mildred.  On the left is a picture of Mildred taken May 2016 and one taken this week, May 2017.  This time she was running everywhere in the mission office!

 We noticed this sign during our morning exercise.  Notice how clinic is spelled.

Sometimes during our morning exercise,  Elder Pace sees Stephen, a guard at a local bank. During this encounter, Stephen had worked during the night shift and so had already changed out of his uniform.

 

On Thursday we had our monthly Missionary Leadership Council meeting with Zone Leaders, who help oversee about 14-34 missionaries in their Zone Area.  The Heids greeted each one of the missionaries.  This is Elder Sebeliba, our new office elder, from Swaziland. He has a college degree in agricultural development and has only been a church member a few years.  He has been a wonderful addition to our office with his excellent English and organization skills.

At MLC Sister Heid talked about being Christlike and having "heart".  Sometimes we put walls around ourselves and others, and don't take the opportunity to change for the better. She shared a story from her teaching career.  One of her colleagues was teaching an AP class.  One young man always sat in the back with a sweatshirt over his head, even though it was not cold in the classroom.  He usually ate lunch by himself in the library.  During an individual senior project presentation, he showed the class his deformed hand, which he had hidden under his sweatshirt every day. He said he chose to be alone because many years ago he showed a "friend" his hand and immediately he was teased on the school playground.  So, he decided to be a loner. 

After his comments, a girl  announced to the class that she would eat lunch with him that day.  Soon, the entire class invited him to have lunch.  Not only was the young man willing to open this heart, but also class members were willing to include him in their social circle. Sister Heid encouraged the missionaries to look for opportunities to have "heart".

Our mission nurse, Sister Jones, shared a video about how germs spread.  She is always reminding missionaries to wash their hands thoroughly.  It is entertaining and makes a point!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yToii3-p-NI

 Elders getting ready to be attentive for MLC.

The missionaries always have a good time socializing after MLC and having pizza!

This week we lost electricity for several hours....thank goodness for the generator.  We also lost city water....thank goodness for our poly tank.  Then the cylinder on our water filter broke and water started leaking under the sink.   And, we had no replacement cylinders. Thank goodness for "plumbers"; Elder Pace and neighbor, Elder Jones.  They reconnected hoses and set us up with a new filter system that does not require the plastic cylinders. Now there is better hot water pressure too!

On the way to church this morning, we were driving the "Beach Rd" and saw this sight.  All sorts of chairs were piled on this truck.

During church we had a severe wind and rain storm.  Water came in underneath the church door and we also lost electricity.  (Fortunately, the rain cooled the air and it was not too uncomfortable without ceiling fans in the building.)  On the way home, we saw several large puddles and scattered debris.  There was a large billboard and pole that came down on one side of the road and traffic had to be forced onto the shoulder to pass.  We were not quick enough with the camera to get a picture.  One benefit of the storm was that there was less traffic!!

This is what the billboard frames look like.  Likely they have all been stripped at one time due to storms.

This coming week we have two Missionary Zone meetings in the bush.  Depending on our time and work schedule, we may attend.  Thursday we head to the Cape Coast area of Ghana for a short getaway out of our mission.  Stay tuned for more pictures.  We hope to visit a slave castle, a national park and a beach resort. 

Here is a very interesting story about a missionary that served in the Ghana Accra Mission with President and Sister Heid.  We had heard about this inspiring story and thought you might enjoy the link.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865679320/LDS-missionary-finds-his-own-Jr-Jazz-jersey-while-serving-in-Africa.html

Many Visitors

This week we welcomed another "visa waiter", Elder Dzikpe, from Ghana, but who is called to the England Manchester Mission.  We also received an Elder Conista from the Sierra Leone mission who was sent here to have some medical tests.  Elder Conista is from the Philippines and personally knows the two Filipino missionaries who are serving in the Ghana Accra Mission!!  Both of these young men are great!

Elder Dzikpe on the left and Elder Conista on the right.

We took Elder Conista to the Korle-Bu Teaching hospital to return some medical results and passed by the Jamestown Light House in one of the oldest districts in Ghana.  The original lighthouse was built in 1871 as part of the British occupation.  This replica was built in the 1930.

Another visitor this week was Hunter Crandall and his wife, Lori.  He was an AP with President Heid before we came to Ghana.  He is traveling with his family....mom, sister, wife, brother-in-law, to China, Dubai, etc., partially for fun and also for the mining business where he is employed.

The Crandalls

We also welcomed our senior couple friends from the Ghana Kumasi Mission, Lynn and Tess Wardle. She is the mission nurse and he helps with apartments. They came to Accra to be with their branch members at the temple.  We were lucky to have them stay with us both Thursday and Friday night.  (The Wardles are from the Tacoma, Washington area so we can see them when we return from our mission.)   The Wardles were joined on Friday by the Schows, who are the office couple in the Kumasi mission. We had a great time together.

 The Schows's are by the window and the Wardles are on the right.

Also invited for breakfast on Saturday were our hall neighbors, the Jones's.

Sister Wardell was showing a video of her husband doing relaxation techniques for the Kumasi missionaries.  Elder Wardell is a former physcial education teacher.


We also bid farewell to our former missionary Assistant to the President, Elder Koronikalou. He returned to his island home in Fiji on Friday.  (He needed to return home for some legal matters, so he was released a few weeks early and out of the normal transfer cycle.)  We are going to miss him terribly and his delightful personality.  Elder Pace has joked with him that it was his body that he was supposed to have when he came to earth.  Elder K is quite the specimen of strength and agility.   (Everything Elder Pace DIDN'T get).  As you can see by the photo, he is a large young man with serious strength and athletic potential.  In fact, he turned down a lucrative professional rugby contract in order to serve a mission.  His family owns a resort on an island in Fiji and he has been appointed CEO since his grandfather passed in December.  We see a trip in the works!!

We had a small gathering for Elder K's farewell luncheon.  Afterwards Stan grabbed a chair and stood on it to give Elder K a hug.   Everyone in the restaurant was laughing!!  Missed the camera opportunity!

Elder Pace, Elder K, Elder George and Elder Bailey (new Assistants to the President) and the Heids. President Heid is not really a dessert person, but the moist red velvet cake is one of his favorites!


This weekend was Ashaiman Stake Conference.  This Stake is about 1/2 hour from our apartment in Sunday "no traffic".  We missed the Saturday session because of our Kumasi guests, but we attended the Sunday session.  The Stake Center was packed.  We estimated there were close to 2000 in attendance.  Our 24 missionaries gave up their seats so members and investigators could sit in the main cultural hall and chapel.   (We understand there were at least 30 nonmembers there.)  The missionaries went to a separate room in the church to listen to the proceedings.

Everyone gathering for Conference.  The women in the choir were all dressed in teal green dresses and the men in teal green ties.  The Stake President said they could replace the Mormon Tabernacle choir!!

There were talks about becoming "perfect" in Christ, about how the young women's program can help them to "Come unto Christ", about temple attendance, about the importance of scripture study, etc.  President Heid rehearsed his upcoming "5 minute" speech for  this Tuesday when he and Sister Heid have been invited to explain our religion to some Catholic seminary students.  This group has asked to visit temple square and some of our missionaries will be hosts.

Stake President, Isaac Morrison, is a powerful figure.  Nancy has some contact with him at the church Africa West Area Office since the travel department is under his supervision.  He is spiritual, dynamic and leads a very organized Stake.   He invited his wife to the stand and told everyone how much she means to him and how he loves her.  He he asked her to share her testimony and then he gave her a kiss in front of everyone!!  (Highly unusual to show public affection in this culture.  He was modeling how men should treat women.)

As part of his talk at Stake Conference, President Morrison had the Primary children (ages 3-11), the youth (ages 12-18), and the Single Adults (age 18-30) stand and sing the song, "I Am A Child of God".  What a group stood up!! It was more than 50% of those in attendance. Part of the lyrics for the song are....."teach me all that I must do, to live with Him someday." President Morrison asked the parents to teach the Rising Generation because they are the future of the church.  He quoted scriptures from the Book of Mormon (Mosiah 2:6) and how a prophet named King Benjamin instructed his people to gather as families and face their tents toward the temple.  Symbolically, we should live the gospel as we remember truths taught in the temple, as well as instruction from General Conference and local leaders.

President Morrison explained there were 2400 church members in his Stake:  Of those...
300 are Primary children (ages 3-11),
400 are Young men and Young women (ages 12-18), and
800 are Single Adults (ages 18-30).
TOTAL OF 1500 ages 3-30 and the rest 900 adults.

He called youth up to the stand to represent each age group.  On the left were two returned missionaries who are in their first year of university.  Then, there were two Primary children (the young boy was just baptized a few months ago).  Then on the right was a young woman who has recently spoken in Stake Conference and a young man who may be part of a church-wide question and answer session in August with an Apostle.  

At the conclusion the Stake President gave a blessing to all the youth that they would hold steadfast in their values, appreciate the Lord in their life, be "prosperous" in their school work, and love and be obedient to their parents.  It was a very powerful meeting!!

This week Brother Fall, a former missionary in our mission, sent this picture from BYU-Idaho where he is attending college.  He is the only church member in his family and is the only church member that we know of from Burkina Faso. He joined the church while attending college in Benin.  A US sponsor is helping him with college expenses.

Side note:  He wrote that during during a recent trip to Utah he went to the Salt Lake Temple and somehow met President Eyring and received a blessing.

Sunday we were invited to meet with the senior missionaries who live at Alema Court, an apartment complex a mile from the Accra airport.  Included in this group are the medical and mental health advisers for the Africa West Area, as well as those that help with auditing, humanitarian projects, young single adult programs, the BYU Pathway program towards a college degree, self reliance instruction, family history, etc.  It is quite a diverse group.  A few Sundays a month, they host a potluck for the eight couples and this time the Jones's and us were included.  We enjoyed the opportunity to meet, to mingle and to laugh with everyone.

Easter Monday Holiday and Organizing a New Stake

For Elder Pace, this week began with a trip to the Accra Country Club at 6:30 am for some golf practice with President and Sister Heid and Ryan Richards, (Area Legal Counsel). It was Monday, P-day, but it was also a holiday. (Easter Monday).  The course was overflowing with golf enthusiasts.  It was slow going and took nearly 5 hours to play 18 holes.  Stan thought he drank plenty of water but found himself questioning whether he was going to finish.  He was light-headed and thought that he might pass out.  He doesn't ever remember a time when he sweat so much.  (He doesn't remember the last 5 holes either). He was drenched from the top of his head to mid-thigh. It took a good 3 hours of water guzzling before he felt like lifting a finger and chewing some food.  He said, "We've got to get an earlier start!!"

His caddie this time was Wally.  He was a nice guy and very helpful.  Stan was so glad he didn't have to carry his clubs in these hot weather conditions.   Don't let this picture deceive you.  It didn't feel as good as the course looked.

Tuesday, Sister Heid and Sister Pace attended the Burma Hills District Meeting.  After the meeting, refreshments were served.  It was yam (a potato) with egg stew.  Egg stew is made from tomatoes, onions, powder pepper seasoning, and when the stew boils, eggs are whipped into the mixture.  It was actually ok... maybe a little spicy.  We shared with Elder Afoa, the Islander in the picture below, who can never get enough food!

Elder Lyman, with Elder Afoa, is from the US and has been in Ghana one week.  He is getting used to the culture quickly.

Sister Monday is from Nigeria.  She was the cook for the egg stew!

On Tuesday, President Heid set apart Morrison Godson Halm from the Kpong District (Asutuare Branch) as a missionary.  Then he headed to the Provo MTC for training prior to going to the Georgia Atlanta Mission.  Morrison received his call to serve in November.  We wondered aloud if he would get a visa to the US in time to report to the MTC in April, but he was blessed.  This is one of the few African missionaries we know who have been sent to the US.  We tried to prepare him for culture "shock" and told him about Georgia peaches, southern drawls, and peanuts! We would love to be a fly on the wall when he returns to Ghana in two years and tells about his experiences.

On Thursday Sister Heid invited the Sister Leaders and their companions to the mission home for some training.   While she instructed the STL's, the companions watched an LDS General Conference video from a few weeks ago.  Then they all had lunch at the Area office cafeteria and attended a temple session together.  Sister Heid said that in the three years she has been mission mom, there has not been a better group of sister missionaries!   

Saturday we attended an afternoon adult session of Stake Conference at the Stake Center building on the temple site.  (You can see President and Sister Heid seated on the front row, left hand side.)  This was a combined meeting for the Christianborg and Tema Stakes.  A third Stake would be formed on Sunday from these two units.

Elder Vinson, the Africa Area West President and a General Authority Seventy, presided. He said that he and his wife have been here in Ghana for almost four years.  When they arrived, there were 38 Stakes in West Africa and it that short time the number has doubled to 76.  During his remarks he commented that he has felt an urgency to extend the gospel blessings to the other eight countries in Africa West Area.  The church is not legally recognized there and many are Muslim countries, so the church proceeds cautiously.  He talked about Guinea and Mali (remember our experiences in August with a Mali family coming to be baptized) and the desire that people have to learn about the church.  

Elder Vinson also said that he knows that we all struggle to not have "other gods before me", as in reference to the Ten Commandments.  In ancient days there may have been idol worship, but now we need to avoid the trappings of materialism and holding on to traditions like extensive and expensive wedding ceremonies, when we should focus on the temple sealing where families are united for eternity.

Elder Vinson also asked the congregation to not just pray for the sick, poor and needy, but to seek them out and offer comfort.  

Sunday we went to the Ghana International Conference Center for Stake Conference.  It is in a nice setting, only a few blocks from the mission home.

Nancy is about to enter the main hall, but there were not any seats, so we headed up to the balcony area.

The venue holds 1600 in theater type seating and it was close to capacity. 

 The Paces and the Jones's are among many Africans!

During the meeting a new Stake (Teshie) was created from the Christiansborg, and Tema Stakes, including adding two units from the neighboring Ashaiman Stake.  The presiding authority, Elder Vinson, talked about how the church operates differently than a change in governments. Elder Vinson said sometimes the "obvious choice' is not the one who is asked to be a Stake President.  He reminded members that there was no election, no ballots and no politicking for a position. After interviews, the Lord made known his choice through revelation to the presiding authorities.

Elder Egbo, just called as an Area Seventy, said he was told that at least 50 investigators were in attendance at the meeting.  He then bore his testimony and related how the church is different from other religions....priesthood authority, the gift of the Holy Ghost, etc.

 There were even additional seats set up in the foyer of the main hall.

The crowd exiting after Conference

After conference, we were invited, along with President and Sister Heid, and the missionaries in the office, to dinner at the Jones's.  We had a hardy beef stew over potatoes and Nancy provided lave cake for dessert.  

The office elders and assistants to the President anticipating dinner to be served.  Elders Sebuliba, Magda, Anusiem and Bailey.  Elder George was just out of the picture.

 President enjoyed some "lighter" moments and shared some family activity pictures.

 The kitchen was a busy place

Bon appetit!!

More Farewells and Arrivals

This week was highlighted by the arrival of 10 new missionaries and the departure of 9 of our most experienced.  The mission really is like a "revolving" door, in a state of constant change.  We also welcomed a new Assistant to the President.  His name is Elder Bailey and he is from Liberty, UT just a short distance from Ogden, UT.

Elder Lyman attended the
Provo MTC and the others went                                         NEW ARRIVALS
to the Ghana MTC.  Elder Lyman 
was delayed coming on his mission
because had an appendicitis operation
and then returned to his home in Texas
to recover.  He came into Accra on 
a late flight from the US, so he has
been "hanging" at the mission
home getting adjusted to Ghana.

New AP, Elder Bailey, with AP Elder George, who has only been with us a few weeks also.  

On Monday and Tuesday we bade farewell to our dear Elder Beck, extreme left, two Tongans, five missionaries from Nigeria, and a sister from Kenya who was not in the picture. The two Tongans are from the same area and are relatives.  Another "brother" is serving in the Ghana Kumasi mission.  At one point all three on their mission were able to attend the Ghana Accra Temple together. 

Elder Beck was a great Zone Leader.  Prior to his mission he was in the Utah National Guard and make three jumps out of a plane.  He is from Lehi, UT, and lives quite near to Stan's mom.   Elder Beck will return to the National Guard and resume his college education. 

Also departing this week are the Websters from Sydney, Australia.  (Sister Webster is Maori and originally from New Zealand.) They have served as executive secretary to the Africa West Area Presidency.  This is essentially a 24/7 "job" as volunteer senior missionaries. They have become very dear friends and we will miss them terribly, especially since they are so efficient in their skill set, plus they choose where the senior couples go to dinner on Friday nights!!!! You might recall that Elder and Sister Webster had a visit from their son, (Stanton), and his wife several months ago.  In talking, we learned that our son Ryan and Stanton were companions while serving in Canada as missionaries.  

Once again, with arrivals and departures, we engaged in a major transfer.  The mission home was alive with activity.

Wednesday we attended Zone Council in the Christiansborg Zone.  Elders Nissinen and Allen are new Zone Leaders and conducted all the instruction.  They did a great job.  

Elder Nissinen is from Cornelius, Oregon.  His dad has a landscaping firm there and they maintain our yard at home while we are here in Africa.

This is the Frederick Dei-Oppong family, who stopped by the mission home this week to say goodbye to the Heids.   This family is heading for Salt Lake City for training for 18 months. Frederick is a Self-Reliance Operations Manager for the church here in Ghana, and was the "boss" for President and Sister Heid when they served as senior missionaries helping with the Perpetual Education Fund.

 Love this orange tree in bloom .

In preparation for the new mission president in July, the church did an appraisal of our building and grounds.  They painted the exterior of the mission home and decided for security purposes to increase the height of the wall around the perimeter.  The work is still in progress.  Sister Heid thinks this will make a great backboard for tennis practice!

Saturday, the Hadleys in the back, organized an Easter breakfast to say farewell to the Websters.

Our P-day activity for Saturday was to see the movie, "Beauty and The Beast."  We asked for the "senior" discount.  Our ticket categorized it differently.....   Isn't it nice to know that we are considered children again?  We start out life as a child and we finish up as a child!!

Had to share this picture of Stan and Wayne Jones starting the generator in a thunder and lightening storm last Sunday evening.  Normally the generator will come on automatically when the city electricity is lost, but on this occasion the Jones's lost power and our apartment still had lights.  So, a manual start was required.  They were master engineers and we had power!!

Friday was a special day in our family.  Our grandson, Calvin had his 8th birthday.  On Easter Sunday, his father baptized him and confirmed him a member of the Church.  We would have traveled to Pennsylvania for this occasion, but we are in Africa.  His other set of grandparents and a cousin were able to attend and support him.