There is always something different about each week in the mission field. We have the usual things, such as baptismal entries, referrals to send to the missionaries, and the taking care of missionary apartment problems. This past week we had a delightful couple come from Alpine, Utah and we were able to take some time out of the office to show them places to shop and get them somewhat acquainted to Africa. We also spent time teaching them about the apartments they will need to inspect and all the other responsibilities of couples. Elder and Sister Cosgrave will be a great addition to the Ho area and a blessing to the missionaries and people there. He is a family practitioner in Utah and he took a leave of absence long enough for he and his wife to serve a mission. He served in the bishopric of one of the wards in the Missionary Training Center in Provo and felt the great enthusiasm for missionary work there. On Saturday, President and Sister Judd drove to Ho to show them the way and to have them introduced to the branch on Sunday. I feel they will adapt well and their love for missionary work will strengthen us as well as the people in Ho.

We are starting the week out good with having to call Henry about problems with the electrical meter in the office. My companion has to buy the power for the electrical meter and this is the second month in a row that we have had problems with this. The first time it was the person in the power office that caused problems by not entering the amount correctly on the card and it looks like it might be something similar to that. We are so grateful Henry is willing to come in on a Sunday and help figure it all out. I wonder what else will make something different about this week.

Every six weeks there is some activity in the mission that has to be planned for. President and Sister Judd and the Assistants are continually in the process of this planning. There are transfers of new missionaries, Zone interviews, Zone conferences, and then it starts all over again. There usually is only a couple of weeks time between each of these, so it is very constant, and I am amazed at how it all goes as well as it does. We like to make sure we help out in all the ways we are asked, and we feel blessed to be able to develop talents we didn't even know were possible. Already we are planning for our couples conference around Thanksgiving, and the Christmas Mission Conference.

I have been gathering the necessary information for those missionaries who have not had patriarchal blessings to be able to get them. These are always the African missionaries because they joined the church at a older age. My filling out the form helps President Judd make the interview process easier so he can spend the time with the missionary and not in filling out the form.It is a blessing that they can get this while they are serving their mission.

The primary president, Sister Owusu, finally returned from being gone for four months. She was with a daughter who had a baby helping her during that time. Things had changed in primary with the younger and older class being divided, so she was a bit confused today. I decided to not dwell on anything negative about being gone for so long and got her back in the swing of things by having her take an assignment for next week. I asked her to invite President Ampomah to speak to the children about prayer next week in sharing time and he told me that she had asked him. That is something I wanted a member of the branch presidency to be doing, so maybe this will be the start. It is taking patience and small steps, but we are seeing progress. I always need to remember that I have know these things for a long time, and these dear people are so new to the gospel, yet are so willing if done in love. I still am amazed at how the church is growing throughout the world and the little that we do to help with that is a great opportunity. I have been bearing my testimony about the doctrine I am teaching the children and have not worried about whether they understand my words or not. I feel I am seeing a difference because I am doing this. The Holy Ghost is testifying to them and that is what they must feel in order for the words to have any meaning at all to them. They are just so delightful and fun to be with.

Well dear family and friends, it has been a long day and apartment inspections are tomorrow. The peanut butter sandwich on the way home from Senchi satisfied me then but has long worn off. Always remember to count your blessings, naming them one by one, and you will be surprised at what the Lord has done.

With love,
Sister Avery (mom, grandma)