It is five o'clock and we just arrived back in Accra from spending our Sabbath day in Senchi. The children did well in the Sacrament Program and I hope they remember this experience for the years to come. It was the first time a Primary Sacrament Program had been done there and I hope it will not be the last. Sister Duodo said that now they know how it is to be done that they will do it. I had to make last minute changes when children did not come and others came that had not been there for some time. Sorry to say, but I only had the time during the passing of the Sacrament to do this, so my focus was not where it should have been. Hydielynn was running a fever since Saturday, but she was determined to come and do her part and sing her solo verse. Her mother did very well leading the children in singing and I hope she grew in confidence during the experience. Sister Duodo held the microphone for the children and helped them with their parts when they needed it. I am really working with these dear sisters in taking the leadership role and decision making more and more.
Brother Coleman, who is over the church buildings, had a new microphone system (cordless) installed and it made everything so much better. The mic didn't have static or stop working at any given moment like the old system. The primary room and young women room now have nice bulletin boards which he had installed also this week. I feel that these improvements and others that have been made in the past few months, really help these dear saints to feel they are recognized and appreciated.
We had four baptisms today and then PEC meeting after that. Then we had our first experience of going to Odumase to deliver three packages for a missionary serving there. Just when I think we have seen all the deeply rutted roads there can possibly be, we have to go and find more. Wow! what a ride. But, we are always blessed to help bring a little bit of home to these missionaries, especially when there is Captain Crunch cereal in the packages.

We have missionaries that also serve from Ghana and they have to fill out the Missionary Recommendation forms like any other missionary. I am responsible for checking them over for completion, and making sure they are the correct forms. Missionaries serving from their own country use a 'short form' and some of the church units have not been using this form. I then have to call and inform them that after November 30th, the old forms will not be accepted. This last group of Recommendations to come in had incorrect birth years when checked by the Area Presidency Office with their Church records. I made several phone calls in order to correct the errors. It actually amazes me that in this land, so far away from Church Headquarters, that all of this goes as well as it does.

The referrals continue to come, baptisms take place, Branches/Wards/Groups are organized, and with 29 new missionaries coming this Wednesday, more areas are opened, more districts created, and more young missionaries are training these new young missionaries. I know this goes on all over the world, although I don't know if to the same degree that we are experiencing. It is an exciting time and almost exhausting challenge for our Mission President, as we see this up close and personal serving in this capacity. He and his dear wife just keep pressing forward with energy that can only come from their faith in our Savior and there love for Him and His work.

I think I will close with a quote from C.S. Lewis that was in Elder Soares Conference talk. I feel this is so vital to a world that is struggling with so many 'ills'. "Our real selves are all waiting for us in Him. The more I resist Him and try to live on my own, the more I become dominated by my own heredity and upbringing and surroundings and natural desires...It is when I turn to Christ, when I give myself up to His Personality, that I first begin to have a real personality of my own." (Mere Christianity, p.189)
I find it difficult to explain why this impacted me so much, but I am sure I am not the only one who will give this a lot of pondering.

With love,
Sister Avery (mom, grandma)