We are having lots of heavy rain lately. I feel for the people who make their living by selling on the streets. Even though the rain comes and goes during the day, they certainly can't be making as much money as when they can be selling without having to stop for the rain. I also wonder about how weather proof their little shacks are. Last evening, we took Linda home after her piano lesson because the rain was so hard. As we traveled to her home, we had to go through an area that is called Zonga (slums). Apparently this is a term that is used for many of these kinds of areas. It is many different ethic groups, but mainly Muslim, that live in this area. I thought I had already seen the worst living conditions, but this topped all I have seen thus far. There was garbage everywhere and the rain just made it look so much worse. There was a large,deep,cement culvert with "shops" lined on both sides, that was flowing fast and deep with dirty water mixed with garbage. Most of the time there is much greenery that I can concentrate on so I don't focus so much on the poverty, but there was none to experience there. Oh how grateful we should be for what we have even if we feel we don't have much. There definitely is wealth here, but sooo many live pretty much as I have described.
We recently received instruction from the Missionary Department that our mission is to act as the parent mission for the new Ghana Accra West Mission. That means that the missionaries that are being assigned to that mission need to have a welcome letter and it has to come from us. The new mission will be official on July 1st, and then the new mission president will be responsible for contacting the missionaries. Until then, it has to come from us and so I have been doing letters for all of them as well as our own. I am always so grateful when missionaries have email addresses to send the letters, but the African and Island missionaries don't and it is difficult where to send them. I cannot access their contact information to find a branch, stake, or mission president to help send the letter through pouch, because it is not our mission. I am mostly having trouble with some of them from Nigeria. I have emailed the Nigerian missions but only heard back from one of them and will need to follow up with them on the urgency of this matter. Wow, does a mission every stretch a person. I am sure there are other mission secretaries out there doing the same thing and I guess that somehow helps to think that.
I am so proud of my companion and how he takes all these calls from the missionaries about their apartment, phone, and money problems, and does it cheerfully. I am the one who says "if we get one more call about a problem, I will not answer the phone." Oh it can be over-whelming, but he never acts like it and handles each one with love and encouraging words. He does challenge them, at times, to think how they can solve the problem themselves when he thinks that is possible for them.
Senchi was good today, although I had primary by myself again. My companion came in again to sit with Nelson and Cephas and feels they are doing better. They don't have a father figure in their life and I think they just need the attention and, of course, discipline. We had a branch council meeting after the block and much was expressed about how the new converts need to have a calling. We talked about how training can take place and that they can learn and grow as they serve. It is a concept that our branch presidency are not sure will work because some of the people don't read and write.. I was sad to hear such feelings expressed. Yes there will probably be many times that people will not accept,or even if they do, not be committed to the work. But what if that is just what they need and they blossom because of the opportunity. One certainly doesn't have to read and write to go as a home teacher or visiting teacher to love another person and encourage them, or use a talent they have with them There is so much potential in everyone and we must allow ourselves to see as the Lord sees. After this we went to visit Julana and Nelson and Cephas. When she joined the church, that put an end to having a place to live. She asked an old man to let her and her boys live in a portion of his place. I saw the mat that they sleep on on the cement floor with no blanket for padding or warmth during the rainy season. We will be taking things to her next week for sure. We then visited a counselor in the district presidency and his wife and daughter. Because of all the rain, we choose not to take our vehicle all the way to his place, so we walked a good distance to get there. I have the beginnings of a blister on the bottom of my foot from not having the proper shoe for the walk, but it was worth it all. His wife is the teacher for the primary that has not been coming and I hope our coming to visit made a difference. I told Elder Amumi that he was inspired to take us there. Brother and Sister Boateng and Heidi-Lynn were pleased that we came.
Well it has been a long day so I will close and express how grateful I am for the gospel of Jesus Christ and how blessed I am to have such a wonderful family. This, of course, includes all our siblings and their loved ones. They are always in our prayers.
With love,
Sister Avery (mom,grandma)
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Continuing to Learn
I was told, when I was just starting school as a child, that I had difficulty learning to read. I don't recollect who or what was influential in my young life to change that difficulty, but I feel I have always loved to read. I have so appreciated the insight of others and have been blessed to know truth when I've read or heard it. I have difficulty putting my thoughts and feelings into words, and feel it is as much a gift to believe on the words of others as it is to have them as my own. This brings me to a small book that I have been reading to my companion as we travel to Senchi each Sunday. "To Draw Closer To God" is a collection of discourses by President Henry B. Erying. D&C 88:63 reads, "Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." We have been reading how we can claim these promises and are being reminded that as we yield our hearts unto God, asking him what it is he would have us do, then we will know that he will prepare a way for us to do it, even under great difficulties. I surely do love to learn and I pray my heart is always open, because this mission in Africa is teaching me more than I ever thought possible.
I recently received the Missionary Recommendation of someone I know. My first experience with Matthew Roundy was in the High School production of Les Miserables. I was impressed with his talent and am delighted to learn that he is the grandson of the late Grover Swallow. I worked at the Swallow Pharmacy during my high school years and learned a lot from his grandfather. He is coming to the Ghana Accra Mission in September and even though he probably won't know me, I will be able to share what I know about him. Who would think someone from the same Stake would be called to this same mission. It was fun to read the priesthood leaders comments and I could just hear President Phillips and Bishop Matthew's voice as I read them. I take delight in things such as this.
I have another experience with one of the special interviews that President Judd recently had. I was privilege to meet a delightful older women that had been taught by the missionaries for a long time. Her husband, who was with her, is one of the early pioneers of Africa that embraced the gospel. She, on the other hand, said she would never be baptized. She loved the missionaries and called them "her boys", but she refused to be baptized. Well, when one of her previous missionaries, that had loved her and worked so diligently with her, came into the office and saw her waiting her turn to be interviewed, I think the roof raised up because of the joy that was expressed. It was truly a beautiful experience.
This picture is what we experienced last week on our way back from Senchi. Thank goodness it does not happen every week!
The picture above is a common sight we see when we travel to Senchi. It is a bag full of homemade charcoal that the people use to cook with and it is placed along side the road for people to purchase.
The Sunday we traveled to Tsito and Ho, we passed through what we call "pillow town". Colorful pillows for sale line the streets.
This is another town that sells clay pots and they also line the streets to be sold.
If you look real close (I think you can click on the picture and see it closer), there is a woman with a sewing machine in its case on her head. These dear people amaze me what heavy and bulky items they can carry on their heads.
This is a view of the beautiful green foliage that is up that area.
When I was taking the picture above this one, I discovered this mother hen and her chicks. It was fun to watch them scratch in the weeds looking for bugs to eat. I think they were so intent on eating that they didn't even care that I was so close to them.
The goats in this land are very small and are everywhere. I watched this one for awhile while my companion and some missionaries were engaged in a activity. It would have been fun to have had a video of what I watched because she eventually moved to some small bushes with flowering stems growing up from them and how she got on her hind legs to be able to pull the long stem down so she could eat the flowers.
That was a lot of pictures all at once, but I wasn't able to add them when I first took them.
A quick update on primary today in Senchi. My companion felt so sorry for the hard time I had last week that he said if the leaders and teacher did not come today, he would come in and help me. Well the did not come, so he had a great experience. Juliana who was baptized two weeks ago, has two sons named Nelson (4) and Cephas (6). Church is such a new thing to them that they really haven't learned the slightest thing about reverence. I was able to teach the children about the obedience of Nephi in building a ship and the law of tithing. There was 25+ children today and it went well. Those two little boys were all smiles after primary because they have a great new friend who patiently encouraged them to keep their hands to themselves. I believe in time, they will adjust (we sure hope they will). The real problem is that primary leaders and teacher are not taking their calling seriously and I must have hope for them also.
It was our dear grandson Camran's birthday this last week and we express how much we love him.
With love,
Sister Avery (mom,grandma)
I recently received the Missionary Recommendation of someone I know. My first experience with Matthew Roundy was in the High School production of Les Miserables. I was impressed with his talent and am delighted to learn that he is the grandson of the late Grover Swallow. I worked at the Swallow Pharmacy during my high school years and learned a lot from his grandfather. He is coming to the Ghana Accra Mission in September and even though he probably won't know me, I will be able to share what I know about him. Who would think someone from the same Stake would be called to this same mission. It was fun to read the priesthood leaders comments and I could just hear President Phillips and Bishop Matthew's voice as I read them. I take delight in things such as this.
I have another experience with one of the special interviews that President Judd recently had. I was privilege to meet a delightful older women that had been taught by the missionaries for a long time. Her husband, who was with her, is one of the early pioneers of Africa that embraced the gospel. She, on the other hand, said she would never be baptized. She loved the missionaries and called them "her boys", but she refused to be baptized. Well, when one of her previous missionaries, that had loved her and worked so diligently with her, came into the office and saw her waiting her turn to be interviewed, I think the roof raised up because of the joy that was expressed. It was truly a beautiful experience.
This picture is what we experienced last week on our way back from Senchi. Thank goodness it does not happen every week!
When I was taking the picture above this one, I discovered this mother hen and her chicks. It was fun to watch them scratch in the weeds looking for bugs to eat. I think they were so intent on eating that they didn't even care that I was so close to them.
That was a lot of pictures all at once, but I wasn't able to add them when I first took them.
A quick update on primary today in Senchi. My companion felt so sorry for the hard time I had last week that he said if the leaders and teacher did not come today, he would come in and help me. Well the did not come, so he had a great experience. Juliana who was baptized two weeks ago, has two sons named Nelson (4) and Cephas (6). Church is such a new thing to them that they really haven't learned the slightest thing about reverence. I was able to teach the children about the obedience of Nephi in building a ship and the law of tithing. There was 25+ children today and it went well. Those two little boys were all smiles after primary because they have a great new friend who patiently encouraged them to keep their hands to themselves. I believe in time, they will adjust (we sure hope they will). The real problem is that primary leaders and teacher are not taking their calling seriously and I must have hope for them also.
It was our dear grandson Camran's birthday this last week and we express how much we love him.
With love,
Sister Avery (mom,grandma)
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Will I ever not complain!
I hope all you Mothers had a great day last week. By the time we returned from our day in Senchi, Tsito, and Ho it was 8pm and I was much too tired to go to the office. It was a good day and I was happy to serve the missionaries in those areas by bringing them their mail etc. They never complain about being so far from the Mission Home and actually enjoy being out from all the busyness of the city. I had taken pictures that I wanted to add but when we went to the office tonight to write, the internet was off and we decided to come home. Since we only have the one computer at home, my companion said he could wait to write so I could write a little.
It has been great but busy week with missionaries departing and new missionaries coming. It is hard to describe our small office with sooooo many missionaries needing reimbursement, requesting items for their apartments, handing in baptismal records, getting their mail, etc. They are a delight, but by the end of the day; well, you get the idea. We had another missionary that wanted to go home. President Judd spent hours with her, but she had made up her mind. But there was an Elder that was serving in Cape Coast Mission that was going to go home and at the last minute, asked himself "what am I doing? My family has disowned me for joining the church, so why am I going home. I will regret it for the rest of my life if I go home." He was able to contact Elder Dickson of the Area Seventy and change everything and is now serving in our mission and doing well.
I had the wonderful experience of meeting a young mother who came to receive her endowment in the temple. She had her baby of four months with her and he just melted my heart. He smiled and laughed when I talked to him, and now the rest of the story. He was born premature and his mother was by herself and took him with the umbilical cord still attached and got a taxi to go to the hospital. He was so tiny that he fit in the palm of Elder Dalton's hand. He was meant to live, because under those conditions he should not have. I love stories like this as it is a reminder to me He is watching over us all.
Today was a difficult day at the Senchi Branch. Last week, Sister Owusu and Duodu and I had divided up the responsibilities of teaching but they never came to do their part. The children were struggling with reverence today and with new children just about every week, we really need all of us there so when one is teaching, the others sit by the children to help with the problems. I think the language is still part of the problem. Nephi and the Brass Plates was a good story to keep their interest and they love to sing, but I didn't even try the concept of tithing. Sister Owusu was to teach that and I was not prepared with anything visual to help them understand. On the way home, we were stuck in traffic for about an hour and a half. I took pictures of the congestion that we experienced that maybe will give an idea of three lanes of traffic in one single lane. It doesn't have all the horn honking and exhaust fumes that were also experienced. I will add them in a later blog as they are on the computer in the office.
I have to admit that there are times when I say that I would not miss Africa one bit. But I know there is so much more to it than the traffic, noisy children, and teachers that don't show up. I just have such a desire to look at a trying situation and be able to not complain and instead find something good about it. I guess in the desiring, I can have some hope that it will come.
We missed being able to skype with our Shelton family because of internet problems at the office and we can't get skype at our apartment. I want our sweet Cooper and Avery to know how much I missed seeing their sweet faces and that I love them so much. Our dear Oriana, Alexibia, Xander, Nickolas, Isabel, and Naomi emailed us tonight and it was good to hear how they are doing. We sure miss our family and love them all.
With love,
Sister Avery (mom, grandma)
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Wow! month of May already
The time is sure getting close as to when our mission will be split. I only see a portion of what has to be done to make that all happen in the short time we have left. President Judd and the Assistants have so many decisions to make, in regards to placing Elders and Sisters, so that the new mission has strong missionaries to begin with. This needs to take place on this next transfer, which is the 15th of May as well as the 26th of June transfer. We have 16 new missionaries in May and 28 new missionaries in June. Because the Ghana Accra West mission will have different transfer days than us, that has to be a deciding factor also as to where to place the missionaries that are completing their mission in August. The 17 missionaries scheduled to leave in August will need their flight plans started very soon and that is one of the factors that makes this transition to a new mission challenging. If they are put in the West Mission, I arrange according to those release dates. If they are still in our mission, then I arrange according to our release dates. Needless to say, we pray for President Judd a lot!!
I keep wondering when the cooler weather is going to start, or if it will. Once in awhile, when it rains, I have hope, but it doesn't last long. Everyone here carries a cloth with them to wipe the sweat off them as they go about their daily activities. Yet, I see people wearing suits which I wonder how they can do it. Then there are those, that ride motorcycles, who wear coats on those days when the temperature is a FEW degrees cooler. But then when I think how they are wrapped in a cloth and carried on their mother's backs from the time they are first born, it makes a little more sense.
I feel grateful to have nice flowers, trees, and grass around our apartment. When I look out our kitchen window, to what could be called the back yard, it is interesting to watch the washing of clothes and hanging them to dry by Bubba mostly. His little room doesn't seem to have a place to cook, so from my observation, I believe the woman tenant cooks for him and he washes her clothes. She has a car and goes every morning at 6:30 to some kind of work and he takes care of the washing. I feel grateful also that we are on a city water line and our poly tank gets filled automatically. Many places have to have water delivered to fill their poly tanks and that it the cause of much of our missionaries water problems. The other is that we have to have pumps so that we have some water pressure so the water can flow into our apartments. Even though it is so different than home, I am so grateful for what we have.
Today was the Sunday that I think all of Ghana, if not more countries, watch a session or two of General Conference. The wards and branches receive a DVD and we watch a portion or all of the Saturday afternoon session so we can do the sustaining of the Church leaders, and then watch the Sunday morning session. It didn't quite go according to plan in Senchi, but it all worked out. We agreed with Sister Adjei that they should stop the English recording and do it in Twi so the people could understand better and that soon was taken care of; I think they were doing it just for us. After the session, we had a baptism of 2 boys and 2 girls from the same family. The parents had not had their interviews yet, so hopefully their baptism will be next Sunday. Princilla and Joy are the two girls and are in primary. I want to get them a CTR ring, Book of Mormon, and a Gospel In Action booklet to keep them moving forward in the Gospel. It happens a lot in these small branches where the programs just don't quite function as they should. I am trying to help change that, but it is a gradual process for sure.
Next Sunday after the meetings, we need to travel about 45 min. to Tsito to pick up one of Elder Thompson's suitcases so he doesn't have to pay an extra fee on the trotro. He completes his mission on the 14th of May and his father is coming to pick him up. His Dad is a brother to Jayne Smith who is our late Donna Avery's daughter-in-law. He said because we were practically family, he would bring me corn tortillas so we could make some real tacos. I wonder how it will all work, but I am so glad he is willing to try. Anyway, I am wanting to take some more pictures to put here, as we should see some more interesting country as we travel further north.
Speaking of the north, I had one of our missionaries call me and want me to find a branch in Tamale (taw-maw-lee, correction from an earlier blog). He has an investigator who will be returning to her home there and wants to connect with the Church. I first got on the Church's site to find if we even have missionaries there and we do. Tamale is in the far north of the Kumasi Mission and as of a couple of months ago, 8 missionaries were sent into that area. There is not a branch, but they have what is called a Group. This happens quite often, I guess, where the membership is so small. Anyway, I think it is exciting and I was able to email the Kumasi Mission and get a phone number of an Elder White that was transferred to Tamale. The missionary that asked me to find all of this out, actually knows Elder White and was excited to contact him about this investigator. I continue to be amazed at all that is taking place with the gospel filling the earth, which brings me to a neat part I found out about Tamale. It is a predominately Muslim country but because there are no militant groups occupied there, and no Islamic control in the government, there is no danger to Christians there. Exciting stuff!
Well, we are back to apartment inspections tomorrow and one of the apartments is in a new area and we do not have coordinates in the GPS for that one. We will really have to rely on the missionaries to come meet us at a spot that we can get to, so it could get interesting. Happy trails to us!!
PS Our Xander was baptized and confirmed yesterday. We are so proud of him for accepting this wonderful ordinance. Our Jason graduated from Suu with honors. We are so proud of him!
With love,
Sister Avery (mom & grandma)
I keep wondering when the cooler weather is going to start, or if it will. Once in awhile, when it rains, I have hope, but it doesn't last long. Everyone here carries a cloth with them to wipe the sweat off them as they go about their daily activities. Yet, I see people wearing suits which I wonder how they can do it. Then there are those, that ride motorcycles, who wear coats on those days when the temperature is a FEW degrees cooler. But then when I think how they are wrapped in a cloth and carried on their mother's backs from the time they are first born, it makes a little more sense.
I feel grateful to have nice flowers, trees, and grass around our apartment. When I look out our kitchen window, to what could be called the back yard, it is interesting to watch the washing of clothes and hanging them to dry by Bubba mostly. His little room doesn't seem to have a place to cook, so from my observation, I believe the woman tenant cooks for him and he washes her clothes. She has a car and goes every morning at 6:30 to some kind of work and he takes care of the washing. I feel grateful also that we are on a city water line and our poly tank gets filled automatically. Many places have to have water delivered to fill their poly tanks and that it the cause of much of our missionaries water problems. The other is that we have to have pumps so that we have some water pressure so the water can flow into our apartments. Even though it is so different than home, I am so grateful for what we have.
Today was the Sunday that I think all of Ghana, if not more countries, watch a session or two of General Conference. The wards and branches receive a DVD and we watch a portion or all of the Saturday afternoon session so we can do the sustaining of the Church leaders, and then watch the Sunday morning session. It didn't quite go according to plan in Senchi, but it all worked out. We agreed with Sister Adjei that they should stop the English recording and do it in Twi so the people could understand better and that soon was taken care of; I think they were doing it just for us. After the session, we had a baptism of 2 boys and 2 girls from the same family. The parents had not had their interviews yet, so hopefully their baptism will be next Sunday. Princilla and Joy are the two girls and are in primary. I want to get them a CTR ring, Book of Mormon, and a Gospel In Action booklet to keep them moving forward in the Gospel. It happens a lot in these small branches where the programs just don't quite function as they should. I am trying to help change that, but it is a gradual process for sure.
Next Sunday after the meetings, we need to travel about 45 min. to Tsito to pick up one of Elder Thompson's suitcases so he doesn't have to pay an extra fee on the trotro. He completes his mission on the 14th of May and his father is coming to pick him up. His Dad is a brother to Jayne Smith who is our late Donna Avery's daughter-in-law. He said because we were practically family, he would bring me corn tortillas so we could make some real tacos. I wonder how it will all work, but I am so glad he is willing to try. Anyway, I am wanting to take some more pictures to put here, as we should see some more interesting country as we travel further north.
Speaking of the north, I had one of our missionaries call me and want me to find a branch in Tamale (taw-maw-lee, correction from an earlier blog). He has an investigator who will be returning to her home there and wants to connect with the Church. I first got on the Church's site to find if we even have missionaries there and we do. Tamale is in the far north of the Kumasi Mission and as of a couple of months ago, 8 missionaries were sent into that area. There is not a branch, but they have what is called a Group. This happens quite often, I guess, where the membership is so small. Anyway, I think it is exciting and I was able to email the Kumasi Mission and get a phone number of an Elder White that was transferred to Tamale. The missionary that asked me to find all of this out, actually knows Elder White and was excited to contact him about this investigator. I continue to be amazed at all that is taking place with the gospel filling the earth, which brings me to a neat part I found out about Tamale. It is a predominately Muslim country but because there are no militant groups occupied there, and no Islamic control in the government, there is no danger to Christians there. Exciting stuff!
Well, we are back to apartment inspections tomorrow and one of the apartments is in a new area and we do not have coordinates in the GPS for that one. We will really have to rely on the missionaries to come meet us at a spot that we can get to, so it could get interesting. Happy trails to us!!
PS Our Xander was baptized and confirmed yesterday. We are so proud of him for accepting this wonderful ordinance. Our Jason graduated from Suu with honors. We are so proud of him!
With love,
Sister Avery (mom & grandma)
Sunday, April 28, 2013
BYU-Idaho visits Ghana!
The Collegiate Singers from BYU-Idaho held concerts in the Kumasi, Cape Coast, and Ghana Accra Missions. The performed at eleven places in these missions and were well received. There purpose in coming was in praise of faith, country and international brotherhood. I did not know this, but BYU-Idaho operates 80 satellite facilities world-wide, including two in Accra. In these locations a fine tertiary education is available to qualifying students at minimal cost. Called Pathway, this approach to higher education combines secular learning with religious and moral development. A choir of Pathway students performed with the Collegiate Singers one of those nights and it was the night we attended. They sang the Ghanaian National Anthem and also a song in one of the languages, which I think was Twi, and did a great job. They did some numbers with drums which was a big hit with the people. The Impossible Dream, one of my favorite, was sung by all the men of the Collegiate Singers. There were words to some of the songs in our program, as these were special arrangements of scripture. One was the scripture where Nephi says, "O wretched man am I"---Awake, my soul! rejoice, my heart! and let me praise again the Lord my God, who is my rock and stay. Another beautiful arrangement was, "children all over the world, we shall rise up in unity, we shall rise up in harmony, we shall rise up in faith, we shall rise up in love, we shall rise up in dignity, we shall rise up in charity, we shall rise up in faith, we shall rise up in hope, Children all over the world, we shall rise!" Yes, we must all rise to the greatness within each of us made possible through the Atonement of our Savior.
I have a correction to make from my last blog. It is regarding the woman that was Muslim and came to Ghana and converted to Christianity. She came from the country of Mali which is all Muslim and Christians are treated with contempt, even death. In Ghana, there are many Muslims, but they and the Christians live side by side with no hostility. Ghana has many problems, mainly because of political dealings (we know about that, right), but it really is a peace-loving country, especially when compared with some of the neighboring countries.
We have a missionary couple serving as Public Relation missionaries and I was excited to find out that he wrote the book that became a favorite of mine. His name is Terry C. Warner and he wrote the book "Bonds that make us Free." He has also written other articles and I have listened to his lectures on BYU TV. He and Sister Warner were instrumental in organizing the advertising for the Collegiate Singers that recently performed, and are involved with an open house that is held one night every week at the Temple grounds Stake Center. I am always amazed at how small the world really is when you can meet someone, whose work you admire, thousands of miles away in Ghana.
I must share a name I am called by several of the people we work with and have become close too. I understand it is a said out of respect and I feel honored and hope I am deserving. When I first heard it, I thought they were calling me Mame (sp), but found out they were saying Mum, which is the same as Mom. It must be because of the grey hair and all the wisdom that comes with it, ha ha. Anyway, it is a delight to be called that and it helps a little with family so far away.
Primary was all on me today, which was a surprise, but then I shouldn't be too surprised. I need to visit with the others that it is a courtesy that they let me know when they won't be there. The lesson was on the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, and sharing time was on the Priesthood being conferred on Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. I had Thomas, a 14 year old recent convert, come and talk on the Aaronic Priesthood part, and Elder Avery on the Melchizedek part. Thomas is such an intelligent young man and did a wonderful job. In fact, he pulled out his notes from his pocket but put them back and spoke from his heart. We really praised him! After church today, he pulled Elder Avery aside and told him that he leaves for boarding school soon and that he is sponsored to go and so has his meals provided every day, but on Sunday he is given only a piece of bread. Well, of course, we gave him some money and told him he would need to be wise with it so it would sustain him over a longer period of time. Anyway, there was more to our day than a tired missionary can write, so I will just say it was a good day.
I finished up with the hemming of some curtains for the new apartments we are needing with so many missionaries coming. I also wanted to spruce up our apartment some, much to my companions unspoken reluctance. I found some decent curtains in a cupboard in our apartment, and fixed them so they could be hung and washed the dirty sheers that were already hanging, and even he said it made things look better. I appreciated his help in the project. We also had a bare kitchen window, so I found a sheet in the cupboard that had some vines of yellow roses on it, and cut and hemmed it so it made a nice curtain for the kitchen. That and fixing meals for lunches for the coming week, took all of Saturday, but it was well worth it.
Well, it is getting late and we still need a little dinner. The peanut butter sandwich and apple we eat on the way home from Senchi was hours ago and a little something before going to bed will help until morning.
With love,
Sister Avery (mom,grandma)
I have a correction to make from my last blog. It is regarding the woman that was Muslim and came to Ghana and converted to Christianity. She came from the country of Mali which is all Muslim and Christians are treated with contempt, even death. In Ghana, there are many Muslims, but they and the Christians live side by side with no hostility. Ghana has many problems, mainly because of political dealings (we know about that, right), but it really is a peace-loving country, especially when compared with some of the neighboring countries.
We have a missionary couple serving as Public Relation missionaries and I was excited to find out that he wrote the book that became a favorite of mine. His name is Terry C. Warner and he wrote the book "Bonds that make us Free." He has also written other articles and I have listened to his lectures on BYU TV. He and Sister Warner were instrumental in organizing the advertising for the Collegiate Singers that recently performed, and are involved with an open house that is held one night every week at the Temple grounds Stake Center. I am always amazed at how small the world really is when you can meet someone, whose work you admire, thousands of miles away in Ghana.
I must share a name I am called by several of the people we work with and have become close too. I understand it is a said out of respect and I feel honored and hope I am deserving. When I first heard it, I thought they were calling me Mame (sp), but found out they were saying Mum, which is the same as Mom. It must be because of the grey hair and all the wisdom that comes with it, ha ha. Anyway, it is a delight to be called that and it helps a little with family so far away.
Primary was all on me today, which was a surprise, but then I shouldn't be too surprised. I need to visit with the others that it is a courtesy that they let me know when they won't be there. The lesson was on the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, and sharing time was on the Priesthood being conferred on Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. I had Thomas, a 14 year old recent convert, come and talk on the Aaronic Priesthood part, and Elder Avery on the Melchizedek part. Thomas is such an intelligent young man and did a wonderful job. In fact, he pulled out his notes from his pocket but put them back and spoke from his heart. We really praised him! After church today, he pulled Elder Avery aside and told him that he leaves for boarding school soon and that he is sponsored to go and so has his meals provided every day, but on Sunday he is given only a piece of bread. Well, of course, we gave him some money and told him he would need to be wise with it so it would sustain him over a longer period of time. Anyway, there was more to our day than a tired missionary can write, so I will just say it was a good day.
I finished up with the hemming of some curtains for the new apartments we are needing with so many missionaries coming. I also wanted to spruce up our apartment some, much to my companions unspoken reluctance. I found some decent curtains in a cupboard in our apartment, and fixed them so they could be hung and washed the dirty sheers that were already hanging, and even he said it made things look better. I appreciated his help in the project. We also had a bare kitchen window, so I found a sheet in the cupboard that had some vines of yellow roses on it, and cut and hemmed it so it made a nice curtain for the kitchen. That and fixing meals for lunches for the coming week, took all of Saturday, but it was well worth it.
Well, it is getting late and we still need a little dinner. The peanut butter sandwich and apple we eat on the way home from Senchi was hours ago and a little something before going to bed will help until morning.
With love,
Sister Avery (mom,grandma)
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Couple Missionaries!
We so need couple missionaries, and I am sure this is true all over the world. This coming Tuesday, we lose Elder and Sister Lyon (our African lyons) who have served in Ho, and on May 16th, we lose Elder and Sister Dalton who have served in Abomosu. The Daltons' have been instrumental in many couples receiving their Temple Endowments and being sealed as families. They even have had children named after them, which says a lot about their service among the people. Elder and Sister Scoville have only been here since September, a month before us, but recently returned home for medical reasons that were just not being resolved here. They plan to come back and we sure hope so. That leaves only Elder Avery and I, and President and Sister Judd. We do have the Nielsons who are coming on June 3rd, and the Cosgraves' who are coming August 11th. However, we are moving farther north in Ghana, and more will be needed in the future, plus there will be the Ghana Accra West Mission on July 1st.
I have been busy getting all the paper work done for missionaries being released May 14th. It requires arranging their flight itinerary, letting parents and mission/stake presidents know of their release date, and preparing their release certificates and letter to their priesthood leader. It was a bitter/sweet moment for these missionaries when I first called them a month ago to arrange the airport closest to their home. It becomes a reality at that point, and is exciting, yet also a time of wondering how their mission went so quickly. It will be nice to not have any missionaries going home in June, as we have 27 that are coming in June, but that just means more apartments to acquire and furnish. In other words, the work continues to move forward and we are needed to move with it. It is not about our being left behind if we don't move either. It is simply that we must move and do all we can, and trust that the Lord will strengthen us, give us ideas, and make it all possible.
We had a wonderful District Conference in Kpong today (k is silent). (For those who may not know, Branches are under the leadership of a District President and the Mission President is over all the Branches and Districts. There are many Wards and Stakes, but they are in the Greater Accra Region. The Branches are in the Eastern and Volta Regions.) I am so amazed with the spiritual knowledge and understanding of these leaders. We were taught to strengthen our families in the gospel and for love and harmony to permeate our homes. One young women was asked to share her testimony and told us of an experience she had with her co-workers where she bore testimony so strongly of chastity and the word of wisdom. I was so emotionally moved by her strong conviction or the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Another young father talked of how the very chapel we were meeting in was built on marshy land that no one else wanted, but because it was reinforced and built on a good foundation, it is secure and strong. He compared that to building our families on a sure foundation of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,..." whereon if men build, they will not fall." Another spoke of being one with God and with each other. A counselor in the District Presidency spoke eloquently on the Law of Tithing. Sister Judd spoke on the Gift of Christ's Atonement and the Gift of the Holy Ghost. President Judd had a lovely women and her child come to the front where he told how he met her. It was when Elder Scott Grow was here visiting and being shown the areas in the mission. President Judd saw this women in a crowd of people and felt he needed to make contact with her. When he stopped the car and asked her to come speak with him, he found out that she came from Tamale (t is silent), a land far north of us. The northern part of Ghana is predominately Muslim. Anyway, she had left her homeland and converted to Christianity. Because of this act of President Judd's she is now being taught by the
missionaries. (Our Elder Amumi and Elder Royce, of the Senchi Branch, are also teaching a mother of two young children who is Muslim. Her family is angry with her about this choice she is making and she doesn't know what the future holds for her if she joins the church.) President Judd finished his remarks by saying that the way is opening for the gospel to go forth among this people and we need to spiritually prepare ourselves more deeply. He expressed his love for the people and reminded them that they are a great people, that Ghana is a choice land, and that they must not let the spiritual decline that is happening in his own country, happen to them.
We have an easier apartment inspection tomorrow which I always welcome. We will just inspect the apartment of the Assistants, Office Elders and two other Elders that live in the Mission Home compound. We just have to walk across the courtyard so I am a happy person already.
I was delighted with the scripture bag made out of Kental that arrived to our Xander in plenty of time for his birthday. He just turned 8 years old and will be baptized and was delighted with the colors of his bag. Brother Attisso did a great job choosing the colors for this fun-loving grandson and Xander can say it came all the way from Ghana Africa.
With love,
Sister Avery (mom & grandma)
I have been busy getting all the paper work done for missionaries being released May 14th. It requires arranging their flight itinerary, letting parents and mission/stake presidents know of their release date, and preparing their release certificates and letter to their priesthood leader. It was a bitter/sweet moment for these missionaries when I first called them a month ago to arrange the airport closest to their home. It becomes a reality at that point, and is exciting, yet also a time of wondering how their mission went so quickly. It will be nice to not have any missionaries going home in June, as we have 27 that are coming in June, but that just means more apartments to acquire and furnish. In other words, the work continues to move forward and we are needed to move with it. It is not about our being left behind if we don't move either. It is simply that we must move and do all we can, and trust that the Lord will strengthen us, give us ideas, and make it all possible.
We had a wonderful District Conference in Kpong today (k is silent). (For those who may not know, Branches are under the leadership of a District President and the Mission President is over all the Branches and Districts. There are many Wards and Stakes, but they are in the Greater Accra Region. The Branches are in the Eastern and Volta Regions.) I am so amazed with the spiritual knowledge and understanding of these leaders. We were taught to strengthen our families in the gospel and for love and harmony to permeate our homes. One young women was asked to share her testimony and told us of an experience she had with her co-workers where she bore testimony so strongly of chastity and the word of wisdom. I was so emotionally moved by her strong conviction or the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Another young father talked of how the very chapel we were meeting in was built on marshy land that no one else wanted, but because it was reinforced and built on a good foundation, it is secure and strong. He compared that to building our families on a sure foundation of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,..." whereon if men build, they will not fall." Another spoke of being one with God and with each other. A counselor in the District Presidency spoke eloquently on the Law of Tithing. Sister Judd spoke on the Gift of Christ's Atonement and the Gift of the Holy Ghost. President Judd had a lovely women and her child come to the front where he told how he met her. It was when Elder Scott Grow was here visiting and being shown the areas in the mission. President Judd saw this women in a crowd of people and felt he needed to make contact with her. When he stopped the car and asked her to come speak with him, he found out that she came from Tamale (t is silent), a land far north of us. The northern part of Ghana is predominately Muslim. Anyway, she had left her homeland and converted to Christianity. Because of this act of President Judd's she is now being taught by the
missionaries. (Our Elder Amumi and Elder Royce, of the Senchi Branch, are also teaching a mother of two young children who is Muslim. Her family is angry with her about this choice she is making and she doesn't know what the future holds for her if she joins the church.) President Judd finished his remarks by saying that the way is opening for the gospel to go forth among this people and we need to spiritually prepare ourselves more deeply. He expressed his love for the people and reminded them that they are a great people, that Ghana is a choice land, and that they must not let the spiritual decline that is happening in his own country, happen to them.
We have an easier apartment inspection tomorrow which I always welcome. We will just inspect the apartment of the Assistants, Office Elders and two other Elders that live in the Mission Home compound. We just have to walk across the courtyard so I am a happy person already.
I was delighted with the scripture bag made out of Kental that arrived to our Xander in plenty of time for his birthday. He just turned 8 years old and will be baptized and was delighted with the colors of his bag. Brother Attisso did a great job choosing the colors for this fun-loving grandson and Xander can say it came all the way from Ghana Africa.
With love,
Sister Avery (mom & grandma)
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Growing Pains!
Our Mission is growing and with it comes all the challenges of finding more apartments, supplying them, and then there is that many more to inspect, make apartment awards for, and take care of water, plumbing and electrical problems, etc. This growth is a wonderful thing (as I listened to the report at conference) and we have been blessed to meet the challenges. However, I do look forward to the Ghana Accra West Mission being in place so we will have some relief. I am enjoying the work, don't get me wrong, yet in order for missions to be as effective as they need to be, changes have to take place. The Brethern know that and are being guided by the Spirit all the time.
While I am on that subject, I noticed Sisters giving prayers in Conference and so I share the following information that has just been given to us. "The Lord's Church is governed through councils at every level. Full expression from all participants, elders and sisters, in a monthly mission leadership council will replace zone leader council (only the elders attended). Sister training leaders (a new title) are to participate in the council setting, unifying the efforts of both male and female council members." President Judd had been thinking of this very thing and discussing it with his assistants at about the same time the directive came to us. I just think it is wonderful how "in tune" our leaders are. I apologize for the casual way that sounds, but it is hard to put some spiritual happenings into words, especially after a long, long day.
I have the privilege, and I say that kind of "tongue in cheek", to keep a mission history. Even though challenging, it has it's rewards. Every time a missionary goes home, I ask them to write one of their mission conversion stories for the history. In order to email them to me, they have to go to an internet cafe to do so and it doesn't always work out for them. I then ask them to hand write them and I will type them in. I have so enjoyed, even with the unusual way they have of formatting their words, reading these special conversion stories. It would take a long time to share, so let me just say that, "a marvelous work has begun to come forth, among all the children of men, and ye that are called to this work, serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength." I paraphrased that somewhat, but that is what I feel as I read these conversion stories.
We attended the temple on Friday and we are the ones who had to wear the headsets. The session was in French, as it was scheduled for a bus load of patrons from the Ivory Coast. The session was very full and so by the time I got a headset, it was just a one ear piece headset, so I listened to English in my right ear, and heard French in my left. Elder Avery heard the whole thing in French because his did not work at all. One is never disappointed because just being in the temple is enough. Elder Wylie and Elder Mason called us on Saturday and needed some things from the office. They had just been to the temple with people from their ward who were doing baptisms for the dead. They had a very recent convert that was able to do baptisms and they were so excited for this convert to have had this experience so soon. What joy the gospel brings when it is embraced fully.
I had an unpleasant experience on Saturday when I found the only dip in the sidewalk ( ha ha,there are dips everywhere) and twisted my ankle real good. I had a bottle of frozen water in our cooler that I put on it until I could get home to do more. I have not been in pain and was able to fulfill my responsibilities in Senchi today. It is one swollen ankle, though, and I will be glad to go to bed after being up all day on it.
Primary was good today, as I did not have to do it all. Sister Boateng taught the lesson on the Word of Wisdom, and I did Singing and Sharing time. Sister Owusu is back from her trip and will contribute on the next primary day. Now I just need to get Sister Dowodu coming regularly and I will only have to do Singing time; I can only hope. We had two of the District Primary Presidency visit today and I thought it went well. They were delighted to learn the tune of, "For health and strength and daily food, we praise thy name of Lord." After primary, I showed them how it can be done in a round and they thought that was great. I so enjoy the children and am trying to show these good teachers that they do not have to be so gruff with the children, as they are, after all, children. The language still requires me to explain myself more but I know I will see progress.
After meetings today, we went and visited Brother and Sister Adjei. Their conversion was unique, so I want to share it as briefly as I can. In 1982, he was hired by the Ghana Water Department and had to go to Germany for 17 months for training. This is where he found the Church, or it found him, and was baptized. After returning home, he was welcomed by his family and friends and the beer was brought out. He refused it kindly and this is where the conversion of his family started. The process of finding a church meeting to attend was long and tedious, but he persisted and finally found out about a branch in Tema. Tema is quite a distance from Kpong, but he attended every Sunday. In time, he was blessed to be instrumental in organizing a branch in Kpong of which he served as a branch president. They have three children who have all served missions. In fact, a daughter and son were attending school at BYU when they were called on their missions and served in the US. The other son served in Ghana Accra. He and his wife are a strength to the Senchi branch and are admired by all. Sister Adjei served us lunch today of rice and a delicious shrimp stew with shrimp caught from the Volta River that I had on my blog last week. It was a good day!
I think I will go to bed early tonight as we have apartment inspections tomorrow and I really need to rest my ankle. Hope all is well with all of you.
With love,
Sister Avery (mom, grandma)
While I am on that subject, I noticed Sisters giving prayers in Conference and so I share the following information that has just been given to us. "The Lord's Church is governed through councils at every level. Full expression from all participants, elders and sisters, in a monthly mission leadership council will replace zone leader council (only the elders attended). Sister training leaders (a new title) are to participate in the council setting, unifying the efforts of both male and female council members." President Judd had been thinking of this very thing and discussing it with his assistants at about the same time the directive came to us. I just think it is wonderful how "in tune" our leaders are. I apologize for the casual way that sounds, but it is hard to put some spiritual happenings into words, especially after a long, long day.
I have the privilege, and I say that kind of "tongue in cheek", to keep a mission history. Even though challenging, it has it's rewards. Every time a missionary goes home, I ask them to write one of their mission conversion stories for the history. In order to email them to me, they have to go to an internet cafe to do so and it doesn't always work out for them. I then ask them to hand write them and I will type them in. I have so enjoyed, even with the unusual way they have of formatting their words, reading these special conversion stories. It would take a long time to share, so let me just say that, "a marvelous work has begun to come forth, among all the children of men, and ye that are called to this work, serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength." I paraphrased that somewhat, but that is what I feel as I read these conversion stories.
We attended the temple on Friday and we are the ones who had to wear the headsets. The session was in French, as it was scheduled for a bus load of patrons from the Ivory Coast. The session was very full and so by the time I got a headset, it was just a one ear piece headset, so I listened to English in my right ear, and heard French in my left. Elder Avery heard the whole thing in French because his did not work at all. One is never disappointed because just being in the temple is enough. Elder Wylie and Elder Mason called us on Saturday and needed some things from the office. They had just been to the temple with people from their ward who were doing baptisms for the dead. They had a very recent convert that was able to do baptisms and they were so excited for this convert to have had this experience so soon. What joy the gospel brings when it is embraced fully.
I had an unpleasant experience on Saturday when I found the only dip in the sidewalk ( ha ha,there are dips everywhere) and twisted my ankle real good. I had a bottle of frozen water in our cooler that I put on it until I could get home to do more. I have not been in pain and was able to fulfill my responsibilities in Senchi today. It is one swollen ankle, though, and I will be glad to go to bed after being up all day on it.
Primary was good today, as I did not have to do it all. Sister Boateng taught the lesson on the Word of Wisdom, and I did Singing and Sharing time. Sister Owusu is back from her trip and will contribute on the next primary day. Now I just need to get Sister Dowodu coming regularly and I will only have to do Singing time; I can only hope. We had two of the District Primary Presidency visit today and I thought it went well. They were delighted to learn the tune of, "For health and strength and daily food, we praise thy name of Lord." After primary, I showed them how it can be done in a round and they thought that was great. I so enjoy the children and am trying to show these good teachers that they do not have to be so gruff with the children, as they are, after all, children. The language still requires me to explain myself more but I know I will see progress.
After meetings today, we went and visited Brother and Sister Adjei. Their conversion was unique, so I want to share it as briefly as I can. In 1982, he was hired by the Ghana Water Department and had to go to Germany for 17 months for training. This is where he found the Church, or it found him, and was baptized. After returning home, he was welcomed by his family and friends and the beer was brought out. He refused it kindly and this is where the conversion of his family started. The process of finding a church meeting to attend was long and tedious, but he persisted and finally found out about a branch in Tema. Tema is quite a distance from Kpong, but he attended every Sunday. In time, he was blessed to be instrumental in organizing a branch in Kpong of which he served as a branch president. They have three children who have all served missions. In fact, a daughter and son were attending school at BYU when they were called on their missions and served in the US. The other son served in Ghana Accra. He and his wife are a strength to the Senchi branch and are admired by all. Sister Adjei served us lunch today of rice and a delicious shrimp stew with shrimp caught from the Volta River that I had on my blog last week. It was a good day!
I think I will go to bed early tonight as we have apartment inspections tomorrow and I really need to rest my ankle. Hope all is well with all of you.
With love,
Sister Avery (mom, grandma)
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