Thursday, March 30, 2006

 

TOTAL ECLIPSE - MARCH 29/06 - 9:05 am GHANA TIME

From the darkest realms of the dark continent, the sun suddenly disappeared and at 9:05 in the morning it became just like midnight - the sun was gone and only the outer edges of it could be seem as the moon provided a 100% - total eclipse for our viewing pleasure. Interesting how many superstitutions are involved with an eclipse - Initially some of the Bible and Book of Mormon references to Christ's death and Christ's appearnce - combined with some of the tribal traditions about eclipses and the disappearing of the sun - we had one staff member would now allow her children to go to school on the day of the eclipse for fear something was going to happen - she wanted them right in the house. The other staff member phoned as things got darker to be sure his children also were home and okay. One of the Sisters wasn't sure that the glasses that were being sold for viewing the eclipse were safe..so she put a pan of water out in the yard and allowed her children to watch the reflection in the water. About the worse thing that happened however was the activity of 13 missionaries waiting for their transportation to the airport and the 5 teacher and 5 staff members combined with Sister Nielson (somewhere in the picture) reacting to the camera posed to take a picture - this picture was shot at 9:05 in the morning at the height of the eclipse - you can see how dark it did get because it required the flash to get any kind of picture. It was pretty fun because there was a real celebration going on,,we felt a little like we were in Time Square on New Years Eve. This I believe is the first total eclipse of the sun I have experienced - have seen a few partial and a few of the moon, but this is kind of an eerie feeling and experience. Teachers said there would be another one in 20 years (I don't know where they got that information) and claimed they'd be around for it - then questioned whether Sister Nielson thought she would be.......



Wednesday, March 29, 2006

 

President Ajeigbe (Charles) - has family in this group

President Ajeigbe has a brother-in-law in this group - Elder Adelaja from Nigeria. So President Charles and his daughters had to come over and visit with him before he left to go back to Nigeria and serve in the Nigeria Uyo MIssion. The three girls do come over to visit - especially Sunday evenings if we happen to be showing a video that they would enjoy seeing - Their uncle should be a good missionary.


 

Group #3 - March 13 - March 29, 2006

This is our third group - in many ways our refiners fire group - teachers, staff, and President and Sister Nielson shaking their heads just a little. We are not sure whether it is the size (28), the number of sisters to show off for (7) or just the odd combination of personalities - it just seems that the sixteen days have been fun and games and young adult ideas, and slidding by the rules and loud laughter, some dishonesty, and above all just an exhausting two weeks. At times you think you are doing well, next thing you know someone needs a reminder about being with their companion, or using their time wisely, or appropriate dress and/or actions - well - enough said, the picture is late because the first one we took had one of the sisters in the front row with her legs crossed and visibility unlimited - had to take a second picture the following Sunday with more appropriate posture exhibited. It is a little discouraging to send missionaries out knowing that in the group there may be one or two that are not going to make it - however, we hope and we pray for them. This group has the following make up - Madagascar - 1, D.R. Congo - 4, Republique of Congo - 1, Kenya - 1, Zimbabwe - 1, Uganda - 1, Ghana - 11, Nigeria - 5, Ivory Coast - 3. We've just sent them off today - Three back to the Congo, seven to the Ivory Coast, sevn to Nigeria and the rest to Ghana. WE still love them all and hope our program is partially preparing them to be good and effective missionaries.









Wednesday, March 22, 2006

 

GRANDPARENTS BY PROXY

Probably our greatest sacrifice is not being able to be around our family and to watch our grandchildren grow - we miss them very much. That probably explains why we are so quick to have a few proxy grandchildren - a few local children who don't mind if we play Grandpa and Grandma with them.

This is as close as we'll get to having a real grandchild here in Ghana. The father, Elder Alfred Mintah was one of our missionaries in the Congo who has returned home from his mission, married his wife Rebecca and they bring their little daughter over to visit occasionally - the daughter Christabel - she is two years old, and just a little skeptical of grandpa's and grandma's who have white faces - but she's warming up.


This fine little fellow is named Godsped Normeshie. He is 6 months old and is so handsome. His Daddy is Joseph, our head chef. He cuddles pretty good.


Kezia is the daughter of the pastry chef here at the MTC. She is 3 years and 5 months old...and she loves Grandpa....we can hear her long before we see her calling " Grandpa...Grandpa.." Her Father is away in America the past 3 years studying. Maybe that's why she loves Grandpa...because she doesn't know Daddy.


Tuesday, March 21, 2006

 

Our Super Staff at the MTC




We thought you might be interested in knowing who it is we spend our time with here in Ghana. These are the members of our staff who take such good care of us, our missionaries, and our wonderful facility here in Ghana. They are very dedicated people and work hard to please everyone. Let me tell you a little bit about each one;

Sister Deli - she is our Laundry Lady - but much more than that, she has the most fabulous laundry room in Africa - even in the whole world I would venture. She carefully folds, stores, and inventories all the sheets, mattress covers, pillows, hangers, towels, wash clothes - it is just a pleasure to see her cupboards so nicely organized and all the linen so clean - but beyond that, twice while the missionaries are here she collects their washables - shirts, socks, etc....... and washes, dries and returns them to them. This frankly is one area we do not measure up in preparing missionaries - she spoils them so badly - never again will they have the motherly care they get here at MTC.


This is Sam - Brother Sam is our maintenance man and works very hard to keep all the fancy things running here at the MTC - he knows about the generator that kicks in everytime the lights go out - which is about four times a week, but we hardly know it because of the immediate start of our generator. He supervises the cleaning and takes care of ordering the cleaning supplies - he is johnny on the spot whenever there is a problem and tries very hard to keep everything in tip top shape. He feels very badly if emergencies happen while he is away for the weekend - last Saturday one of the rooms sprang a leak and ran down into the cafeteria - we were able to get a plumber to come - he stopped the flow of water, but the correction took a couple of days to dig into, repair and then restore the enclosure - so Sam's our man to keep things going well. His staff consists of a Cleaning lady, and a cleaning lady's replacement. As we told you and showed you our main cleaning lady Sister Selasie - she has taken a four month break to have and take care of her third child - we do miss her very much as she was a dedicated and diligent cleaner - the glass windows were always shining (still are for that matter with her replacement) - floors are clean, and she touched up the President and Sister Nielson's apartment, we always knew it had been deep cleaned instead of touched up. A super lady who enjoys very much the work she does, and she does it very well.


This is Sister Tally - who has taken over from Sister Selasie - she is also a wonderful worker and is very good to assist and help the missionaries - to give them instruction on the two service project days they have, and to help each new set of missionaries to know what they need to do to keep this great facility in good shape. We appreciate very much the cleanliness of our facility - due largely to this wonderful cleaning staff.


This is the crew the missionnaires love most - well most of the missionaries love most - they are the Kitchen crew who prepare four meals a day for our missionnaires. Sister Dadson is the head of the catering program with whom we contract our services. She is member of the church (as are all our staff) - but we were dear friends with her husband who travelled with CES when we were in the Congo and we had several occasions to visit him. He is currently attempting to get around a bit after suffering the severe effects of Diabetes - and kidney failure. The other five smiling faces belong to Vida, Ransford,James, Georgina, and Joseph. Their day usually starts around 5:30 - as they prepare a breakfast - then lunch, dinner and a small snack in the evening - however, the snack is always prepared ahead of time so the last one can leave for home about 7 PM or so - They all smile while they work and we appreciate them so very much.

And finally the teaching staff -those who actually work in the classrooms with the missionaries and get them ready to go and teach the lessons they are here to learn -- all seven of them are returned missionaires and the six on the left are hired for an approximate two year period - sometimes those with French ability get a little longer,as there are not a lot of them here in Ghana who are as fluent as the two we presently have. On the right is the Manager of the MTC here in Ghana Eugene Engmann - he is responsible for the entire staff - directs the affairs and business of the MTC, puts up with a new president and wife each two years - inservices the teachers and provides the instructional background and planning. Missionaries are in class from 8:30 in morning until 9:30 in the evening - but each day is broken up with either general meetings, activities, temple visits, devotionals, teaching experiences, proselyting in the general area here, Sunday Services , films, video firesides from the Provo MTC etc..... so we do appreciate this group. The Teachers names are: Brother Baidoo, Sister Ampomah, Brother Ofosu, Brother Koomson, Brother Mintah, and Brother Batsa. The missionaries grow to love them very much - we have three districts usually and two of the teachers cover each district -everyday except Sunday, when they are left with President and Sister Nielson and my Counsellor in the Branch Presidency, President Charles Ajeigbe. Charles works for the the Area Office - has an assignment in the field of communications and equipment - but spends his Sunday (when there are missionaries in the MTC) helping us with our Sunday Meetings, helping with the interviewing, supervising some of the Sunday evening programs, and generally helping in the Ecclesiastical end of the our operation here.
They are a wonderful group of people - who have accepted and carry out their responsibilities in such a way that we have little worry or concern - the Program just runs so well.

Wednesday, March 01, 2006

 

Group #2 - February 20,2006

This was our second full group - what a wonderful group of young men and young women. There were not as diversified as our previous group: 1 from Sierra Leone (Elder Koroma), 1 from Liberia (Elder Bessay), 5 from Ghana (Elders Sarpong, Beidako, Nelson, Sosu, and Sister Okyere) the balance (9) from Nigeria (Sister Ani, Elders Ani, Abba, Ufomba, Igwe, Onuoha, Enyi-Ineh, Okorie and Udom. The size also makes quite a difference in getting to know names and personalities - after a few days you can identify them pretty well even if you can't pronounce their names the way they do, they are forgiving and smile and tolerate the American interpretations. The two Bruni's on the right are President and Sister Nielson, and the one standing behind them is the First Counsellor - Pres. Ajeigbe. I'm not sure I publicly told you the story about him - one week after we had arrived we attended a meeting at the Tema ward and as I was sitting in class I saw this familiar looking Brother sitting in the room and for most of the meeting I tried hard to remember why I should know him - finally decided he had helped us when we were evacuated here to Ghana 5 years ago - so at the break I went up to him and said I should know you from somewhere and he repied - "Yes, I'm your counsellor!!!" Well......
The group has had a couple of sad moments, Sister Ani -(left one of the two sisters in the picture) tested positive on her TB screening test, had an X ray which showed some cloudiness in her lungs - had to have another saliva-type test - eventually tested out negative, but missed her opportunity to go to the Temple on Tuesday - but we were able to take her and her companion today and it has been a quiet, wonderful experience. She felt so bad, and now feels so good. The other sad moment is the death of the basketball - it has grown a large tumour on one side and no longer bounces or flies as it should. We have two new ones on order - not certain just how long it takes to get one from Accra to Tema, but for the time being, any basketball being done is being done on the lopsided side of the court!

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