Ghana Gazette

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!