Gone To Ghana

Here we are in Ghana!  We have been here a little more than two weeks and the time has flown.  This post will be about our new "home".   We hope to give you an idea of where and how we live in Ghana.  We brought as much as we could from home, a hundred pounds each, plus a carry-on.

Robert checking us and our luggage in.

We did manage to get all of our stuff into Cheryln's car.  We appreciated Cheryln driving us to the airport.  We actually  bought a few new pieces of luggage but you can't tell by how well they match.  We're obviously not going for appearances here!  It was nice that our flight was not early morning, we were doing well to be ready by 8:30 or 9:00.

We live in the Alema Court Complex

Six senior missionary couples live in the Alema Court apartments.  The temporary office for the new Ghana Accra West Mission is also here.  These couples welcomed us with a pot luck dinner the day we arrived.   The Executive Secretary and his wife, Brother and Sister Fitzgerald, picked us up from the airport and drove us here.  We left our bags and went straight to the area office.

Area Office

This is the Africa West Area Office.  Unless we are traveling to do training, we will be here Monday through Friday.   An office mission a a bit like a job.   The office is just one building of several in this complex.  There is a church, housing for some missionary couples & the temple patrons, housing for the area presidency and the temple.  The temple was built in 2004.

Ghana Accra Temple

The senior missionary couples do sealings each Friday evening with one of the Area Presidency officiating.  Some Fridays we also do a session.  It is a beautiful temple inside and out.

Our office

We have a nice office.  It took us a full week to get the computers up and running and the first week was a little frustrating.  No one to train us and nothing working right.  The second week was better.  We are learning that the senior couples just kind of have to figure it out on their own a bit.  We are better off than most with Bill Barrett next door to us who did our job while waiting for us to arrive.

Jim and Paula Elmer

The Elmers, the area medical couple, took us under their wing the first few days.   He drove our car with Robert and I rode with Sister Elmer in their car on the drive home from the office.  They live right next to us. That is our door on the left and they live on the right.  They also took us shopping the next day so we could buy food and learn where the stores were.  We really appreciated their help.

Where we went to church the first Sunday

We also went to church with Elder and Sister Elmer on Sunday.  This is a building the Church rents for this ward.  We had a difficult time understanding the English.  People say it will get easier.  Luckily, Brother Elmer spoke in church so we understood something.

With the map in the living room

The Stokers gave us a map of Accra.  Robert spent the better part of an evening studying it and is pretty good at getting us where we need to go now.  I don't think I will drive here.  I'll save the traffic for another post.

Our living/dining room

This is the view of the other end of our living room and yes, that is a clothes dryer in the corner.  The important thing is the air conditioner at the top over the window.

Bedroom

Our bedroom is mostly bed.  This bed is definitely wider than a king and shorter than a king.  We have considered sleeping sideways but mostly Robert sleeps kitty-corner.  This is necessary because there is a footboard under that spread so no hanging toes over the mattress. The mattress is wedged in tight between the footboard and headboard.  Making the bed is hard on the hands.   It is undoubtedly the firmest bed we have ever slept on but so far we are sleeping fine.  Many couples have bought mattress toppers to give them more cush.

Bedroom Closet

We have about one good step between bed and closet, bed and dressers and the bed and window.  Joan uses the second bedroom closet to avoid having to take turns using the closet.  We may even move her dresser in there but right now there is a spare mattress leaning against the wall.

One of two bathrooms

We have two bathrooms, pretty much identical.  Since the sink and counter space is small,  we each use a separate bathroom.

No outlet in the bathroom for hair dryers or curling irons.  This is what Robert fixed up so Joan can do her hair.  Two plug adapters needed even though the appliances were purchased here in Accra.  Notice the water bottle?  You can't brush your teeth with the sink water.



The kitchen is pretty roomy and convenient.  We did need to replace the microwave that didn't work and we bought a blender.  We hope to make green smoothies--if we can find greens that are safe to eat.  We haven't eaten lettuce yet.

Our stove has a lid you can close

I also have a pantry in the corner to the right of the stove.  All in all, not bad storage for food and dishes.  We have a long open counter between the stove and the sink that is great work space.   We have some open shelves for "stuff" and a handy rotary kitchen utensil holder.  One problem, the pantry is behind the door to the kitchen and if the kitchen door is not open, I suffocate!

Like magic, a clean stove!

Fridge and kitchen sink

Cooking is a challenge.  Getting used to new and different products.  Finding all the ingredients for a recipe can be difficult so you get creative.  We eat a lot of cabbage and the fruit is outstanding.  The washing machine for our laundry is under the counter on the right.

Dinner at the Elmers

Last Sunday we had dinner at the Elmers.  On the left are Elder and Sister Miles who were visiting from Liberia.  They are humanitarian missionaries there and had some amazing stories and pictures of their efforts building wells, latrines, water towers etc.  He had a great sense of humor.  They are from Hooper, Utah.  Next are the Stokers who are Public Relations Specialists and the Bullocks who are humanitarian missionaries here in Ghana

Dinner at the Elmers

In this picture, next to Robert on the left, are the Taylors.  They are both lawyers and work in the legal department  for the West Africa Mission.  They will be leaving in January and we are all sad about that.  The Walls are next to the Taylors.  They are the office couple for the Ghana Accra West Mission.   Elder and Sister Elmer are on the right.  We really enjoy the other missionary couples.

Christmas Caroling by the PEF Group

We really appreciated the PEF group who came over from their office at the Church at the Temple complex to carol to the employees at the office building.  Elder and Sister Cannon, on the right, are the Perpetual Education Fund missionary couple.  This was the beginning of feeling a bit Christmasy.