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. 

MTC Week

Preparing for a mission is crazier than I thought but at some point the time runs out and you go--ready or not!  Sunday December 1st, President Buie came to set us apart.  Our daughters, Cheryln and Miriam and their families came to be with us for this occasion.  Todd was working, Chad and family were at Disneyland and Sandi lives in California so they were unable to be with us.  We visited with President Buie and took some time to talk to the grands about the meaning of being "set apart", then he put his hands on our heads and  pronounced beautiful blessings for each of us.  We are grateful for these promised blessings, sure that we will need our Heavenly Father's help.  It is humbling to be set apart as an ambassador for our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Elder and Sister Smith with President Buie

After the blessings, we enjoyed a family meal together.  Joan made a German dinner for this occasion.  We all love rouladen and rotkohl!  It was also a celebration for Mike and Cheryln's birthdays coming up on December 3rd and 4th.  

  Cheryln, Robert, Joan, Mike, Miriam, Dave

Collin, Luke, Kira, Daniel, Isaac, Matthew, Leah, Rachel

WE LOVE OUR FAMILY!

Joan, Cheryln, Miriam, Robert

Leah, Isaac, Luke and Daniel at the bar for dinner.  They are great friends.

The rest of the family at the table.  Yum!

Monday, it was off to the MTC.  I must confess, we started out the week a little bit short of sleep.  We drove our car to Provo with just two small suitcases.  We were glad we didn't have to take ALL our luggage to the MTC.   The cold snowy weather really hit after we got to the MTC.  We were glad to have our warm Utah clothing, not the light Africa-weather clothing.  We loved our MTC experience.  Our group was by far the largest senior missionary group ever.  We had 154 missionaries going to a wide variety of places throughout the world.  Because of this large group, we stayed at the Marriott Hotel in Provo and drove to the MTC each day.  

We had to do the map picture.  

Our "District" with our teacher Elder Pike.  Some districts were twice as large, as 

classroom size allowed.  Robert was appointed DL for District 1.

The Sadlers, Hardys, Wrights and Smiths

Elder and Sister Schultz.  Their son, Mike and his family live in our ward.  Ann, his wife and their children have become dear to us as we have worked together in the Primary.  We will miss their boys, Henry and Calvin, who Joan had in the nursery each Sunday--such cute boys!

They had several trees at the MTC and we sang carols at the meetings but it was not the normal Christmas. They have missionary name tags on this tree!  We enjoyed a devotional with Elder Bruce C. Hafen on Tuesday evening.  It was a treat to hear Mike Ohman play the organ for this.

Mostly we studied "Preach My Gospel" and found it very interesting and uplifting.  We learned we are teaching people, not messages, and that the most important thing is to love the people and strive to have the Spirit with you.

We think this is the correct map of our mission area--the brown part.

Since our MTC day ended at 4:30, we joined our family at the BYU Museum of Art on Wednesday evening for a tour of the "Sacred Gifts" exhibit of the religious art of Carl Bloch, Heinrich Hofmann and Frans Schwartz.  Such beautiful paintings, we all enjoyed it very much.  After the museum, we enjoyed dinner at the Bombay House.  Joan's sister and brother-in-law, Jeannette and Clyde Barson, joined us for both.  Todd was also in town for this.  Great evening.

At the Bombay House for delicious food and lots of laughs.

Leah, Isaac and Daniel enjoy their mango lassis

We are not the only missionaries in our family to have a 

meal at the Bombay House before their mission.  Nice tradition.

Our week ended on Friday and we drove back to Salt Lake for our final preparations before flying out on Monday.  We had errands to run, hair needed cutting, scrapped the live nativity we had hoped to attend, and tried to complete our lengthy to-do lists.  We did take time to join in the surprise birthday dinner Mike planned for Cheryln at La Caille Restaurant.  Mike and Cher both turned 40 this week.  They both went all out to make their birthdays special for each other.  Mike arranged for her good friend Brooke to fly in on Thursday and for a brunch with girlfriends on Saturday, so Cher was not expecting anything else!  What a surprise to have all her family waiting in a lovely private room at La Caille.  We all had a wonderful, wonderful evening.  Thanks Mike.

     Cheryln was very surprised!

Chad & Wendy, Mike & Cheryln, Robert & Joan, Miriam & Dave, Todd

Brooke and her husband Chuck have been friends since the first months of their

marriage when they lived across the hall from each other at BYU.

Todd, Chad and Wendy

                                       

                                                 Dave and Miriam 

Hard to say good-by but it is time to go.

The Non-Farwell

Sunday the 17th of November was what Chad refers to as our "non-farewell" day.  Robert and I spoke on our assigned topic of Faith.  I directed my comments to the young people in the congregation, keeping in mind our 13 grandchildren who were all present, about "giving place" for faith in our lives.  Robert gave a talk on what faith means to him and included many great scriptures and quotes.  We, along with our five children, produced an a'capella rendition of Fairest Lord Jesus.  It was fun to sing together again--it's been a long time.

We felt much love and support from friends and family.  Some friends from 30 and 40 years ago managed to get there.  We have been blessed with so many incredible friends throughout our lives.

Later (4-6 pm) we had an open house at our home.  Here is a picture of us with Norma Gilstrap who we claim as part of our family, though not related by blood.  Todd's first friend.

Here are a few pictures taken at the open house.  If we hadn't enjoyed visiting so much, we might have had more photos to share. 

The Gilstrap Family--what a group of long time friends. 

      Robert and his brothers Hugh and Scott--missing Stewart,

    who is serving a mission in Finland with his wife Wendy.

       

My sister, Jeannette, came bringing food and helping from early until late.  She learned that from our Mother.  Thanks Jeannie.

Our daughter Miriam with the Brimhalls and the Dahles.  Cyd was her YW leader and
Norm Dhale is a previous bishop and our current, excellent home teacher.  

Our daughter Cheryln, visiting with cousins Krysti Ohman and Daryl Smith.

Michele & Dana Walton with our daughter Miriam and her husband, Dave Squire,
 and Robert's sister, Linda Ollivier, who is serving a mission at Church headquarters.

Son Chad, daughter Sandi, and Chad's wife Wendy

Sister-in-law Barbara (Scott's wife), Cheryln, and her daughter Kira

Robert with Betsy and John Nagel.  The Nagels loaned us some wonderful books about Africa, "Safe Journey" by Glenn Pace and "Out of America by Keith Richburg.  We need all the information and help we can get.

Lonnie and Bob Bradley gave us a send-off dinner party with many dear friends.  They returned about a year ago from their mission in Germany.  Lonnie and I work together in the nursery.  She is amazing with the children.

The girls bonding and laughing after everyone has left.  Cher was hard pressed to
keep her yummy meatballs and chicken salad stocked on the buffet table.  Thanks Cheryln
for your help.  We hope your feet recover.

Our eldest son, Todd, will be the guardian of our home while we are gone.
How will we get along without his IT support?