I really would be posting more often, but we've had trouble getting into Google, and BlogSpot hangs up.  "Oh, bother."
Missionary work here is truly a blessing in our lives.

Look closely at the reflection in the car rearview mirror. We were going to Ho, a town on eastern side of Ghana, with 3 carloads of missionaries. The main bridge over the Volta River is out, so there is a long wait for a small ferry. One missionary knew of a small side road over an even smaller bridge. We were stopped by a police barricade and told that since we were foreigners we couldn't cross that bridge and would have to turn around. While some of the Elders "discussed" with the police why they should let us through, Elder Watson was at the back of the car discussing the Gospel with a policewoman. He gave her the pamphlet "Plan of Salvation" and a copy of Book of Mormon. I'm so proud of my companion!
I had to take the picture "covertly", because you're not allowed to photograph the police. We took the ferry and still got to the wonderful area of Ho, just took a while.

 

We found our own "Good Samaritan" in Ghana. We were totally lost trying to find a chapel. We stopped at a corner and asked a man standing there if he knew the Church. He said, "Latter-Day Saints, I am coming." (That's an expression for a lot of things, "Follow me", I'll be right back", "Wait a minute"). He jumped on his bike and waved for us to follow. He lead us about a mile thru winding streets and got us right to the chapel. He's not a member. He just did it because we needed help. Wonderful people here.

We are so thrilled to be serving our mission here at the same time as our wonderful grandson Garrett, Elder Watson, Jr, is serving his mission in Anaheim, CA, Spanish-speaking.  He's doing a fabulous job, and we're very proud of him.
One wonderful part of our mission that we had not expected is the opportunity to work with the younger, more energetic missionaries, like our Elder Garrett Watson.  We have found that a great help we can do on our mission is to be a support to them.  They are so capable and willing to serve.  They go out at their own expense, so willing to help, all over the world.  The Church has got to be true for Heavenly Father to send 18-24 year olds all over the world to share His Gospel (to say nothing of having the confidence to send "60 something" year olds) and have such wonderful results.  We are able to give them the love and support, counsel, and, sometimes, homemade cookies, to give them the boost they may need to be successful on their missions.  They are fun to be with them. 
We help with training the new missionaries at the Ghana MTC, Missionary Training Center every other Friday and Sunday and then get go to the Temple with them every other Tuesday & Wednesday.  They are mostly African Elders and Sisters with a few from the USA and, of all places, the South Pacific Islands.
Many of the African missionaries are the only member of their family in the Church, and many of them have lost one or both parents to accident, disease, or war.

The principle of serving or helping the ONE each day has become a fun goals.  We have seen many ONE experiences.  You never know when or where they'll turn up.  When you look for them they always turn up.  I know we are all changed because of these opportunities. Serving the Lord and loving our brothers and sisters in really all about seeking the ONE that we can help each day.  It's not the big things that count.  It's the little things we do for others that really make the difference to them and us.

Our experience with the ONE last week was in working with Elder and Sister Mbele from the Congo Democratic Republic.  They are only the 2nd African senior missionary couple to come through the MTC here.  They speak French so we did a lot a smiling and pantomiming and worked through a translator.  They have been trying to save for 8 years to come to the Temple in Ghana but have never been able to make it.  There are only 3 temples in Africa.  Now that they are going to serve a mission they found themselves right where they had wanted to be.  We went with them to the temple to help as they were sealed together for time and all eternity.  They were also able to be sealed to their 21 year old son who had died and their daughter who had died at age 4 months.  We stood as proxy for his parents as they were sealed and as was he sealed to them. 

Here are a few catch up pictures -
Pat's birthday-Elder Watson found a wonderful restaurant and gathered other missionary couples, from front - Stokers, Smiths, Eltons, Elmers, Bullocks. Best meal we've had!  See the African group behind us? During the meal they did a flash mob and sang part of an Italian opera., then they came and sang "Happy Birthday" to me!!  Turns out they are an African choir.  Good touch Elder Watson.

Driving through bush by Ghana gold mine digs for those who saw TV show.

Check words on back of truck. All trucks, bus, cabs have sayings, most are scriptural.

Visited people of fishing village

 

We love you & appreciate your prayers & support.    -   John 11:25-26