Missions are GREAT!!

The Ghana Temple is so beautiful.  It's amazing to finally stand in front of it.  It's a dream come true to be close to such a  peaceful, spiritual place.  We just walk across the small parking lot to be at the Temple vs. driving 3-6 hours through D.C. traffic.  The inside has dark African wood columns and African motif stain glass windows.  The building in the background is the West Africa Area office where our offices are located.
We spend a few days here and rest of the days out in other areas of Ghana.  We are waiting for additional visas to begin traveling to visit the other 6 countries in our mission.

 

We attended church our first Sunday at the Newtown Ward.  The members all greeted us with smiles.  The Ghanaian people are happy and welcoming to everyone. You haven't heard a hymn sung until you've heard an African choir sing, wow!   They also all sing along with the prelude music.  They just love being together. 

There were over 15 people in the investigator class.  The questions are interesting.  One person asked if the Koran was scripture, Never heard that at home, but there's a large Muslim population here. They also had 3 priesthood ordinations and 5 baptisms after church. The pictures are the neighborhood around the building. 

Elder and Sister Elmer were with us. She teaches the Young Women class and English.  The men speak English, but many of the local women do not.  It's a concern, because it limits their ability to get a job or to interact outside their local areas.

 Our first training meeting with members from the southern Ghana area.  Many of the members traveled hours to come.  They were so grateful and excited to be there.  Can you find Elder Watson in the picture?

 

 Lunch after the meeting.  That's Pat's new friend, Rebecca.  She laughs all the time.  Believe it -- We ate cow feet and liked them!!  We also liked the fofo, fermented corn meal, but the fish soup with whole fish, heads, insides and all, wasn't our favorite.

 Have to wash all our dishes and food in Clorox water.  Takes a lot of time to prepare every day, because you have to eat breakfast so we can take malaria pills, need to pack lunches and have had to go back to cooking every night (only drawback of a mission!).

Elder David A Bednar, of the Quorum of 12 Apostles, visited us last week.  Over 2000 members attended on this night.  He had the first 4 rows reserved and after the hall filled, he told all those standing in the back to come fill those seats. We also had a meeting with him with 300 younger missionaries and about 20 other senior couples. 

He told us the Atonement of Christ is for everyone. We do all we can, but we can never do enough.  The Savior does all the rest for us.  When Peter stepped out of the boat to walk on the water to Christ he first said, "Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee.." As soon as Peter heard Christ say, "Come", he was out of that boat onto the water and into the storm.  Losing focus and confidence he began to sink.  The cool thing is that IMMEDIATELY Christ reached out and lifted him up.  That's also when He is there for us, immediately.

Better close, need to be up at ..., well, let's just say it's early!  Love to all, and most especially to our wonderful family.