= Sunday as the Branch President was closing the Sacrament meeting, a member started to talk to the Branch President and wanted to have his say right then, right there, instead of waiting for a different meeting or better yet, a private discussion. Another member chimed in. Volume went up. Finger-pointing started. I have never seen anything like this happen during a Sacrament meeting. Steph stepped in front of the lectern, faced the arguers, and forcefully made the point that this was not the time or place to have conversation; we worship God during Sacrament meeting. She somehow did this without becoming combative herself. They stopped. It was ironic and perfect that one of the major themes of this week's scriptures discussion during the next meeting was the effects of pride [one of which is contention]. Steph led that lesson.
= Steph cut my hair in the evening. It had passed the “white girl flip” stage a month ago.
= Monday, we spoke to President Morgan about our experience in Mfuom Sunday. He agreed that Steph had done exactly the right thing. He’ll work with the District President and Branch President to help them find a good solution. The person who had initiated the uproar is a founding member of this Branch, as is his family. An amicable solution is needed. The church is young here. [It takes time to learn new ways to engage with each other.]
= Steph and I picked up medicine and drove to the beach near the Cape Coast castle to deliver it. (Missionaries were having a fun activity on this preparation day.) I walked between shops to the sand, stood on a high rocky structure to survey the area and be visible, and the Elder who needed the medicine found me. Then back to the office.
= Home, we worked on mission issues while listening to music written by Sally DeFord. See https://defordmusic.com/ for Christian sheet music you can freely copy and perform for non-commercial use and for links of performances of the music.
= Tuesday, we worked at the office all day. We had been asked to stick around because the Barilleaus were attending a zone conference. Home, we listened to Sunday on Monday (scripture discussion). Lights off by 9:30, but Steph watched Korean dramas on her iPad until daybreak.
= Wednesday, we attended a zone conference with Elder Kyungu presiding. He was called to be the president of the Africa West Area of the church on 1 August and was touring missions in multiple countries. His schedule was tight. So, it was only after the conference that the Office Elders and Assistants went quickly through the review of goals versus actuals for key indicators. Steph spoke about medical issues. After the meeting, she gave out deworming pills - it’s been six months - and doxycycline and candy and throat lozenges. A few people consulted her about medical issues. Home, I baked a cake but didn't bake it long enough. [sigh]
= Thursday, we stayed home. I worked on mission issues and blog episodes.
= Friday, followed the coordinates in the church system to an apartment visit. The “destination” they led us to was a dirt road with plants closing in and no buildings anywhere nearby. We called the Elders there for better coordinates. We were an hour north of where we needed to be. Then the GPS and I didn’t coordinate well as we neared Saltpond. We had originally hoped to be there by 1030. It was almost 12:30 when we pulled up. I used the GhanaPost GPS to store coordinates for later comparison. They helped unload bicycles and load their problem bicycles into the truck. We took notes on apartment issues.
= When we reached Pedu Junction, a trio had dressed up in festival costumes and full-face masks. We took a photo and gave them 2 cedis for the privilege. We stopped at the new pizza place: Pizzaman/Chickenman/Pinkberry. I bought a single topping double pizza: a double-decker pizza box with drawers: one for each pizza. And, I tried the yogurt from Pinkberry. They need more flavors, but the toppings are nice. Home, we started watching The Rookie early. We relaxed.
= Saturday, I pulled three bicycles that need repair out of the “big house” next door and put them in our house. We already have two for repair in the truck. I worked on documenting apartment issues and the location of the apartment we visited yesterday. In the evening at the Morgans with the Barilleaus, we watched a 2013 version of Walter Mitty. I like that in this conception of the character who routinely daydreamed of being assertive, as he stepped out of his comfort zone in pursuit of difficult goals, he didn’t need to retreat to daydreams anymore.
= Have you ever wondered what serving others in a new situation or environment might be like? You might be able to find out for yourself. Some of you already know.
= Steph cut my hair in the evening. It had passed the “white girl flip” stage a month ago.
= Monday, we spoke to President Morgan about our experience in Mfuom Sunday. He agreed that Steph had done exactly the right thing. He’ll work with the District President and Branch President to help them find a good solution. The person who had initiated the uproar is a founding member of this Branch, as is his family. An amicable solution is needed. The church is young here. [It takes time to learn new ways to engage with each other.]
= Steph and I picked up medicine and drove to the beach near the Cape Coast castle to deliver it. (Missionaries were having a fun activity on this preparation day.) I walked between shops to the sand, stood on a high rocky structure to survey the area and be visible, and the Elder who needed the medicine found me. Then back to the office.
= Home, we worked on mission issues while listening to music written by Sally DeFord. See https://defordmusic.com/ for Christian sheet music you can freely copy and perform for non-commercial use and for links of performances of the music.
= Tuesday, we worked at the office all day. We had been asked to stick around because the Barilleaus were attending a zone conference. Home, we listened to Sunday on Monday (scripture discussion). Lights off by 9:30, but Steph watched Korean dramas on her iPad until daybreak.
= Wednesday, we attended a zone conference with Elder Kyungu presiding. He was called to be the president of the Africa West Area of the church on 1 August and was touring missions in multiple countries. His schedule was tight. So, it was only after the conference that the Office Elders and Assistants went quickly through the review of goals versus actuals for key indicators. Steph spoke about medical issues. After the meeting, she gave out deworming pills - it’s been six months - and doxycycline and candy and throat lozenges. A few people consulted her about medical issues. Home, I baked a cake but didn't bake it long enough. [sigh]
= Thursday, we stayed home. I worked on mission issues and blog episodes.
= Friday, followed the coordinates in the church system to an apartment visit. The “destination” they led us to was a dirt road with plants closing in and no buildings anywhere nearby. We called the Elders there for better coordinates. We were an hour north of where we needed to be. Then the GPS and I didn’t coordinate well as we neared Saltpond. We had originally hoped to be there by 1030. It was almost 12:30 when we pulled up. I used the GhanaPost GPS to store coordinates for later comparison. They helped unload bicycles and load their problem bicycles into the truck. We took notes on apartment issues.
= When we reached Pedu Junction, a trio had dressed up in festival costumes and full-face masks. We took a photo and gave them 2 cedis for the privilege. We stopped at the new pizza place: Pizzaman/Chickenman/Pinkberry. I bought a single topping double pizza: a double-decker pizza box with drawers: one for each pizza. And, I tried the yogurt from Pinkberry. They need more flavors, but the toppings are nice. Home, we started watching The Rookie early. We relaxed.
= Saturday, I pulled three bicycles that need repair out of the “big house” next door and put them in our house. We already have two for repair in the truck. I worked on documenting apartment issues and the location of the apartment we visited yesterday. In the evening at the Morgans with the Barilleaus, we watched a 2013 version of Walter Mitty. I like that in this conception of the character who routinely daydreamed of being assertive, as he stepped out of his comfort zone in pursuit of difficult goals, he didn’t need to retreat to daydreams anymore.
= Have you ever wondered what serving others in a new situation or environment might be like? You might be able to find out for yourself. Some of you already know.
Teaching about the Redeemer and how pride separates us from Him
Shopping or selling?
Here's the setup; notice how many vehicles you would have to pass to clear the lead truck.
This white van will pass as many as possible, but notice the oncoming vehicle.
He goes for it.
And once again, everyone muddles through somehow.
Auto parts, already pulled for you
An orderly march in support of a political party. I didn't take any pictures inside this crowd. Traffic was not blocked but was ushered through quickly. (People in matching T-shirts in villages kilometers ahead were waiting for this group.)
Bamboo is an essential building material to hold the forms until the cement dries around rebar.
Next Time
Agenda
The first sign in the background says "Glorious Mother Care".
Kakum fia mukaase. Mukaase.com is a service that finds restaurants that deliver the food you select on line. Perhaps this restaurant uses that service. It's not far from Kakum National Park.
The vehicle opposite us is letting the vehicle ahead of us make the left turn.
And is also letting us make our left turn. This is one of the things I like about driving in Ghana. We cooperate.
The grate is oriented usefully [nice].
Steph made oatmeal. I added cheddar cheese scraps to mine.
Don't Miss This
Steph is serious about building a visual planner.
In Matthew 5:18, Jesus said: "one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled". Jots and tittles are tiny things, thus illustrating that the law given to Moses was to be strictly kept until Jesus fulfilled the law in Himself.
Jot: A jot (jod) is the tenth letter in the Hebrew alphabet and the smallest. It was written above the line and looks to us rather like an apostrophe.
Jod
An Elder wanted clothes for preparation day (P-day). I arranged some left by other missionaries and numbered the diagram to ask which ones he was interested in receiving.
The symbology isn't clear, but the messages "Be Humble" and "Stop - Against" ring out.
This plantain chip was from a street vendor. Crisp enough, but the oil was reused, hurting the flavor.
New Life Food & Drinks. The place next door touts art but seems to sell something else.
Unlike usual breakwaters, these jut out to the sea with sand in between.
I stood on this one to survey the landscape and be visible to the person I was trying to meet.
Looking to my right...
..
The Elder found me.
Vegan restaurant
We're used to "Yield" in the States; this sign says "Give Way".
Canned tomatoes, but the item in the bowl is unidentifiable.
Only God
We are in Ashanti territory; he is a big deal here and given actions I've read about seems to be an able administrator.
The Brits have one royal family. Ghana has many.
Missionaries waiting for a dignitary to arrive.
Onyankopɔn ne Ɔhene: God is King}
(Nyame Ne Me Boafo would be {God is my helper})
A cool way to carry a bag full of water sachets.
Wide load
Chocolate cake from scratch. It would have been fine, but I didn't leave it in the oven long enough even though a knife came out clean [sigh].
Some of our missionaries
Half of our missionaries, with Elder and Sister Kyungu
Before filter change
after
Probably spaghetti sauce that included jack mackerel
The scarf is an airfoil, an effect accentuated by the ceiling fan in this room.
Pick a side, please.
Evidently father and son, waiting for help to repair their aboboyaa.
Our neighbor across from us burned some of his land today.
Double duty
Boats
Still Psalm 87
Verse 3: Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah.
Active
Plantains
Ɔkyeso Nyame
Big equipment moves on the road by its own power, not on a trailer.
Trees are large enough to carve a boat from, and the wood that is used floats very well.
Ready to sell
We think these might be porta potties.
For sale
A graveyard near business (and an image of the camera)
We'll fit.
Eventually
Irenekay Catering Training Institute. Most of such training focuses on food; this one looks like it might involve more than food.
"Back in the 18th century, the Fante people of Ghana formed traditional military groups called ‘Asafo companies’ among themselves. The word ‘Asafo’ come from two Akan words and means ‘warriors of war’. These companies had the task of defending the Akan states and cities, providing security services to the community and playing a role in local politics. The companies were organized into rank order with each having a number and were called by their number followed by the town or state they represented. (ie. No. 4, Elmina). The companies were rivals to each other, and each company believed itself to be the best warrior group!" -- https://mymarvellousmundane.com/2020/06/15/the-peculiar-posuban-shrines-and-fanciful-flags-of-the-fante-people-of-ghana/
That author relies in turn on a paper by Doran H Ross "Come and Try: Towards a History of Fante Military Shrines". (You have to go to the first link to get to the paper.)
That author relies in turn on a paper by Doran H Ross "Come and Try: Towards a History of Fante Military Shrines". (You have to go to the first link to get to the paper.)
Much building wood on a large truck.
We called for better information and found we were an hour north of where we needed to be.
The Israeli flag is the first hint I've seen in this country of any recognition to those of Jewish faith.
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