Week of 20250309 - Ghana Week 52: More Teaching; Extending Callings; Live Wire Workers; Oscillating Power; Departures; Arrivals; Transfers; Achiasi
= Sunday during Sunday School, Steph taught again about tithing and then about receiving ordinances and making covenants. After the meeting, she and I sat down with the Branch President and members of his council and reviewed the process of deciding on, praying about, and extending a call to a person to serve in a branch position. President Morgan had asked us to do this; delegating makes service more effective and gives more people an opportunity to grow through service.
= Monday, without cutting the power from the street, workers removed a burnt circuit breaker between the meter and the street. The boss did the work with one of our kitchen knives, the metal handle wrapped with a few layers of towel paper. The power worked for a while, then died for the balance of the afternoon and night.
= Tuesday, we helped a missionary on the threshold of departure who had just come down with a medical issue. We worked at the office. We attended activities for departing missionaries. Near bedtime, we hosted a Sister Missionary; the power had come back on.
= Wednesday, we brought our guest to breakfast at the mission home and were present when the bus arrived with new missionaries. The departing missionaries provided words of encouragement and testimonies, and then they were on the bus and we were waving good-bye.
= After lunch, Steph showed them a video, an animation of how the malaria virus works, and helped inventory suitcases. I brought out used clothing (left by other missionaries) to make it easier for missionaries who had arrived without needed items. (They should have brought everything on the list; in their new areas, they'll purchase later what they didn't bring.) At bedtime, we hosted a different Sister missionary; we had power.
= Thursday, we helped move luggage to the Ola chapel, then remained there on a back pew for a couple of hours and then for the transfer meeting. No air conditioning, but the ceiling fans and open architecture made it comfortable enough. Home, we cranked up new arrangements of gospel songs; Steph danced to one.
= Friday, we worked in the office and had a meal from a supplier the mission is trying out to support transfers and zone conferences. Then we drove to Achiasi to deliver a knee brace to a missionary there. Date night was at home; we watched Netflix until 0430. We relaxed.
= Saturday, we got up very slowly: me at 12:30, Steph until past 3 (if you don't count waking up frequently to deal with medical issues). I alternated between clothing issues and the journal and blog.
To church
Below the bumper, it says: No Bribe
Cement mixers, waiting for employment
Imagine (or remember) a time before GPS when you had to rely on signs and ask for directions.
Maker of door frames and the like. Buildings that aren't rustic are made of cement blocks, but you still need wooden door frames and window frames.
Of course, just as in the States, there are many churches.
Come to church; magnify callings; help others in gospel; be your brother's keeper; minister; witness; live worthily. We make covenants through ordinances. A covenant is a 2-way promise between you and God.
.. and wood. Staples of civilization.
Subo Awurade {Submit to the Lord}
These cattle are in better shape than most.
As a kid, I never pictured a dump truck working in this way.
Yes, you're looking at an aboboyaa filled with eggs! How they survive these roads intact is a mystery.
Giving daughter a ride while looking at a phone. His daughter is wearing heels.
Families can be joyful. Time with Dad.
This seems like an unusual name for a gas station. I would have picked Oasis.
Prices are in liters and cedis; diesel at this station would be about $3.90 US per gallon.
Imagine walking this way for miles.
Isaiah 41:10 - Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
In a suit, on a bicycle. (In our mission, suits are not required.)
Beats carrying on your head..
Some KK drivers have a windshield.
This is a refreshment stand. Coconuts are prepared so one more cut will open a lid you tip back to drink, and then another cut will let you use the lip to scrape the meat.
Find a tree; set up shop today. Move elsewhere tomorrow.
Ready to start the route again
Ma Adze Nyɛ Wɔ Tɛw {Make Things Simple}
The mystery business at the turn from N1 toward the office is nearing completion.
With the power temporarily out for the outlet in the guest bathroom, we moved the top-loading washer to the master bathroom. In this view, we're filling it from the overhead shower head.
Trying to capture the drain water (for flushing), one of the reasons for using the top-loader, but it's tougher to do in this shower. We can't just lean a jug over the step to the shower as we can for the guest shower. With a sink in the way, it's cramped in the master bathroom shower.
Ran out of drying room [grin]
This circuit breaker between the street and the meter overheated.
He has removed the breaker and is running street power to the meter - without asking the city to turn off the power first.
And he's using our kitchen knife to do it.
They asked for some paper towel to wrap the handle.
The knife has an aluminum handle.
The grey panels are cement-coated fiber: roofing material that lasts for decades.
In front of the pharmacy at the Goil station near KFC
Is the building inside for temporary use until the large building around it can be finished?
The power level oscillated..
..
(We unplugged our computers at this point.)
We don't go hungry here, but you might not recognize some of the food combinations.
Psalm 45:5 - Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; whereby the people fall under thee.
Over the door, it says: Truck of the year.
The driver is buying food from a vendor at the red light.
Seems impossible, doesn't it?
Checklist for missionaries heading home
I had thought that moving four times in my first 2 1/2 years in the military was a lot. But arriving in this mission was the Morgans' 27th move in 30 years of marriage!
Elder Bahi, who had served in the office for part of his tenure here
Elder Anagbo, Elder Soria looking on.
See the football in mid air?
Greeting new arrivals
..
Scriptural promises to a missionary long ago are true today.
[Image stretched in Word for legibility]
The teaching zones (those colored bubbles) surround meeting places. When there enough members near each other to worship together, the District or Stake approves the formation of a group or branch, and then we can teach in that area. We don't try to teach people outside of those areas; because, they would not have a place to worship together and members to interact with. So, the church doesn't randomly dot the landscape; it spreads.
Borrowing a floor fan in case there's no power to the guest bedroom ceiling fan. (We host missionaries overnight during transfers.)
The man in the background is coating the furniture he's building and showing off on the street for sale.
..
New missionaries at transfer meeting.
New companionships being formed.
New missionaries; new zone and district leaders; trainers
Next to the Ola chapel, this building will support youth gatherings.
Carrying it horizontally worked better.
Steph, confirming how many missionaries are in the vehicle; the Dimmicks are handing meals and sachets of water to missionaries as they head to their assignments.
Suro Nnipa {Fear of People [or simply Fear Man]}
This sticker was on a vehicle window.
Transfers done; waiting for KFC
Two of the missionaries who live in the apartment that's next to ours
The banana plant has fallen over, and the bananas aren't mature enough to be used [sigh].
We have water. The initial run through the pipes was brown, but it cleared quicky as the silt settled in the tank.
Leftover rice from transfer, augmented
Top-loader, with shirt sleeves tied together by its action (typical). I have since taken to turning the shirts inside out first; that helps a little.
Steph with a new purse. (It's a proselyting bag, but she has added an organizer insert.) It has zippers to keep valuable items from falling out.
Copper and aluminum wires are part of the connection to the apartments in the compound. The two metals don't expand the same way; the mix might cause problems years from now.
This replacement circuit breaker is between the meter and the apartments.
These crows with tuxedos are big.
Trying out a new supplier for transfer and conference meals
Chicken a little raw but tender; we provided feedback.
The mystery business at the turn to N1 from the office has more than a tiny driveway.
God is Great Enterprise
Ewuradze Kasa {The Lord Speaks}
Standing is more comfortable than sitting in the cargo container, if you have a choice.
Peace and Joy Chop Bar and Restaurant
Every meeting needs chairs.
Jehowa Adom {Jehovah's Grace} Enterprise
Notice the two-way traffic in the shoulder.
This fuel truck has no rear lights, at least no brake lights.
Most people don't live on paved roads, at least not here.
Yes, you can bring your cutlass to school.
To market, or from market?
We can't dodge the potholes.
A better view of those caskets
Yes, the sun illuminated the camera as well.
Licensed over the counter medicine seller
She has just come up a steep hill but continues to stay out of the street.
One Stone - Psalm 118:22 - The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
House of Grace - Over the Counter Medicine Seller
Looks nice; probably only a few rooms have A/C.
Ogya Fir Beba Mu
perhaps ogya firi bɛba mu {fire will come out}
By His Grace
Moving firewood
Gye Nyame {Receive God} Catering Service
Motto: Enjoy Yourself
Shop at Home
Man no be God
Look Up to God Enterprise
Ɛna Pa Ho Ɛna {Mother surpassing all mothers}
Abba {Daddy} Father Ventures
Mpaebo Yiefoɔ {the prayer of the righteous}
The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much... - James 5:16
We're being passed on a hill and curve.
That habit might not end well.
You could fit a small salad into the skin of an avocado; they're large here.
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