Week of 20250323 - Ghana Week 54: Steph on Freedom; Temple Prep; Misunderstood Meal!; Apartment Issues; Mankessim 2; Mankessim 1; Saltpond; Notebook Found; Asebu; Abakrampa; Moree 2; 'Tro Crash
= Sunday, Steph spoke on freedom that comes from a spiritual mindset. When we follow Jesus Christ, we are free from many self-inflicted wounds. We gain more knowledge and have more freedom, not less. The Relief Society President reminded us that everyone has direct access to the power of God through their covenants with Him. Then Steph led the ladies in singing; others joined, and I sang in the background.
= After Sacrament, I briefly taught about the use of symbols to relate spiritual concepts (sheep, seed..). Then Steph reviewed some basic qualifications to receive the temple endowment: being worthy; being humble; being ready to wear a religious garment under our clothing day and night (whenever practical) for the rest of our lives.
= After church, the person we thought had invited us to eat with her next door expected us to drive her, we thought to her house. We thought this must be what we had accidentally agreed last week to do [against mission rules]. When she got in the truck, she beckoned two daughters to jump in as well.
= When we reached Cape Coast and she hadn't directed us to pull over, we called Elder Anagbo to translate and learned that she thought we had invited her to eat at *our* house [also against mission rules]. Elder Anagbo explained to her and we turned around. The only consolation is that I had prepared and shelled hard-boiled eggs to bring to the meal, thinking that we were guests and should bring something. I got those out and a small bag of seasoning. They ate a few of those and kept the rest as they had us drop them off not far from Mfuom.
= Monday, I added mission zone to the apartment issues workbook; because, Brother Bright distributes repair work to vendors who work in specific zones. I built estimates for bicycle repair. I scheduled apartment visits from us as part of the push to collectively visit every apartment in two weeks.
= Tuesday, we picked up missionaries at the Mankessim chapel and brought them to Mankessim 2. After that inspection, we drove to the nearby Mankessim 1 apartment. We had more time than I had planned and were hungry; so, we ate at La Femme (in Mankessim). When we reached Saltpond, we dropped off bicycles, picked up "spoiled" ones, and inspected that apartment also.
= At home, I realized that a section of the string-bound notebook I had used today had fallen out. My notes for Sunday and Monday and our notes for today’s apartment visits were gone. We prayed for their return. At 9:30, we received a WhatsApp from the Saltpond Elders: they had it!
= Wednesday, we visited Asebu. Then Abakrampa; from the road, it's a short hike down to that apartment. We went to where we thought the new Moree 2 apartment and sat until rain stopped. It was then we learned that it was on the other side of the street, actually a good distance from the coordinates we had. After that visit, we drove to Saltpond and picked up the missing notes. (Yea!)
= Thursday, I posted notes from the Campbells about the visits they had made and sent the progress to Brother Bright and Office Elders. We learned that a 'tro had hit a car and had missionaries on board. Many people were hurt badly, but only one of our missionaries was hurt, and the extent of that was a scrape on the leg!
= Friday, I alternated between apartment notes and other tasks. We had date night at home and relaxed.
= Saturday, Steph felt as if her brain was sliding out of her head. I continued documenting and sending apartment issues.
To church
The business where we turn onto N1, is coming along smoothly. It's obviously a gas station.
Asafo Jehowa Di Hene {Jehovah Reigns over the Host}
We might have said Asafo Auwrade Di Hene {The Lord of Hosts Reigns}.
Anointing.
Muslim ladies here cover their heads but not their faces.
To church
Gye Nyame {Receive God}
Uneven load
Nti Wo Yɛ Saa No {So You Do That}
Seems unlikely? Ask a dictionary:
Nti Therefore
Wo They |you |give birth to
Yɛ We |to be good | to do, to be, to make, to perform
Saa That |is that so
No The
Sunday football {soccer}
Mystery load
Aponsem Square is a landmark on our way to where we worship. The Catholic church in the background was founded in 1916; a little research says they now meet in a nearby Methodist (!) school while they raise funds for a new building.
A threesome
Every meeting needs chairs
Big brother/ little brother
To church
..
Why he's parked by this school is anyone's guess.
We used to park by a building on the right and walk up between houses across the street to reach the rented house where we worship. (See the church sign on the left?)
Now we drive to the other side of the hill and take this "road".
Temple Prep.
WOW is Steph's shorthand for Word of Wisdom [health code]. With the cup, she depicts someone's willingness to know more versus thinking that he or she already knows everything and therefore isn't ready to learn.
..
Cattle
Imagine coming over the brow of the hill to find cattle in your way. The herder has delayed their crossing for that reason.
The greenery strewn in the road is a hint that this vehicle is disabled (just in case you didn't notice).
Notice that these two aren't finished yet.
You can ride a motorcycle while carrying a piano keyboard..
I don't know what's around their shoulders.
Fa Wo Ho Adwen {Think About Yourself}
Sheep and goats do their own thing here. To me, it's a wonder they come home at night.
What a friend [we have in Jesus]
Which is a good thing; because, the driver going uphill can't just slide to the shoulder. There's a person there.
Blurry, sorry. But I count four heads.
Plantains and bananas are complicated..
The living room air conditioner periodically dumped condensation.
Margarine tubs and cooking oil
Tight squeeze, but he knew it would be.
I don't know what's in the red cargo bay.
Psalm 27 - "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?..."
[odd place to choose to stop]
A tiny house, perhaps for a caretaker?
Hard Work Pays - Metal Works
As I understand it, the Government builds these 1D1F (one district, one factory) facilities to provide employment for youth, give farmers a reliable outlet for their crops, and increase the region's food self-sufficiency.
Adom Nhyira {Grace Blessing} Ventures
[a contraction of]
Boafo Ye Na {Willing Helper} Electronics
[They'd have to kill God to stop his will from happening. See song lyrics.]
At 0930, this eatery without a name was doing great business.
The trucker put out a stool instead of ripping up plants to show that he's out of commission.
Son of Peace Carpentry Shop
AMA is probably the location: Anamabo.
Jack Spot might be a pun on jackpot.
A little impatient, it would seem.
Vehicle loudspeakers are used for advertising.
8 cedis for a bag of thirty 500 ml sachets.
Checking out Global Brigades Pharmacy
Straight across, on the other side.
We turned left here to go to the Mankessim Chapel.
Notice the yellow truck and the black truck..
The young woman is looking back at another woman who has drawn her attention; the yellow truck says Fear Woman.
And the black truck across the street says Still Multi-Man.
In theory, we should have been able to see the chapel from here.
There's a school across the street.
In the mood for hot chocolate
Rain drains follow the ramp, then penetrate the ramp and empty in grass to the right (not shown).
Megyefo Tease {Savior Lives}
Jah {Jehovah} Bless Food Joint
Fan Milk sells FanYogo, which is frozen flavored yogurt in a bag - I like strawberry - that you tear the corner of as you would a water sachet, only this is smaller, about a cup instead of a half-liter. It also sells FanIce, which Steph says is like soft-serve ice cream.
The building in the background is only a backdrop for this market.
Usually, babies are carried on your back, not on your hip.
Marble, granite, and sintered stone [fused materials] are used as wall treatments as a decorative alternative to paint.
The American dollar $, not the cedi sign ¢ (which is like the American cent sign).
Missionary "short cut" to Mankessim 2
The reason we can't use this route with the truck: see the cement blocker. We're too wide to get around it.
Adom Ara Kwa {Just Grace}
Pillars decorated to evoke the appearance of trees
Believe in God (refrigeration and air conditioning repair)
Solar panel at the turn to Mankessim 1
What looks like a bedframe by a partially demolished building
My attention was drawn to what was probably an elevated polytank platform.
Where we parked. We will probably drive up to the apartment next time; obstacles have been removed.
Wood for cooking
Nyimpa bi nom nyɛ {Some people don't drink}
Entering La Femme [restaurant]
The water shortage has hit them also. You flush with the bucket (as we often do at the house).
[Skip the cakes]
Floss toothpicks; menthol mints
Yes, you can carry your cutlass {machete} to school.
The Brits have royalty; Ghana has royalty.
The red car is taking its time to switch lanes to our side of the road.
Merci Patron {Thank you, Supporter}
In this season, people are traveling to get water, hence the jugs.
Probably Me Gyefo Tease {My Savior Lives}
Roughing out seagoing canoes. Until this photo, I had not noticed the inlet just behind this work area. They won't have go far to put these in the water.
Stay cool with bags of water sachets on your head.
Courtyard polytank for residents of the Saltpond complex. When it has water (not this week) you can fill jugs from it..
And carry them up to your apartment.
This is the good Chinese model sewing machine.
In quest of water. (Yes, I know the bottle looks full, but the yellow jugs would be hard to carry they way they are if they were full.)
Still working on the canoes
Not giving us much clearance, and another vehicle is following it.
In search of water; they'll likely hire a taxi or 'tro for the return trip.
Il ya Dieu dedans {God is in it}
Psalm 125 - They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever....
A glimpse of the sea. People playing but ignoring the goals..
Because there's something else going on here.
More amazingly heavy equipment.
A talkative couple.
Ephesians 2:8-10 - 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
[Walk in good works; good works build and demonstrate faith.]
James 2:26 - For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
He could have pulled ahead just a little farther to change that tire in safety.
They've almost finished paving their parking lot with blocks.
Bring your tools to work.
Students and alumni of Adisadel College are known as Santaclausians because through 1936, it was known as St Nicholas' Grammar School.
Better images of FanYogo and FanIce
Adom Ara Kwa {Just Grace}
Egya Pa Yie
Probably Agya Pa Yie
[they sound the same, easy mistake, or possibly Fante spelling]
{Very Good Father}
School's not out; it's only 1000.
But it sure appears to be.
Hwɛ Nea Nyame Ayɛ {See What God Has Done}
[It's common to use 3 in place of Ɛ.]
Ɔyɛ Ewuradze N'Adom
possibly {The Lord of Grace}
or {The Lord Is Gracious}
Nyame Nye Hɛn Boafo {God Is Our Helper}
They seem small against this wide landscape.
Youth Entrepreneurship and Culinary Training Centre
[a project of]
Alliance for Youth Development in collaboration with Davis Family Foundation and GOFUND [Global Opportunity (GO) Fund: thegofund.org]
Graves
Just getting a ride. (Gripping the motorcycle, not the driver.)
Who's going to carry all that?
This is as close as you can drive in anything wider than a motorcycle to reach the Abakrampa apartment. Walk between these buildings and down the hill.
We wonder who meets in this building we pass on the right.
Missionaries don't have the porch of this duplex. They enter a door on the left side of the house.
But I didn't pass up this opportunity for a photo-op of us in the reflection from a porch window.
Ewuradze Yie {Success to the Lord}
[If God is your co-pilot, you're sitting in the wrong seat; he should be your director.]
Where we sat in the rain waiting to get better coordinates for Moree 2 [which was across the street a quarter mile away]
From our vantage point in a field, we saw this truck go by.
Forked stick; purpose unknown
No rest here
Ewɔ Asem Bi Ka {He Has Something To Say}
Seagoing canoes being created
Can you balance what they can balance?
My Redeemer Lives
God is my Saviour
Jesus Alagga {Jesus is the Redeemer}
2006 Presidential Award Winner
Peace be upon them
Here's a tiny glimpse of the ocean from this part of N1.
Let's get the kids where they need to be
The seagoing canoes in the far background use an outboard motor.
Big brother; little sister
Consider how hard it is to swerve or stop a cargo container that has the inertia associated with more than 67 thousand pounds.
The sales pitch is aimed at large organizations that want a place for conferences and workshops.
Anything "Eco" is a sales pitch.
Buildings anywhere they'll fit
Navigating carefully
Take turns.
Jugs waiting to be filled.
There's a vehicle under that stuff somewhere.
This configuration looks like the Mankessim Melcom, but Cape Coast already has a Melcom downtown. I'm rooting for this to be a Melcom; this one would have parking.
Nkwa na ɔhia {Life is what he needs}
[I think that's what it says; I'm having trouble confirming this.]
Pizza Hut (at the entrance to Hacienda Hotel)
Caution: May Contain Radioactive Material
[followed by an escort]
Awurade Na Eve {Lord and Eve}
[That makes no sense to me, but I can't deny the literal meeting.]
Way home
Ramen with milk
Broken sink drain; water backed up through it from the front-loading washer
Fake spam with pineapple
Add to rice
We filled multiple jugs with condensation that dropped from our living room air conditioner.
A new favorite ice cream brand, but we've only seen it once in more than a year.
Perhaps too much soap for the water
Plantains, damaged before their time. (They fell against the parked truck. I didn't back into them.)
Wait, Mom!
Fire truck
Rarely seen. People burn in the dry season; no problem. Most houses are cement.
The wheelbarrows are already on the roof; what's the discussion about?
The stool implies she's a sales person, but what's on her tray?
Just in case you don't notice tires for sale, a tube is tied to the unused billboard frame.
More Blessing
Forever God
London Hearse
Building where the road to the mission compound meets N1. It's clear now that this will be just another gas station.
Bananas at our compound, stalk broken by wind before they were ripe
Missionaries
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