Week of 20250427 - Ghana Week 59: Branch Conference Alone;
New Visiting Assignments; What's Next?; Elmina; Rain at Last; Zone Conference;
100 Baptisms in One Month; Difficult Ditch
= Sunday, I went to church by myself; Steph was down with a headache. We met under two canopies for Branch Conference. We took the Sacrament, sustained church officers, and heard from leaders. After Come, Follow Me [scripture discussion], most members left for the day; Branch officers remained for training by District officers.
= Monday, President Morgan proposed that each couple visit half of their assigned apartments by each transfer. I suggested we bring a list of issues identified for the apartment so we can close out items that have been taken care of. I'm frustrated with how fragile the Excel map function is. I used it to illustrate the scope of visit assignments. We'll visit two or three apartments in every week that doesn't include transfers or zone conference.
= We're more than halfway through our mission; we don't know what we'll do when we return to the States. Do we ask for another mission? If so, what kind?
= Tuesday, we swapped good bicycles for bad in Elmina. We paid mission medical bills. We had nice rain, long and hard enough that a trickle from a window ran 15 feet and water forced its way through the hinge side of the back door.
= Wednesday, we attended a session of zone conference. It takes three days, about a third of the mission each day. Zone leaders shared things they’ve done and things they plan to do. The Morgans shared that Ghana Cape Coast missionaries baptized 100 people in March. In groups, we discussed our responsibility to represent the Savior and scriptures related to gratitude. The new Mission President and his wife will arrive on 25 June. They are Ghanaians from the Elmina area, have served missions, and know this part of Ghana very well.
= We picked up meds for a missionary. I arranged for the Campbells’ vehicle to receive an oil change while they’re at Zone conference tomorrow.
= Thursday, we started our day at the office so the Dimmicks could attend a day of zone conference. We picked up and delivered food to the conference. A missionary who did not buy the medicine she had been prescribed yesterday was in worse shape today. At Steph's urging, her companions got her to Oak Tree Medical Services. This time the Sister and companion will spend the night there. We returned to cover the office.
= Home, a downpour made sliding through the ditch below our compound interesting. We listened to an audio book that advised how to learn languages; I took the part about Spaced Repetition Systems to heart.
= Friday, a truck could not make it over the ditch below our compound. Elders helped the workers carry furniture from their apartment to the truck for distribution to other apartments. We arrived late at the third session of conference.
= We bought KFC for date night and watched Star Trek - Next Generation until 0300; we relaxed.
= Saturday, after trying again to repair our living room air conditioner, workers concluded that it was old and needed replacement. When they left, I fixed pancakes and fried luncheon meat and we began our monthly fast. I pushed the blog. Steph did her hair. I eventually crafted a testimony in English and Twi.
Branch Conference
We noticed that the Kingsway branch we frequent is closed on Sunday, at least this time of day.
Tough to pass with a wide truck
The goalie's getting a rest.
People carry a variety of things.
Aboboyaas carry more than you might expect.
They might be saying: We're waiting for you.
Motorcycle passengers carry loads.
The scale on this tripod is used to weigh items for transport and sale.
People often turn when they hear the truck motor change speeds.
Containers to be re-used for water.
Drainage ditches are cement troughs. Elder Dimmick in a poem he wrote referred to this sort of trough as "The Ditch of Despair"; because, if you drift into one of these, your tire is not coming out intact unless you have a light vehicle - we don't - that passersby can lift out of the ditch.
See beesforlivelihoods.com
We need to visit someday.
Sprayer
Kindness
(Urinal and toilet)
Wind has taken down the fancy billboard.
Where the bamboo was cut back where we skirt the edge of the park
Mfuom. We now pass this spot and make the next left instead of parking to the right and walking up the hill.
The left. We drive up the hill.
Canopies were set up to hold the Branch Conference in front of the rented home where we normally meet.
Scripture discussion: If ye are not one, ye are not mine.
I dodged the board, placed after recent rain; the board helps people step over the drainage cut in weather.
Roads don't freeze and thaw here [grin], but rain and heavy trucks are hard on them.
She is riding sidesaddle.
Unlike in the States where the trend is to have gravestones on their backs, close to the ground, gravestones here are built up from the ground. We've seen a couple of such grave markers under construction; the raised-up space is empty.
This is not Super Baby hanging on; the baby is in a cloth tied around the mother.
Construction tools to prop cement forms for the second and subsequent stories; they they are re-used. (Bamboo)
Notice the men don't blow into the ends of the horns but blow from the side. The symbol in this photo means Except [for] God.
[There is nothing without God.]
From church. (Consider the dedication to get up early enough to walk to church instead of just hopping in our vehicles.)
[probably] AhwÉ› Yie {Safety}
Motto below...
God with us
He holds them with a strap.
Members leaving church from one of the Abura wards. (Three groups meet in this building at staggered times, just as Millbrook and Prattville wards share a building in Alabama.)
She has long hair (weave).
We opened the windows; this view is from over the kitchen sink.
Onion, carrot, shredded fake spam, fried
A very unusual night: a cloud of moths (the zigzag lines in the photo) clustered in front of our truck.
Baked (vegetarian) beans, chicken hot dog, mushrooms, sweet potato
Men creating a building foundation, by hand, across from the Audit center on the "road" to our house
Heading down a path in the rain
What happened to this taxi?
Our mission is by the Atlantic Ocean (Gulf of Guinea).
We'll turn north here today.
People use netting to keep goats away from plants; and it works!
There are very fancy buildings in what seem to us to be unlikely places. This is a view of the Royal Elmont Hotel.
He's carrying crates of eggs.
The rebar sticking up holds the promise that a building, or a story of a building, may be there someday.
People getting to enjoy the water as this man works in his canoe
We often send our missionaries to Doctor Morna, who runs Oak Tree Medical Services.
The lady driving this motorcycle zipped out of Oak Tree on this narrow bridge, picked up a boy (her son?) and headed away from the main road. I was too astonished to catch the shot until they were facing away from me.
The people on the left drove up and proceeded to take samples of the water in the drainage ditch.
The umbrella shades the baby.
Someday, there may be money to finish this.
Art for housing. We had tried to find a better way out to a paved road from Oak Tree Medical Services, but we were not successful. We turned around in a school that had student housing.
Another apartment in the complex
Back to familiar territory: a school, which quotes a hymn from 1633..
Lord Jesus Hath a Garden Full of Flowers, Gay
Where you and I can gather nosegays all the day.
There angels sing in jubilant ring with dulcimers and lutes,
And harps, and cymbals, trumpets, pipes, and gentle, soothing flutes..
There bloometh white the lily, flowers of Purity;
The fragrant velvet hides there, sweet Humility.
And one thing fairest is in that lovely maze
The Gardener, Jesus Christ, whom all the flowers praise.
O Jesus, all my good and all my bliss! Ah me!
Thy garden make my heart, which is ready for thee.
Rhabbles bread. At noon, not at its freshest, but still good.
Entering the lot surrounding Cape Coast Stadium
Our destination: Cape Coast Stadium Clinic (to pay a monthly bill)
The "Big Bird" around here: a crow in tuxedo
Psalm 19:14 - Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.
Adze nyina mu hom nda ase {Give thanks in all things}
[This is Fante, not Twi; I'm guessing here.]
The gap by Cape Coast Castle gives a glimpse of the sea.
I ran out to open this rain barrel that catches rain from the roof next door, but it was already full; I re-closed it.
Heavy rain forces its way above the corner back window in the living room. Of course, you can't fix a roof when its raining, and the leak isn't obvious when it's not.
Blurry, but gets the point across
A kitchen is a laboratory. Tomato mix takes the place of tomato paste here: the mix includes soy fiber but otherwise is like tomato paste. The Zwan in the foreground is a readily available equivalent to "Spam" but is chicken-based, no pork; it slices and grates more readily than real "Spam", which is not sold here. The other ingredients need no explanation.
Vigorous rain blew under our back door. (When conserving water, the jug without duct tape is for washing; the jug with the duct tape is rinse water from the top-loading washer, saved to flush toilets with.)
The storm was not nice to our plants.
Funeral events are a big deal here. Note the sequence of events for this person: Wake, Burial, Funeral after the burial, Thanksgiving, and Family Gathering.
The Goil by KFC. The price of diesel was 15.30 cedis per liter or 57.92 cedis per gallon (which on 30 April 2025 was $4.05 U.S.)
Upstairs for Zone Conference in the High Council Room at Ola
(The bag is Steph's medicine bag.)
Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders brief their activity
As always, some individuals sought out the Church without being asked. By far, the best source is member referral.
The activity of members of the Mission Leadership Council is compared with the activity of the mission as a whole for the previous and current month. The mission baptized 100 people in March.
It takes many teaching opportunities to make that happen. The mission taught 497 people in March.
As is true elsewhere, contacting in public is nowhere near as fruitful as speaking with people referred by members.
Prior to August, our missionaries were spread across what is now two missions; activity performed in what is now a different mission is not included.
Involving youth more in the work is something I would not have thought of.
We work to be good representatives. And they way others perceive us is also important.
Sing while you work
All is Vanity
Ecclesiastes 1:2 - Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
Make Cape Coast Great Again
Just a reminder that people walk long distances to try to sell goods.
Work across from the Audit building on the way to our home
The rainy season has arrived at last.
..
Natural Environment
Where we sometimes pick up meals for the mission: a catering school (on the left). It's difficult to make it through the gate. We did it today for the second day of Conference. (A third of the mission meets each day.)
Sanitize before you eat
Social Media
No caption needed..
..
..
..
..
..
The words in white say: Slow down, take a deep breath. What's the hurry?
The license frame says: God is great.
But Jeremiah 2:25 (in red) chews out the Israelites for chasing pleasure in everything *except* God.
[And it is odd to see a 'tro suggest slowing down.]
Area sent this as a printer to fit on a desk, but it's larger than half of a desk by itself; it's going back.
President Morgan coaching Elder Dimmick in climbing the curb to get to the mission compound generator. They used the truck to get the generator started.
Signs of an event at the Audit center
The wind has been pretty strong.
It's not obvious that an alley on the left is the turn for the Bakaano Ward, where we will meet for the third day of Conference.
..
..
..
..
It backs up to this lagoon. But because it is surrounded by buildings - breeze can't blow through - it is the only air-conditioned building in the mission.
..
Doxy, Candy, Malarone [alternative malaria preventive for African-born]!
Dewormer! (and for some, medical forms)
Sister Dimmick showing children something on her phone
Interesting place to relax
Men hauling a net
Ride when you can.
God is One
A reminder in the midst of all this bustle
Who said riding a bicycle has to be boring?
Interesting sign
Still blessing
Nyansaboakwa Nyame
Nyansa Nyame {God of Wisdom}
But combined with boa kwa, the possibilities inflate to include everything from help for nothing to drunkenness. (The line is curved.)
Everyone must need one.
(probably washing scrubs)
Being careful
Yes Lord
Saturday Breakfast
Activity
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
Sprayer
Kindness
Make Cape Coast Great Again
No comments:
Post a Comment