Week of 20250720 - Ghana Week 71: Church Alone; District Visit; Taught from Scriptures; Dumped Water; Mission Leadership Council; Zone Conference x 3; Steph Ill
= Sunday, Steph recuperated at home. Since I arrived early at church, I took the opportunity to encourage President Davies to have Relief Society and Priesthood meet on the second and fourth Sundays of the month. Because we had District visitors, the branch held Relief Society and Elders Quorum today, but I was asked to teach the Come, Follow Me [Sunday School] lesson during Elders Quorum instead of discussing needs the quorum could address. [This is a work in progress.]
= Counselors to the District Presidency were there today. They strongly encouraged members present to minister to members who were not there today. After church, a counselor in the District Presidency asked me to continue to encourage the branch leaders to call members to positions to help the branch.
= Monday, I inventoried and labeled new bicycle helmets and assigned them to companionships. Now that the dry season was over, we dumped the laundry rinse water we had kept for flushing toilets and aired out the house; fabric softener made that water smell very bad. Sliding screens open to close windows let some mosquitoes in; we placed a standing fan at the foot of our bed to make them work harder to reach us that night.
= Tuesday, we attended our first Mission Leadership Meeting (MLC). To me, this was a dress-rehearsal for zone conferences: Zone Leaders (ZLs) and Sister Training Leaders (STLs) briefed their goals, results, what they had done, and their future plans, as they would at a zone conference. The President and his wife, Office Elders and Assistants to the President (APs), the Dimmicks, and Steph provided instruction.
= Afterward, we picked up glasses for a missionary and did serious shopping at Melcom.
= Wednesday, we learned that a friend back home had died; he was likely ready but will be missed. At a conference for some of the zones, ZLs and STLs briefed as at MLC. Some of them did additional presentations: Personal and Companionship Study; Setting Inspired Goals. APs talked about missionary conduct. Media submissions were next: fun and engaging. Then a song and chocolate for those with birthdays in July or August. Awards judged by Zone leaders for cleanest apartments and cleanest bicycles. Then testimonies from departing missionaries. Then testimonies from new missionaries. President Tachie-Menson summarized some of what we had heard today and some personal notes. He pointed out that we invite people to the celestial kingdom. No one else can do this.
= Buffet lunch followed. The local church distribution center (down the hall) was open because of this event. After cleanup, Steph and I did minor shopping, and picked up the scale from the office. I journaled; Steph created scripture aids and then a book of quotes.
= Thursday's zone conference was held at the Yamoransa chapel. Having seen the wind at this location, I had brought rope with me and tied half of the vehicle gate open, just in case. It was like Wednesday's conference but for different zones. I appreciate that some of the same topics were handled by different ZLs and STLs from yesterday; they handled them differently and had different perspectives. Unexpected highlight from testimonies: You won’t be content with tiny goals; challenge yourselves.
= Friday's zone conference was held at the Fosu South Stake Center, almost two hours away. It was like Wednesday's conference but for different zones. The Campbells (a senior couple who live in Praso and so interact with many of these missionaries) chose to speak on integrity. Unexpected highlight from testimonies: When I arrived and took my first ‘tro ride to my new apartment, I cried. I turned to God for comfort. Don’t serve time, serve the Lord; people who serve time are in prison.
= Home, I read some of A History of Indigenous Slavery in Ghana, then turned to the journal. Steph was looking at stuff on her iPad. Chicken, a movie, and Star Trek - Next Generation until 0100. We relaxed.
= Saturday, I blogged. The replacement generator was a dud, not handling even a small load and stalling twice in twenty minutes; it's good this was only a test. Steph couldn’t handle supper (fish in pasta). Late in the evening, Steph found other leftovers so she would have something to throw up!
Early to church
Reflection from the kitchen window
I cleaned up pretty well that day.
Not much traffic; I left early.
Adome Nyame [Adom Nyame]{The Grace of God} 85 Ventures
Food is available at this hour
Fresh chicken - cook it yourself
Jesu Nti {Therefore, Jesus}
They're cooking outside a building that has air conditioning.
Efutu Koforidua is at the red arrow; Koforidua is north of Accra. A web search only brings up the larger community.
This statue of a leader is flanked by statues of two men, each blowing a horn..
through a hole on the *side*.
MUSICAL instruments made from the horns of animals and occasionally from other materials and sounded, as European ‘brass’ instruments are sounded, by causing the vibrating lips to make the air-column in the tube vibrate.. [are] blown through an embouchure made in the side of the tube, not at the tip. -- The Musical Instruments of the Indigenous People of South Africa (Author: Percival Kerby; Publisher: Cambridge University Press)
She knows where she's going.
Did the marble facing fall off of these?
You want dirt? They have dirt.
After a quiet period (months), construction has begun within this wall.
What are the steps for? Perhaps to sit on?
Unsorted firewood. Usually, people sort firewood.
Opinion: loads of baby diapers..
carried to this site in the blue barrels above. (The white color of these tight piles was more obvious months ago.)
Someone has locked the toilet side of this community facility. Out of order, or is a maintenance fee due?
A goat decided that the truck was nice shelter.
He's unloading gravel by hand. The building behind him went up quickly.
In this sequence..
Burial Service
Burial
Final Funeral Rites
Thanksgiving Service
Family Gathering
Leaves
The big guys stir up bugs for the little guys (the birds).
This makes it a little clearer.
Kitchen cabinets coming to the Big House for distribution
A replacement couch table for the Dimmicks; theirs is broken.
Keeping the critters off of the Audit Building lawn
[People who use veils here cover the head and shoulders, but not the face.]
Near nightfall, Steph opened the windows to air out the house.
Steph used the emergency light so we wouldn't be on display while sitting at the couch, eating tunafish with plantain chips; the windows and curtains are open.
Don't Miss This (scripture discussion)
David Butler's not mad at Grace Freeman; that's his attentive face.
David Butler and Emily Freeman at the John Johnson House (four years ago on a field trip).
In 1832, Joseph Smith was dragged out this door, beaten, stripped, tarred, and feathered. The adopted child he was caring for was recovering from measles; the child died of exposure in conjunction with the attack.
The next day, most of the tar scraped off, he preached a sermon on forgiveness; some of the mobbers were in the audience.
Steph, trying to tighten these louvered windows to her satisfaction
Evidence of a leak. It would have been wise to leave a chair at this spot. You can see one skid mark.
I could get to like these photos.
At Mission Leadership Council (MLC) Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders briefed their personal statistics: goals, actuals, and for the current month, people on date for baptism.
Results for the zone they lead
Finding Sources: Contacting in Public; Sought out the Church; Member Referral; Person being taught; House to house [knocking on doors]
Goal and actual for the zone and per companionship
They considered what they have learned in six weeks
And what they will do for the next six weeks.
They took turns reading from their results, lessons learned, and plans. Then they responded to questions.
[Then the leaders of the other zones did the same thing, with different goals, and results, different lessons learned, and different plans for the future. Later this week, they will do this again at the zone conference that their zone will be part of.]
The office team did the same thing, only realize that they had less time available to interact with the public.
Statistics for the leaders and for the mission as a whole
Much effort has been put into media, but it is not resulting in obvious returns (the shrunken dot).
Office Elders taught about effective prayer.
The Dimmicks briefed subsistence, utilities, and imprest.
Steph actively briefed medical issues (but no dead bug imitations this time)
Assistants to the President briefed types of items that will be reimbursed, and types of items that won't be reimbursed.
Then they led a discussion on effective personal and companionship study.
President Tachie-Menson discussed who can authorize a person to perform a baptism and confirmation. Read multiple sections of the General Handbook carefully to get the context.
If I were building the chart, it would look like this.
The Dimmicks brought buffet lunch. This and future meetings will end with lunch instead of continuing the meeting afterward as in the past.
Cold water is placed on tables; cold soda is available.
More than one group meets in the building at once.
Steph, discovering a new favorite drink
Rosie's Sip and Nibble Fresh Yoghurt - Strawberry
Infinity God
Most of our Melcom purchases..
Most sauces, vinegars, oil
Items in jars. Also mushrooms and a tiny can of milk. The tuna flakes are an anomaly and don't belong in this spot. I would hate to just throw them away, but they are like gruel. Buy tuna chunk, not tuna flakes.
Vegetables (except for the mushrooms, which can go in any meal)
Canned protein: Jack Mackerel; fake spam; tuna. A couple of odd items. Tasty Tom wound up in this shot: tomato mix. [Tomato mix with soy fiber is common here; tomato sauce without that fiber is not as common.]
Rice; fake spam; grated pickle; apple cider vinegar and pineapple jelly to make a sweet and sour sauce
Kitchen cabinets to be distributed
I don't know what this machine is.
A Before B
This is not a standard KK. In a standard KK, the rearmost passengers face forward; the next row faces backward; they share legroom. Both have two rows for passengers. This one has less legroom for either row. Its only advantage is that this KK has what appears to be a little deeper area for someone willing to scrunch next to the driver. This KK also seems longer than the standard, sacrificing maneuverability.
A standard KK (showroom model). Doing this research, I ran across an alternate name for it: a Pragya. (per ghanaiantimes.com.gh)
Emmanuel Heaven Home Furniture Enterprise
Sister Tachie-Menson spoke.
We have already seen the reports. The ones for the zones that attend today's conference are the ones that will be briefed today.
Where performance is measured, performance improves. When performance is measured and reported, the rate of improvement accelerates. -- President Monson [whom President Nelson replaced on President Monson's death]
Elder Huff and Elder Quicay led a discussion on Personal and Companionship Study
Setting Inspired Goals.. By the Cape Coast Sister Training Leaders (STLs)
They discussed SMART goals.
[from the Assistants to the President]
[no coffee, tea, tobacco, or booze]
Lyric from a children's song:
Pray..
Birthdays in July or August
Testimonies
Placing beverages on tables
I'm trying to get a picture of the food..
And the ladies see it as a photo op [grin]
The Mission Medical Coordinator is IN. The famous medicine bag is next to her. She's available for consultation.
With zone conferences held close to where missionaries serve, attendees don't live far away; so, no transport is prearranged for them. So, they don't have a deadline and can visit a bit.
As we left the Ola chapel, a man across the street ran over to suggest that we wanted a coconut. Steph agreed.
We carry a cup in the truck for this purpose. Yes, you could drink directly from the coconut. But you'd get a lot of it on yourself trying to get the last drop..
Sure, one direction is as good as another.
Count the wheels. The secret is that often, not all of them are configured to bear the weight. When you have this many wheels, you need a few spares. Still impressive.
Yesu Medaase {Thank you Jesus}
I'm sure he can find a space for a few more jugs.
Yesu Mogya {The Blood of Jesus}
Steph was enjoying the view from in front of the Yamoransa chapel. Day 2 of the conference, zones near Yamoransa met here today instead of going to Cape Coast.
They're walking up what look like dirt steps.
The building behind the main chapel today was once the main chapel. Now, classes meet there.
A missionary Elder is conducting (as usual)
Each zone conference includes reports from the attending zones.
Role play: companionship study
Sisters briefed accomplishing the work through goals and plans.
They presented this quote they tried to type from my favorite prophet.
They had interaction from the group.
..
These quotes emphasized our responsibility not to be directed in every little thing but to make wise choices.
Elders Bingham and Koyondo (Assstants to the President)
Sisters Logoia and Lavender
Elders Barillos and Isangette
Describe Jesus in one word
Love
Elder Mayo led a birthday song.
Be prepared in all things
Some of the men started singing softly while waiting for food.
Photographer for a group picture
The group. Yes there's a breeze.
President Tachie-Menson and Elder Dimmick, conversing
They had been waiting for photos..
This captures how young some missionaries are.
Another view of the walkway to the original chapel; note that the steeple is on that building, not the newer building we met in
That's a heavy carry, even empty, for three men.
Will they cross or retreat?
Parts for seagoing canoes, I think
The outer tire doesn't look quite right.
The ground-level polytank is full.
(I don't know their real name.)
Using the electric pressure cooker
We assume that our neighbors are preparing to feed a crowd.
[the cross]
Every Day with God Enterprise
This looks like a giant cell phone. A rigid poster, perhaps?
Better stop carving dirt from this side of the hill.
Amos 5:18 - Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light.
[They're not prepared for the day that they say they look forward to. It would be a day of darkness for them; because, Israel is just going through the motions of worship. 22 Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts. 24 But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.]
[The van says Victory.]
Stihl is the brand of chainsaw that the church pre-positions to help with tornado and hurricane cleanup.
These appear too big for firewood and too small to turn into boards.
The House in the Trees Guest House
BoafoÉ” Pa Ne Nyame {Good Helper and God}
[The Good Helper Is God]
[We arrived a little late for the zone conference held at the Fosu South Stake Center. It included missionaries from Praso.]
Elders Jones and Racal presented on Personal Study.
The Tachie-Mensons sat in the back today, not on the stand.
Others led a discussion of personal study.
Others on setting goals and planning
The Campbells spoke on integrity.
Media submissions
Elders Bouwhuis and Volavola
My name is Nicholina Nhyira Arthur, and I'm a member of the church of JESUS CHRIST of latter-day saints.
I know that the church and its teaching is true.
Elders Gafah and Nkunga
We are all equal before God.
..
He asked trainers to stand..
In goal setting, be guided by your missionary purpose.
The Battle Hymn of the Republic
Sister Dimmick setting up for lunch.
We were allowed to pass. It wasn't clear what the gathering was about.
Great name; no idea where this is (except that it's in Cape Coast behind a school I don't know the location of).
Ewuradze Behwe Wo
[should be..]
Ewuradze Bɛhwɛ Wo {The Lord Will Take Care Of You}
generator sales, parts, repairs
At Pedu Junction, running a business from a table and chairs
The trucker carries a chair.
Cycling
Some pass on the right, some on the left.
Onyame WÉ” Tumi O {God Is Powerful Yea}
Star Trek - Next Generation
(You may have noticed that we're not exactly roughing it here.)
I tested the the replacement generator: the Dimmicks' old generator. It will not work for our house. It stalls frequently and doesn't put out enough power.
And it shakes so violently that it exposes a toilet pit that has a thin lid.
1 centimeter at the edges
The photo says it all except to point out that the meal only used a half bag of the pasta.
Activity
Pray Until Something Happen
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