Week of 20250907 - Ghana Week 78: Family Council; Water Oops; Visit from President; Driving Experience; Singing; Ataabadze; Agona Abrem; Sideways Cart; Mission Tour; Diagnosis; Assassination
= Sunday, I delivered a testimony that all God's commandments, even the ones that seem physical such as saving for the future, learning new skills, paying tithes and offerings, taking good care of our families, and helping extended family, are spiritual.
= Home, we broke our fast and had a family council. I packed toothpicks around screw tacos to re-secure curtain rod brackets in cement walls. I documented apartment issues and posted them to a master workbook to be addressed.
= Monday, I found that our overhead tank was nearly dry; the big pump had been off, and valves to that tank had been off. Solved for now.
= Leaving Steph home to continue sleeping, I went to the office and printed estimates for bicycles to be fixed. Kojo picked up our truck; President Tachie-Menson handed me the keys to his wife's car to use. I drove to the house to check on Steph, unexpectedly napped, and then went back to the office. Kojo returned our truck.
= Home, we had another discussion; I worked on the blog and spent too much time on random stuff on the Internet.
= Tuesday, I did laundry and in the afternoon provided a driving experience for a new Assistant to the President. I left the office before 3. At 4:15, President Tachie-Menson and his assistants came to our compound to check on Steph. While she dressed, I took him to the Big House next door for a look; then they visited us.
= After they left, Steph loaded the electric pressure cooker, and we sang hymns together. We worked on mission issues.
= Wednesday, we visited the Ataabadze apartment for its first formal inspection since missionaries started living there; I documented the route from the paved road. We then visited Agona Abrem and swapped a bicycle.
= We stopped by the office, then the ABSA bank (ATM), then Melcom (shopping). To keep the cart from sliding off of the tilted road as I brought groceries to the truck, I walked that cart sideways up the hill, partially blocking traffic. Fruit stand. Sam's Bee Optical Supply. Office again to load the medicine bag.
= Home, leftovers; smoke detector tests; bikes; Twi manual; laptop update.
= Thursday, we attended the first of two special zone conferences, led by Elder Morrison on his mission tour. Too much to summarize here, I'll pick three items: Be very intentional in everything you do. Offer your whole soul. Obedience brings blessings that bring happiness.
= Elder Morrison and his wife, natives of Ghana, were the mission leaders here before the Morgans; he is a General Authority now and the President of Africa West Area. He and his wife are good friends with the Chibotas, who recently finished as mission leaders in Alabama.
= After lunch, we drove to Sam’s Bee Optical Supply to pick up the glasses we had requested, then returned to our seats. The conference wound down after 4; Steph handed out medicine and advice; we picked up KFC on the way home.
= Friday, I belatedly reached out to Area Travel in Accra for help in scheduling an immigration team to renew Ghana non-citizen cards here. Steph and I went to Raaj Diagnostic Center, were handed facemasks, and Steph received an ultrasound of the swelling on her elbow.
= The specialist at Cape Coast Stadium Clinic affirmed his original diagnosis: a lipoma (fatty growth) putting pressure on Steph's ulnar nerve that runs to her pinky and part of her ring finger.
= He recommended that Steph have the growth removed by a plastic surgeon after she returns to the States: someone skilled in avoiding nerve damage while doing surgery. In the meantime, she'll take pain meds and try not to aggravate the area.
= Mid-afternoon, we arrived at the conference for the other half of the mission; Steph provided medicine and advice again. Then we dropped off the medicine bag at the office and had dinner with missionaries who would spend the night to attend the mission leadership council in the morning.
= We learned that Charlie Kirk - see Google - had been assassinated to silence him (and perhaps others who might now be intimidated into not speaking out). If we feel threatened by something someone says, might it be true? I posted my reaction on Facebook.
= We didn't watch Netflix because we expected guests; they didn't materialize; we relaxed.
= Saturday, we cooked together. We watched Don't Miss This (scripture discussion). I worked on the blog and then this week's week's scriptures.
Busy manufacturing corner closed on Sundays
I haven't noticed this road, but the light gave me time to look around.
I don't know what this is about.
To church
Keeping that taxi clean (in the street)
I thought at first this was a funny car..
It's a farm tractor, even with a spot where you could park to walk to church on the left side of the street (up the hill) or visit the missionaries on the right.
Forest reclaiming the road
Carrying on one's head becomes second-nature.
[Notice the stylized U.S. flag.]
Perhaps Gye amu no na ma ɔnka {Receive the body and let him speak}
Washing and drying clothes
Posters left from the festival
Ewuradze Bɛhwɛ Wo {The Lord Will Watch Over You}
Anchoring a taco with toothpicks
Break off the toothpicks flush with the wall.
And reinstall the brackets
2553
Unfamiliar territory (during driving experience)
Messiah Enterprise Limited
This baker supplies the corner store near us.
The Mission President and his Assistants came to visit Steph. I caught these glimpses as they left..
Can you name the ingredients?
Bottles being washed to receive sobolo.
Chickens checking out the area across from our gate
Dirt moved from construction site, piled high
Above the top of the truck? No problem.
The poles are to discourage drivers from going around the reinforced traffic bumps.
And if that doesn't work, place a tire in the way - and some cement stubs.
Foodstuff only. What food do you suppose in in the tank?
The annex is bigger than the Ola chapel, at least from this perspective.
The mate is doing his job: soliciting riders.
Are they pulling someone in?
Driver beware: accidents have removed the rails from the left side of this bridge entering Komenda from Cape Coast at the edge of the breakwater.
Going in for a pass, though you can see an oncoming car. (We later passed also.)
2 Nephi 25:23 - For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.
James 2:20-21 - But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
10 Sep 2025, diesel was easing back down from its recent high that exceeded 15 cedis per liter.
The GPS took us this way to Ataabadze..
We turned around here: no tracks to the left; no likely destination straight ahead, and a gap of unknown depth, not worth the gamble.
Missionaries met us and led us in from pavement: Follow the GPS
until it tries to take you off of the main road. Ignore it for a moment and
turn here instead..
This is the turn you need.
(This will then be alongside you.)
And this will be ahead of you; go straight.
Drive alongside the school..
At the gravel pile blocking the road, turn left around the trees next to it.
Turn left in front of the yellow building.
The blue
building is your destination..
Park to your left; you’re here.
Is the one looking at us the road guard?
[tee hee]
The road feels as if the rocks to the side are still under your tires.
Glow Lamp Soccer Academy
[Yes, they called it soccer.]
..
Drivers are trying to avoid the worst places (if they can discern what they are).
Make it fit; close the hatch as far as you can.
Eguafo Traditional Council.
One of the functions of a traditional council is to participate in the development of policy and legislation at the local level. The members are elected by an electorate consisting of all kings, queens, or their representatives, chiefs and chieftainesses, living in the district or metro municipality. -- legalfundi.com
Unadvertised place to meet, I guess.
Here come the missionaries.
Eguafo-Abrem Senior High School
Adwen Amba Ntsɛm {Opinion Vote Quickly}
Rest in peace
Good that the marsh has water
But the water containers suggest a shortage
Clinic entrance (no driveway)
Nana Bukwei Takyi IV [Chief of Bando and Krontihene of Eguafo Traditional Area] Clinic
Chief of Bando - Nana Bukwai Takyi III
[but Bukwai Takyi IV is identified as chief at the clinic]
What holds the mattress in place?
These fufu sticks are not straight; I've never seen crooked fufu sticks until today.
An almost decent-looking stand of corn
Anidasoɔ ne Nyame {Hope is God}
Colorful. Someone's selling chairs.
Look closely at the bicycle in the foreground.
Who is your spiritual father
The Elmina Shell station..
This Shell store stocks hard-to-find items.
Big wood, but not big enough for canoes
And moved on, leaving the birds to follow.
Drivers look for a way to minimize the impact of the reinforced bumps (or are impatient with those of us who take them slowly).
The shoulder was occupied
A path from the church on the hill, left to Cape Coast Castle (and from there to Melcom)
[Jesus broke the bonds of death.]
Adom Nyame {Grace of God}
Attach the ramps, and you can drive the vehicle onto this truck.
Relatively new; we should check this place out.
You typically don't buy pre-made furniture; it's made to order.
We assumed car rental or sales, but no signs confirmed either supposition until now.
Francois Express Enterprise - Limousine and Car Rental Services
[creepy if applied to others; OK if applied to one's excesses]
A place to sit. I'm concerned that the entire waterfront will be taken over by restaurants, leaving no space for fishers or personal contemplation.
For canoe repair, call this number.
Still Nyame N'asɛm {Still God's Word}
Jaw [Chatter] Over Everything
I took this photo to remind myself that I helped three other men push that SUV out of a ditch.
This is a busy intersection at the edge of an intersection.
He finished his turn and paused for a short while.
Not quite visible at this distance: Andy's Trading Enterprise on the opposite side of the street from Francol Transport Services AKA the Ford Station
Both low-beams working: an oddity
Pineapples and oranges drying (and some bottles for sobolo)
I needed room for dishes.
Traffic backed up for blocks by reinforced traffic bumps
[a warning label?]
[or are we all not grateful enough for our blessings?]
A basket; when did you last see a bicycle basket?
Likely Nso Nyame Yɛ {But God Does}
Mensuro {I am not afraid}
Elder Morrison made a point of shaking everyone's hand. (He is not visible in this photo.)
Assistants to the President briefed overall statistics. In the interest of time, the Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders did not brief during this Mission Tour.
MLC & GCCM
The leadership council alone baptized nearly 50 people in August; the overall mission about 150. The first week of September, 20; the overall mission 100 on date.
*Weekly* finding average in July, MLC about 50, GCCM about 250; in August, MLC about 75, GCCM more than 450.
The mission split in half a year ago to create the Takoradi Ghana Mission, baptisms in this half of the mission were about 50 in August; this August with the number of missionaries built back up, about 150.
The Dimmicks come to the rescue with lunch.
Your toolkit on your mission is smaller than the toolkit you might have used at home.
There are a few tools that you'll use almost all of the time.
Preach My Gospel; the Book of Mormon; the General Handbook; pamphlets; Adjusting to Missionary Life; and General Conference addresses (words of living prophets).
Obeying the commandments brings peace of mind and is an expression of love for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. John 14:15 - If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Get to know which chapters in Preach My Gospel can help with which topics.
Heading in to lunch after a photo op
Coke and Diet Sprite; desperate times call for desperate measures.
We are here for a purpose!
Seagoing canoe, parallel to the waves
The Mission Health Coordinator is "in".
1. Don't Compare
2. Don't Complain
3. Don't Compete
4. Don't Criticize
Larger herd than I had thought
Traffic in all directions
Something that appears to be large pollen grains comes into the guest bathrooms at the front of the house. (The windows to those bathrooms are slightly open at the top, by design, to give them a little airflow.)
Ebi {some [thing]} your mind
[I don't get it.]
Wɔra ka sa w'aadwe
probably..
Wɔra kasa w'aadwe {They speak your mind}
The size of ball floats, but they look more like bread rolls
In the waiting room at Cape Coast Stadium Clinic
KFC in Cape Coast calls this a burger ;)
[Yes, it's chicken.]
Part of the roof of Ola Chapel
In your companionship, each of you talk to ten people each day.
Chew on this for a moment. In Africa and in the Pacific, a large portion of new members are found by members.
The Morrisons handed over their keys to this mission to the Morgans on 30 June 2022. They served them Ghanaian dishes on their first day here.
Branding can be carried too far.
Steph wonders why anyone would pour a slab over such a poor basis for a foundation.
Some Zone leaders were hosted overnight to remain in Cape Coast for a Mission Leadership Council the next day.
When the chocolate sits on the display shelf too long, it can take extreme measures to break it into bite-sized pieces.
..
to add them to sauce for pasta.
Don't Miss This (scripture discussion)
Snack tray for Date Night
(No, we don't empty this thing in one night, but it's there for variety.)
My carelessness broke a bowl; I slid it off of a side table.
We watched a conference talk after Don't Miss This.
Activity
The front row: the Tachie-Mensons; the Morrisons; the Dimmicks; the Campbells
The front row has the Tachie-Mensons; the Morrisons; the Dimmicks; the Ladners
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