Week of 20251005 - Ghana Week 82: General Conference - You Can Become Better and Find More Joy; U.S. Federal Budget Impasse; Departing and Arriving Missionaries; Close to Finishing Twi Manual
= Sunday, we watched the Saturday evening and both Sunday sessions of General Conference. A few takeaways from these six hours:
-- You don’t have to be who you’ve been before. Jesus gives us as many new beginnings as we need. We demonstrate our discipleship and love for God when we make others our top priority.
-- We believe that God will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. Your proving will come: evidence that God loves you enough to refine and strengthen you. Trials are evidence of his love.
-- The doctrine of Christ enables us to look forward to the judgment with joy, not dread. His gospel invites us to do something and become something. The judgment is an acknowledgment of what we have become.
-- The family is central to the eternal destiny of God’s children. What your children really want for dinner is you.
= The U.S. budget impasse paused Federal payments, affecting many friends [sigh]; we can ride it out; this happens frequently..
= Monday, I proposed bike deliveries to the mission driver; he delivered to one of those destinations today. We prepared to teach scriptures this coming Sunday, just in case.
= Tuesday, we worked at the office, where departing missionaries gathered. We ate an informal buffet lunch at the mission home. I worked on the Twi manual. Dinner was also informal, followed by a collage of photos of departing missionaries, testimony from departing missionaries, advice [no notice] from senior missionaries. Stoles and photos came next, then a general gaggle. No one rushed to leave.
= Wednesday, early breakfast at the mission home. The bus (and an SUV carrying luggage) arrived at about 0915. Greeting and parting. Briefings after 1100. Buffet lunch. Mission stuff in the office. I moved tires to the top shelf of the left cargo container and organized clothes to give away. Missionaries were interviewed and then got to go out with seasoned missionaries. Dinner. Testimonies from the new missionaries.
= Thursday, early breakfast with missionaries. Mission items. Sam Bee’s Optical Supply to pay a mission bill. Shopping at Andy’s Trading Enterprise, a store that has celebrated 70 years in business.
= Friday, work on the Twi manual. "Taadi" pizza from Pizza City, Netflix. We relaxed.
= Saturday, more work on the Twi manual. I stopped at 0330 with perhaps twenty words to go (of about 1300).
Due to the time difference, we watched this recording of the Saturday evening session on Sunday morning. I've omitted prayers and most hymns here.
A choir brought its own ASL translators. [The Tabernacle Choir only sings for some of the sessions.]
They're signing the thought behind the next words: I cannot, I will not desert to his foes.
Yes, we watch via YouTube; these sessions will be there for a at least a year.
Elder Patrick Kearon testifies that Jesus Christ offers us new beginnings—as many as we need—when we are burdened by sin, weakness, or setbacks.
Sister J Annette Dennis teaches that we have a covenant obligation to love one another and strive for unity.
Elder Steven C Barlow describes four ways we can show our love for God, which can help us recognize His love for us.
Elder William K Jackson teaches that we should focus on ministering to individuals in our service in the Church, following the principles of counting and accounting.
"... their names were taken, that they might be remembered and nourished by the good word of God, to keep them in the right way..." -- Moroni 6:4
Elder Neil L Andersen teaches about the power of Jesus Christ to bring about forgiveness for those who have sinned and healing for those who have been wounded by the sins of others.
[Introducing the Sunday morning session]
Elder Jeffrey R Holland teaches that just as the Lord healed a blind man with a mixture of clay, He often uses humble or unusual things to bless and teach us.
Elder James E Evanson highlights service missionaries and teaches how their service helps bring people to Christ and sets an example for us.
Elder Ulisses Soares teaches that temperance harmonizes and strengthens other Christlike attributes. He invites us to follow the Savior’s example and make this virtue part of our character.
Elder Peter M Johnson teaches that when we minister in ways that lead to the house of the Lord, we help one another become devoted disciples of Jesus Christ.
Elder D Todd Christofferson teaches that looking to God brings blessings, including prosperity and the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Sister Andrea Muñoz Spannaus teaches how youth can gain their own testimonies of God’s living prophets.
Elder Henry B Eyring teaches that our challenges can strengthen us if we rely on the Savior and turn to Him.
The two senior apostles, sharing a moment prior to the opening of the Sunday afternoon session. It's 8 PM for us.
Elder David A Bednar explains how the Day of Judgment can be a pleasing, glorious day, rather than one we fear or dread.
Elder B Corey Cuvelier shares what it means to take the name of Christ upon ourselves.
Elder Matthew S Holland teaches us to follow the example of Jonah and invite Christ’s awe-inspiring mercy into our lives.
Elder Carlos A Godoy teaches how the Saints in Africa live with joy and gratitude in spite of challenges by focusing on the Savior.
Elder Dale G Renlund teaches that when we take upon ourselves the name of Christ, we can become like Him.
Elder John D Amos teaches that we can find happiness as we do more of what invites Jesus Christ into our lives.
Elder Ozani Farias offers three suggestions for deepening our conversion to Jesus Christ through studying the Book of Mormon.
President Dallin H Oaks explains why family is so important in the gospel of Jesus Christ and describes things we can do to strengthen our families.
One of the basic duties of Congress, this rhythm affects the rhythm and tenor of budget discussions.
The Founding Fathers originally kept elected officials close to the people who elected them: Representatives lobbied their constituents and so listened to their interests. U.S. Senators lobbied the State legislatures and were aligned with the State's interests. It didn't take much money to run for these offices.
The 17th Amendment is the heart of Congress' gridlock today. Senators and Representatives both pander to voters directly, and the money needed to reach out to all the voters in a large State limits that office to people who have or can raise enormous amounts of money on a continuous basis. It amplifies the influence of big business contributions and action funds.
We have water; not full, but not empty.
Planning to buy and fill two extra suitcases for our trip home, we used existing suitcases to test weight and volume.
Great planner facing pages created with a Halloween theme.
Half of a can of shredded fake spam; half of a jar of cabbage with apple; pasta; and seasonings. Surprisingly sweet.
Community water was not flowing.
Departing missionaries began to gather.
New procedure to access mission borehole water: turn on the switch above the air conditioner..
A normal water valve is on-off; this one you have to undo as you would a faucet in your house.
Find and align this regular valve with the pipe: the open position.
Fill jugs from this spigot.
If the polytank from the borehole needs more water, use this switch at the guard shack to turn on the pump for a while. If nothing happens, reset the circuit breaker (the white box to the right).
Carrying donated, used shirts to a cargo container. [Note: a month later, new shirts arrived at the mission, donated for those who need them.]
Where some seats from the mission van will probably remain, to leave space to move suitcases, etc.
Water delivery; the community water near the mission compound has also failed.
Weighing suitcases
Balancing the suitcase on the trash can lets you see the scale display.
Another water delivery
Dinner beginning
Part of the funeral service for President Russell Marion Nelson, heard or watched while we ate.
[A young missionary might call his first trainer "father" or her first trainer "mother".]
Riding in a 'tro [shared van] is cramped.
They are visiting with with a man who is making charcoal.
Riding in an aboboyaa
Moving fufu so it's pounded evenly takes rhythm and trust.
Looking down at the upper portion of the Yamoransa chapel
..
These small goals are common here and are used by even by adults.
Elder Koyondo capturing moments
An Elder getting a hug and kiss from Elder Demmick. It's a running gag now.
Then-Elder Tachie-Menson and his companion
Running late for breakfast
Hard-cooked egg on oatmeal
You never know what you'll find in the cargo container.
(I washed and brought back the clothes for distribution.)
Elder Mayo keeps the wind from taking the banner.
You have arrived.
Departure
Elders Kofi and Mayo clowning for the camera; Elder Hall in position as a "new" missionary; Elder Koyondo immortalizing the moment.
Somehow, Elder Mayo (far right) got included with the new missionaries.
As Sister Ladner and Sister Dimmick captured the moment
Elder Dimmick, briefing the group; most are behind him, the others in front.
Sister Dimmick, catching both sides
Steph, trying to keep everyone awake
Most of them have been up since 0300, and it's almost noon.
How to clean the sink water filter screen
The lifecycle of Malaria - Human Host
This realistic animation is from Howard Hughes Medical Institute: hhmi.org
A pregnant Anopheles mosquito has found a blood source: you.
The saliva the mosquito injects to keep your blood from clotting carries the parasite if the mosquito is infected.
..
In its initial form, it rides the bloodstream to the liver.
Where it gets past a Kupffer cell, a sentinel, to infect the liver.
The entry point dies [killed off by the Kupffer cell to reduce the spread of infection], but the damage is done. Another liver cell becomes the host for a transformation of the parasite.
The resulting parasites are now optimized to infect red blood cells and head into the blood stream, bypassing the liver's sentinels.
It hides inside red blood cells, infecting and consuming them.
Until the infected cell breaks, releasing many more parasites.
Don't stay in bed; this will not get better without treatment. Go to a clinic while you can still walk on your own.
The water meter didn't move.
Sheets sequestered to wash
One source for Fante says this is an idiom: {Life doesn't struggle for itself}
But that ignores a Twi meaning of Ɔbra: morality. If the person is borrowing Wɔmmper from Fante and the rest is Twi, it could mean: {They don't struggle to be moral}
There actually is oncoming traffic.
Nyame Ne Hene {God and King}
Canadian flag painted on a fuel truck
Eda wanim -> Eda wa nim {Our heads know}
Nyame Oye {God is Good}
What a friend [we have in Jesus]
They're pushing the truck. It's an announcement truck, used for advertising.
Not sure what she's carrying.
Balancing a jug of palm oil
Three containers
Andy's Trading Enterprise, near the fish statue at the base of Jukwa Road and across from the "Ford Station" (Frankel terminal), turned 70.
Mud below the ditch in our "road"
Someone made a delivery and locked our vehicle gate from the inside.
Then someone else, when leaving, locked the passenger gate from the outside.
We headed for the office, having nowhere else to go.
An hour later, missionaries were heading back to our compound and would unlock the passenger gate.
But I headed back out, I think to Me3 to pick up a meal.
Don't Miss This (scripture discussion)
A Ghanaian salad. Vegetable beans are typical; we have them on every salad now. Me3 adds tuna.
Water is flowing! Flowing into the big polytank that feeds both houses in our complex.
Plantains, but the stalk is damaged.
The "gear" on the water meter is spinning :)
Our curiosity/ shack shelves in the living room
Grazing
That's a cellphone in the herder's left hand.
Queued to slow down for the reinforced traffic bumps
'Tros carry everything.
Nyame Ne Hene {God and King}
American flag
(Yes, his left rear wheel looks odd.)
Time no dey {Time does not exist}
Watchful
The aboboyaa is passing on the right.
A porta potty. I remember being unable to rent one for miliary use in Turkey in 1986-88.
Activity
Instead of gathering part of the mission physically for transfers, Office Elders and Assistants to the President drive to the missionaries - all are packed and waiting - and physically move the ones who are to move from one assignment to another. The missionaries receive no advance notice; just a physical visit.
Nyame Oye {God is Good}
Heal the world
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