Deep in the Woods

Our last stop on our adventure was in a forest just outside the town of Agamatsu.We entered a foot path walking through a beautiful diciduous forest.
The path wove across a stream that was crossed by bridges - nine in all. At one point we saw a group of beautiful lillies. Butterflys darted in, out, and around the bushes. After about 35 minutes on the trail we could hear the sound of falling waters...until finally the scene broke open into a spectacular waterfall that reminded me of the opening footage of Jurasic Park. We arrived at Wli (pronounced YLee) Falls. Water plummeted 400 feet off a sheer cliff into a large inviting pool.

Elder Shipley's the one in the tee shirt under the falls.

A Calico of Missionaries, Each Bringing Beauty to God's Work.

We spent the night in Ho where we were joined by Elder and Sister Sidwell who serve in Ho. Our hotel, The Chance, was the nicest hotel we've stayed in on our mission. The beds were even soft - most beds in Africa are like bricks.


MISSIONARIES AND WHAT THEY DO
Missionary work is not limited to proselyting. Most proselyting is done by the young missionaries. While the senior missionaries have different responsibilities.We had six couples. Each has a different responsibility. Our Area Doctor has over 750 patients: the young missionaries, the senior missionaries, the mission presidents, and the Area Presidency. He's treated Malaria, Mumps, Typhoid, Menningitis, Depression, Skin Cancer, and illnesses you never see anywhere else. His wife helps give shots to the missionaries and she keeps all the records of treatment. Our welfare specialist determines what projects the church needs to be involved in, processes requests for funds to treat members in hosptials, etc. Our PEF (Perpetual Education Fund)missionary is in charge of loaning students money to go to technical school or university. One of our missionaries is developing a literacy manual to teach English as a second language. Her husband is an attorney and works in our legal offices. Two of the couples are "bush" missionaries - they work in the villages teaching the gospel and assisting the leadership in the local church unit. Elder Shipley and I are executive secretaries to the Area Presidency. We process reports, requests, and documents that are sent to the First Presidency. We work with Stake, Mission, and District Presidents daily. We have missionaries that help the West African's trace their family history, and other missionaries who work in the temple.

I love the scripture in 1st Corinthians 12:12-18. One mission in the church holds no more importance than another. We all work together to complete God's work.

Bad Hair Day - West African Women Have the Answer!

Ever had a bad hair day? Well the West African women have two solutions:
1. Put on a wig. One day they have short hair another day they have long hair or their hair pulled back and a beautifully braided or curled bun on the back. Whatever fits their fancy!
2. Other West African women just put on a "head wrap" - a piece of material wrapped around their head.
These are our beautiful sisters of West Africa. We have much to learn from them.(Thanks to Carolee for some of the pictures!)

Computer Woes

I know many of you may be wondering why I haven't posted anything for 5 weeks!!!

Well life got busy and then when I began to think about posting, my computer died - my beloved MacBook Pro. The keyboard is frozen. The dashboard is now missing and I'm afraid it is packed away until our return in August and I'm praying I haven't lost everything. The desktop was still there - that gives me a wee bit of hope. I'm really bummed. I loved my Apple computer, but after two years it has died - that is a little too soon...I may have to go back to a PC (for reliablity) - kind of like Toyotas and Hondas in the car world.

I'm now on Steve's computer. All my pictures are on my computer. My only solution is to get out and take more pictures. Give me a week and I may have something more interesting.

This Ones for Steen

The other night or early morning when I was asleep but concious of something crawling on my face, I kept rubbing where I could feel something. When morning came and I woke up and was making my bed, there next to my pillow was a dead roach!! Well at least I didn't swallow it.

Centers of Strenth

Today we attended church in the Nungua Wards. It was a special treat. Each week we visit a different ward. Lately we have been in the branches. The branches are usually out in the villages. Often the meetings are held in Twi or Fonte. There is evidence of struggle in testimonies. Today we witnessed the meaning of a "Center of Strength". People came in families, scriptures in hand, and smiles on their faces. The talks in the sacrament meetings we attended were powerful, filled with the spirit. The gospel doctrine teacher was a return missionary filled with the knowledge of the gospel, focused on the lesson's objective, and able to illicit comments from the members. It was a beautiful experience. I felt God must have directed us to this congregation. I needed to see the strength of the gospel in Africa today.

One comment during a lesson struck me: "if we don't marry the scriptures, we have difficulty getting answers to our prayers. Many answers to prayers are found in the scriptures. Many others come because as we read the scriptures we tune into the spirit - our eyes and mind become open - and we are able to hear the direction we need.

In one talk we learned about Testimony - our personal witness. My mind was refreshed as the speaker said, "We cannot buy it, we cannot inherit it, we cannot create it. It comes to us through the Holy Ghost." Gaining a testimony is a process based on the "law of the harvest" found in Alma 32 in the Book of Mormon. We must desire to believe, plant His word in our minds, and then experiment on His words. When we feel we have our answers we can then go to the Lord and ask for His testimony of the truth. Alma 5:46 "I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true." I have often thought how blessed the children of God are that they are able to have a personal witness of the truth of all things. That witness gives us perspective in life. It fills us with confidence in following the Lord's commandments and in turn strengthens us to endur through life's trials.

I love the gospel of Jesus Christ. I bare testimony that it has been restored in its fullness: that we have prophets that guide us in today's troubled world, that we have scriptures filled with revelation to prophets of old that expand our knowledge of the principles of the gospel taught in the Bible, that the Priesthood is given to bless mankind, and that the ordinances are upon the earth that seal us up to Eternal Life. It is a day and time of extremes. The World is full of wickedness, yet the gospel is upon the earth in it's glory awaiting the return of the Lord.

The End or the Beginning to a Beautiful Story?

Esther finally was able to leave with her adopted mom for America. She now lives in Ohio where it is cold and snowy. These pictures are of Esta or Esther, part of a beautiful family. Families are special. Families are where joy and true happiness is found. Heavenly Father designed it that way. Baby Esta born an orphan in Africa, now part of an Eternal Family in America. Angels must have been watching over her.