28 March-3 April 2016

This has been an interesting week.  Every three weeks we say
goodbye to most of our missionaries and welcome a new group.
We said goodbye to 87 and welcomed 73.  It's amazing how
much difference 14 people can make.  We filled every bed with
the last group. Now we have a little room to breath. The district
pictured was being led in a parting song by an Elder from Sweden.
Also in this group was and Elder from Texas, an Elder from
California of Polynesian descent and an Elder from Australia
of Maori descent. Plus our African Elders and Sisters from
several countries in Africa.

We have an opportunity to become close to a few
even in three weeks.  Some of these elders became
really close to Loel as he helped them with
family history and then to the temple to do
some of their family's work.

Sister Koffi had a really hard time leaving.  I had a hard time saying
good-bye to this group.  They start
feeling like my own kids and I hate
saying good-bye to my kids.

 

This is Rodaline, one of my favorite
teachers who always helps a lot when
we have immunizations.  I was trying
to capture her colorful outfit - print skirt,
striped blouse and orange bow in her
hair.  Any color works here.

These are notes and email addresses the missionaries left with us.  Expand the note written to Paula by a Sister from Cote d'Voire. She became very close to Paula. She's the only member in her family. "Mum" is a very respectful expression of endearment.

Paula's very, very happy.  The package
Kathi sent only took a month to get
here. I think it was supposed to be
two weeks.  But it all arrived, even the
Gummi Bears.

The kitchen staff bring us very healthy goodies
in the evening.  Salad, pineapple, mango and apples.

Our pharmaceutical rep James, took us to Cape Coast last Thursday.  He's from that area and we stopped by the secondary school his mother administers.  He drove us around the
campus, which is one of three universities in Ghana.  It was quite pretty.  

I liked this sign at the school.

James' mother invited us for a wonderful lunch.
The home is very large.  This a little sense of the
size of the living room. This very nice  home,
probably considered upper class is accessed by
a dirt road that you could need four-wheel drive.
When it rains, you can't get to the house from
the road we used.

James and his mother.

As we were driving by the beach this group was
pulling in a net full of fish.  Kind of like a Hukilau.
It's a community project. a couple of small boats
pull the net out through the surf and then the net
is pulled in with man power. 

Gathering the nets.

Sister Brubaker and one of he fishermen.

The full net.

Reminds you of Hawaii - until you get to the beach. Then it's pretty trashy.

This stake center is located on the site of the first
chapel in Cape Coast. James said it was just a log
house with a dirt floor. James was present when
the stake center was dedicated.  I believe Elder
Bednar was present for that. It's located just across
 the road from the beach.

This is one of two huge castles in Cape Coast
used to house slaves from about 1564 for about
 300 years. It was first built by Sweden around
 1555 and then taken over by the British  for slave
trade. There's not much good to be said about a
tour here. Kind of like visiting a concentration
camp. If you want details you can look it up. We
only lasted through the male dungeons and then
had to leave.  Too sad.

The slaves were walked out of the dungeon through
a long tunnel, loaded in these small boats and
transported to waiting cargo ships. The boats
in the picture are flying flags representative of
the countries that transported slaves to the
Americas and Europe.

On a happier note, we visited Kakun Rain Forest
Reserve. This is an area set aside to preserve the
rain forest.  It's run as a national park. One of the
high lights is a canopy walk across the top of the
 rain forest.  We walked on seven rope bridges anywhere
from 50-120 feet off the ground.

You get a sense of the size of the vines.

It's very safe.  They refurbish the bridges every six
months and inspect them daily.

A beautiful walk.

Paula's standing next to one of the anchor trees.
I would estimate that it's 8-10 feet in diameter.

Took this picture as we were driving home.  You can
see a lot of unfinished buildings as you drive around
Ghana. Even in Accra.  I'm not sure the reason.

Pictures of market as we drive by.  Everything
is sold. Bread is on this stand.

The blue packages contain a food made from
corn meal then fermented.  As we drive around
we can see what the primary food is by what is
sold by the road.

Yesterday we were in the office and we heard a
brass band playing. When we looked out we saw
a funeral at the stake center next door. People here
wear red and black to funerals if the departed is
under 70. Over 70 they wear black and white and
it's treated as a celebration for a long life.

Sorry this picture is through the chain link fence.
Our staff has told us that they spend way too
much money on weddings and funerals - money
they don't have.  Patrick says the church is trying
to change that. They buy lots of food, musicians,
an MC, canopies and tents.  It becomes a real
expense for the oldest child.  They are responsible
for the cost of the entire funeral. They say that
 when a parent dies it makes the other
children happy they aren't  the oldest.

Patrick, our supervisor, is the bishop
of the ward next door and dropped by with his son after the funeral. He came to help us set up our system to watch
conference live. This was a first.

On intake day, I collect all the passports and
 Temple Recommends to copy them for our files.
It's easier to have them pick out their own than
to try to match them to their passport photos.
I think passport photos are bad world wide.

Elder Kanneh is from Sierra Leone.
He was born in Liberia and orphaned
when his parents were killed. A neighbor picked him up and took him to a
refugee camp in Sierra Leone. He came
from our friends, the Sherwoods, who
are serving in Sierra Leone.

This elder had never taken any
medication before he arrived at the
MTC. He refused his immunizations,
so Dr. Anderson explained the purpose
and the need to remain healthy so he
be an effective missionary. He relented.
And he was very happy and impressed
with how gentle Dr. Anderson was!

Samuel is one of the teachers that
translates for us with the French
missionaries.  He's a great help.

Brad asked for pictures of the cafeteria. So this one's for you, Brad.

We serve lunch to the Senior Missionaries when
they come to help us with Family History.

I was trying to get a picture with me and our great
zone leaders, both from Ghana learning French,
so we get to know them well.  These two sisters
jumped in the picture.  Happens all the time!

The sister in the colorful outfit was
brought to the MTC by the Stutz,
our family history couple who kind of
adopted her as she prepared for her
mission.  She's 28.  Her companion
is from South Africa, where we don't
see too many missionaries from.

These two sisters are here for 6 weeks.
Today, after the dress and grooming talk,
they came into the laundry room where
we were sorting clothes, and said, "We
have repented."  They bring their tight
or short clothes to us and we exchange
them for ones more appropriate that we've
collected.  We gave out quite a few today.

When we were at Cape Coast I
purchased a coco bean pod for the
cool factor. We'll have to figure
out how to roast the beans.

Loel drove for the first time this week!  Into Accra for the Senior couples FHE at the temple president's home. The Brubakers were too busy to go this time with missionaries leaving.  Luckily, it was a holiday and so the traffic was very light.  We had a wonderful visit - lots of the senior sisters were surrounding me, taking pictures of a blouse I had
made that they all loved and want to have their tailors make one for them.  Two are already giving me fabric for our tailor, Paul, to make one for them.  The scariest part of the trip was the drive home in the dark - people are out on the streets, and will just dart out in front of cars, ride bikes or run across major motor ways with practically no lights.  It's really hard to see the Africans at night so you just pray you won't hit anyone.  We didn't. For this reason, many senior couples don't drive after dark.

The kitchen staff found out I had a blood pressure cuff and so asked if I would take their blood pressure.  It was a slow day, so they lined up and I took about 6 of their blood pressures.  Now they call me "Doctor Tibbitts."

Conference weekend has been wonderful.  Especially the first Saturday session, which we watched from 4-6 pm and then from 8-10 pm for the second one.  Then on Sunday morning, we watched delayed broadcasts of the general women's meeting in RS and the elders watched the priesthood session.  Then we watched the two Sunday sessions. - lots of meetings on Sunday as we still had our regular Sacrament meeting in the morning.  We were tired at the end of the weekend.  I was so touched by all the references to Africa in the talks!  I felt really lucky to be here with so much growth happening here.  Our MTC has a hard time not singing along with the Tabernacle choir!  Music just bubbles out of them and they end up humming or singing along.  I have loved being here on conference weekend and experiencing the missionary's joy as they talk about the messages they've heard.