15-21 August 2016

We've had this map for months.  We bought it off a street hawker but we
haven't been able to hang it because we
didn't have any masking tape. We brought
some from the U.S. Amazing what we take
for granted

It was Loel's birthday last Monday and I decided it would be more fun to celebrate it with more than just our MTC foursome.  I opened it up to any senior couples who might want to join us at this nice  hotel buffet, the same one we went to for my birthday back in February.  We had 19 of us there - way more than expected.

The restaurant brought Loel this special birthday sparkler that shot quite high in the air and sang Happy Birthday to him.  

Then that night Aba made him a chocolate cake
and we celebrated again with the staff.  It was
a great day in Africa for his birthday.

Three times during a missionary group, we are
supported by Senior Missionaries from Accra
to help our missionaries do Family History.
Elder Wolters will be serving in Sierra Leone.
He has experience with Family History and
was helping one of the other Sister missionaries.

Elder and Sister Spackman serve in the temple.

This just a few of the 25 or so.

Elder and Sister Stutz are the Africa West Area Family
History Consultants.

This is how Family History makes me feel sometimes.

This is how Family History makes me feel sometimes.

A group effort.

At the temple - missionaries love to
jump in the picture.

The reward of Family History is the temple work
these missionaries can do for their ancestors.

But it's really a thrill when missionaries can be sealed
to their deceased parents, like these three elders.

All of them are from DR Congo, so the language
barrier can be a problem. But other French/English
missionaries are willing to help us out.

These three elders just got their Hep B. shots. 

Our sister missionaries during sports time getting
ready to exercise by dancing around in the
courtyard of the chapel next to us.

This is an elder I've gotten really close to in this intake.  Pres Brubaker asked if I would work with him to help him learn to read and write.  He went to 12 years of school in Nigeria and was just passed along each grade because his family couldn't afford to pay anyone to help him or send him to a better school.  I was able to get some excellent literacy materials and have spent about one hour a day each day for the last 11 days.  He has made so much progress and is so happy.  We begin each session with prayer and he likes to close it with prayer, too.  Tomorrow will be our last session before he leaves.  I said the closing prayer today and got really emotional as I prayed that he would continue to work with his companion in the mission field and that his mind would continue to be open and he would feel the spirit.  He kept saying, "Thank you, Mum, thank you Mum," over and over.  I was overcome with gratitude that I got the chance to work with such a faithful, dedicated, and motivated student.  What a blessing it's been.

Here he is again, but this time with his mission president.  They just happened to be at the temple on a day that he was in the temple and then we had an apt to see another literary expert for more advice.  He was able to meet them while there and they were wonderful, delightful people who were so welcoming and loving.  We felt very good about putting him into their hands as he leaves us.  Just another tender mercy.