Reassignment and First Impressions

Our long prepared for and much anticipated day arrived, Dec. 4th, when Alex, our youngest along with our son-in-law Darren, delivered us to the MTC (Mission Training Center) in Provo, UT where we spent a packed and inspiring week. (I'm happy, really!!)

 We had quite a surprise on the second day when we were called into the office and received a mission reassignment from the Ghana West Mission to the Africa West Area which includes 17 countries and 15 missions in West Africa.

The light tan countries are ones that do not have missions in them but are in our area.

We learned more about this assignment the next week in Salt Lake where we had additional training and were able to Skype with our SRS, Self-Reliance Services Area Manager who said we would be involved with Literacy in the Africa West area, traveling to Sierra Leone, Liberia, Nigeria and Ghana and reporting to the area presidency. We will have an apartment in Accra, Ghana.

This has been quite overwhelming and we will have much to learn. At the same time we recognize the blessings of health and resources which enable us to accept this assignment. It is not by chance that things have come together for us the way they have, despite the challenges.

So we left cold Salt Lake City, giving Sarah's warm down coat back to her at the airport, and donning sandals and short sleeves flew to Accra, Ghana.

First Impressions

First stop, we were taken to our apartment in Accra. And for those of you who have been feeling sorry for us going to Africa, feel sorry no more. (From our balcony, and yes, that's a swimming pool you see!) It was nicer than I had ever imagined. Also, I've heard that missions can be good for a marriage. I figured this 24-7 stuff could make or break it. I've realized that I'm glad to have this mission companion after all. 

We will be given a vehicle to drive while here and have decided our theme song will be "Stayin alive, staying alive, ah, ah, ah, ah stayin alive."  (We watched two motorcycles with multiple people crash into each other right before our eyes today, no casualties, no children thankfully!!)  We are going to ask for a vehicle that already has dents. And when the rainy season comes and fills the ditches with water so you can't see them, I have made myself a promise to REMEMBER that the ditches are still there!!

We are in the tropics and I am no longer cold. Most of the other "obrunis," (whites) are hot and fanning themselves and I am warm and loving it actually. The lovely church building where we met today has natural ventilation with louvered windows and lots of fans on the ceiling, very pleasant and all year round!!  Sweet!!

All poverty is not the same. I was surprised at the lack of alcoholism and smoking here. And then someone explained that they can't afford it. There isn't government assistance here. When they are asking for a handout, it's about enough food to make it through the day. And they are always so grateful for any help they get, and thank you with a smile. I don't notice a sense of entitlement like we have in America, just my observations. 

There is a 70% unemployment rate here, but you see them working to do anything they can, not a lot of people laying around on the streets. You can buy practically anything right out your car window as they walk the streets selling to people in their cars as you pull up to the lights. We bought plantain chips and laundry detergent (they have better prices I am told.) And you even see women carrying their children as they work, wrapped snug against their bodies. And all that while carrying their wares on the top of their heads!! 

. 

My last impressions have to do with the people themselves. I find them friendly, kind, humble, spiritual, bright and beautiful people. And oh how I wish you could hear them sing!!  I have never heard the gospel hymns sung like this before, not even by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, wonderful as they are. "I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me" and "I believe in Christ" and Christmas songs as well.  They like to sing lots of songs!  And so as the lovely breezes washed across my skin on the outside, the spirit in that building washed across my soul and I couldn't hold back the tears. "Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!!" 

Until next week, now it's time to get to work!