Return to Kumasi

With plans to drive to Kumasi 5 hours to the north, we went out a couple days beforehand to find our car had a flat.  Chuck started changed it himself, but that doesn't last long. These kind people CANNOT let you do such things on your own, and money has nothing to do with it either. Thomas the gardener on the left and another tenant took over.

Thomas is one of the caretakers here who has been coming over for literacy classes.  He brought his daughter to meet us as she is training for the ministry. She is a ministering angel and we stand to learn much from her. 

Her father has raised her and her sister since they were about 12 when their mother left. He is a great dad and such a humble, kind man!!

Do you remember the Queen from Ekumfi who held the 6 week seminar for the village women?  She just doesn't quit with ideas!  

She brought them all to Accra to observe ways to sell their items and made arrangements for a breakfast as they arrived in town. Many of them had never been to the "city."

On the drive up to Kumasi, It seems there is always something happening on the roads, but nothing serious this trip.

Waiting for people to arrive for a training, 15 minutes after the hour and no one there yet.  This can be frustrating, but we just keep trying to teach punctuality.

Both Friday night and Saturday we had a disappointing turn out because they didn't check the regional calendar and there was a Young Single Adult conference schedule this same week-end which took a majority of leaders.

They were happy to receive glasses. It's always fun to see their expression when they can see clearly the words on the page. 

Dear Henrietta, the Stake Literacy Specialist spoiled us and brought food, that's probably how she got them to attend on such a busy week-end, truth be told.

It was delicious and we felt both trainings on Friday and Saturday were productive and worthwhile for those who attended.

We stayed 3 night at the Kumasi Mission Home.

We were able to assist two Wards with new classes on Sunday.

Same room, two different wonderful groups of learners and leaders.

It was quite challenging because the English speaking was limited and it took lots of help from the teacher and Stake Literacy Specialist to translate everything! 

Back at the Mission home Sunday night for dinner and farewell to one of their missionaries.

Usually the missionaries return home in groups each 6 weeks. President Webster and Sister Webster here with Elder Christiansen who is leaving a couple weeks early so he can get back in time for college starting next week in pre-med. Two years is a tithing of 10% of these young people's lives.

We were invited to join them for dinner and a devotional. The office missionaries the Schows on the right and the Dearing on the left who took Wardle's place when they left. They do medical and member, leader support. The two other young men on each side of Elder Christiansen are the assistants to President Webster.

 We started back for Accra on a rainy Monday morning. 

At roadside stands we stocked up with mango, bananas, tomatoes, onions and avocados. It's the closest things we have found to Amazon. You drive up and don't even have to get out of the car.

 These are Plantains, much bigger than bananas and used differently, mostly roasted or fried or sold as plantain chips.

 We see a lot of buildings made of sun baked bricks. Not sure how old they are, but they eventually decompose.

Outdoor laundry, kitchen and roadside stand.

Fresh meat, and even huge snails 

for sale along the roadside. 

We do enjoying observing the villages and people along the way.

Back in Accra Monday night, we meet twice a month for a group Family Home Evening and potluck, here at the Temple President's apartment. This picture is for our grandchildren who love giraffes. Notice the nursing baby giraffe.

 The pattern is made with thousands of tiny beads. 

Everything is full of color in Africa, even the giraffe.

No Jane and Ben, it won't fit in our suitcase!

  Then lastly, we were invited to a graduation ceremony at a small school started by one of the Stake Literacy Specialist here. We had to park the car and walk the rest of the way due to bad roads.

 Laundry drying in the sun along the way there.

School graduation celebration.

It wouldn't be complete without dancing.

And those who want to be dancers. 

In the end, just one hour today with learners is worth everything.

 How can we begin to express the joy it is to see a student so excited to learn how to hold a pencil for the first time, seriously!  What her name looks like and the amazement of learning how words fit together with the sounds of the letters.  Esther was soooo excited and grateful!  AWESOMENESS!!

By the way, the lady on the left, Elizabeth, is a former literacy student just a couple years ago, now a teacher! How neat is that?!?

It's never too late to learn new things!

Another Queen and a trip to the Coast, Takoradi

Birthdays are very special here in Ghana. If you recognize a birthday, they really appreciate it.  Emma was waiting for us on the way to the Library on Tuesday. She greeted us with a hug, then told us she is 7 years old today.  

 It wouldn't be considered your typical birthday present for a child at home, but we happened to have a couple simplified manuals of selected verses from John, and she was so pleased to receive one. Sure love this little girl!!

It's been a few months now since our first Stake Training. It's good to follow up, so we were thrilled to be asked back to provide an 

"in-service" for two combined stakes of teachers and Sunday School leaders from Kaneshie and Lartebiokorshie Stakes. 

This was incredibly encouraging because there were more who attended than at the initial trainings.

Everyone seemed very appreciative and enthusiastic about the materials and progress of Gospel Literacy.

The following Sunday, we made a return visit to Chantan Ward to support their new class and teachers.  It's really tender when they ask if we can please come back next week also.  

ENA, Engage Now Africa invited us out to Cape Coast for one of their graduation ceremonies in the village of Kissi.  There were 100 participants including the Queen mother and 3 of her Chiefs.

 It was explained to us that in Southern Ghana they follow the Matriarchal order, meaning the queen's oldest daughter becomes the next queen. If she doesn't have a daughter, her sister's oldest daughter is the next queen. The Chief's are nephew's of the queen's appointing.  Their job is to do things that benefit the community.

We were invited guests and got to help present diplomas. We also commended the queen and her chiefs on their leadership by example as they participated in the 18 months of literacy classes.

  Afterwards, we met with the branch president and some of their members, 40 from the branch participated and hosted the graduation.  They are interested in continuing literacy by having the Gospel Literacy classes on Sundays. The queen and one of her chiefs wanted to come and find out what the meeting was about, pretty sweet!   

 This small branch is the first that we are aware of in their stake to have Gospel Literacy classes and we hope will help spread the interest and the opportunity for stake training for the other 10 wards and branches in the future.

 That afternoon, we pulled in to the Cape Coast Mission Home, where we were greeted by Elder and Sister Fitch, the office couple, sorry no picture of them, from Idaho Falls. 

They graciously hosted us that night at their place so we could travel on to Takoradi the next day.

Chuck especially enjoyed talking with them because they both are engineers who worked at INEL, Idaho National Engineering Laboratory where Chuck worked at the time we met. Small world!

A couple of the younger missionaries live in the small home below their place.

 The sunrise was lovely the next morning as we started out.

 We were warned that the police stops along the way could be "challenging."  They gave us all the advice they could to help prepare us. 

Sure enough, at about the 3rd stop the officer wanted to see our vehicle registration papers. Just to let him know that we were not your typical Obrunis, I pulled this newspaper article out of the glovebox and placed in on my lap, just fyi Mr. Officer. 

He kept pointing to the sticker on the window and saying he wanted the papers for this and that it was expired. When we couldn't locate it, he started writing out a ticket.  

You don't really argue with the cops, but as we sat their debating if we should call our contact, Kofi in Accra, number already programmed into the phone; I tried to read through the sticker on the window and saw that the date was printed right on the paper and that it didn't expire until the end of August. It helps to be able to read backwards!! I gently pointed this out to the officer as he was busy writing the ticket.  He rubbed it off a couple times, then waved us to go on.  Ahhhh!!

Deep yoga breath.... we enjoyed the village sights along the way.

This would be a clothes drying rack.

These signs always crack us up.  We hear that property can be bought and sold without the owners awareness or permission.

In Takoradi on Friday morning no less, we were met by two Stake Sunday School Presidents, one High Counselor over Sunday School and several Literacy Teachers. (Many thanks to Rebecca Mills, an amazing Stake Relief Society President who made the arrangements for this.) 

 There was a pilot test started in this area about 3 years ago. Some of the wards have carried on with the Gospel Literacy and another early literacy program but were anxious to see the new manuals.  

 They are as special a group of people as you will ever meet. After meeting for two hours and learning about their progress, the two Stake Sunday School Presidents got out their calendars and started looking at dates. They would both like to arrange training for their areas and receive the new materials. 

I had noticed one of the ladies really struggling to read and pulled her aside afterwards asking if she had trouble seeing. After using our reading chart, we handed out 4 pairs of glasses, I think.  Only one taker for the pink ones today.

After some hugs and kisses, we parted, till we meet again.

The drive back home was uneventful but long. The main road is a crazy two lane highway with insane passing of long lines of cars forcing the opposing cars off the side of the road. 

A few glimpses of the ocean helped a lot!! 

And we stopped at roadside stands for mango, pineapple, watermelon and tomatoes. (We should get more pictures of that I'm realizing.)

We might bring along some chocolate banana bread or something for the police stops next trip... 

Back home and visiting another new class today in Akweteman. They have been trying their best after they received the manuals, but no training. What makes this approach to literacy so special is that there is a gospel message and discussion in each lesson. 

They started out the class reviewing the letters and vowels so we as tactfully as possible directed them back to the manuals where they learn the letters "I," "a" and "m"  and discuss the picture of Jesus Christ and read in John 14:6 "I am the way, the truth and the life..." Then they go on to trace the letters and have a few pages to practice reading that begin with "I am." (brief explanation)

Stake Sunday School President Bortey, in front of the door, came in and both he and the teacher turned to the inspired teacher's manual and helped us teach the class in ways that we aren't able to without them. It turned out to be a wonderful class and they will make great progress. Ahh, we love these wonderful people!!  

And we love Gospel Literacy!! And we send our love to you!!