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!
No comments:
Post a Comment