Here in Ghana, there are only 2 seasons, wet & dry. Although it may seem to some that we are in the middle of a relatively cold time, we are actually just in the rainy season! It is funny to see the locals wrapped in jackets, especially while riding their motorcycles. I often glance at my watch to see the temperature, which generally hangs around 84 degrees right now for the high. It is definitely a relief from the oppressive heat experienced in the dry season, so we will take it! The humidity is still here but not as heavy for sure.
In the United States, depending on location, gardens get planted in the late spring and early summer. In Alpine, the rule for success is that we shouldn't plant anything before Mother's Day, just in case there is one more freeze. We are thinking that Accra may be a year-round growing season. Jordan is taking advantage of the cooler temps right now and continuing to increase the number of planters on our deck from the original 3 to now 8. He has 5 tomato plants, 1 pot with cucumbers, one with basil and another with cilantro. Although we are waiting for the cucumbers to poke up, everything else is doing great after only 2 weeks!
I've decided to give Jordan a new name: Mr. Green Jeans... throwback from long ago and Captain Kangaroo!
Agriculture in Ghana - Cocoa, oil palm, rubber and citrus constitute the major cash crops. The major starchy staples include maize (corn), cassava (root vegetable), plantain (cooking banana), yam (white inside and more like potatoes), cocoyam (root vegetable - like taro), rice, sorghum (grain/cereal) and millet (grain/cereal).
THE FREEZE
On June 14, 1989, Ghana’s government suspended all activities and public meetings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. This ban had been imposed due to misunderstandings and misinformation. It proved to be a test of faithfulness for members of the Church, most of whom had been members for only a few short years.
The situation would grow worse. Over the next few hours and days, the government expelled the mission president and the rest of the American missionaries, suspended all missionary work and Church meetings, jailed some members, chained the doors to all 50 LDS meetinghouses, and confiscated Church property. At the end of the first week, a government leader announced the Latter-day Saints would be banned from Ghana for good.What became known among Ghana’s Saints as “the freeze” had begun, and would last for a difficult 17 months.
Home and visiting teaching were vital to maintaining a sense of unity. Even though members were careful not to hold large public meetings, several were arrested for worshipping in their homes and jailed for short periods of time. Letters from local members and visits from Church representatives with government officials, eventually clarified the Church’s purpose and intentions in Ghana.
In November 1990, government officials finally lifted the restriction and allowed all Church activities to resume.
- See others the way the Savior sees them.
- Friendship is important.
- Show true concern by getting to really know them.
- Serve others the way the Savior would.
- Set an example of living the gospel. Live the gospel naturally.
- Help others feel loved.
- Help others strengthen their faith and testimony.
- Help others make and keep covenants.
- Understand the needs of others and offer comfort when needed.
- Help others become temporally and spiritually self-reliant.
- Adapt your efforts to needs and circumstances.
- Use your own gifts and talents to bless others.
- Sincerely pray for those you minister to.
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