Week 32 - Marriage, Bride Price & Naq

MARRIAGE

For the past several weeks, a beautiful young couple has been attending our Trade Fair ward.  Getting to know them and learning their story was a real treat.  Jhuel (Jewel) is from Jamaica, has been attending BYU Idaho for the past couple of years and will graduate next year to teach Spanish in secondary schools).  Josh is from Nigeria, is an aritist and expert in hair braiding and lashes (he prepared Jhuel's hair and lashes for their wedding day).  Jhuel & Josh met online.  After communicating for some time, they decided to meet.  The easiest location for both of them with Jhuel's student visa was Ghana.  So, a year ago they met in Ghana and became engaged.  Their relationship continued apart for the next year.  In mid July, they met again in Ghana to be married.  The process is lengthy.  They must submit documentation to the city office and wait for a minimum of 21 days for approval to be married civilly.  This is what they needed to be sealed in the Accra temple. 

Last Thursday, they asked us to attend their civil ceremony and be a witness.  It was a very interesting process.  We arrived to a small, dark, old and worn out building with no air conditioning (which I'm sure this young couple did not even notice, as today was going to be a very special day!).  After waiting about 1 hr, we were ushered into a stuffy conference room with a table too large for the space and chairs stacked upon each other and crammed together around the table.  Jhuel and Josh were asked to sit close to the front with witnesses down one side of the table friends on the other side of the table, along with many many others joining by zoom on a Jhuel's phone, while using a hotspot from my phone.    

Eventually, the assembly man arrived (someone certified and assigned to certain roles within a community) and the ceremony began.  He held in his hand a very old and tattered book, with a bookmark in place.  He opened and began to read the outlined speech, much of which talked about the punishment of marrying anyone else while this marriage was still in force, and that bigamy is a very serious crime.  The now officially married couple and witnesses, signed the certificate and the ceremony was finished.  We all went to lunch and ate traditional Ghanaian food of rice, beans and chicken or fish.  

 

The true joy came later that day, when Jhuel and Josh were sealed for time and all eternity in the Accra Ghana temple.  

"Here appears one of the foremost blessings of the temple marriage. Those who have been sealed in the temple have their eyes fixed upon eternity. They dare not forfeit the promised blessings. The family is to them an everlasting possession." 

---John A Widtsoe 

BRIDE PRICE

A custom that exists and is important in many cultures around the world is the Bride Price. The Bride Price is a payment made by the groom or his family to the family of the bride.  This payment is made as a sign of respect and gratitude to the bride's family for taking care of and raising their daughter well.  The amount of the bride price varies widely from country to country and family to family.  In some cultures, rather than pay the bride price with money, it is paid in other valuable assets such as jewelry, land or livestock. The payment is seen as a way of cementing the relationship between the two families and also seen as good fortune for the newlyweds.      

As with all customs, difficulties may arise.  The rising generation can choose to accept or reject such traditions.  The bride price can be grossly manipulated so as to cause financial harm to the couple and bad feelings.  This was not the true intention of the bride price.  It was started as a way to foster good will and support between the families.  Hopefully, those who continue with this tradition will find the deeper meaning of goodness that lies within the custom.  

NAQ

There is a darling gal in the Human Resource department on our floor and her name is Naq.  When I asked her about her name origin, she said: "Never ask questions!"  At first I thought I may have offended her by asking the meaning of her name.  Then she explained, "I was the last child for my parents and a little bit of a surprise.  They worried about this unexpected child, but soon received the answers from above.  Never question God's plan.  To remember this lesson they named me Naq... Never Ask Questions."  😇  God's plan is always better than ours!  

I'm grateful for the knowledge of a loving Father in Heaven that watches over and guides me as I ask in faith.  Of course, I do not understand so many things in the world, especially suffering.  Why are some so much more fortunate than others?  Why is depression and anxiety rampant among this generation?  What can be done to alleviate the suffering, sadness and depression? 

The only answer I have is continued faith.  Faith in Jesus Christ and His infinite atonement that can save and heal and bless all humanity.  One day, all will be made right.  This I do know.  

💓💛💚   

Week 31 - Feeli Feeli, No more Leaky-Leaky, Movies & Lead with style

FEELI-FEELI

Eventually, all roads in foreign countries lead to Kentucky Fried Chicken!  It's a well known establishment and fairly consistent around the world.  And to date, we have not been disappointed.  Yesterday we had a little Feeli Feeli Meal.  There are billboards around town advertising it as Feeli Feeli Feeli Feeli Feeli... so we had to try it!!  It was great to have a little taste of homeland food.  It was not disappointing!

       

LEAKY-LEAKY

Our shower floor has had some serious problems since we arrived many months ago.  It was an old plastic pan and unfortunately, did not have a solid foundation underneath, so over time had cracked in more used and stressful areas.  We weren't sure anything could really/or would really be done about it, so just put up with it until we could no longer stand the pain.  LOL!  The shower floor had several cracks in it, so when standing in the shower, the cracks would pinch the bottom of your feet and hold on!  I tried taping it for a while to get us by.  The leaking below also created piles of water outside the shower.  We hated to think what must be lurking under that shower pan with stagnate water sitting for months on end.  We reported it and luckily, the management team took fairly swift action.  Within a few days, we had a new shower floor made of tile, with a firm foundation.  We are so happy with the outcome!  Wahoo!!

                   

GUILTY PLEASURES
Senior missionaries need some down time on the weekends!  One of our favorite things to do after all the Saturday chores of laundry and shopping, and Jordan gardening on the patio, is to occasionally go to a movie!  The theaters here are a step back in time for sure, but we are just grateful there is one!  So far we've seen:  A Man Called Otto, Dungeons & Dragons, Guardians of the Galaxy, Little Mermaid, Indiana Jones & Mission Impossible.  Yesterday was no exception and we finally got away for a movie called Grand Tourismo.  Just as the movie was to hit the final climax, everything went black and the power was gone.  As there were only 4 of us in the theater, we laughed and waited for about 10 min.  Finally, the theater team was able to restore the film to an earlier time in the movie, so we could once again, roll into the heroic moment of truth without interupption.  Gotta love Africa!!

Clearly posted in the movie theater foyer are these rules:

LEADING WITH STYLE

We have some sweet young women who lead the music in Sacrament meeting and do a great job.  We particularly love this little gal Liberty.  She has a flare and movement that cannot be replicated.  It is awesome and sometimes we forget to sing because we love watching her.  Had to capture the moment today!  

FINAL THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

When possible, we tune in each Sunday evening for our Alpine 6th Ward meetings being held in Utah.  We usually get our dinner ready and sit on the couch in our pajamas to watch and listen.  It keeps us feeling connected to our ward family.  We see missionaries coming and going, hear awesome new members of the ward be introduced, watch callings change and move here and there.  Helps us feel like we aren't missing a huge part of our lives by falling behind for 18 mos and not knowing the dynamics.  We are grateful our ward continues to Zoom the meetings every week.  

Today, we were blessed to tune in to Stake Conference.  Our dear stake presidency of many many years were released and a new stake presidency were called.  I'm reminded how wonderful it is to have patterns within our church that allow many individuals to serve and grow in various callings.  We look forward to learning from this new group.  

There were 2 visiting area authorities.  Here are some things I gathered today:

Elder Thomas B. Morgan - Consider where you are on the covenant path. Don't be too concerned with where you are on the path that you forget the most important thing... that wherever you are on the path, be firmly planted and sure-footed and walking forward.  Be ALL IN!  Come unto Christ with full purpose of heart!  Cheerfully do all things in our power to serve God.  Then stand back and watch God do His work, with utmost assurance that all will be guided under His Hand.  

As disciples of Christ, we: 

-Love God more than anything

-Love all people

-Make covenants

-Accept callings

-Serve in temples doing family history and redeeming the dead

-Repent daily

-Show kindness to family and others

-Be quick to forgive and apologize

-Have actions that model the Savior's life

Be ALL IN the gospel of Jesus Christ!  He knows us, loves us, and will heal us.

Elder Michael T. Ringwood - In Acts 27, Paul is on a ship in a storm.  The people were afraid.  Paul reminds them to Be of Good Cheer and that they will be safe if they stay on the ship.  They cast down 4 anchors to weather the storm.  Consider the achors we have in our life that keep us safe and anchored in the gospel of Jesus Christ?  I would like to talk about one such anchor.

Sacred Hymns of the gospel - Hymns allow us to sing praises to our God.  There is power in the hymns.  Be joyful and sing!  Experience the spirit of God that comes through the messages in the hymns.  Hymns can lift us, inspire us, give us courage and console those who are mourning. The hymns teach us the gospel, so don't just sing, but listen to the teachings within them.  

Sing the songs of redeeming love!  While singing, the spirit can speak to us, inspiring our minds and hearts with messages from our Savior and Heavenly Father.  There are so many beautiful messages.  Messages of truth.

God communicates His love to us through the sacred hymns of the gospel. 

We love our time here in Africa!  We love and miss our family and friends back home!  But we continue to know that we are here for a purpose and will continue to serve as best we can.  Thank you for your love and support!!!

💓💛💚 

Week 30 - Daily Life, Caring for those in Need & Empower Playgrounds

It is difficult to believe we have been here almost 7 months!  Time is going quickly and we will soon be at our half-way mark.  Crazy! 

Daily life hasn't changed too much.  We get up, work out, go to work, come home, eat dinner and crash.  Can life really be that simple?  Well, in between all of those normal daily routines, are a whole host of intricate details that keep our spirits alive!  

We meet new people almost every day.  We may hear an inspiring story of their life, or a tragic tale of their experiences.  We see hungry and homeless, lame and disabled.  Children begging on the streets for their very existence from day to day.  But what we do not see is defeat.  In the eyes of those we encounter, there seems to be a strong resolve to survive, despite the current circumstances that surround them and their lives.  We see smiles and grateful lips and eyes.  Always a generous and immediate thank you for anything given.  

We truly stand in awe of the beautiful people here in Ghana.  So much to seemingly be depressed and anxious about, and yet, so much love and graciousness abounds. We are so blessed to be here. 

CARING FOR THOSE IN NEED

"The two great commandments can guide us: first, to love God and, second, to love our neighbor. We show our love by serving."

— President Russell M. Nelson

I feel honored to be a part of a religious organization that values so much the well-being of others.  Serving and giving to those in need is an important part of God's work on this earth. 

"Church members seek out those in need and render aid to all God’s children without regard to religious affiliation, race, or nationality. The Church, its members, and its friends have combined their donations with volunteer efforts to relieve suffering and build self-reliance around the world."

I really enjoyed looking through this report.  To learn more about these efforts, check out the 2022 Annual Report on Caring for Those in Need.

Read the 2022 Annual Report

EMPOWER PLAYGROUNDS

We met some amazing friends long ago in Tokyo.  Ben & Julie Markham are changing the lives of so many individuals in Africa!!  My heart is so grateful to them for all they are doing.  We happened to run into Ben a couple of months ago as we were in the airport.  He was with his team and had just spent more time making a difference in more areas of Ghana.  It was obvious they were tired and well-spent.  But their faces showed absolute joy for having been working so hard to make life sustaining changes in villages here.  I would love to see them at work!    

Their mission is fulfilled through programs of providing light, promoting wellness, and augmenting education. Many schools in rural Ghana have no access to electricity, books, clean water, menstrual products, or electronic devices. They strive to give each student these resources so they can not only stay in school, but gain a better education through improved knowledge and learning methods.

Watch a video of Ben explaining this amazing work here.  

Since 2008, the impact has been INCREDIBLE!!!

22,000+ Students helped

62 Merry-go-rounds

21,000 Lanterns

23 Classroom Blocks

16 Libraries

7 Computer Labs

12 Boreholes

1,661 Reusable menstrual kits

390 Science kits

28 Sanitation projects

56 Homes with electricity

See more here and here!  

We can be God's Hands here on earth.  It doesn't take much!  A willing heart and mind, finding how best to make YOUR difference in the world!

Thank you to ALL who serve God's children throughout this big, beautiful world!  You are my heroes!!!!

Children study with lanterns powered by the merry-go-round!

Much love from Ghana! 💓💛💚

Week 29 - Founders' Day, Big Ada - Aqua Safari, Motorcycles & Miracles

 Another holiday in Ghana has come and gone.  However, this time we were prepared!  The previous holidays came without much notice and therefore, without much adventure.  It took me only a couple of times to get caught unawares, to then download the Ghanaian calendar of holidays and be ready for the next one!

FOUNDERS' DAY - Aug 4th

This is a national holiday to commemorate the contributions of all the people, most notably the "Big Six" that led the struggle to Ghana's independence, along with many many others in history.  On this day, Ghanaians take the opportunity to reflect upon and honor the sacrifice of their fore-bearers.  

I can't help but think of and remember my own ancestors who paved the way and sacrificed much so that I might have the gospel in my life.  There are many here in Ghana who similarly brought hope and the gospel of Jesus Christ to this region. 

Ghana Pioneers 

BIG ADA

Our holiday adventure began Thursday afternoon, leaving work a little early.  Our destination was Big Ada in the Volta River Region, this time closer to the ocean.  Although this town is only a mere 71 miles from our apartment in Accra, it took us 3.5 hrs to travel there.  Traffic is notoriously horrific in Ghana, due to horrible road conditions as well as overly-congested streets with way too many vehicles, motorbikes, and some of the largest transport trucks we have ever seen!    

The village of approximately 8000 people is located on the riverbank of the Volta and used to be an important trading center, profiting from the river's fantastic location. From there, goods were transported to uncharted areas by canoe.  The economic activities reached a peak around 1901 when a transportation system called the Volta River Transport System was launched.  Ada's decline started with the construction of the harbor sea port in Takoradi (mentioned in April 2023 general conference by Elder Renlund) that made transport on the Volta River unnecessary. Today, Ada is not as popular as far as social life and economic activities are concerned. Hardly any traces of physical structures such as factories and shops remain.  We did see fields and fields of tomatoes, and baskets lining the roads with fresh tomatoes for sale.

While talking with some of the locals, we discovered that their largest source of income now is oyster mining and basket weaving.  

Upon arriving at our accomodations for the evening, we realized we had entered a little bit of heaven on earth.  The grounds of the Aqua Safari Resort are beautifully manicured and well kept.  Although not really considered safari animals - horses, donkeys, peacocks and many other creatures wandered the resort.  A very large pelican is not to be missed!  Many of the buildings are covered in green vines and everything is quite lush.  

We had dinner by the river and watched an almost full moon rise over the water. It was beautiful.  The next day we took advantage of a few of the many "included activities" at the resort: bike ride, segway ride, archery, putting green, boat rides, lawn tennis, ping pong, swimming, etc. It was a fantastic get-away and a good "sharpening the saw" activity for us as we left the office behind for a few days.  

              

    

   

As we checked out of the hotel at the front desk, I was a bit confused.  The gal said to me, "Towel, fondant, tax." To which I replied, "Towel, fondant, tax?"  She said, "yes please."  I said, I'm not sure what that means."  As clearly as ever she said again, "Towel, fondant, tax."  I shook my head, repeated it again and let her know I did not understand what she wanted.  She then said, "restaurant, you eat?"  I said, "yes of course! We ate at the restaurant.  Can I see the bill?"  She handed me the bill and I quickly realized what she was saying but I could not understand.  There was a balance of 1430 cedi.  "Thous...fon...and tax." Translated as: One thousand, four hundred and tax of thirty."  Sometimes I feel so silly!!!

Our drive home only took 2.5 hrs and one harrowing 2 mile detour!  It was awesome!!!

MOTORCYCLES

You can pretty much see anything and everything being transported on motorcycles here.  Love the traveling shoe salesmen! 

Life is full of goodness here in Africa!  Every day is new and exciting and makes us fall more in love with the people and experiences we are having.

Never take anything for granted.  There is so much to be grateful for in this life!

Love this quote:

“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”

― Albert Einstein

Find the miracles in your life today!!!!!

Much love from Ghana!

💓💛💚