Week 45 - Thanksgiving & Light the World Festivities

THANKSGIVING

This past week was the tradtional American Thanksgiving holiday, celebrated the 4th Thursday of November.  Having lived oversees for many years, it doesn't seem too strange to not have a set day to celebrate this holiday, but rather plan and prepare for the festivity on the weekend, usually Saturday.  

This year, we will celebrate Thanksgiving on Sunday, with the senior missionaries bringing part of the feast!  It should be an amazing potluck with all the seasoned cooks with years of experience in the group!  I have to admit, I do miss all the prep work in the kitchen as everyone bustles around trying to help!  I did find a turkey, albeit small, but it will do!  I will cook it up sometime mid December and we can feast for both past Thanksgiving & pre Christmas dinners!

I can't pass up this opportunity to say how very grateful I am for all the incredible blessings in my life.  My husband, children & grandchildren, who make my life complete.  Friends and family who help me be a better person.  My knowledge of and relationship with God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. The opportunity I have every day to live and breathe in this beautiful world, full of wonder.  Having good health and the basic needs of daily life.  Freedom of thought, speech and belief.  I could go on for hours.  I am blessed. 

"GRATITUDE is a quality that the Roman orator Cicero claimed was “not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others” (Marcus Tullius Cicero, Pro Plancio, 54 B.C.). It is a quality I have found in every happy person I know. It is a quality that instantly makes a person more likable and more at peace. Where there is an abundance of this virtue, there is happiness. Where there is an absence of this virtue, there is often sadness, resentment, and futility." (Live in Thanksgiving Daily - By Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin - devotional address given at Brigham Young University on 31 October 2000)

President Joseph F. Smith proclaimed: “The grateful man sees so much in the world to be thankful for, and with him the good outweighs the evil. Love overpowers jealousy, and light drives darkness out of his life. Pride destroys our gratitude and sets up selfishness in its place.

Robert Louis Stevenson wrote, “The man who forgets to be thankful has fallen asleep in life.”

Choice blessings await those who live in thanksgiving daily. “He who receiveth all things with thankfulness,” the Lord has promised, “shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more” (D&C 78:19).

LIGHT THE WORLD

On Friday evening, the Africa West Area presented a musical event called, "The Miracle of Christmas."  The purpose is to celebrate the life of Jesus Christ through music and worship.  There were many dignitaries in attendence, joining all faiths together to worship our Savior.  Because this event took place at the end of a long workday for us, we went home and watched the live broadcast on YouTube.  A recording can be found here.  Everyone did their best to perform and show their love for Jesus! 

Esther & Sis White

Children's Choir 

YSA Choir

Elder & Sis Gifford and Dignitaries

This time of year is always filled with love!  We have been listening to Christmas music all week.  We are getting in the groove as the season quickly approaches!

Every year, we also look forward to the Light the World initiative. I love the theme this year of "Let Your Light Shine!"

President Nelson said,  “I marvel at the increased goodwill and human kindness that always emerge during this sacred season. As we commemorate the birth of Him who is the Light of the World, new light is kindled in each of us. … As we follow Jesus Christ, we can make this a better world.”

We especially love the "Giving Machines" found around the world!  And when we haven't been near one (like this year), we can still make a difference by donating online.  I hope you will consider this great opportunity to change lives! 

Much LOVE and THANKSGIVING from Ghana!

💓💛💚

  

 

Week 44 - Prampram, C Resort and TURTLES

A couple of months ago, we tried to get out of town for a weekend-away.  We left later than expected on a Friday, due to work issues.  Then, just as we were getting on the road, it began to rain.  It made for a perfect storm situation.  Literally.  Our destination was only 36 miles away.  However, after 5.5 hrs we weren't even half way, so we finally turned around and came home.  It was a nightmare.

Not willing to be completely defeated, we kept watching for just the right weekend to try again.  Friday, we got on the road earlier at 12:00 and.... there was no rain.  It only took us 2 hrs!  We were so happy!  Seems very strange to get excited about going 36 miles in 2 hrs, but we were thrilled!  Jordan had a little PTSD from the last trip kick in when we hit our first traffic jam, but everything gradually moved along and we made it!

Our Destination: New Ningo PramPram (a coastal town in the greater Accra region).  Our Mission: Some R&R and to hopefully witness the sea turtles hatch and be released into the ocean!  

                         

We stayed at the C Resort.  Although not completely worth the amount of money paid per night for the nicest ocean view room, that lacked sufficient AC to cool it down, 4 hrs of no water on Saturday (they accidentally let the polytank on the roof run out of water??), a very very hard bed that kept us tossing and turning most of both nights, a pool we weren't sure we should swim in, and beaches littered with so much garbage you can barely walk on it... we would call our weekend a complete success!!

The amount of trash that washes up on the beach daily is horrible.  In front of the C Resort, they gather it up and bury it 2 feet down.  They don't want it to end up back in the ocean and on the beach by sending it to the landfill. 

Better parts of the resort:

   

We arrived Friday afternoon, went for a swim and then had dinner and relaxed.  Finally, headed to bed with hopes for an early phone call from the hatchery on site, letting us know turtles had hatched.  Unfortunately, nothing.  We slept in and had a nice breakfast.  After breakfast we wandered over to the turtle hatchery to get an understanding of what they do. 

Meridian Port Services Ltd (MPS), located in the Port of Tema, has relaunched its sea turtle conservation initiative. Between November 2018 and August 2020, 24,674 eggs were retrieved and brought to the hatchery, while 16,198 hatchlings were successfully released into the sea during this same period. The current hatchery has 2 Sea Turtle species namely; Olive Ridley (88%) and the Green Turtle (12%).

MPS is a joint venture between Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (30%), APM Terminals (35%) and Bolloré Transport and Logistics (35%).

The program which commenced in November 2018 involves the safe relocation of turtle eggs at risk in their natural environment into an enclosed hatchery replicating natural conditions, creating a conducive atmosphere for them to hatch and finally releasing the hatchlings into the ocean.

TURTLE RESCUE

While we were talking with the conservationists, they could see what looked like a turtle in distress out in the ocean, dragging a buoy.  One of the locals tried swimming out, but the turtle swam away.  He then came back and got a kayak and was able to catch up to the turtle. He grabbed onto the rope and buoy that was indeed attached to the turtle, and paddled with all his might back to shore.  It was a struggle for sure as the turtle was very large and likely weighed about 100 lbs.  This Olive Ridley sea turtle is one of the smaller species of the sea.  Another common species that frequents this area is the Green sea turtle and can get up to 350 lbs!  

It was still quite a feat getting the turtle on solid ground.  Once safely out of the water, they began working to untie the rope connected to a fisherman's buoy, that was wrapped several times around the turtle's neck and was digging into the skin. After a few minutes, it was all undone.  The female turtle was exhausted and didn't move much for about 1 hr. She was then coaxed and pushed back into the water, where she swam away.     

For the rest of the day, we lazed around the pool and tried to catch up on lost sleep.  Once the large water polytank on the roof was refilled, we got cleaned up and had dinner and retired early, hoping there would be an early wake up call for hatchlings.  

At 0609 the phone rang and a voice on the other end said, "Your prayers have been answered and the turtles have hatched!  Kindly join us at the hatchery for the turtle release at 0630."  I jumped out of bed, soooo excited to be a part of this experience.  We were not disappointed!  

Coming down the beach with a blue bucket and more eggs from an turtle laying during the night, was conservationist Sharon.  She goes every morning to check a beach 1/2 mile away, where the turtles come to shore and lay their eggs.  Sure enough, the classic signs of a large turtle moving across the sand and back to the ocean were plainly seen.  She then gently dug up the eggs while wearing a rubber glove and placed them in a small black plastic bag.  

    

She walked quickly back to the hatchery where she immediately dug a 2 foot deep hole in the sand, and gently placed all 67 eggs in the hole.  She then covered them up and placed an open bottomed wicker basket on top of the hole.  The eggs will take approximately 60 days to hatch.  The hatchlings dig their way to the surface and then sleep for a couple of hours from the hard climb upwards. 

      

Then, the magic happens!  The hatchlings begin to wake up and scurry around in the bucket, ready for life!  We walked down to the beach and the bucket was turned on the side.  Instinctively, the little turtles head straight for the water!  It's a sight to behold.  Out of the 67 little turtles, the conservationist estimates about 5-10 survive.   

 

Had to have my glasses on to appreciate the intricate detail of patterns on this beautiful little creature!

The final release was awesome!  Nature at its absolute best!

        

       

All in all, we had a great "Sharpen the Saw" weekend and despite the difficulty of travel within Ghana, happy we made the effort to go! 

Do something to Sharpen your saw this week!!  Read good literature, listen to good music, get out into nature, find someone to serve!!

You are loved from Africa!!

💓💛💚 

Week 43 - Light, Supermarket Debate & Saint Francis

I've thought a lot about LIGHT in the last couple of weeks.  It all started with my workout routine.  Every morning, I go down to the work out room, a simple room with what seems to be a 20 yr old treadmill, 30 yr old stationary bike, various weights, etc.  But, it does the trick.  Better than not having anything at all for sure!! 

While on the treadmill, I face a large plate glass window that "looks" (albeit through a glass darkly) into the the front lobby area of our building.  The middle 50% is frosted, with the top and bottom quarters being clear glass.  The name of our apartment building "Beaufort Ridge" is within this frosted area, with the letters etched out, showing a small amount of clear glass.  Through the small slits of the letters and clear glass, I can see the morning sun shining brightly on the tiles of the floor in the lobby.  

One day, I realized how fast the light was changing and moving across the tiles.  I was so intrigued, I planted myself and phone firmly in the same spot on the treadmill so I could capture 2 pictures within the same minute and see if there was any visable difference.  Indeed, as you can see by the pictures below that were both taken within the same 60 seconds, the light has moved a full letter.  I was shocked.  As I stared intently at the light, I almost thought I could see it move.  But actually, it was only when I glanced at the original starting point memorized in my head, that I could visually see the light had moved. 

                                                 

The Sun is magnificent!  For all intents and purposes, it appears to us that the Sun rises or disappears above or below the horizon and circles the Earth.  However, it is the Earth that rotates, with the Sun remaining in a fixed position.  

The speed of light is supposed to be the most constant, unvarying quantity in the universe!  "According to physicist Albert Einstein's theory of special relativity, on which much of modern physics is based, nothing in the universe can travel faster than light."

LIGHT AND TRUTH - Elder Theodore M. Burton - April 1981  

"Through modern revelation we have been taught that 'the glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth.' Such light and truth forsake the evil one. (D&C 93:36–37)  We have been advised that if our eye be single to the glory of God, our whole body shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in us, for a body which is filled with God’s light will be able to comprehend all things. (D&C 88:67).  God’s light includes the physical light we see, which makes us feel so warm and comfortable. God’s light is also the power to understand and comprehend all things. In other words, all kinds of light are related to intelligence and truth."

I'm so grateful to have LIGHT and TRUTH in my life.  Jesus Christ is truly the Light and Truth we can have as a constant in this sometimes crazy World!  

I recognize my human and limited ability to stay connected to the light 24/7.  I also realize that the more I focus on the Light, on serving my Savior, the faster light will come into my life.  And that light is amazing!

There are many analogies that can be drawn from this example.  I would love to hear your thoughts!!

SUPERMARKET DEBATE

I was approached in the supermarket the other day by a man named Steven from New Zealand.  He asked my name and we exchanged conversation about why we each found ourselves here in a foreign country.  At Steven's lead, the conversation quickly turned to religion.  For the next 20 minutes, Steven wanted to convince me why I was being led astray in my Church and why I shouldn't teach what I believe because I was also leading others astray.  I found myself not wanting to debate religion but to only bear testimony of simple truths, of God's love, of my love for the people here in Ghana.  After what seemed like an eternity, I wished him well and reminded him that we both loved the same God.

All in all, what I wish I would have said much sooner in the conversation was this:  "We both love the same God!  God loves us!!  Let's not debate.  Let's just live our lives worthy to represent Him well and be His hands on earth, helping and loving others!"

SAINT FRANCIS

Saint Francis of Assisi grew up wealthy in the small town of Assisi, Italy. Despite the anger it brought his father, Saint Francis took a vow of poverty after receiving multiple visions from God, where in one of which God told him to "repair my church, which is falling in ruins." Saint Francis soon established the Franciscan Order where he and his followers sought to live out the gospel in a literal way. He is known for his love of nature and animals, his strong commitment to both physical and spiritual poverty, and for receiving the stigmata (marks resembling the wounds on the crucified body of Jesus Christ). See the quotes below for further inspiration from Saint Francis of Assisi's life:

“Start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”

“For it is in giving that we receive.” 

“Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take with you nothing that you have received--only what you have given.”

“I have been all things unholy. If God can work through me, He can work through anyone.” 

“Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love...” (The Peace Prayer)

“Preach the Gospel at all times. Use words if necessary.”

"The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today."

"The only thing ever achieved in life without effort is failure."

"Do few things but do them well, simple joys are holy."

“A single sunbeam is enough to drive away many shadows.”

Week 42 - Storytelling, Ancestors and Halloween

 Keeping the Tradition of African Storytelling Alive

I have enjoyed learning about the oral/verbal history found within certain cultures.  

"Africans are rooted in oral cultures and traditions. Since ancient times, storytelling in the African culture has been a way of passing on traditions, codes of behavior, as well as maintaining social order. Writing had not been developed in ancient Africa, but there were ways for Africans to transmit their thoughts, beliefs, and feelings. Africans utilized various forms of art, myths and ceremonies. The tradition of African storytelling is one of the most ancient in African culture.

Storytelling in Africa provides entertainment, satisfies the curiosities of the African people, and teaches important lessons about everyday life.

Storytelling takes you on a journey that inspires you to learn about yourself and the world around you. It reflects social values in a culture that motivate people in their pursuit of a meaningful life. The oral tradition of storytelling makes it possible for a culture to pass knowledge, history, and experiences from one generation to the next. Many cultures in Africa have rituals of oral storytelling. Traditional storytelling in Africa reveals ideas, themes, beliefs, and facts that are widely spread. It discloses conceptions that are unique to a tribe, village, or region. Storytelling in Africa has been manifested in many ways and was used to serve many purposes. It was used to interpret the universe, resolve natural and physical phenomena, teach morals, maintain cultural values, pass on methods of survival, and to praise God."

One day while we were visiting Bernice (see Week 41 for Bernice's story), she began to tell us a story about her grandmother.  I was facinated as she recounted the way her grandmother taught her a lesson she will never forget.  It witnessed to me the power of storytelling in our lives and how much good can come from this practice while sitting around the table at night, around the fire, or while traveling together in the car.  Anytime is a good time to tell stories of our family and ancestors.

Listen to the story Bernice shared with us here: 

ANCESTORS

I love the hints that come to my email from FamilySearch every Sunday. They look something like this:  "Discover more about your 3rd great-grandfather's life, and uncover the story of you."  While reading through their life histories (if available), looking at how many children they had in the early 1800's, wondering how they stayed on the covenant path during difficult times including death of loved ones, etc., I am increasingly honored to know that my heritage is rich, full of strong and capable individuals, who loved God and lived incredible, difficult and beautiful lives.  I look forward to meeting them one day and hope I too can live a life full of goodness and honor, embracing the heritage that is mine.  

HALLOWEEN

Halloween is not celebrated in Ghana, like a few other traditional American holidays.  However, we had some Trick-and-Treators show up at our door.  Their trick was hilarious, their treats were delicious.  Can't say we didn't do a double-take as we opened the door to the chorus of "Trick-or-Treat!"  It is rather weird to see your own faces looking back at you!  LOL!!

Take care everyone!!  Lots of love from Ghana!

💓💛💚