Weeks 65 & 67 - Reverend Peppel, Charcoal & 75 days

It is becoming more and more obvious to me that time is flying by at an alarming speed!! It was just the beginning of April and General Conference weekend! Now 3 weeks have disappeared and May is coming fast! 

We loved General Conference SO much! And our new "boss" spoke! Elder Alexander Dushku's message on Pillars and Rays was phenomenal. Elder Dushku was recently assigned to fill the position of Lance Wickman, who served faithfully for 27 years, as general legal counsel for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. As such, he became our "boss" at Church Headquarters. We look forward to watching his journey.

Reverend Peppel & family

Many months ago, while going to see a movie on a Saturday afternoon, we met a sweet family from Nigeria. They were also seeing the same movie and afterwards we struck up a conversation. We learned that Reverend Faith Peppel, his wife Mary (now pregnant with 2nd child due in June) and young daughter Alaina (6 yrs old) had moved to Ghana 4 years prior, to fulfill a call that came to them from God to be missionaries in Ghana. What courage it took to leave their families and homeland and embark on an unknown journey to preach the good word of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

We exchanged contact information. Jordan kept in touch with Faith regularly, sharing messages of encouragement and brotherly love. Faith responded with his own testimonies of the work and his love of God and his family. Jordan invited him to join us at the Area Offices if they ever found themselves in Accra or close by again (they live only 20 miles outside of Accra in Kasoa). 

Finally, that day arrived and we were able to meet the Peppel family again. Because of horrible traffic, it took them 3.5 hrs by taxi to come to the Area Office compound. We had prearranged for them to have a little tour of the Area Office, the Family History Center (where 40 million African names have already been processed), the local chapel, and of course the temple. The full-time sister missionaries and a senior mission couple (Gallands) whose focus is bringing new converts and members to the temple all joined us and shared beautiful messages along the way. The crowning portion of the tour was when we entered the temple and joined together in the waiting room while a senior mission couple (Deshlers) shared a message about the temple, including the sealing power for time and all eternity.

We then took them to lunch and talked about their experience. They were amazed at the concept of eternal marriage and sealing of children to parents for eternity. They loved their time learning more about the church and our practices. They were excited to learn that visitors are welcome and anyone can visit the chapel on Sundays and attend the meetings. They thanked us and then made the long journey back home. 

We have loved getting to interact with this beautiful family.

CHARCOAL

When packing for this adventure almost 16 months ago, we had no idea of what to expect when buying supplies in a foreign country. We all have our "must have" items (mini Reese's Peanut Butter cups for Jordan), and toothpaste was one of mine. Unfortunately, I didn't pack enough to last 18 months. Reluctantly, I tried a few brands of toothpaste here. Not being very satisfied with the strength or flavor of any, I hesitantly decided to try a brand that is usually front and center in all markets... Charcoal.

 

Surprisingly, it was thick and flavorful! It has also become one of my favorite toothpastes! At least while here in Ghana. 😁

While talking with a local friend here and asking him about charcoal toothpaste, he shared his upbringing experience. He said he always brushed his teeth with just charcoal powder and never minded the non-flavored, gritty powder. Whoa! Not sure I'd like that at all. 

While researching a bit more about charcoal uses, here is what I found:

"Since ancient times, charcoal has been used mainly to generate energy for cooking and heating purposes. Up to 17% of the wood used in the world is turned into charcoal. The booming charcoal trade is actually boosting the economies of many African countries. This fundamental approach to energy production has evolved from a simple cooking method into a cost-effective source of energy and empowerment."

Highlights

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  Charcoal is the second-most important source of rural household income after crops in a hot-spot producing area in Ghana.

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  On average, charcoal accounts for 17% of total rural household income in our sample of both producers and non-producers.

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  Reliance on charcoal increases with increasing income and some households earn higher income from charcoal trading.

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  Both low- and high-income households use charcoal to fill seasonal income gaps, but with different motivations.

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  Charcoal production appears to be the dominant coping strategy against economic shocks.

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• Everywhere you look in Ghana, there are piles of discarded coconut shells. Coconut charcoal is made from the shells of coconut nuts. The shells are first carbonized in the absence of air, which produces high-quality charcoal that is free of additives. Regular charcoal is typically made from a blend of wood scraps, sawdust, and additives.

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• Let's hear it for charcoal!!!!

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• 75 DAYS...

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• You may have lost track of time and forgotten what we look like... but just so ya know, here is our countdown clock!!!!

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• • "The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of sixty minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is." – C.S. Lewis.
  
  
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• Make the most of every day! We will do the same!!!
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• Sending much love and anticipation of seeing you again... soon!

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Weeks 63 & 64 - Long Weekend Adventures & Trees

LONG WEEKEND ADVENTURES

March 29 - Apr 1 became a long weeknd for us! Good Friday and Easter Monday created this "perfect get-a-way" time on the calendar, and we took advantage of it!

Friday morning at 4:45 am, we headed to the Kotoko airport with 2 other couples - Whites & Manwarings. We arrived and checked in without problem. That was not the case for one of our couples - Manwarings. Upon checking in at the counter, they were told their flight reservations were cancelled. What? We all booked at the same time, same day, same itinerary. There was no explanation or immediate remedy. They were told that the earliest they could fly out, was the next morning. It was a bummer, but they took it in stride and we all thought the same thing... "Whatcha 'ghana' do?" We have come to realize that there are things that happen here in Ghana, and across Africa, that you just can't understand. So, we are 'ghana' try to not get too upset. 

Our destination: Mole National Park

Although only 430 miles from Accra, the drive would take more than 13 hrs on a good traffic day. Hence, our reason for opting to fly to the Tamale airport and drive 3.5 hrs to Mole.

Mole is Ghana’s first, largest and most prestigious protected area. The Park is managed mainly for its outstanding natural, physical, historical and cultural values. It covers an area of 4,577 km of fairly undisturbed Guinea savannah in the northern part of Ghana.

Mole is rich in biodiversity and home to numerous plant species, mammal species, bird species, reptiles & amphibian species, and butterfly species. 

The Park has the most viable elephant population in Ghana, and as such, is a hotspot for elephant conservation. It is also said that the Park has a unique breed of elephant, which are not hostile, not aggressive or insecure, compared to other elephant populations in the rest of Africa. 

Upon arriving at Zaina Lodge, our accomodations for the next 2 days, we were immediately greeted by roaming elephants at the front entrance. 

Our accomodations were what could be described as glamping! Part tent, part permanent structure. It only took 24 hrs to cool the place down! Good thing there was a fan directly over the bed.

Our first safari out and about, about killed us! It was unbearably hot. But, we did see a fair representation of several different animals: Kob, Bush Buck, Green monkey, baboons, birds (eagles, vultures, guinea fowl), warthogs, and of course elephants.

After returning to the  lodge, we cooled off in the infinity pool and watched the elephants do the same in the watering hole below. 

 

The next day we did a beautiful canoe ride down the Mole River. Because we visited at the end of the dry season (when it is scorching hot), the river was quite low and the surface was covered in a flourescent green algae. It was actually quite beautiful. Along the way we saw beautiful birds and a monitor lizard.

We also stopped at a local village. This village and many others in the region, make shea butter. The local trees are mostly shea trees. The pots below show the process: dark chocolate brown (roasted nuts that have been ground down and then begin to release the oil), then water is added gradually to created the lighter brown oil (feels like chocolate syrup almost), and finally the oil is scooped from this mixture out in big clumps and packaged. No additives.

The village was bustling with children and adults, living life. Many children held our hands as we walked along. Women in the village were busy cooking, carrying wood and keeping life going. The adobe mud houses were cool inside, compared to the scorching heat. We also met the local medicine man and he explained his roots and tinctures.

Driving back to the airport alongside the road and crossing the white Volta River, daily life goes on.  

I think my favorite glimpses into daily life and ones that will last long into the years ahead, were found under the shade of a tree.

 

You have to look closely, but gathered under the shade of each tree is life. The laughter of children, mothers washing and preparing food, random goats and animals also escaping the hot sun... life goes on. 

I like these symbolic thoughts by John A Taylor: 

Shade-Tree Thoughts

The shade tree is many things...

• A place of contemplation.

• An oasis where comfort, safety and protection exist.

• A place where we discover our human interdependence.

• A place where consciousness and unconsciousness interact.

• A map where we imprint the journey of our living and the lessons it brings.

💖💛💚Sending lots of love from Ghana! Take time to sit in the shade of your favorite tree and consider life!!!