Week 52 - Constitution Day, Doing our Best & Personal Constitution

This past week we had another Ghana holiday - Constitution Day.  We are always excited to have a day off and sleep in!  It is quite a luxury these days and we love it!

Constitution Day is to commemorate the establishment of a new constitution for the fourth republic of Ghana in January 1993, popularly known as the 1992 Constitution of Ghana. After the first three constitutions were made meaningless by military coups, the fourth constitution was adopted after a referendum held on April 28, 1992, and established on 7 January 1993. This day is thus celebrated each year to celebrate the effort to maintain and sustain the fourth republic over the years and the birthing of the 1992 constitution of Ghana.

It is sometimes ridiculously easy to take for granted the rights and privileges we enjoy because of the blood, sweat and tears of many who have gone before us... paving the way for a better society and life, all around.  

Living abroad continues to open our eyes and improve our vision! These experiences make us really see and appreciate the many freedoms we have and hold on a regular basis, something others do not enjoy.  

Lessons we can learn from the creation of the US Constitution

“We the People”, one of the most important declarations ever written. Seldom has a phrase engendered so much positive feeling and emotion for so many people...

for people around the world. It begins a process of defining individual freedoms and liberty, over oppressive forms of power, which has defined governments."

It feels good to be part of a "people" who are doing something good in the world! Trying to support one another, love one another and do our best to understand each other.

One in Christ - Elder Christofferson

"Unity does not require sameness, but it does require harmony. We can have our hearts knit together in love, be one in faith and doctrine, and still cheer for different teams, disagree on various political issues, debate about goals and the right way to achieve them, and many other such things. But we can never disagree or contend with anger or contempt for one another."

"Lesson - there are times when just doing what is right, at the moment, given the circumstances, is far better than doing nothing or doing something for all the other reasons one could come up with, including being politically correct which was not a concept our founders were familiar with."

"Lesson - the creators of the constitution were aware that they were not designing a perfect or flawless document for all time. They would do their best with the knowledge, experience, intuition, and foresight they possessed at the time. Today, we have 20/20 hindsight and it is far too easy to criticize them for what they did or did not do."

Be Ye Therefore Perfect - Eventually - Elder Holland

"Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father … in heaven is perfect. With that concluding imperative, we want to go back to bed and pull the covers over our head. Such celestial goals seem beyond our reach. Yet surely the Lord would never give us a commandment He knew we could not keep.  Except for Jesus, there have been no flawless performances on this earthly journey we are pursuing, so while in mortality let’s strive for steady improvement without obsessing over what behavioral scientists call “toxic perfectionism."

I believe it is all too easy to beat ourselves up, discounting the good things we do, because we didn't do them perfectly. We are all trying and doing our best! We will make mistakes, but we just get back up and do better the next time! It is way easier to show grace, kindness and love than to criticize, blame and destroy. 

Personal Constitution

"Much like the Constitution helped shape the future of America, your personal constitution will help shape your future. Do for yourself what the founding fathers did for this country.

Personal Constitution - a pathway built on the values that you refuse to compromise on, and it moves you in the clear direction you’ve chosen.

To this day, the US Constitution is the one document that holds everything together. When other aspects of the law can’t figure something out, the Supreme Court will make their decision based on this foundational and hard-to-change document.

Imagine having something like this for your own life: A set of values and goals you hold yourself accountable to and cannot compromise on.

When you face the tough decisions we always run into as we manage our careers and develop our personal lives, you can always base your decisions on the contents of your personal constitution. Written well, it will help to guide you toward the right decision and ensure you don’t step off the right track."

I have written and re-written my own Personal Mission Statement. It will always be a growing, changing statement. There are some elements that will remain very constant, and other elements that will be improved upon, as I grow, change and hopefully improve myself every day. Thank you for the grace you show me, I as learn to do and be better a better me!!

Much love and appreciation for your influence in my life!! 💗💛💚

Photo Dump...

Week 51 - New Year, Seniors & Resolutions

Happy New Year!

It is hard to believe we are now in 2024!  It feels something akin to our final year in highschool, finally seniors!  And actually, we are seniors!  Senior Missionaries is what we are called. And this is what we are all about...  

SENIOR MISSIONARIES

"As a mature member of the Church, you likely have experience serving, teaching, and leading others and working to accomplish the Church's divinely appointed responsibilities of living the gospel of Jesus Christ, caring for those in need, inviting all to receive the gospel, and uniting families for eternity. You now have the opportunity to build on that experience as a senior missionary.

Regardless of your specific assignment, as a missionary you will be called to represent the Lord and His Church."

Assignments TO CONSIDER:

TEACH AND FELLOWSHIP, INTERACT WITH THE PUBLIC, PRESERVE AND SHARE CHURCH HISTORY, HELP PEOPLE FIND THEIR ANCESTORS, PRESERVE FAMILY HISTORY RECORDS, PROVIDE HUMANITARIAN AID, FEED THE HUNGRY, HELP PEOPLE BECOME SELF-RELIANT, SUPPORT CHURCH OPERATIONS, SERVE IN A TEMPLE, SUPPORT YOUNG ADULTS, MANAGE AND MAINTAIN CHURCH PROPERTIES AND FACILITIES, USE YOUR PROFESSIONAL SKILLS.

Discover Opportunities here!!!

So, as seniors with only 7 months left on our mission, I think we need a slogan for the year 2024!  Which is your favorite?

1. SCORE! We’re the Seniors of ‘24 
2. Hear Us Roar, We’re the Seniors of 2024 
3. ‘24 Karat Seniors
4. What’s the world waiting for? The seniors of 2024! 
5. Always Looking Forward: Seniors 2024
6. Seniors of 2024ever
7. Seniors of 2024: Awesome to the Core! 
8. Twenty-Fourward Bound: Seniors 2024
9. Together We Soar: The Seniors of 2024
10. Seniors...Let's do More in 2024!

RESOLUTIONS OR NOT?  (good article)

"If the idea of making New Year’s resolutions fills you with dread, consider ditching the tradition. Science suggests most people who set resolutions each year don’t stick with them, and mental health experts say other strategies for adopting healthier habits work better.

A frequently cited study from 1988 that followed 200 people found that 77 percent of them stuck with their resolutions after one week, 43 percent stuck with them three months out, and 19 percent stuck with them for two years, with many citing a lack of willpower. Another study found only 46 percent of resolvers reported success at sticking to their resolutions six months after the new year. 

The problem is that we often set unrealistic goals.

For example, thinking we can suddenly completely overhaul our eating habits on January 1 — when we ate whatever we wanted up until the day before — is probably a goal that’s going to fail.

The social pressure around New Year’s resolutions doesn’t help either. You may not be wanting to make a change for the right reasons.

But the good news is that setting a goal for healthier behavior and sticking with it is possible. To boost your chances for success in adopting healthier habits, choose small steps rather than grand leaps and gestures, and be strategic with each of those steps along the way."

A Better Way...

In 2022, our dear prohpet Russell M. Nelson encouraged us:

"I’m sure many of you are setting aside time today to write down your resolutions for the coming year. May I make a few suggestions?

First, resolve to strengthen your spiritual foundation. This may involve setting a specific time and place to study the scriptures, praying more often, making temple worship a bigger priority, and letting God prevail in all aspects of your life.

Second, resolve to be kind to others. When the Savior Jesus Christ visited the Americas, as recorded in the Book of Mormon, one of the first things He taught was the need to eliminate contention in our lives. So, please be compassionate, be understanding, be slow to judge, and be quick to forgive.

Third, resolve to be resolute. The Lord loves effort. The Lord loves consistency. The Lord loves steadfastness. While we surely will come up short from time to time, our persistent efforts to hear Him and follow the inspiration He gives us will help us to “wax strong in the Spirit” (Mosiah 18:26)."

May God bless you, my dear friends, and may this be a wonderful year of purpose and possibilities for all of us."

We are looking forward to a bright New Year in 2024!  One of our goals... to make it home in July!  We wish you a joyous and prosperous New Year and look forward to connecting with you along the way!

Much love from Ghana! 💘💛💚

Week 49 & 50 - Christmas Thoughts, Winding down & Morocco

CHRISTMAS THOUGHTS

Christmas has come and gone.

Tender memories from years past flood my mind.  

Although far from home, I can still imagine the celebration...not letting my mind linger too long and risking a deluge of tears.

Living in a foreign land, no pomp or circumstance.

Just an overwhelming feeling of love for the birth of my Savior, His life and example, and His great atoning sacrifice.

I am beyond blessed.

💓💚 💓💚  💓💚  💓💚  💓💚  💓💚  💓 

WINDING DOWN

As the year began to come to a close, our boss let us know we could have a little time off if desired.  We desired.  So we planned to head to Rome and see the temple there, revel in the holiday spirit in the city center and get some R&R.  We were cut short in our desire, as we soon discovered the Area Presidency was putting a new policy in place to prohibit travel outside the African continent. What? Yes, we were disappointed.  Next best thing... visit Morocco. This plan was approved. Trip was short and sweet, but totally enjoyable! 

MOROCCO

Morocco is located in the northwest corner of Africa and is bordered by the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. It is stunning in landscape and geography. Morocco is just across the Strait of Gibraltar from Spain. The flag has a red background (representing the blood of the ancestors and unity) with a green star in the center (representing the five pillars of Islam). Our guide told us the people lovingly refer to the design as looking down on a big tomato. 😁

CASABLANCA

Hassan ll Mosque

The largest functioning mosque in Africa and the 14th largest in the world. The walls are hand-crafted marble and the roof is retractable (very cool feature!). A maximum of 105,000 worshippers can gather together for prayer: 25,000 inside the mosque hall and another 80,000 on the mosque's outside ground. It is seriously ginormous inside!!

Rick's Cafe

A restaurant, bar and café located in the city of Casablanca, Morocco. Opened March 1, 2004, the place was designed to recreate the bar made famous by Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman in the classic movie Casablanca (actually a set created in Hollywood to seem like Old Medina in Casablanca). 

Famous Quotes from the movie:

“Play it, Sam,” is not only one of the most famous lines from Casablanca, but it's one of the most misquoted lines in film history.

“Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine.” 

“Here's looking at you kid.

L'Eglise du Sacre Coeur (Sacred Heart Cathedral)

The Casablanca church was constructed in 1930. This former Roman Catholic church/cathedral ceased its religious function in 1956, after the independence of Morocco. It subsequently became a cultural center. It has hosted numerous art exhibitions.

Eglise Notre Dame de Lourdes

A Catholic parish church located in Casablanca, Morocco. It was built in 1954 and constitutes the second church in Casablanca after the Sacred Heart Cathedral.  

Old Medina

A small district dating back to as early as the 15th century. With narrow alleyways, old and crumbling buildings, and somewhat fast paced vibes (scooters zipping through these alleyways as we wandered the paths - feeling totally lost), the Old Medina is very authentic, providing a small glimpse into another time in history.

Authentic Morrocan Food - Tajine

A tajine is a North African dish named after the earthenware pot in which it is cooked. We had several different dishes and shared them all, discovering lots of new flavors and aromas!

Next stop...Tangier

We then took the highspeed train to Tangier. "Al Boraq" is a 323-kilometer (201 mi) high-speed rail service between Casablanca and Tangier in Morocco. The first of its kind on the African continent, it opened on 15 November 2018 after a decade of planning and construction. The train was named Al Boraq after the creature in Islamic tradition believed to have transported some prophets, including the Islamic prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Jerusalem during the night journey. 

 

This trip can be summed up in a few simple words... cool, colorful, amazing!

• 44 degrees every morning with a high of 64 in the daytime
• Everything was so much cheaper than Ghana!
• Friendly people, great food, interesting!

Sending much love from Ghana for 2024!!!!  Happy New Year!!!!! 💓💛💚

Week 48 - Doing Good, Hearing Good...Looking for God

DOING GOOD

In the 10.5 months we have been in Ghana, I have seen SO much GOOD!  In a continent where there is huge poverty and difficult living conditions, it can be easy to see the negative side of life here. 

In 2022, the extreme poverty rate in Africa stood at around 50 percent among the rural population, compared to 10 percent in urban areas. Together with poverty, malnutrition is also widespread in Africa. Limited access to food leads to low health conditions, increasing the poverty risk. 

In 2023, 46 percent of the continent's rural population was living on less than $1.90 U.S. dollars a day.

I'm grateful to see the GOOD being done here in the Africa West Area.  One of our responsibilites for work here, is to oversee the contracts for humanitarian efforts.  We have humanitarian missionaries and employees, who go around looking for opportunities to do good.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints builds homes, schools, classrooms, sanitation stations, boreholes for clean water, toilet facilities, does renovations for hospitals and other medical facilities... I could go on and on.  In short, there is SO much GOOD being done around the world!

Here is one of the more recent humanitarian efforts.  Click on this link to read the story.  And here is a great video with our Area President, Gifford Nielsen sharing his fun personality and words of kindness to the orphanage.

Church of Jesus Christ Renovates Buildings at Orphanage in Tamale, Ghana

I'm so grateful to belong to a community that focuses on helping the world be a better place.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints provides aid to people around the world without regard to cultural or religious affiliation. I love to check out this page ocassionally to see all the GOOD being done around the world!

3,692 humanitarian projects in 2022

$1.02 billion in expenditures

6,300,000 hours volunteered

190 countries and territories served

HEARING GOOD

As we drive through the crowded streets of Ghana, it can feel overwhelming at times.  At every stop light, there are many people begging at the windows for something to eat, adults and children.  We carry crackers and snacks in the car, but these meager handouts can all be gone in a matter of minutes.  The other day I was sitting at a stoplight and had nothing else to give.  I rolled my window down to greet the men in makeshift wheelchairs, asking for something, anything.  I had nothing, but wanted to share this moment with them anyway.  I asked them if they had a song for me.  This beautiful man began to sing from his heart about Jesus Christ, saying that God had given him the words to the song (only got a couple of seconds on video).  It was so touching and left me full of love for humankind.  The world can be a beautiful place, despite the hunger and sadness that seem endless.

LOOKING FOR GOD

FINDING GOD'S PRESENCE IN DAILY LIFE

“. . . seek, and ye shall find . . .” Matthew 7:7

We’re told to look for God in many places—in the scriptures, in our daily prayers, in our weekly worship—but God is everywhere. His presence surrounds us. Once we realize this, we can begin to learn how to find Him in our daily lives. Consider ways you can find him in your life, no matter what you’re doing or where you’re going.

See your world through the lens of gratitude

An easy way to celebrate His presence in your life is to find reasons to be grateful. Search for things to be thankful for throughout your day—even if they may seem small and silly at first. Maybe you snagged a great parking space at the store. Maybe you found the perfect birthday gift for a friend. Or perhaps it was something as simple as your favorite song playing on the radio this morning. Keep a journal of these daily victories and you’ll be amazed by how quickly the pages fill up.

Thomas S. Monson said, “Sincerely giving thanks not only helps us recognize our blessings, but it also unlocks the doors of heaven and helps us feel God’s love.” When we find time to pay attention and thank God for the little joys in our lives, we will be much more aware of His presence, of the small ways He blesses us every day.

Seek His glory in the beauty of nature

“In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also. The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.” Psalm 95:4–5

Nature has its own spirit, it’s own quiet sense of majesty. Take time to celebrate the beauty of God’s wonders that are right outside your door. Whether you explore the wildness of the mountains or simply care for the houseplant on your windowsill, there’s grace to be found in every natural creation of God.

Feel His presence as you serve your fellow man

There are few better ways to find God than in service. When you serve others, you will feel His love and presence and how proud He is of your desire to help people. This will also let you share His love with others—they will see His spirit through you.

This can mean working in a soup kitchen or local homeless shelter—but don’t forget about the small, daily acts of service. You can sprinkle little kindnesses throughout your day by helping someone with their groceries or letting an overwhelmed parent cut ahead of you in line. Little acts of love are the best way to bring God’s light into the lives of others.

Search for His spirit in moments of stillness

The world rushes by so quickly. With everything from school and work to family and friends, it can often feel like you don’t have time to breathe and remember God—but it’s in those small, quiet moments that we feel Him the most. Allow yourself moments of stillness throughout the day, taking the time to search for His presence. You’ll find that He can be found in the most unexpected places.

“Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18

Sending LOVE and joyous wishes for a beautiful Christmas Holiday!

💓💛💚