Elder Oaks’ visit and Other Things

Owing to Gordon having come down with malaria, I am at the keyboard today.  Usually he writes and I take the pictures and add to what he has written.  When we first arrived the Area doctor gave us each a pack of pills to take as soon as we thought we might have malaria, since it is critical to begin the series of pills within 24 hours of onset of symptoms.  One gets much more ill if not.  Friday evening Gordon said he had a touchy stomach.  He spent that night with fever and chills and emptying out his insides.  He felt like he had exhaustion, considering all the business demands of the prior week. He has dealt with office pressures without getting exhausted many times.  When one of our friends said it feels like heat exhaustion, he was convinced to start the pills.  So we think he got in under the wire time - wise to start the pills.  He should be feeling much better in a couple of days.  I’ll let you know if he dies. Actually, we are told that everyone who comes here gets it at least once.  Guess it’s my turn next.    Meanwhile, he is in bed, and here I am at the computer.  This week’s pictures are all on the complex, a smattering of what we saw while Elder Oaks was here, and other common sights. 

Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles, and Elder Walter Gonzalez, of the Seven Presidents of the 70, and Bishop Keith McMullen counselor in the Presiding Bishopric, and their wives were here for three days.  The first pictures are of missionaries gathering for a Missionary Devotional on Wednesday morning where they all spoke over in the stake center by the temple.

Here’s a look outside the office building at rush hour traffic.  That is a major road for the area, and is often congested.

Our adjoining desks filled with work.  I keep directories of leadership current, make maps for applications for boundary changes or new church units of branches, wards or stakes, and other things.  Gordon does a lot of paperwork having to do with applications for units, callings, administrative things, and meets with the Area Presidency often, and other things.  Guess that’s why we need wall to wall desks and equipment.

These are of the stake center after a Devotional on Wednesday evening where all visiting authorities spoke, and some of their wives.  All are very enjoyable and easy to be around.  There were in excess of 1100 people in attendance.  The first shot is from the front of the hall and shows our doctor and his wife.  Others are of people gathered preparing to leave for home, a trotro (most use those or taxis to get around), and general visiting. 

 

We are advised not to be out after dark (malaria carrying mosquitos!) so seldom walk by the temple at night, so here are a couple of pics I shot on the walk home.

The side (main entry) that faces our apartment building,  and the front (street) side.  It is really a beautiful temple inside and outside.  For other pictures, go to http:lds.org/church/temples/accra-ghana?lang=eng#d

We enjoy showing our family to coworkers and visitors.  Besides, they are a wonderful boost and encouragement for us to look at during the work day.  These are on windows that are between our office and a hallway on the other side of the wall.  First one shows a piece of my desk.  We’ll post more as we get them.

They had a Devotional for the Area Staff workers in our office building on Friday morning.  The pictures include office workers as well as janitors (in blue uniforms).  Notice the time.  Devotional started at 25 after the hour instead of the announced 8:30 AM, because everyone was ready.  We have yet to be at any meeting anywhere that hasn’t started on time!  The first shows an employee choir that sang for 15 minutes before the meeting started.  Over 100 people attended in a packed room.

We had lunch with the visiting authorities and the area authorities and their wives on Wednesday and Thursday, between their day-long meetings.  On Thursday Elder Oaks invited us to sit with him and his wife for lunch. Kind of neat.  The tables only held four people, so it was just us and them.  Very easy to carry on a casual conversation with them both.  They obliged us with a quick photo afterward.

The people who come to the temple from out of town (or country) stay in the same building we live in.  We often pass cute little families.  I asked this mother if they had come to be sealed.  She said no, that they had been married in the temple and “these are covenant children.”  I couldn’t resist asking if I could take a picture of them.  The father was doing an errand nearby.  The little girl was so cute but very active.  Could hardly get a picture of her.

We often see groups gathered, after attending the temple for several days, waiting to go home. 

If I dared I would take a quick snap shot of the malaria bed person I currently live with, but to maintain his dignity, and our good feelings toward each other, I won’t!  And last, a look at my “it’s way too hot and humid to mess with longer hair any more” cut, sitting at Gordon’s desk at home.  We love our family pictures here.  Until next week!