Nantew yiye / Akwaaba

Pronounced Nan Ti Yeah (Safe Journey) - Thursday afternoon we took Elder and Sister Sitati to the airport for a mission tour and conferences.  They will be gone for two weeks. Yesterday we took Elder and Sister Cardon and Elder Dickson to the airport for their flight to the US to start their home leave.  The Cardons have finished their time here and have been reassigned. This was their final day in Ghana for this assignment.  When Elder and Sister Dickson return in August he will be the new Africa West Area President. Elder Curtis and his wife will arrive with them and will be the new 2nd counselor. The below picture was taken at the Cardon’s where we hold a monthly Family Home Evening.  Browns, from Gunnison, who have run the PEF program in Ghana, also had their Kente Cloths presented to them.  These are traditional banners worn around the neck which say their names and dates and place served. These are woven on the looms like we showed you an earlier blog.

There is a lot of change this past week or two.  We saw five mission presidents go home and six new ones begin their assignments.  A new mission was created – Benin Cotonou.  Benin and Togo are two countries just east of Ghana that will comprise this new mission, which used to be part of the Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) Abadjan Mission.

Pronounced Ah-Quaah-Ba (Welcome) - Tonight we welcomed President and Sister Judd from Orem, Utah who will be the new Ghana Accra Mission President. Taking people out to eat when they depart or arrive is a tradition here and Mamma Mia’s Pizza is the place we usually go.

The Browns are on the left and the Bordens on the right. This is the fourth mission for the Bordens here in Ghana.

Elder and Sister Brown will be leaving the end of July but they are taking a trip to South Africa where Elder Brown served his mission as a young man and so they only have a couple more weeks before they are gone.  Behind Stephaney are the Fifes from North Dakota.  They are the new Medical Advisors for the area and have been here about two weeks.

The above pictures show the Accra Ghana Temple President – President Breillatt in the left picture at the back with the Barneys – Ghana Accra Mission Office couple, and Elder and Sister Wood – their sixth mission, one as a mission president—in their 80’s. The new mission president and his wife are just beyond the pole in the right picture on the left.

The pizzas are very close to what we have in the US. This is about the size of a medium size pizza; thin crust and light on sauce – the way Stephaney likes them. I prefer thick crust and lots of sauce. This one had ham, salami, mushrooms, mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce.

This morning we went to church and as we were parking our car another vehicle pulled up to the side.  We did not recognize the senior couple who got out of the truck but said hello and introduced ourselves.  It was the Stake Patriarch and his wife from Adenta 1st Ward nearby who were here to see their granddaughter given a name and blessing.  We said, “How nice, our daughter is blessing her son later today as well. All of our children will be getting together for the blessing. We will be represented by our children.” During the business part of the meeting they called up the father and grandfather and a couple friends.  I was quite surprised when they called my name and asked me to join in the circle with them.  How special!  While I was not able to stand in the circle during the blessing of our grandson – Crystal’s Odin, I did stand in the circle for the blessing of Monique … Etim-John. A very cute little African girl.  She was in pink and her mother was in pink.  Dad wore a pink tie.

During Priesthood and Relief Society the skies opened up and we got a real gulley washer!  It is still raining gently.  Reminded us of downpours in Texas.  Though the seasons don’t change much, there is a wet and dry season.  And when the skies stay overcast, and you are inside with air conditioning, you can pretend it is like a winter day.

Akyire – pronounced Ay-Chee-Ree (Later)