Meeting Chiefs and wells going dry

Hello friends!   I hope you are all doing wonderful.  

We lost an amazing neighbor and friend, Jay Grygla.  He was one of those people that you just love being around because of his goodness.  We will miss him and his amazing singing voice.  We send condolences to JoAnn and the entire family.  We are praying for your peace at this difficult time.  I knew Jay when I worked at the water company even before we moved to Riverton.  He was always very kind.  

This week has been crazy.   Some very cool things we were able to do and also some things that just happened and we had to deal with.  

Chief of Sunyani (Bono Region)

So after we wrote the last post, we went with the She Shells Organization to go meet the Chief of Sunyani.  We drove over to his compound and he invited us in to visit with him.  We were there with Mary Amoah (She Shells Org) and also Issac ( Works with NGO's) to meet and discuss land for a women's clinic, specifically for mammograms'.  The project is in its infancy and we are just there as a support and to show support for the preventive health of Ghanaians.  It was very cool.  He invited us to sit but before we could discuss anything, he had to offer us water and we had to drink some of it before we started any business.  His English was very good.  He had lived in the States for 9 years until the death of his Uncle which made him the Chief of Sunyani (Bono Region).  

We started off with pleasantries and he was super kind to Brenda and I.  He then talked to Mary and Issac and told them that he knows our church and trusts us because of the good we have already done in the region, but he was apprehensive of them.  He then told them that he liked the idea but said if things didn't go as they suggested that he would "blast" them.  He would do everything in his power to get the land back.  He was referring to projects that just take for financial gain and do not really help the people.  Again, he said he trusted us, pointing at Brenda and I, but not them.  It was a productive meeting to say the least.  For us, it was so cool because he said, "Now that we are friends, you can count on me if you need anything. Please call me for anything."  Very cool experience!!

Two days later we were invited to a small village where a small health fair was being given about Mammograms and other women's health issues was being discussed.   Again, this was very cool.  It was about 40 minutes off the main road through the bush to a small village.  They had all the women in the village come over to their meeting hall, an old Catholic Church, and started with discussions about prevention.  They invited Brenda to speak on behalf of women and she had a translator so she could let them know the importance of preventative health.  She then said, any questions?  I think it surprised them.  They probably get told a lot of things, but not to many ask them questions.  One older woman said, "I'm old! Do I need to test for this?"  The village chief and assistant chiefs came to support the discussion and training.  Anyway, it was very cool and we were able to continue to build relationships around us with these amazing people.  

Brenda at the Health Fair with Translator

Health Fair-Brenda talking

Brenda taking a picture

The Catholic Church where we met for the Health Fair

The Chief(Purple) and his assistants supporting the women's health fair

Checking vitals

Also, after we posted last weeks post, we only had water for about an hour a day.  We were getting word that the pump was having issues.  If we were out when the water came on, we were out of luck for a shower.  Luckily, we had two plastic garbage cans full of water in the two showers.  We could use that water for flushing toilets and cleaning things.  We also had some containers full of filtered water for cooking, brushing our teeth, and drinking water.  So we were fine.  

Then Thursday morning, we were getting ready to leave to our Zone Conference and we got word from our apartment owner that the well had run dry and had to regenerate throughout the day.  So the water would only be turned on once a day until the rainy season (March?).  We headed over to our Zone Conference and it was there that the Mission PFR (Physical Facilities Rep) told us we would be moving this coming weekend.  We them told him about the water issue, he made some calls and they started moving us on that day (Thursday).  President Boateng, our mission President got us a hotel room for the night.  We went back over to the apartment when the conference was done, and packed up our personnel belongings back into the suit cases and left.  When we found out that it was going to take longer, we decided to come to Kumasi and stay in a vacant apartment where the Mission Nurse used to live ( A new Mission Nurse is arriving in May).  So we'll be here until Wednesday, we think.  

We went to church in Obuase, which is about an hour and a half south of Kumasi. We went with Elder and Sister Miller (Office Missionaries).  It was wonderful.  They fed us tacos one night and pot roast last night.  They are so kind and its great to be around other senior missionaries who are just out doing good.  The Millers are from Ucon Idaho. Tonight we are going for Chinese food  This should be interesting.  Brenda and I have this saying, "Its never what you think its going to be", mostly because of how blessed we have been living in the US.  

Well, we are doing great!  Despite the challenges, we love it here.  We love seeing the strength of the members here.  In yesterday's Sunday School lesson, a gentleman spoke of his conversion as we were discussing Joseph Smith's first vision,  (His Story) he said, " I have been a member for three years but I have studied the church for some time. I first heard of the church a long time ago but my parents said I couldn't take the missionary discussions.  After that, I went to 15 different churches looking for better understanding,  While away at school I found a Book of Mormon, and I started reading it.  My friend was telling me not to read it because it was haunted so I put it down.  I went some more time without looking into it, then I finally started reading the Book of Mormon again and did some of my own studying from the Church's website.  I did what Joseph Smith did.  I didn't let a person or popular opinion make my decision for me.  I prayed to God."   Brenda and I were very touched by his personal experience and his sincere faith.  

Lots of hugs!!

The Fuells

Elder Ray took this picture in Tamale- Awesome

Fruit Stand in Kumasi

Bush Meat - Yuck!!

Elder Fuell and Elder Miller picking Avacados in Elder Miller's backyard

This little girl, from the small village we visited, was very interested in this white guy taking a picture.