Serving the people of Ghana!

We are kind of getting settled into our new apartment, but just to find out that we will be moving again.  Our mission president feels like we need to live in a bigger home so we can host him or other senior couples when they travel to this area.  As of now our apartment is too small to host anybody else.  I am very grateful that we at least have water.  I also have discovered that there are far less critters where we are living now.  Our last apartment had lizards that lived on the walls.  We really didn't mind them because they mostly kept to themselves.  I was not a fan of the ants and other insects that would infiltrate my home.  I have not seen one ant in my new apartment.  It's the little things.

We are working steadily on our humanitarian projects.  The chief we visited donated some land to build the Women's clinic that we've been working on.  He encouraged the She Shells organization to see if they could expand our project to Women and Children.  I thought this was a really great idea.  So now the clinic that is being envisioned will not only do mammograms but also check for cervical Cancer, STD's and Pregnancy tests.  In addition, it will also offer immunizations for children.  I would also like to see some education rooms as well.  I like the idea of when you come to use the clinic you are obligated to take a short class that will teach you about the importance of preventative medicine.  We met with one of the Area humanitarian managers today via zoom and he is interested in coming out and visiting us and talking to us about the projects we are involved in.  We are excited it is gaining some traction.  

These Area managers have told us that the projects in Ghana are very backed up.  Their are more than 150 projects that are bottle-necked right now.  We reassured them that we do not want to create more bottle-necking.  We offered to help with any current projects in our area that are in a stalled phase.  They told us that there is a school in Odumase that was approved for bathrooms to be built, but the contractor took off on them.  He said that when he gets another contractor, he would have us manage the rest of the project.  Sounds good to us.  

There is a school in Tamale we are going to go visit.  It is a possible project, but there are a few questions we need to work out first.  Tamale is a city that is about 5 1/2 hours north of us.  It is known for it's Kenti fabric that they make.  As we find out more we will fill you in.

We have had an amazing and unique opportunity to help a young man by the name of Brother Akurugu Francis.  He is a vey respectful quiet young man who attends our Institute class every Saturday night.  He called us up last week and asked us if we could help him get his mission papers submitted.  This week he reached out to us because he admitted to us that he struggles a little with his English and would like to know how to pray using prayer language.  We gave him a gospel literacy book to study and now we will be meeting with him tomorrow to kind of see where he is with it all.

We also had a very interesting discussion in our self-reliance class yesterday with a very nice hard working middle aged woman named Gladys.  Gladys was explaining to us that she needs a better job.  Right now she sells shoes at the market.  We asked her if she had ever considered learning a trade.  We realized she also could not speak English.  We sent a message to the Self-Reliance class facilitator and suggested that maybe he should hold a Gospel Literacy class and teach Gladys and others to learn some English.  We suggested that if we could get some students to learn English they could take advantage of online learning via Pathway through BYU Idaho.  The more I think about it, the more I wish we could organize something that could teach some of these people a trade.  We will have to think on this some more.  They have a thing called "The Gathering Place".  It is mostly for Young Single Adults, but we have middle age people that are trying to find decent employment too.  We pray for these people every day.  I know Heavenly Father is aware of them and stands ready to bless them.  

I have been having my own personal struggle of trying to play a few hymns(11) for the upcoming District Conference.  I have been practicing more than I want to admit and it is still a struggle.  Last Sunday I fasted and prayed I could get through without running away from the piano crying.  I can play the hymns just fine, but when somebody sings while I play it is a whole different story.  If I could find one person in the entire upper region of Ghana who could play the piano better than me, I would not be doing this at all.  I feel this weird obligation because I am a missionary to help provide some music.  So here goes nothing.   Louie will give me a blessing on Friday.  Now, I am testing my own faith to see how this all plays out.  Stay tuned until next week.

Brenda teaching Piano on Saturdays

Random picture of an oversized load, this is typical in fact we see it loaded down so much more than this

A cheeseburger we made.  It was delicious!! The sweet comforts of home!- Louie

Meeting with the She Shell organization and us about the potential Women's Clinic.