Farewell & Safe Journey

It makes me sad, but it seems the time has arrived to close our blog Snows in Africa. Mainly because we are no longer serving in Africa, but also so we can turn our focus to the future and whatever God has in store for us.

Although we have physically left that amazing dark continent and most likely will never have the privilege of returning, it appears we will always have Africa hearts. We continue to think constantly of our friends there and pray the Lord to bless them. We also find ourselves constantly referring to the place as if it was still our special work. However, it now has been handed off to other competent hands which shepherd the work of the Lord there.

It seemed fitting to close this blog with the one thing that is the heart of Africa - her people. The people we loved the moment we set foot on their soil. The people who captivated our hearts with their smiles, their patience, their faith, their love, and their endurance. There is always only one answer to the often asked question about what is the best part of West Africa. It is the same answer from anyone who stays for many years or for even a short time - the people. So we leave you with pictures of a few of those who made our 4 year stay in Africa so rewarding, so pleasant, and so memorable.

And we end this post and this blog with a prayer and song familiar to all who have served in this fascinating place and have come to love her people.

God Bless Africa...And her sons and daughters!

We will always love you

Ghanians can sleep anywhere

Here is another example of my hypothesis that Ghanians can sleep anywhere. This young man is one of our modern day handcart pushers. Who needs a handcart trek to live like the pioneers? These carts are used all over West Africa for hauling small and sometimes large loads. It usually requires 2 - one in the front and one in the rear. Sometimes on a downhill slope you'll see both pusher and puller having a hair raising ride since there is no brake. This young man's partner happened to be on the other side of the sidewalk, sleeping sitting up against the wall. He hasn't parked himself in a great rest spot since there was a steady stream of cars turning right and left at this junction (corner) and having to edge carefully around his empty cart, but he wasn't moving a muscle and was decidedly out of touch with what was happening around him.

Need a plumber?

This is a sign I pass every day just a few houses down the road from our compound. I finally read it the other day and discovered something new. After all he advertised he is a plumber...not a speller. Enlarge to read.

I love Ghana - it makes me smile every day!

08 Day of Service

Dad and I participated with the rest of Africa in a day of service in September. Our ward combined with another ward to clean the streets of La (a municipality of greater Accra). We also partnered with the local garbage collection company which is employed by the city. The group is called Zoom Lion. You will see a picture of one of their garbage collection "trucks". The Zoom Lion crew was fascinated with this church group which was willing to clean city streets and gutters for free. They were astounded to see 2 obrunis also doing the same. You can see me with a group photo of my new best Zoom Lion friends. In some of the other photos, you'll also see the deep gutters that line the roads and are used for refuse and sewer. This was mucky work - but everyone pitched in

Cocoa Palms #1

I've finally discovered how to post pictures again, and am giving an update of our home at #1 Cocoa Palms. The pictures were taken around Christmas time last year...hence the decorations in some of the pictures. You can now see that we have plenty of room if anyone wants to visit. The one labeled the girls room is because I call the group of African dolls on the bed "the girls" . Oops looks like I did post these pictures as a web album a while back. I'll search for some others which haven't been posted.

Sierra Leone Trip

Here's Clik & Clak. You might try looking them up and see if you can find what kind of birds they are. I suggest you start looking under S for STUPID!

Visit to Kuala Lumpur

#1 Cocoa Palms - our address

#1 Cocoa Palms

Funeral at Agomanya Market

Market & Funeral

Get cured in Africa

Ghana has a yearly trade fair held at the Trade Fair Center in Accra. Vendors come from all over West Africa to sell their wears and market their products. We have a great time wandering through the stalls bargaining with the people. We love the herbal medicine promoters because they always advertise exactly what their various herbs are designed to do. I was surprised this lady let me take her picture, but what I really wanted was the signs of the ailments that are cured from these herbs. If you will enlarge the picture you can read them all. We especially thought it amusing what products are placed next to each other. We waited around to see if we would actually see an African man pick up a product to improve low sperm count, but we guessed that wives must be the ones purchasing some of these. Now see... if you come to Africa you can get all of these ailments cured. Really....this lady promised me they worked!!! However, I'm still trying to figure out what is precocious menopause. Must be for those of us who are just too young and too cute for this to be happening to us.

Literacy Class

We drove with Dr. & Sister Theuson to Oda, Ghana to observe Sister Sudweeks and her literacy students. Sister Sudweeks is the short sister standing. These are some of her literacy students from the branch where Elder & Sister Sudweeks are serving. It was quite impressive what they had been able to learn. Some of the students have been studying for a year, but they are able to read quite well. Their favorite books are the scripture story books with pictures that you usually read to your children. Although they still stumble over the meaning of some words, they can pronounce most of them. They meet each week in Sister Sudweeks apartment. Elder & Sister Sudweeks previously served a mission to Zimbabwe. They were home about 2 months and decided that the mission field was the place for them. They love serving in Ghana. All of Elder Sudweek's siblings are also serving missions. One is in Kenya, and 2 are serving in South America. The Sudweeks are just simple folks, but they know how to love. We wish we had a dozen more like them. She is also teaching these sisters how to embroider. The sister seated next to me designs batik fabric. She and the sister next to her are wearing fabric which she designed and printed. This is how she helps support her family. These Ghanaian sisters are all serving in their branch in leadership positions.

President Ounleu's children in Cote d'Ivoire

Ounleu children

A sweet experience to think all that has transpired in Africa since 1978 

Brother Johnson took us and Elder Uchtdorf to this area of the beach where the first baptisms in Ghana occurred.  

This is W. Billie Johnson, THE Pioneer of the Church in Ghana. Our visit with him was an inspiration. 

This is our new Stake Presidency in Port Harcourt West Stake. The one in the middle is the "boy" age 36 who the Nigerians thought was too young to be a leader. They will make a fine Stake Presidency. 

  

These village girls (who have come to Accra looking for work) offered to carry our packages after a long morning of shopping at Makola Market. This is how they earn money by helping people carry their burdens. We aren't using walking sticks, but we all bought new mops for $2 and the lady we bought them from put the heads in a sack and handed us each our stick. We looked like a group of German hikers! 

Summer 2006 & West Africa Tour - click on the image below to see all the photo's from our adventure

Summer 2006 & West Africa Tour