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

Remember how we are always telling you that there are great shots of Nigeria that we see as we speed by on the roads. This is one of those shots. The kind that sends you digging like mad for your camera only to be past before you can get the shot. A missionary in the Stone's mission was kind enough to share about the next 100 pictures. He has gotten those shots that we always miss. Now you will get a peek into the sites and people of Nigeria that we often see. Does anyone want to guess who and how they loaded this pick-up? Think they could have gotten anymore mattresses on there? Give you two guesses why the hood is up? Hmm..wonder why the truck has bogged down again? This is a classic Nigerian photo!!!!!!!!!!! 

This is my favorite picture of Elder Porters. Enlarge the picture and look how he has captured every expression. This is the face of Nigeria that I love. The little girl 4th from the left on the back row looks exactly like she should be in a "our gang" rerun 

Meet Elder Porter, the wonderful photographer for about the next 100 pictures of Nigeria. He and his wife are serving with President & Sister Stone in the Port Harcourt Mission. He and his wife have only been there a short time, but have made themselves right at home. Thank you, Thank you Elder Porter for letting us share your pictures with our loved ones. 

Elder Porter is a paramedic by profession and was living in Canada before they got their dream mission - a call to Africa. They are so tickled to be here 

Now this carrying stuff on your head doesn't look too tough. Elder Porter is game to try anything. Reminds me a lot of my husband 

This is our beautiful Sister Porter. These couple missionaries are truly our heroes. 

This is Sister Porter enjoying a picnic with missionaries on p-day. She is comfortable anywhere! 

Elder Porter really knows how to frame a picture. No this is not Sister Porter's missionary apartment. They are visiting a member. 

There's a clown in every bunch - in this case it's Elder Porter 

Elder Porter gathers a crowd wherever he goes