Jenga -- Level: Expert
We finished up our last three zone conferences of the quarter. All of them were Cape Coast Stake zones, so we were close to home. It was nice to not have to travel at the crack of dawn.
My training for these zone conferences was "Establishing a Zion Mission." We looked at different times in the scriptures when the Church had been blessed with happiness and success at "astonishing" levels (Heleman 3: 24-25). We then picked out the "Attributes of Astonishment" to see if there were things that were common in these times of great spiritual prosperity. We developed a nice list and focused on Unity, Obedience and Peace (no contention). I think we are very close and I am looking forward to being astonished.
The Assistants trained on overcoming the fear to talk to everyone. They pointed out that if we fail to open our mouth, our wonderful message will not be heard. They used the training model of Explain, Demonstrate, Practice, Evaluate and Repractice. I think everyone left resolved to improve.
Each of the zone leaders also gave instruction in each conference that was specific to the needs of their zones. Topics ranged from teaching the Law of Chastity to giving correction to a companion with love and respect. It was all very good.
After the zone conferences on Wednesday and Thursday, I drove out into the mission to do baptismal interviews. Wednesday was in Sekondi and Thursday was in Assin Foso.
These happy young men are the Sekondi Elders. I interviewed three of their investigators, including a wonderful couple. The husband walked into the Takoradi Stake Center last December when we were holding the Zone Christmas Devotional. Sister Stevenson was the first one to meet him and he told her he wanted to join the Church. She introduced him to Elder Julander (Elder and Sister Julander are the missionary couple who live in the Takoradi-Sekondi area.) The missionaries have been teaching the couple since then and they were baptized yesterday. As I met with them, I asked what had motivated him to come into the chapel that day. He said that he really wanted to make changes in his spiritual life and felt drawn to the Church. His wife said as they drove around and happened to pass one of our buildings, he would say, "That's our church." On that day in December he saw cars in the parking lot and decided it was time. They were so happy and will be great leaders in the Church.
On Friday, we had 14 new Trainers at the Mission Home for New Trainer Orientation. Our transfers are next week so we wanted to get them ready for their new missionaries.
We are only sending home one sister this time and receiving eight, so we are opening four new sister areas this transfer.
After the training, I went out to Elmina for another baptismal interview. I have had several bad experiences driving in Elmina (including my first week in Ghana when Elder Hinckley pointed to the end of a dark street and said, "That's the way to Cape Coast." and I managed to get home by pure dumb luck!), so I don't do that anymore. Now I park several blocks away from the chapel and walk in.
It's a pretty walk along the coast with a nice view of the Elmina Slave Castle. It also gives me a chance to talk to people as I go. I had a group of five men at a barber shop gathered around me on Friday and they all wanted to meet with the missionaries, so that was pretty cool.
Date Night:
Nuff Said.
On Saturday, I drove in to Accra for some training at the Area Office. All the stake presidents and mission presidents had been asked to attend this meeting on the annual church history submissions that each unit prepares. It was nice to see all of the stakes from our mission represented.
The training was scheduled to end at 1:30 p.m. which gave me just enough time to drive back to Cape Coast for a 5 p.m. fireside where I was speaking. I arrived at 4:50 and had 10 minutes to unwind from that crazy drive.
It was nicely attended for a Saturday fireside and we enjoyed being there with the missionaries and their investigators. Sister Stevenson got a surprise invitation to speak as well. That always makes her happy. She did great.
After the fireside, we dropped in on the Cape Coast Zone Leaders to see how the transfer transportation plan was coming (and to eat cookies and ice cream with them.)
I'm really glad they take care of those details because I wouldn't have a clue.
On Sunday, we drove to Takoradi where I had been invited to speak in the West Tanokrom Ward.
The sisters are always so happy to see Sister Stevenson. They were also preparing for a baptismal service after church. This is filling the font the hard way. Ghana is experiencing a power shortage and in the Takoradi area it is particularly bad. Usually the power is off for 24 hours then on for 24 hours there. No power also mean no water since the pumps don't work. The missionaries have had to get creative for baptisms. Sometimes, they travel from building to building looking for enough water to immerse someone. Somehow, it gets done.
We saw the TREE OF THE WEEK on the drive back from Agona.
I love these trees. They are Africa to me. I haven't been able to figure out the name. I don't think it is a Baobab -- but maybe.
CREATURE OF THE WEEK
Our angry bird found a friend. Not so angry anymore.
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