50TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

I would not have guessed in a million years that I would be celebrating my 50^th wedding anniversary…..on a mission…..in Ghana.  And yet, here we are !!!  Jill looks as beautiful to me today as she did 50 years ago. I know someone would say, my eyes are not as sharp…..but my eyes are just fine. Not only is she beautiful to look at…..but she is beautiful in the inside and that is what makes here so unique to me and why she glows with her beautiful smile. I do love her !!!

I always have…..and I always will. 

The pictures below show a lot of missionaries and videos of zone conferences that were held this week. There is a lot of work that goes into these conferences.  We have 8 zones and held 3 zone conferences. They begin at 9:00 am and end at 3:00.  We have a nice catered lunch and a few breaks, but the things that are said and taught are pretty amazing…..not only from the mission leaders but the zone leaders, district leaders, and the sister training leaders. The young people of today are so much more prepared to serve missions compared to when I went a long time ago.

The theme of this round of zone conferences was “Being one in unity and purpose”.  “Hearts knit together as one”.  Becoming one is a recurring theme in the gospel of Jesus Christ and in God’s dealings with His children.  With respect to the city of Zion in Enoch’s day, it is said, that “they were of one heart and one mind.”  In our dispensation, the Lord has said, “I say unto you, be one; and if ye are not one ye are not mine”.  Where God prevails in all hearts and minds, the people are described as “in one”, the children of Christ.  This link to a video was shown and gives the idea that as we work together anything can be accomplished.  I like the fact that this little boy had the faith to know that he could move this huge tree, even if no one helped him. He just thought it could be done and tried to do it.  WITH ENOUGH FAITH, MIRACLES HAPPEN.  His faith rubbed on to others and the miracle happened.

It has been a great week. The missionaries love these zone conferences because they see friends they made months and months ago and have not seen them for a long time. So a lot of renewed friendships are made and it is so fun to see them hugging and laughing and so excited to see friends and companions they have not seen for months and even a year or longer. The strong bonds are made because as companions they go through so much difficulty and hard times and crazy experiences.  Some missionaries sit in hospitals because their companion has malaria. They get yelled at by people on the street.  They have dogs chasing them…..and two nights ago two missionaries were in a “Tro” (uber), with 10 other people and there was an accident and it flipped over.  There were injuries and one woman seriously, but our Elders survived with bruises and came into the Mission Home to be checked out by our medical advisor.  It was somewhat traumatizing for them…..which will be a memory they will never forget as they know they could have been killed.  They think the one woman possibly was.  The driver just took off running and it takes forever for the police to arrive.  Our Elders left before any emergency help arrived.  We are thankful they were not injured even more. Anyway…..companions go through a lot of experiences together and seeing each other again makes them happy.  And of course, they have the experiences of seeing people enter the waters of baptism and see their lives change because the two of them decided to come on a mission to Ghana.  Helping people find Christ is a wonderful thing …..another one of those things that cannot be described in words…..and to see people’s lives completely turn around is an amazing sight to see and experience. Memories are made and shared as companions.

We did something yesterday that we have never done before. We went to a Polo match with the Adams and it was very interesting.  As we watched the horses go up and down a field with the men on their back trying to hit a wooden ball…..we sat there and ate dinner. It was very cool and it was nice to catch up with the Adams and talk about what they are doing and the experiences they have had here in Ghana. They only live about two miles away from us as their apartment is at the Area Offices, the temple Grounds, and MTC property. They also love it here.

During our service project today, it was “Help Clean Africa”…..something that is being done in many countries. It was so nice to be out among the people and they continue to amaze me at how happy they are and so very friendly. We try to say a few words in “TWI”…..like good morning or how are you…..and they just laugh at us and we don’t know if it’s because we are trying to talk their language or if we are saying it so badly.  We all get a big laugh about it and I love being around their wonderful personalities.  I will never forget these people as long as I live.  As I have said, before, we have not felt unsafe for one minute in our time here in Ghana. 

I hope you will enjoy the videos and pictures. I am trying to give you a feel for what life is like here in Ghana and sometimes videos can help give you that feeling more than a picture can. My wife thinks I post too many.....but I love them all.

50 YEARS TOGETHER. WOWZERS. AND HERE WE ARE IN GHANA !!!

I HIT THE JACKPOT FOR SURE WHEN I MET LAURIE JILL ADAMSON !!!

A LITTLE TRIBUTE TO MY WIFE. I DO LOVE HER .

ANNIVERSARY DINNER AND DESERT. THE DESERT WAS A LAVA CAKE WITH ICE CREAM AND A CHOCOLATE COOKIE DOUGH PAZOOKI.

THEY LOVE TO TALK TO THE OBRONI

FACES OF A NEW WARD

ON THE ROAD TO A ZONE CONFERENCE

LOTS OF MUD

IN THE STICKS, BUT A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF PROPERTY FOR A CHAPEL

GIVING ORDERS

BEAUTIFUL CHAPEL

THE SISTER MISSIONAIRES

AFTER THE ZONE CONFERENCE, THE VENDORS ARE OUT THERE.

THIS ELDER CAME LOOKING SHARP

SHARING HER JEWELRY.

VEGETABLES ALONG SIDE THE ROAD. MAYBE A PLACE TO HAVE A FAMILY REUNION?

THE ROAD TO ANOTHER ZONE CONFERENCE.

LOVE THE SISTER MISSIONARIES.

ELDER KROLL.....ONE OF THE ASSISTANTS TO THE PRESIDENT.

THE ROAD OUTSIDE ANOTHER CHAPEL.

TRYING TO WAKE UP THE MISSIONARIES DURING CONFERENCE BY OUR MEDICAL ADVISOR

SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT MALARIA -- THE MISSIONARIES ARE THE MOSQUITOES.

THE KINESHIE ZONE

I GUESS NOW I'M INCLUDED.

LOVE THESE PICTURES OF THE MISSIONARIES GOING TO WORK.

THE FINAL ROAD TO ANOTEHR ZONE CONFERENCE. WE HAD THREE OF THEM THIS WEEK

THE BEST MISSIONARIES A PRESIDENT COULD HAVE. THEY ARE FROM CHILE, GHANA, USA, AND MADAGASCAR.

ROUGH ROADS OUTSIDE, BEAUTIFUL CHURCHES INSIDE.

THE SISTER MISSIIONAIRES OF THE OFONKOR ZONE.

MATCHING DRESSES AND A CELL PHONE LESSON BY JILL.

THEY LOVE TO SING AND THIS PARTICULAR SONG IS INSPIRING IN PERSON.

Our Home is also the Mission Office. We are open all day and into the evening. These Sisters are here using our WIFI. But we love that they like to come and visit. The one on the right told us she was a Rodeo Queen from Tremonton and loves horses.

A service project day....."Keeping Africa Clean". We loved it as we went through the streets of a neighborhood and visited with the community.

Patrick, the guy that works with us and we could not live without him, is also a local Bishop and we went with his Ward for our service project.

I don't know if we could ever really get it too clean.....but they like that we were trying.

Working hard

Resting.....we did a lot of walking and bending over.

We needed another broom sod this guy made us one.

Mom trying to speak their language and it is very difficult. They just laugh at us because we are at least trying.

Bishop Patrick has on the red shirt.

Polo....I have never been to one of these and it was fun to be with the Adams.

Jeff and Linda Ann Adams.....Concord Ward.....He is the Area's chief legal counsel.

Faith can move mountains.....and can work miracles. This little boy's faith is touching. And it works into the theme of working as one.