A NEW YEAR - A NEW BEGINNING

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!   WOW…..did we think we would ever make it to 2026.  But here we are and at the beginning of a new year.  It is always fun to think about a new year and what lies ahead.  I know we all go through the attempt of making “new year's resolutions”, but for some reason they never last long…..at least that is the case for me.  But it is nice to think about making changes for the better and seeing if we can break old habits and begin new habits that will make us a better person.  Here are some quotes I wanted to share that give me some motivation and get me thinking about what I can do to improve my life:

1.     Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.

2.     What the new year brings to you will depend on what you bring to the new year.

3.     The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide you’re not going to stay where you are.

4.     A new year. A fresh, clean start! It’s like having a big white sheet of paper to draw on.

5.     “The beginning is the most important part of the work”.  Plato

6.     “Your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start”.  Nido Qubein

7.     And now we welcome the new year…..full of things that have never been.

8.     The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written.

9.     Take a leap of faith and begin this wondrous new year by believing.

10.  “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream”.  C.S. Lewis

We could go on and on with quotes and motivational thoughts that could help us do something to bring about change in our lives.  Changes that would only make us better people and hopefully help others around us.  We are never too old to reinvent ourselves.  I always loved what Walt Disney said, “If you can dream it, you can do it”. 

We had a little get-away this past week as you will see from the pictures below.  Our assignments here in the mission office can be somewhat stressful at times…..and getting a break is always nice.  We went up north about an hour’s flight away and stayed at a resort called Zaina Lodge.  It is billed as West Africa’s first luxury safari lodge.  It is located inside Mole National Park and we stayed inside an area where we saw animals walking among us.  You can see pictures of the elephants that came to drink some water at a fountain at the entrance to our Lodge.  We didn’t see as many animals as we would at a regular safari…..but we did see elephants, baboons, monkeys, antelope, warthogs, etc.  And it was very peaceful and beautiful…..so very quiet compared to the big city noises of Accra.  We were only there for 2 ½ days, but it was a nice get-away.

You can see from the videos below that we had a BYU Bowl party at the Area Offices.  It was a good thing they won…..some left at half-time and missed a good comeback by BYU.   I also have some pictures of missionaries on their P-Day helping at a stake activity, Missionaries coming to the office for more training, and a young man by the name of Martin, who had his farewell last Sunday, and he will be going to serve a mission in Nigeria. He has been one of our pickleball players…..but 10 times better than we are.  He is a very likable young man and joined the church after a “white lady” reached out to him and his mother with a phone call during Covid and invited them to church.  They came and were baptized a few months later.  Now he is going on a mission.  We also had a Senior Couples dinner around the holidays.  We didn’t do much on Christmas or New Years Eve.  Not much to do but play games.    

I wish you all the best in the new year.   2026….. and we are beginning it in Ghana. I would have never guessed that at my age. But we do love it here.....I would highly recommend a mission to anyone thinking about doing something different.... something that is very rewarding. We have absolutely loved Ghana.....I don't know what it would be like somewhere else.....but we had no idea we would love the people and feel so safe and comfortable living here.

Although no one can go back and make a brand new start…..anyone can start from today and make a brand new ending.  May the new year bring you warmth, love, and light to guide your path in a positive direction.  And may the new year bless you with health, wealth, and happiness.

Remember…..your life does not get better by chance…..it gets better by change.

Our favorite place.....Snowman. Great ice cream..... and not gelato.

Elder Kalubi.....such a likable guy and great missionary. Happy Birthday

P-Day for the missionaries out in the Kasoa Stake.....helping get set up for a Stake activity.

Christmas Office Dinner.... Botchaways, Burtonshaws, Ebenezer, Campbells, and Kaaens.

BYU bowl game party. BYU won 25-21 against Georgia Tech.....great comeback for the win.

Ben De Hoya is the one with the Brigham Young jersey. Other names include the Wades, Fawcetts, Waterfalls, Powells, Bennions, Findaleys, Wilsons, and Steeds.

Martin -- Pickleball friend -- going on a mission to Nigeria.....and leaving his favorite suit at home. He is a tremendous athlete.....soccer and volleyball in high school and has won Pickleball tournaments.

Training at the Mission Home and breakfast at the Mission Office with Sister Blodgett fixing around 200 pieces of french toast and pancakes each morning. We had 36 missionaries one day and 24 two days later. They love their breakfast.....and don't get french toast out where they live.

We took a 2 1/2 day trip to Tamale, Northern Ghana. We stayed in a place called Zaina Safari Lodge, inside Mole National Park. It was fun and very relaxing.

The picture in the middles is a termite mound.....they have them all over in the bush country.

Brad and Catherine Findalay.....from St. George, Utah.....here serving as Young Single Adult Advisors. They go home next month and we have loved playing Pickleball with them.

One of the stops on the way. Tamale is 85% Muslim.....you can see some women covered with beautiful and very colorful dresses.

The view from our deck.....very comfortable room and very cool as it was 98 degrees outside.

You can see the elephant down by the watering hole.

And the elephant decided the water was much better up here by our Lodge.

We are in Africa !!! I still think we are in a dream sometimes....especially at my age.

We have been on Safari's before in southern Africa.....this was the first one where the guide had a rifle....with one bullet. He must be a good shot.

Just an ordinary Warthog.....we saw dozens of them running around where people live.

Seems kind of close but our guide said, "go ahead".....they won't eat you..... only the brush.

These little guys are growing up at the ranger quarters, in the park. Living among the animals.

Nothing like sitting on the ground and just pondering....and wondering what is this guy doing taking my picture.....can't he see I want to be left alone.

It was a fun day.....but nearly not enough animals as compared to Kruger Park, South Africa.

This guy was very big and very fast. Just don't be jumping up on the jeep.

These guys were kind of mimicking me.....kind of cute in a baboon sort of way.

The pool was nice and right on the edge.....infinity pool.

We took a canoe down a lazy river to see some very beautiful and colorful birds. Very African.

Just floating down a lazy river in Africa. Crocodiles in the park, but not here....so they say.

This woman comes around to the villages and does the hair for the young girls.

This older man was the village medicine man....who has something for every illness. The man speaking also lives in the village and was one of our guides for the day. We also we shown how they make shea butter.....which can be used for cooking or for a lotion....made our skin feel soft.

These are the twins of our guide, with their mother and his wife.

Once we got to the village....these kids followed us around everywhere we went. I don't know what it is about holding up the two fingers.....but everyone does it.

More baboons.

Very relaxing. You can do pretty much anything you want as a Senior Missionary.

They had enough.....I can't ever imagining me walking that slow.

This is my attempt of trying to show you the property and Lodge of where we stayed.

This woman lived in the village and showed us how she makes the shea butter.

I love how they get around.....any means necessary and available.

Patrick and Ebenezer....New Years Day....they came in to help me with Momo.....sending money to our missionaries that live where there are no ATM machines. Once I get it down..... I won't need their help. These two men are wonderful and invaluable to our mission in what they do.

These missionaries came in for Springboard.....which is some counsel from our mission leaders six weeks before they go home. After their meeting, they all go to the Temple. For some, when they go home, they might live a long ways to the nearest temple and so it is nice they can attend the temple before they go home.

Two policeman who are just around the corner from where we live. They look mean until I ask them if I can take their picture. When Jill showed up a while later.....the first thing they asked her, "what do you have for me?" Meaning.....money or food or a drink. Very blunt. She politely told them, " I have nothing for you and probably never will".