IT'S ALMOST LIKE TIME TRAVEL

Some might think that I display too many pictures and way too many videos.  I’m thinking of my wife right now.....She does. I thought about that and decided in my own mind that I don’t……. these pictures and videos are for me when I look back 10 years from now.  I take more videos on vacations than anyone.  For me, watching a video does more for me than a picture.  My wife and I dutifully took videos of all of our kids soccer and basketball games…..their proms and school performances.  Have we gone back and watched them?  Not really…..but maybe once in a while we will have the fun experience of watching them when they were very young…..the pictures and videos are in our files….. and maybe someday our children will enjoy them with their kids and grandkids.  The pictures and videos I am sharing on this Blog will be for the experiences I had for my one year in Ghana.  I will never forget the way the people have treated us. These videos and pictures will bring back some forgotten memories. 

Revisiting old sites from childhood, the schools, or even homes we grew up in…..places we may have attended as children, bring back a flood of memories.  It is almost like time travel.  It’s not just about seeing a location again; it’s about reconnecting with the emotions, the people, and the stories tied to that place.  In the past, when my parents were alive, memories they had only lived in their minds or in faded photographs.  But today, videos allow us to experience those moments almost as if we were there again – the youthful faces, the sounds, the movement, the scenery, and the colors.  Watching a video clip of a familiar site can reveal how much it has changed and how much it has stayed the same.  The old house we grew up in may be gone…..but through videos and pictures we preserve the heartbeat of that place…..some good memories and maybe some not so good.  It is almost like a bridge between then and now.

I’m reminded of the scripture in the Book of Jacob (Jacob 7:26)….. “And it came pass that I, Jacob, began to be old……and I conclude this record, declaring that I have written according to the best of my knowledge by saying that “the time passed away with us, and also our lives passed away like as it were unto us a dream”.  I think of that scripture often as I see time go by so quickly.  I am also “older”…... maybe not as old as my age because I feel great and have been fortunate to stay very active over the years…..thanks to my wonderful wife who keeps me moving and exercising.  But age does creep up on us all and the pictures and videos I am capturing in Ghana will help me when I want to relive the experience I had over here.  One of my friends, who served with me in many callings in the 1990’s, is the very best I know at capturing and recording special events in his life.  John Montgomery is his name and now He and Rhonda now live in Orem, Utah.  Not only does he take the pictures and videos, but he organizes them and can recall them any time he wants.  Over the years, He will send me a picture of someone 35 years ago in the Ward we lived in, and the memories begin to flow.  Thank you J.

I tried to take some videos this week of places I want to remember.  They won’t mean much to you and for that I apologize.  But they mean something to me and they will be recorded in my Blog for a time in the future when I want to remember. I have showed the Temple grounds previously, and now the grocery store, the roads, the walk from the Mission Office to the Mission Home, walks around the blocks, etc.  I’ve also added some pictures of people we met many months ago who served in this Mission and trained us for what we are doing now. I wanted them to be on this Blog again so I can remember their kind faces and beautiful smiles. And I also added some more missionaries of days gone by. It's almost like time Travel.

President Nelson gave us a few thoughts to reflect upon.....He said, “This life is the time for men to prepare to meet God. Yes, we should learn from the past, and yes, we should prepare for the future……but only now can we DO. Now is the time we can learn. Now is the time we can repent. Now is the time we can bless others”.  He also said, “We live to die and we die to live….. in another realm.  If we are prepared, death brings no terror.  From an eternal perspective death is premature only for those who are not prepared to meet God”. “I plead with you to make time for the Lord! Make your own spiritual foundation firm and able to stand the test of time by doing those things that allow the Holy Ghost to be with you always”.  I love President Nelson and will forever remember many of the talks and counsel he gave to us.  His words have been written down and recorded…..and so have videos and pictures of him and He will not be forgotten.

Last thought from President Nelson…..”Time is running out for each of us.  The length of your life is not as important as the kind of life you lived”.  I like that a lot.  It doesn’t really matter how long you live…..how you lived your life is what really matters…..so live well.....and be the best person you can possibly be…..do the best you can in just living life.

Have a great week. 

The farmer's daughter is still growing things here in Ghana. This is the balcony out our bedroom.

We do a lot of walks down this road and we see the airplanes daily.

This was our group in the MTC.....along with our two sisters that taught us. I want to remember this group of people.....the MTC was a special and very unique experience.

President Jacobsen and the Bertha's. He was the previous mission president and the Bertha's trained Jill and I to do what they were doing. Great people.....the missionaries miss them.

This is Issac. He fixes our bikes when we bring them in from outlying areas. He is great and has been doing this for 17 years.

This is the "legend and the man".....who trained me to do what I am now doing.....Albert Bertha

We are enjoyed the two weeks we had with him as he showed us all the sites and places to go and things to do.

This is Patrick and his wife. We will never forget Patrick and what He does for us.

Sister Jacobsen taught seminary for over 10 years and the missionaries learned a lot from her speaking and teaching.....there are some that still quote some of the things she said. The one I like the most..."I'll see you at the Tree, when we meet again". The Tree meaning, the Tree of Life.

Learning all she can from Sister Bertha because there is so much to do with Jill's assignment and responsibilities.

All of the Senior Couples at the Jacobsen's last Zone meeting.

Elder Bertha loved the "art" market and took some bongos and masks home when he left.

The Bongo man.....just having some fun. The locals probably think all of these white missionaries are an interesting sight to see.....and they do love our money. This guy knew Cosmo.

The night the Jacobsen's, the Bertha's, and the Judd's left for home. Their last devotional.

I love the Snowman ice cream shop. I've been there probably 10 times. And the video below will help me remember the yummy ice cream I ate.

The street that has the Snowman and a couple really nice restaurants.....Dade street.

This is one of the streets that goes to downtown Accra where we take the departing missionaries to a nice restaurant the night they depart at 10:00.....their departing dinner.

This is the walk to the mission home from the mission office. A walk that happens every day and multiple times some days. It has been really nice to have it so close to where we work and live.

This a hardware store and I will always remember this "man of steel".

I've showed this place before. This is where we go to get pictures of the missionaries to put in their departing packets. It's crazy how hidden away it is.....we would never have known where to go without his help.

We see a lot of begging, unfortunately. We usually give them coins, or small bills, or animal crackers Jill has put in a little baggy.

This is the Bread Truck lady again.....such yummy bread and rolls and such a beautiful smile.

This is a mobile legal truck service.....you never know when you might need legal counsel so this guy is advertising his service on the road.

This was my Halloween costume.....they don't really celebrate it over here. And I would definitely not let my grandkids eat candy handed out on these streets or places they live.

The family we met whose Father works at the U.S. Embassy.....have a 14-year old soccer player and I wanted to come and watch him play. He is on an Italian Club team, who built this field with artificial turf. He is good and these kids seem much older than 12-14.

These kids are so cute.....and it was fun to do what I would be doing on a given Saturday with all of my grandkids that are playing soccer.

Jacob and Daniel. Very cute and very "white".

Trainers and new missionaries that came by the office this week.

This is our favorite place to shop for groceries. It is quite different than what I thought we would see here in Ghana. There are some nice American-type stores here and very nice restaurants.

Elder Bey on the left is one of our AP's. He is an electrical engineer and earned his degree in China. Elder Osio was a great missionary on the right and is now back home in Kenya.

A few of my favorites Sisters. So much fun and so dedicated to the work. Sister Van Derbeek had a mouth full as I took this shot. Frimpong, Bibomba, Van Derbeek, Nkoma, and Kendrick.

I love the comradery and love these Elders have for each other. Sadly.....they will not see each other again after their missions end.....the ones from Africa.

I've shown this before.....but want to remember it forever. Tears shed the night Elder Bishop played his harmonica and they all left for home.

More great missionaries. Don't want to forget the.....Gunter, Stambuli, Marume, and Johnson.

We still love each other.....at least I do. Maybe I should speak for Sister Blodgett. Companions for over 50 years....but never 24/7 like we are here in the mission field. I'm sure she would like a break from me once in a while.

Sister Langi's cousin, Harvey, played football at BYU and then on to the Pro's playing for the New England Patriots, New York Jets, and a couple of other teams as a linebacker.

One of the great AP's and going home in December. Sister Ntumba is a great missionary.

Sister Tanui from Kenya and the life of any party.....a great missionary to be remembered.

Elder Kroll on the left as an AP. Elders Berefor, Elder Hill, and Elder Anderson.

This video is for Elder Bertha.....they did like him and they do miss him. I couldn't replace what he did for the missionaries. He is one of a kind.

This is President Sosu who is my "boss" and currently serving as a Stake President. I won't forget him as he has helped me out a lot. He's a good man.