LIFE IS ALL ABOUT ENDINGS THAT LEAD TO NEW BEGINNINGS

Well…..here we are about done with another year.  2025 is about to come to a close.  And what a year it has been for Jill and I.  It is natural for all of us to reflect on what happened over the last 12 months.  We think about what went well, what was difficult, and what we wish we had done differently.  But the turning of a new year also reminds us that Heavenly Father’s plan is a plan of progression…..of endings that lead to new beginnings.  It’s important to put the past in the past…..and look to the future.  Jill has a framed saying in our home from President Thomas S. Monson that says, “Your future is as bright as your faith”.  I like this saying because it does imply the hope we can have with our faith and encourages us to rely upon our belief in God to help us overcome challenges.  It also helps us understand that all things are possible to them that believe.  Life is good…..we are all blessed one way or another…..and the future is bright if we want to it be. 

Ecclesiastes says, “To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under the heaven”.  The end of a year is one of those seasons…..a time to pause, look back with gratitude, and look forward with faith.  Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, the mistakes we have made can be forgotten and left in the past…..only to be remembered as experiences that shape who we are…..those mistakes can refine us and make us stronger and a much better person in the long run.  That is what life is all about…..repent, improve, progress, and move on…..and don’t look back.

One experience that I had this month reminded me once again that our Heavenly Father is in the details of our lives.  I have torn my rotator cuff in both shoulders and had them surgically repaired over the last 10 years.  We were playing Pickleball three weeks ago and the court was dirty from an activity the night before and the floor was very slippery.  Three of us fell on this particular day…..and I was one of them.  As I fell, I reached out to catch my fall and used my arm to do so….and I could feel a sharp pain as I landed on the floor.  Sudden and extreme pain.  I had done these two other times in my life, so I know how it feels.  I got up and could not move my arm without a lot of pain…..and so there it was……I had I once again torn my rotator cuff.   I have the MRI report below just so you know that I had a “complete tear”.

What I want to tell you now is that I am living proof of how miracles can and do happen.  The first week my arm could not be moved without the other hand moving it…..and it was very painful for any movement.  I kept it in a sling, tight up against my body.  I had been praying for help and hoping my arm and shoulder would improve…..but they were not.  I asked my kids and grandkids to say some prayers for Grandpa…..and they did.  I also got down on my knees and explained to Heavenly Father that I could not do what I was sent here to Ghana to do with an arm that did not work…..I could not type or write or even move a “mouse” at my computer.  I could not count the piles of cash I hand out every day for one reason or another….usually to reimburse missionaries for travel expenses.  But I also have a lot of work to do with reports that need to be done on a weekly basis.  I asked for help and pleaded with Him to heal me quickly.  And that is exactly what happened.  You can see from one of the videos below that I am doing some arm movements and moving around as if nothing had happened.  My arm still hurts if I move it quickly…..and the rotator cuff is still torn…..but for reasons I cannot explain…..I can move my arm and work my fingers and type and write and count money and do reports.  I have been miraculously healed from this injury.  If I need to have surgery down the road…..it will be in California.  But I do not think I will have to have surgery.  I will just go back and do what I was doing before.  Miracles happen in our lives.  I believe that with my whole heart and soul.  It has happened to me over the last three weeks here in Ghana.

I hope you have all enjoyed the holiday season and were able to spend time with friends and family.  I love Christmas.  It was different this year for Jill and I, but we were able to visit with all of our family with phone calls and Facetime and it was almost as if we were there with them. They also sent us lots of videos to see what they were doing and how they spent the Christmas season. I love my family and the good people they are.  I love my Heavenly Father for healing me.  I love Jesus Christ for his atoning sacrifice and the gift of the resurrection so that we can all be together again in our next stage of existence…..as families…..if we so choose and want to be with each other.  As we close the chapter of 2025 and begin another…..may we carry forward the lessons, let go of what weighs us down, and place our hope in Jesus Christ.  Because of Him, endings are never final…..and new beginnings are always possible. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!

Jill and a couple Sister missionaries ....Sister Sammy and Sister Auma

Two more.....Sister Lono and Sister Farrell.

We attending their baptism....the little guy on the right will be doing that someday as an Elder.

This chorister had to be recorded. They really like to sing over here.

Getting ready for an MRI......tore my rotator cuff.....for the third time. I don't like MRI's.

A "complete tear" .....but I am healed.

Miracles do happen....more than we think.....and I am living proof because I am moving my arm and shoulder with a "complete tear" of the rotator cuff.

This was a group of people training to become police officers.

Sweet and innocent. Very sad. We see this every day. Jill gave them some food and money.

The lobby of the Missionary Training Center in Accra, Ghana. Currently over 300 living here.

sorry for the blurry picture. Jeff Adams from back home.....lives and works close by. It was good to see him again.

Linda Ann Adams.....they love it over here and we know why. The people are wonderful.

The MTC conference hall.....there is a special kind of spirit when we come here.

We are about to see the lights go out and we will begin singing carols to these missionaries. It is Christmas Eve.....and what a nice way to spend it hanging out with new missionaries.

Lights outs......and we sing holding our candles.

Some tears shed as I imagine they are missing home on Christmas Eve. We are their surrogate grandparents for this night.

Great evening....and helps even us not to miss home as much. But we did miss home and all of our kids and grandkids during this special time of year. But we are trying to do some good here.

More of the MTC

Ghana, Accra Temple on Christmas Eve

The Senior Couples got together for a brunch on Christmas morning. Good people.

Mission Leaders of the East and West Missions.....and the Adams.....and Jill.

Jill showing off her new dress she had made. I like it. Cute sandals !!!

Our kids did some dancing videos on Christmas....so we did one. We need more practice. Maybe not Jill.....but me for sure. I never was much of a dancer.....unlike my children.

Happy Birthday Elder Kalubi.

A walk on the beach 10 minutes from where we live. This was 6:45 in the morning.

They will do anything for a little money. And so I say, "Why not".....and I gave him some money.

The horses need more food over here.....just like the people.

These guys were catching fish in a giant net......very interesting.