REUNIONS
- Elder Denny Blodgett
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
This is not a farewell for me. It is for the Kaaen’s. They left this past Monday after 18 months here in Ghana. Sister Kaaen was our health advisor and Elder Kaaen did English Connect, BYU Pathway, Apartment inspections, and managed all the bikes in the mission. They were dedicated workers, worked extremely hard, and they will be missed. We worked together pretty much every day in the office and shared a lot of stories and experiences. Saying good-bye made me think about reunions. We will be saying good-bye to our Ghanaian friends and missionaries in a few weeks, but we are excited for the reunions that are coming with our family and friends in California.
Reunions are lots of fun, but organized family reunions can also be a lot of work…..we are having one in July at Bear Lake in Utah. We are expecting about 58 people……all of us in one very large house. It will be fun. There are also class reunions, missionary homecomings, missionary reunions at general conference time, high school friends’ reunions, and probably others we could mention. It is a time to reconnect. But for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, reunions also carry a deeper and more eternal meaning.
Most of us know the joy of seeing someone we have missed. There is a warm feeling, relief, and happiness to be together again. Jill and I will experience that shortly when we go back home. These experiences remind us that relationships matter. Heavenly Father did not intend for us to live alone. He placed us in families and communities so we could strengthen and support one another. One of the great blessings of the restored gospel is the knowledge that family relationships can continue beyond this life. This doctrine brings hope during times of separation, especially when we lose loved ones temporarily through distance, illness, or death. Death is really only a temporary separation from loved ones. I have missed my older brother and my Mom and Dad for many years. But I know we will be together again, after we pass from this life, to enjoy each other forever. We were not just born to die….we were born to form family relationships that will last into the eternities. Another way of saying that same thing....."we were not sent to earth just to die someday.....we were sent here to learn, to grow, and live forever through Jesus Christ". A quote I like...."we are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience". I love that doctrine and that is what makes me happy when I am around my family. I know my time is shorter than most in our family.....because I am the oldest..... but I also believe, without a doubt, that I will be with them forever. That brings a lot of comfort to me.
Reunions can also teach us something about our Savior, Jesus Christ. He is constantly inviting us to come back to Him. Every prayer, every act of repentance, every time we serve others, and every Sabbath day is kind of a reunion with our Heavenly Father. No matter how far we may feel we are from Him, the gospel of Jesus Christ and living a good life full of treating others with love and kindness is a pathway home. Sometimes reunions require effort. Families may need forgiveness. Friends may need humility. We may need to put aside pride and make the first move toward healing a relationship. The Savior showed us how to do that through His example of love and mercy. Following His example can make our reunions very sweet.
I posted some pictures and videos of people I will want to remember and hope to have reunions within the not too distant future. The friendships we have made here in Ghana will continue when we go back home. There is a video of the Butterfly market, which was my last visit when I went there today. We visited the apartment and Chapel of some missionaries about an hour away in nsawam. And some pictures of the Bortianor Ward, where 4 sisters are serving. It was fun to see where they live and visit their Wards. I even have a picture of the “bagel lady” who we have been buying bagels from for the last year. She always has such a beautiful smile for us, and she was sad today when I told her we were going home. But maybe she will just miss us as a customer.
As we think about reunions, I invite us all to treasure the people Heavenly Father has placed in our lives. Don’t take our friendships for granted…..cherish them and strengthen them. Because of Jesus Christ, joyful reunions are not just temporary experiences they are part of Heavenly Father’s eternal plan. "As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive". I testify that I know God loves me and I know that He loves all of you. We are His children. He wants us to be happy and united in love, both now and forever. I am grateful for the hope of eternal families and for our Savior, who makes those reunions possible.
"LIFE IS ETERNAL, LOVE IS IMMORTAL, AND DEATH IS ONLY A HORIZON" Rossiter W. Raymond
All of the Senior Couples of the Ghana Accra West Mission, with our Mission Leaders....after a nice "departing" dinner at a very good Chinese Restaurant.
The "gang" that did some amazing things over this last year.
Just chillin' before the Kaaen's devotional...then we take them to the airport to fly home to Oregon.
We went out to visit Elder Nice and Elder Chapasuka in Nsawam about 90 minutes away.
Missionary apartment in Nsawam
Very cute Chapel.
They will fill this room for Sacrament meeting.
Jill loving the little children....it is the grandma and great-grandma in her.
The missionaries even put up the numbers for the hymns. They do everything in Ghana.
President Campbell and Sister Langi. Don't know the other two gentleman.
This is Ebenezer and today was his birthday. He dressed very casual and should not have been at work.....they love their birthdays. They don't really get many gifts.....they just like people to know it is their birthday. Jill put a Happy Birthday banner and He was very delighted.
I wanted you to see Ebenezer's attire.....he dresses very nice.
I don't know what this bird is trying to do.....I hope he doesn't eventually break the glass.
This is our "bagel lady". We have been buying her bagels every time we go to the Butterfly Market. She was a little saw that we are going home. They are very nice people so what else was she going to say.
We had a little birthday party for Jill with the Waterfalls and De Hoyas. Scott Waterfall is a lawyer and works with Jeff Adams. Nancy Waterfall is working on humanitarian projects. The De Hoyas are on a communications mission...going home Tuesday.
Ben made a cake....because he knows how.... I do not....
A little bit of singing.....Happy Birthday Jill !!!
On the road to Bortianor. Bumpy but very interesting. This village is right on the ocean.
As we get close to the church, we see the Sister missionaries walking down the road.
There was no water in the baptismal font.....so the missionaries and members of the Ward went to work carrying water.
The Stake President, President Sosu, has become a good friend of mine. He has been my trainer when I first arrived and has helped me along the way in my responsibilities. He works in the Treasury office of the Church at the Area Offices.
One of the strongest Wards I have seen.....Bortianor Ward.
They love their music and this choristor loves what she is doing.
Driving into these villages is a lot of fun and fascinating to see.
This group welcomed us as we went to Stake Conference in Kaneshie.
This is Ali. He is Muslim and one of the nicest people I have ever met. He works 24/7 at our gate and is so pleasant to be around. He and Gilbert own this street.
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