THE SIMPLE LIFE

Time is going by quickly.  We have been gone now about 2 months.  We are still learning but feel much more comfortable in what we have been asked to do……keeping all the activities of the Mission organized and making sure the money keeps flowing so that the work continues.  Because we have changed our daily routine so much compared to what we were doing 2 months ago, I have been noticing how my perspective on what really matters has also changed.  One thing I love to do is golf.  And Jill loves to play pickleball.  She has been able to do that here in Ghana, maybe 2-3 times each week, so she is happy.  She plays with other senior couples that are working in the Area Office. You can even see her practicing in our office/home in one of the videos below. She didn’t like that I took that video, but I thought it was cute. I have golfed once, but I may do it a few more times.  We have noticed that there are other things we have been doing that we enjoy…..like just watching people do what they do, watching people makes things, watching people trying to make a living, watching children play…..not rushing to do things. The simple things are all around us to enjoy.....like laughter, kindness, friendship, walks in nature, sunrises and sunsets, trying interesting food, silence, music, and sometimes just doing nothing. We have things to do and we have schedules for sure, but I have noticed time is not as important.  I do not need to hurry because I have to be some where.....or I want to watch some sports game on tv…..no tv here in Ghana. We just enjoy going on walks, observing how people interact, and we are in no hurry to be anywhere.  It feels good.  We are finding there are other ways to make one happy……maybe paying more attention to the simple things in life is the key to slowing me down…..realizing that there are everyday joys all around us if we just pause to notice.

We live in a world that’s always rushing towards the next big thing....bigger goals, bigger achievements, trying to make more money, going on the next exotic vacation, the next big purchase of more stuff.  And in chasing all of that, it’s easy to forget that joy doesn’t always come wrapped in fanfare or the latest trend.  Many times, it comes in the “quiet” and enjoying the simple things of life.  You will see from the pictures and videos below that we are having FUN noticing the simple things of life and especially the people and how they live their lives.  Watch the video of the soccer game below.....no grass.....but they are enjoying what they are doing.  Look at the guy with the fabric shop and how happy his face is.  Notice the people excited at the baptism of two people and the joy they are feeling…..and notice how many stayed around after church to support them. In one picture, Jill can still smell the Snickers bar wrapper that Landon mailed to us, (via Jeff Adams who brought it back to us as they were on a vacation in California).  The missionaries bring us the most joy.  They come into our office, which is also our home, almost every day. No privacy for us, but do we care…..not a bit.  We love their enthusiasm, their smiles, they desire to do some good, how they love to share their experiences, and they want to know about us because to them…..we are like their own grandparents.  Those are some simple things that we are loving and every day we notice something else. 

To end this Blog this week, I wanted to share an experience of one of the simple things in life that one of the sister missionaries shared with us recently.  She was walking on the crowded streets, which you can see in one of the videos below.  She was carrying a Book of Mormon.  A group of men sitting around, stopped them and asked, “what is that book you are holding?”  She said, “it is a copy of the Book of Mormon.  Would you like me to tell you about it?”  They said, "sure".  So, she and her companion began teaching them, but it only lasted about 5 minutes and these men were done.  As the sisters walked away, a different man approached them, who was listening to what they were saying, and asked, “how could I get a copy of that book?” The sisters said, “you can have this copy if you promise to read it.”  He said he would and was happy to get the book.  About a week later, the sisters were once again walking in the market, and they saw this guy they gave the book to…..but he was trying to avoid them.  They tracked him down and asked, “why are you ignoring us?”  He said, “I saw you.....but I had not finished reading the book and I thought you would want it back”.  They said “no, it’s your book.  What did you think?”  “I want to read more, and I would like you to teach me about what I am reading”.  The sisters said sure, “we would love to teach you’’.  They taught him for about three weeks …..and this man wanted to be baptized…..so he was. He loved the Book of Mormon…..he said it made him feel closer to God. 

I also love the Book.  It also makes me feel closer to God.  I am grateful of the witness it is of Jesus Christ and how it complements the Bible in testifying that Jesus is the Savior of the World.  It could also be considered one of the simple things in life to do…..reading from the scriptures…..and then going and doing some good for someone who may not be as fortunate….. or who might be just having a difficult day.  Loving your neighbor is a simple thing……but it will bring you joy

Jill could still smell the chocolate from a candy bar wrapper Landon gave to Jeff Adams.

Fabric Shop owner and very nice and friendly. Told Jill it was his birthday.....just to get a sale.

 Looks like everything in the kitchen and eggs.

Love to golf......courses are not that great......but being out in nature is the fun part.

Area Presidency Office. We go there weekly to take care of business.

Love the Temple

Love these small chapels......small but the spirit is so strong.

Another great week of individuals entering the waters of baptism. 187 baptisms in July.

A lot of members of the Ward stay around to support the new members.

Members of the Kasoa II Ward

This man was an Assembly of God Pastor 6 weeks ago. Now he is a member of our Church.

I loved that this young man had all the words memorized.

This little guy was proud of his sucker and had to show Jill.

He wanted a picture with me. The former Assembly of God Pastor.

Members of the Ward always want to talk with Jill.

One of the most difficult things for me is to understand the people when they talk. It is an English speaking country.....but the locals want to speak TWI most of the time. It is only when they talk with us or speak in church that they speak English. But I still cannot understand them very well and I'm sure they don't know what I am saying. This women in the video was talking in the gospel doctrine class and it took me a while to figure out she was speaking another language.

Beautiful children of God. I love their smiles.

We had Mission Leader Training this week, which means all the Zone Leader and Sister Training Leaders come to the Mission Home and the Mission Office. Jill feeds them all and they hang around for a long time because they love being around each other.

All the Sister Training Leaders.

This video just gives you an idea of what we get to be around almost daily.

White, Black, or Brown.....it doesn't matter at all to Heavenly Father. And it should not matter to us either. All are the same.....children of God.....and all are trying to do their best to be good people. These are awesome young men and even better missionaries. They carry a "light" in their eyes.....how can one not love young people like this......giving two years of their life to shares to share the message Jesus Christ.

Jill will be mad at me.....but I thought it was cute that she was playing some Pickleball in the office.

Just a normal street we see every day. Lots of activity going on and people trying to do some business.

This was a sight we have not seen in Ghana.....had to take a picture.

Soccer is soccer whether there is grass or not. We should count our many blessings.

Early morning golf is the best. The difference here is that there is no Doug Moore at the crack of dawn and I miss seeing the Aarons on their morning walk.

If you look at his eyes, he is hoping he is about to make a sale.....But it didn't happen this time.

But it did happen for Jill. She got a nice looking elephant.

So innocent and so beautiful. Jesus said, "suffer the little children to come unto me. For of such is the Kingdom of God. Except you become as a little child......

It is always comforting to know that if I get in trouble with the "law", I have legal counsel a mile away that speaks my language. It is good to see Jeff Adams at the Area Office. I saw Linda Ann in the Temple two nights ago. They have been here in Ghana about a year.