ANOTHER BABY SOON

HEARD FROM MY ADORABLE DAUGHTER THAT ANOTHER WEE ONE WILL BE JOINING OUR FAMILY. I'm still in awe as if it is the first Grandchild. I'm pinching myself because it seems that Vera was just born, and wasn't I just getting the call from Dave that she was born in the backseat of the car. Dave has assured me that this one will not be born on the street. Okay Vera what is you guess a SISTER or a BROTHER? Mine is a brother. Baby will be born in February, and I can't figure out how to fly in just in time and get back to our mission. We will leave mid March. Hang on little one I'll be there soon afterwards. That will be really hard!

BACKSEAT PRAYERS

Elder Terry's is in Nigeria again, and this is his latest email. "One hand on the steering wheel, the other on the horn. Looking over a pile of books on the dashboard, going about 70 mph on a rain-slick road. There are no backseat seatbelts.

I've already said my prayers.

LEFTOVERS ARE THE BEST!

 WE HAVE A TRADITION WHEN COUPLES ARE RETURNING HOME. They bring what they have left in their cupboards, and we spend the evening together picking items from the table one by one. The most Senior Couple goes first to the newbie. I'm moving up in the order of priority as the third to pick. It always makes me laugh to think how excited we all get to go through the left overs of someone else's pantry. I can't imagine asking neighbors to come over in America and say, "I'm leaving and you can come over for an evening and pick through half used things". Well, this is just one of the beautiful blessings living so far away, and being excited to get a roll of paper towels. Have fun seeing what things end up on the table. What would you put on the table from your cupboards right now?

THE PAPER TOWELS AND KETCHUP WENT FIRST!

HAVE TO BACK OFF TILL IT'S YOUR TURN!

I HAVE THE OTHER RUBBER DUCKIE. I SHOULD HAVE PICKED IT BEFORE THE AREA DOCTOR  DID TO HAVE A PAIR!

A VIEW OF A SIMPLE LIFE

I OFTEN WONDER AT ALL THAT I HAVE ON A DAILY BASIS, AND HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH. As I continue to marvel at the simple but hard way of life here, there is something that they posses in this land that sustains what we would say would be to difficult. It is what they wake up to, what they have available and how they just make it enough. What I love is that they have taught me enough is all you have and it is good. They do it with a smile, and time for us anytime we stop to see them. They put the relationship of kindness before the long list of what is needed for them to survive that day. I want to develop what they have shown me by having THE TIME for others that cross my path to know Him in one another...even if for a brief moment it surely adds goodness to my soul. 

Today, as we were shopping a couple that will be going home soon, the Watson's, were looking at a mancala game and she casually mentioned she didn't know how to play. This sweet woman took a game and the small pods from their bag and patiently explained the game. This was after Sister Watson expressed that she wasn't going to buy it. As we got back in the car Sister Watson said, "Why am I waiting to see if I can find another one I like better"? She left the car and had decided to ask the woman would take 25 cedis instead of 30. The woman agreed and my kind friend dashed (gave) her the other 5 cedis. I love those moments when we value a relationship, time, kindness and the simple way of life to connect enough to care. It is always just enough if we care enough in the lives of someone we meet.

ELDER TERRY'S NIGERIA ADVENTURE

LOOKS LIKE ELDER TERRY WANTS HIS LUNCH WITHOUT THE TAIL. I received an email from Elder Terry as he was having a lunch break, and I'm hoping he comes back alive. He is an adventurous eater, but he did ask them not to include the hairy tail in his order. He said it was so hot that he had to put his personal A/C on stun from a bigger frozen water bottle. What a missionary he is, and the relationships he is building. Way to go! I would say that is serving with all his heart, might, mind and tummy!

CANT EVEN IMAGINE THIS DISH!

FRESH FROM THE FIELDS

STUN A/C IN AFRICA!

BALLOON BREAD

SOME NIGHTS WE ARE ABLE TO GO TO A RESTURANT AND ENJOY A MEAL. It's nice when time affords, and we can go out instead of cooking at home. When we get together with couples, it's nice to choose a resturant and share for a while. This night we went to a Turkish resturant, and was served Balloon Bread and hummus. I have to say that there are times that I don't feel like I'm in Africa. Elder Terry and I ate the whole thing.

LOST BUT NOW FOUND

 ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO, I lost the Missionary badge that gets us into the Area Office and onto each floor. I remember the day reaching to find it on my skirt and it was not there. Without this entry badge you can't get in at all. I had to go to security and explain I had lost it. I felt like I was going to the principal's office, because they take security seriously, and knew they would frown on me loosing mine. Sure enough they were concerned, but I explained I didn't know where it had come off as I had been several places outside the office that day. So, I'm thinking that they will cancel that one and issue me another one. In fact, the Head Security person told me they were out of badges for Missionaries and expected to be receiving some from Salt Lake soon. I knew what he was really saying was it might take a while. So, he issued me a badge that said VISITOR, and explained that I could use this one till mine came in. I thought as I was going back to my office that the badge worked the same, but being a VISITOR instead of a MISSIONARY just didn't feel the same.

Well, yesterday I received my badge and I was smiling ear to ear. No visiting for me, because I've been called to serve Him here as a MISSIONARY of Jesus Christ and not a guest. I have only 18 months to be called Sister Terry and 9 of them have flown by already. The next 9 months I will make sure my MISSIONARY security stays close at hand, and not be a casual VISITOR in anything He asks me to do!

THIS FELT BY US EACH AND EVERYDAY.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

ONCE AGAIN ELDER TERRY IS ON HIS WAY TO NIGERIA. It seems a strange way to serve a mission on some days, but the Lord knows how to maximize His Missionaries. So, I'm in Ghana training and he is in Nigeria training with us being in countries not far from one another. The travel there and back is a nightmare, and he always comes home with such hair raising stories. He will be back Monday and then gone again the next two weeks as well. I have my Literacy Trainings or I might have tried to accompany him. Then, he give me that look like I DON'T THINK SO! I love how the other Missionary Couples always take me under their wings till his return. Safe journey Elder Terry.

HE TRAVELS LIGHT!

MY ROAD WARRIOR!

READY, SET, GO!

SISTER SCRIPTURE STUDY

EVERY MONDAY THE SISTERS GATHER TOGETHER to study the scriptures with one another. We each take turns teaching, and I love finding our strength of His words one with another. We each have our own style, and the spirit surely rests upon all the words spoken and shared. My turn is coming again, and I have the blessing of teaching ALMA 32-35. We will experiment upon HIS word!

I THINK WE FOUND....

IF ANYONE HAS LOST A HUB CAP IN THEIR LIFETIME, I THINK WE FOUND IT!

BE NOT AFRAID

I AM WITH THEE....I have stepped into so many classrooms and felt the powerful relationship of the Holy Ghost in the lives of the learners in the Gospel Literacy Classes. This day I was sitting in between 2 beautiful sisters that seemed to be rather advanced in their learning skills. As we spoke with one another, I found out both of them were District Relief Society Presidents. They had come to the Literacy class to learn more. Here they are sitting next to those that can't even hold a pencil, and desiring to uplift themselves to be better disciples in their callings. I can't wait till this coming Sunday, to visit with them again in my training. I want to sit next to them a little longer to learn more about the words.."And I will multiply blessings upon him (her), inasmuch as he (she) will be humble before me." And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.

WHERE AM I?

WHEN SOMEONE TOLD US WE COULD GO PLAY MINIATURE GOLF...I DIDN'T BELIEVE THEM! Well, I have to say that we were so surprised to see this course tucked away here in the city. We all laughed our way through the course, because they made it rather hard with almost impossible Arnold Palmer shots. The golf clubs were well used, and the sweat from the heat made us glad it was only 18 holes. Really are we in Africa?

ALMOST GOING HOME

MISSING YOU ALREADY...In a few short weeks my dear friend will be returning home from their mission here. I love how Sister Watson has made me smile, found me when I was lost, settled this great land of serving with one another, cheered when we were watching football, made it home here in Ghana with her friendship and gave grace to being a missionary. Our offices are next to one another, and we have the unique blessing of having the top third of our common office wall open. So, if we need to talk to one another we just sit in our chairs and carry on a conversation. It's always fun when someone comes into our offices, and we ask each other a question, and they hear the response over the open wall. I'm so thankful that a loving Heavenly Father didn't have them finish that wall, because it has made all the difference in our friendship.

SO THANKFUL TO WEAR HIS NAME HERE IN GHANA!

LOVING OUR AFRICAN CLOTHES!

TREE DRESS SHOPPING!

THE DAY WE JUST HAPPENED TO DRESS LIKE OPPOSITE TWINS!

WE WERE GETTING IN OUR CAR TO GO TO WORK ONLY TO FIND OUT IT WAS A HOLIDAY!

THE DRIVE FROM HERE TO THERE

JUST WITHIN A GLANCE FROM OUR CAR WINDOW I MARVEL AT WHAT WE SEE. Come take a look for a moment, and you will see why this land of simple has captured our hearts.

SAINTS TO FOLLOW

THIS PICTURE IS OF A LITERACY TRAINING IN KUMASI. It takes only seconds to become family in this great land. As we all met together, it doesn't matter that we are all crammed into a small room, that they had a long journey to come and that the rains have made it difficult. You see a dedication to their walk of serving here that shines in their discipleship. I want to grow up just like them.