OUTSIDE THE WINDOW

LIFE GOES ON....

LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW

I LOVED THIS SHOT OF WHAT LEADS TO THE OCEAN

I STILL MARVEL NOW THEY BALANCE

STREET SHOPPING

MOTORCYCLES ARE A MODE OF TRANSPORT

DAILY LIFE

EVERY CORNER BRINGS INTO VIEW THE DAILY LIVES OF THOSE HERE IN SIERRA LEONE. Being sent here with a "NO TOUCH" has once again proven to be hard. Here there is more control over Ebola, and each time we enter or leave our lodging our temperature is taken and required hand washing. I'm thankful for the precautions on that level, because it is still necessary. I find that mingling among others that the reserve of not reaching out is not in their nature as well. I find everyone here so gentle in their welcome of any where we have served. Sometimes words are not nearly enough.

AT CHURCH TODAY.....

SMILING AND HOLDING ON....

THIS DAD WAS TOTALLY IN LOVE WITH HIS LITTLE ONE!

AT THE MISSION HOME PREPARING FOR MISSION PRESIDENT TO COME

DRYING CLOTHES

ROOF OVER HEAD

FUN FIRE DRILLS

3 TIMES IN ONE DAY THE ALARM SOUNDS IN A DEAFENING PITCH.....and everyone heads for the exits. Each time we exit, we have a little more time with one another. How beautiful when we stand together in groups with the Temple right over our shoulders. 

IS THERE REALLY A FIRE?

FUN HOW WE ALL SCURRY TO LEAVE THE BUILDING.

JUST WITHIN A FEW FEET, AND YOU ALWAYS ARE AMAZED

TWO OF MY FAVORITE COLORS COMBINED FOR US TO AWE OVER! THE TEMPLE GROUNDS ARE BEAUTIFUL TO ONE'S EYES AND HEART.

ADDICTED TO CLOTH AND COLOR

HAVE I BEEN BLIND ALL THESE YEARS or have I just learned to love the richness of the culture with cloth here. The batik and age old process of dyeing fabric is enough to stun your senses each time you have the chance to see with your own eyes. How blessed we are to live in a world with colors of every hue!

DRYING ON THE GRASS AND SUN TO BRING OUT THE COLORS!

IRONING THE CHARCOAL WAY!

OH ME OH MY IT EASTER COLORS WITH CHICKENS INCLUDED.

Regards,

 

   Sister Terry

   

   

                                                      NOW GO AND BE A BLESSINGS!

TEMPLE COLORS

NOW, THAT IS AN AMERICAN SANDWICH.....Loved coming out of the office, and finding friends wherever you turn. I remember the days when we first arrived, and you struggled to remember who was who as they called you by name. I love those moments of greeting one another now without wondering who is who as you smile. Sister Wilde, Wendy (Area Presidency Secretary), Dinah (Area Presidency Secretary), a friend of Dinah's and Sister Terry. I would say that we squeezed and framed everyone into those smiles.

HELPING HANDS ACROSS AFRICA

ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES AND GET TO WORK....We were part of an African Helping Hands Project where we and thousands of other members of the church do a day of service for the communities around where they live. Have to say that this is the first time I have had on a pair of long pants and tennis shoes...kinda felt funny. All across Africa the church set up countless projects to uplift communities as we dawned on our yellow vests, and put our backs and hands together with the Saints for a local hospital here in Tema. The place was a buzz with so many that had come to do service of weeding, painting, cleaning, clearing out debris, burning rubbish and giving the hospital a face lift. What a day to bend and pull next to our brother and sisters for another

The church always does thing exactly in the right way at the right time for us to follow.

My band of sisters that no weed was left unturned. In case you think its easy to pick up one of these brooms and get it right, I had to have a little orientation from them in order to not carry all the dirt away.

Now that is a thought to want to take hold of.

Where you find smoke you can find the boys!

Teach them while they are young, and they will not depart from the truths you have shown them.

NEVER TIRE

THE SITES OF GHANA....What a tremendous blessing to be part of a culture with such rich history, and Saints that come from countries far away to be in the Temple. This was a group of young men and women from Ivory Coast. You can understand why we have a Temple here, and they will have one in their country as well. 

BRINGING IN THE NET....

THE YOUTH OF THE CHURCH....WE ARE IN GOOD HANDS

I HAVE PROOF

THIS IS PROOF I DID NOT BURN THE BREAD. Ok, family this is proof that I've learned how to bake garlic bread and not burn it. I can't say that it is perfect in America, but here in Ghana I finally figured it out. Hope you are proud of me!

HOT OUT OF THE OVEN TO TAKE TO OUR SUNDAY DINNER WITH THE OTHER COUPLES!

PROOF I DID IT!

Now, you can't say every time I burned the bread at my funeral!

SMILES SAY IT ALL

IT'S A GOOD THING WE HAVE TO GIVE THEM BACK TO THE MOM'S....What a treat to be around these wee ones of those we work with in the area office. We were at a wedding, and they had to pry her out of my arms.

TO ADORABLE....THE BABIES I MEAN

THE GROOMS FAMILY...THEY KNOW HOW TO DRESS IN STYLE

HAD TO COME THEM BACK, AND LOOK SHE MISSED ME!

THE TECH SQUAD

THESE TWO GUYS ARE CALLED THE TECH GEEKS. Elder Terry and Elder Malmrose are the squad to call when you have certain problems. Elder Malmrose is a code guy at the MTC, and Elder Terry can fix any problem you have on your PC computer. I have to say the Elder Terry has become very knowledgeable about Apple products as well. It's hard to change a old dog PC man to any Apple tablets, but since so many missionary couples have them here he has jumped right in and solves them all. Now, if I can give him a little more heads up on Facebook.

I'M CONVINCED

I'M MORE CONVINCED EVERY DAY......that Heavenly Father created the hues and variety of colors right here in Ghana. I think the crayon box of colors were created right here.  I stand all amazed each time I have the opportunity to feast my eyes upon their cloth. Elder Terry is so kind in not giving me a hard time, and just waits patiently to see what will come home with us.

EVERY COLOR OF THE RAINBOW

TAKE YOUR PICK

WHICH ONE WANTS TO COME HOME WITH ME?

DON'T MISPLACE YOUR PASSPORT

IT LEFT MY SIGHT....On our last trip to Liberia I did the unthinkable....lost my passport. I think you would call me a compulsive guardian of it after all these years, and then the moment arrives when you have been dropped off at the airport and you reach into the specified place where you always keep it and IT'S NOT THERE. Still to this day I can't think of how it hopped out of my sling bag, and onto a desk in the mission home. We prayed, Elder Terry tore through all of my belongings, a call by chance to the mission home and the call within two minutes with the most beautiful words, "We found her passport here in the office". With a long drive and to bring it to us, and the timing of the airplane leaving it would take a miracle. The miracle happened in record time, and we boarded the plane for Accra. Wow that is not an experience I will want to live again. SO thankful that miracles surround our missionary work everyday!

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT.....

PRESIDENT SAYON MY MIRACLE ANGEL

YES HE WILL....

IN THE SKY WITH A VERY GRATEFUL HEART.....

GOLDEN SUNBEAM UNIVERSITY

THE VISION OF GHANA IN HANDS OF THOSE THAT CARE. It is wonderful how dear friends that you didn't know if your paths would cross come back into your life. In the earlier part of 2002, I was able to come to Ghana with Reach the Children and meet the Opare's. They had a couple of schools, and now I come to Ghana and they have a Science and Technology University. The pioneers of this land for better educational opportunities. I have never seen such a state of the art teaching facility in all my time in Africa. Our tour of the facility showed what dedication, hard work and someone with vision can accomplish here. We are fasting today for their accreditation next week to be approved. They have built it, and now so many students can come!

ELDER TERRY AND PRESIDENT OPARE GIVING MR. SMITH A BLESSING SORTA. HE WAS INTRODUCED AS THEIR FIRST MANNEQUIN PATIENT. 

READY FOR THE NURSING STUDENTS TO COME

WITH A COMPUTER LAB THAT IS ALMOST TO MUCH TO TAKE IN. WHAT A VISIONARY MAN.

FOLLOWING IN HIS FATHER FOOTSTEP OPARE JR.....WONDERFUL TO BE TOGETHER AGAIN!

HIS TIMING IS PERFECT

I LOVE HOW FAITH OF HIS TIMING SETTLES WITHIN US. So many times a day or even a week, you go about your duties without knowing what is to follow. Then, one day the faith of your daily actions start to take shape. I had the wonderful opportunity to meet the Founder of DfG with a passion of her work with young girls/women with a kit for their months menstruation. The amazing work this woman and her team have done for the past 7 years is a true testament that when the Lord's timing is there then the nations will follow. Celeste has helped women/girls in 86 nations on 6 continents. I've been working with Bernice here, and her passion for the work has taken her to so many villages offering education and supplies of kits for them. After our meeting this week, I have a new appreciation for the plight of women/girls around the world when it comes to their monthly period. It is a topic not talked about, but effects such a large portion of the population of this earth. I love there sustainable kit that has had 27 iterations since its inception. One of my take aways from our meeting was how they help women and girls remember that they are beautiful, important, and worthy of dignity. Our paths have crossed with His TIMING, and our FAITH to join together.

OH HOW HE HEARS OUR PLEAS, AND WAITS FOR US TO HEAR HIM!

THE PERFECT TIME IS.....HIS TIME MATCHED WITH OUR FAITH

LAURA, BERNICE, OUR LITTLE LYNETTE, CELESTE, SISTER TERRY AND PRINCE (BERNICE'S HUSBAND). THEY ARE CHAMPIONS OF NATIONS!

WALMART OUTSIDE YOUR WINDOW

YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU CAN  BUY OUTSIDE YOUR WINDOW. As we travel back and forth, we have such a fun time shopping with the vendors on our way home. They run to our window with bananas, apples, bread, bath scales, maps, hangers and anything you can think of at times. We have seen blown up pools, stacks of Q-tips, trays of sunglasses, tv antennas, and its like shopping at Walmart without having to park your car. The strategy of the hawkers is that they give you a price on some of the bigger items, and you bargain. The only difference is that they only have the time of a traffic light to make the deal. The other day I was coming home from shopping, and made the deal for this beautiful tablecloth for $10. I wasn't sure if it would be the quality, because you don't have a lot of time to inspect. When I arrived home, I was pleasantly surprised. It's so beautiful, but the bargaining in split seconds will be the memory I will have. Once you buy from them, they don't forget you and always give you a big wave when they see you the next time. I call this friends on the run......

BEST EGGS IN TOWN

I LOVE MY EGG LADY....How many of you can buy your eggs right out of the back of a van? We call this free range chicken eggs. The other morning as I got out of the car to buy my eggs she came running up to me and gave me a big hug telling me how much she had missed me. It doesn't take long to be endeared here to so many that cross our path. I don't even have to tell her the type of eggs I want she knows. The bigger ones with a yellow yolk! We finally figured out the reason they can leave their eggs out and not refrigerate them is because the hen produces a coating that protects the egg. In America they wash it off, and thus the need to refrigerate. If this isn't true, let us believe what we have been told. How will I ever go into a store again, and see eggs and not think of my friends that hugs me tight?

 THE CORNER WHERE I MEET MY EGG LADY RIGHT DOWN THE STREET FROM OUR APT.

HER SMILES ALWAYS MAKES ME HAPPY!

I ALWAYS WANT MY EGGS TO GO FAST SO I CAN BUY MORE!