PICK YOUR OWN BANANAS

SOME PEOPLE HAVE TO GO TO THE STORE FOR BANANAS.....HERE YOU CAN JUST GO OVER NEXT TO THE MISSION OFFICE AND GRAB ONE FOR BREAKFAST. THEY GROW SO FAST THAT SISTER CLAWSON HAS A BIG BOX OF THEM NEXT TO HER DESK TO GIVE AWAY.

I CAN SEE BANANA BREAD IN MY FUTURE!

MORE THAN A STACK OF LIAHONA'S...

SISTER CLAWSON IS SMILING BECAUSE ELDER T FOUND OUT THAT SHE WAS USING OLD ISSUES OF THE LIAHONA TO BOOST HER HEIGHT IN HER CHAIR. SHE IS SUCH A TROOPER!

LOVE SHARING THIS DESK WITH SISTER CLAWSON WITH ALL SMILES BEING HERE. IT'S GREAT TO HELP HER WHEN I'M NOT TRAINING. WHO WOULD OF EVEN THOUGHT THIS WOULD OF BEEN POSSIBLE. I BELIEVE IN SUCH MIRACLES!

Regards,

 

   Sister Terry

   

   

                                                      NOW GO AND BE A BLESSINGS!

THE WORK CREW

ELDER T AND HIS WORK CREW....THEY ARE COMPLETELY REWIRING AND PUTTING IN NEW INTERNET CABLES IN THE MISSION OFFICE. ON THURSDAY WHEN THEY STARTED IT WAS SO LOUD AS THEY DRILLED THROUGH THE CONCRETE WALLS PRODUCING FINE DUST THAT WAS SETTLING ON EVERYTHING. TODAY IS SATURDAY, AND THE WIRING IS DONE, THE INTERNET IS IN, THE PRINTERS WORK AND THE DUST IS CLEARED AWAY. THIS IS ELDER T AND HIS WORK CREW THAT HAVE DONE AN AMAZING JOB OVER THESE PAST FEW DAYS. WHO SAYS THAT IT TAKES FOREVER TO GET SOMETHING DONE....NOT WITH ELDER T HERE! 

GREAT GROUP OF HARD WORKERS. AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE LAP TOP THE INTERNET WORKS SO FAST THAT THEY COULD LIVE STREAM A SOCCER GAME.

THEY ALL GOT A REAL KICK OUT OF HIS BOB MARLEY SHIRT. I'M SURPRISED THAT HE MADE IT OUT OF THE OFFICE WITH IT STILL ON. THS IS ABDULI WHO IS THE FOREMAN THAT HAS SAID THAT ELDER T HAS TAUGHT HIM SO MUCH THAT HE IS THANKFUL FOR. ELDET T IS ALWAYS SO KIND TO HELP TEACH OTHERS THAT WANT TO LEARN.

YOU GOTTA LOOK CLOSE

I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW EXCITED I WAS WHEN I ARRIVED.....AND SAW THIS EXERCISE MACHINE I COULDN'T BELIEVE MY EYES. I WOKE UP EARLY THE NEXT MORNING AND JUMPED ON TO FINALLY GET A REAL WORK OUT. AS I STARTED TO INVESTIGATE WHY I COULDN'T PROGRAM IT, I FOUND OUT THAT WHEN IT WAS MOVED THAT THEY JERKED THE PLUG AND THE WIRING OFF. SO IT SITS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STAIRS AS A PAPER WIEGHT AS THEY SAY. I DECIDED SOMETHING WAS BETTER THAN NOTHING, AND WHO NEEDS A PLUG AND AN INCLINE. BESIDES I'VE BEEN AWAY FROM ANY GYM EQUIPMENT SINCE I LEFT OUT ON OUR MISSION. THIS SEEMS TO BE ENOUGH FOR ME TO GET A LITTLE WORK OUT. IT HAD SO MANY LAYERS OF DUST THAT I COULDN'T READ ANYTHING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. A LITTLE SOAP AND WATER AND A WD 40 TO GET RID OF THE HIGH PITCH SQUEAK AND OFF WE WENT.

SOMEONE ONCE TOLD ME THAT "NOT EVERYTHING IS AS IT APPEARS"!

YEP, BUT WHO CARES IT WORKS WITH LESS RESISTANCE JUST FINE FOR ME!

HOW MANY MISSIONARIES

I LOVE WALKING OVER TO THE MISSION OFFICE.....AND SEEING THE BEGINNINGS OF ALL THE PREPARATIONS FOR THE RETURNING MISSIONARIES. IT IS A SIGHT TO BEHOLD AS BEDS, FURNITURE AND MATTRESSES ARE STACKED AND GETTING THE FINAL TOUCHES.

SPRAYING WITHOUT ANY MASKS AND THEY ARE SMILING.

DRYING IN THE SUN!

LOVE THE THOUGHT OF SO MANY MISSIONARIES FINDING COMFORT ON A SMALL PIECE OF FOAM FOR THEIR MATTRESSES....AND THEY WILL BE HAPPY!

HAIR RAISING

THE HAIR ON THE BACK OF MY NECK.....CAN'T COME DOWN WITH THE DRIVING HERE. THEY GIVE US A MANUAL TRUCK THAT HAS A SHELL ON IT THAT YOU CAN'T SEE OUT THE BACK WINDOW, AND TELL US HERE IS YOUR KEYS. IT TRULY IS LIKE DRIVING AT DISNEYLAND ON THE WILD MOUSE OFF THE TRACKS. MOTORCYCLES AND CAR HERE HAVE NO RULES FOR THE ROAD, AND IF THEY DO THEY ARE ONLY MERE SUGGESTIONS. I'VE HAD TO DOUBLE UP ON MY PRAYERS FOR SAFETY AND NOT HITTING ANYONE WITH ALL THE CHAOS ON THE ROADS. REALLY IT IS THE WILD WEST OF NO RULES, AND A FREE FOR ALL ON THE ROADS. I CAN TRUTHFULLY SAY THAT MY HAIR ON THE BACK OF MY NECK IS ON HIGH ALERT AS IS EVERY SENSE IN MY BODY WHEN I'M BEHIND THE WHEEL. I HAVEN'T EVEN BEEN ABLE TO GET A GOOD PICTURE BECAUSE I'M IN SHOCK....

IT HAS SEEN A FEW DENTS IN IT'S LIFE HERE! I'M PRAYING NOT TO ADD ANY....

A SUNSET IN SIERRA LEONE

THE LORD'S PANT BRUSH NEXT TO THE MISSION OFFICE!  MY VIEW FROM MY APARTMENT WINDOW! EVERYDAY THE SUN COMES UP AROUND 7AM AND GOES DOWN AROUND 7PM.

IN THE LAND OF SIERRA LEONE

AT EXACTLY THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME.....I LOVE HOW THE LORD WILL TAKE OUR IMPERFECTION AND EAGERNESS AND TAME US A BIT. I REMEMBER THINKING I WAS GIVING UP GOING TO SIERRA LEONE, BECAUSE OF ELDER T'S TECHNOLOGY CALLING WHEN WE WERE FIRST CALLED ON OUR MISSION. BETWEEN HIS TECH MIND, AND MY TRAINING AS A LITERACY SPECIALISTS, WE ARE IN THIS LAND WITH ONLY THE MISSION PRESIDENT AND HIS WIFE. THEY ARE STARTING UP THE MISSION AFTER A YEAR AND A HALF WAITING FOR EBOLA TO BE GONE.

WE ARRIVED EARLY TO CHURCH TO WAIT AND WITNESS THE MIRACLES OF THE SAINTS HERE WITH FAITH THAT IS UNRIVALED FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN. I WATCHED THIS YOUNG BOY PREPARING THE SACRAMENT WITH SUCH REVERENCE AND DEVOTION. THE SAINTS HAVE WAITED A LONG TIME, AND THE MISSIONARIES WILL BE ARRIVING BACK FEBRUARY 9TH. MAY WE ALL PARTAKE OF THE SACRAMENT WITH THIS SAME DEVOTION.

THE HANDS OF THE PRIESTHOOD TO BLESS US ALL!

READY AND WAITING FOR OUR FIRST SUNDAY!

ALL OVER THE WORLD WE CAN ENTER IN AND WORSHIP TOGTHER!

THE LITTLE BOY SMILE

YOU CAN IMAGINE MY SHOCK....WHEN I CAME BACK FROM RUNNING AN ERRAND, AND ELDER T WAS CRUISING AROUND THE PARKING LOT ON THE TEMPLE GROUNDS ON THIS MOTORCYCLE. I WAS JUST THANKFUL THAT HE DIDN'T ESCAPE OUT THE FRONT GATE AND ONTO THE ROAD. I DON'T THINK WE WOULD HAVE SEEN HIM AGAIN. HE IS GETTING THAT ITCH TO RIDE, SO WE BETTER GET HOME QUICK!

DON'T DO IT!

HE CAME BACK!

OUR TOGO TIME

TOGO, FRENCH, GOOD FOOD AND THE SAINTS OF A BEAUTIFUL LAND....WE ARE FORTUNATE TO COME ONE LAST TIME TO TOGO BEFORE WE HEAD TO OTHER COUNTRIES, AND WE LOVE THIS LAND AND THE SAINTS THAT SPEAK A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE BUT THE GOSPEL IS THE SAME. HERE ARE SOME PICTURES OF OUR FREE TIME. ELDER TERRY ABSOLUTELY LOVES PLAYING LET'S MAKE A DEAL!

CAN'T YOU JUST HEAR ELDER T SAYING, "COME ON NOT THE WHITE PRICE".

ELDER T MAKES THE DEAL OF ALL DEALS FOR A BASKET FULL OF OLD BEADS THAT HE WAS ABLE TO HAND PICK ABOUT HALF OF THEM. WE ARE ALL SMILING!

THE COLOR THAT SURROUNDS YOU ARE VIBRANT AND BEAUTIFUL!

I LOVED THESE COLONIAL MEN THAT WERE DISPLAYED IN ONE SELLER'S SHOP!

LOVING HIS DINNER WITH TABLECLOTH, FLOWERS AND NAPKINS!

THE SIGN THAT WE ALWAYS LOVE TO SEE NO MATTER WHAT COUNTRY WE ARE IN!

THIS POOL IS NOT A DREAM, BUT I FELT LIKE I DIDN'T WANT TO WAKE UP!

VIEWS

WE LOVE SEEING THE COMBINATIONS OF THINGS OUTSIDE OUR WINDOW AS WE DRIVE FROM HERE TO THERE....COUNTLESS OF TIMES WE SAY TO ONE ANOTHER LOOK, I WISH WE WOULD OF GOTTEN THAT PICTURE AND HURRY LOOK. THESE TWO PICTURES SEEMS TO TELL A STORY OF THE NEW AFRICA AND THE OLD CRAFTSMEN OF THIS COUNTRY. BOTH ARE PART OF A RICH CULTURE HERE THAT SEEMS TO BE GROWING BEFORE OUR EYES.

DOORS, FRUIT AND FURNITURE!

JUST A FEW FEET DOWN THE ROAD....FRUIT, PLANTS AND SATELLITE DISHES! 

THE MIRACLES CONTINUE

I NEVER TIRE OF BEING WITH THE LEARNERS IN GOSPEL LITERACY......ONCE AGAIN A COUPLE OF SUNDAYS AGO, I WALKED INTO A LITERACY CLASS THAT SHOWED ME THE MIRACLES OF READING THE GOSPEL. MIND YOU THE BEGINNERS STARTED THE CURRICULUM IN NOVEMBER, AND WHEN I RETURNED THEY WERE READING SMALL AND SIMPLE SENTENCES. THE ELDERLY LADY OF THE GROUP THAT WAS STRUGGLING THE MOST WAS THE LEARNER THAT WAS HELPING THE OTHERS AND READING THE MOST. SHE EVEN WROTE "MY FAMILY WE ARE 3". I TOOK A VIDEO OF HER READING, AND IT WILL BE ONE OF MY TREASURES IN THE YEARS TO COME. I CAN STAND IN THESE MOMENTS FOR A LONG TIME!

EVERYONE OF THESE PICTURES ARE A TESTAMENT TO MIRACLES IN THE LIVES OF THE CHILDREN OF HEAVENLY FATHER. IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN TO BE IN THEIR PRESENCE. 

OUR GATHERING TOGETHER

SPENDING TIME WITH OUR MISSIONARY FAMILY......IT WAS JANUARY 1ST AND WE ALL CAME TOGETHER TO SAY GOODBYE TO THE MTC PRESIDENT AND HIS WIFE THE ROBISON'S. WHAT A WONDERFUL SERVICE THEY HAVE GIVEN ALL THE MISSIONARIES THAT HAVE COME THROUGH THEIR FRONT DOOR. IF YOU HAVE HAD A SON/DAUGHTER COME TO GHANA'S MTC, THEY WERE LOVED AS IF THEY WERE THEIR OWN CHILDREN. THIS IS LIKELY THE LAST TIME WE WILL SEE MANY OF THESE MISSIONARIES COUPLES BEFORE WE LEAVE FOR HOME IN MARCH. WE WILL BE SPENDING THE LAST FEW MONTHS OF OUR MISSION IN LIBERIA AND SIERRA LEONE. THE LORD IS MORE THAN GOOD TO US.

HAPPY CROSSOVER

HAPPY CROSSOVER 2016..... I LOVE THAT HERE IN GHANA THEY CALLED THE NEW YEAR "CROSSOVER". EVEN AS SENIORS, WE MANAGED TO GATHER TOGETHER TO EAT, PLAY CARDS AND SNACK OUR WAY TO CROSSING OVER TO 2016. THE CLARK'S AND SANDER'S HELPED US BRING IN ANOTHER YEAR HERE WITH MUCH HAPPINESS. ALSO, OF COURSE, THE CHANGE OF GHANA IN THE EYES OF THE YOUTH LOOK FORWARD TO YEARS OF PROSPERITY. LOOK AT THOSE SMILES!

I LOVE THIS WOMAN....SISTER....DAUGHTER

BERNICE'S FLOOD.......OH WHAT WATER CAN DO TO A FABRIC SHOP, BUT NOT TO THE SPIRIT WITHIN THE COURAGE OF A PERSON. I RECEIVED A CALL FROM A DEAR FRIEND THAT SAID WATER HAD COME INTO HER SHOP AND FLOODED IT. BERNICE'S SHOP IS MODEST TO START OUT WITH, BUT THE DEVASTATION OF LOSING WHAT FABRIC SHE HAD WAS HEART BREAKING. I ARRIVED ON THE SCENE A FEW HOURS LATER WITH LUNCH TO FIND HER ALL SMILES AND THANKING HEAVENLY FATHER FOR THE SUN TO DRY WHAT WAS WET. I LOVE THIS WOMAN WITH A PIECE OF MY HEART THAT IS BONDED AS TIGHT AS IT CAN BE. SHE IS YOUNG ENOUGH TO BE MY DAUGHTER, AND THUS SHE CALLS ME MUM. I LOVE THAT DESPITE ANY CHALLENGES SHE SEE GOD'S HAND IN THE BLESSINGS THAT WILL COME! A TRUE EXAMPLE OF SEEING THINGS WITH GOD'S EYES!

SMILE THAT WARMS MY FAITH BY THE EMBERS OF HER THANKFULNESS!

LITTLE ROWAN

ROWAN IS STILL IN THE HOSPITAL BUT MAKING PROGRESS.....I LOVE THAT I CAN CALL SOMEONE BACK HOME IN MY WARD, AND WITHIN MINUTES THE RELIEF SOCIETY IS MOBILIZED TO COME AND HELP BE MY HANDS. CHARITY TRULY NEVER FAILETH EVEN 1,000'S OF MILES AWAY. MY MOTHER'S THANKS TO ALL HANDS AND HEARTS THAT ARE BEING MINE.

EYES OPEN TO A BRAND NEW WORLD!

AUNT ANGEL BEING THE ARMS OF LOVE!