A Very Long Wednesday

 Dear Family and Friends,

This last week was a little slower than the week before, but we still had lots going on.  We'd like to share the happenings of one particular day this last week.

Wednesday morning started bright and early at 5:30 am.  We left at 7:00 to drive an hour and a half to Nyakrom in the Swedru Zone to begin apartment inspections.  The Nyakrom apartment had set empty for a month or so.  Two new elders had arrived there the previous Wednesday night to "white wash" the area.  (To "white wash" means that the missionaries are both new to the area and apartment.)  As you might imagine, the missionaries had a lot to clean and get the apartment back in livable order from setting empty.  In addition, as in every apartment we have been in (here in Ghana as well as in Tennessee), the previous missionaries always seem to have a closet, room, or area in the apartment where "stuff" just seems to accumulate.  This was true in the Nyakrom apartment.  We showed/helped the missionaries declutter and taught the "use it or lose it" principle--if no one is using it or plans to use it, it goes away.  Therefore, we started filling the back of our truck again with our first stop!  

With every apartment inspection, Sister Judd goes through the first aid kit to make certain everything is in it that should be.  While she does that, Elder Judd teaches the missionaries how to test their smoke/CO detector and then report the results on their missionary portal so they are not classified as an "unsafe house."  Every apartment has a water filter system so the missionaries can have safe drinking, cooking, and washing water that is not contaminated.  In the Nyakrom apartment, the filter had to be replaced.  Other challenges in this apartment were that their washing machine would not spin and was needing to be repaired, there was no water coming into one of the bathrooms, and the toilet was not working in the other bathroom (the missionaries were hauling water to the bathroom to flush the toilet).  With each apartment visit, we complete an inspection report indicating what we find (good and bad) in that apartment.  At the end of the day, these inspection reports are sent to Ebenezer (over missionary housing), Patrick (over missionary supplies), and President and Sister Jacobsen so they are aware of the condition and situation in each apartment and can address problems and issues needing attention.  Because of the situation in this apartment, the visit took longer than the 45 minutes we plan for each inspections.  So, we started the day behind schedule!

                                           Elder Tuinakauvadra and Elder Greenfield (Nyakrom) 

The next apartment was about a half hour away in Duakwa.  These elders are also "white washing".  We replaced the water filter and the smoke/CO detector.  The issues we found in this apartment were the bathroom sink coming detached from the wall, broken door and drawer in the wardrobe closet, ceiling fan not working, a window missing glass panels, and a missing electrical switch cover.  

                                         Elder Mengesha and Elder Tshuma (brand new) (Duakwa)

When we left the Duakwa apartment to go to Swedru, the GPS had us turn on a road that ended up being quite challenging, but our 4x4 truck did good until we got to the point where the road was impassable with deep washouts and ruts.  We decided the best option was to turn around and backtrack to find a better route.  As we were going back, Sister Judd took this picture which is very typical of the loads the Ghanaian women carry on their heads.

Finding these apartments is ALWAYS an adventure.  The main mode of "transportation" is walking to a main road and then catching a taxi, bolt (like a taxi but smaller), or tro-tro.  Hence, there are rarely "roads" to the apartments because the Ghanaians do not need to drive a vehicle to their residence.  We have found ourselves so many times going on a "road" that is not really a road but a dirt trail of sorts.  

The GPS often warns us that there is "incomplete map data for this area".  However, we did not receive such a warning as we approached the Swedru 1 and 3 apartment.  We were still behind schedule, and as we got close to the apartment, we found that a large ditch was being dug across the only road going to the apartment.  

We called the elders, and they hiked to where we were and showed us an alternate road to get closer to the apartment.  We still had to park the truck about 150 yards from the apartment and walk a trail to get there.  As we said, it is always an adventure getting to the apartments!

As with all other apartments, we found several things broken, needing repair, not working, or needing to be decluttered and better organized.  

                                     Elders Rockwood, Nwigwe, Petersen, and Rea (Swedru 1 & 3)

By this time, we were farther behind schedule and called the next elders to let them know.  This apartment (Swedru 4 & 5) seemed to be cleaner and in better condition.  It was located within an enclosed compound and was owned by a member of the Church.  It still had its issues and things needing attention, including the countertop holding up the kitchen sink was broken and the sink was falling in!

The final apartment for the day was the Swedru zone leaders.  Elders Marrah and Chiwaye (from Swedru 4 & 5) rode with us to the zone leaders' apartment so the zone leaders could go on exchanges with them.  

                                               Elder Chiwaye and Elder Mariah (Swedru 4 & 5)

The Swedru 2 apartment (zone leaders) was also within a walled compound and not too far from the Swedru Stake Center.  It again was in reasonably good condition with not too many issues.  Elder Parks (one of the zone leaders) is from Iowa and knows our good friends, Chuck and Linda Graves.

                                                                Elder Andoh and Elder Parks

You probably think from our descriptions that everything is broken and bad news in the missionary apartments.  Actually, the missionaries do a wonderful job of keeping the apartments clean and livable with the circumstances they are dealing with.  They rarely complain but are always happy and appreciative of our visits, especially since Sister Judd brings them chocolate chip cookies!

After all of this, we drove to the Winneba Stake Center and picked up six laptops to take back to Awutu Breku for a branch family history workshop that evening.  We stopped at our apartment and grabbed some leftover soup for a quick supper and went to our branch building.

Family history can be a real challenge for the Ghanaian members.  There are little or no written records.  Everything is oral history.  Even then, older individuals may not even know their exact birthdate.  In addition, most individuals do not have smart phones and may not have data for their phones due to the cost.  They also have difficulty remembering their username and password.  The whole evening, Sister Judd spent on her phone talking with the Global Support Center in Salt Lake City trying to recover individuals' Church account usernames and passwords so they could sign in to FamilySearch and enter information they had gathered from relatives.  The workshop had better attendance from this small branch than any we have ever participated in in the United States!

 

That was our long but rewarding and wonderful Wednesday!!

On Monday last week, we attended the Winneba District Council and enjoyed our interaction with these amazing Sisters and Elders.  At the conclusion, the zone leaders reviewed what was learned from Elder Bednar and Elder Kearon during the previous week's devotional.  They then asked each missionary to share a 20 second testimony.  The testimonies of these wonderful Sisters and Elders were powerful and Spirit-filled.

                                                              Winneba District Council

We would like to share with you this insightful quote from Hugh Nibley:

“Who is righteous?  Anyone who is repenting.  No matter how bad he has been, if he is repenting, he is a righteous man.  There is hope for him.  And no matter how good he has been all his life, if he is not repenting, he is a wicked man.  The difference is which way you are facing.  The man on the top of the stairs facing down is much worse off than the man on the bottom step who is facing up.  The direction we are facing, that is repentance; and that is what determines whether we are good or bad.”

                                                                            Hugh Nibley, “Approaching Zion”, pg. 301-302

We pray we all may be facing up.  Have a blessed week!!

Love, 

Sister and Elder Judd