Weeks 20 and 21
Our internet is still not working and last Sunday was very busy, so we again are going to share two weeks of happenings in one blog. We appreciate your patience and understanding.
Life continues to be interesting, busy, and joyful here in the Ghana Accra West Mission! Here are some interesting things that we have seen and experienced recently.
The new generator runs on diesel fuel rather than gasoline like the old generator. Below are pictures of the delivery of a 50 gallon drum of diesel.
A low-tech, functional, and practical way to unload a 350 pound drum using old tires to cushion the drop! Typical Ghanaian approach to a problem.
Buildings in Ghana are made of concrete and concrete blocks. Here are pictures showing the construction of a house in progress. At this stage, they are pouring the cement into a smaller area in preparation of pouring cement for the ceiling of the entire second floor.
The mixing is done by hand and shoveled into a container. The container is hoisted up to the first floor.
The container full of concrete is then hoisted to the second floor where it is poured into the forms.
The concrete is then pressed and compacted into place. Note the worker carrying a 50 kg. (110 pound) bag of cement on his head!
The forms and wet concrete for the second and third story floors are supported by bamboo poles until the concrete is cured. The concrete for the second story ceiling of this building will be mixed in a cement mixer and dumped into the hoist in the middle of the picture. The hoist is then pulled up with ropes and the concrete dumped into wheel barrows to move to where the concrete is needed for that pour.
Wherever the Ghanaians can find a spot to plant crops, they will. This little hilly area was cleared of weeds and growth using a machete and then planted with cassava and corn. These planted areas are just up the hill from our house.
New cassava planting New corn planting
We continue to be absolutely amazed with what they transport in and on the tro-tros and trucks.
Note the goat tied on top of the tro-tro. Transporting people and product.
It is very common for what is on top of the tro-tro to be as tall or taller than the tro-tro itself. It is a good thing there are ropes in Ghana to keep everything in the back of the tro-tro from falling out!
Luckily this cow was tied down in the back of this truck.
We have a coconut tree in our compound yard. Isaac was repairing the security lighting and was thirsty, so he got himself a coconut, cut the top off, and had himself a drink. He also got one and shared with Sister Judd.
Cassava is a staple food in Ghana. It will grow anywhere. It is a large, edible, starchy root tuber. The cassava tuber compared to a potato requires more processing to remove toxins, has more starch, has a nuttier and sweeter flavor, has a thicker skin, is much larger, and has fewer nutrients. One of the main ways the Ghanaians use cassava is to process it into gari. Gari is a fine to course granular flour of varying textures. It often has the texture of corn meal.
Cassava plants
On our way back from district council in Asamankese a week ago, we passed by where cassava was being processed into gari. So, we stopped, learned what they were doing, and took some pictures.
The cassava are peeled.
The cassava is grated in a gari grinding machine.
It is put in a jute sack and left to ferment for three to seven days. The fermentation process helps reduce and detoxify the high cyanide content in cassava. The sacks are then placed in a device to press water out of the cassava. Usually by day three the grated cassava has lost quite a lot of water and is reasonably dried. The fermented, dried, and grated cassava is then sieved to remove large particles and fibers and the smaller grain-like bits are collected.
These grain-like bits are then fried in thick, large pots over open fires. The cassava is stirred continuously (so it doesn't burn) until it becomes crisp. The finished product is called gari. It is made into a pasta and added to stews, soaked in cold water with sugar or honey and eaten, or eaten with milk, coconut, palm kernel nuts, dry fish, groundnuts (peanuts), or porridge beans (cowpea).
We went to church in Buduburam to talk to some members for the history of the church in Buduburam that the Winneba Stake president had asked us to write. Seated in front of us were two small girls whose braided hair was an art masterpiece.
This is the shop around the corner from our house where we buy eggs for $4.00 for 30 eggs.
With the interesting items covered, let's jump back to our regular kinds of doings.
On Tuesday June 11th, we went to the Asamankese district council.
On Wednesday June 12th, we inspected apartments in the Lartebiokorshie Zone.
Elders Hall and Hale in Lartebiokorshie
Sisters Ogbonna, Bello, Nwala, and Young in Tweneboa
Elders Browne and Olsen in Mataheko
On Thursday June 13th, there was a temple trip, spiritually uplifting instruction and testimony meeting, and brunch for all of the sisters in the mission. (Elder Judd was able to join in the temple endowment session.)
On Sunday June 16th, President and Sister Jacobsen and their friends who were visiting, Sheri Clarke from Florida and Melissa Wright from Arizona, came to attend church in the Awutu Breku Branch. We loved having them there and introducing them to our branch "family."
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On Monday June 17th, we went to Accra to the mission office for staff meeting. One of the sisters in Winneba was being stalked by a man from Accra from an area she served in previously. Somehow he found out she was in Winneba and went there stalking her. So, we received a special assignment to go to the Winneba district council on Tuesday morning and bring all four sisters in Winneba back to our apartment for the night and then take them to the mission office on Wednesday morning for transfers.
Winneba district council and celebrating Sister Sudila's birthday.
Sisters Van der Beek, Schetselaar, Nkoma, and Sudila who spent the night.
Sisters on Wednesday morning at the mission office for transfers. With this transfer, seven missionaries finished their missions and returned home. We had 21 new incoming missionaries from 14 countries. The missionaries serving in the Ghana Accra West Mission are from over 40 countries, very diverse!
At transfers, Elders Bereford and Cheney were transferred to Winneba and Sisters Van der Beek, Tanui (from Kenya), Kendrick, and Marufu (from Zimbabwe) were assigned to serve in Awutu Breku and moved into the apartment next to us in the compound.
Elders Beresford and Cheney at their last teaching appoint with Daniel, Stephen, and Nevis.
Wednesday evening was the devotional for the departing missionaries, including Elder and Sister Topham. They have become very dear friends. We will miss them.
Elder and Sister Divis (on stairs), Elder and Sister Topham, and President and Sister Jacobsen.
Today (Sunday June 23rd), was the baptism of Precious and her two daughters.
We finished the history of the church in Buduburam and emailed it to President Tandoh, Winneba Stake president, last Monday morning. It is a bit long, but it might be interesting to read. We will attach a PDF of the history to the email.
We are grateful for our experiences, the wonderful people we interact with, and to be doing this together!
We had many miracles these last two weeks and are grateful for the tender mercies and hand of the Lord in all things!
Love.
Elder and Sister Judd
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