Week 39
We finally finished our previous blog on Monday afternoon of this week. We were in Accra for our staff meeting that we attend once a month. On the way to the mission office, we stopped by the area welfare and self-reliance office and picked up a case (24) of ABC Gospel Literacy books since we had given out all we had. We then went to the fabric shop, and Sister Judd picked out some fabric for dresses. Following staff meeting, we did some shopping for a few items we are not able to purchase at the stores where we usually shop. We then stayed at the mission office Monday night so Elder Judd could get his Ghanaian drivers license first thing Tuesday morning. He has been driving using an international driving permit that will expire in January.
We had been told to plan on up to 3 or 4 hours to get a drivers license. It was a blessing that there was hardly anyone at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority on Tuesday morning so it only took 2 hours. And then, we had to go back an hour later to actually pick up the license. We did the "ultra prestige" service and paid extra for it. Otherwise, it would have taken 2 weeks for processing the application and getting the drivers license.
We had made an appointment for the 12:30 p.m. endowment session at the temple. So, we were grateful that the drivers license did not take 4 hours to get. It was a full session of mostly missionaries from the MTC next to the temple. We were in the back of the room. Because of the very few veil workers for that session and because of the number of patrons that needed extra help at the veil, it took over an hour for Elder Judd to get through the veil and into the Celestial Room where Sister Judd had been enjoying the time to ponder, feel, and be renewed spiritually while waiting for Elder Judd. One blessing during the session was when we participated in the prayer circle. The officiator prayed for all the full-time missionaries (which we are) throughout the world to be blessed with great zeal and strength. It had been a very busy and challenging previous three weeks. So, when the officiator prayed for this, we both felt the witness of the Spirit that this was meant for us as much or more than anyone.
It was Sister Judd's birthday on Tuesday, so it was a wonderful birthday present that we could enjoy being in the temple for her birthday.
Sister Bertha made a birthday sign for Sister Judd and some Elders sang to her
Sister Judd's birthday present of being in the temple
The missionary neighbors came over Tuesday evening to sing "Happy Birthday" to Sister Judd
On Wednesday, we did apartment inspections in the Ofankor Zone which is on the north of metropolitan Accra.
Elders Williams and Roche at Amasaman 2
Sisters Nkoma and Marufu at Amasaman 1
(Sister Marufu was our neighbor prior to the last transfer)
Elders McLean and Tshuma at Pokuase
This is the second time inspecting all the apartments in the mission. It has been rewarding to see the progress in the apartments and the missionaries from these efforts.
This building under construction has bamboo poles as scaffolding
Elder Judd's Grandma Judd always said, "Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without." We firmly believe that she must have spent a lot of time in Ghana teaching that principle. Here are some examples.
Building an addition to a house with used lumber
Remodeling a chicken house with scraps and pieces of whatever could be found
Reusing old rusted nails just like Elder Judd's dad taught him to do!
A broken valve shut-off modified to use a screwdriver as the handle
When the trash man picks up our trash from the missionary apartments, he goes through it
sorting out what can be reused, what he can sell, and what can be fixed.
And best of all, making your shoe last as long as possible!
The reality is that the Ghanaians have so little and what they do have has to be made the best of. They are amazingly adaptable!
Well, after some three weeks of constantly going and doing, we had hit our mental, emotional, and physical limits. So, Thursday and Friday of this week became a much needed recover, renew, and revamp time. We used this time to get caught up on projects at home, do family chores, do laundry, do projects within the compound, get caught up on finances and emails, etc. We did not go anywhere or do anything outside of our compound, except a quick trip to a dressmaker in the branch on Friday afternoon to take material to her to make a dress.
The birthdays in October here in the mission include Sister Judd, Sister Bertha, Elder Divis, and President Jacobsen. Hence, a dinner for all the senior couples and Jacobsen's was planned for Saturday evening in Accra to celebrate the October birthdays. We planned to stay over at the mission office and return to Awutu Breku for church early Sunday morning. We couldn't go to Accra without going to the temple again. So, we went to the 12:30 p.m. session on Saturday. As we were leaving the temple, we received a phone call from Sister Bertha informing us that the dinner had been cancelled.
We mentioned in a previous blog about the elders in the Abomosu Zone who ride bikes 45 minutes to get to their proselyting area and 45 minutes back at the end of the day. As these elders were returning to their apartment on Friday evening, a dog ran in front of one of them causing him to have a major crash. He ended up with a concussion and major damage to his face. Elder and Sister Divis drove to Abomosu Friday night to get him and take him to Accra to the hospital. He was scheduled for surgery on Saturday afternoon. Elder Divis (mission medical advisor) and the Jacobsen's needed to be there with him. With that sad news, we returned home to our apartment.
We have gone a couple of times with Sisters Van der Beek and Appia to teach Kelvin. He was baptized on Sunday!!
Sisters Appia and Van der Beek, Evans (performed baptism), Kelvin,
Helen (Kelvin's sister) with baby Aldrich, Stephen, and Angel and Stephen, Jr. in front.
"There is no limit to the Savior’s capacity to help you. His incomprehensible suffering in Gethsemane and on Calvary was for you! His infinite Atonement is for you!"
"I urge you to devote time each week—for the rest of your life—to increase your understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ."
In response to the Prophet's invitation, we have set aside every Friday evening from 7:00 to 7:30 p.m. to reading/studying about the Atonement of the Savior. We are currently systematically reading/studying "Atonement of Jesus Christ" in "Topics and Questions" in the Gospel Library App.
A couple of weeks ago, we read the following:
"Only He had the power to lay down His life and take it up again. From His mortal mother, Mary, He inherited the ability to die. From His immortal Father, He inherited the power to overcome death. He declared, “As the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself” (John 5:26)."
"Only He could redeem us from our sins. God the Father gave Him this power (see Helaman 5:11). The Savior was able to receive this power and carry out the Atonement because He kept Himself free from sin: “He suffered temptations but gave no heed unto them” (Doctrine and Covenants 20:22). Having lived a perfect, sinless life, He was free from the demands of justice. Because He had the power of redemption and because He had no debt to justice, he could pay the debt for those who repent."
With our increased understanding about the power of the priesthood over the last couple of years, this recognition that the Father gave the Savior the power to carry out the Atonement was a real aha!
Love,
Elder and Sister Judd
Comments
Post a Comment