Week 47 and Half of Week 48
We are writing this blog post on Christmas Day and want to send our best wishes to all of you!
Two weeks ago was busy with transfers. This past week was busy with the Christmas multi-zone conferences and lots of driving!
Monday, we drove to Accra to the mission office for the staff meeting we attend once a month. We then drove back to our house that evening.
The Christmas multi-zone conferences were on Tuesday and Thursday. Tuesday we drove to Kasoa, and Thursday we drove to Ofankor.
Gathering for multi-zone conference at Kasoa. Elder Judd visiting with Elder Weeks about his MyPlan
Sister Judd helping decorate. Sister Judd
With Sisters Windous and Matondo and then with Sister Tanui
The Sisters at Ofankor. Just enjoying.
Visiting with Elders Adams and Taggart Helping with a game of Pictionary
There was a talent show at each multi-zone conference. Elder Massissa sketched a picture of Christ as we watched. The Ofankor District sang Christmas songs accompanied by Elder Manakofua on his ukulele.
Sister Judd with Sister Wilde (one of our favorites)
On the way back from the zone conference at Kasoa, we got to the road we turn onto to go to our apartment from the Accra-Cape Coast Highway and found an excavator was there and no road any more!
So, we found a place to turn around and went back up the highway to the next road so we could get to our house.
On Thursday while at zone conference, Sister Kaaen (the mission medical advisor) asked us if we would stop by the Galilea apartment on the way home and look at a bed because the sister missionary there was having back pain from the bed. It was late afternoon when we finally left from the zone conference. With heavy traffic and the stop at Galilea to see what we could do to fix the bed, it started getting into evening. Things went well until we got to Buduburam where the traffic is always a mess getting through the Buduburam area. This time it was worse than usual. It took us an hour to go about a half mile! We finally got home after it was dark.
In between the zone conferences, on Wednesday, we did apartment inspections in the Swedru Zone.
Elders Mutombo and Udy at Nyakrom
Elders Salatielu and Mamouna at Duakwa
Friday was spent catching up and getting ready for Sara to come on Saturday morning!
It was so wonderful and exciting to pick up Sara at the airport on Saturday morning.
After getting Sara, we went to the Butterfly Market for Sara to buy things for her and her kids.
We spent some time visiting with President and Sister Jacobsen and headed for home. We stopped at the West Hills Mall for food shopping and got home in the early evening before dark.
It was a busy Sunday. Our branch met for the regular two hours. That was followed by six baptisms, getting something to eat, and then leaving for Accra for the mission home.
Princess sitting on Sara's lap. A bird on her nest enjoying Sacrament Meeting!
Sister Tavita, Lizzy with her children (Benedict and Berniece),
Elizabeth with her children, and Sister Appia
Witnessing the baptisms
After we got to the mission home, the Jacobsen's fed us and we visited a bit. We had our family Zoom at 10:00 p.m. that night.
Monday and Tuesday (December 23 and 24) were full and busy! Elder and Sister Bertha had made arrangements to "stamp" fabric and then go to where beads are made.
Newly dyed fabric drying in the sun. Picking our material to "stamp."
Stamps, each with a different design or pattern
Sister Judd stamping her material with wax
Sara stamping her material with wax
The material is then dipped in new dye for a chosen color of the fabric. The wax prevents the design from taking the new dye and allows the design area to maintain the original color of the fabric.
Resting and waiting for a few minutes. Sister Judd's fabric drying for a short time after being dyed and before the fabric was dipped in hot water to melt off the wax. After the wax is melted off and the fabric is rinsed in clean water, it is hung on a clothes line to totally dry.
The next stop was at the bead shop where beads are made.
Looking for beads to make bracelets and necklaces
Elder and Sister Bertha, President and Sister Jacobsen, Sister Judd, Sara, and
Bertha's daughter Monaca (also visiting for Christmas)
After a quick peanut butter sandwich, we went to the National Museum of Ghana for a tour and to the Art Market to get a few more items.
Learning about the history of Ghana and its cultures was very interesting.
Sister and Elder Judd with Sara and Lawson outside the Museum
President and Sister Jacobsen had a very nice Christmas Eve dinner for the senior couples, AP's, tech elders, Patrick and his family, and Georgina (cooks and cleans the mission home) and her family.
We then stayed at the mission home again Monday night with the Jaobsen's. Tuesday morning we went with the Bertha's and Jacobsen's to experience the Makola Market. The Makola Market is a huge market in Accra that sells anything and everything and is a mass of people selling and buying.
We went into the parking garage to get a better view of the market from up high
The market stretches forever in all directions
Fresh meat
Elder and Sister Bertha purchased a silver bowl and a cast iron pot with a lid
Pig feet. Walking through the market.
Cow legs and feet for soup. Walking through the market.
It was so interesting to see and experience the Makola Market.
We then left Accra and drove to Ghana Make a Difference (GMAD) which is located just past where we live. GMAD is a shelter for abused, abandoned, neglected, and unwanted children. It is owned by members of the Church living in Idaho. We were given a tour and description of the facilities including interacting with a few of the children. We then helped with a Christmas project making Christmas stockings and putting athletic shirts or aprons in them ahead of others also putting in popcorn balls and other items for each of the children.
Christmas Day today has been pretty low key and nice. One thing we did is go with Sisters Appia and Tavita to visit some new converts. Our internet has been pretty bad all day today, so we have not been able to interact much with our family. This is the hardest thing about being here in Ghana.
Enjoy!!
We wish to close with this year’s Christmas Message from the First Presidency:
“At this joyful time of year, we are grateful to celebrate with you the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.
Although He was born in humble circumstances, He is the central figure in all human history. His mission affects all who have lived and will yet live. Through His Atonement and Resurrection, He did what we could not do for ourselves: overcome death and be reconciled to our Heavenly Father.
We testify that He is the Son of the Eternal Father, who “so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). We share our witness and knowledge of this most important gift and invite you to do the same this Christmas season.”
We add our witness of the Savior's Atonement and Resurrection and His divinity as the Son of the Eternal Father.
Love,
Elder and Sister Judd
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