The week started out on Monday with practicing great patience. We needed a load of water to top off our 2,000 gallon water tank because we would not be here to get another delivery the rest of the week, and we did not want to run out. We waited all day for the truck to come. We had committed to take the branch Relief Society president around in the truck at 2:00 p.m. to do visits to sisters who live farther away from her because she does not have a car. Since the missionaries have P-day on Monday and were not going anywhere, we asked them to watch for the water truck and let him through the gate if he came while we were gone. However, he did not come then or any time after we got back. That is until close to 10:00 p.m. We had just gotten in bed, and Isaac called saying the truck was "on his way coming." So Elder Judd got up and dressed and waited another 15-20 minutes until he finally came. But, it was good to have the tank full.
Tuesday was missionary district council in Oda which is some 70 miles and 3 hours north. Whenever we drive for more than two hours, we find someplace on the way to stop and walk for a few minutes to get Sister Judd's bad knee a chance to get working again from sitting in the truck so long. We have a specific spot where we stop whenever we go to Oda, Asamankese, or Abomosu Zones for district councils or apartment inspections. We stop at the same spot on the way home again. So, when we were coming back from Oda, we stopped at that spot. There just happened to be a surprise police check point just after where we stopped. Sister Judd was hesitant to stop and walk because of the check point, but we did anyway. When we got to the check point after walking, the policeman had us stop. We explained that Sister Judd has a bad knee, and she has to stop and walk to keep it from getting worse. We chatted with him "small, small", and he waived us on.
Oda District Council--Elders Kroll, Rawlings, Donahoo,
Tuinakauvadra, Ambadang, and Nzundu
On Wednesday, we did apartment inspections in the Asamankese Zone at Adeiso, Anum Apapam, and Kade. We traveled the same route as on Tuesday for the first part. As it turned out there was a police check point on the north end of Crystal Palace Road which we take from our house to go north. There were two policemen. One was checking vehicles going north and one checking vehicles going south. We passed the one checking vehicles going south, and one checking vehicles going north stopped us. Before he could say anything to us, the other policeman yelled something to him. He then turned to us and said, "My brother wants to talk to you." We weren't certain if we were in trouble or what was going on. When the other policeman got to our truck, he greeted us and said to Sister Judd, "How is your bad leg today?" It was the same policeman as the afternoon before. We chatted again for a minute, and we were on our way.
I should explain that there are different kinds of police check points. When the policemen have white shirts and a reflector vest that says "Police" on it, they are traffic police checking the registration and insurance decals to make sure they are current. We have never had any issues with these. If the police are in black uniforms (and most often carrying machine guns), these are the ones that are more intimidating. They could be wanting or checking anything. Fortunately, a lot of the black uniform policemen on this particular route we travel most often going north are familiar with us and rarely stop us. That is not the case in other areas however.
Elders Andrianampoina and Massissa at Adeiso
Elders Bangura and Omerigwe at Anum Apapam
Elders Razafimbelo and Tivane at Kade
With Sister Judd having several Ghanaian dresses made since being in Ghana, our daughters and granddaughters have also wanted a Ghanaian dress. So we have been in the process of buying material with designs reflective of Ghana and having the dresses made. On Thursday morning, we went to the market in Winneba, accompanied by Meg Kallas, to shop for material there.
Sister Judd shopping for scarves
Sister Judd buying Ghanaian material for dresses for daughters and granddaughters
Meg and Fred Kallas came to Ghana last January about the same time we arrived here. They are volunteers at Ghana Make A Difference (GMAD) which is a shelter for abused, abandoned, and neglected children. The work they have done and the influence and difference they have made at GMAD are unbelievable and extremely valuable. Fred brought three totes full of his cordless tools. He has helped build and repair and remodel. When they leave for home in February, he is going to donate his tools and a small truck he bought while in Ghana to GMAD. Meg has taught kids in GMAD and individuals in the community how to sew. She arranged with an NGO to donate sewing machines that she then gave to individuals after they had learned to sew so they would have the means to continue with this new skill and help them earn much needed money. They are so loving, accepting, and welcoming to the children in the shelter. Meg and Fred are loved by everyone at GMAD and will be sorely missed when they leave.
Thursday afternoon was our usual accompanying Sisters Lautaimi and Najjuka.
While we were teaching David, some kids came and began playing around where we were at. They then became enthralled with Sister Judd's iPad and pictures of our grandkids as Sister Judd scrolled through them.
David, Sisters Najjuka and Lautaimi, and Sister Judd's new friends.
On Friday (January 17), we were able to go to the temple. We love being in the temple. It is a tremendous blessing to be in this mission where we are so close to the Accra Temple and where we are able to continue with our commitment to be in the temple at least twice a month. We then stayed in Accra at the mission home with President and Sister Jacobsen.
We went to the Butterfly Market near the mission home on Saturday morning to get several items we had determined to take home for grandkids and ourselves. On the way home, we did our weekly shopping and got home about an hour before we needed to go with Sisters Appia and Tavita.
Visiting and teaching Lizzy and her family who were baptized about six weeks ago. Sister Judd found a sweet little baby to give attention and love to.
Sister Tavita sweeping as a service to Jessica before we taught Jessica about the Plan of Salvation.
When we go with Sisters Lautaimi and Najjuka or Appia and Tavita, we usually visit and/or teach 3 to 4 individuals or families in the 3 hours or so that we are with each of the companionships. Elder Judd just doesn't remember to take pictures except at a few of them!
Sunday we went to our Awutu Breku Branch meetings. After the regular meeting block we had a short meeting with the sister missionaries and President Sam (first counselor in the mission presidency) who was there visiting the branch. We then went to the branch council meeting. The stake had held a huge leadership meeting on Saturday. In branch council, the branch president had each organization report on what was presented in each of the break-out sessions at the leadership meeting. Then there was a long discussion on what the goal should be for the number of baptisms in the Awutu Breku Branch for 2025. In 2024, there were 35 baptisms in the branch. After the discussion where each organization gave their suggestions and input, the decision was to have a goal of 20 per quarter or 80 for the year. There was a good discussion on what can are done to achieve this "stretch" goal. There was also emphasis given to retaining new converts and on reactivation of members who are not participating in the church any more. Although it was a 2 hour branch council, it was very productive.
There were 29 of us crowded into the branch president's office for
branch council, because it has air conditioning!
Items of interest:
Branches, grass, or anything else handy is placed on the road as warning that there is a
broke down vehicle ahead, and the traffic just goes around it!
Platter of fish on her head while riding on the motorbike.
Cooking their meal outside on a fire, just like always. And then doing dishes in a big pan, just like always.
The following is taken from "The Power of Gratitude" by AC Lim:
"He who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even a hundred fold, yea, more." (D & C 78:19)
"This is God's promise that if we live with a spirit of thanksgiving we will have greater happiness and satisfaction in life. Gratitude will turn our heart to the Lord and help us recognize His influence and blessings in our life."
"Even in our most difficult times, we can find many things to be grateful for. When we express thankfulness for the good things in life as well as the opposition and challenges, we add to our experience and our faith is strengthened. We put our lives in God's hands, realizing that all that transpires will be for our good."
May we each find the happiness, satisfaction in life, and increased faith that comes from being grateful in all things.
Love,
Sister and Elder Judd
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