Week 62

Where the previous two weeks were pretty busy, this week has been a little slower.  

On Monday, we expected the delivery of a truckload of water at 8:30 in the morning.  It finally came in the early afternoon.  We met President Nartey, our branch president, and his wife at the church at 4:00 p.m. to help Sister Nartey create a church account so she could enter her family history information in FamilySearch.  Just as we were getting started, the power went off.  So, we brought them back to our apartment where we could run the generator and be able to help Sister Nartey.  We had a good visit with them while helping her.  They have two small children and were interested in looking at our reunion book from reunion in 2023.  The power came back on just as we were finishing.  Then, we took them to their house.

Tuesday was district council day.  We drove to Asamankese and planned to go to the Asamankese district council.  We pulled into the parking lot of the church in Asamankese just ahead of the A.P.'s.  They were also planning to go to the Asamankese district council.  Since the Kade district also meets at the same time in the same building, we switched and went to the Kade district council.  We have multi-zone conferences this coming week and then transfers the following week.  We will go back to Asamankese the week after that to join the Asamankese district council.

Elders Tannahill, Johnson, Ngozo,. Arumando, with Tivane and Cichos in front.

The exciting news for Tuesday was that Alora (Sara's daughter) flew home to North Carolina from her mission in Utah Provo Spanish Speaking.  

And of course, Wednesday is apartment inspections.  This time we were closer to home with inspecting the apartments in Kasoa 4, Kasoa 1, and Kasoa 5.  These are only about an hour away from our apartment, so that was nice.  After finishing the apartment inspections, we drove on towards Accra to do some shopping at the West Hills Mall before going home.

Elders Tingey and Kabanda at Kasoa 5

Elders Roche and Ilunga at Kasoa 1

Elders Radford and Creighton at Kasoa 4

When we went with Sisters Najjuka and Tu'angalu on Thursday afternoon, we visited Martha and her daughter, Vivian.  Vivian and her sister, Claudia, were baptized about four months ago.  Martha also wanted to be baptized.  But she and her "husband" are not married even though they have been together for many years and have three daughters together.  So, she has not been able to be baptized.  Getting married in Ghana involves a "bride price" the man has to give to the woman's family.  It is not uncommon for this to be beyond the financial ability of the man to pay.  That is why it is common to find a man and woman living together as though they are married when they are not.  This is the case with Martha and her "husband." 

In Ghana, the traditional marriage is comprised of two parts.  The first is the "knocking" where the man's family goes to the woman's family and presents gifts, money, drinks, and other valuable materials.  A spokesman is appointed from the man's family to represent them as the man is not permitted to speak directly.  The man's family would be asked for the purpose of their visit, and the spokesman will reply to the woman's family about the reason why they came.  After the intention is made known, the drinks, gifts, money, and other valuable material are presented to the woman's family.  If they are accepted, it means the man's family is welcome and well-received.  During this whole process of exchanging pleasantries and gifts, the woman intending for marriage is not present in the room or house.  Instead, she is in a separate location performing other duties such as making up or dressing.  She will be invited by her family and asked if she knows the man who wants to marry her and if she wants to marry him.  If she says "yes," both families proceed to proper planning and discussion of other marital rites that must be fulfilled before or at the traditional wedding.  The man and woman are then officially engaged.  The woman's family then presents to the man their list of things the man has to give to the woman's family in order for the marriage to happen.  The second part of the marriage can not happen until the man can present the items on the list to the woman's family.

Here is the "wedding list" that Martha's family gave her "husband" in order for them to be married:

The monetary amounts are in Ghana Cedi.  Though the total is not a large about in equivalent US dollars, it is beyond this family's financial ability to do.  Hopefully, they will eventually be able to do this so they can be married.

In the second part of the traditional marriage, the two families and invited guests get together on the appointed day.  There is a lot of celebrating, dancing, eating, and drinking that lasts for at least half day.  The bride and groom wear colorful traditional Ghanaian clothing.  They are not married, however, until the man presents the money and items in the wedding list to the woman's family and the woman's family has said they accept what is given to them as fulfillment of the man's obligations.  If the woman's family accepts them, the man and woman are then "married" with or without any formal exchange of vows.   

Martha with Sister Judd and Martha and two of her daughters with Sister Judd

Another visit we did on Thursday afternoon was with David who was baptized four or five months ago.  We had stopped at his place several times but never found him home.  So, we were glad to catch him home this time and are able to visit with him.  He had these bundles of sticks.  What is amazing is that they are tied in bundles using palm leaves braided into "ropes."

Amazingly strong "ropes" made from braided palm leaves

Sister Tavita had been sick for a few days with some kind of allergic reaction resulting in hives over much of her body and not able to sleep.  We had an appointment at the temple on Friday, so we took Sister Tavita and Sister Nipepe to Accra to the mission office for Sister Tavita to have a blood test to find out what was causing the hives.  We enjoyed a wonderful time in the temple doing sealings for Sister Judd's ancestors.  It always brings peace, settling, and refocusing being in the temple.  We then took Sistes Tavita and Nipepe back to Awutu Breku with us.  

We have an assignment to teach a breakout class at the multi-zone conferences next week, so we spent a good part of Saturday preparing for that.

And Sunday included starting a new temple preparation class for three young men who are preparing to serve missions and then participating in the branch council meeting with all the branch leadership.

Two of our favorite times of year are the first weekend of April and first weekend of October when the General Conferences of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are held and are broadcast worldwide.  It is a challenge listening to or watching the General Conference sessions here in Ghana because of the time difference and especially because of our very poor internet connection on the weekends.  But, that does not stop us from doing all we can to be uplifted, edified, inspired, taught, spiritually strengthened, instructed on doctrine, and finding peace, hope, and joy through our Savior, Jesus Christ, from the General Conference music and the messages of the apostles and prophets and other Church leaders.  A much valued principle of the gospel of Jesus Christ is that of individually receiving personal revelation for our lives.  General Conference is a time for the richness of this blessing to be manifested.  We invite each to join in listening or watching General Conference this coming weekend.  The experience will be magnified as you have in mind a question you desire to be answered as you listen to or watch General Conference.

The Savior and our Heavenly Father know and love each of you and are intimately aware of you and your needs.  We witness of this important truth!

Love,

Elder and Sister Judd