April 9, 2009

Hope all is well with you all... Lots of Bithdays this month... HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL OF YOU...We had the opportunity to go to Koforidua recently to check the Elders and Sisters apartments there... Usually Reynolds do it but they have now gone home...Pres. Smith has been sick with Tyfoid fever and so he had us go.... It is about 2 -1/2 hours down a ways and over the mountain...it was a fun experience for us...we took a lunch and headed out, one sister aptartment and two Elders... it was great to see where they live and compare with HO.... it was also good to talk and joke with them.... after checking the apartments we drove back over to the road that heads up to a couple of water falls, close to Umbrella rock where we had been last July and climbed to it.... This time we could drive practically right to the water falls... except a small trail leading to stairs that went down to the falls...220 steps to the Akaa Falls and 250 to the Boti Falls...that's all fine to go down but then you have to go up that many to get back out... then to top that off I forgot to take my camera when we went down the Akaa falls and so we went back down after we had ate our yummy tuna sandwich and drank our mineral water. The truck was parked in the shade and a man brought us out a chair to sit on, but I prefered to sit on the seat of the truck as the chair was so dirty.... kind jesture on the part of the little african man that took our money (a fee of 2.oo each) wow to go see the falls..... But after lunch and a rest we went back down. So 480 steps to that falls and then up and down when we went over to the other area, (a couple of miles away) and went to the other falls, which actually had two water falls. They called one the female and the other the male.... naturally the male one was just a little larger than the other....we figured we had gone up and down l480 steps.... my legs could really tell by the way they felt the next day. ha ha....it was a good day and we made it home inby 5:00 before dark. This past week we went to Accra Saturday morning after I taught all my keyboard lesson, which start at 7:00 over to the branch and we have anywhere between two to five at a time because of the new keyboards I had ordered from salt Lake...Anyway we went home at 9:30 on the spur of the moment decided to go to Accra to watch conference.... we got to Accra by l2:l5 and went straight in to the Temple and did an endowment session and were out by 2:30... We had called Pres. Cobb at the Temple to see if we could get a room for the weekend in the Ancillary bldg.. .(Pres. Cobb is incharge of the Ancillary rooms) because they are mainly for Temple patrons... so we did get a room and after getting settled in we went to the Chinese Resturant called Pearls and had our dinner, as we hadn't eaten for the day...then over to the Area office by 4:00 to watch conference....we went quickly to the store for a few items and then back to conference at 8 oclock...We really enjoyed conference and all the talks...it is the first time we have been able to see or hear conference since we started our mission...Anywyay the next day was Sunday and the office couple, our friends the Hales from Centerfield, Utah, invited us to go to church with them.... but he had to do some interviews for President Smith and so we went to the Ashiaman ward and then to the Tsisti ward for part of the time... it was very interesting to see the buildings and people etc. there...afterward Hales invited us to dinner at their house, which we were thankful for because we would have gotten anorexia if we had to miss a meal ha ha.... afterwards we all had a little nap, mine was short as I decided to go and wash the dishes so that Sis Hales could rest as she has had tyfoid fever also...Then Sister Hales and I played a game of Scrabble and then it was time to go to the Sunday sessions of conferencae at 4--- and then 8 oclock in the evening...Bed... up the next day, did our shopping and came back to Ho...We have been without water for days now... as something is wrong with the city water...we live across from the water company and so Charles always walks across the street to see if it's a problem at our house or the whole city.... This time it was the whole city..... occassionally there is a drop or two but I boil water to wash dishes after collecting it in a pan from the occassion drip. Thank goodness we have a small storage of bottled filtered water for us to brush teeth and fix a meal...or a sponge bath... not complaining, just explaining... life is great and we are really here in Africa where most people go long distances each morning with a jar or big bowl etc. on their head to get water...or take a bath...even small children and all sizes really can be seen with a container or things on their heads getting water or selling things...What an adventrure this is even if we don't do anything but convert ourselves. ha ha How many times have I said that in regards to sending out one of my children on a mission, if they only convert themselves it will be worth it...enough for now... just remember that we love you and your Heavenly Father loves you and you are very blessed even if America is having economical problems... follow the Prophet and don't fear but have faith.... stay close to your Heavenly Father and His Divine Son