Kente Cloth Weaving

Shelter Where Weaving is Done

Roll of Kente Thread for Weaving

Entering the Sales Room

The Group, Sister Powell, Szonja,

Camille, Sister Brown

Dance Group from Orphanage 2

Dance Group from Orphanage

Drummers From Orphanage

Men Warrior Dance

April & May Dancing Videos

Photos of April & May Events

Lawnmowers at Teshie Chapel

Elder & Sister Brown at Orphanage Dance Performance.

Groundbreaking for Area Presidency Apartments

Area Presidency and Elder & Sister Brown turn dirt

Crowd at Christiansborg Stk Conference

Kids at Conference

Bright Head Dress

Young Married Couple

Baboons on way to Akosomba Dam

Browns & Pages on Dam

Asamankese PEF Girls at a Fireside

Fenella, PEF Volunteer in Service Center

Redeemer, posed with nice hairdo

Beatrice & Mavis, PEF Students at

McCarthy Hill Stake Conference

Shower of Blessings, License Plate

Swedru Village Soccor Team

Trumpeter Swans?

Motorcycle Police in Accra

Holiday Party Group, Labodi Beach Hotel

Fufu Demonstration

2011 WEST AFRICA PHOTO UPDATE

Nigerian Ceremonial Necklace

Birthday Party

Gloria, Jamestown Branch

Kids in Jamestown Branch

Cooks, Teaching Sister Brown how to make Gari

Flora, PEF Volunteer

Native Temple Missionaries

Come to Bethlehem (by way of Africa)

Our family commented that we hadn't posted anything about our holiday festivities. After trying to post a few videos and photos, the answer is clear--we don't like to post! Videos and pictures mix in a post about as good as oil and water--they don't want to go together. So notice the dates and put the puzzle together and see if you can make sense of the events as they occurred.

On Christmas Eve we traveled to the New Legon Branch to experience a Night in Bethlehem. This building is a new design for chapels in Africa. The main chapel area is surrounded by classroom pods to facilitate quieter, more ventilated rooms. The Petersen's were assigned to this branch and, of course, Sister Petersen helped to introduce a new activity to the African saints.

Traditional costumes were required and food typical of Bethlehem days was served.

A clothing tent (behind these men) provided outfits to those who didn't come up with their own.

Mother and daughter were glad to enjoy the experience together.

Elder and Sister Page made themselves comfy on the ground to eat their meal.

I am supervising a craft project: Salt dough ornaments decorated with beads.

A photo op at the end of the evening with Elder and Sister Ahadgie, who belong to the

New Legon Branch. He is an Area Seventy and she works in the travel department of the

Area Office.

At our final Family Home Evening of the year, Elder and Sister Petersen were presented with their kente banner keepsakes. They have served as Executive Secretaries to the Area Presidency and are pictured here with Elder Cardon, Elder Sitati, and Elder Dickson. They will return home to Gilbert, AZ on January 21, 2011.

The following video clips are each under one minute. The first one goes with the Night in Bethlehem program--a narration of the Christmas Story.

The 2nd and 3rd videos are at the Area Office Christmas Party. The song is being sung in Twi and the dance is typical African rhythm. I scanned the food served so you could see a traditional Ghanaian banquet.

The last video was taken after the program on Christmas eve when this mother is wrapping her baby to take him home. See how easy she makes it look.

(*I am publishing this post but will not guarantee that any of the videos will play.)

THAT'S ALL FOLKS!

Welcome 2011 and May God Bless Us, Everyone.

Primary, Dinner Guests, and PEF

On Sunday, November 14th, 2010, the Jamestown Branch Primary conducted the Sacrament Meeting Program. They did an excellent job of sitting reverently, speaking out clearly, and singing their hearts out. There was no music accompaniment but sweet, clear voices that you could tell had practiced with the music. The young girl on the left of the front bench stood and conducted each song with adult-like ease. We took this quick shot before the meeting began so you could see arms folded and children ready to perform. They were serious, funny, and right in character with children all over the world. Who doesn't love to see their children and grandchildren shine? Their testimonies and messages were felt by the Spirit which they shared.

The young couple below (Jacob and Kalli Hiller) have been attending the Jamestown Branch for a couple of months. In Relief Society I was impressed to ask Kalli if they would like to come to lunch. "That would be great," she said, and so we were able to hear a little of their story and why they were in Ghana. They call themselves 'nomadic entrepreneurs' and have an online business so they can work anyplace that has internet connections. They spend about two months in one place and then move on to 'see the world.' After lunch we offered to take them home because they were in a hostel by the beach in the Jamestown area which we wanted to see up close. They showed us where they had lived for two months and their beach front view was beautiful but their accommodations were right next to poverty row. They have a fascinating blog and she has documented their stay in Ghana which is a different perspective than we are having. (jacobandkalli.blogspot.com) They left on Wednesday and when I checked to see their last post--lo and behold, they posted two of the same photos we have posted. A few hours of conversation and a forever documented memory.

I guess you have to have a photo by the Gulf of Guinea if you have the opportunity to do so.

Here we are!

The next photos are of Gertrude Annan-Simons a PEF graduate, wife, mother and businesswoman. Elder Brown is creating an information pamphlet about PEF to pass out to the church units in Ghana. We felt a success story should be included and Gertrude was chosen. She is a PEF graduate who is paying back her loan from the business she started using the skills she learned in school. She makes fruit containers and takes orders each day to send to the area office and other locations. She also decorates and caters parties and weddings.

The Annan-Simons family: Samuel holding William, Andrew, and Gertrude. Samuel works in the area office in the finance department and is bishop of the Dansoman Ward. They are examples of the church leadership in Ghana.

We approach the Thanksgiving season with grateful hearts for all that we have been blessed to experience serving as missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We give thanks each day for our Heavenly Father's tender mercies to His children everywhere.

Visiting the Volta Region

This blog is actually a preface to the video of feeding the monkeys. We spent a few days seeing some of the sites in the Volta Region. The playground where we are standing is the entrance to where the river boat trip we took on the Volta River begins. This trip was actually the third time we had been on this river tour but the other three couples we were traveling with had never been before. The boat in the foreground was about the size of the boat we took on this trip. It was a little scary; especially when it started pouring rain. We got very wet but what an adventure!

Elder Brown enjoys the opportunity of taking pictures with the school children that were across the road from the monkey sanctuary. The children love seeing themselves on the camera screen and are always ready to pose for the obrunis.

Signs are always good to document where you have visited. At least you know you have arrived at the right place when you see the billboard.

This monkey was about the largest one of the bunch we saw. He appeared to be their protector and though he allowed them to eat from our hands, he wouldn't do so himself. Visiting this sanctuary was our first up-close experience with the wildlife of Ghana.

The following video of me feeding the monkeys was a fun experience. I was afraid that they would claw as they landed or get so rambunctious getting at the bananas that they would bite but they were very gentle and focused on getting their banana treat. The guide kept saying, "Don't panic, stay calm, they won't hurt you." It was good advice and we had a fun day.

All African Service Day - 21 August, 2010

*Unless Kassie can rearrange this five-photo blog post you will have to start at the end and end at the beginning.

Part of our group was Sister and Elder Ounleu and their daughter. He is an area seventy from Ivory Coast and works as the West Africa Area S & I (Seminary and Institute) director in the area office. He speaks French and English and is helping to set up the PEF (Perpetual Education Fund) in his home country.

Our group consisted of about 50 people and we attracted quite a bit of attention on the journey. With many helping hands the cleanup was finished and loaded onto the garbage truck about two hours later.

'It's just around the corner' from the church (they say) and a 30 minute walk later we arrived at our appointed destination, the Osu Market.

Here I am with a handmade broom and my garbage bag ready to go to work.

This is the beginning of our service day as we gathered at the Christianborg Ward, donned our yellow vests and stylish yellow gloves, and then waited for an hour for everyone to arrive on African time.