WELCOME NEW MISSIONARIES!

UPDATE:  I haven't been able to get access to the blog for a few weeks but as I was going back though some previous posts looking for some photos recently I found this post that I thought I had posted but it is under "draft" in the blog files.  I hope I posted it last in August 2013 (when I wrote it) but just in case I didn't here it is.  Sorry to all those missionaries below if this was overlooked!  You will see them many times in other posts in the future as they are serving as leaders and trainers now!

WE WELCOME OUR 18 NEW MISSIONARIES TO THE GHANA ACCRA WEST MISSION! 

We received our 2nd set of new missionaries here in the Ghana Accra West Mission on Wednesday, August 21st.  I think, so far, this my favorite part - to see the new missionaries - fresh from the MTC ready to serve the Lord and excited trainers ready to make the first experience for their companions here in Ghana a great one! They are all  AWESOME!
 
Missionary arrival day starts very early for all of us.  The missionaries arrived at the Tesano Stake Center by 7 am (about an hours' trip from TEMA, where the MTC is).  Our office Elders picked up our group of 17 Elders and 1 Sister - 15 Americans, the others from Figi, South Africa, Uganda.  I have said it's like the United Nations.  We now have 120 missionaries.  With this transfer we have nearly 1/3 of our missionaries as trainers and nearly another 1/3 being trained. 

As I met them, I had a confirmation that this is the place the Lord has called each one of them.  He knows them, loves them and needs them here!  Thanks to the families who have shared them with us!

Missionaries, direct from the MTC enter Tesano chapel with their luggage.

First place of gathering before introduction to mission.

New Elders and Sister waiting for instruction:

 New Missionaries on right - Trainers on left.



Awesome Trainers waiting excitedly for new companions:

Trainers greet new companions:

(Trainer on right)

(Trainer on left:)

 

One of our missionaries was ill - I'll post a picture of he and his trainer soon!

I'm reminded of the line in "The Little Prince".  

"You are responsible forever for he whom you have trained!"

Trainers and New Missionaries receive instruction:

   

New Missionaries with President and Sister Hill

 New Missionaries with Trainers and AP's

New Missionaries with Trainers & President and Sister Hill

Elders and Sisters gather before leaving church for areas:

On the way to the teaching area:

We are thrilled to welcome these missionaries to the Ghana Accra West Mission!

They and their families will be blessed for their service! 

  

P.S.  In the name of privacy I've not included names.

Missionary Districts and Apartments

We have tried to set up a basic schedule for each week.  Among other activities, on Tuesday morning we try to visit District meetings (a different one each week) - which each of our districts hold.  Typically, a district is one or two apartments of missionaries. This gives us a chance to meet a few missionaries at a time and get to know them better - which we are loving!  On Wednesdays we try to visit and check out 2 or 3 apartments, with Elder and Sister Wall.  These may be called apartment inspections in other places but our primary goal is to make sure the apartments have everything they need - bed nets (they are using over beds at night to keep out mosquitoes), window screens (to make sure not too many mosquitoes are entering the apartments), water filters that are working (every apartment has these to make sure missionaries are drinking pure water) and various other items - decent (or maybe adequate) beds, study tables, working outlets and plumbing - as well as water.  We are trying to make sure the missionaries are as safe and healthy as possible in their mission apartments. 

Below are some of the missionaries we've visited for District meetings.  We met for our first few weeks at the chapels - since that was they only place we knew how to find:)  My internal GPS is starting to work better but goat path takes on a whole new meaning here.  We've joked before about roads looking like someone paved a cow path but here it's more like a goat path and most are not even paved:) 

Tantra Hills District

Kaneshie District

Mateheko District

Odorkor District

Nsawam District Apartment Courtyard:

Nsawam 1 Apartment

Nsawam 1 Front Room

From the front wall.  I think this apartment has been around for awhile!

My computer with all my pictures crashed so I'm going to go ahead and post what I have so far since it has taken most of the day to get this much.  My ongoing challenge is having the internet working and the computer functioning at the same time.  We have been promised new "OUTSTANDING INTERNET SERVICE" tomorrow!  No breath holding going on here, since that has been promised before, but if it happens I'll post the rest of the pictures I had planned.

We have the best missionaries ever and feel blessed to be a part of the Ghana Accra West Mission!

Go Forth to Serve - Return With Honor

This last few weeks has been a lot of FIRSTS for us.  This post is a beginning and an end - our FIRST missionaries from the MTC and catching us up to date - our FIRST missionaries to complete their missions here and RETURN WITH HONOR:

GO FORTH TO SERVE!

Our missionaries arrived from the Ghana MTC on July 10th.  Here we are in front of the 

Tesano Chapel where we greeted them and then oriented them to our new mission.

We've decided that our mission is like a mini United Nations.

These missionaries are from the United States - Nevada & Idaho, Nigeria, Ghana & Sierra Leon.

This missionary from Lesotho (Country within South Africa) was delayed and we met him at our Mission Office. 

"Trainers"  - companions for our new missionaries waiting to be assigned.

First meeting of trainers with new missionaries.

 Just to report - these missionaries are all doing great & learning much!

RETURN WITH HONOR!

This last week, Tuesday August 6th, we also saw our first group of missionaries Return Home With Honor.  Our Office Elders brought the middle 5 to our home to spend their last day. We shared a couple of meals, a trip to the temple and a wonderful testimony meeting before delivering them to the airport traveling to Utah, Wyoming, California and Samoa.  What a special day for us!

 Waiting for interviews with President Hill.



A view of a the Accra Ghana temple.

Our session was full of members receiving their own endowments from Cote D'ivorie (Ivory Coast)  The session was in French.  A great reminder of why we are all here - to help Heavenly Father's children return to Him. 

A last farewell to the temple.

 Repacking and weighing bags:

Our missionaries with the reminder of Ghana, handmade by a member here with their name and mission name - these with Ghana Accra Mission since they were ordered before our mission began.

Final photo op with the Assistants.


Goodbye shot with President and Sister Hill - next stop - the airport - then HOME!  Thanks to President and Sister Judd for sharing these fine Elders with us for the last month of their mission!
May God Bless and Keep Them!