Wednesday, June 25, 2014

It's Ghana all Day Every Day

                      Sights we see every day on our way home. There
           are a group of men who sit off to the side if the road and paint on the cement
        block wall.   One of the men came over to our window one day while I was talking to
       Halie on FaceTime . He said hello to her and went back to what he was doing. :)
          


        
                    
        
                 
                               On the wall in Jamestown . The oldest part of Accra .

         

                              These are a couple of paintings that were in the apartment.
              

                                       

         
                                             Colorful Sights along side of the road
                                    
                                                 Bountiful fruits displayed


                   
       
        In the baskets you can see " sun dried " fish they are selling.
       
              Not sure where I saw this....but I liked it. It paints the REAL Accra...confusion!

       

               We see this wall everyday on our way home.  Thought it was interesting how they were 
               Free painting this advertisement for frytol oil.

       
                                                         The finished wall .
      
                      Headdress activity with the other sister missionaries . For some reason
        when we " obrunies " or " white " ladies try to wear the fabric on our heads, we look silly.
                                           Where the African women look beautiful!
          
       

           

              
          

                                                             Sister Elmer!
     
       
                                                          Sister Peterson!
    

                                                           Sister Cannon !


                                                  Look at cute Sister Curtis!

    

                          And then.....me!
     

                   The group ! We did a parade around the Area Office ( Yeap we did )Felt like we 
   Were wearing our shower caps! Haha all the Ghanians were taking our pictures ! Oh the things 
    we do! Fun times!
    

             Another fun outing with some of the Ladies , we went to the basket lady..
     

                            Jamestown with The Parkes - the oldest part of Accra 

                           Looking out across the area from the lighthouse

    Taking a tour through the fishing Villiage . We met up with about 12 other missionaries. 
         Walking through the streets, the children LOVE their pictures taken.
                                           Sweet little girl on the road.
                                                                                  Just visiiting
                                                         
 Elder Bullock showing them their pictures.

       Thought this little child was so cute pulling around the bowl with dried fish it it. It was almost as big 
        him!
                                                                

           At the top of Jamestown lighthouse 
                             

       All is well, I have so many more pictures to post.  I will finish with this one today. At this time we are almost to 11 months on our mission! These pictures are from a couple of months ago. Ghana has been good to us, yes we miss everyone like crazy at home, but time will be passing by even faster these next 7 months.  We are grateful for our many experiences we are having here in Ghana . :)   

Sunday, May 18, 2014

Ghana Independence Day 57 Years


 57 years ago on March 6 1957 was when Ghana became independent from the British.  We went to the Accra  Stadium to watch the celebration.  We had decided to go by ourselves, no one else seemed to want to go.  It was a really nice morning, at least for an hour.  Then suddenly the clouds came rolling in along with the wind.  Then came the rain in buckets.  The wonderful groups that were there to perform just stayed in place with their instruments all in formation . The President came in in his car, the police in formations, everything continued. Well almost everything.  We heard that usually the fisherman, the hawkers, any kind of group walks around, but didn't do it in the rain.  We moved down the row so we didn't get wet, and just watched for a couple of hours.  The sound went out so we didn't hear the president speak but I guess he did speak for the TV.
                                         
                                 
                                           All the marching bands getting ready to perform.
                        Snacks being sold.  Love how everything is balanced on their heads!


  
                                                        Bananas!!!
                
                                                     Fried plantains!

                                    Hard boiled eggs, rubbed with salt.


Our cute friends we sat next to.


                               A beautiful " cooler" morning turned into a down pour!

   



             Here are the police marching and chanting a song, splashing in the rain! Can honestly say this is the ONLY time we have seen a smile on any of their faces!


                         As the President left he went around waving in the rain.
                                                  Standing guard.
                                                     

      
  This group of marchers were  the " special ed " kids.  They were so cute and tried so hard.
             
                          
  

                                And the celebration ended. Then we skip a few weeks...


                                  Hi Ho Hi Ho it's off to "Ho" we go...... We went.

                               
                                                           Celine & Abigail 
      Celine, Ester, Rebecca, Faith , Abigail , Darling girls.  The two girls in the middle 
             are twins, 17 years old and on their own finishing high school.

                                   
                                                              Evelyn, 
                 
  

         
     This was our scene out the window for 5 1/2 hours waiting for the ferry !  We would see
   the hawkers go past us one way and then come back past time and time again. 

               
    
 The looooong line to get to the ten minute ferry ride across!

     
   
   
    
                 Daily shopping....
               A daily scene we get so used to, we hardly notice the goats anymore.
       On the way to Ho you pass through  Juapong,  they call "pillow town" , can you tell why? 

                Friday night seminary students, waiting for the young Elders to come teach 
           teach the class. 

                            The Cosgraves and friends, Michael & Agnes 
           


           The Cosgraves took us around to meet their friends, Michael & Agnes.  They are both
           In their eighties .  Dr Cosgrave goes by to check on them each week and take their
           Blood pressure etc.

                                      Agnes & Michaels' stove outside their home.


    Went to a little house where a Muslim family lived.  He sold unique things.  Lynn bought me this
    necklace that has beads, stone, and silver.  He had a lot of very old " things" too.  As you can see 
    It was VERY hot and humid!

    


    
  



                 No Lynn didn't get the sword, but I'm sure before we come home he will !
    
                         
                        On to the kente cloth!
                                                   Kente cloth Weaver
    

                                                         Holy- the kente weaver.

   We had a great visit to Ho and enjoyed being in the " bush ". It was nice to be out of the city!
Met some great youth with many trials in their lives, but still had a smile on their faces.  Thankful that the Cosgraves let us hang out with them.  :) 

Another blog is in the making, still so far to catch up.  Life seems to be flying by in some ways, and then not in others!  We love the inter action with the other senior couples, and do enjoy our African friends.  Again I will say we are grateful for this opportunity we have to serve here in Ghana !