After just being 10 days in Ghana there are things that have already stolen my heart. One of those things is the children. They are all just so beautiful and friendly. On Saturday, the senior couple that are here in the office: The Coombs, took us and the Moomeys to a village about an hour and a half away where they make the Kente Clothe that Ghana is famous for. We were able to see the men weave this beautiful cloth on looms....such a tedious and exact art. While there, the children would just gather and stare at us. Sister Coombs brought little packages of cookies to give them, and you should have seen their SMILES.....melted my heart💔
The children are just so content with life here. This is a picture of how the mamas typically carry their babies around. I have yet to see a fussy baby on the back of their mama. They just seems to sleep and bounce around as their mamas do all kinds of tasks. It just really amazes me.
On Sunday, we decided to attend a ward that was about 40 minutes from where we lived. President Kunz had given us a list of possible wards or branches to attend, there were about 6 that he listed. The ward that we decided to go to was Aputuagya Ward. We chose it because President Kunz and his wife hadn't visited it yet. As we drove up to the church, we noticed a man walking and didn't pay too much attention to him, just thought that he was probably going to church. After parking and getting out of the car, we walked through the gate and the man looked at us and said, "It's you!" We looked at him and realized that it was Joseph....a man that we had taught in St. Thomas and had helped get back to Ghana. He had worked in St. Thomas for 20 years, sending money back to his family to support them. He was ready to retire and wanted to go back to "Home". We had lost touch with him, trying to contact different bishops in Africa to find him, but had no luck. But there he was to greet us the very first Sunday that we attended church in Kumasi. He told us that he hadn't been coming to church for a long time, but on that Sunday, that he had felt impressed that he should go! I don't really know how we would have ever found him if he hadn't come! You cannot imagine the joy we felt in seeing him ! The ward records didn't have his address and he had no phone. Some might say that it was a coincidence, but we know that the Lord is indeed the good Shepherd and like it says in Matthew 18:12. "How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains and seeketh that which is gone astray?" He loves each of His children, and wants them to come back to Him. We just happened to be His hands last Sunday.
This is a picture of fufu with chicken soup. It was our first time to have this as our cook at the mission office made it for us. It is cassaba that they pound away at, as they move it around and it turns into like a dough. They eat it with their hands. The soup was very flavorful and a little bit spicy. I liked it, but I like dough! Elder Garrison didn't like it so much and said he would like the soup with rice......
We had our first transfer this week. I don't have any pictures because my head is still swimming with all that goes on during these 3 or 4 days. I am just grateful that the previous secretary and her husband: The Coombs are still here and led the way through all that has to be done. I am somewhat nervous for them to go and to have do it on our own but I have to believe that the Lord will make up the difference. Our mission President and his wife have so much to do these few days that I am sure that they are exhausted! I just have to say that the Lord does sustain our leaders to do this work and I am so grateful to watch the whole process and be a small part in this work.
Love to all our family and friends,
The Garrisons
Thank you for your message about how the Lord looks after all of us. No fanfare just small and simple means. Keep up the good work. He will lead you along. Candi Christ
ReplyDeleteLove your adventure with the pictures, awesome!
ReplyDeleteI was reading this out loud and David and I both cried. Nothing simple or small about this miracle. Absolutely incredible. I am so happy to read this update!
ReplyDeleteTerrific log entry. Live the photos. The smiles on the kids are magnetic.
ReplyDeleteThe fact the kids enjoyed playing with cars they made from milk cartons should make us question whether kids are better off buying them expensive, pre-made toys rather than using their ingenuity and creativity to make fun out of simple things.
Really enjoy sharing in your venture.