A couple of Sundays ago we visited the Obuasi 3rd Branch.  I attended Relief Society.  This is the meeting that the women have and it is held  on the 2nd and 4th Sundays.  Up until lately I haven't been attending Relief Society because Elder Garrison and I had been teaching Primary (the children's organization) in the Obuasi 4th Branch.  The lady on the left is Monica and the lady on the right is Tracy. Tracy taught the lesson and I wish you all could have been there to hear it!  She told so many stories about the miracles that have come into her life because she has faith in Jesus Christ.  It was delightful to see her up in front of the other women and almost pleading with them, to just exhibit a little bit of faith and promising them if they would, they would be so blessed.  It was a treat to be there with them. 

The above three pictures are all examples of how people here serve up food from the side of the road or in front of where they live. (Kind of like our kids do with lemonade stands). They usually start early in the morning and carry whatever they are going to sell in big pans or sometimes coolers on their heads and sell from old wooden tables. They sell everything from porridge to beans and rice to banku to fufu, to fried plantains to fried yams  etc., They bag things up in plastic bag and people will pay a nominal amount of money for a meal.  These ladies do it EVERY SINGLE DAY and many times with a baby on their back.  Honestly, the hard work that people put in here to sustain themselves is just amazing.  

Just my regular picture of what kinds of decals that the people in Ghana put on their cars and trucks. 💓

Not many washers or dryers here in Ghana.  People do their wash in a plastic tub with water and soap and scrub the clothes by hand and then hang the clothes where ever they can find a place to hang them.  Or sometimes they lay them out on fences or rocks. 

Examples of how some people just find whatever they can to build a shelter.  On the way to President and Sister Kunz' house, there is a string of shelters like this with probably 15 or so families living there.  It is so sad. 

Last Wednesday we had two young men from Bolga come to Kumasi to obtain their police reports and to be set apart.  President Kunz was away at Zone Conferences in Techiman, so he asked President Obeng, his counselor to set them apart. These two will be great Elders:  Elder Amokase and Elder Agana.  There was a 3rd elder (Elder Sam)

that came from Sunyani that President Kunz set apart the day before.  All three will be going to the MTC on 18 September.  We wish them nothing but the best! 

Elder Apana, Elder Amokase and Elder Sam.

President Obeng brought his baby girl with him.....how can you resist this cute face???  I can't!

Another picture of a beautiful little girl in the Obuasi 1st branch.  

It was Alex's birthday this past week, so we made him wear the silly hat as we sang happy birthday to him.  Alex is technically our "mission driver" but he does so much more really.  Just this week, he drove one of our missionaries that needed to register for his national service. The national service gives newly qualified graduates with the opportunity to have practical exposure on the job, both in the public and private sectors, as part of their civic responsibility to the State. (here in Ghana every person  18 years and older does 1 year of national service).  Usually they do this service right after they get done with their high school schooling.  This missionary served a mission first and there was a deadline for him to sign up, so Alex drove him the 4 hours to Accra to do it.  Alex had the "feeling" that they should go a day early, just to get their ducks in a row.  So they left very early on Thursday morning and got there around 12 noon.  When the missionary showed the officials the copies of their documents the official said that they wouldn't do, that they needed hard copies. So Alex and the missionary were talking about it and another "official" came over and looked at their missionary tags and said, "Oh, the Church of Jesus christ of Latter Day Saints!"  Then he went back and talked to the guy that was helping them, and said to take the copies, that Latter Day Saints were honest, so that their documents would be ok.  The other kicker was that the office was going to be closed on Friday!  When he told me that story, it just affirmed to me again of how the Lord is in the details of our lives and that He wants us to succeed.  He will help us all along the way. 

Last Saturday night, we had the Moomeys, Kunzes and the Derrs over for dinner.  You might wonder what we fix over here for company?  Well that night I made meat loaf (we can find good ground beef here), mashed potatoes, honey glazed carrots, home made rolls and a green salad.  Sister Kunz brought some pumpkin cupcakes with ice cream and chocolate sauce.....so it was a feast! Hahaha.  The Derrs are senior missionaries that live in Accra.  They teach Self-Reliance lessons, which are so beneficial for the members here.  We loved the matching shirt and skirt that they had on!

On August 20th it was All African Day of Service.  I "stole" this picture from President Kunz.  This was a picture of the Saints in Obuasi where we attend church.  I recognize so many of these happy faces!  Looks like they came out in force!

On Thursday we went to Accra with the Moomey's to go to the temple! What a treat that was! I wish I could adequately describe the feeling that washed over me as I was inside the temple seeing big groups of our African Saints doing various ordinances.  It was just one of the sweetest experiences that I have had so far in Ghana.  It just makes my heart so happy to see how the gospel changes these wonderful people and the joy that is in their faces as they experience the temple. We traveled to Accra with the Moomey's so besides going to the temple, we did a bit of shopping, ate at some delicious restaurants and ate way too much!  

This was the best thing I ate in Accra....it was a Steak and Mango salad at Bistro 22. I know it might not look that delicious, but believe me it was!  

On our way home from Accra, we drove to the Elder's apartment in Mpraeso where Elder Riley, Elder Musungo, Elder Alger and Elder Bonnett live.  We had a few things that needed to be delivered there and they surprised us with Pizza, chocolate milk and  2 banana cakes-- one of the cakes was chocolate banana!  It was such a generous and kind surprise.  They said that they wanted to show gratitude for all that senior missionaries do!  Wasn't that so thoughtful of them?  Here are a couple of pictures:

We were impressed with Elder Riley's culinary skills!

Last week we got news that our ginger-haired, softball loving grand daughter committed to playing for UVU.  We were so happy to hear about this.  She has had a dream to play college softball since she was 7 and has worked so hard.  She is a senior this year, so she will be a Wolverine 2023-24.  We will have to get a t shirt!

How can La be a senior this year?😢

Then there is Claire-bear going to High School!  I just need to put a stop to these kids growing up so fast!!!

Serving here in Africa often reminds me of one of my favorite quotes: "we are all just walking each other home." We are all God's children, and we all have our own struggles and challenges.  We can find the most joy in life by helping our fellow brothers and sisters along the path home.  I am so thankful to have the opportunity to  help walk some of His children home.  It is an such a rich  blessing. 

Thank you one and all for the love and support we feel from you.  Stay strong and steadfast!

Love,

The Garrisons