We have been having fun on the highways with the police lately. Their presence has been greatly increased because of the large number of fatality accidents which have taken place. It is no wonder, the way people drive here. They pass you on hills and on curves and sometimes directly in the face of oncoming traffic, forcing cars to take to the sides of the road. Yesterday two cars behind me went around me side by side at the same time. There are seldom street lights on the roads, making driving at night particularly stressful. Drivers turn their headlights on only when it is pitch black and sometimes not even then.
Police are found at permanent barriers on the road every so often. They sometimes just motion us on, other times look inside the vehicle and ask us where we are going. Some are friendly, asking how we are and wishing us a good days. Others are not. They sometimes ask us if we have anything for them, meaning a bribe. Other times they ask if we have any "chop" for them, meaning a snack. I have seen people give them pineapples and money.
The story is told here of the former mission president being asked for a blessing at one of the barriers. Without missing a beat, the president made the sign of the cross on his chess in the Catholic manner and said: "Bless you, my son," and quickly drove off, leaving the officer too startled to react.
We never know when we are going to encounter a speed trap on the road. The police select a spot in a semi desolate area just beyond a hill or a curve so that they cannot be seen until too late. Typically they stand in a group of four or five in the middle of the road at a point somewhere after a 50 km speed limit (about 30 mph) is posted. They may then stop you for speeding whether you were or not. Commonly they show you a radar gun which reads 72 km (about 45 mph)which they may or may not have even bothered to point in your direction. Often they are more interested in receiving a bribe than in giving you a ticket.
I was stopped Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of last week. Friday the police showed me their radar gun which read 62 km per hour. That was about 37 miles per hour (in a 30 mph zone). The policeman never pointed the gun at me but refused to talk about that issue. He appeared to be writing me up as we talked but it was on a wrinkled piece of paper which looked anything but official. He wrote in large numbers 200 cedis(about $160.) and said I would have to appear in court before a judge the following Monday in a city that is an hour and a half away from where we live. I played dumb and told him that I was new in the country and did not know where this city was. I asked if perhaps we could just settle things there on the highway rather than me trying to find an unfamiliar place a few days later. He smiled and motioned for his sergeant to come over. I handed then a 20 cedi note (about $16.), and they waved me on my way.
Saturday I was shown a radar gun which read 72 km. I had been carefully going the exact posted speed limit of 50 km per hour, having passed this particular trap a number of times in the past. The policeman never once pointed the gun at me. When I pointed this fact out to him, he simply said: "Tell the judge that the policeman used a faulty 'speed gun'". The officer continued to threaten me with a court appearance but did not write me up. It was obvious he was wanting a bribe. I told him how I love and respect policemen, being surrounded by them in my family. "Policemen in America?" he asked. I couldn't tell if he was impressed or not but he suggested that we talk to his sergeant. I asked the two of them how much it would take to settle the thing right then and there. The policeman said to me: "Let your heart be your guide," which is a familiar response given often when you ask how much something is going to cost you. I pulled out 10 cedis this time (about $8.) but the sergeant refused it, smiled, and waved me on without another word.
Today I was stopped again in a 50 km zone in the middle of nowhere and shown a radar gun reading of 72 km. I was actually going something close to that this time, probably faster, but the officer did not really know because he never pointed the gun in my direction. Inspiration came to me. I pointed to my missionary ID badge which I wear on my shirt and told the officer that I was a man of God and would not deliberatly break the law. Karma jumped in and said: "It is Sunday. We are on our way to church and will repent of driving too fast." I nearly laughed outloud but managed to maintain my composure. I didn't offer to pay any money this time, and the officer called his sergeant over, who just motioned to me to move on.
Drivers do try to warn one another of impending speed traps and commonly blink their headlights to indicate danger ahead. Once in awhile, however, we have come upon a trap without having been warned. Those who have had to go to court for a ticket say it is not pleasant and can be very expensive. One of our elders was fined the equivalent of $200. for supposedly driving 15 miles over the posted limit.
To add insult to injury, the cost of fuel just went up 30% in a single day. We are now paying about $5 a gallon for diesel.
Elder Turner
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Testimonies at Fast and Testimony Meetings
June 6, 2009
When giving a talk, teaching a lesson, offering prayer, or bearing testimony, the Ghanaians tend to speak loudly, forcefully, and dramatically. I think it is the pentacostal background of many of them showing through. I am seldom able to understand them because they almost always speak in their African dialects, but I find myself watching them closely as they speak and imagining what they might be saying.
A few months ago a young woman gave what appeared to be a passionately vibrant, almost urgent testimony accompanied by tears. She was so focused and so sincere, so beautifully intent on sharing her testimony I thought. I turned to the counselor seated next to me and asked him what she was saying. He said: "Oh, she is talking about how wonderful her three year old daughter is."
Today a middle aged woman came to the stand and launched into her testimony with marked enthusiasm. Before long she and the entire congregation were laughing and then exchanging comments with each other as she left the stand. I learned later that she told of taking two pieces of sacrament bread rather than the usual one at last month's meeting, being both hungry and thinking that the extra piece of bread would sustain her through some personal problems she had been experiencing. By mid afternoon her stomach was hurting, she said, and she concluded that the Lord was trying to tell her that one piece of sacrament bread was enough.
Elder Turner
When giving a talk, teaching a lesson, offering prayer, or bearing testimony, the Ghanaians tend to speak loudly, forcefully, and dramatically. I think it is the pentacostal background of many of them showing through. I am seldom able to understand them because they almost always speak in their African dialects, but I find myself watching them closely as they speak and imagining what they might be saying.
A few months ago a young woman gave what appeared to be a passionately vibrant, almost urgent testimony accompanied by tears. She was so focused and so sincere, so beautifully intent on sharing her testimony I thought. I turned to the counselor seated next to me and asked him what she was saying. He said: "Oh, she is talking about how wonderful her three year old daughter is."
Today a middle aged woman came to the stand and launched into her testimony with marked enthusiasm. Before long she and the entire congregation were laughing and then exchanging comments with each other as she left the stand. I learned later that she told of taking two pieces of sacrament bread rather than the usual one at last month's meeting, being both hungry and thinking that the extra piece of bread would sustain her through some personal problems she had been experiencing. By mid afternoon her stomach was hurting, she said, and she concluded that the Lord was trying to tell her that one piece of sacrament bread was enough.
Elder Turner
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Batik Class by the Ocean
Here we are at our Batik class.
(Sister Turner, Sister Myers, co-owner, Sister Sabey's newly returned missionary daughter, Sister Miles from the mission office, Sister Myers' partner, and Sister Sabey)
This is Sister Miles from the mission office stamping her fabric with wax. The wax prevents the dye from covering the material and automatically makes the design that we chose. Sister Miles is from Rexburg, Idaho. Her youngest son is on a mission and will get home the same time she and Brother Miles get home.
After stamping the design that we each chose, the fabric was taken by these two girls to be dyed. The girls put on gloves and "worked" the material for fifteen minutes in cold water to set the dye.
Here is Sister Sabey's fabric drying. She chose to just stamp a border. Then she had a skirt made and a blouse with the border on the front. It was very cute.
The green fabric is mine and it is still waiting for me to decide what to do with it. It is just the right amount to carry a baby on my back!
This is all of our fabrics blowing in the ocean breeze. Aren't they pretty?
Now our material goes into boiling water. See how it is heated outside in that big pot? The hot water melts the wax and lets the color of the material we stamped show through. Pretty clever, huh?
From the boiling hot water, the material goes into cold water to cool off.
This is my finished product from the Batik class.
While we were waiting for our fabric to process, we watched a line of fishing boats sail into the harbor. They looked like something out of a picture. There were boats that I wouldn't want to ride in!
How would you like to have your business in this beautiful beach setting?
It is always cool at this spot because of the ocean breeze and the palm trees. The ocean sound is peaceful and motivates creative and artistic ideas. After all--look at our beautiful fabrics!
--Sister Turner
(Sister Turner, Sister Myers, co-owner, Sister Sabey's newly returned missionary daughter, Sister Miles from the mission office, Sister Myers' partner, and Sister Sabey)
This is Sister Miles from the mission office stamping her fabric with wax. The wax prevents the dye from covering the material and automatically makes the design that we chose. Sister Miles is from Rexburg, Idaho. Her youngest son is on a mission and will get home the same time she and Brother Miles get home.
After stamping the design that we each chose, the fabric was taken by these two girls to be dyed. The girls put on gloves and "worked" the material for fifteen minutes in cold water to set the dye.
Here is Sister Sabey's fabric drying. She chose to just stamp a border. Then she had a skirt made and a blouse with the border on the front. It was very cute.
The green fabric is mine and it is still waiting for me to decide what to do with it. It is just the right amount to carry a baby on my back!
This is all of our fabrics blowing in the ocean breeze. Aren't they pretty?
Now our material goes into boiling water. See how it is heated outside in that big pot? The hot water melts the wax and lets the color of the material we stamped show through. Pretty clever, huh?
From the boiling hot water, the material goes into cold water to cool off.
This is my finished product from the Batik class.
While we were waiting for our fabric to process, we watched a line of fishing boats sail into the harbor. They looked like something out of a picture. There were boats that I wouldn't want to ride in!
How would you like to have your business in this beautiful beach setting?
It is always cool at this spot because of the ocean breeze and the palm trees. The ocean sound is peaceful and motivates creative and artistic ideas. After all--look at our beautiful fabrics!
--Sister Turner
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Sabbath Day Thoughts
This is President Sabey, our mission president, and his wife. They are from Columbine, Colorado and are real fun loving people that like to play hard and work hard. President Sabey challenges the missionaries and encourages them to study, pray, and fast to meet their goals. Then he helps them to see the miracles that take place so the goals they are reaching for are met. Sister Sabey is aware of each missionary and their needs. We have learned so much from just watching them teach and train the elders and sisters in the zone meetings. They are very humble people and truly love what they are doing.
One thought that President Sabey brought to our attention was about Sacrament meeting. Here there is a habit that some people get into (just like in America) of being late. In some places, there are more people in the chapel after the Sacrament than before. The branch presidents have been reporting attendance at the close of the meeting. His instruction to them was to count the sacrament cups used and report that number.
Partaking of the Sacrament and renewing those covenants that we made at baptism, thinking about our week and the mistakes we made and repenting is what the Sacrament is all about--not the talks. We have gone to some branches where we were the last to come in. We weren't late, the people had to all walk (actually they all walk as no one has cars) and they are in their chairs way ahead of us. I am also impressed that when people do come in late, they say their own little prayer.
This is the area president, President Snow, and his wife along with the three Sister missionaries that live behind us. Since this picture was taken, we have added another sister. President Snow was touring the Cape Coast Mission. President Sabey arranged our zone conference so that President Snow would be the speaker and teacher. He started his talk by asking the missionaries what scripture they had read lately that caused them to feel something stir inside them as they read. As the missionaries responded to his question, he asked what kind of feelings they had and why they thought they felt that way. Some answers the elders gave were: a call to repentance, feeling good about their sacrifices, feelings of comfort, and promptings to change their actions. By doing this little exercise, President Snow taught us that any time we read the scriptures and we feel the Holy Ghost stir inside of us, we need to write down the scripture and then take time to think about what He is trying to teach us.
Then President Snow went on to teach us about the Holy Ghost--that He is a testifier, a revelator, a giver of spiritual gifts, a comforter, a sanctifier, and a promiser. He told us all that we have to be willing to lose ourselves (let the old go) and the Holy ghost will help us become a new person that will be worthy to have the Lord's spirit with us always. This must happen to us before we can help anyone else. That is something to think about. Since this picture was taken, the Snows have gone back to the United States due to health problems.
Elder Turner and I traveled to Tarkewa to visit the young man pictured on the left. He wanted to have materials to hand out to the students to encourage them to come to their Sunday meetings. There are seven young men and a woman who are meeting together. None of these men have been on missions yet. But the young man that contacted us at Christmas time and asked us to come to the college to meet with him is from the Cape Coast area.
These young men meet each Sunday. For the first hour, they have talks; the second hour they have Sunday school and study the course manual; the third hour, they have a priesthood meeting with a lesson. Then they break up into groups and visit the dorm rooms and invite people to come join them. We were so impressed with what they were doing. There are some other members in that town but there is no formal organization as of yet.
This is Agona Nkwanta, one of our branches that we deliver supplies to. I call it the "windy branch" because we have to wind our way down a crooked and bumpy road through several homes before we come to the church in this pretty little clearing. They are hoping to get electricity soon.
On our last trip we were waiting for someone from the branch presidency to meet us. While we were waiting and walking around the building, a family beyond the church was watching us. Soon their two young children came down with one chair for me (their chairs were solid wood and heavy) and then they returned with a chair for Elder Turner. The father was keeping an eye on the children and us too. As we got ready to leave, we returned the chairs and talked to the father. They are not members but watch what goes on at the branch each Sunday. We invited them to attend any time they wanted even though they attend another church. This is what these people are like--kind and thoughtful. Since Elder Turner had a chair to sit on, he opened the back of the truck and went to work at his "desk"!
--Sister Turner
Friday, April 17, 2009
Elder Turner Gets Ill, Takes a Spill
This past week has been rough on Elder Turner. First he came down with Malaria which is like a flu with all of those nasty symptoms but it lingers longer than a flu with loss of appetite and energy. He has been on the mend and taking it a little bit easy.
After spending a couple days in bed, we decided to go out. We parked the car near a shop of a lady named Agnus that we had been teaching. We wanted to stop and say hi to her. I wanted to go across the street to see a baby shop. Agnus warned us about the ditch. I was careful to find a spot to cross but I am not sure what Elder Turner did. After I jumped across and was heading across the street, I heard him call to me saying, "I fell in!" All I could see of him was from the waist up! He said, "My feet are stuck and my back hurts!" I just looked at him, wondering what to do next. He had started to jump across this little ditch but because the side was rounded, his foot slipped and went into the muck. His bottom hit the grassy ground, jarring his back.
Before I could even blink, Agnus and another young man were trying to pull him out. I heard him cry out about his back and that his feet were stuck. So they pulled on his legs and then went back to pull him out by his arms but as he stood up again, his feet sank back into the muck. This pulling and tugging went on until each of them grabbed a leg and an arm at the same time and pulled him out!
Agnus immediately got a bucket of water and a bottle of soap and went to work washing the dirt off his hands. Then she slopped the water on his pants and feet to rinse off the muck. This ditch catches rain water, waste water, people water and all kinds of trash. It was truly black muck! Agnus was so sweet and showed such concern for him as did this other man,a stranger, that came to our aid. I have a new found respect and love for Agnus!
(This is the ditch where Elder Turner slipped and also the spot where Agnus cleaned him up. You can see the water and the dirt she washed off of his shoes.)
We went home to really get cleaned up. Elder Turner hopped in the shower while I took his clothes and shoes outside to finish cleaning them off. The sister missionaries were outside and one sister came to my aide and and scrubbed his shoes with soap and water and rinsed out his muddy socks and his pants. She was doing her wash so she just threw his in with hers! She said,"I want to do this for you."
There was nothing broken in Elder Turner's back but he is sure sore and it is hard for him to get in and out of bed and up and down from chairs. Tomorrow will be the third day since he fell and I sure hope that his muscles relax and he starts getting better. We have people to see, places to go, and piano lessons to teach. But he is still hurting...maybe tomorrow.
--Sister Turner
After spending a couple days in bed, we decided to go out. We parked the car near a shop of a lady named Agnus that we had been teaching. We wanted to stop and say hi to her. I wanted to go across the street to see a baby shop. Agnus warned us about the ditch. I was careful to find a spot to cross but I am not sure what Elder Turner did. After I jumped across and was heading across the street, I heard him call to me saying, "I fell in!" All I could see of him was from the waist up! He said, "My feet are stuck and my back hurts!" I just looked at him, wondering what to do next. He had started to jump across this little ditch but because the side was rounded, his foot slipped and went into the muck. His bottom hit the grassy ground, jarring his back.
Before I could even blink, Agnus and another young man were trying to pull him out. I heard him cry out about his back and that his feet were stuck. So they pulled on his legs and then went back to pull him out by his arms but as he stood up again, his feet sank back into the muck. This pulling and tugging went on until each of them grabbed a leg and an arm at the same time and pulled him out!
Agnus immediately got a bucket of water and a bottle of soap and went to work washing the dirt off his hands. Then she slopped the water on his pants and feet to rinse off the muck. This ditch catches rain water, waste water, people water and all kinds of trash. It was truly black muck! Agnus was so sweet and showed such concern for him as did this other man,a stranger, that came to our aid. I have a new found respect and love for Agnus!
(This is the ditch where Elder Turner slipped and also the spot where Agnus cleaned him up. You can see the water and the dirt she washed off of his shoes.)
We went home to really get cleaned up. Elder Turner hopped in the shower while I took his clothes and shoes outside to finish cleaning them off. The sister missionaries were outside and one sister came to my aide and and scrubbed his shoes with soap and water and rinsed out his muddy socks and his pants. She was doing her wash so she just threw his in with hers! She said,"I want to do this for you."
There was nothing broken in Elder Turner's back but he is sure sore and it is hard for him to get in and out of bed and up and down from chairs. Tomorrow will be the third day since he fell and I sure hope that his muscles relax and he starts getting better. We have people to see, places to go, and piano lessons to teach. But he is still hurting...maybe tomorrow.
--Sister Turner
Cape Coast Clouds
These pictures show just how black the sky gets when it is going to rain. We were traveling home when this storm started to form. You can see a few raindrops on the window. We actually traveled out of it before it even got started! Lucky for us, we missed having to drive in this storm. Changes in the sky like this are beautiful and makes us glad because rain is coming. That means cool for a while! It also washes away all of the red dirt that gets on the tree leaves.
April Shower Brings Restful Hours
(Looking out from our front door)
The sky above our house was just as the sky would normally be in the early afternoon--clear, with the air being very warm and humid. It was quiet, a little too quiet. I noticed that the birds were not making their usual chatter. I walked out into the yard and noticed the horizon to the east of us. It was very dark. There was a storm brewing. I took a few pictures and didn't think much more of it. I continued on with the duties of cleaning house, not paying too much attention to what was happening outside. All of the sudden, a huge clap of thunder announced that the storm was now right overhead!
(Looking over the house to the side of our house)
(This is the driveway and gate to the apartment behind us where the sister missionaries live. Notice how the electricity wires cross over each other!)
This was no "small, small" storm as they say here. The rain started and soon it was pouring. There was lightning and thunder all around. The electricity went off (but that happens on a regular basis whether it is raining or not). Cape Coast got a bath and best of all, it was cool! We actually slept with the air conditioner off and the spread over us all night.
This morning the house is cool and outside is cool and beautiful as the dust has been washed off the leaves of the plants and trees. The birds are singing as the sun is working its way upward. The chicken that flew into our yard yesterday and spent her time running from bush to bush in the rain is happy and announced that she has laid an egg somewhere! Either that or else she is just crowing to find a way out of our yard! I have not been this cool and COMFORTABLE in a long time. Yes, today Cape Coast, Ghana is beautiful. I can even hear the roar of the ocean this morning.
--Sister Turner
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