Last-ing – 1

Beg-End-ing: Another made-up word that means The Beginning of the End.  That is what we are doing now.  June 1 was the first day of the ending month of our mission. The first Sunday in June was the last Stake Conference we will attend in Ghana (on this mission), and it also marks the first day of the beginning of the rainy season. So what did it do as we were making the long drive home? It rained.  Roads under construction and big puddles just slowed us down on an already bumpy and long ride. It was worth it to be with the stake members and our missionaries in an area rich in the history of the Church of Jesus Christ's first pioneers in Ghana.  Abomosu was one of the areas they wrote about in church history that had the first strong members who grew the church.

Start with the end in mind: I have all the weekly calendars, and I plan out a month ahead.  I need to anticipate the cash we will need, when, and layer in the delay that happens when I try to reload the cash.  I need to make sure all the money is in place for the missionaries.  I have less than 1 week's calendars to look at!  I know President is more advanced in his planning because of transfers, conferences, and trainings that he has set up for the new mission president, but the Jacobsens have said the (mission) calendar “goes dark in August…”  The new president will be up to speed and doing his own things by then.  As for me, I want to leave this place better than when I came.  I have to work backwards so that there is something done every day to achieve that.

“Lasting”: We are doing things for the Last time in the last month of our mission.  President and Sister Jacobsen have lived in Ghana longer than in their house in Utah.  They have been here for 3 years.  The Judds sold their family home and are TBD as to where they will settle again.  They have been here 18 months.  The Berthas have been here 12 months, and we are going home to “whitewash”, an area we love and have been before, but we will look at it a little differently as we have both become individually, and together as a couple, better versions of our former selves.  I think we are in good shape to go home and start again from a different viewpoint.  Like coming home from graduating from University…you’ve learned some things, and should be able to make some better decisions.

The Last Last?  We are in the final stretch.  We are seeing the things that are the last _____... fill in the blank.  It is hard-ish and there are some tears, but I can’t cry for 3 weeks.  Even though we are doing things for the last time, it’s not the last week, so we will finish strong until the last last thing.  There is so much to do and learn still…still on the last stretch and there is so much still to see, do, enjoy, and soak in here…it’s hard to write it all down in a timely manner…

What’s last to do?

Last Bikes:  I picked up my last order of new-ish bikes from Isaac, but I gave him two to repair and a back tire to rework, and I picked up two selectors.  The BikeMaster will live on with Patrick and Elder Kaaen.  I am sure that the bikes will last longer now because of all we were able to do to improve and standardize our bike fleet here.  There is no real last…it’s going to be a mess when I leave with parts, but they are all ready to use.  The bikes are better, and the missionaries are taking better care of them…Hopefully, this month’s crash was the last bike crash for a while.

Last Finance Work: The bikes and the finances are moving targets.  I may have done the last working fund check this week, but I will train the NEW Elder B to do his first working fund check.  The finances, like the bikes, need constant attention to keep rolling.  I am trying to set it up so my last and Elder B’s first are the same.  So we can go and do it together.  I am training him the way I would have liked, but could not because of a visa.  I have it set up and ready to train him like our missionaries train new elders fresh out of the MTC (which is where he and his wife are now)

“In Process”:  There will be an inventory of bikes, cash, and bills that we can account for at one moment in time, but it never really stops…it is an ongoing process.  We are all on this earth to do your thing, whatever that is, while we are here.  And when we are gone, life and “it” will go on with someone else in charge.  That is the circle of life (Thank you, Elton John).  More than finding things and more stuff, what I want to do is to serve my God and serve, and love my fellow man.  I can’t take any of the stuff with me to heaven, but I have a lot more friends from Ghana and the missionaries from around the world.  “So I got that going for me”-Bill Murray

Last MLC:  Mission Leadership Council.  The Mission Leaders gather the zone leaders and the STL (Sister Training Leaders), and they discuss what is going on in the mission and what they need to do to improve and adjust.  This will be the last meeting of this kind, and that means…we have done our last pancake breakfast.  Wow, how many people have been fed by Sister Bertha?

Other Last days coming: I don’t know when, but there will be some important “lasts.”  It will happen, but I may stretch these out…. last swim in the pool, last walk in Ghana, Last hug with Sandy in the office, last time to see each missionary (that is happening this week and next with mini zone conferences) Last 80/20 Burger, Last time to log on to the computer, last time to be allowed on IMOS the Church System, last trip to the trash, last dishes being clean, last exchange with missionaries, last time to smile at the kids at church. Last time to see a baptism in Ghana.  Will it be the last?  Some of these things are last for now, but maybe they will come again.  President and I want to come back in 10 years, in our 70s, and see all the buildings that are partially built and see if they actually get finished? See if the road to Abomosu and the road to Winnebah actually get finished…. Or will Jesus Christ come and the last days begin…I hope they still have a flight to Ghana then, because I want to come back and see the growth that is, and will continue, in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

…So blessed to be here at this time with these people.  Perfect for us.

“It is not a matter of knowing if I can trust the Lord; it’s about if the Lord can trust me.”

-paraphrase of what the President said…

“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also”

-Matthew 6:22

“There is always a seamstress in the ward, if not 5.” 

-Ghana truth

So slow. Sometimes the trucks are going so slow uphill that you think they are parked, but when you get close, they are just driving so slowly. They are overloaded and barely making it.

Final cookies:  Last batch of Heath Crunch for Sister Bertha’s Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip cookies.   She planned out the use of her ingredients well.  But when will I take the last cookie from the freezer?  I have been rationing the last chocolate-covered bananas also…Yum..  I have my last Monster in the refrigerator…I might get another. (Both are gone now!)

Lasting memories:  So fun to see and truly a special part of the Lord's garden right now.  It will leave me with lasting memories that have changed me for the good.  I only write in this so that I can remember them.  We want to enjoy each day to its fullest…and we are.  #grateful.

Elder and Sister Bertha

Ghana Accra West Mission

June 1-5

Four-Giving

This week was really busy!  And filled with blessings… Amongst the hustle and bustle was our 37th Anniversary; a new GrandBaby boy born (fourth for Alex and MK) on 5-29; new missionaries coming in (including 3 Samoans!) and missionaries leaving (1 Samoan).  The last time we do a transfer and the beginning of a 4-week sprint to give our best efforts to the very end.  Megan, my daughter, ran the 400M race in High School…the race is won in that last kick when you are tired and you still have enough to push to the end and finish strong….we are still running…

Fourth Decade:  I often say that you cannot buy certain numbers; they have to be earned.  One of my greatest accomplishments in life and what I will take into the next life is now “37.”  I have been happily married for 37 years to Sandy.  You can buy cool stuff, but you can’t buy a long and happy marriage with a cool woman like Sandy.  You can rush into it, but you can’t rush that number along.  It just takes years, patience, and perseverance.  Sometimes that number is longer and better on the second or third marriage, which is a nod to practice, faith, and hope- I love that.  But for me, I am grateful for my first run lasting this long…at this point, I am so connected with her that I am just not going anywhere.  A mission can be a good test of that number and that relationship.  I’m grateful that the mission has made our marriage better.  It has required us to practice talking, forgiving, and forging forward, and NOT living in the past.  “The Past is in the Past” …and it should stay there.   One of my favorite things with Sandy is to sit next to her in the temple…hand in hand, we usually say sorry for whatever we did recently and start over again.  It’s a great way to keep it fresh and enjoy today, rather than dwelling on things that cannot be changed.  One of Sandy’s super-powers is forgiveness and moving forward…with great energy and not much sleep. I am lucky, happy, and grateful to be so numbered with her.  Love and Happy Anniversary!

“Stay, Stay, Stay, I’ve been loving you for quite some time, time, time…

….I think that’s best if we both stay”

-Taylor Swift Song

Four-giving:  Sandy gave me four kids: two boys and two girls.  I am proud of them individually and as a group- they seem to look out for each other, and I really like that.  It was a great time raising them, and it’s crazy that they are adults now and having their own kids.  We lived in 4 houses as they grew up.  Now Alex has given us the fourth grand in his and MK family.  Andrew and Liza are pushing to 4 with Twins this year!  Megan has kids who are so good and cute, and are a family of 4, living in a 4-story house in DC.  Mo and Cade are getting married in September, and they have been dating for over 4 years.  How Four-tunate are we?!  Add to this that Bishop Archibald’s favorite number is 4.  Brett Farve…etc… I could keep going…

5-29-25 Frederic Ivory Bertha was born into a great family! Alex, Mary Katheryn, Marigold, Gloria & Daphne….adding the fourth child.  Thanks, MK, Thanks, Alex!

48-9-33: The KaaenBo number for Elder and Sister Kaaen.  He was also a Kaaen-verted to the church, and he has a good wife whom he sometimes just has to buckle down and follow.  They were married when they were 20 and 19, they did not serve missions, but they are here doing double time with her being the medical advisor and he is the new Kaaen-tact as a Bike Master and also English Connect and Pathway.  They have KaaenCecrated themselves to service in the Ghana Accra West Mission.  48 years married; 9 daughters; 33 grandkids.  #ABGoals.  I can really only hope to hit the 48 number, but I am good with that…I can control that.  No use worrying about anything that you just can’t control or do anything about.  I am so grateful for healthy children and healthy daughter-in-laws.

“I had a pastor give me a 20-minute lecture that made me feel stupid.  I spent 5 minutes with 2 missionaries at age 19, and then answered my question…If there is a trinity, why is Jesus praying to himself?  Missionaries said they are 3 distinct beings, and Jesus prayed to his Father in Heaven.”

-Dean Kaaen as an investigator

Transfers and New Missionaries:  Our Anniversary was on transfer day, Tuesday.  4 TroTros in, trade and swap, and everyone goes away…unless you are here to train.  Then Wed,s they bring in the new missionaries.  Three islanders from Samoa, so I was happy to see them and talk story.  These are really good, happy young men, and I am already lamenting that I do not get to spend more time with them.  We laughed a lot, and I let them know to leave the home flag in your bag and your sunglasses off the top of your head.  Sister J caught me giving them the secrets…like shave that small time mustache you are trying to keep and hope no one like Sister J will notice.  She sees it, we all see it…use the razor boys!  They took it well.

Do the right thing: I was in the middle of an hour-plus Card Load (financial thing I do to pay all the missionaries their monies). That I do twice a month, and I check out.  I could see out of the corner of my eye that the elder going home to Samoa tomorrow, was headed out to stay at an apartment, and they were trying to figure out where to go for food.  He is Samoan, and he knows that I am a Matai, and we just had three new Samoans join our mission today.  What would Garry do in Samoa?  What would Tuilimu do?  I walked away from the computer and would pick it up later…. I took the boys out to 80/20 Burgers for dinner.  The dinner was the equivalent of the 2 weeks' subsistence pay for the missionaries, but it tasted so good.  I have to serve my Samoan brothers and pay back all the hospitality I have enjoyed in Samoa.  It was worth it and the right thing.  I can always do the accounting later at night, but I could not share a last meal with this good Samoan elder again.  Don’t miss special moments in life.

Departure: My Samoan brother was brought to the airport for the 3-day trip home to Samoa.  I think he will be glad to be home, and he worked hard while he was here.  He was lucky to come to Ghana and see another side of life.  But I don’t think he will leave the island again.  Maybe to go to New Zealand, but he was really content with the idea of growing his own taro and living life off the land.  I was jealous of the simplicity of it all.  He will miss Sister Bertha, who gets to know people fast and exudes love and caring.  No one quite like her…. Then there was Elder Kaufusi from Australia, who went in a carry-on-sized roller to go home.  Nothing to bring back.  He left all his clothing and half his weight.  He lost 135 pounds on his mission!  From Obelo to Zuess.

For the love of bikes:  I am in a mad dash to upgrade all the bikes.  I was up early on Saturday and drove out to one of our elders, almost 2 hours away.  I gave him one of the bikes 2 weeks ago, and it broke the first day (remember, these are used bikes, but I am trying to get better ones and trade out the bad parts).  He was happy with the new bike on Saturday, but asked about his old blue bike… Not what you want to ask the Bike Master.  I told him I would not come back, and he could have this one or his broken bike.  He then was asking about other bikes in the truck… ”those are going to other elders; this is not Nordstroms” (He is from DRC and did not know what I meant).  I stayed and changed a tire and adjusted some brakes…in the sun…it was HOT.  Then to Buruburam with Wharakura (Aust) and Miligi (Am. Samoa).  They liked the two matching black bikes I gave them.  Men in Black (Bikes).  We then had a prayer to bless their steads that they would be safe and free from mechanical difficulties.  Then the last bike went to another Samoan, Elder Unasu.  He also got my size 13 Keen Sandals.  When I showed up at the Chapel, he had socks and “slippers” (Non-islanders call them sandals).  He was getting blisters from his shoes…I think his mission was the first time he had ever worn shoes.  He was grateful and was sad that I was leaving in 4 weeks.  He likes having an Abrone Matai that is watching out for him. He will survive just fine, but I will miss some of these new ones. 

Summer TIME:  When I was young, it was interesting to see how kids changed over summer vacation.  Girls would get prettier, and guys might lift weights and learn a new skill (or not), and the shy kid might come out of his shell some more.  A “transfer” is only 6 weeks, and it’s like a condensed 3 months of summer break as far as changes go.  People can change a lot (if they want to or if the circumstances align).  It has been interesting seeing a missionary adjust and change in that 6-week period.  New missionaries are learning languages (English and Twi) and learning how to teach, use transportation, adjust to the heat, and become familiar with a different culture.  Mission transfers, new companions, and new areas are like giving a young man or a young woman a chance to start over and change and be better.  You can see some great growth in these missionaries.  I have seen it in some of them that I have been able to track this whole year.  It is rewarding to see them excel and grow.  There are those who do not use their time wisely and waste a good opportunity, but “always next transfer” to change…

“…there is always next year”

Chicago Cubs Fans for 100 years

Fourth quarter:  All kinds of things can happen in the fourth quarter.  Just ask the Atlanta Falcons.  We had a crazy week with people coming in and having appointments.  We had a newly arrived missionary go home; that has a ripple effect, where the president has to shuffle the players to different positions in the middle of a transfer.  Sister Bertha has had to adjust the calendar, and I recall that we did not have our visas in time when we came last year.  Being able to call an audible and always be ready to go a different direction or adjust to a new play is an important trait I thought I had, but it has been honed more here.  Get ready, be ready, go…

“That’s why I hate School.”

-sister missionary, when I asked her to add the numbers together for reimbursement

Keys to an exchange:  One of the elders left the keys to his apartment at the mission home on a Friday.  We looked around and did not find them.  Then, an hour later, they were discovered in the copy room.  I called and set out to drive the keys out to them an hour away…Friday evening traffic is a bear, so once I got there, I figured I would stay and teach with them.  They were “whitewashing” the area, which means both companions are new and have to basically start over.  So let's meet some people…by eating.  We met the local fruit stand lady and watched her prepare our mango and pineapple.  They did not know the area, so we just looked for the cleanest “chop bar.” (“Chop” is how you eat fufu with your fingers; chop is the slang for eat, so a chop bar is any food place.) We ordered 3 schawarmas (Ghanain burrito) and went to their apartment to make sure the keys work and to eat.  It was fun just talking with these two good missionaries.  Elder Anderson took my brother and me out teaching in his last area.  Parsons is just a good person.  We love all these missionaries.

Elder Bertha

May 29-31

Moni-Cade Visit

Monica came to visit with her fiancé, Cade Young.  They finally got engaged...they needed time to bake.  Cade said that Monica had been asking for years, and he finally said yes.  Haha, that’s not the story I was getting.  They are both first-round draft picks, so the teams had to work hard to make this deal happen.  I am so glad it happened.  It’s like David Beckham coming to LA…it was better than you would have ever thought!  (IYKYK)  I am so happy for them and happier that they came to see us in Ghana.  Especially Cade, not far removed from a back surgery!

A walk(s) to remember…We spoke with Cade via Zoom when he and Monica got engaged.  But it was quite another thing to have him here.  Monica and Sandy were in the fabric shop looking at material for dresses and suits.  I thought it best to walk away from that.  Driving in Ghana is never boring because there is always something to see; walking is even better.  Walking with Cade and having the man-to-man talk was the best.  I asked all the questions, and he had all the right answers, and he also asked me questions and listened.  It was so fun to talk to him, and I was even more impressed with Monica in her choice.  They will be great together.  Our second walk was a few days later at Matilda’s, the seamstress, and we continued our talks.  This time, he asked me questions and got me talking.  “Well done grass grasshopper.”  This kid is good!

Faith Walk:  I do my studies like every missionary is asked to do, and I was talking to Cade about Chapter 6 in Preach My Gospel.  Cade said, “That’s my favorite chapter.”  Ya right?! (Remember in The Father of the Bride movie when Steve Martin was thinking “Brown Nose” about his future son-in-law…that was not this)  Cade then told me why and how he studied Chapter 6 - The Character of Christ.  He has been home from his mission for over 6 years and knows it, studies it, and can refer to it.  That was impressive to this future father-in-law, who is walking in the white shirt with the tag.  No way could he have prepared for that curveball - and he hit it well out of the park.  He also turned it on me and got me to commit to study a different character of Christ every week until the wedding.  Verbal Jujitsu, and he pinned me!  Well done.  Sister Schindler would be happy with that faith walk.

Carry on: While Sandy and Monica looked at fabric and Cade and I had finished our walk, I got a new piece of material to mitigate my pointy head and practiced carrying things on my head.  My goal is to walk down the hall in an airport with my roller bag balanced on my head…Ghanaian style.  They do it all day long everywhere. 

“A journey of a thousand miles starts with one step.”

-Blue Sky Foreign Travel Co. (Cade)

“Don’t trust Chinese people…don’t trust me”

-My friend in Hong Kong

Batiking:  We took Mo and Cade to make Ghanaian material again.  It is one of our favorite things to bring visitors to.  (These will be our last visitors.)  We made a tablecloth for Sister Jacobsen that she will not have time to make. So fun to make things.  I was copying a design that Sara had done the day before.  Very creative, talented girl/woman.

Exchanges: After seeing a local art gallery and the Art Market, Mo & Cade went on exchanges with Sandy and the sister missionaries.  They had a good experience, and they both have maintained the high standards of a returned missionary.  Thanks to them, and also Amy Antonelli and HXP, for keeping them busy doing good in the world and helping other people.  Seems that the best way to help yourself is to help other people.

"For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it."

-Matthew 16:25

"When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God."

Mosiah 2:17

First Transfer Training:  This would have been good on my mission.  I did not have this training, but I had my MTC comp Tomoo Taguchi (AKA the Shadow) to commiserate with; we did not have the high-quality trainers that the President prepares here in Ghana.  The President brings in all the trainers and the new missionaries that are in the first transfer/6 weeks and teaches them things that they were not ready to learn on the first day.  They see their other friends from the MTC who are having the same issues adjusting, and they support each other.  It is so good to see the love for their trainer they built in that first 5-6 weeks. The new missionary is relying on that trainer to teach and guide them.  Monica and Cade came to watch, and the president asked them to share their testimonies.  What a great job they did.  The missionaries were in full attention! Mo & Cade: Once again, First Round Draft Picks!  Lottery one and Lottery two on the same team…almost unfair, but as a dad, I am happy. 

Health Update:  Sandy threw her back out, and I tore a calf muscle…how did you do that?  I have no idea.  I also discovered high blood pressure.  So new meds for that, but trying the natural approach also.  If you have ideas, let me know.  My friends across the street do not participate in vaccines and medications, and they caught the Nigerian version of COVID, and they were so sick for 3 weeks! One of our missionaries has Malaria for a record 5th time, and a new islander missionary has it as well, and last night we gave him a blessing in the hospital.

“80% of the world is alive because of vaccines…”

A reminder that we live in a dangerous place and the drugs do help…One of my Samoan Elders that I was with had a cousin come to Accra Mission, and he is buried here from a disease that killed him on his mission.  Sobering thought. He will not have a problem taking the Doxy that we take to prevent Malaria here.  It’s still a choice, as with all risks in life..

“Take your Doxy.”

-Health Advisor

“Take a picture of us, for the record…. I wasn’t talking about taking it with you, I was talking about Sister J!”

-Sister Bertha, documenting as many moments with Sister J as possible before June 25!

It’s not true.  Jesus did not die on the cross and come back to life.  Allah is God.  He did not have a son or anything. Jesus was a prophet.”

-Tour Guide at the National Mosque

“What is your gender?” 

 “I am a mechanic.”

-Ghanaian TV

Sunday Split:  Sandy, Cade, and Monica went to the Bortianor ward to see the baptism of a woman that Sandy and Monica had taught on Monica’s first trip to Ghana. Her two children were baptized 3 months ago, but she had to work out some private issues before she could be baptized.  She moved forward in faith and made the necessary changes, and entered the waters of baptism.  What joy she felt.  She now has a fresh start with her 2 beautiful children, free from an abusive partner and now living on her own with her 2 children.  She is so, so happy. The church family in Bortianor will be a great support for her.

Special assignment:  I was asked to go to Chantan ward because we had a man show up the last two weeks who was watching one of our sisters.  I loved this assignment.  There is nothing I like better than to be a protective detail for my wife, my daughters, or our sister missionaries.  Cade said, “For your sake, I hope he shows up; but for his sake, I hope he does not.”  The mission van may have scared him away.  He did not show up, and I was not able to have a man-to-man conversation or use the power of the laying on of hands…BUT, just maybe that was not why I was meant to be there?  I met four young men, all looking into our church.  I think I needed to be there for them.  First, Michael from the Central African Republic.  I sat next to him because he came in alone.  It was fun to have a discussion with him.  He met another guy after the meeting, and they went to a priesthood lesson together.  Then in the lesson, the other three - Ebenezer, Emmanuel, and Heyford were asking good questions, but getting unclear answers.  I met with them after church and set them straight and gave them the simple answers.  I don’t know why people have to complicate things.  It was so fun hanging out and talking to them.  They had visited other churches, and Heyward said, “I am in…I love that you talk about Jesus Christ”  …that is the message, isn’t it.  Preach Christ resurrected, and repentance?

"Yea, even he commanded them that they should preach nothing save it were repentance and faith on the Lord, who had redeemed his people."

-Mosiah 18:20

“Faith isn’t proven when prayers are answered.  It's proven when they aren’t…and you still trust Him.”

-Laura E. preaching the good

Priesthood:  We have a priesthood power that is to hold and to bless others.  Like keys to the Uber that you can drive for others, not for yourself.  We have the priesthood, but it is power to use in the name of God to help God’s children and not ourselves.  I was reminded of that today when a new missionary was having some anxiety, and the president asked me to join with a blessing.  Do you have oil? Yes.  Do you remember what to say? Yes.  It was good to be ready and called upon to serve.  Be ready to do your part.  Your family and friends will be grateful.

“It’s not so much that you trust the Lord, but can the Lord trust you?”

-Will you be ready when the Lord calls on you?  President Jacobsen

“Powerful” Overlap: We had Monica and Cade here when Sara and JP were here. It was fun to have new young couples' energy around.  Fun playing games at night and talking.  We loved the occasional “that’s powerful” coming from JP.  It could be in reference to a comment made as simple as You should never eat more than you can handle. Or a comment like, If you read your scriptures every day, you will make better decisions.  The biggest laugh from Eric and me was seeing Cade and JP talk about the intricacies and nuances of certain Lego sets.  Are these grown men?  The President of the mission and a former cowboy just could not relate.  But there is some good data that says that it is good to act like children…

"Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven."

- Matthew 18:3 (KJV)

"For the natural man is an enemy to God... unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit... and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him..."

– Mosiah 3:19

Elder and Sister Bertha

Accra Ghana

May 18-26