Under the Mango Tree…

So much has happened and is happening…all these experiences are teaching me, and I love them, but my favorite activity (too many good things this week…now last week/weekend) was a lesson with Emanuel in his front yard under his mango tree.  The setting was “straight out of central casting,” as Uncle Ralph would say -- if you were casting a nice low income African suburbia.   We all sat outside under lots of clouds, a cool (relative to Ghana) breeze, and we had a good lesson about the commandments. I gave him my copy of the Doctrine and Covenants when we talked about the Law of Health, or the Word of Wisdom, in Section 89.  It was hot, but the shade and the breeze…made it perfect.  I can’t even write well about how enjoyable it was to be outside, sharing the gospel.   His mango tree produces three times a year.  It was so beautiful.  Elders Bey (Cote d’Ivoire), Vitale (Am. Samoa), & Shook (Republic of Texas) are a threesome companionship, and they also taught about the 10 and the 2 commandments…I love the two great commandments that Jesus taught this holy week 2000+ years ago.  The greatest of all commandments…

“Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

This is the first and great commandment.

And the Second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”

-Matthew 22:36-40

Love your neighbor:  Our neighbors are all over Ghana in the ward and branches, and walking the streets.  Normally, a senior couple is assigned to a ward by the mission president.  Because we are friends (BFF4L), the president and his wife usually let us go with them, and that has broadened our view of the mission and allowed us to meet more people.  So grateful.  When there is a baptism of someone we know or we have taught, we try hard to be there.  Such a blessing for us I can barely explain it…it’s like you are seeing your neighbor drive up with a new car and a remodeled house, but it is not the worldly joy, it the heart-felt joy of seeing that their heart has opened up to getting the best blessing of all…a relationship with Jesus Christ and a real treasure map…that leads us back to our heavenly Father and our heavenly family…infinite blessings!

Easter Baptism:  I went out to the mango tree lesson this week because Emanual was “on date” and working towards a baptism. I felt somehow connected because I went to sit with him on his first visit to the church when we had the Domeabra Branch Conference.  I am always impressed that a person has faith to set a date and work toward that date with faith that you can actually learn what you need to learn to make the commitment.  You do not need to know everything; you need to know what you believe, and you need to have faith that what you are being taught is true and that it is right to follow Christ.  We can’t trip you into a baptismal font.  Even a hardened firefighter from Chula Vista can soften enough to be baptized.  It’s great to see people making positive changes in their lives.  The missionaries teach, the spirit confirms, and they feel their faith grow, and then they know what we are taught is good and true…

Saturday Surprise:  “Elder Bertha, will you baptize our brother Emanuel?”  What are you serious?  Don’t you want to?  “He met you, and you are his friend.”  “Well, if I baptize him, I will hassle him the rest of his life!”  It is a blessing to share that experience, and it is a thing that you remember, and he really does become my brother.  Right after I talked to the missionaries, I reached out to some of the people I have baptized who are still alive.  Rich blessings from those friendships!

“John the Baptist”. When I got to church on Sunday, two others were getting baptized also, and Sandy had met them the Sunday that Emanual came.  Usually, at a baptism, there is one person who is the designated “John the Baptist” who performs the ordinance.  That was me that day for Emanuel, and I was also lucky to do Mabel and Isabelle.  You are here to help people come unto Christ, and Baptism is an important first step and important covenant that starts them on the life down the covenant path.  After baptism, you are confirmed a member, and you get to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands.  The Gift of the Holy Ghost is different than the light of Christ and the Holy Spirit that comes to you from time to time….with the Gift of the Holy Ghost after your Baptism, you start a life fully bound to the Lord, and the Holy Ghost can be with you more often, even as a “constant companion.”  Great gift and a great start to a new “born again” life closer to your Savior and Heavenly Father.

Rise Up:  That is what Christ did on Easter...He rose up out of the tomb and conquered death on the third day so that we all can be resurrected.  It is another great gift we will be given when we die...it is not over then.  We will all be resurrected because he conquered death.  He also conquered sin, which is a bigger problem that needed to be solved.  His mercy cannot rob justice.  The laws of God are just, and we would be thrown in prison, but for the fact that Jesus has paid our bail...IF, IF IF we accept Him as our Savior, enter in the gate of Baptism, receive the Holy Ghost, and Follow Him to the best of our ability-endure to the end.  When we make mistakes, we repent (that means turn back to God). He will give us every opportunity to succeed if we keep striving to be better and have faith in Heavenly Father’s Plan to get us back to be with Him and our heavenly family.  Easter was even better this year with Emanual, Maybel, and Isabel, going down into the waters of baptism and rising up out of the water and starting a new life as a follower of Christ.

“He is risen, and we can be forgiven.  Gifts for everyone…it is a great day”

Fast with a purpose:  Because it was Easter and Saturday is dark Saturday, we decided to do a fast.  Jesus is dead, he has been placed in the tomb, and all his disciples are in disarray because he was killed.  If you fast for no reason, you are just going hungry.  I have some close friends battling some health issues, and I am constantly thinking of them, but for my fast this weekend, I was thinking of the most important three things: My faith, My Family, My Friends.  The stuff in life does not matter without those three.  I love my church, my kids, and my long-time close buddies.  That makes me happy, so I fasted for the health of those three…then, of course, I had to include my new friends, all the Ghana Accra West Missionaries.  And the last reason was in preparation for Sandy’s Sunday Easter meal…which was amazing….

The Easter Meal:  My son saw a picture and asked, “Do you really feel like you are in Ghana?”  Well…not when Sandy does this!  Delicious roast (thanks to Elder Kaaen for finding it finally), mashed potatoes, Betsy brought a yummy carrot dish, Renee made a great dressing, the Sandy Salad, and she also made Popovers (GG Nanc Style).  There was greater emphasis on the Holy Week.  If you think about it, if Easter and the Atonement never happened, we would not go back and celebrate his birth for Christmas.   It is his life, teachings, and infinite sacrifice that make Christmas worth celebrating, but Easter is the culmination and the triumph of it all.  He is risen, and we can be forgiven.  Worthy of the best holiday of all.

Holidays in Ghana.  For Easter, they take both Good Friday and Mormon Monday off.  They get two days off!.  I just made up Mormon Monday, but it sounds good.  We believe that after Christ was risen and conquered death, he did what he said he was going to do in John 10:16 -- there were other sheep he needed to visit.  Because we have the Book of Mormon, we know he showed up in the Americas and taught them there…

“And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.”

-John 10:16

Viva la sheep:  The Nephites in the Americas were the “other sheep” of whom Jesus spoke in Jerusalem.  He also said there were others, and it seems reasonable that he visited other people around the world, but we do not have records of those visits.  How many of you hear a great speech that is impactful, but do not write it down in a journal?  Have you ever lost your journal?  They are valuable to remember the tender mercies and the good things in your life.  I am grateful for the scribes who wrote down what the prophets and Jesus taught and said.  Those records are in the Bible and the Book of Mormon, and other modern scriptures.

What Jesus taught:  If I had a friend that could only read part of the book of Mormon, I would point to the promise given by Moroni (page 532 10:3-5) and then I would point to the chapters when Jesus taught the Gospel to the surviving Nephites (page 350-75 3Nephit 11-18). He taught them what he taught in Jerusalem.  The important teachings, like what he taught nn the sermon of the mount.  Jesus wants us all to know what he taught and to follow his example.  We are never wasting time reading the scriptures….that is how God communicates to us.

Off the cliff: “If you were hanging from a cliff, your arms shaking, no strength left, and someone offered you a hand, you wouldn’t negotiate your way to safety.  You wouldn’t have to hurry and make things right first.  You would just reach.  You’d surrender, you’d trust the one reaching for you.  And that is what God’s love is…it’s not a reward, it’s a rescue”.

-Sister Brown in France in her Easter talk.  So grateful for this thought of the rescue provided by our savior.

Finish strong:  I have started a lot of projects that have not been finished, but this mission is not one of them.  We have been talking about it for years, and all the sticks fell in place to get us here now.  There is a window of time under 100 days that you need to keep running and finish strong.  I think we have a good kick in this.  We want to leave it better than we found it, and we really want to make sure that all those missionaries are well taken care of by the new people.  We will finish strong and we hope to be able to encourage the new people to start fast like we did…like in the transition zone of a relay race; you are keeping your speed, they start accelerating and the baton is passed and you do not want anything to drop or slow the team down…. Missionary work is important, and it will continue…it is accelerating…

100-day challenge:  Younger missionaries want to get in shape before they get home.  The 100-day challenge is to do 100 push-ups and 100 sit-ups every day…I have been doing it and will see how this works out.  It is now part of my morning habits, like prayer and reading the scriptures.  REM does this, and he is past 80, so I should be able to continue this.  I feel better.  We have also been 100% successful in making our bed EVERY day.  I like that.

Don’t let them sit alone:  When we have friends in church, we stay engaged.   The church (weekly gathering of the saints) needs you more than you need the church.  You will be fine on your own, but what if a person comes to church and really needs your personality that day? If you don’t go, they will miss that important interaction and the spirit only you bring.  If you show up at the church and get to know (for example) the Sando family, you will want to come back. And if the Sando family is going on a trip to an important church site, they will want to go because of them.  If you don’t feel like going to church, go anyway so you can be kind to another person.  And to my friends who are not members of our faith, you are always invited.  Someday, you might wake up and think, today is a good day to go to church and give it a try.  Awkwaaba! “You are invited.”

After a great Holy Week.

Al & Sandy Bertha

Accra Ghana

Baptisms…

Last weekend, I had a great time on an exchange in Oda area with President. Then on Sunday, we got to witness two women getting baptized into the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.  We find, teach, and invite to see if people will choose to follow Jesus Christ.  We are good at teaching people, but they have to make the choice to follow.  When they accept and follow Jesus and enter into the covenant of baptism, it’s a celebration.  When you have been able to teach them and see the progress, it’s even better.  It makes this all worth it…

Baptisms are special times!

Augustina and Sara were baptized last Sunday at New Wieja ward, a converted house that we use the upstairs for a chapel.  Sister J and Sister B were both able to teach her when they were out with the sister missionaries, so it was a special day to share this time when they took a big step to follow the Savior.  The women both have different backgrounds, but the important thing is that they are coming to Christ and following him into the waters of baptism and committing to take upon his name and to do their best to be disciples of Him. (follower)

“And he commandeth all men that they must repent, and be baptized, in his name, having perfect faith in the Holy One of Israel, or they cannot be saved in the kingdom of God.”

-2 Nephi 9:23

Up Next:  Easter, we will go to Domeabra to see Emauael get baptized.  I sat next to him the first time he came to church many weeks ago.  I was so happy that he has been progressing.  The Tuesday lesson under the mango tree will be a great memory for me.  Also, the missionaries that I was teaching with are so good.  They all get along and support each other.  They are also all part of the not-so-secret brotherhood of the bracelets.  I noticed this week when I was looking at a bunch of paintings from religious history that all the Nephites and Lamanites and all the big buff warriors in the Friberg pictures wore bracelets!  Balance: Hope and Humility.

Patterns:  I have been listening to General Conference again.  I heard that the parable of the 10 virgins (Matthew 25) was referenced 5 times/talks.  There were 5 virgins (Church members) with no oil and 5 that were wise and prepared and had their oil.  The ones without, of course, asked for oil from the ones who were wise.  Unfortunately, they were unable to share their oil.  Their oil was built one drop at a time over time. Each good deed, each spiritual experience, each time their faith was strengthened through their action, each time they gained knowledge through scripture study and built a relationship with the Savior through prayer, their lamp was being filled. The light that is given off from the oil in the lamp can be shared.  It was a great reminder to me that we need to be constantly looking for opportunities to add drops of oil into our lamps so that we are ready at any time to be a light for others.

“Keep your flame burning.”

-If you have oil and faith in Christ, it keeps burning.

“Use your resources to serve others.”

-advice on what we can do…

“Lengthen your shuffle.”

-counsel to older missionaries

Mix-ins:  Steve’s Ice Cream in the ’80s was really good ice cream.  It was like Cold Stone with ice cream that you mix with other candies and flavors.  Great for dessert, but not great for your faith.  The scriptures of God intermingled or mixed up with the philosophies of men have a way of taking us away from God and Good rather than coming unto the right flavor of Christ.  Sometimes plain, pure organic Vanilla Bean is so good and so normal.  You don’t have to mix in bubble gum and jalapenos and make it mysterious and hard to swallow (with the spirit).  The Gospel is simple.  Keep it simple.  It was not made for the smart people or the not-so-smart…it is a gift for ALL people.  All are alike and sons and daughters of God.  The plan of happiness is to return to God…believe that He loves us and let him guide us through this life to be safe and protected. Don’t let other people mess up your faith in vanilla (the Pure Doctrine of Christ and the foundation for all flavors in life) with impure, man-made philosophies and bad mix-ins.  Keep it simple and look to God and Jesus, the Doctrine of Christ is simply beautiful and beautifully simple…

Patrick’s Birthday:  Our driver and supplies guy is Bishop Patrick. He is the mission mascot because he is always doing things for the mission.  He was on contract, now he is full-time (Mission Miracle from the fast). We took him and his family to dinner.  It was good for his family to hear us all say nice things about him.  After dinner, there is a gelato place at the restaurant.  As I was looking at the bill, I asked their daughter, “Did you have TWO scoops?!” She was caught off guard but smiled.  Surrounded by good people.  We would love to take him back home with us.

New Leader Training:  If you are a new District Leader or Zone leader, you come into the mission home to have a half-day training on how to lead and what is expected.  Sister Bertha gives them a good start with chocolate chip pancakes!  President does a great job of rotating people into leadership positions, giving more people leadership opportunities. 

Oda District:  3.5 hours drive away is a cluster of small towns that have groups and branches that are not large enough to be a ward, but there is growth, and they have good missionaries there.  I drove the President out there.  After this transfer, the President put some first-round draft picks out in Oda.  An Assistant is training a new missionary who came in this week. He is also one of my favorite elders, and also went out there to train another new islander.  I drove the president out there so he could work on the phone (He reads over 100 missionary letters every week!). We went out to deliver bikes, and while the Mission President was doing “presidential things” like interviewing a couple to do a senior mission like Sandy and I are doing, I went out teaching with these great missionaries…

Tuesday born.  They make a big deal about what day of the week you are born.  Reidhead, Anderson, and I are all called “Kwabena” and went first to teach “Abena” (Tuesday born for a woman).  “We are all Tuesday-born”.  Abena was so happy, it was like being born under the same zodiac sign.  She was a grandmother, and we “learned small” on her front porch about the restoration and the need for a prophet.  Fun lesson.  She is so receptive and smart.  She had three grandchildren running around…her daughter left them with her…4 years ago!! And she is in America.  There is a culture here of taking care of your extended family, but that is rough…She is absorbing the lessons well and is such a sweet mama/grandmama…we just call her Abena or Mommy (because she is of a certain age).

Pound it.  We then walked over to a couple of women who were busy (it is Saturday), and I took the big stick and started pounding her palm nuts.  They said they were too busy to learn now, but I was the new guy, the gray-haired guy, and I was holding a big stick.  I was pounding the stick and doing her work, pounding the palm nuts for the palm nut soup.  I felt like I had the “talking stick” and was pounding it for emphasis…”Do you know who we are!?”  “We are God’s chosen servants sent here by a prophet of God, save you!”  That would be nice if that is what I said, but it wasn’t. I told them that “these young men had sacrificed 2 years from their country to share a great message, and I am only here today to be with them. Can they teach and you can prepare at the same time…I will help?”  They said yes, and we had a good lesson.  Cooking, laundry, reading of scripture, breastfeeding, throwing the kid on the back, fan the fire, reload the palm nuts, and get in some gospel learning and prayer all in 25 minutes…amazing.

What not to do.  I should not be playing soccer.  REM tells me that all the time.  I wasn’t.  I was playing catch, but the ball came to me on the ground, and I (tried to) kicked it back.  I planted my left foot on loose gravel, went straight up, and landed on my “keester”. Hard!  Brushed it off so as not to show any pain and suffering.  I really think it was worthy of Kookslam…I will be more careful.

… Whitenwashing “Aboabo”.  After the two lessons in Asene, they put me in a cab to go to Aboabo.  Alone!  Not more than a mile down the road.   Two elders went home, and the president needed new blood in the area…I went out with these two new elders.  They call it whitewashing when two new elders come in and have to start over.  They had some information, and that was our first appointment…Patirica.  She had us out on her front porch filled with palm nuts.  She was really soft spoken.  After the previous elders met with her, she told us that she had a dream.  “The spirit spoke to me and said that what you had brought to me was good, that I should listen to you”.  Wow.  Then she said she would be baptized in our church after she learns more.  She was baptized as a little child and did not remember it, and doesn’t think that one counted as much as one that she chooses.  She was right on that.  One of the doctrines that is different in our church is that children are not baptized until they are at least 8 years old…the age of accountability…you know what is going on and can answer questions about your belief.  Before that, a child is innocent. That was the only lesson scheduled…

Finding: “let's go finding…” Elder Albrecht said after the lesson.  I have been spoiled and mostly been teaching, so this should be fun. We do not talk to everyone, because everyone will talk to you.  I learned that from Elder Adams when I first got here.  We walked a while, and then there was a compound of maybe 8-10 families.  4 families were outside doing laundry and were busy doing the Saturday chores. Elder went with the lady back to us in the middle that looked like she was the busiest. She had pain nut soup boiling in front of her; she was washing her dishes in the big bowl: and she had two rambunctious boys right next to her. I don’t remember what Elder Albrecht said, but she kind of looked back at us and said, “Do you want me to join your church…?” in a sarcastic manner and I thought it was over. He kept talking, and asked if we could have a short discussion…she looked at him and said she was busy…"but if you give a few minutes I can finish this and we can talk.” I was blown away. She put the bowl with dishes to the side. Let the soup rest on the side so it was not too hot and then retreived some chairs from the Nieghbor. We sat outside and had a discussion and talked about the restoration and the new building we were open the next Sunday. It was a nice 15 minute lesson and she even prayed and said come back Saturday….crazy that I thought we had no chance and we actually were able to talk to her. Crazy that out of all the families in the compound, our elder goes up the busiest and she is the one with the soft heart that listens. Thank you Anita, hope we see you again…

Hot and Thirsty:  Water is in a sachet like a zip lock bag with water.  Bought a watermelon that we ate at the apartment.  Yes, it is hot here and I sweat often, but I am used to it and I like that I NEVER think about a coat. 

“I would do anything to be back in Ghana again teaching the gospel.  Don’t let it slip – the time you have here”.

-An Elder to Sister J

“We need missionaries to master technology, so they can master their lives.”

-A General Authority (not fact-checked)

“I made ‘Auntie’ Status!  ‘Mummy’ is like old like a grandma”

-Sister B at church when a person called her “auntie”. She always gets called mummy

“We are buying chips from Nigeria??  No can do…”

-Sister J

Viva La Mexico.  Once every 6 months, after Sister J and Sister B have forgotten how much work it is, they cook Mexican food for the MLC meeting (Mission Leadership Council).  This is a big deal, so big that a friendly General Authority in the Area Presidency had us deliver some to his home.  The Ghanaian lived in the USA for 3 years and now likes our food better than Ghanaian food.  He was, no doubt, happy with the offering given.  The missionaries ate a ton of food and really enjoyed the feast that was laid out for them.  Great young missionaries!

“Are you sure?”

“Are you serious?”

-To tell someone they are “not serious” is to say that they cannot be trusted

“Black Keys and white keys all needed”.

-Piano player at church who also taught the priesthood lesson.

"You must always have faith in people. And, most importantly, you must always have faith in yourself."

-Elle Woods

“Keep Driving…don’t make eye contact”.

-Sister Bertha was at an intersection where the light turned red, and they were the last car in a funeral procession of cars. Sister Bertha, out of the corner of her eye, saw the policeman motioning for them to pull over.  The policeman was on foot, and Sister Bertha said, "Keep driving, keep driving".  (When you are pulled over here, they just want bribes.) 20 seconds later, Sister J says, "Oh no, he’s on a motorcycle coming for us".  Sister Bertha goes into deep prayer, pleading with God that they won’t get a ticket or get in trouble. The police pulls to Sister J’s side, and she smiles and waves, as if she knows nothing of what has transpired, and continues to inch forward in traffic. Then the police comes around the back of the car, right up to Sister B’s window. She chose not to look at him, but then Sister J said he wants you to put your window down, so she turned her head and acted surprised to see him and threw up a big smile along with Sister J.  He asked them if they knew they had run a red light, and Sister J. responded that she was just trying to get out of the way of the funeral procession and that she was so sorry.  He said our lives were important and that we needed to be careful.  Sister J. said “Thank you, we will be careful. We are on our way to teach with our missionaries. God bless you!” They didn’t want to continue the conversation, thinking it could have an unfortunate ending, so Sister J. continued to move forward and Sister B. started putting up her window saying thank you so much, have a wonderful day. God bless you. Making the assumption that there would be no further conversation, ticket, or bribe.  Apparently he was OK with that. PRAYER answered! They were on their way. Nothing like smiles, kindness, and the help of the Lord!

Comprehension is so good: Sister J and Sister B went to teach three lessons with the Sisters.  Sister B. said she continues to be amazed at their comprehension and retention of what they are learning.  Several of the investigators had watched the conference and told them what they learned from various talks. Sister Bertha said they remembered more than she did!  They loved conference! One woman was so busy hand washing piles of laundry and hang drying clothes, but stopped to talk for 10 minutes. They are gracious people and sincerely want to learn and better their lives.  They see that the church offers plenty of opportunities to build their faith in and their understanding of Jesus Christ. One older man, they call Grandpa, said he’s been searching for truth his whole life.  He has been to many churches.  He said he has found it.  Finally.  He will be baptized at the end of the month. She taught in her 3rd hair place.  The Sisters teach, the hair people listen, respond, and ask questions while they braid. It’s nice because the customer is hearing everything as well! All great experiences, Sister J and Sister B are having on these Saturdays with the Sisters!

President Robinson:  Stake President in Park City and another BYU Alum is the Mission President in Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), which is just west of Ghana.  All the mission presidents get together every 6 months for a meeting of the minds of sorts for Western Africa.  A lot of smart and spiritual people.  Good to see them, but Sister Bertha is missing her college roommate in Sister Jacobsen—they only left for 3 days for a Mission Leader Conference (a lot of consecrated lives!)…Sister J. had to make a quick stop at her house before returning to the conference, and she briefly and unexpectedly came in with a “Hi Ho!” and Sister B jumped up from the kitchen table and excitedly ran to give her a hug like a family member who’s been gone forever! They love each other! They are sisters in the true sense of the word!

Rats and Bats:  Good News & Bad News.  First, the good.  The bats are out of an elder's apartment, who had struggled with them.  Second, the Bat. Sister Van der Tough was having a nice dream and woke up to a rat cuddling up to her head.  She felt something up by her face and went to wipe it away, and ended up grabbing a full handful of its fur as she tossed it from her, not knowing where it landed. She turned on the light and lifted a shirt from her bed, and a huge black rat was under there.  She screamed and left her room and went to sleep in a chair in the other room. She was not happy!  It was a fun story, but she said that was the closest she ever got to calling the president and asking to go home.  Van der Endurance!

Good Friday:  So much to study and think about this weekend.  It is a good day to go about doing good.  We were at the central market today to get luggage for missionaries who don’t have solid pieces.  I also bought a big Ghanaian-made bowl to practice walking with gear on my head.  As we were returning with all our stuff, a woman wanted to carry it for me.  Patrick said we could carry it, but this woman is trying to earn a little money.  As a missionary, we aren’t able to give to beggars, so I need to find a way to be a stimulus program for my community.  I hired both women to carry our stuff to the car.  One had a baby on her back.  I paid them both and gave extra for the baby.  Easter should be like Christmas in our charitable giving. 

Happy Easter.

Elder and Sister Bertha

Ghana Holy Week, April 2025

Pig Picking

Conference weekend.  Good talks and teachings.  Transfers went out so there was movement this week on Tuesday and new missionaries came on Wednesday.  Monday was a highlight as we were “invited” (“Akwabaa”) to a pig roast in Asamankase Zone.  It was their P-day and President gave them extra money to buy a pig and have a big meal together.  It was a 2-hour drive to get there and Patrick drove Elder Kaaen, President Jacobsen, and myself.  The wives were invited…hard pass…I sent pictures back to them…they were glad not to be there, I was glad we came.

“Have fun on your man trip”

-SJ and SMB…they did not want to go.

Honor your neighbor:  I think when you show up to a person’s house you honor them and your friendship.  If they always go to one house and you don’t reciprocate, you wonder what is wrong.  After serving in Japan, I like to bring a gift if I can…usually Banana bread…they had never had that in Japan and I could make it easily in our apartment.  If a person brings a gift, they don’t throw you off the doorstep.  Sister Bertha made Banana muffins so we had something to bring.  Then my Samoan friend came out with lava lavas for each of us…a kind gesture and a well-raised boy.  They were waiting for us and the table had been well laid out for the feast…

Where is the hand sanitizer?

Where are the napkins?

-Crickets…got nothing…not available here

Serving utensils?  Ghana you eat with your right hand.  You “chop” fufu soup and eat with your fingers.  My rancher president was right at home when they said there were no serving utensils…it’s “Pig Picking” like in the south.  You literally grab what you want with your fingers…I like that because I like the meat less than the fat…some elders were all about the fat.  Sister Bertha said she knew all about pulled pork  “I had that in Pinehurst.”  President and I laughed at that because this was as far away from Pine Hurst as humanly possible.  No sanitary gloves, no clean dinnerware, and no utensils to use.  The Ghana experience.

Clean and Prepare:  They bought a live pig and had to slaughter and clean it before the BBQ.  I learned from the president who ran the largest pig farm west of the Mississippi in Milford, Utah that every part of the pig was used – blood, bones, guts, everything.  When a neighbor her in Ghana saw the Elders cleaning the guts out, he asked for them, and his family had a good meal also.  Nothing goes to waste, all is of value. 

“Your worth is always great in the sight of God”

-Sister Runia (D&C 18:10)

Patience to cook:  It took over 4 hours of spinning the pig to get it just right.  If the Earth did not spin every 24 hours, it would get some hot spots.  It is good to be patient in life and let things come to you at the proper time.  Better to let the inspiration come to you like a deer in a tree stand.  Need to be quiet for the deer to get close and also for inspiration to come to your mind.  Can you find a quiet time…can you let your thoughts simmer so they are good and absorb all the goodness?

Everything (Everyone) has value:  I learned that when a pig is slaughtered in LA, they use every spec of the pig, including the blood and the bones-everything!  There is so much good that comes from that pig.  First and foremost they make Dodger Dogs that you get at Chavez Ravine (Dodgers).  But nothing is wasted.  There is protein that is added to other animal feed and every part is used including a replacement heart valve for my MTC companion! We, God’s Children, have worth in every way.  He wants us to be happy and that does not always mean comfortable.   A “brightness of hope” is knowing that it all “works for our good.”  We will be rewarded for the endurance and service we do in this life.

Take your time:  …to get good at something, it takes time.  To cook a pig well it takes time.  To learn a language, it requires consistent time.  BUT remember that we all only get 24 hours.  How are you going to use your time?  On a mission is it really my time or the Lords time that I am using on His behalf?  Don’t let useless distractions take (or waste) your precious time.  You get to choose how to spend your time, but you do not get that time back.  How you invest your time will determine if you get anything of value back…like a language, knowledge, a testimony, a friendship, a relationship with your spouse.  What kind of return on your time do you want?  I am getting a great return on this Ghanaian mission investment.  We are receiving more than we knew was possible.  Faith works if you work and spend your time wisely.

“What’s your ‘staarch’” (Boston Accent). Sister Bertha and I were on a trip in Maine and we were eating at the hotel.  I think she ordered lobster (per usual) and I might have ordered a fish.  The waitress asked what we wanted for our “starch”. I had never heard that before. However, I was reminded of it when I was eating with these elders on Monday.  They had rice, Kasava, Yam, and Potato Salad.  They filled their plates with the starches and then pig was the special treat.  There was a lot of starch because that was the main food.  They can raise it and find it and live on it.

Trivia: For Christmas in Ghana, it is a treat to have chicken with fat with a bowl of rice. 

Tickets:  Elder Morrison asked if the 4 sisters that went home last month wanted to go to Conference and he got them all tickets.  Great to see them all together with him.  Thanks.

Picking:  I was able to pick the meat I wanted and I just took a little.  There were 17 of us for this feast.  I thought there would be a lot of leftover stuff, because who eats that stuff--I don’t even know what that is.  Food is food, and they all found value in different parts…bones are a good source of calcium, so eat them.  In one of the earlier pig roasts, one elder, who did the roasting, took the head all for himself…and cleaned it like it was a bag of Nerds in front of Sister Bertha.  Agency gives us the chance to choose what we do in life and to pick the better parts…

Good thought in the scriptures:  Change “Repent ye, Repent ye” to, “I love you, I Love you”

Pick your teeth:  I had an Elder ask for a toothpick to get something out of his teeth.  I went upstairs and got two of the flossing things and gave him one.  I also gave one to his companion, a Ghanaian, he said that this is of no use to him, “my teeth are spread out.”  He was right.  Think Michel Strahan.

Positive self-talk:  You will have the longest conversations in your life with yourself.  Sometimes the voice in my head is negative and I need to remember that sometimes that is not me, but the adversary keeps butting into what was otherwise a good conversation of how happy I have been with my wife on a mission in Africa. 

“…you are not the voices in your head”

-Sister Runia

Condiments:  Pepe or spicy pepper is used a lot in Ghana….BBQ sauce is more a USA thing. Tomato Ketchup on KFC chicken is good--I tried it and I like it.  We had no salt or pepper with the pig, just some BBQ and Ketchup.  The more hungry you are, the better the food tastes.  No complaints. 

“I get sick if there is not enough pepe on it…”

Bishop Patrick on needing spicy food

80/20:  Our assistant is leaving to go to the bush and train a new missionary.  We took him to our favorite burger place…better than Five Guys.  I get mine with an egg and Jalapeno Peppers.  I don’t see Jalapenos anywhere else in Ghana.  80 – 20 is the Parrado principle…you get 80% of your success from 20% of your efforts…you still need to put in the 100% effort to get the results though.  Quinten Cook (an Apostle) talked about the Handcart Pioneer trek from the Midwest to Salt Lake in 1847.  There were 10 large handcart companies….8 arrived successfully, and 2 of them, the Martin and Willie Companies found difficulties and tragedy along the way.  In our life, we often focus on the 20% bad that comes, but there is 80% good also that is worth our attention and reflection.  The 20% may take more time, but there is good all around us if we pay attention to it.

Know Where:  Can you get _____?  Whatever it is, it seems that Sandy knows where everything is.  She asked for me to get a cleaner and she said “It’s in the pantry in a bucket on the shelf labeled Vinegar and water.”  I find that amazing.  She knows where everything is.  I do the dishes and leave them on the counter for her to put them away...rather than risk putting them in the wrong place.  I put the keys in the same place and there seems to be a portal that takes them somewhere else.  Will Howard used to tease me about it “…at least I know where my stuff is”. That hurt, but true.

Miracles keep coming…We did a 40-day fast as a mission.  There were a lot of miracles that we paid attention to that we might not have been looking for had we not been expecting them.  There are many good things that happen in life that we think we are entitled to or we just think we earned it…we should 1) be grateful and 2) don’t be afraid to call it a miracle of God.  It’s OK to give all glory and give credit to God.  Sunday as we were listening to Conference with the mission president and his wife, his phone was buzzing with confirmations of baptisms that day.  In Ghana, Conference doesn’t start until late in the afternoon so we still have a day.  We did not really think that the miracles would continue, but when you plant a lot of seeds, you will keep harvesting…Parable of the Sower.

Drakuman:  Sandy has been going out with sisters and I have been going out with elders.  Saturday she and I were able to do our first exchange together with Sister Appia (Cote d’Ivoire) and Chigwinya (Zimbabwe).  We were able to go to two teaching appointments.  Marilyn just lost her husband (age 49) and we taught her that through the restored priesthood keys, families can be sealed together forever in the temple. We also told her about life after death and where we go while awaiting Christ’s 2nd coming.  She is a school teacher so she had good questions.  She nicely swept the dirt under the laundry hanging out to dry (very Saturday thing to do—we do it also).  Lidia was a woman we taught in the shade of their house in a compound that Sister Bertha said was the cleanest compound she had ever seen in Ghana! There wasn’t a piece of trash anywhere.  Cute kids, a hardworking husband, and she is just trying to figure things out.  The sisters did a good job and it was good to be with them…left and came back just in time for conference.

Crash!  On the way back from the departure dinner, a motorcycle was hit by a car in front of us.  The car was pretty damaged in the front.  There was a policeman at the other intersection that might have come, but Patrick explained that if you get hit, you try to arrange something with the person you crash with and keep the police out.  If there is one police, they will call another and another and they will have 5 police analyzing everything and then telling you how much it will cost you to pay them for all they did.  They really don’t care about the accident.  

New Missionaries:  One is an Olympic runner, best in Tonga; one has never been out of Utah (the family wanted the mission call changed for their child; Ghana is too far away—there will be growth with this new one), A US elder who has been a member 14 months and the only member in his family--love the faith that they all have to set life aside and come do this.   One that has such a cool man’s name, Gunnar Dirk…More Islanders “Talofa Lava”. I gave them a week’s worth of money…they quickly figured out that it was equal to only $30 USD…ya, that’s your subsistence.  Fufu can cost 75 cents.  Cannot compare…

“Comparison is the thief of Joy”

-Elder Kiernan

“…Maybe comparisons are not the thief of joy…?”

-card player, when she found out my score, was worse than hers, HAHA

“I love our members, I wish I could take them with us…”

-A happy Elder getting transferred

Pizza was ordered for leadership training and…order was messed up

“No cheese on the pizza and no chicken pizza?”-SJ

“She said she did not hear ‘Spicy Chicken’

she said she heard ‘Mozzarella Cheese’” -Patrick

-hardly seems plausible

“The network is down, pay cash”

-Why I carry a lot of cash in Ghana, cannot trust the infrastructure

“Never exercise an option early…”

DJ on making the best choice at the last moment

“Love can change the world in a moment…

…But what do I know?

…Remember life is more than fittin’ in your jeans…

…Love and understanding, positivity “

-Ed Sheeran song What Do I Know?

“Pops, I an expert Smoor-er now”

-Glo Girl

Shoe Shine man:  I was waiting for Sandy and I had an hour…there are people selling everything on the street.  The shoe-shine man walks and hits his box with a stick it’s a distinctive sound.  I had time so I stopped him and let him shine my shoes 4 GH (30 cents).  Of course, I talked to him about my church.  His box said (God is King).  He taught me to say “gname own shawe” which I sure is misspelled, but means God Bless You.  He works from 7 am to 7 pm walking the streets looking for dirty shoes (“plenty!”).  He does 35 to 40 shoes a day…that is $10-$15 a day maybe.  The hustle with a smile…I love that he had slippers for me to wear when he was doing my shoes…

“I am coming”

-Ghanaian phrase that is not literal. 

They are working on it, thinking about it, hold on a second, coming back to you in who knows when.  Ghana time is fluid, but they will get there eventually. It is like the word becoming in English…we get better when we strive to get closer to Jesus Christ.  Jesus knows we are coming and has his arms outstretched.  He does not give us attitude and say, you are late and your shoes are dirty.  He takes us how we are.  He is in relentless pursuit of our souls and He loves us.  What a great gift and the message we are spreading… Come unto Christ…I am coming…

Pick wisely…

Elder Bertha

Ghana April 2025