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