Safety Zone…

Nearer to God is the safety zone.  Get close, stay close, and be protected.  Trying to protect myself and the missionaries. There are mission-wide Zone Conferences every 6 weeks…(unless there is a mission tour, a visiting General Authority, or if it is a Christmas Zone Conference that is different…that was half of what we had last year).  We are back to the chaos of 3 zone conferences (8 zones) in 4 days.  It is hard and busy, especially when we (Berthas) really had three things to do this time; A breakout class to teach three times with Sandy; a Bike Safety presentation with Patrick; and making sure everyone has their money issues addressed (lost cards, travel and medical reimbursements etc).  Sister Bertha is the self-appointed minister of sanitation and cleanliness. 

I am getting better at it all, but the Africans (and anyone who has been in Ghana for over 6 months!) have no sense of taking turns. They all wanted my attention after the conferences at the same time…it was crazy the first one of the week and better at the third, learning and anticipating the needs better…Funny and frustrating and bizarre all at once.

Theme:  President and Sister Jacobsen do everything from scratch (including amazing sourdough bread) and they are good at it.  They look for inspiration on what the missionaries need and then teach them from PMG (Preach My Gospel) and the scriptures.  I just learned that PMG was actually developed for missionary work in India to give the missionaries more flexibility in what and how they teach.  The doctrine is the same, but you can teach in any order and you can flow with the questions from the investigator (friend).  Sharing the gospel in a Hindi, Muslim, barely Christian country will help with the creativity of teaching.  We teach the straight gospel of Jesus Christ here in Ghana. These people love God already. “Unity” was Sister J’s main point and it was hammered home to the missionaries that they needed to be kind to each other to have the power to teach and help others.  President shared the new goals for the year and how to better work with the ward leaders.

Storytime:  My favorite story that the President told was of a pair of missionaries that were trying to work with the ward but they were getting no response…they did not give up.  They were consistent about texting to the ward leadership—they told them who was visiting church, who needed friend-shipping, when the next lesson was going to be taught, etc.  No one responded to them, but they kept on enthusiastically as if they were all on board.  After a time, the Bishop finally showed all the texts and the no-responses; he showed the whole ward counsel (a bigger group of leaders). He said these missionaries are doing all they can, keeping a good attitude, even when they are being ignored, it’s time we all help.  Consistent love and action develop trust…don’t give up on people. 

“Sometimes the ward gets part of the inspiration.  Sometimes the missionaries get part of the inspiration.  If you work together and then share the inspiration, you can achieve more…”

-President Jacobsen, Paraphrased by me

“Any excuse for non-performance, no matter how valid, weakens character”

-Spenser W Kimball

Class Time:  Sandy and I did the class rotation thing where we teach 3 classes each conference over the three-zone conference days.  It always comes out different for me, but Sister Bertha is consistent.  Her enthusiasm is great and she does a good limbo around my comments if they are a zig to her zag.  We are learning how to work well together.  Have to practice to get better…which is what we were teaching the missionaries…Role Playing.  We set them up with our own imperfect role play – A 1 minute invite to church, and a Book of Mormon introduction.  Then the Zone Leaders shared a 3-minute presentation on the restoration and then they helped each group do the Role Play.  It was fun to see how the elders and sisters shared these messages.  They have a lot of opportunities to do it every day and they are good.  They still need practice to “sharpen the saw.” 

New Presidents:  The Mission Presidents serve for 3 years, and all around the world change in July.  A local Ghanaian and his wife came to see what our Zone Conference was like.  The soon-to-be President Senanu and his wife (Nigeria Lagos Mission) sat next to us in the back to see what a zone conference was like.  They liked it and saw the love that the Jacobsens put out for their missionaries.  The Jacobsens showed up in Africa having never seen a zone conference…they made it all up and RELIED on the spirit to guide and direct them as to what to do…I think they got it right.  Each time they do it, it is just what is needed for the missionaries.  The Cambells of Orem Utah will take the place of the Jacobsens in July…trying not to think about it. 

“Enjoy every day, you will not get it back”

-AB to missionaries…so important

KFC...Again:  Yes, and I love it.  But, they never quite get it right…we order half spicy and half plain and they give us whatever they want - spicy only one day, a weird mix the other; and they hide the breasts.  (“You always get screwed in the drive-through!”  -Joe Pesci in Lethal Weapon). Jollof Rice and veggies.  Pepe sauce is like a ground-up salsa that tastes like ground spicy anchovies.  Sister Bertha - never.  Me - I try it every time and then recall that I didn’t like it last time either. 

“Ketchup is too spicy for him”

-Sister Kaan about Elder Kaan

Bike Safety:  I had to do double time this Zone Conference.  After the Role Play break out class, Patrick and I were asked to talk about Bike Safety.  In the middle of the week, we had to send an elder home to mend a broken foot from a bike accident.  At the first conference, I took a picture with the last 5 bike accident Elders.  I was happy to have Uchiagwe back from his stint at home recuperating from his accident.  If an Elder cannot be fixed to work in 2 weeks, we have to send them home.  I work hard to make sure they come back.  So happy when they do come back - Tupa, Uchiagwe, Papalii!   It’s better to arrive late to an appointment than to crash and miss it completely…

Wear your helmet!  To start the presentation, Patrick and I walked single file in our bike helmets and reflectors.  Don’t even try to look cool!  We owned the goofiness of the moment.  Simple message: Be Seen, Be Safe, Be Obedient.  We had a great video of what not to do…a helmetless elder on a dirt road trying to show off with a little jump that resulted in a hard crash…videotaped by his complicit companion.  Hurt to watch!  Sister J has said if you crash and you are not wearing the helmet - One and Done - no more riding on the mission.  

Days without an Accident.  After I had prepared the presentation last week, we had a person crash and break his foot.  He was a guest at the Bertha B&B for a few days.  I created a sign that you see in factories that shows Days Since Last Accident.  I was almost embarrassed to show it with the number 3 for three days since the accident.  When we arrived to Winnebah, I discovered that another elder had crashed and his hand was wrapped up…I had to change the number to 2 days since the last accident.  Our presentation was timely and the President would like to see high double digits…I get to show this every month now.  

Small-Small lessons:  as I rotate fixed bikes for older spoiled bikes, I get to teach each missionary individually how to be safe and how to care for the bikes.  If a bike has a fixed axle I take it back and make it quick release.  Our bike inventory is getting better.  The missionaries like learning how to care for the bikes.  A simple lesson on how not to cross-chain helped prevent clicking.  It’s also part of that straight-and-narrow lesson that Jesus Christ teaches…

Unity:  One of the best messages that they shared was about unity.  President and his wife have rooted out a lot of the tribalism with people gravitating to their own countrymen.  No Flags, and sitting with your companion helps.  Ironically, the best missionaries are companionships that come from different countries.  The differences cause you to have conversations to understand them better; you can’t make assumptions when you come from different backgrounds.  Good learning for marriage.  Sister Bertha comes from the Eastern US country of Maryland and I am from the Western socialist republic of California.  We have had to deal with a lot of differences in our marriage and I am still learning her language, but getting better.

“God loves you.  He wants you to love him back.  The best way to do that is to love those who have been put in your path.  Love God, and Love the others around you.”

-Sister J

“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them”

-Matthew 18:20

“..Unified, you and God;

…Unified, you and your companion;

…Unified, you and the local church leaders”

-President Jacobsen reviewing key points

“If you want to go fast go alone.  If you want to go far, go together”

-African proverb

Bite: I wonder if that is really an African proverb?  It seems like the same thing has been said in different languages.  “African” can make things sound more scary.  I am not afraid of ants.  There were a bunch of ants when I was weeding a courtyard with the missionaries.  But then the Elder said they were fire ants…then it was clear that they were African Fire Ants.  When I had a crazy welt on my wrist the day after, I asked the health advisor, who looked at Google, and sure enough, an African Fire Ant bite.  “African Fire Ant Bite” sounds worse than it is…Like Killer Bees…if you are allergic, they could be…So many random diseases here…wash your hands and avoid bites.

“…repent fast and forgive fast…”

-Sister J advice for a happy marriage/companionship

“Have courage and be kind”

-Cinderella (newer version)

“Why would you want to marry me anyway?”

“So I can kiss you anytime I want”

-Sweet Home Alabama

Bearing Gifts: At the beginning of the week we got Elder Papalii back from Australia.  He had a bad back.  I thought it was not that bad and thought I could help him get better by walking him every day.  After he got back to Australia, he had a kidney issue…oops.  We texted back and forth and we were all so happy to have him back.  He came bearing gifts - Sister Bertha’s favorite hand sanitizer and Coco Samoa for me.  The best gift was his coming back to Ghana.  Because of the bike accident and the other elder going home…he filled in where the other elder left a space.  One door closes, and another opens…

Valentine's Date:  On the way home from the last zone conference we saw a lot of people selling chocolates for Valentine's…seems like they would be melted.  We went out to the Karpinski Hotel for a nice buffet dinner.  It was ok, not as good as just staying home with Sister B and Sister J, but we shared the evening with the President of the East Accra Mission and his married son and daughter-in-law.  The son had a Lokai bracelet on and when I asked about it, he took it from his Dad (I gave it to him).  Better to give and share…that makes me smile.  Sandy also makes me smile.  She beat me in mancala and backgammon and it was a good evening.  Love her!

Prayer is good! “I haven’t prayed in years” was a text that a friend of mine sent me.  It made me happy to hear that when things get hard and you want to protect your kid, but you are not there, you reach out to God…and he hears all of our prayers.  He is very good to us.  We should try to be good to him.  We have to be the hands that help other people’s prayers get answered…So keep that line of communication open… it's two-way.  Ask and listen.  What can you do to help Him?  We always ask for help, but remember to be the help also…

“Repent, Forgive, Serve”

-really all we can do in this life that matters…on a bracelet.

My favorite quote of the week was a challenge from Sister J. that I will share with you…

“…what are you hearing that is not being spoken”

-Elder Bednar. 

…As you read or listen to anything, even if the content is good, listen for what the Spirit is teaching you - what is important for you to hear or act on?  You might be listening to a song and get the inspiration to call your mom…don’t wait, make the call or text her.  You might get inspiration for your business…write it down and take action.  God will give us direction if we are good about listening to the prompts.  Don’t second guess things...Satan is the one who invented second-guessing.  He is second, and second is the First Loser.  If you are on God’s team, we are all winners.  I’d like that for my family…and for eternity.  For now, I love it right where I am.

Elder Bertha

February 2025

Valentine +1 day