Monday, October 22, 2012

Green Things Grow

During the Rainy Season in Ghana, things grow fast and tall!

 We were told in the MTC in Provo before coming on mission to always remember, "Green Things Grow".  We feel we are still green as far as mission life goes ... we learn something new each day.  We are certainly growing and stretching in many ways.  We are experiencing things we never dreamed of.

  "Happiness is neither virtue nor pleasure nor this thing nor that, but simply GROWTH. We are happy when we are GROWING."
 - B W Yeats


 We love the lush greenery of Ghana and often think of how much we will miss it when it comes time to go home.  We are at the Bunso Arboretum which we visited with Elder and Sister Scoville.


 One of the great opportunities we have had while serving in the Ho Branch has been to help prepare green missionaries who are going to serve full time.  This is Elder Acquah with his mother Alice and sister Edith on the day we took him to be set apart by President Judd and then to the MTC.


 Sister Hellen Badu on the far left saying good bye to her family.  Sister Badu and Elder Acquah left for their missions on the same day ... and they are both serving in the Nigeria Lagos Mission.  On a sad note, Hellen's father (in green) passed away just a short time after she left for her mission.


 Elder and Sister Scoville of Colorado on a P-Day excursion with us at the Bunso Arboretum.  They have been in Ghana for less than a month and we are looking forward to growing along with them.


 Elder Ansah outside the mission home with his Mom, Dad and younger sister Fafa.  He was set apart to serve in the Sierra Leone Freetown Mission.  What a pleasure to bring them all with us.  President Judd was very surprised to see his family with him on this special day.  Most missionaries here in Ghana come alone.


 Unusual flowers are one of the many delightful surprises in Ghana.  Does this one look familiar?  We were so happy to see one in person.


 We were enthralled by this unusual blossom!  A little creepy... look closely, the red part of the blossom is covered with red ants!
(Rumor has it that all of the ants in Africa weigh more than all of the elephants. We believe it because we see plenty ants every day and have never seen an elephant!)


 Beautiful peach colored hibiscus!


 Wish we knew the names of these flowers.  When we ask someone what's the name of that flower, the reply is always the same, "a flower".


 Pink spikey flowers ... again "a flower".  Our guide at the arboretum knew the names of trees but had no idea the names of the flowers.

 A glimpse of the dense greenery along the banks of Volta Lake, the largest man made lake in the world.


 Mount Gemi, home to the highest village in Ghana.  Maybe on a future P-Day we will venture to the top for a visit.


 A view from the Kakum National Forest Canopy walk ... talk about GREEN!!  In the leafy tree tops of the rain forest.


 Beautiful dark rain clouds, a Boabab tree, (the Ghana Tree of Life) and a typical mud home.


 Green batik cloth laying out to dry before the next design and color are added.


Ecstatic that our butternut squash is growing!  Elder Lyon has carefully hand pollinated each blossom because the bees are not plentiful in our garden.  We will have "pumpkin" pie for Thanksgiving after all!

Life is Growth ... and that is very true in the mission field.  We love this unique time in our lives to learn and grow in every aspect of life.  We love the Lord and his gospel and hope to make a small difference in this small part of his glorious vineyard.

  "The greatest and simplest tools for learning more and growing is doing more." -Washington Irving

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