Hi Ho Hi Ho To The Market We Go

Sept.,9.2013

Yes siree, we did make it to the notorious HO Market and we will tell you that the You Tube video does not do it justice as you will see for the pictures below, but more about that later.  This was another inspiring week of meeting people, teaching and learning.  We fed 16 hungry missionaries on Monday (4 left early not wanting Mamma Cindy’s famous Spaghetti they know not what they missed, but they were preferring rice and chicken).  It was a good time to get to know these truly awesome elders better and learn about their homes and families and their backgrounds.  We are blessed to be in a place that we can fit them comfortably even on a floor, and blessed to be in a zone of such faithful, obedient missionaries. (see the photo below)

Tuesday we headed to Kpong (do you know how to say it yet?) to meet with the District President (President Tyson) and District Relief Society President (Sister Adjei…mother to Zola and Joseph who have been to our home in Highland).  We discussed much about the youth conferences and the sisters’ conference and the recent Coordinating Council in Accra.  Much of the stress for these Saints comes in from providing the resources for transportation to these great events.  As they meet about it, they do their best to provide assistance, but also believe in each person sacrificing to receive the blessings.  It is amazing to see these great people who have so little but are wiling to give so much and have the faith that there will be a way for them to do what they are asked to do.  Such faith is most often rewarded and they move forward and serve.

A challenge for us still is understanding some of the members especially when they talk fast like President Tyson.  The clerk that met with us is very articulate and very bright. He is doing a degree on line via the BYU-Idaho Pathway and would like to go there to finish and then go on to Medical School. He is very bright and will hopefully make it.

The next day we loaded up again with missionaries and went back to Kpong for Zone Conference.  President and Sister Judd were there, and they teach so well. The meeting was conducted by the assistants, Elder Bongomin and Chaffetz (very impressive missionaries so anyone from Alpine can let the Chaffetz family know their son is a terrific leader; Elder Bongomin is from Africa). President Judd is so good at getting everyone involved in the discussions and leads with a really positive approach.

 We drove home in the dark, which is a real faith building experience from the time you leave until you arrive home as you never know what may be coming toward you on the road.

We did make it to the HO Market on Market Day.  What a wild place!  You can get just about anything there (except Hagen Das) including the half-dead chickens that are Sister Cosgrave’s favorite. It is going every day, but Market Day is busier and only comes every 4 days.  Yes, we did run into someone we know there so it is just like Saturday night at Kohlers. We have not verntured to buy the fish that you see, but we did have Banku which is like a ball of thick but smooth cream of wheat (made with corm flour and cassava root).  We have still been pretty careful about food, but will branch out more as we go.

Finally, we had a truly awesome experience with Mawuli (man who was baptized with his wife and his 2 oldest sons 2 weeks ago).  He came to our house with his 4 sons for a lesson.  Faith (the young girl from the roadside fruit stand whom the elders have been teaching) came also.  We watched The Restoration DVD and then Mawuli shared the story of his life and his first introduction to the Book of Mormon and then meeting the elders on a trotro (small scary bus transport).  He is military and so humble and teachable and so converted.  His story which is long and involved, but so inspiring, needs to be written and shared all over for all to hear how the truths of the Gospel can bring happiness into our lives.

Each week is different and we cannot wait to see what is ahead. We know it will teach us something new that will draw us even closer to the Savior.  We are so blessed!

Top to Bottom

1.Zone Activity meal

Front: Elders Nash,Palmer,Eppich,Jones

Back:Elders Brighton, Johnson, Bryce, Mea,Thomas,Halevaka,Jenkins, Sio,Dayley,Royce, Frimpong,Vaetoe

Standing: Elder and Sister Cosgrave

2.Kpong Zone Conference 4Sept.,2013

3.Elder and Sister Cosgrave/President and Sister Judd

4.Faith Babysitting

5&6. Street vendors chasing Trotros

7-11. Ho Market on market day

12.Sister Cosgrave’s favorite