KUMASI HERE WE KUM

AKWABA!
It has been a very event-packed time since arriving home the end of November. We have tried to fit in as much as we could with our family. It was a bonus to be with them on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

We went to Arizona to see Marisa, Jason, Berkley and Enzo and Cory, Lyndsey, Rowen and Blair. We also went to California to see Melanie, Reno, Marli, Laney, and Sloane.

We also saw Cousins Jayne and Dick Unander, Luanne, and Molly. We then ventured to see Cami, Andy, Drew, Brady, Addison, McKenna, and Samantha and to attend Addison's baptism.

 It was fun just to be home with those that live close enjoy the everyday routines and seeing one another for Sunday dinner, church, and just hanging out together. We also tried to fit time in with our dear friends and we had visits with Mike's sister Caren and her husband Earl from Kansas.  And I was able to spend some time with my brother and sisters. Besides the trips we had 2 sessions of Camp MimiPapa, soccer, basketball, and volleyball games, school programs, spelling bees, recitals and concerts.

We crowned all these wonderful times with a family reunion at Bear Lake. It is hard to express what a joy it was to be together. We loved every minute.

But as we checked off all the things we wanted to do with them, it also meant that our time with them was running out.  Our kids also planned a nice open house for us where we were able to greet many wonderful family and friends who came to wish us well. Thank you to all those who took the time to be with us.
We said some goodbyes after the reunion and the reality of our impending departure began to set in.
We were able to postpone some goodbyes until after the new mission presidents's seminar held at the Provo MTC. The day before entering the Missionary Training Center , however, all our kids were able to go with us to be set apart. It was the highlight of our time together with our children as we went to the Church Administration building and met with Elder Bednar and Elder Clayton. Elder Bednar  had us introduce our children to him.  As we looked at each one and introduced them, such love and gratitude filled our hearts. To see them all there was so special-a glimpse of heaven!

  He then sat down and gave us some sweet counsel that gave us such peace and encouragement. To have an Apostle of the Lord place his hands on your head is an incredible experience. Afterwards he gave Mike a big hug, wished us well and gave us time to be with our family. Wow! It was amazing.
On the June 24-28 we attended the New Mission Presidents's Seminar. It was a Spiritual feast from start to finish as we received instruction and inspiration from members of the First Presidency, Council of the Twelve, and Seventy. We literally rubbed shoulders with them every day. We could have been sore from pinching ourselves. It was an incredible experience. Their power and spirit and sense of authority and witness was so strong, it made you feel like we were walking on sacred ground.

 It also made us keenly aware of our responsibility which was truly humbling. The prophet spoke in our sacrament meeting. That in in itself was so unbelievable . I guess by now you have figured out that the whole experience is hard to put into words.
Well, after the seminar we returned home to finish packing and to say goodbye. That was, to put it mildly, terrible. Early Monday morning Michelle, Candace, and Melanie took us to the airport and Cristen and Mike surprised us to say goodbye as well. I could not look back, but had to "press forward" and head to our gate. The journey had finally begun.
We landed at JFK and through many tender mercies met up with Jer and Bob as they were returning home from a stay in Long Island.

Another sad goodbye (will they never end), and we were on our way again; on to Accra. Our plane arrived late so we missed our flight to Kumasi. After much ado we got on another flight and the final leg of our journey took us to our new home-Kumasi, Ghana.

We had a whole 2 hours with the former mission president and his wife. Obviously and regrettably, they gave us a brief rundown of what we were to do. It was quite difficult to take it all in. So then they caught a plane back home to South Africa, and there we were looking at each other going, "Now what?"
Since that moment, Mike or should I say "president" hasn't had a minute's rest.
The next 3 days we went to 3 different "Meet the President" meetings in 3 different locations. The furthest being 2 hours away. I thought, "how am I going to remember all the names and faces?" I know I must have introduced myself to the same person more than once :(.

The next day was Sunday and we went to Sunyani (2 hours away) to church where Mike did 17 temple recommend interviews-whew!

On Monday night we greeted 3 missionaries who were returning home. We had dinner for them and then a goodbye testimony meeting. The next day they left and in the afternoon we went to the airport and greeted 14 new missionaries. We had dinner for them and an instruction meeting that evening, then another meeting in the morning and then their companions arrived and after much running around and getting them ready they left for their assigned areas.

Well, that was our first week. We have traveled to far away places I can hardly pronounce, met the same missionaries as before but this time in their area, I still am having trouble with names :(; have had a mission leadership council with 26 missionaries and fed them for 2 days; have gone with 3 companionships to teach in 3 different cities; and have tried to figure out where to buy things and otherwise figure out everything we are suppose to do. So as you can imagine we have been caught up in a whirlwind. But it is so good to be busy. We have a wonderful couple who will be here for 2 more months who have literally showed us where to go and how to get there. The Office Elders and the Assistants have been awesome. They are so sharp and so helpful.

Well, I think that is enough for now. We will describe Kumasi, if we can, in our next entry.