SCEF Service Project in Jamestown

Several Zones participated with SCEF-a charitable organization that helps the street children in the area. School is supposed to be free but once you add the cost of uniforms, books, supplies, it is not and the kids cannot attend without these items. Jamestown is one of the poorest areas in Accra. This was held right near the river where it empties into the ocean. The river is so full of sewage that it was very smelly--luckily the wind changed direction and it got better.So this organization chooses 50 children to pay for school for 5 years and then during those 5 years, they also work with the parents to teach them a trade and find them a job so they can be self sufficient after that time. The church is a big supporter for them and actually donated a large library to their cause. They had those 50 kids plus another 1200 from the area (chosen 25 from each area school as kids that would not be able to have much) come and participate in a big Christmas carneval. We provided the man power for games and entertainment for the kids. They had musical chairs, blow up slides, gunny sack races, a train, duck duck goose and many more. Then they gave them lunch. The hardest part was at the end of the day when the meal was there, they had the kids file out and get their meal on the way out. Many other children in the area heard about the food and showed up, hoping. We had to make a barricade to keep them out it was so sad. Some of the workers were actually swinging a bat at them to keep them back!! Break my heart!!

Elder Fryer

Elder Nash

Tired Out

The barricade

Sister Naziwaa

Carrying water like the natives

LDS Helping Hands

This last week we were able to participate in a great service project where we helped to re build a house for a member family whose home washed away into the river during a rain storm. Very humble dwelling but better than nothing. Elder Sanders was the "foreman" for the job.

This is Precious and she is my new friend

Since we had to stay up in the area to go to church the next day, we got a sweet hotel room at the Royal Senchi Hotel. It was pretty amazing.

This large rat was caught in the elders appt next door--gave me nightmares for nights. The worse part is that one of the church employees took it home for dinner!!

We actually found some American food at KFC--as we have traveled the world, KFC always seems to be there!!

Our Assigned Branches in Kpong District

We have been assigned to attend a couple of different branches for Sunday church worship. They are each about 1.5 hours away. This last week President Heid took us up so we could see where it was--there are no street signs and everything is very crowded ( hope we can find it next time). The first branch is in Kpong. They have a beautiful building and quite a good size attendance.

The other branch is in Senchi where they meet in a rented building and Relief Society was in another language!! GREAT

We went up to check out a place for a service project on Saturday where we will be building a house for a family whose home fell into the river. The area is beautiful right on the banks of the river but it is so polluted sue to open sewer flowing in!! Pretty gross.

 

We went on up the river to see the dam and our farthest away branch. The lake used to be the largest man made lake in the world until the one was built in China.

Road trip to Ho

Larry has been given the assignment to be President Heid's "special assistant" what ever that is. He will be in charge of getting the missionary apartments in better condition so that they can have a refuge and feel the spirit while there. So we are traveling around to see all the living areas and see what can be done. Some are pretty rough and I kind of freak out wondering if my sons ever had to live like this. We had some very special experiences while in the north part of the mission or Volta region. We took a ferry across the river and when I got out to take pictures was bombarded because everyone wanted their picture with the "white girl". The elders all just sat in the car laughing. We went to church in a very small humble branch-and after they held a baptism, and asked Elder Sanders to help as a witness.

As well as the work, we had to do some sight seeing. We went to a monkey sanctuary and fed Mona monkeys.

We also went on a hike to Wli Falls--just the lower falls as I was not really dressed for a hike and the upper falls was a 6 hour hike-will have to get back there to do that.

While there we stayed in a house where a mission couple had just left-but because of where it is, we needed to sleep under mosquito nets. This is more in the jungle in "the Bush" as they say. Of course one night while there, they had "light out" where the power is out for 12 hrs 6p to 6a because there is not enough power to go around so they rotate who goes without for awhile. It was hot as!!! It reminded me of those  hot nights on Lake Powell when there is no breeze-I finally got up and got my sheet wet to put over me and that helped.

Had a missionary get sick with a bad kidney infection and have to be hospitalized for 3 days on antibiotics. He did well but the hospital was a little scary to me.

Saw Baboons along the road on the way home.

The people are amazing and it will be such a special experience to
help them. Some great sights along the way.