From the Homefront

Spring is officially here because the calendar says so . . . Mother Nature is not yet convinced. None-the-less the brothers came down to the Gunnison house to do the required projects so the yard would be spring ready. PLUS because this happened . . .

The boys had to do a little re-landscaping, by moving the rain gutter drain away from the house so it wouldn't leak into that room anymore. The boys were up at the crack of dawn to start pounding away the cement piece that had to go . . . (and because I got up at the crack of 11 - I didn't get pictures of what I'm sure were impressive skills with the sledge hammer. I can sleep through anything :))

Sprinklers were set (a few repaired . . . oops!) The bees were watered (yummy sugar water) and the lawns mowed.

Done. You cannot even tell where they dug up the lawn.

Grandma couldn't be more pleased with the group that she had at her beck and call. She was thrilled with the progress made, and was so excited to finally have her lawn mowed! She made lunch for the whole crew (I just thought that Laura/Andree were so cute)

(we attempted to get a picture of grandma cooking, but we didn't want to be disinherited)

2nd Trip to Kumasi

Our first trip to Kumasi was when we had been in Africa only a couple of weeks. We had an excellent Ghanaian driver and tour guide in Bishop Clarence Kofi; this time, however, we were driving. On the way to Kumasi we followed the Mission President who had taken the Temple President and Matron with him. We stuck pretty close and Elder Brown did a great job of driving like the Ghanaians. On the way home we were on our own--could we get to Accra safely? was the big question. As a distraction, I, as the 'nagivator' decided to keep a tally of all the villages between Kumasi and Accra. We discovered why the 260 km (156 mi) takes 4-6 hours driving time. There are 66 villages with speed bumps and 30 mph speed limit signs along the way; to say nothing of the random road construction and other traffic delays. Of course, Sunday is a light traffic day and there are a couple of short stretches where you can actually drive about 60 mph. Leaving and entering Accra are the biggest challenges because of the road construction. It took an hour for us to arrive at the temple complex once we had reached the outskirts of Accra. The village names are posted on our blog -- more for my travel documentary than that I think it will be an interesting adventure for you. Hopefully, it will be for some. 

1. Kumasi--spent the night at the Golden Tulip|Apr 10, 2010
2. Oduom
3. Besease
4. Manhyia
5. New Ampabame
6. Boankra
7. Hwereso
8. Kubease
9. Adamwomanse
10. Duampongo
11. New Koforidua
12. Nobewam
13. EjisuJuaben
14. Ohene Kuwantra
15. Konongo Odumasi
16. Konongo--where district meetings were held
17. Yawkwei
18. Juaso
19. Atwidie
20. Asankare
21. Breku
22. Dadieso
23. Kwahu Fodoa
24. Adansua
25. Kwahuttwidiem
26. Awenade
27. Nkawkaw
28. Ofromanse
29. Amanfrom
30. Nkawanda
31. Abe___
32. Jejeti Junction
33. Asuoso
34. New Jejeti
35. Sekyere
36. Enyrisi
37. Anyinam
38. Kabeng
39. Asamanga Tamfoe
40. Atiwa
41. Osino
42. Asiakwia
43. Nsutam Linda Dor (halfway stop timewise)
44. Aboabo -- good restrooms
45. Awtemawha
46. Akoko
47. Apedwa--Junction where good road ends
48. Obretema--road construction begins
49. Suhum
50. Okorase
51. Mankrong
52. Asuboe
53. Kyekyewere
54. Teachermante
55. Bethsada
56. Ntaoso
57. Adougyiri
58. Nsawam
59. Doboro -- toll booth
60. Hebron
61. Medie
62. Kutunse
63. Pobi Asaawa
64. Agbon #1
65. Pokuase
66. Sonnidom
67. Achimoto
68. Accra

Be it known that these names are not on any map I have seen; just road signs entering the village as a caution that there will be speed bumps (or tables, in some cases)

Secret Sisters' Scripture Study

This is one of the special events that occurs on Monday morning at 10 am in the Area Presidency's board room. The brethren tease us about it being a 'secret' sister meeting but it's just good to study and discuss the scriptures as women. We have been studying the Doctrine and Covenants this year and will soon be finished. I will list the mission assignments by the names listed below so you get an idea of another phase of my missionary experience.

SISTER SCRIPTURE STUDY PHOTO ID

Members listed starting in the front and then clockwise:

Bonnie Smith -- Mission President's wife

Mikayla Clarkson (w/baby Corbin)-- Husband works for US embassy

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Pam Eppel--DTA's wife (Director of Temporal Affairs)
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Anita Thompson -- Legal counsel's wife

Marilyn Hale--Mission office missionary

Sister Uduma--Temple missionary from Nigeria

Kathy Brown--Welfare missionary (PEF)

Delores Dickson--Area Pres. 2nd Counselor's wife

Diane Golden-- Area Pres. 1st Counselor's wife

Gaye Briellatt--Temple matron

Pat Bevan--Family History missionary

Debbie Cardon--Area President's wife

Linda Petersen--Assistant Executive Secretary

LaDawn Empey--Temple Pres 1st Coun's wife

Joyce Wall--Temple missionary

Marsha Maughan--Medical Missionary's wife

Jill Johnson--our PEF trainer and had many other mission assignments

Absent: Jo Bingham--Public Affairs missionary

Janet Andam--Temple Pres. 2nd Coun's wife

Kathy Froerer--Africa West MTC Pres.'s wife