Lasts

 

Do you remember this song from Sesame Street? It's a silly little song that gets stuck in my head whenever I see an Obruni walking down the street. It's really an odd little sight; but then I see a picture like this and it reminds me how we stand out here in Africa.

 

OK, so are you ready to play? Here we go...

 

One of these things is not like the others,

One of these things just doesn't belong,

Can you tell which thing is not like the others

By the time I finish my song?

 

 (I will give you a hint: its not Sister Fife)

This is Sister Fife's Relief Society class that she has taught on Sundays in Jamestown.

 

 

Did you guess which one was not like the others?

Did you guess which one just doesn't belong?

If you guessed this one...

 

  

Then you're absolutely...right!

This is Mavis and she is not like the others today because she does not have on a traditional African dress. This is what the sisters in Sister Fife's Relief Society wear on a typical Sunday. Most have head wraps, but today hardly any.

After you have been here so long, you just stop thinking of yourself as different, you just don't see your obruni self. I had someone come looking for me at the office yesterday and was surprised to see that I was a white man, "you sound so Ghanaian on the phone".

 

We have certainly picked up a lot of habits here in Africa; some good, some not so good and others just a little quirky. Michelle is quite nervous about turning me loose on my own to drive the streets in the States for fear I will cause so much trouble--a very aggressive driving habit is one of the bad ones I've picked up. I drive with one hand on the horn, the other out the window doing all sorts of funky signals, one foot on the gas and the other on the floorboard bracing for impact.

 

We have spent the week saying good-bye and checking off a lot of lasts--last day at church, last session with the missionaries giving shots, last time grocery shopping, last, last, last.

 

Sister Fife and Sister Mingo

 

Today we gave away all of our clothes and I am down to my last white shirt, my last tie, and my last pair of slacks. (I will not miss any of them). Tonight we will say good bye to our good friends Elders and Sisters Zoll, Thayne and Asay for the last time. Finally, what you are reading now, is the LAST blog...

 

We have a lot of blessings to be thankful for as we look back over the last year and a half, but are very excited about coming home, seeing the kids and family, and trying to find some kind of normal life.

 

Sister Fife and Sister Quarty

 

Brother 'Josesph' (brother Sowah), and Elder Fife

 

Elder Sitati, Elder and Sister Fife, Elder Curtis, and Elder Dickson

 

Here we are with the area presidency at our last family home evening after receiving the traditional missionary kente Africa West Area sash.

 

We are ready.
 

...see you in a few days.

Elder and Sister Fife

Wrapping It Up

A little field medicine

Last month we had the opportunity to head down to the Cape Coast Mission again for training. We stopped in Swedru on the way home to take care of a little foot problem. This is Elder Kitchen and an big ol abscess on his foot.

 

We taught the missionaries--here we are with two of the Cape Coast Zones

One of our biggest problems is getting the missionaries to stay hydrated!

Lancing the boil



...survived

Believe it or not, we've been fairly busy this month. We have begun finishing up our little projects. We have several little projects that we have our hot little fingers in. Still missionaries getting sick, or hurt, or something or other.

...from the mission field

Elder and Sister Fife