the routine...

African Nights--gotta love telephoto

We spent the month catching up. Our daily routine hasn't changed much. Mostly our missionaries remain healthy. From a health standpoint, December is going well. We have set a goal when we first arrived to have each of our missions with less than three cases of malaria per month (about 30 cases for our area). You might say it was optimistic considering most of the ten missions we work with were averaging about 20 a piece.

We have been aggressively campaigning the use of mosquito nets at night and daily anti-malaria meds during the day...and we have almost made it. Last month we had only one mission reporting over goal and in that mission we have seen the numbers cut in half.


Elder Omokoro--sick with malaria in Lagos (our worst case since July)

We beg, we plead, we command, we bribe where necessary, and we even use scare tactics...and it is working. I show them a flyer from earlier this year and it helps illustrate the seriousness of the situation.

On a lighter note, the missionary work has never been stronger. On December 10th, an entire branch was baptized in a river outside Bibiani. We see these kinds of stories routinely. This congregation has been meeting for the last few years. All have testimonies and have been faithful--even paying tithing. They have been pleading for missionaries to come into their area, for some time an permission was finally received to push the boundaries of the mission northward and the missionaries started teaching en mass... This photo is from Elder Zoll (sr couple) show the group on their way to the river. Instantly thirty members, andthirty more preparing for next month. Instant Branch and soon to be Ward.

Elder Zolls Pic--on the way to the baptism

We spent much of December at home or in the office with our faces in the computers.

We have been working with a program called World Joy (www.worldjoyghana.org) in preparation for the Asunafo health clinic opening in January. We have been writing community education material.

We are writing basically a health manual that the nurses can use to teach classes to community leaders in the area. These community leaders will then go out into the community and teach their family and friends. These will be flip-charts--each one can be used in a mini lesson. We have finally turned in our first draft. Turns out this was a bigger project than we had anticipated. We did lessons that include malaria, diarrhea, dehydration, typhoid fever, schistosomiasis, tuberculosis, home safety, respiratory infections, and skin infections. We kept eying our January schedule worrying that we would not get finished—as January is where we gear up again—safe to travel and many hospitals and areas to visit. We both breathed big sighs of relief on Friday as we turned in our material. We will travel up to Asunafo in February for the launch of this new project.

Re-stocking supplies in the infirmary

 We continue to work at the MTC. Currently there is a great bunch. Last week we were able to hire a licensed nurse to come in and give Immunizations as we were told we needed someone with a Ghanain license.  She will work out fine. We love the MTC.

Double-teaming Sister Jackson

Sister Fife's "mommy lectures"

"things that make getting your shot easier..."

Lunch at the MTC with President and Sister Froerer

We now do two lectures with each group. Sister Fife gives the introduction to health at the MTC on their first day, and I give the introduction to health in the mission field on their last day. She teaches the "mommy lectures"--you know, the things your mommy was suppose to teach you, but sometimes you forget like take a shower every day, clean your room, etc. President and Sister Froerer are winding down. They return to the states in 3 weeks and then we will have a new MTC president. We continue our weekly tradition with them on Wednesdays—we attend a temple session with the missionaries in the morning and go to the new KFC after. We still haven’t got tired of it. We miss our friends the Pages who have been home for a month now.

Christmas came and went. We spent the day on Friday with the Accra missionaries in their annual Christmas conference—we had dinner, a devotional, and watched a talent show. It was fun to see the missionaries let lose a bit. On Christmas Eve we had a breakfast with the area missionaries at Elder Curtis’ home. Then on Christmas day we drove to the mission home down in Cape Coast and spent the day with our good friends  at the mission home—president and sister Shulz, Elder and sister Zoll, and Elder and sister Asay. It was so relaxing and enjoyable that we forgot we were even in Africa for a while. We had a turkey (from France) dinner with all the fix’ns, we watched a BYU basketball game and a Christmas movie, and we played cards. This helped us both as we were both feeling down about not being at home.

This month I have been teaching the Gospel Doctrine class in the Jamestown Branch here in Accra. I think it is going well—we are still working on some cultural barriers. Progress is slow. Michelle is teaching in Relief Society.

This week we are researching hospitals in clinic here in the west part of Ghana for the Accra mission. We will hit the ground running after the holidays tracking them down. This will take most of the month. We are preparing for another big trip in February into Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Overall we are doing well.

…From Accra

Elder and Sister Fife

Back to Abomosu



On the way back to Abomosu

 We spent thanksgiving in the Ghanain bush. Yesterday, the turkey was running around the village, and today it was on our dinner table. We had all the typical Thanksgiving fix'ns plus a few extras. I was happy to see red-red on the table as well--I think it may become a tradition, at least the fried plantains.

Thanksgiving in Abomosu

Holidays are not easy to be away from home. Missing family a lot today, but have lots of things to be greatful for. Had a great dinner in Abomosu, thanks to Elder and Sister Dalton and friends.

Other Photos from the week:

Elder Baker this last week and a termite hill

Selling bush meat along the roadside

...somewhere in Africa (Abomosu)

Elder and Sister Fife

Last Day with the Sisters

Today was the last day with Sister Wixom and Sister Allred. We went to church in Moree--a little fishing village on the coast here in Ghana. We had a great day yesterday. We had leadership training meetings and a devotional that was well attended--close to 500 preisthoon and auxiliary leaders showed.

We met two women today in Cape Coast. One,  a freind and Relief Society president of the other. Rosebud has been having problems for some time and has been to several doctors in the area. She has had surgery is still having chronic pain. The doctors gave her ibuprofen and a bunch of herbs, but nothing she has done to this point has helped. She confided in her Relief Society president who has been praying to find some relief for her good freind sister Rosebud. The night before the devotional with Sister Allreda and Sister Wixom, she (the RS president) had a dream, and in the dream she was told that they would meet someone tomorrow, who would help them. She blew it off, thinking that it was a rediculous notion, but when she saw Sister Fife, she knew who she was one of the missionary doctors, and ran to her and spilled her story. We met with her for only a minute or two, but were able to give her the answers that she needed. Again, it felt good to be needed--like we were suppose to be there that day, if not just to see Rosebud for 5 minutes. Funny how missionary work leads you in so many different directions.

I had a happy little guy that followed me (Elder Fife) around for a couple of hours. I don't know his fascination aside from my lilly-white skin. He would have nothing to do with Sister Fife for some reason. I was rather amused as it is typically just the opposite--and I didn't even need to use any smile makers.

We had a great, hectic, faboulous, spiritual, and lovely trip across the Africa West Area these last two weeks. We are excited to be home (finally calling Accra home rather than Minot or Seeley Lake.

...From Ghana

Elder and Sister Fife

The Ivory Coast

Elder and Sister Fife in Abidjan

The Ivory Coast. It sounds so exotic. As a matter of fact, it is exotic. We had the wonderful opportunity to stay a couple of days in Abidjan--the capital of The Ivory Coast. This is a beautiful city--unlike any other we've seen here in Africa. Abidjan is a little Chicago--right on the water. The city itself is so developed--almost like being home.

We learned absolutely no more French, but managed to get by, although our passports were confescated at the airport and we felt we may be stuck in the Ivory Coast for the rest of our lives. They gave us a hastle getting them back, but we managed to get them back in our hot little hands before our flight left.

Beautiful city. Beautiful country. Beautiful people.

Abidjan in the morning

Abidjan looks a lot like Chicago

Baby at the Devotional



Primary Children in Ivory Coast



Primary Children

Sister Wixom, Sister Allred, and Sister Fife

Last day in Cote d'Ivoire (at the airport)

The Ivory Coast (Cote d'Ivoire) is just now getting missionaries back in the country after the recent civil war. I couldn't tell too much just looking at the city as it looks fairly developed and wonderful compared with the rest of West Africa. The mission home was burned and looted, but we now have a new mission home and tons of Missionaries. Looking forward to having the first white missionaries come back into the country soon. We plan to return this spring to help with a contract with the hospital downtown and to tour a few other heath care facilities.

We love the missionaries in Cote d'Ivoire

...from Abidjan

Elder and Sister Fife

Togo

Fishermen Outside Their Village--Togo

Today we drove across Benin and Togo to Lome. Words can not describe these countries. You just have to be here to understand. The best part is the border crossing--this took us about an hour to go through--its utter chaos. We were happy to be with President Weed (Benin Cotonou mission was just created in July and he is the mission president). The AP's  (assistants to the president) just walked us through every point along the way--they took our passports, disappeared down a long tunnel and came out the other side with the stamp and we were on our way.

Fisherman Outside of Lome

Togo is a water country. Villages seem to just float on water. Fishermen everywhere. Its a beautiful site.



Floating Village in Togo

 We had a great visit in Lome. We were able to attend the ground-breaking ceremony for the first church owned chapel in the country of Togo. History in the making. Here in the Africa West Area, there are about 1100 members (the equivalent of one stake) each month. Its great to be here in the middle of this great work. There has not been such explosive growth in the church since the apostles were teaching in England in the 1840s.

Ground-Breaking: the First Chapel in Togo (Lome)

We were able to meet with several of the younger missionaries during the training in Lome. One incidence in particular is worth mentioning so I don't forget. We met with a struggling Elder for about an hour while the members were having a devotional. He has been struggling with depression--pretty severe for the last few months and has been praying for some help, but non available really in Lome. His family has been praying as well and visiting the temple with his name on the prayer rolls etc. He is struggling in a big way. We had a great visit and he was excited when I asked if we could start medicine and get him hooked up (via phone) for consultation with a specialist. I contacted his family and got a very wonderful response--essentially this was the answer to the prayers they had been wanting and expecting. I will be able to send medications when we get back to Accra, and am very positive about his health and keeping him on his mission. I look forward to working with him. This whole experience gave me a big ol spiritual boost--its feels good to be needed. It's hard to describe, but that night I had an overwhelming feeling that I was being used in a good way to serve this young man. To me this was the whole purpose of our trip--so that our paths would cross with this young Elder. I look forward to seeing his mental and spiritual health surge as we start the treatment.

...From the Beautiful Country of Togo

Elder and Sister Fife

Zimijan



On the Streets of Cotonou (Benin)

 Zimijan: (v) in the local dialect (Benin)-- get me there fast; (n) slang for motos, the cheapest and fastest from of public transportation.

Zimijans and our chase car

Cotonou has its own very unique feel and flavor. The most unique thing is the amount of Zimijans on the roads. They outnumber the cars by at least 20 to 1. Driving in Benin is like driving in the middle of a hive of bees. The Zimijans swarm you, at any given instant, there are 20 or 30 in the front of you, 10 or 15 on each side of you and 20 or 30 behind you. They envelop the traffic and move at about twice the speed of any of the cars. They are all buzzing and zipping in and out of cars. It has a mind-numbing effect. Unlike anywhere else we've ever been. You might think that safety is impossible with the reckless abandon that is shown by all of the motos--and you would be correct. In our two days here, we saw but one accident, and it was terrible. Zimijan verses vehicle, and the driver always loses. In this case he lost everything! I needn't say much more without getting into nasty details.

We tavelled to 5 different countries in 10 days and forgot our yellow fever cards. We were stopped at every border, but managed to talk our way through. Benin was a bit more difficult as our French is very poor--perhaps they just got tired of trying to decipher my lousy French and decided to let us in just so we would stop talking.

Cotonou Missionaries

Health Check-Up

As usual, Sister Fife surrounded by children

Cotonou Chapel

This is the first chance we got to really visit with the missionaries. They were great, plus some spoke English. We looked in ears, and listened to hearts and lungs and actually had no responsibilities during the training sessions so we wandered the streets a bit around the chapel area.

We became the offical photographers
Sister Wixom and the primary children

The Benin Boys

Primary children in Benin

Having fun in the back of the meetings

Sifting tapioca

...From Benin

Elder and Sister Fife

Tag-Alongs in Nigeria

Sunset over Lagos



Today we set out as minions, tag-alongs really. We were asked to accompany Sister Wixom (general primary president) and Sister Allred (councilor in the general Relief Society) as they travelled for auxiliary training in our part of the world. First stop Lagos. We felt a bit like a fifth wheel, but I think were able to provide mental support—just knowing the doctor is around staves off a lot of worry and concern.





Our Chase Car



Here is the Nigerian summary: two days, four meetings broadcast to over 19 stakes and district to the remote parts of Nigeria. No sickness or illness. Everywhere followed by a chase car (security vehicle). Fun being in this entourage. Long days. Back to the airport.

At first we were a bit uncomfortable to be eating meals with the general authorities and general officers (these good sisters), but as the week went on, it became much less uncomfortable. We really got to know these sisters, and had a delightful time with them.

We met with our friends the Bakers (senior missionaries serving in Lagos) and they took us out to dinner—a wonderful buffet with seafood, Nigerian food, and even barbequed meat! They are a delightful couple (from Canada eh!), and we are looking forward to their visiting us next week in Accra.

Saw a few missionaries on the side, but the overall health of the missionaries in Lagos is excellent. This is one of our healthiest missions.

President Karkari’s daughter (reigning miss Ghana) competed in the miss world pageant this week, and she won the first prize in ‘beauty with a purpose” category. He was a very happy man this week.

Lagos is a beautiful city if you are looking in the right spots. We were assigned to visit the Oshodi branch with sister Allred. Here in the middle of the neighborhood must be 50 churches.

Heading to Church Sunday Morning

Sister Allred said that I was paying more attention to the Alleluias coming from the church next door, than to her remarks in sacrament meeting.  To be honest she was probably right, but in my defense the Alleluias and Amens were very loud and hard to ‘tune out’. All of the chapels in Africa are open—meaning if you don’t open the windows to the outside, you die of heat. That said, quite often you compete with the traffic, other churches, children, dogs, chickens, birds that fly in the windows etc , for attention in the meetings. Sacrament at home (with crying babies) has nothing on the meetings here.

The Nigerian Boys, this boy on my left followed us
around the whole day (the perfect child in sacrament meeting)



The Nigerian Girls--Lagos Stake Center



Overall, the meetings were great, the training well received, and a usual, the people are wonderful. We left Nigeria with full hearts and a yearning to return.

...From Lagos

Elder and Sister Fife

Living Angels and Water Babies…

Sister Elizabeth and one of her miracles

We recently met a living angel. Her name is Sister Elizabeth. She rescues discarded babies, she fixes the broken child, and she works miracles every day.

To visit her is to visit one of the most amazing places on earth. Right in the middle of no-where Africa, she has found her purpose. People come from all around to be blessed by her goodness and charity. She has worked in Ghana for the last 30 years building the Golden Jubilee. This is a national orthopedic training center. Here, the broken child is brought and is fixed; the limbless worker comes to receive a new limb, and the infirm comes to walk once more.

Here crutches are built, prosthesis are made, wheelchairs are crafted, and people come to learn how to use them. Resources are mostly donated—leftover foam from this factory, used prosthetic parts from one countries rejects.

Here there is a certain spirit that hangs in the air. People are happy. People are working hard. Mothers are witnessing miracles every day.

Here are some of their stories:

Rebecca being measured for new orthopedic shoes

This is Rebecca, and she is why we came to find this place. We had the opportunity to bring her here today to be refitted for crutches and shoes. She is 12 years old right now and can walk! This is amazing in the fact that not that long ago she was scooting around on her hands and butt—this is how she got from one place to another. She was born with two feet that didn’t work (club feet), and two hips that didn’t work (hip dysplasia). Through the center’s care she has received a couple of operations, and many weeks spent living right here learning to walk. She is beautiful. She sang us primary songs along our short ride home (she lives just a couple of hours away. She is one of Sister Elizabeth’s miracle children.

Zachery walks well with his new legs

This is Zachary. He lives here. He has been abandoned by his family. He was born without legs. Somehow he was brought to the US and stayed with a foster family while he underwent a series of surgeries. He came back when he was two. He is now almost four. Sister Elizabeth met with his family when he came back, but found out they intended to make him a ‘water-baby’. A water baby is a term she uses for children (usually born in the northern tribal areas of Ghana), that are born with defects and turned out into the river to be given back. Essentially they are drown. She agreed then to bring him to the center, fit him with prosthetics, teach him to walk etc on the condition the family come by every few weeks so that she could facilitate a little bonding. That was a couple of years ago, and no one has seen hide nor hair of the family since. He is happy. He is rambunctious and often in trouble. He is now going to school. He lives at the center. He will have a great life. He is one of Sister Elizabeth’s miracles.

These are many more of Sister Elizabeth’s miracles—a story for each one.

We give her our deepest respect; our love, and gratitude. We hope to be back, and we hope to contribute in at least some small way to her efforts.

…staying well in Ghana,

Elder and Sister Fife