Preparation....a long and winding road

January 28, 2021

Doing something really worthwhile seems to take a great deal of preparation, patience, long-suffering, and more patience and a lot of work and perseverance.  Got the idea?  We began this adventure in earnest last May (May 2020).  We had scanned the senior missionary opportunities for a few months and decided on Tonga. There were several opportunities, some critical, that were open.  Arranging for doctor visits, for example, at the outset of a global pandemic is really hard.  Just a physical exam, that's all we wanted!  To be brief, not everyone was cooperating with us. And, I didn't like that, but I persevered.  From inception to filing our mission application was longer than we expected.  I had expected to put our available date sometime in September.  By the first part of July, we had it all together and had our interviews with the Bishop and then Stake President scheduled.  

Before we decided to get things going in May, and during all of this "getting the application ready" activity, we had studied in earnest the Tongan language;  I was picking up where I had left off 48 years ago, and Elaine was starting from scratch. I had even begun tuning into the local radio stations originating from Nuku'alofa, Tonga.  It was great!.  Things were going as I had planned.

By the first part of August, the application was in to the church!  Our mission call arrived by email on September 22, 2020. 

All four of our suggested opportunities were for work in Tonga, South Pacific.  Not to happen!  The letter we received announced we were called to labor in the West Africa Area.  Yes, you are right, we looked at each other, smiled (being slightly stunned), and said we're going to Africa!  After just a few moments, it felt really good inside, and that feeling has not gone away.  We are going to Africa, for eighteen months.  Not by original choice, but by a calling.  We were set apart on Sunday, January 24, 2021 and planning to fly out on Thursday, February 4, 2021.

February 6, 2021

We did fly out on February 4.  The first leg was to New York's JFK where we met almost two dozen Elders who were going back to their original assignments in Ghana and those who were called during the Covid slow down who were going there for the first time.  We also flew with the Shepherds whom we met in the SLC airport who were also returning to the Area Office as Humanitarian missionaries.
The second leg of the journey was from JFK directly to the Katoka International airport in Ghana.  9 1/2 flights are tough.  Hard to sleep on the plane, but the 1 1/2 nap I took was enough to keep my mind clear so I wasn't too drowsy.

We were met by several couples.  Elder and Sister Dick took us to our apartment which isn't far from the airport.  We are in the Alema Court Apartments #4.  The Weston's had us over for dinner that night to get us acquainted somewhat and the Kittelson's who arrived a week ago were also there.  The Weston's are from Logan, and the Kittleson's are from Gilbert, Arizona.  

Today the Weston's took us to two malls where we bought food and got acquainted with driving in Accra.  

Tomorrow is Sunday and I get to drive to the church.  It might be fun.