The junk yard cars ward

We visited another ward house today (March 7, 2021).  Not far from our apartment.  It takes maybe 15 minutes to drive there.  We do this each Sunday to meet the bishop, see another ward building, get to know the saints there, and get acquainted with the area. 

The most interesting part of the drive was the last kilometer.  Not a straight street, but one that took a slow, arcing turn to the left.  More picturesque that way.  There were the usual shops selling stuff along the street and the deadly gutters with their gaping jaws.  Not today boys.  We noticed more abandoned and junk cars than usual.  Some just seemingly with a flat tire and not much else wrong.  Some were rusting out and some were sort of newer, used cars.  They lined the street for a long way.  We came across a field of rusted out, junk cars that were obviously parked to create some kind of sense to the inventory, but in a strange way.  It was a big field of an acre or so.  Those used cars could be a great business if there was a market for used parts.  Cars, among other things, just don't get fixed.  Their owners drive them until they have a problem and then leave them to rust.  The closer we got to the church, the fewer cars we saw.  The last few hundred yards there were no rusted cars.  The usual shops, etc.

On a Sunday morning, one can see people walking to church.  The men and boys are in dark pants, white shirts and ties.  The ladies are dressed up for sure.  Colors galore, and many with high heels.  The women are truly pretty in those colorful clothes.  They wear them so well.  Any colors.  We saw this as we drove along the street.  People going to church; ours and others.

We arrived at the church.  A rather nice looking building in the community.  A large wall out front with a one-car drive way up one side.  Pulling into it was the only parking spot we could see.  We asked a member where to park and he motioned into that spot.  We were half within the walled area and half hanging out.  On our approach to the front door, there was the water barrel and bucket used to wash hands before going inside.  There were two young ladies to the side of the barrel taking names and temperatures of every parishioner; of all ages.  We washed hands with a fine looking young man who was dressed so clean and sharp.  When asked his age he responded "thirteen".  He looked less than that.  Some Ghanaians are rather small and some are rather big.  Not consistent.  We just don't know the people well enough yet to notice the different tribes, or even nationalities yet.

This church used to be a home.  The drive we parked in was the former driveway into the garage.  The front of the chapel now takes up that space.  The congregation sit in what used to be a large living room.  A hall at the back leading to the rear of the home leads to the bishop's office and class rooms where bedrooms and whatever used to be.  There is a area off the main seating area where a bathroom and maybe a kitchen was.  Enough of that.  Your dad had to be an architect to notice things like that.

It was a busy fast and testimony meeting.  Not much silent time at all.  No children participated.  Elaine shared her testimony.

The stake president was there to release the ward clerk and sustain another.  Good I thought.  We can start him off right.  Before the meeting ended, the power went out.  The last 20 minutes got hotter with no fans.  We could still hear as the room isn't that big and people spoke up.  The most notable thing about Sunday School was the teacher and learners spoke both English and Twi (pronounced "chwi") switching back and forth.  I kinda liked it.  I want to get used to the language but most everyone, everywhere, uses their English which sounds like another language to the "visitors" like us.

The power didn't go back on.  With no power there is no computer so we could do much with our new clerk friend.  The bishop explained that to us and walked us to the car and helped us back up into the street by holding traffic back so could make a clean get away.

Here is a view of the road as you get close to the church.  It is down a ways, on the right, but you can't see it from this far away.  I asked the bishop what this part of town is called and he said "three pipes".  There must be three water pipes somewhere.  I will have to understand that better in the future.

Here is the good bishop and the area between the street wall and the church.

This small courtyard is a nice place for the saints to visit if it isn't too hot.  The fans inside make things better.  But, the fans don't work when the power goes out.