Between the Lines

One of our very talented daughters-in-law, Brandi Lyn, began an interesting project this year called the 1 second video.  Each day she and  her family choose one second of their activities to record.  It has become an amazing glimpse into their lives thus far this year.

Here, if you are not in an apartment building, most people live in walled compounds.  In the poorer parts of Accra and other cities and villages, there are small pathways between the tiny metal "sheds" that serve as homes.  In Ghana, as we travel through the city, we glimpse quick seconds of life literally in these tiny alleyways.  Whether it is a child playing in the gutter, a woman sitting on a concrete step with her head in her hands, food in a cooking pot over an open fire, a man standing outside his door brushing his teeth, people getting ready to leave for church, or a mom carefully making her way home with her little girls, we feel like we are getting the real story of Ghana "between the lines".

We had another landmark week this week.  Two of our students hooked up by tele health with a teacher at the University of Utah.  So...clear across the Atlantic ocean and then most of the US.  How cool is that?  

Since our sons had fun fixing up the old Logan Art Cinema a couple years ago, I found them a new theater to work on.  The Rex.  On Sundays they use it for church.

One of our students had some African clothing made for us.  We match!  It was very sweet of her.

Often when we drive to or from work, we see women spreading out these huge sheets of plastic and then spreading large buckets of this white "grain looking" stuff to apparently dry in the sun. Just found out it is Gari, a creamy white grnular flour with a slightly fermented flavor and a slightly sour taste made from fermented, gelatinized fresh cassava tubers.
This is part of the 5 day drying and fermenting process.

Last Saturday we went to a gallery where a group called the Ghanaian Allied Artists bring their wares to display and sell.  It was full of incredible works of art, and some antiques collected over time from villages all over Ghana.  We fell in love with the work of one of the water color artists, but he was a little out of our price range.
 This crab and the fish below are beautiful caskets.
 John didn't want to climb inside so we could show you how they work.

To the right is an old Kente cloth loom.  It is incredible how they pass the designs on down through generations.    The thread is held in the mouth and two hands in order to weave the cloth.

We got a call last Sunday evening from Ike Ferguson (our boss at LDS Charities) who told us that 4 young people who work for World Joy were stranded for the night at the airport before they could go up to Abomosu.  They are teachers and will be working with teachers here in Ghana for 6 weeks on how to effectively teach reading.  So we collected them from Yao, our old driver, and it was fun to have them overnight for a visit.

This is Joseph and his family from our Jamestown Branch.  The little boy is "false advertising".  He is full of spit and vinegar during Sacrament meeting.    We have asked our students how the children do not end up bowlegged after being carried by their Mothers all day long for up to 4 years with their little legs strapped around Mom.  They just laughed at us.
On Sunday, for Father's Day, our Primary sang two songs about Dads in Sacrament Meeting.  It was somewhat strange for some of the children, since the relationship between family members is a little different here in Ghana.  Not too much physical interaction or affection is shown.  The children made Father's Day cards with papers we printed and some crayons and stickers that our sweet grand children, Elijah and Hailey, sent for them.

Lately, some of our students have been posting sweet remarks.  Thought we would include some for our blog so we could save them.
Have a great week!

Graham Amponsah I pray for good health for YOU and PAPA JOHN. May the Almighty God restore every strength you people have lost.I know it has not been easy but you are doing this because of your quest to help change lives and your love for humanity. I pray for abundant blessings in your life and may you live long, long and long because the world needs good people like you two! Ronald Nkansah Adjekum  Where do we go from here...how do we continue to live our lives the same...how do we try to explain this experience that we have right here...ALL I CAN SAY IS MY LIFE WILL NEVER BE THE SAME... I LOVE YOU JOHN AND ANN RIBERA! Williams (after hearing that Ann was ill for a couple of days) sent this text: "Good morning Prof. I would like to find out how our great mother is faring today? I have been praying for her and I believe the healer of healers, the most high God, will make her well. Wishing her speedy recovery. Amen."