Monrovia Liberia Mission Begins
First Stop Accra Ghana
Monday November 16, 2015 we said our last goodbyes and headed to Liberia.
Our plane left Salt Lake at 11:58 pm and we arrived in New York JFK at 6:30 a.m..
The flight was very comfortable with plenty of room so we could sleep probably 2 of the 4 hour flight. WHICH WAS A BLESSING! The next flight not the same at all.
We had a 10 hour layover in JFK and then a 1 1/2 hour delay on the tarmac because of a valve that was faulty on the plane. This plane was full to the brim with 90% Ghanaians going to Ghana.
If you know this people their favorite thing is to talk and move about and visit until the entire plane is their friends. It was an introduction to the culture we love so much....but at 12 -8 in the morning? We were exhausted when we arrived. after a 2 hour delay getting our bags at the Ghana airport we were able to go our and meet our mission pick up people.
Blessing: The first blessing we recognized is that when we checked in our bags had to go through a special check in because we had to check them all the way through. Well the man working at the desk was from the Ivory Coast. When he saw we were headed to Ghana and Liberia he was very good to us. Even with allowing a few extra pounds on our weight limit. He also made it possible for us to collect our sky miles for the flight which I never new was possible. He said when you are finished flying on this mission you will be able to go on a vacation. He was sweet.
AREA OFFICE
So we arrived in Accra Ghana and Elder and Sister Baker are one of our bosses in Accra or the West Africa Area Office. A sweet couple from Burley Idaho who know Andrew Greenman and Jake Lake. They also served in Tallahassee Florida when Abe and Wanda Dalley came to replace them. It was fun to meet them and be able to work these next two weeks with them.
the senior couples here as in the South East Area are very close. There are fewer an the assignments are piled up. They have a real need for couples here.
the senior couples here as in the South East Area are very close. There are fewer an the assignments are piled up. They have a real need for couples here.
Wednesday we were so wiped our all we could do was fight to keep our eyes open. We went to the Area Office to Meet John Buah Our Main Boss in the WAAoffice. We also had many people come up to meet us and say they have been waiting for us to get there. Even President Curtis came and introduced himself and we could not even think of who he was until the next day (embarrassed). But we couldnt really remember anyone the next day except the Bakers.
We were so glad to finally get a few groceries and lay our heads down at 4:00 P.M.. ..ZzzzZzzzzz.
Thursday when we finally awoke we found a few things in our suitcase and headed to the office. Everything is close. Our apartment is the Ancillary housing for the temple patrons. They like in East Africa, travel long distances to the temple. They usually make a big caravan.
or a busload to the temple form an area.
This ancillary housing is next to the Area Offices. The offices sit across from the temple and the Stake center for this area is behind the chapel. In the right background is the huge building of the massive new Ghana MTC that is under way. and in the left background of it all is the apartments or housing for the area Presidency families.
Accra Temple Tonight
OUR APARTMENT
THE ANCILLARY BUILDING
This ancillary housing is next to the Area Offices. The offices sit across from the temple and the Stake center for this area is behind the chapel. In the right background is the huge building of the massive new Ghana MTC that is under way. and in the left background of it all is the apartments or housing for the area Presidency families.
We have been through lots of training both Thursday and Friday learning more detailed welfare
training. John has been visiting with the Welfare Specialist and Manager about the well drilling in Africa. We have also been able to meet this wonderful Area Manager John Buah. He was a Mission President over Nigeria and Bishop and he worked very closely with Elder Pace in the beginning years of the Temple in Ghana. He is now our main Boss on this mission . He is so careful ad understanding of the peoples needs. He is teaching us so well about assessing needs and how to help them become self reliant. We thought we knew the program especially after 2 weeks in the Provo MTC. But he s taking us step by step and real African like stories to help us get a feel for what the branch presidents/bishops face.
WE love him already.
Monday we are going on a 3 1/2 day journey around Ghana to see the welfare projects in parts of Ghana.
We will go with the Bakers.
Friday we went to the office and received a message we had an assignment from president Curtis. We were to visit Elder and Sister Clark. Auditing department.
When we met them they explained that President Curtis had an assignment for us that was in addition to but went along with welfare.
We will go into the branches in Liberia and help direct them in their Financial affairs. Sister Clark talked about how much they need to be given direction and side by side assistance to see how to do them so the records can be kept properly.
Our big meeting is Monday Morning before our journey to learn what we need to do.
We both looked at each other and thought "Why didn't we bring Kim Christensen in our pocket? This is a job for him". What do we know about auditing and directing people in finances. We felt really overwhelmed and inadequate with this and all that needs to be done in Liberia. Then we left their office and this peacefulness just came over us. We know already that Heavenly Father knows us and he will help us. This is the Lords work and he wants it done so he will help all of us. There is a big concern for these little countries over here on this west side of Africa. A Big concern. They are growing in number so fast it is very hard for them to keep up with the growth. This weekend several stakes were created in Nigeria alone. It is really amazing.
We later learned that Liberia was about to become a stake. Ebola just really shattered it. They are wanting to get it to become a stake as soon as possible so they can have the blessing they need. But these issues must be resolved as in all the countries.
Satan really works hard. There are so many members in Liberia. Now when it is about to open 3 more cases of Ebola crept up. What a tricky devil he is.
This time it was President Graham . He is the brand new temple president.
He has been here 1 month.
It was a very touching sealing session.
After the temple we went to dinner and were able to visit with the area couples . It was wonderful to visit with them. To get to know them.
ONe Sister Stutz is serving with her husband. She was a kindergarten teacher at American Heritage when my children went there and when I taught P. E ..
She remembered us so fondly. IT was nice.
The Websters from Australia we rode with and they were so wonderful and kind to us. That was another person who said we have been waiting for you two to get here. So many are so excited for this little country to get up and running.
The Heckles-Literacy another couple we will work with.
WE have just been learning every minute
I realized how thankful I was to have a name that is difficult to say and spell because not only here but so many times it stands out....It gives an opportunity to Get to know people and often times leads to much more than that.
I remember Eleanor always telling the kids...'Please dont ever tarnish the Wollenzien Name..'
It is a great blessing
Just a note...
When any of the native members see our name they can say it right off. Why? Was this true for you Wollenzien boys who served here?
I also met two Young men who received their mission call to LIberia. One leaves next week to MTC and One in February. One is from Kumasi and one is from Koforidua Ghana.
Even though the countries are right next door to each other they must have the same anticipation as Elders traveling a world away and I am sure its for many reasons we don't understand.
One of the young men was here being sealed with his family to his father. He is a year in the church. His mother was very beautiful and sweet. She was very glad we met. It was a tender mercy for me and them. He looked so young . He is the one leaving next week into the Ghana MTC.
All mothers get nervous when their sons and daughters go on missions.
Today we attended church and had great experiences. Its wonderful to understand what they are saying in the meetings. This made John so happy. He had so much fun meeting members today.
After church John made our dinner and I wrote this first Blog.
It was our first homemade Sunday dinner on the mission.
We tried to make the blog short. But its not.
We've forgotten how busy a mission is and how much you learn all day long.
We love it and love being here but WE MISS YOU ALL TONS. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
We will be thinking of you . Give those kids a big hug.
Mom and Dad.
We later learned that Liberia was about to become a stake. Ebola just really shattered it. They are wanting to get it to become a stake as soon as possible so they can have the blessing they need. But these issues must be resolved as in all the countries.
Satan really works hard. There are so many members in Liberia. Now when it is about to open 3 more cases of Ebola crept up. What a tricky devil he is.
Want to help us?
Please pray that Ebola will stay away and Liberia and Sierra Leone will be able to stay open to the church missionaries.
Friday we went to the temple with all the couples. They do sealings with either the temple presidency or area preidency.This time it was President Graham . He is the brand new temple president.
He has been here 1 month.
It was a very touching sealing session.
After the temple we went to dinner and were able to visit with the area couples . It was wonderful to visit with them. To get to know them.
ONe Sister Stutz is serving with her husband. She was a kindergarten teacher at American Heritage when my children went there and when I taught P. E ..
She remembered us so fondly. IT was nice.
The Websters from Australia we rode with and they were so wonderful and kind to us. That was another person who said we have been waiting for you two to get here. So many are so excited for this little country to get up and running.
The Heckles-Literacy another couple we will work with.
WE have just been learning every minute
Blessing:
First did we tell you President Stanfill said to us 'Wollenziens? Wait I know Wollenziens in Montana. Are you related to Barry Wollenzien? Barry and Nancy? They are such Fine people.'
When we were in the temple and it was our turn to do Sealings, President Graham (as did everyone else) had such a time with our name. Repeatedly asking us to spell it etc. So when he finally asked us again and said well where are you serving and we told him he just stopped. He became so solemn and said that 'the first sealing he performed in this temple was 2 weeks ago to a sweet humble couple from Liberia. They traveled so far to come to the temple and be sealed as a family. It was very touching. We later had more conversation with him.I realized how thankful I was to have a name that is difficult to say and spell because not only here but so many times it stands out....It gives an opportunity to Get to know people and often times leads to much more than that.
I remember Eleanor always telling the kids...'Please dont ever tarnish the Wollenzien Name..'
It is a great blessing
Just a note...
When any of the native members see our name they can say it right off. Why? Was this true for you Wollenzien boys who served here?
Saturday John went with Elder Baker to look at water Projects at hospitals the church is helping in the area.
I stayed around the apartment and ran around the compound in the morning and cleaned and went some shopping with Elder and Sister Heckles.I also met two Young men who received their mission call to LIberia. One leaves next week to MTC and One in February. One is from Kumasi and one is from Koforidua Ghana.
Even though the countries are right next door to each other they must have the same anticipation as Elders traveling a world away and I am sure its for many reasons we don't understand.
One of the young men was here being sealed with his family to his father. He is a year in the church. His mother was very beautiful and sweet. She was very glad we met. It was a tender mercy for me and them. He looked so young . He is the one leaving next week into the Ghana MTC.
All mothers get nervous when their sons and daughters go on missions.
Today we attended church and had great experiences. Its wonderful to understand what they are saying in the meetings. This made John so happy. He had so much fun meeting members today.
After church John made our dinner and I wrote this first Blog.
It was our first homemade Sunday dinner on the mission.
We tried to make the blog short. But its not.
We've forgotten how busy a mission is and how much you learn all day long.
We love it and love being here but WE MISS YOU ALL TONS. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
We will be thinking of you . Give those kids a big hug.
Mom and Dad.
