Cake/Cockroaches - Teaching Business/Self-Reliance Class - Feeding Sisters - Fun with Couples

Sister Martin helped Sister Zvimba and Sister Udoekong upstairs bake a cake for a RS Sisters event and broadcast commemorating the Relief Society birthday in our branch. She was happy to find out that their oven keeps consistent temperature, unlike ours. However, she had to take a deep breath to ignore the unwelcome intruders...cockroaches. Since the Sisters moved in they've been battling the infestation. When they finished the cake Sister Martin insisted they put the cake in the fridge to avoid any unwanted tracks or nibbles.

Sister Martin and I were asked to substitute for a "Starting and Growing Your Business, Self-Reliance" class while our Mission Leaders were out of town. We taught a wonderful group many basic, business principles and also the spiritual side like inviting God to be your partner. We both felt the spirit touch our hearts as we testified of help received in our own lives from paying tithes and offerings.

One brother came up to me a week later and said he remembered how I advised them to avoid unnecessary debt and the quote I gave from Proverbs 22:7 in the Bible saying, "...The Borrower is Servant (Slave) to the Lender". 

On Sunday, the Relief Society President asked all Sisters in the Branch to come to a special broadcast event about the Relief Society. Sister Martin and the Primary President asked a couple of the young missionary Elders to cover in Primary.

Everyone seems to love cake here. We didn't even put frosting on it, but everyone loved it. We used TP for napkins. 

On Saturday, in Megenagna, the sisters in the District attended the Worldwide Relief Society Broadcast. One sister translated it as it was in English. The sisters had a spread of food.

Sister Martin tried a new recipe, stuffed Zucchini. It was pretty good.

One of our wonderful members and friend took us out for lunch to try a new dish called, "Chechebsa".

It was quite good. Sister Martin liked the honey that was available to dip in. It was like a pancake with red pepper spice and scrambled eggs on top. 

We enjoyed seeing so many attend the orientation for a trade school opportunity for those that want to begin a new career. We've linked up with a school that works with the NGO, RealHumanitarian. They teach Clothing making, Furniture making, Hair dressing, and Barbering. If an applicant gets selected, finishes the 6 month course, and finds a job in one of these fields, the starting pay averages about $140/month. This program is especially for the very poor and needy to become more self-reliant.

One of our sister missionaries, who recently arrived from Nigeria was struggling to adapt to the different food here like I did a few months ago. I looked up popular Nigerian recipes and found one called Jollof Rice and Chicken. I made it for Sunday dinner and she liked it. I made a big pot so they could have leftovers for the week. It reminded me a little of Indian Biriyani except it didn't have quite so many spices.

 

We started a Temple Preparation class. So far we have four wonderful people coming. There's a wonderful feeling as we review scriptures and applicable principles from the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

One brother got very excited about filling out his Family History, 4 generation Pedigree chart from the booklet. When he finished there were only two missing great grandparents. After a few moments he remembered one of them and then was only missing one. He said he was going to go home and think some more and pray to remember the last name. He said no one is alive to ask for help and didn't think there were any records available.

We asked each person why they want to go to the temple. One answer that most agreed with was they knew they would feel closer to God there. 

It still takes nearly all day by airplane (over 6 hours flight time) to reach the nearest temple in Ghana from Ethiopia. We hope the one in Nairobi Kenya (only 2 hours flight time) is finished soon. 

 Found this photo online showing the construction progress of the Nairobi, Kenya Temple.

We heard a lot of miracle stories. Here's one to share about a lady praying up in the mountains about which church was true.

We had a good time with a few of the couples at a Japanese restaurant that we had gone to before.

Sister Oba on the left broke her leg but just keeps on going.

The children at the after school English tutoring program always like to have us take their pictures.

Boss Burgers with the Woodburys. Pretty good burger for Ethiopia. They had great fries and added a lot of really good sauce to try and camouflage the Ethiopia beef. Just not quite American.