Dear Family,
"We are surrounded by those in need of our attention, our encouragement, our support, our comfort, our kindness- be they family members, friends, acquaintances, or strangers. We are the Lord's hands here upon the earth, with the mandate to serve and to lift His children. He is dependent upon each of us." This quote by President Monson sums up my feelings from this week as we lifted, and were lifted by those around us.
Last Monday Sister Munro accompanied me on our visit to Christiana. Sister Munro is a gem. She oozes love and is a marvelous support to the missionaries. On this visit Chrisitiana wanted to write the words she has been reading, so using some literacy strategies we helped her achieve that. It is so inspiring to see her sound out the words and write them. She is beautiful, inside and out.
Along with the SR volunteer couple, the Pothiers and the interns we visited Evelyn's Country Bread bakery. This young mother of two started her business two and a half years ago at which time she was baking about 200 loaves per day. She bakes wheat, white and fruit bread and has recently added meat pies to her selection. Today her business has grown to include sixteen employees and they turn out about 750 loaves per day! The bread is delivered and sold at gas stations along major roads leading out of Accra. The personal sacrifices for this successful business have been enormous.
Evelyn lives at her business location, her mother is raising her two little girls who she hasn't seen for two months, and her husband lives at another location (not uncommon here) because of his work. Her two bakers mix the bread at a different location and then bring the dough to the bakery, also one of the delivery vehicles is broken down so this is quite challenging. Her goals are to purchase her own mixer, a more dependable delivery van and move to a place where her family can be together. It is difficult to explain all the challenges here in Africa but the people move forward and do what has to be done. Oh, and by the way, she is Relief Society president in her ward too!
Victor is a member of New Weija ward and came to us last week requesting help in expediting his passage through SR class in order to renew his Perpetual Education Fund loan. We have enjoyed getting to know this young dad of a two month old daughter. He lifted and taught us as we discussed the foundational principles of faith in Jesus Christ and of using time wisely.
On Friday evening we enjoyed dinner with senior missionaries in our mission then on Saturday we invited the Munros (mission office couple), the Binghams (senior missionaries serving in the bush) and Sister Simpson (mission president's wife) over to our place for lunch. We learned that Elder Bingham has an aversion to egg shells, Sister Simpson LOVES Christmas and the Munros served their first mission in the Czech Republic.
On Sunday we facilitated a My Path devotional at New Weija ward where 13 members participated. Then we went to Lartebiokorshie and trained the Bishops on SR doctrine. We also met Brother Barlon, who will serve as a church service missionary in self reliance. Awesome story... he was bishop to Charles Akorligleh (Stake Pres member), Pres Akorligleh was Michael Odoom's bishop and now Bishop Odoom is bishop to both of them!
Be His hands.
With love,
Elder and Sister Lambert
Christiana
Evelyn
With Victor, Emily and Diana
Senior missionaries
The three Bishops
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