Blackout

Hello everyone! We have been out of power the last 12+hours... Not just on campus, but the areas of Legon, Madina, and Adenta. So now that we have electricity again, I can finally use my computer to post yet another blog. We have had problems with our running water and electricity going out this last week and it has made me very grateful for those things that I probably take for granted.

This week has been wonderful and busy! Monday night we had the Missionary Fireside for FHE. At this fireside, we invited many people from the surrounding wards to attend so that we could “kick-off” the missionary work beginning on the campus of University of Ghana in Legon! We had some of the senior couples come from the temple site as well as a member of the Accra Ghana Mission presidency. We had a great turnout (we could have had more non-members come) and I got to wear my new African-made dress!!!

I am continuing to make progress on my thesis and other school work. This has felt like a very easy semester compared to the ones that I have had in the past… Probably due to the fact that most of my classes are performance based and not academic based. My last semester at USU is going to be a wake-up call back to my insanely busy reality haha.

On Friday I went to the Art Center to purchase 2 more drums!!! I am going to get a djembe and a talking drum (also known as “dunno”). They should be ready next week so I can go and pick them up. I also purchased a gourd rattle and a metal double bell. All of these instruments are ones that I have been using in my classes and are an integral part of the research that I have been conducting. It will be interesting to see how I am going to get all of these drums home with me….

Saturday I went with my LDSSA group to do baptisms at the temple. Because I am endowed, I was asked to assist the females by helping them with towels as they came out of the font and then escorting them to the changing room. It was amazing to feel like a temple worker for a few hours! As I watched the baptisms taking place, I had such a comforting feeling come over me. I know that no matter what mistakes I make my sins can be washed away, just like when someone is baptized. We just need to repent and we can feel that cleansing power as we take the sacrament. Later that night I enjoyed an amazing concert of gospel music! The choir was so talented and they had such passion for what they were singing about.

Well that is about all for this week. Short and sweet. I am down to my last 3 weeks of classes and then the traveling and studying begins!!! Hope you all have a wonderful week.

Djembe Drums

Talking Drum - "Dunno"

Waiting at TroTro station to go to the temple