Life is cruising right along. This week was Thanksgiving, which I did not remember until Thursday night. Coincidentally, however, my Idahoan instincts must have kicked in because I unwittingly made some mashed potatoes with gravy on Tuesday evening. While we were at a member's house, I saw what appeared to be a very diseased potato. It turns out that it's just an African variety of the potato and it's not the same. I bought some, thinking that I would try to make some mashed potatoes and hoping that if it did not come out to be exactly the same, it would at least reach a level of acceptable comparability. Wrong. They were the worst mashed potatoes and gravy I've ever had in my life. The potatoes were very sweet (sugary) and the gravy was a disaster. I'll include a picture. The irony of the situation hit me two days later when I realized that it was the week of Thanksgiving. Hope you enjoyed your real Idahoan potatoes.
On a better note, we had district conference this week where all the branches in Tamale and Bolgatanga met together (5 branches total). We don't have a chapel in the district that is big enough to hold that many people, so we used the meeting center of a local hotel. It was really good. I especially enjoyed the Saturday priesthood leaders' training and adult session. Three of the best testimonies I've ever heard were borne there. We escorted three of our investigators to the conference. All of them are children under the age of 15 from the same family. Their parents are really nice and don't have problems with their children attending the church, but so far haven't shown a lot of interest in coming themselves. That's ok, though. They're surrounded by strong members, so I know that when the time is right they'll come. They're a really nice family.
Ghana's elections are coming up on December 7, so our transfer schedule was adjusted so that we don't conflict with the elections. Usually they don't get violent, but a lot of Ghanaians have warned us to be on our toes. Either way, it means that my next p day will be on Saturday, Dec 3. And not the following Monday. So when you get an email from me on that day, don't be afraid that I'm breaking any rules.
A few weeks ago I found out that Kwasi Aidoo, who I baptized in Kronum, has recieved the Melchizedek priesthood and has been serving as a Stake High Councilman! That is sweet. Kronum was also recently split into 2 wards, so chances are high that he's part of the new bishopric right now. It made me really happy to hear that he has immersed himself so fully in the culture of the church. He's gone to the temple several times, but he's planning to go with his family in January to be sealed. Bam. Fruits that remain.
You asked for a recipe of something that I've eaten lately. Hahahaha recipes don't exist here. This is the closest thing I can get to a recipe:
Rice
tomato paste
dried fish
meat (beef)
spices
oil
onion
pepper
garlic
ginger
Maggi
cabbage
tomatoes
green peppers
Really. That's how they make things here. It takes some getting used to. Most of the time you just have to watch someone make it several times and memorize everything they do. That's probably why they only have like five dishes to choose from here.
I got the package! I didn't know it was coming, but it made me happy. Unfortunately, it passed through customs so everything had been opened and looked at already. And it cost an extra 37 cedis for me to get but it was worth it. I also got the Christmas SD card you sent, but the format is weird so it doesn't work when I try to listen to it. I still haven't gotten the conference SD card. The package was great. We put the presents under our Christmas tree, but Elder Robson couldn't wait to open his. Thanks!
Love,
Elder Nelson
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