A great man celebrated

 I watched the state funeral of Jummy Carter, the 39 USA President. All the pomp and circumstance that is expected. It brought me back down memory lane to a visit to a friend in Tallahassee Florida, Beverley Booth, a doctor that I met in India in 1990 (that's another story)

Anyway she took me one weekend to Plains Georgia with intent of worshipping with Pres. Jimmy Carter and wife on Sunday. What a blessing!

Getting into the church was a process  through security: no bags, show id (passport), once you enter there is no out and in again. We were all seated by 10 am for a service at 11 am.

One of the Church Elders I am sure,  came and gave the program of how to be during church service and with the President. I am sure she ran a platoon in her other life and you would not have wanted to cross her for a minute. She said that there were 30 in the congregation every week along with 200 guests.

About 1015 Jimmy comes out and teaches a Sunday School class. I can not remember a word he said but I was some impressed with his theology. 

About 1050 he goes back and get his first lady Rosalynn, and they sit a few rows back across the aisle from Bev and I.

Here is a collection plate that Jimmy made for the church in his woodshop.

There was a procedure if you wanted a pic with the pair. You can not touch them or speak to them, it was like lining up for Santa with no conversation and no sitting on his knee.

We were told about a cafeteria next door that Jimmy had built for retired cafeteria workers to staff. Of course we had to go for lunch.

it is called THE CAFETERIA, original sorta.

Staff were very friendly serving traditional southern foods. I asked for something that resembled spinach, tasted very bitter. I did not finish it.ugh

What a visit. It made the funeral service much more meaningful and relevent to the eulogies. I felt like I knew the man a little bit.

Bev wemt to Plains to see the leaving of the casket for the Capital.

A humble man on to his life eternal. 

May he rest in peace and rise in glory!

 

NEW YEAR RETREAT

 Bishop organized a retreat with a speaker for priests and their spouses (all women as there are no women priests except me in this diocese). I realize how the language and references change when women priests are added to the mix.

Speaker was The Very Rev. Dr. Joseph Osei, Was a lecturer, dean of cathedral in Kumasi amongst other positions. A very engaging presenter.  

                                     

While he was busy with the priests, His topic was leadership. While he was busy with the priests his wife was leading sessions with the clergy wives. There is a very clear expectation that the wives participate in all church matters. Babies under one year were brought along to the retreat. Wives did the cooking with some help from the Bishop's staff. Another instance when I realize spouses in Canada, cooking for the retreat ???? Toto, we are not in Kansas any more.  

I got to meet Solomon, 5 months next week and an absolute delight. Still too young to react to my colour. a little older and they recognize I am very different and then scream++++. 

      

 me  and 

 Solomon's Daddy, Rev. Christian Gorman (who took care of me so I did not trip on the uneven stones)

me going with the flow, eating fufu and fish for lunch

can't find pic that I saved will get help in office on Monday

Retreats here have lots of prayer time, 30 minutes, 45 minutes, with everyone standing, walking back and forth, and mumbling or talking their prayers out loud, it becomes like a din of noise in the room.

Retreat was very good for me. I wonder though for the priest who are in parishes had just been through Xmas week along with New Years celebrations and then attend these days to be able to grasp anything from the retreat. (here  there is no option to not attend). So they soldier through, amazingly, fully participating, I am really impressed.

The year 2024 is coming to an end

 Remember all the hype about the change over at the year 2000, computers were going to crash, phones would break down, and on and on. Folks that was 24 years ago, how time does fly. 

Now in 2025 we look forward to the war in the Ukraine continuing, Gaza still being bombed, the Canadian dollar struggling to  hang on, a new president in USA, the earth heating up, sounds like doom and gloom and I guess it is on some level. But the good news is that tomorrow the sun will rise, for most of us we can continue to live a life worthwhile by working for justice for all, we can hear the dogs bark and the goats bleat,  we know that the babe that arrived on Christmas Day continues to be present for us today and always. I find that very comforting and reassuring amidst my life .

I wish every blessing and good health to all in 2025

Peace 

Betty

December 25th

When  I looked out  from behind the altar at the Advent Wreath with all the candles  lit, it struck me like a sledge hammer that Christ had come again. It is almost refreshing to be  forced into a new reality. The wreath may look small be it impact is great.

 

office xmas party on the 23rd

 FOOD, CONVERSATION, VISITORS, FOOD

The menu  was great; rice with vegetables, goat stew, roasted chicken, and drinks including coke of course.  Sharing  with excitement to return to home village, funny stories, teasing one and other, just plain fun. You will see in pics the Board Room in the diocese is quite handsome now with stately long table and chairs

                      looking up to serving table

                                                                                   looking down with enthusiastic eating

                                    Dominic and I trying to take a selfie using the volume button

Visitors

 I did not to church this morning as I have been battling a cold since Friday. I got antihistamines, nose spray  and Tylenol called Paracetamol over here.to help with battle. I stayed home to be ready the xmas party tomorrow in the office.

Lo and behold an hour after church finished 4 servers were at my door checking that I was ok. They had walked from the cathedral, (a couple of km. but they assured me they are used to walking) so I thought they  deserve their pic in the blog.

from left to right;

Grace Dzigborne, Kelvin Adu, Carlos Innoconi Yeboah and Gilbert Adu

BIG THANK YOU FOR A BRIGHT MOMENT IN MY WEEKEND, THANK YOU.

Oh my goodness, wonderful celebrations

 Two years ago I visited a primary school with 300 students and teachers, functioning well in a very rural setting. the high school wondered if they could have 2 white boards as their blackboards were falling apart. They were very pleased when the white boards arrived. What I noted as the school layout was described that there were no toilets, just 2 trenches.

Last year the school put in a proposal for assistance to build toilets.  Delta Kappa Gamma, an international professional organization for women educators took up the challenge to gather support for the toilets. the money raised, the toilets built and last week the celebration to launch their use took place. The students, teachers, parents community leader and the chief were are gathered together. A programs involving all stack holders took place.

I was introduced to the leaders in the community, Director of Education for the area, sub chiefs, and the chief. I remarked that he must be the Boss which he burst out laughing.

 as this is a farming community that exists from one harvest to the next so there were never extra resources to complete such a project..  a great time was held by all!!

I was given a Citation thanking me.

                                                  the kids and I in front of the bank of toilets