Mission Presidents' Conference

Senchi Royal Resort

October 21-24

We had a wonderful three day conference with the 13 mission presidents and their wives that serve in the Africa West Area.  There are five missions in Nigeria, four in Ghana, one in Sierra Leone, one in Monrovia, Liberia, one in the Ivory Coast and one in Togo & Benin Cotonou.  We held the conference at a new resort that sits on the Volta River.  It is located about two hours outside of Accra.  This  region is very beautiful and more tropical than Accra.

I took this picture  from my room.  We had a sliding door that led out to the River.  You can see how tropical it is.  Below is a picture of the courtyard between the eating areas and a large swimming pool.

As you can see by the pictures, it was really a beautiful place.

We had one afternoon during the conference, which we were free to do some leisure activities.  We took a boat ride up the Volta River and we also went to a Bead Factory, where they make the glass beads.

These are some of the sights that we saw on the River.

Fruit Bats

Dad taking pictures in the back of the boat!

Bathing

People live and fish all along the river.

We ended the conference by have a group picture taking and then going back to Accra to attend the Ghana Accra Temple.  I think everyone had a very good time.

Koforidua 

We spent another delightful day in Koforidua.  We went with Elder & Sister Stoker who are serving in Public Affairs.    Our plan was to meet Elder & Sister Scoville, go to Boti Falls and then the bead market in Koforidual.

We left Accra around 7 AM for our drive to Koforidua.  We arrived at the Scovilles home around 9:00 AM.

They live in Koforidua in this house.  It looks really, but it has its problems.  It is surround by a huge wall with razor wire on the top of it and all the windows have bars and yes, they have been robbed before.  They do not use half of the house because it is in such sad condition.  Yes, the tree in front has coconuts on it.  They were our guide to Boti Falls

This is the gate to get into their home.

Look at the size of the mushrooms growing in their yard!

Boti falls was about an hour and a half away from their home.  It is a tourist attraction, but there was not anyone there but us.

Elder & Sister Stoker

Elder & Sister Fitzgerald

Elder & Sister Scoville

These pictures were taken at the top, before we decended  down several flights of steps to reach the bottom where the falls were located.

When you get to the bottom it is very muddy and humid.  There is a pool of water in front of the falls, but you can feel the spray from the falls.

At times during the year or during the rainy season, the falls actually come together to form one large fall.  You can see that we were there during the dry season and there were two separate falls.

I loved this tree, with all of the roots growing above ground.

After we hiked back up to the top, we drove over to a place called Umbrella Rock.  This was a very cool.  It was a large rock balanced on another rock.  There was a ladder so that you climb to the top.  I didn't try it, but of course the guys did!!

As we were playing around on the rock, we could see storm clouds gathering.  We decided that we should head back to Koforidua and the Bead Market.  As we entered the place to eat, the clouds opened up and the rain just poured.  The whole time that we ate, it rained.  When we were through, we drove over to the bead market, but most of it was closed because of the rain.

We will have to return again to do the BEAD Market!!!!