Gifts

Friday, January 30, 2015

Six of the Nigerian crew began new areas in the Baptistery today as additional “test projects” and they don’t even need me now.  They are confident and each day are getting better with their skills and the way they see things.  And even better, I am no longer nervous about leaving them alone.  Meanwhile, I took two others from the Nigerian crew (Stanley & Joy) to work on the Bride’s room to make sure they are well trained in the waterfall finish so they can oversee their group back home.  It’s so great to see that I can leave the room to answer questions and return and see that all is well.  Alex and Kaby from Ghana were also working in this room with me.  They will be the Ghanaians who will be in charge of mending the temple walls here as needed.

Agnovi, Alicyn and Ennuson

Meanwhile in the Celestial room, they were moving scaffolding off the two completed walls and making a walkway so we could move furniture from the C-Room into the sealing rooms to make a place to set up the scaffold on the two remaining walls.  When I walked down to check the progress, Hanna, Amanda, Vicky and Patti were basically asleep on the couch.  There wasn’t much to do while they waited for the scaffolding set up.  I told them I had the wrong job today, and that they better not let Kim see, since she was up working with Joseph on a small hall off the entry.  I think we are all feeling great that things can be moving forward without us doing all the work.  And, I know we are all exhausted from the past two weeks.

Alex & Alicyn

Each day it seems that one of the workers brings me a gift.  I appreciate them so much, but feel bad since I know they cannot afford it.  Oscar brought us a bag of coconuts from his neighbors tree since he said drinking the coconut water would make our stomachs feel better (Amanda wasn’t feeling so good for a couple of days).  We all tried it and believe he is right.  Then Agnovi brought us a bag of plantains and some other strange things that he grows in his garden.  Thankfully Rose knew how to prepare them.  Agnovi also gave me a small painting that he did years ago.  While working with him I found out that he loves to paint so I had asked him if he could paint me something.  He said he didn’t have brushes or paints right now (he is actually from Togo, now living in Ghana), but the very next day brought me something he found that he painted years ago (the date on it is 1979).  I am most grateful.  Suzie made Camron and I bracelets, Kaby gave me a weaving scarf and Oscar brought us some Ghana chocolate.  These are very gracious and giving and loving people.

Alicyn