Here Marci poses with some children of the village "Apaakrom". The Aggrey-Fynn family had us for a very nice African meal. The children in these small villages love to have their picture taken!
James and Marci had a whirlwind tour of several villages that we work in. Here they are with children of "Abakrampa". We had a fufu dinner here with our dear friends, Francis and Alice.
Marci holding one of several small school children during her visit to Ghana.
James, Marci and a room full of school kids wave goodbye.
Marci holding one of several children after giving each of them a sucker.
James and Marci along with the school teacher trying to get the children to duplicate what they are doing.
Two Ghanaian women showing off their head scarfs. The Ghanaian sisters taught us the different ways to tie scarfs around our hair. Scarfs can come in very handy on a bad hair day! 
Finally, after 11 months we get to visit the cape coast slave castle. It took family visiting from America for us to finally take the time to see the local tourist attractions.
James and Marci were invited to attend our scheduled zone conference. Both were asked by president Sabey to share their testimonies with the missionaries. Here we are with the Sisters from our area.
Marci feeling the skin of a live crocodile, not far from our apartment.
James touching the skin of the same wild crocodile. There are about 40 different ones living in this pond. An amazing attraction that, once again, we never took the time to visit until now.
After arriving early in the morning and making a mad dash to Abakrampa, Marci and James were able to attend a baptism for 4 new members of the branch. Sister Mary Acquah (White scarf) and 3 children, including Charles Enchill's daughter were baptized on the 7th day of August 2010.
Sister Odeibea and Sister Afrani with the baptismal candidates after the baptism.
Once every transfer we have the privilege of attending zone council. After the meeting we go to the castle restaurant for lunch. I just walked out of the castle and saw these amazing leaders in front of the ocean. I just had to take a picture. The four elders from the Kumasi Zones had already left to head home. If you think the one on the far right looks a little young, he is. President Sabey's brother and nephew, Daniel are currently visiting President and Sister Sabey. Daniel is standing with the best of the best missionaries in the world!
We were in the market shopping when we ran into a member of our branch. He agreed to take a picture so you could all get a feel of what going to the "grocery store" is like in Ghana. Hot and noisy, but very entertaining!
All other mission goals are to support and meet this overall goal. The goal our mission recently completed is that every missionary (128) would baptize a husband and wife family. Our goals are met as a mission not individually. Those that meet the goal early are able to help those who are still striving to find a family to teach and baptize. We have had the privilege to help two sets of sister missionaries complete the goal by transporting and introducing them to our friends in Abakrampa and surrounding villages. Sister Wallace and Sister Awuna helped us teach the Aggrey-Fynn family. Paul was a Pentecostal minister who had been searching for the true church of Jesus Christ his entire life. He told us that he knew that if it was on the earth today it would have prophets, apostles, and seventies. He said one night he was fervently praying to know which church was true, "just like Joseph Smith". When he completed his prayer the phrase "Latter Day Saint" came into his mind. He remembered seeing a sign with that printed on it in Abakrampa and decided he needed to attend that church on Sunday. He told us that as he sat in the investigator class he knew that for the first time in his life he was being taught the true gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul was baptized in April and desired his family to join him. The sisters taught his wife, son, and daughter in their native language, Fante. Though we could not understand the words we could feel the spirit testify of truth. Florence and the children readily excepted the gospel and also desired to be baptized.
Paul baptized his wife Florence, his 15 year old son Manassah, and his 8 year old daughter Olivia on June 19, 2010. What joy to watch a family be united in one faith and one baptism.
Sister Coleman and Sister Afrani were able to teach Agnes, the wife of an active member of our branch. Agnes had been taught the discussions before but was never ready to commit to baptism. After the sisters had reviewed the gospel with her she said "I know it is time for me to be baptized." These sisters taught Aba Kwakuma who has been attending our branch for the last 4 months, Mary Aquah and her 9 year old grandson Abeiku Andzie, and Agnes. It was so sweet to finally see Matthew and Agnes sitting in church together on Sunday!
We joined with the Moree Ward at the Yamaransa Chapel for the baptisms. It was a joyous occasion as we witnessed 14 people enter the waters of baptism.
Sister Saunders with four of the greatest sister missionaries in the world! We waited at the Yamoransa Church for over an hour while Elder Saunders transported a van load of people back to their many small villages. As we waited, we basked in the light of the gospel and the joy of missionary work. Completing the goal was secondary to witnessing families being united in the gospel and be given the opportunity to enter the temple to be sealed for eternity. We are so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and the opportunity to serve a mission in Ghana.
Elder Saunders is helping an investigator prepare for the evening meal by pounding casava root to make fufu. Most families have fufu five or six times a week because it is an inexpensive but filling meal. Ama Kwakuma (lady standing behind Elder Saunders) is getting baptized on the 19th of June. This will be the second attempt to perform the baptism. She was hesitant to be baptized the last time we had it scheduled on April 3rd. Now she assures us that she wants to be baptized and will follow through with it. She is from the village of New-Ebu which is about 2 kilometers from Abakrampa.
Late in the evening several villagers come to the well to draw water. This well has underground flowing water that is about 20 feet down. They drop small buckets with ropes attached and then pour the water into larger buckets. As we sat and watched, we saw the same villagers come up to six times to draw water.
Sister Saunders and I have been asked to assist three of the ten mission branches (Abakrampa, Kissi and Mankessim). These are special branches which are not assigned to any stake or district, but are assigned to the Ghana Cape Coast Mission. President Sabey called a special branch conference for the three branches on the 30th of May 2010. The branch service missionaries assigned to these three branches are the Myers (Kissi), the Boamahs (Abakrampa) and the Imbrahs (Mankessim). President Amonkwa (2nd Counselor in Mission Presidency), also attended the meeting which was held in the Yamaronsa ward building. The meeting house was packed with people. It was a very memorable day filled with the blessings of the spirit.
