Bumpy Roads, Beautiful People

April 9-10, 2026

We spent two days visiting some of Parker’s former areas farther outside the city—Akuse and Asutsuare one day, and Zenu New York the next.

Honestly, I wasn’t sure I was going to make it.

The roads were awful. Like, AWFUL. We were packed into a small, hot car on hot, humid days. I limited my water intake because public restrooms weren’t exactly easy to come by in Ghana. Much of the drive was on dirt roads covered with large, built-up speed bumps. It felt like one very long—and very bumpy—dirt roller-coaster ride.

But at the end of that crazy ride, we were rewarded with such pleasant and interesting visits in the villages. And then, of course, it was back onto the dirt roller coaster for the drive home.

After the first day, I told Parker and Brian that I was officially out for day two. But after hydrating, recovering from the carsickness, and getting some rest, I was back on top!

“Back on top!” became my little Africa motto—or maybe my personal cheer—whenever the heat, roads, or exhaustion got the best of me.

Here are lots of pictures from our time in "the bush." 

We ran into missionaries a couple of different times, but this was really cool because these elders live in the same apartment Parker lived when he first started his mission. They were just heading out after lunch so we were able to go inside the apartment and see it. 

We ran into these four missionaries as well. They were visiting two ladies, at the shops behind us, who were getting baptized the next day.

Our driver, Edmond, is next to Parker. He is in several of the photos and was someone Parker was able to teach and baptize on his mission.

Parker was especially excited to visit Matilda, his “mission mom.” She took such good care of the missionaries. I remember Parker telling me how strong and hard working the African women were. He was in awe of Matilda. Her day would start at 4:30 with cooking. Then she would get her boys to school. Then she would work all day making and selling food and doing everything else to keep up a the household. 

We were able to meet her husband and two boys who were about ten and twelve. Parker didn't really know the husband well at the time, but he has become involved and strong in the gospel the past few years. Matilda is serving at the branch Young Women President and she does catering for some of the YSA or church activities. The Senior missionary couple told us that although Matilda's husband didn't know it yet, he would probably be called very soon as the next branch president. I hope that is working out for them! 

I wanted to do something special for Matilda since she was so good to Parker. I finally settled on a wall hanging of The Family, A Proclamation to the World. I enjoyed talking to her about her family and calling, and I hope she feels the connection of being sisters in the gospel when she looks at it. (We also brought her boys some American candy to try, and Parker slipped her a generous tip when we had lunch.)

This is her new restaurant, and she fed us some amazing food. 

It was Brian and my first autentic food in Ghana, and it was great. Parker LOVED it. He had banku and peppa with talapia

Speaking of being sisters in the gospel, when we were in Zenu New York, we ran into these beautiful Relief Society ladies. It was midday and they were gathered in the courtyard preparing food for a funeral the next day. The radiated joy and love. Even though we only stayed with them about 10 minutes, I would have loved to spend the afternoon with them. It felt like I was back at home serving with my sisters in the Odessa First Ward.

Another family we stopped by.

The church in one of the villages we visited. 

The picture below is from the inside of one of our churches we visited. I don't think it was the same church as the picture above. This buidling was having some work done inside, so it was a little dishevled. However, I LOVED seeing the white board with the Plan of Salvation outline on it. Again...it just took me back to Odessa First Ward and made me feel more connected to the saints in Ghana.

This is Brother Prosper. He has three young daughters and his wife is a teacher at their school. He has a couple of small shops he runs in the village. (Shops are usually just a small room attached to a home or a stand on the street.) He was another member who took really good care of the missionaries when Parker was out. 

He was very kind to prepare a meal for us. I also loved getting to be in their home and a couple of other families we visited. When Brian and I have traveled in Mexico or the Dominican Republic, I was always itching to see a little more into every day life rather than just the touristy attractions.

This is the outside of their home. There were lots of chickens here and wandering through the village. I also thought about how the stairs would never pass code in the states. (They live downstairs.)

We walked about six blocks to use a machine that pounded the fufu.

When Parker was on his mission, they pounded this by hand.

The fufu he made us. Brian and I tried it, but Parker ate it. (Parker's friend gave it to us and then went outside to do something. Park said that was very common. As a missionary, the members would prepare food and then leave the missionaries to eat alone.) We knew we needed to be careful with what we ate and how the food had been prepared. All of our water had to be purified. Parker was sweet to look out for us. 

Brother Prosper's kitchen. This is how the missionaries in Parker's first apartment had their pots and pans stored as well.

 

Sister Esther Apoku sewed our native dresses that Parker brought home for us after his mission. AND, I loved getting to hold this sweet, chunky baby. I think he was 14 months and he was solid! His mom had him strapped on her back while she worked. Impressive. (It's SO hot. They work very hard, and he weighed easily 25-30 lbs.)

July 2023 Blog post

More pictures of what we saw while we where traveling.

And these last pictures are from a visit with one of Parker’s favorite families, the Mensahs. We gathered in their store, located just outside the courtyard of their home. Sister Mensah had a bubbly personality and was quick to laugh. She had also prepared food for us, which was so thoughtful and kind.

Her husband works outside the country, and her son works part-time at the MTC—a job that many consider a wonderful opportunity. However, because of the distance, he leaves home at 5 a.m. and doesn’t return until 9 p.m. Sister Mensah was not a fan of that schedule, and I couldn’t blame her!

Her daughter Jessica was expecting her mission call any day. It was fun to talk with her about Aubrey’s recent mission call and share in her excitement. We later learned she received her call to Nigeria.

As we visited, it was easy to see why Parker loved this family. They were warm, welcoming, and a lot of fun to be around.

Bri, Jessica, Dennis (another friend who stopped by and who is waiting for his mission call. He has now received a call to Liberia.), me, Sister Mensah, Parker and Edmund in front

I’m so glad I rallied for the second day. (Back on top!) I’m fairly certain we will never make it back to Africa, and I would have hated to miss those experiences. We met families Parker had grown to love, were welcomed into people’s homes, tried new foods, and caught a glimpse of everyday life in Ghana beyond the busy capital city.

Everywhere we went, people were incredibly kind and hospitable. The roads may have been rough, but the people and experiences waiting at the end of them made it completely worthwhile.

The Sweetest Faces of Ghana

April 2026

 

I loved this artwork hanging in the mission home. I had never seen this particular picture before, but something about it stirred a deep love inside me.

The children in Ghana were absolutely adorable. They were curious about us and sometimes brave enough to say hello, come touch us, or hold our hands. Then they would squeal and run away. Most of the children were in school during the day, but we learned that some have to stay home while their families save enough money for uniforms or school supplies.

While we were visiting one of the villages, a little group of children followed us for about a block. One girl, who looked to be about five years old, had a paper bill clutched tightly in her hand. I playfully reached over and tugged on it, but she quickly pulled her hand away. I immediately felt a little bad because I could tell she had probably been given strict instructions to keep it safe.

She told me the money was for water. In Ghana, small plastic bags of drinking water can be purchased from the little shops.

Of all the children I interacted with during our trip, only one ever asked me for anything. She asked if I had any water. I didn’t, and at that moment I was separated from Brian and Parker, who had the money. I still feel badly that I wasn’t able to help her.

I think Parker was especially happy to hold this little guy—particularly since holding children wasn’t something he was allowed to do as a missionary.

The children seemed to have so little, yet they also seemed happy and resourceful. Some were playing with old tires. I remembered a picture Parker had sent home during his mission of a child playing with a sardine can that had tiny wheels attached to turn it into a car.

At one school, the children were playing in an enclosed dirt courtyard. When they saw us, they ran up the stairs to a window so they could wave. We were every bit as happy to see them—to smile, wave, and say hello—as they were to see us.

I also loved watching the women carry their babies on their backs while they worked. This little guy was Edmund, our driver’s son.

At the bus station, we saw two tiny babies nestled close to their beautiful mothers.

And this sweet little doll was blessed in Accra on the Sunday we attended church.

The children were a sweet and memorable part of our time in Ghana. Their curiosity, big brown eyes, and simple happiness found a permanent place in my heart.

Aubrey's First Week in Argentina

July 2026

It was so great to hear from Aubrey this week. I was feeling somewhat anxious about my girl and how she was adjusting to her new missionary life in a foreign country. Her time in the MTC definitely spoiled us because of Father's Day and the Fourth of July holidays, we were able to talk with her twice each week. Going a full seven days without hearing her voice—or knowing how she was feeling—was much harder than I expected.

Argentina is two hours ahead of us, so I loved waking up Wednesday morning to find an email waiting in my inbox. She sounded happy, positive, and like she was settling into her new life just fine.

Later that day, we were able to video chat with her as well. Seeing her smile and hearing about her first week in Argentina put this mom's heart at ease.

Here are a few pictures from our video call, along with her very first letter from Argentina.

Everyone was able to pop on for at least a hot minute and say hello. (Erin Noel too...but no picture) It's going to be tricky for Brian to join group calls because he is working at a hospital outpatient clinic as a Physical Therapy Assistant. So, he is with clients from 8-12 and 1-5 everyday. Luckily, Aubrey had a pretty flexable p-day today and was able to call Brian and I in the evening to visit a bit more.

July 15, 2026

TRAVEL DAY

The last days of the CCM (Missionary Training Center) were so fun and busy. I miss my district so much, rip.

I got a combined 5 hours of sleep Monday and Tuesday night. The plane ride from Mexico to Argentina was 9 hours, and it was actually so fun; it flew by. We had movies, music, meals, and got to talk the whole time! But I had to say bye to the Salta missionaries from my district, and that was really sad. I miss them. When we landed, we got to stay in a super nice hotel and had such a good breakfast, but I was lowkey freaking out about actually being a missionary. The CCM was awesome but nothing like actual missionary work.

ARGENTINA

We went to the mission home Wednesday and got to meet our trainers. My trainer is the absolute best ever. She is a grinder. She is so dedicated and a hard worker, and she has taught me so much. I feel so bad because I know barely any Spanish, so I am no help. She has been so patient and serves me every day. When I got here, she got me a basket and a welcome sign. She makes us food, she buys me facturas, and is so encouraging and answers my 1000+ Spanish questions. My favorite part about her is that she is bold and not ashamed. She will baja la cañe, no shame.

Updates

-The food is so good. I can't stop eating. The facturas, empanadas, bread, alfajores, mate, literally everything is so good. I genuinely eat wayyy too much.

-The sidewalks and roads are not smooth at all, and I keep tripping. The other day,we thought we would be time efficient and cross the railroads. We practically climbed a mountain and were tumbling down the side

- I went on an intercambio (where you switch companions for the day), and I was with a solo Spanish speaker. It was a long day of trying to come up with words I knew to talk to her. Shoutout to the EI test at the CCM for helping me have 1 minute responses about movies, family, books, etc

-On my first actual day, I started by saying "Podemos compartir una tarjeta de Jesucristo". It felt like such a big deal. Now, a week later, I am talking so much more. I help in lessons, try to add a new contacting line every day, testify, pray, etc. I want to learn so badly. Never in my life have I had such a desire to learn. I want so badly to share with the people where they can find joy and learn more about Jesus. It has been hard not understanding or being able to say what I want to say. I'd greatly appreciate prayers about me learning Spanish.

-I love all of our friends and members. I'll tell y'all about two of them.

Ramiro-He is a convert of 8 months and speaks English and is in his 20s. He is so willing to help and learn, and we are working with him on reading The Book of Mormon and going to the temple. The other day we made a bet that we would read more chapters of the BOM out loud in Spanish than him. This way we could get better at Spanish, and he could read more. The loser had to buy the other facturas. He stayed up all night and got so far. And then he slept through church, so it kinda backfired lol.

-We met Carlos on my first day here and stacked a fetcha with him. He has had us over for lessons twice, and it is so cute. He sets up a table with tea, crackers, facturas, and makes sure that his sister comes over so we can go in. Sometimes we have friends who are more interested in the company rather than the gospel which sucks, we might have to drop him (move on to find others more interested) if he doesn't come to church this week so 

Speaking of that, asistencias are the death of me. Pretty much we work hard and have so much hope and so many friends all week, but if they don't come to church we have to decide if we are dropping them. This week only 1 of our 5, CONFIRMED btw, friends came. It was really sad cause that sets the work back a lot. But it was a miracle. We woke up to everyone saying they weren't coming or ignoring us. It was really defeating. We said probably 10 prayers together before church at 10am, walked and knocked on their doors, and we walked into church and Ivan was there!!!! We were so surprised and happy. God hears prayers and answers them. My testimony on that has already grown so much.

Spiritual Thought

President Fewkes, my mission leader,  gave a fire message on our first day. He said there are two big questions as a missionary.

Are you willing to leave everything behind?

Are you willing to give everything?

He said y'all have already left your family and friends and life and country. Give everything. I love this so much. We have focused so much on consecrating our time and going to work. I have the unique opportunity to focus on others and serve them and my Savior for 18 months. I am grateful for that. I can't wait to give everything I have, forget myself, improve, and show others the love and joy this gospel brings.

Alma 26:12

12 Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.

Love Y'all

Nos vemos pronto

Ps My p-day (preparation day) is Monday but got moved to today because of the World Cup semi-final game. Vamos Argentina

Idk if I want Argentina to win or lose. If they win, it will be hard to talk to anyone, especially with another game on Sunday. If they lose, we might have to stay in cause we are white, and there might be some chaos. So kinda a lose-lose situation. 

Hermana Naulder from Rupert, Idaho 

Her p-day will usually be on Monday, but her mission leaders moved it to Wednesday and gave them permission to gather as zones to watch the game. Argentina did win against England and the final game will be on Sunday against Spain. The missionaries had to gather 10 days of food so they would be prepared for chaos/unrest if Argentina lost. I'm sure they will need to do that this weekend as well.

The other missionary she went out with for a day.

Brian and I were laughing so hard listening to Aubrey talk about all the food she's been eating. Brian finally joked, "What have you done with my daughter?" 😂

Anyone who knows Aubrey knows she would have never tried a dish like the one above at home. Her list of foods she didn't like was always a mile long! But during our phone call this week, she excitedly told us about several foods she's discovered she loves—different meats, onions, sauces, and other things she would have completely avoided before. I'm happy to see her becoming more adventurous. I know when I served a mission and had members feed us dinner, I realized I actually liked a lot more variety than I thought.

I know mission life will stretch her in so many ways. I am glad she has a trainer she loves and had a good first week in the field.