You are welcome!

Don't read that title like the phrase you say after someone says "Thank you." This isn't the same thing. This is what everyone keeps saying to me here in Ghana! You are welcome. Even people I just meet in passing. You are welcome. And they mean it it, they are happy I am here. It's a very open, un-pretending kind of welcome. And we are happy to be here too!

We had the most perfect flight(s) over, it was really an answer to prayer. I was more nervous about the cross-Atlantic journey than I was nervous about dehydration. I'd prepared a few toys (shout out to Nikki Long, she showed me the awesome-est non-messy, non-noisy, entertain-for-at-least-15-minutes toy. I made two.), packed books and crayons, snacks and empty water bottles, even a couple of movies. I only felt mildly prepared.

We had packed our suitcases sooooo carefully, weighed them compulsively at times. I prayed and prayed that our check in would go well and we wouldn't find a huge hidden cost for transporting our extra bags (we knew it would be a huge extra cost already, but I didn't want it to be different than we expected. Unless it was lower.).

We had checked our travel documents carefully, comparing them to the website for traveling in Ghana, making sure our visas were in order, our immunizations were obviously correct, our passports matching our tickets. We didn't want there to be any reason for confusion (or supposed confusion).

Right before we left we all had priesthood blessings, even Emmanuel. Since his dad was with us he gave Emmanuel and I blessings, and Emmanuel gave blessings to the children. They were beautiful blessings, promising us safety and care during our trip, and success when we arrived in Ghana. I felt Dad was in a pretty special position to give that blessing to Emmanuel, since Emmanuel is kind of the successor for mom and dad. Kind of reminded me of the way a prophet used to anoint the kings of Israel.

And the blessings were fulfilled! We arrived at the airport with plenty of time, which is good because the check in was long (although uneventful). All the tickets were found without trouble. All the bags were weighed and the airport agent allowed it to be within 1 lb, so we only had to move around a couple of things from one or two bags, they cost just what we had expected,  Iris slept on my back through the whole process and Dante was very patient!

 Then we went over to security, and because of our two children they let us cut to the front of the line!! I felt guilty for about two seconds, but then reasoned that no one would've liked to hear the children crying for half an hour as we waited in line. We went through security very easily (I didn't have to unwrap the sleeping baby!), and nothing in our bags was rejected and thrown away. After that we still had enough time to stroll calmly to our gate, wait and play a minute at a little playground (I love the Salt Lake airport for having those) before we boarded for our flight. The flights went pretty well, the kids didn't bother each other too much (somehow it worked out that on the flight Iris was awake and played, and Dante slept, then during layovers Dante was awake while Iris slept. What a blessing!) There weren't any problems with losing children or toys, we didn't sit next to any anti-children snobs, the kids didn't fuss too much about being hungry or thirsty...the only rough spots were landings, since the gradual descent made their ears so uncomfortable. Fortunately I was prepared with Lollipops! (another grateful shout out to Nikki Long....they were just the right thing!) In fact, when we ran out of lollipops early in the trip I felt we needed them so badly I bought a small bag from an airport shop. For 8 bucks! I could't believe it. But! They were worth it.

The final flight was the hardest on me, but the kids slept from beginning to end. By that time I was tired but my brain wouldn't rest; the fears wouldn't stop. My biggest fear was that I wouldn't have a friend here. That I'd be lonely. Seems silly now that I look back, thinking about the wonderful people here that are accepting, kind, and fun to be around. But I guess that's how fears are, not rational, usually unfounded, and only stemming from something that I know is important to me.

We had to drive through the busy city of Accra! 

Customs and picking up our bags were so good, I was starting to believe I was in a dream, everything had just gone too smoothly. But truly, we were finally in Ghana. We were walking through the airport. We were giving hugs and hellos to Emmanuel's family members! We were driving home! It was wonderful. What a blessing. Dante still occasionally asks me, "Are we going to Ghana today?" I have to laugh and tell him, "We are here!!"

Don't worry, I know I haven't actually talked much about what Ghana is like. I will start writing about what I see here soon!

The little children stare at me and the kids a lot...I guess it's my turn to be the sore thumb!