MTC and Arriving in Ghana

We arrived at the MTC in Provo, Utah on the August 5, 2013.  Because we took our car, we stayed at the Marriot Hotel a few blocks away.  We spent a marvelous 10 days in training and getting to know the other senior missionaries.  We broke the record of the number of senior missionaries to enter the MTC with 128 of us.  I felt like it was a little bit of heaven, but we were also anxious to get out on our mission.


In front of the building at the MTC named in honor of my great, great, grandfather Heber C. Kimball



 



From the MTC we went home to Boise for a couple of days to unpack from the MTC and repack for Ghana.  Then early Monday morning on August 20th we left Boise airport for New York City and then a 10 hour flight to Ghana.   

 

We arrived in Ghana to find our accomodations for the next 2 years to be very adequate.  We live in a one bedroom apartment in a complex owned by the Church where there is also the Temple, a stake center and the office building where we "work". 

The kitchen of our apartment in the Ancillary Building

Our home for the next two years which is great.  However, at times we have no electricity and other times no hot water.  The biggest problem is when there is no water at all. 

 

 

 The apartment complex is on the left where we live and the office building is on the right where we work.

When we got to Ghana we met with Elder Dube, a native of South Africa, who is the 2nd Counselor in the Area Presidency.  He told us that we would be working with the Young Single Adults in Ghana in training leaders and making sure that stake and multi-stake activities were happening.  He also wanted us to work with the Young Men and Young Women in the "Come Follow Me" program throughout all of Ghana.  I must admit it is a little overwelming, but with the great companion I have, I know we can make a difference with the youth here in Ghana.

 

 

Since we were not replacing anyone, a new office had to be found.  We were located on the ground floor in the corner of the building.  The office has no window and when the Director of Temporal Affairs came to see it he remarked that it was unacceptable because it lacked a window and if we lived in his country (Switzerland) it would be illegal.  We told him it was fine and we were OK with it.  During this conversation with the DTA a Ghanian young man, Charles, was installing a computer for us and heard the whole exchange.  After the DTA left the young man bowed his head and in a quiet and sincere voice said, "Elder and Sister Call, thank you for coming to Africa".  I replied, "Charles, it is our privilege!!" 

 

Since we will be working with the leaders on improving the "Come Follow Me" program, the last two Sundays we have visited the YM/YW classes.  The first week we asked where the young men and women met for Sunday School and found out they had no teacher.  I told them, no problem, we will be the teachers.  Elder Call and I enjoyed teaching that week.  The next week we went to two different wards to observe.  The Ghanian youth are wonderful with strong testimonies of the Church and the Book of Mormon.   They seem to hunger for the truths of the Gospel.  However, the traditional way of teaching here has followed the old British style of copy and memorize.  The students are "reverent" but not often engaged in the lesson.  There is much work for Elder Call and I to do. 

A class of beautiful Ghanian young women. t