December in Ghana 2014

Merry Christmas from Ghana

We hope everyone had a wonderful and Merry Christmas, and in addition, we wish you all a happy and blessed New Year!  We again missed being with family physically on Christmas, but our hearts were not far away.  Not only were our hearts and thoughts with family, but with the amazing progress in technology, we were again able to see and talk with family. Skype sure makes serving a mission a lot less painful.  There is also one advantage of being in Ghana for Christmas i.e. the simplicity of Christmas.  As you can see from the above picture, the plant on our kitchen table doubled as a Christmas tree with the manger scene and all the presents comfortably sitting beneath it.  Decorating for Christmas took less than five minutes.

 

December was another month filled with wonderful experiences and adventures.  Fortunately for you, I am only going to mention a few. 

 

Since the Self Reliance Centers in Ghana are closed during part of December, a couple of Self Reliance senior missionaries planned a trip to Mole National Park, which is an animal reserve.  Because our missionary assignment has great flexibility, we and some other senior missionaries went with them.  It was a long two day drive to northern Ghana, but a fun and worthwhile trip.

Entrance to Mole National Park

 

 

When you get to the Park, there is a Ranger that takes you around on foot and you basically search for wild "beasts".  All of us were particularly interested in locating some elephants.  I wasn't too nervous about any wildlife we might encounter until the Ranger excused himself and came back carrying a gun.  When we acted concerned, he told us it was for our protection...just in case.  By-the-way, though they claim to have lions, there have been no lions spotted in the Park for several years. 

 

 

Elder Wilde and  Elder Call looking at elephant tracks.

 

The first day we saw  "evidence" of elephants, including feces and tracks, but no actual elephants.

 

However, we did see several wart hogs, including one which had been tracked down and was being eaten by a hyena.  The hyena had killed it and then drug it across the road and under some trees to eat in seclusion.  As we approached, the hyena fled, I suppose living up to their portrayal on the "Lion King" as being sneaky and tricky.   

 

Later on we saw several other live warthogs,  I was surprised how close they would allow us to approach them.  We never did see a hyena.

 

The second day we were again anxious to find some elephants.  We had been walking in the bush, when one of the guides saw some trees moving in the distance.  He told us to be quiet and quickly follow him.  Sure enough, as we approached we spotted an elephant eating the leaves off the trees. They have a pretty ferocious appetite and  strip the leaves off the trees, including some branches.  After watching the elephant for a while, he turned and left.  Our guide told us he thought he was headed for a drink, so we scurried off to the watering hole.

 

When we got to the watering hole there was the large mama elephant with her "baby".  It was fascinating to watch them.  After they quenched their thirst, they took a swim where the water was a bit deeper. 

 

 Another interesting thing we saw as we drove further and further north, was the abundance of hut houses.  The northern part of Ghana has a dryer more desert climate, making it  hot during the day and cooler at night.  The mud huts are a perfect housing solution because they are cool during the day and provide warmth at night. 

 

Just outside of Mole National Park is one of the oldest functioning mosques in the world.  It was supposedly built in the 1500 by some Moslem's who migrated from Saudi Arabia.  For a small fee we were given the history of the mosque and a short tour of the village. 

 

 Our guide only allowed us to enter a home used as a "clinic" for birthing babies.  He told us that before the clinic was built, many babies died on route to the nearest hospital as the mothers rode on the back of a motor cycle to get there.  The "clinic", or room, was about 12 x 20 feet square.  The bowl in the cement floor is called a "birthing bowl".  As I tried to imagine giving birth in such conditions, I had a prayer of gratitude in my heart for the birth of each of my children and the conditions in which they were born.

This is a picture of the woman that sat outside the clinic.  I was fascinated by the "home" built for her chicken

The group of senior missionaries that went to Mole National Park in front of our hotel.  Elder and Sister Pack, Elder and Sister Call, Elder and Sister Watson, Elder and Sister Wilde, Elder and Sister Cannon and Elder and Sister Wade.

On Friday, the other missionaries left for Accra, but we stayed in northern Ghana for some Young Men/Young Women training we had previously scheduled.  We attended church at a branch in Obuasi City.  When we had previously visited with the branch president he told us they had no young women in their branch but were praying for some to come.  The Sunday we attended "just happened" to be the baptism of the first young woman in the branch.  As an added miracle, I "just happened" to have some young women information in the car.  I spoke with the soon to be baptized young women, explained a little about the young women's program, and then was able to train the sister who was going to be called as one of her Young Women leaders.  These "happen-chances" have been a regular occurrence on our mission.  This is truly the Lord's work...not ours.

 The picture is of Charity, the young woman who was getting baptized, and the two missionaries who taught her the Gospel.

The missionary entering the font.  Most baptismal fonts are outside because many of the buildings are rented homes that have been renovated to accommodate church services and classrooms.

 

 

On Christmas Day we went to the MTC to help the junior missionaries celebrate Christmas.    

Last year there were not many junior missionaries at the MTC, but this year there were many who had come from Madagascar, the Congo, and Cote d'Ivoire that were needing to learn English.  We sang songs, ate a delicious Christmas lunch and played Christmas games.  This is a picture of some of the missionaries playing Christmas Pictionary.

 

In front of the Christmas tree at the MTC with Sister Martins, a temple missionary from Nigeria.

 

 On Saturday, December 27, 2014, I was asked to speak at the Young Women In Excellence Program in Tema Stake. They had a lovely program and the girls displayed many of the things they had made.                                   

  

 

The Stake Young Women's presidency.

Left to right: Sister Nam, the 1st Counselor, Me, and Sister Walker, the 2nd Counselor.  The Stake YW's president was unable to attend.   

 

 

 

After the program, I went around to the display tables and  took several pictures.  I wanted to share some of them.  The African young women are so beautiful. 

  Decorated flip-flops

 

 

 

There were pictures drawn and poems written. 












After visiting the display tables, the young women were given time to perform.  There was a group of young women that sang the 2014 YM/YW theme.  I will end our blog with that song since the message is a great one for Christmas and for the coming year.  "Goodbye" from Ghana until next month. 

 





November 2014 in Ghana

Since the days in December are quickly ticking by, I thought it best to get November's blog written.

November began with a Ghanaian tradition that we had not been aware of.  They do not have missionary "farewells" per se in Ghana, but in many wards they have a "Devotional" where the departing missionaries are honored.  Talks are given and testimonies are born by members of the ward and the departing missionaries.  They occur on a Sunday afternoon and attendance mostly comes from members of the ward.  However, the missionary can invite others if he chooses. They end with some light refreshments,which I am sure is why many of the youth attend.

The picture is of two departing missionaries.  We were acquainted with Nii Martey, the young man standing next to Elder Call.

We met Nii in Kumasi, Ghana when we were helping organize the YSA mulstistake activity.  Nii was one of the young single adult leaders and also going to school in Kumasi though had his home in Accra.    His story, like many in Africa, is one of faith and perseverance.  When he told his mother he wanted to join the church she told him she would disown him and not help pay for his schooling.  He felt so strongly about the truthfulness of the church that he joined without his mother's permission.  His problem now was, how to tell his mom.  When he came home for the Christmas break, he was watching TV with his mom when the Tabernacle Choir came on.  His mom was impressed with the choir and Nii said,"That's my church choir."  His mother became very angry but Nii remained active and said, "His mind was made up and there was no turning back."  After awhile he decided to serve a mission.  His mother again became angry and felt he was throwing his life away.  However, he submitted his papers and when he showed his mother his call letter a miracle happened. Nii's mother asked him how she could help so he would be adequately prepared to serve a mission.

Nii, is now serving a mission in Nigeria.  We received an e-mail from him today informing us that his mother passed away Nov. 21, 2014.  He is sad, but still feels he made the right decision to serve a mission.

With our mission assignment we meet many young single adults from all over Ghana.  We tell them that when they get married, to invite us to their temple sealing.  One such couple e-mailed us in November to let us know of their temple sealing date.  They traveled all alone for three hours on a bus to Accra with no family support.  We were privileged to "fill-in" as family members and witness their sealing as husband and wife.  After the sealing, we took them out to lunch  and then dropped them off at the bus station where they rode another three hours home.  I'm not certain we understood what sacrifice was until we came to Africa.








 November was spent doing a few FSY training meetings in Ghana and Nigeria.

These are actually quite enjoyable meetings which are presided over by an Area Seventy.  The above is a picture of the FSY Committee in Ghana.  The committee consists of an Area Seventy who is Elder John Koranteng sitting at the end of the table, a Session Directing Couple, a couple who serve as Logistical Administrators, two Coordinators who are young single adults, and an In-Area Advisory Couple (us).

The Coordinating Council that is doing an FSY in Nigeria decided to divide into three FSY's.  Two FSY's will be held in Uyo, on one side of the Cross River, and one FSY will be held in Calabar on the other side of the river.  The distance between the two areas is not far, but there is only one very bad road that connects the two areas and when it rains the road can become impassable. 


In Calabar we trained their leaders after an Africa Area Conference which was broadcast from Salt Lake.  It was wonderful and addressed many specific problems that the people in Africa face.  The stake center was packed and overflowing with chairs and canopies set up in the parking lot.  After the meeting the stake presidency wanted our pictures. They treat us like royalty when actually we are only senior missionaries with less authority than many members. 


The next weekend that we did FSY training also happened to be Thanksgiving weekend.  Since there are not many connecting flights in Nigeria, we actually had to leave Accra to catch our plane on Thanksgiving afternoon to be at the training by Saturday.  Fortunately,we were able to eat a yummy Thanksgiving dinner at one of the Mission President's home, before we headed off to the airport.

                                        Thanksgiving Day at the Accra airport

 

While we are in Nigeria, we are required to have a driver which doesn't allow us much freedom or flexibility.  After church our driver, Pres. Woke who was a member of the stake presidency, had another meeting so Elder Call and I decided to find a room and wait.  The room we found available also happened to be being used by several children waiting for their parents.  Elder Call and I quickly reverted to past Family Home Evening  activities and began playing  Sunday pictionary and other games to entertain the children. After a while I became exhausted ( I am not as young as I used to be) and asked them to entertain ME by singing songs.  The African people love to sing and appears to begin when they are very young.  They sing out with confidence and assurance.  However, because they often do not have accompaniment, some familiar church songs take on a different "twist" in the melody. 


I would like to end my blog by including one of the songs the children sang.  The song reflects one of the messenges we have learned from these loving and forgiving African people.

October 2014 in Ghana

Greetings from Ebola free Ghana.  With all the hysteria going around about the Ebola virus in West Africa, gratefully Ghana continues to be Ebola free.  We are praying it stays that way.

October began with a wonderful story from a young single adult that attended one of the multistake activities we helped organize.  This conference took place in the city of Kumasi and Elder Call and I not only helped with the planning/organizing of the activity but were also asked to speak on "Covenants and Ordinances of Marriage".  Sometimes our missionary assignment is challenging because we never really know if we are making a difference. After receiving an e-mail from a former young single adult, we can at least say we have made a difference in the lives of one couple.

The picture is of Bro.Obasi and his new bride taken on the temple grounds.  I would like to quote mostly from the e-mail we received from him.

"My name is Obasi Sunday Chibuike.  I am a Nigerian but has since after my mission returned to Ghana.  I and my younger sister are the only members of the church in my family. I do painting (house painting) and landscape gardening."

"I attended the young single adult conference in Kumasi.  Not because I needed a girl friend, but because I felt I needed more motivation and I felt the conference would be the right place.  Indeed my prayers were answered after you (Sister Call) spoke about the importance of Temple Marriage.  Towards the concluding part of the discussion, your countenance suddenly changed and you said, "You do not need money to get married, all you need is faith".  I felt you were talking to me directly, but I said to myself, "My in-laws are asking for money but how can I not need money but faith?"  I thought about this over and over again throughout the week.  In the process I asked myself, "Is God limited in what He can do?"  After pondering the answer came, "God will not do for me more than my faith tells me He can, hence, He is not limited in ability but we can limit what He can do for us depending on our faith in Him."

"After all this I called my then fiancee to discuss with her about our  possible marriage plans.  She asked me, "How much money do you have now".  I said, "You know my finances; as I am talking to you I have just 5.00GH¢."  (In American dollars that is less than $3.00)  We decided to choose a date for our wedding and after consulting with our bishop we chose September 27, 2014.  That was barely 7 weeks away.  My fiancee asked, "Have you gotten some money, the time is short?"  I replied, "No, but I've got some faith".  She laughed and said,"It's OK, let's fast and pray, the Lord will do it, He will open a way for us for it is a commandment to get married". 

"I needed l00.00 GH¢ to start a trade for the marriage.  Within that week I was paid 270.00 GH¢ for a job I did months ago.  I gave my fiancee the requested money but there was no other jobs coming my way, every promised job had failed.  We had two weeks remaining and I had a little above 80.00 GH¢ while the bride list alone contained the total amount of 850.00GH¢ cash and other items contained in the list estimated to cost 750.00 GH¢.  My fiancee suggested that we move the date.  I said, "A miracle is on the way".  Just two days before the "D" day, a miracle did come; I was paid from a job I did over two weeks before.  I know that faith and work do work miracles. You do not need money to get married, all you need is faith."

I could just stop there with inspiring stories, but October had just begun.

The second week of October we flew to Enugu, Nigeria to do some "Come, Follow Me" training and training for young single adults.  The attendance for the meetings were overwhelming.  We had planned for around 50 to attend, but had around 70.  The reason we were amazed at the attendance was that many of them had to drive over 1 l/2 hours to get there.  They just kept coming and coming.  After the "Come, Follow Me" training the stake president stood and confirmed what we had taught and admonished the saints to change the way they were teaching the youth. 



After any of our trainings, we always write a thank-you e-mail to the priesthood leader to express our gratitude for his support and for allowing us to come.  After our thank-you note, Pres. Udiechi replied, "Thanks a lot for finding time to come and train us for free, on principles that are invaluable." 

An inspiring statement...but October didn't end there.

October 18, 2014 we held a big YSA teleconference which was broadcast to stake/district centers throughout Ghana and Nigeria.  The idea for a teleconference came after counseling with Elder Dube on how to train stake/district young single adult committees to plan an activity calendar for 2015.  In conjunction with the calendar, we  needed to train the YSA committees on guidelines for planning and carry out a multistake activity.  Elder Call and I were looking at the daunting task of visiting all the stake/districts on a coordinating council basis.  Elder Dube suggested a teleconference and then said, "How else are you going to reach all of them".  We thought a teleconference was a great solution to the question.

We took Elder Dube's idea and began planning.  With the help of many wonderful tech specialists in the Area Office, the teleconference was broadcast to 25 locations throughout Ghana and Nigeria.  The computer specialists here in Ghana also worked out a way in which questions could be asked from those watching the teleconference in remote areas. Thus, during the conference we had some wonderful questions come in from YSA committees throughout the area. 

Our idea for the training was to show exactly how a stake/district young single adult committee should function.  Thus, we enlisted the Christianborg Stake, one of the local stakes here in Ghana and we actually did a mock stake young single adult committee meeting with them. We taught them the purpose of a YSA committee, identified the needs of the YSA, figured out their budget, and then literally began planning their 2015 calendar of activities.  


After the training, we encouraged each stake/district to continue to meet and plan their own calendar for the year.  We received many phone calls after the teleconference with questions from young single adults that were planning their activities and needed some clarifications. 

We feel the training was motivating and many YSA committees planned some inspiring activities...but wait...we're not done with October yet. 

After the teleconference we drove to the Tema Stake to watch a Cultural Celebration they do in their stake every year.  It was actually done quite well and has turned out to be a big event for their stake.  This year each of the 16 wards/branches were given a different country in Africa to spotlight. They told about the country, danced a local dance, and cooked a dish typical of that country.  There were judges appointed, a winner was chosen, and even a trophy was presented.  The "hoopla" heard and seen from the winners reminded me of the celebrations that took place at the old Road Shows we used to participate in.

    Dancers from the winning ward. 












Seating was at a premium so we had a couple of children sit on our laps.  This is the young man that sat on Elder Call's lap throughout the program.  His name was Edwin.  His Dad works at the Area Office as the HVAC technician.  He was unable to attend the event so we printed a copy of the picture of his son and gave it to him the following Monday. 

                                                        An "inspiring" Celebration!!

That may seem like enough inspiration for one month, but we actually received another inspired assignment in October that occupied most of our time. 

At the beginning of the month Elder Dube happened to mention to Elder Call that the Area Presidency were looking "for a couple like the Call's to train teachers in a literacy program".  Elder Call nonchalantly mentioned the conversation to me and it began to "work in my bones".  The next day I said to my dear companion, "Instead of looking for someone like the Calls to train teachers in literacy...why not just use the Calls".  We talked about it for awhile and then decided to present the idea to Elder Dube.  After pondering on it, and I'm sure praying about it, Elder Dube came to our office and asked us if we would head up a literacy program to be taken throughout all of Ghana. 

Literacy is a problem here in Ghana, especially among the women.  The official language in Ghana is English because of the British occupation.  However, there are several native dialects and those dialects are what is spoken in the homes. English is learned in school, if a youth is fortunate enough to be able to attend school.  School is very expensive for the average Ghanaian, and if parents have limited money to send their children to school they will choose to send their boys over their girls.  Thus, there is a problem with many Relief Society sisters that do not know how to speak English and far more sisters who do not know how to read or write English.  Since the scriptures and church manuals are all in English, one can easily understand the difficulty sisters have in not only learning the Gospel but also being able to accept a calling. 

We immediately began gathering information, interviewing priesthood leaders, going to literacy classes held in the wards, etc.  Fortunately, another senior missionary, Sister Terry has also been assigned to work with us and we recruited another couple, the Packs.  We have tentatively come up with a plan and presented it to Elder Dube.  However, we are still gathering information and making modifications.  We have a meeting with the Area Presidency to present our evaluations and to recommend a plan.  It's a heavy assignment but an exciting one.

As we began I was not sure what or how we were going to proceed, but I knew the Lord would put people in our path and open a way.  That has truly happened.

Now for the story of inspiration.

As our committee decided on the supplies needed for those who take the literacy class, we pondered on where the students would keep their supplies and how they would carry them safely back and forth.  It was while pondering on this problem that I thought of the wonderful saints in our Meridian South Stake back in Boise, Idaho.   I sent an e-mail  asking if anyone was interested in making some "Literacy Bags" for the sisters here in Ghana. Within a short time I receive an e-mail in return from the Stake Relief Society president.  She stated that they would be willing to take on the task of providing some bags.  I was overwhelmed to tears. 





Now, I am certain all must be thinking the final story of inspiration for October has been told.  But, no, there is one more. 

Sometimes I have wondered what the true motivation is behind Elder Call and I serving a mission.  I know we have always wanted to serve and  much of the motivation is our love for the Lord and for all His children.  But I must admit, the children I wish to have the most influence on are those we are the closest to...our grandchildren.  I think the bottom line for me to serve a mission is the promise we have been given that our children and our children's children and their children etc. will be blessed.  And since God can not lie...we serve gladly and will serve again.  I know it seems ironic, but many things in the Gospel of Jesus Christ are ironic. :)  Thus, I end with inspiring pictures from grandchildren and express my love for the support and love shown in packages, e-mails and Skyping. 

September 2014 in Ghana

September in Ghana was another exciting and wonderful month.  First, I would like to give a quick update on the "real" Ebola situation in West Africa.  There have been no reported cases in Ghana and it has been contained in Nigeria with no new outbreaks there.  Our travel has not been restricted to the countries of Nigeria, Togo, Benin, nor Cote d'Ivoire.  However, we still are not allowed to enter Liberia or Sierra Leone and do not know when those countries will have the virus contained.  None the less, we have heard reports and seen pictures of continued  missionary work  in those countries.  The Area leaders here are still keeping in close contact with the leaders there, though they no longer can take personal visits. 

The airports here are pretty strict about taking your temperature several times before you board the airplane and again when you leave the airport.  It appears the United States should have been a bit more careful themselves.  I suppose with the outbreak of Ebola in Dallas, Texas there will be temperature checks throughout the States as well.  Our only concern is that the "world" will assume that all of West Africa poses an Ebola threat when that is simply not true. 

The first week of September began with a trip to Cape Coast with Ernest and Sarah Gyampoh, our "adopted" Ghanaian children.  We learned that Ernest had never been to any of the slave castles, thus we decided they both needed an "African/Church History Tour".  We wanted to go before Sarah got too big with child, she is due in January, so we felt September would be perfect.  We had a great two days. 

 






      Swimming at the hotel









 It was only the second time Sarah had been swimming in her entire life.  The first time was when she was dating Ernest.  Except for fishermen, most Ghanaians do not learn to swim.  In fact, they are afraid of the water, mostly due to cultural traditions.

On the balcony of the hotel

 

They have a crocodile pond at the hotel.  When we first looked over the fence into the pond, we thought the crocodiles were fake because they were so completely still.  However, as we watched there were a couple who moved and we realized they were all very much alive.  They feed them chickens, but we did not stay for feeding time.

Our beautiful African lily...Sarah.  We learned shortly after our trip that the baby Sarah is carrying will be a boy.  As a "gift" to us, they asked Elder Call to name their first boy and me to name their first girl.  The name I chose was "Ada Vilate", after my great grandmother Ada Lowe and my great, great grandfather's first wife Vilate Kimball who opened her heart to so many other wives that Heber C. Kimball was commanded to marry.  One of those wives being my great, great grandmother Mary Smithies.  Sarah and I were hoping for an "Ada", but it was not to be.  It appears we will have another Anson in the family for the name Elder Call chose was "Anson Terry".  He chose it after his great, great grandfather Anson Call and his grandmother's maiden name Ruby Terry, and of course, his first given name.

 

Cannons used to protect the Cape Coast Slave Castle












We also went to this "monkey farm" where a couple from Holland moved to Ghana 11 years earlier. Dennis and  his wife Antoinette rescue baby wildlife and raise them until they can return them to the jungle.  The local natives bring the animals to them.  Most times the locals will kill the mother for food and bring the baby/babies to Dennis and Antoinette to raise.  The couple pay the locals  for their "trouble".  If they refuse to pay, the natives kill the babies.  Thus, they pay to get the babies and they pay to feed them.  To help defray the cost, they created a small zoo where they keep the animals until they are adults and charge a minimal entrance fee.   However, they are not able to release the monkeys for after they have been "domesticated" they are unable to survive in the jungle. If you look closely  you can see a monkey on the left hand side of the picture.  They keep the monkeys on long chains so they can jump around on neighboring trees. 

Lest you think our trip was all play and no "work" I need to relate an incident that happened. As Elder Call checked out of the hotel, the young woman at the desk pointed at his name tag and said, "I want to join your church".  A young man who was also working at the desk said, "I want to join your church too".  Elder Call asked them why they were interested in our church.  They told him they had heard good things about our church and they liked the way we worshiped.  Elder Call took down their contact information and the two missionaries, who we included in the last blog (Elder Judy and Elder Molene), are currently teaching them.  There are no coincidences when you are engaged in the Lord's work!!

As further evidence that we don't just play around, the senior missionary couple, the Stokers who serve in Public Affairs, wrote up an article on the FSY's (For Strength of Youth) activities that were held this year in West Africa.  The article was in the September 17, 2014  edition of the Church News.  For those who missed it you can go to:
https://www.lds.org/church/news/thousands-of-africas-youth-gather-in-first-fsy-conferences?lang=eng

The previous senior missionary couple, the Petersens, spearheaded these particular FSY's.  However, they went home before they took place, so we did the follow-up work.  Furthermore, we will be the missionary couple spearheading these FSY's in 2015 and have already begun the training.  There will be a total of 5 FSY's in West Africa next year, one in Accra West and four in Nigeria. 

One of the reasons we are relieved the Ebola virus has been contained in Nigeria, is the necessity we have of traveling there to do training for their upcoming FSY's.  One of those trainings took place in September.  We flew into Benin City, Nigeria; a city whose population we were informed was 2 or 3 million. 

Classrooms at Helena's Secondary Girls School in Nigeria

 

As part of our training for FSY's, we try and visit the facilities that the local leaders are considering holding the event.  Thus, after training at a chapel in Benin, we got into a van and drove 2 hours north/west to this all girl's secondary school.  It was pretty typical of schools here in West Africa, only a little worse.  I was grateful the Area 70's wife, Sister Akinbo also came along, for when we saw the absence of bathroom facilities, we both gave a "thumbs down".  Sister Akinbo emphatically said to her husband, "My girls are not staying here". 

However, while at the school I learned a very interesting local tradition.  According to their custom, whenever a young person meets an older person, they fall to their knees.  I learned of this custom first hand for as we approached these young women they all dropped to their knees.   When I asked what they were doing, I was told they were showing respect for us as their elders.  I was also informed that the boys, according to custom, prostrate themselves on the ground when they meet an elderly person.  I was rather glad it was an all girl's school.  Having someone fall to their knees as you approach is uncomfortable enough without having them prostrate themselves on the ground.  The reeds in the hand of the girl on the left, is a typical broom found in West Africa.  They sweep bending over, thus the girls were cleaning when we met them. 

 

Towards, the end of the month we learned that a "Dave Watson" was coming over to Nigeria and Ghana to do some training in creating and using the Church website. Our curiosity was immediately piqued for we knew of a Dave Watson who worked for the Church and was Dad's 2nd Counselor when he was the bishop of the Crescent 14th Ward in Sandy, Utah.  Sure enough, it was the same Dave Watson!  We invited him over for dinner and spent some time reminiscing and "catching up" on the status of our families.  (I took a picture but for some reason it did not download on my computer).

 

One of the "sad" things that we are beginning to experience is the return of other senior missionaries to their homes.  This will particularly affect us more and more because we signed up for a 23 month mission and most senior missionaries only serve for 18 months.  One of these dear couples that are leaving soon are Elder and Sister Assard.  Sister Assard is German and married a man from Cote d'Ivoire, which speak French.  She was introduced to the church by her sister and readily joined.  However, it was before all worthy males could hold the priesthood and when she learned her husband could not participate fully in all the ordinances she embarrasingly tells how she became less active.  Then in 1978 her sister called her with the news of the blacks receiving the  priesthood.  Sister Assard felt she better get back to church because the church was going on with out her.   She did return and her husband joined shortly thereafter.  Elder Assard became a great leader in Cote d'Ivoire being the first stake president and then a patriarch.  The Assards were called to a temple mission in Ghana.  Sister Assard knew German and French but could speak very little English, but she went to work to learn.  The Sister senior missionaries have scripture study every Monday morning for an hour.  We take turns teaching the class.  I often sit by Sister Assard because we both like to sit close to the front. One day during scripture study she turned to me and said, "My mouth can not say what my heart is speaking".  I will miss her sweet spirit. 

 

This last picture is of a senior missionary, Elder Parke.  He and his wife were called as missionaries to work in the temple.  They both speak French, so they are very useful when we get patrons who come from the neighboring French speaking countries of Togo, Benin and Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast).  They were visiting a ward when it was split and a new branch was created. Everything happened as usual except they noticed the new branch president had no use of his legs and walked on his hands.  Elder Parke wondered how that branch president was going to be able to conduct the church meetings.  As an engineer he pondered on a solution to the problem.  With the Lord's help, he came up with an idea to build some steps with a movable pad.  The branch president could climb up the steps, push over the pad, and then sit on the pad to conduct meetings.  When the branch president was finished, the pad could be pushed back so others could stand at the pulpit.  He presented the idea to the stake president and the special stand was built to sit next to the podium. 

 

Shortly after it was finished, we attended one of the meetings in that branch.  We were amazed at the agility and ease with which the branch president slipped off his chair and climbed up to the pulpit. It was another testimony to me that God is ever aware of His children.  Not only is He aware of His children, but He will provide a way for them to accomplish the thing He has asked them to do.  We just need to "go" and "do". 

 

 

 



August 2014 in Ghana

The biggest and best news in Ghana is that, so far, there are no recorded Ebola out breaks.  We continue to cross our fingers, knock on wood, but most importantly pray that it stays that way.  Recently the government  has taken greater precautions to try and keep Ebola from spreading to Ghana.  It is a good and a bad thing.  Yesterday, there were three bus loads of Latter-day Saints coming to the Temple from the neighboring country of Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast).  They were stopped at the border and checked for Ebola and thus did not get to Accra until 2:00 in the morning.  Despite their late night, many of them were up early this morning getting ready to spend the day in the Temple doing work for their kindred dead.  There are no shortages of stories in West Africa of amazing faith and sacrifice.

August, like much of July, has been the culmination of almost a years planning and implementing of young single adult multistake activities and young men/young women FSY's (For Strength of Youth) programs throughout the entire Africa West Area.  After this week, there will have been eleven multistake activities involving approximately 7,650 young single adults and and four FSY's involving about 2,400 young men/young women.  This year we and Elder and Sis. Petersen, the other missionary couple, have been quite heavily engaged in helping with the organization of these activities.  However, next year the Africans are expected to basically handle them on their own.  As Elder Dube told us at the beginning of our mission, "I want you to work yourself out of a job!"  Thus, our emphasis has been on training the leaders in principles on how to run the programs themselves and not doing it for them.  As we have worked with the wonderful people here, we have found them to be qualified, capable, and ready to take over.  The Area Presidency did not replace the other missionary couple when they left in July, and their hope is NOT to replace us when we leave. 


 

We spent the  first week in August with the YM/YW at a FSY conference.  The conference was held a senior high boarding school in the "mountains" about l l/2 hours north of Accra.  The weather was beautiful but the youth thought it was very, very cold and many wore jackets.




A young man attending a workshop held outside on the grass.  The book the young man is holding says, "Holy Bible".

Listening to the youth choir



Missionary activity where the youth divided into companionships and organized and taught a lesson from "Preach My Gospel".     

  

Scriptures were chosen and banners were painted depicting the theme of the scripture.  Cheers were also created to go with the theme and name of the group.

                                                          

 

 

The kitchen crew was amazing.  The head cook, Sister Gertrude Dadzie, had a staff of about 30 who worked continually preparing food for the next meal.


The kitchen staff cooked especially good food for the leaders and specifically for Elder Call and I.  When they learned we liked potatoes, they made them special for us every evening meal.  The last night they mashed them with butter.

The clean up crew was particularly efficient.

The last day, meeting together and wearing their FSY shirts.

Elder Call with some young men from the FSY conference
 

Saturday, August 16th was Africa Day.  That day all in Africa were supposed to clean up or fix up.  Each ward was to pick some service project to do.  The bishop of the ward we attended the week before,  planned to have his ward go to a special needs school called the New Horizon School.

So we all put on our  "Helping Hands" vests and went to work.  The men worked on the grounds outside while the women scrubbed and cleaned the inside of the school. 

The photo is of Sister Martins, a senior missionary from Nigeria.  Her assignment is to work in the Accra Temple five days/week.  She was sick for a few days several weeks ago and I tried to encourage her to stay "home" and rest, but she would have nothing to do with it.  She said, "I was called to work in the Temple and that is what I'm going to do."

All dressed and ready to go to work at the New Horizon School.  The senior missionary couple on the left had just been evacuated from Liberia. 

 

There is a market down town called the Makola Market.  It is a large area with hundreds of shops.  There was absolutely no kind of planning when the market began because there is no rhyme or reason to the streets.  For that cause, and also for the fact that the locals will charge abruni's (white people) double the price, one needs to go Makola Market with a Ghanaian. 

 

Bernice, is a member of the Church and also owns a local shop called "Bags by Bernice".  She often goes to Makola Market to buy fabric for her shop and she agreed to "guide" a group of us sister missionaries through the streets of the Market.   I went basically for the experience, but of course, ended up purchasing a few things.  Elder Call thinks I have tried to adopt the attitude I had when we lived in Israel, i.e. try and bless as many shop keepers as possible.

 

 

 

 

 

Sister Kirkham, Sister Cannon, Sister Wilde and Sister Call shopping at Makola Market.                                    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

August ended with a trip to Cape Coast to do some training.  While eating at the hotel restaurant, the junior missionaries came in.  They said they were looking for a place on the beach to have their zone conference.  Since we knew they didn't have money to buy dinner at such an expensive hotel, we offered to pay for their dinner.   I also wanted to take their picture so I could send a photo to their Moms' to let them know their sons were eating well.  Also, having had missionaries myself, I know how exciting it is to get e-mails about your missionaries.  When I told them I wanted to e-mail their Moms, they asked if I would send them and e-mail also; which I did. 

 

 

 

 

I received an e-mail back from Elder Moleme from South Africa.  I wanted to end the blog with the message he wrote to us.

 

"Elder and Sister Call, I am nearing my end and am still active in my Lord's harvest...He's coming soon and I am well aware that 'the laborer is worthy of his hire'...allow me to share a few thoughts on the matter:

And after this manner do I bear record: The eye has never seen nor has the ear heard...I have seen miracles.  I have been a witness to this marvelous work and a wonder.  No tongue can speak, neither can the heart of any man conceive...I have seen the hearts of  people change, I have felt the power of the Priesthood of our God...I have beheld God moving in His majesty.

Mission is an unspeakable joy...I know that my Redeemer lives, I KNOW! God is good...always."
Yours,

Elder Moleme