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.
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.
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.
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.
