May 2015 in Ghana

The time has come when we are counting down our mission in days.  It does not seem possible.  The month of May was another wonderful month of training.  However, the big difference is that we also trained our replacements.   There will not be a senior missionary couple to take our place so the Area Presidency decided to divide up our assignments.  The literacy assignment is being taken over by Elder and Sister Heckel and Sister Terry, our Young Single Adult Assignment has been given to another senior missionary couple who came to Ghana to help in the BYU-I Pathways Program, Elder and Sister Ridges, and  For Strength of Youth has been given to Bro. and Sister Ounleu who live in Cote d'Ivoire.  Bro. Ounleu was just released as an Area Seventy serving here in West Africa.  There will be no one taking our Young Men/Young Women assignment, which makes us a little sad, but there are not enough missionary couples coming to Africa and the need is so great.

Our May "adventures" began in Benin City, Nigeria doing the last training for the two FSY's being held there in August.   Then we were asked by the newly called Kasoa Stake YM/YW presidencies to do a training in "Come, Follow Me" for their Young Men/Young Women leaders.  Since the stake covers such a large geographical area, we did a training at one end of the stake in the morning and a second training at the other end of the stake in the afternoon.

A picture taken after the "Come, Follow Me" training in the Kasoa Stake.  Sister and Elder Call, Elsie Boateng, Bro. Annan-Simon, and Sister Frimpong.
















The next day, on Sunday, we had the third training for the FSY in the Accra West Coordinating Council.  It was a long training, but we had good attendance and we felt it went well.  Elder Call trained all those who had an "administrative" role in the FSY and I took all those who had a "ministering" role.

Then we all came together and practiced the line dance that the youth learn at FSY  The dancing may have been their favorite part of the training.  

                            

                                            Practicing the line dance.

The next Saturday Elder Call and I were asked to speak at the Standards Night for the Ashaiman Stake.  I gave a brief talk in the beginning, then we divided and the Young Men stayed in the chapel with Elder Call and I and the Young Women went to the Cultural Hall.  They had asked us to focus on Duty to God and Personal Progress so that is what we did.  I talked about Personal Progress and then actually had the girls do some activities for their Personal Progress.  I had them choose an activity to "strengthen home and family", then they memorized the Sacrament Prayer, and finally made a prayer chart. Besides getting the YW to begin to work on their Personal Progress, my intent was to show the YW leaders how they could incorporate Personal Progress with Mutual activities.  

The beautiful Young Women of the Ashaiman Stake working on their Prayer Charts.

The next week we met with Elder and Sister Ridges who will be taking our Young Single Adult assignment and trained them in the Stake YSA program and YSA multistake activities.  We are glad to have a senior missionary couple follow-up on the work we have been doing, but it is also hard to "let it go".  

After "training" the Ridges, we had scheduled a Young Men/Young Women training that weekend in the city of Ho in the Volta Region.  We had decided to take an extra day and do a little sight-seeing so we asked the Ridges to come along.  Though they have no assignment for Young Men/Young Women, they accepted to come with us.  The "amazing/miracle" thing that happened is that after we completed the YM/YW training, the District President said, "We will take a short break, and then Elder and Sister Call will train us in the Young Single Adult Programs."  We had not scheduled that training, but said,"Sure, we would love to".  We quickly consulted with one another and then did, what turned out to be, an engaging and informative training in the YSA programs.  In fact, Elder Ridges said, "Your impromptu training was as good as your scheduled training". The "miracle" is that we felt prompted to invite the Ridges to come with us, and then unbeknownst to us, they were able to watch a YSA training that is directly related to their missionary assignment. 

 

The day before the training, we visited a monkey sanctuary where the monkey's actually jump up on you and eat bananas from your hand.

Entering the jungle

Once you enter the jungle where the monkey's are protected, our guide called to them by using a sort of "kissing" sound with his mouth.  When he heard the monkey's were close, he got out the bananas and told us to stand still and hold out the bananas.  

When the monkey sees the banana, he approaches cautiously.  Then with more coaxing, takes some of the banana.  

When the monkey is convinced he/she is safe, and you have something that is enticing to them, they will climb or jump up on you to eat the banana from your hand.

 As I pondered on the process of feeding the monkey's, I decided it was much like doing missionary work.  First, one must go to where they can meet those who may be interested in the church.  Second, one must "call out to them" or befriend them.  Third, the Gospel needs to be "held-up" for the prospective member to inspect.  Then, if the investigator feels safe, they may cautiously "partake". Finally, the investigator embraces the "message" and the "messenger".  

I only wish people where as easily to entice as monkey's.  After all, we have something of so much greater value than a banana!  

After the monkey sanctuary, we drove about 1 1/2 hours and then took an hour hike to Wli Falls.  It is the highest water fall in West Africa.  

It was a great trip and our final excursion in Ghana.  During the trip, we were even able to give away a Book of Mormon to a man Elder Call met in the parking lot of the hotel.  The man had visited the church a couple of times, but had never been given a Book of Mormon.  After receiving it, he held it to his chest as if it were a "treasure"...which it is.  I just hope he embraces it as those monkey's embraced those bananas.

The final weekend in May was another busy one.  Friday afternoon, we did a 3 1/2 hour "For Strength of Youth" training with Bro. and Sister Ounleu who live in Cote d'Ivoire.   Bro. Ounleu was already here for some other meetings, so we picked up Sister Ounleu at the airport, came to our apartment for lunch, and then began the marathon training.  I hope it was helpful...it was 3 1/2 more hours of training than we received...however, our lives in the church have been our training.  

Friday night, Elder Call and I were asked to speak to a class of Young Women who had come to the temple to do baptisms for the dead.  The daughter of the manager of the Ancillary Building, Boatema, is in the Young Women's presidency of her ward.  So her Young Women came to the Ancillary Building, slept overnight, and then did baptisms for the dead in the morning.  They were a wonderful group of girls.  I made them all small pictures of the Ghana Temple and they all promised they would marry there when they grew up.  

The month of May was our last full month on our mission, and it indeed was full.  Saturday was the wedding of a wonderful couple, Reginald and Henrietta, who met in our Institute class,  They asked us to participate in all three parts of a Ghanaian wedding i.e. the Traditional Wedding, the Civil Ceremony, and the Temple Sealing.  

The day started very early in the morning when we picked up Reginald at his home to take him to the site of the Traditional Wedding.  In the past, the Traditional Wedding was the only wedding ceremony performed and it lasted for hours.  Many Traditional Weddings today still  last a long time.  However, Reginald and Henrietta wanted to simplify the first two "weddings" so they could focus  on the Temple sealing.  The Traditional Ceremony.  starts with the groom and his friends entering with gifts, i.e. the "bride price". The bride's family "accepts" the gifts.  By-the-way, Reginald and Henrietta held to Not doing a bride price, so the presents were minimal.  Then the bride enters with friends and younger family members and greets the groom's family. The above picture is of Henrietta and the designated spokesperson, known as the okyeame, who happened to be her cousin. 

This picture was taken after the Traditional Ceremony and at the beginning of the Civil Ceremony. During the Civil Ceremony, an engagement ring is given by the groom.  

Elder Call was asked to give some "counsel" for the bride and groom as part of the Civil Ceremony. His remarks were inspiring and Spirit directed and enjoyed by members and non-members alike.      

Then we headed to the Temple for the "real" marriage ceremony.  It was beautiful, as all temple weddings are.  Elder Call was also asked to be one of the witnesses at the temple. 

A picture in front of the Ghana Accra Temple after the sealing ceremony.  

I think that completes the month of May. I know it was a little longer blog than most months, but, unfortunately, May was our last full month in Ghana.  When we began our mission I didn't really know what to expect.  But the amazing experiences we have had on our mission have far exceeded any expectations I ever dreamed of.  We will be heading "home" soon...but, God willing, :) we will serve another mission.  My only worry is...how can another mission compare to Ghana!!!