Time Flies in Kumasi

Blog # 6

Not only is this old stuff, I hardly remember what I wrote. I am bound and determined to get it sent today.

So much has happened in these last few weeks that I am having a hard time knowing where to start. We have had the usual schedule of departures, arrivals, and new arrivals. Boy! It is so hard saying goodbye to these wonderful missionaries that we have loved for the past year. Yes, we marked our 1 -year anniversary. It is hard to believe that the time has passed so quickly. We are now getting missionaries that will go home after we leave. That is super hard to wrap our brains around. Our regular schedule is something like this. Every month we have Mission Leadership Council. We have 9 companion zone leaders and 3 companion Sister Training Leaders. They meet in the mission home and are given instruction to take back to their zones. We start at 9:00 and have a lunch break and then continue until 3:00.

Mission Leadership Council
L-R back row President, Elder Bbosa, Uganda, Elder Porritt, US, Elder Motlung, South Africa, Ghana, Elder Lawson, US, Elder Soltalbo, Philippines, Elder Mutasi, Kenya, Elder Bonku, Ghana, Elder Ofuegbu, Nigeria, Elder Prior, US, Elder Asabre, Ghana, Elder Robson, Nigeria, Elder Anai, Ghana
2nd row, L-R Me, Elder Hill,US, Elder Lindley, US, Sister  Awittor, Ghana Sister Tayeye, DR Congo, Sister Umana, Nigeria, Sister Elusaiwe, Nigeria, Sister Mahlangu, South Africa, Sister Shange,  South Africa, Elder Bernasko, Ghana
L-R front row Elder Udobor, Nigeria, Elder Gibson, US, Elder Speakman, US, Elder Sekgetho, South Africa, Elder Nuamah, Ghana, Elder Gilbert, US

R-L Me Elder Zulu from South Africa, Elder Gibson from Rexburg, Elder Udobor from Nigeria, President
All 3 of these missionaries have served as assistants to the president.

Elder Hill joins Eider Gibson and Elder Zulu for their final meal together.
They are enjoying fufu and ground nut (peanut) soup.

 When missionaries depart we have a nice dinner and then have a testimony meeting. They leave early the next morning. Then that afternoon the new missionaries arrive. In between, the President gives training to the new district leaders, then the new zone leaders. When the new missionaries arrive we do an orientation meeting, have dinner and then they have interviews. The next day it continues in the morning. Their day starts with a 6:30 AM exercise session with Elder Wardle (senior missionary from Puyallup, Washingon). Then the new missionaries meet their trainers, have lunch and then the trainers are trained. There are sometimes variations, but that is pretty much how it goes.

            Probably the most exciting thing to happen to us thus far is the visit of Elder and Sister Bednar. For those reading this who may not know, he is one of our church’s 12 Apostles. He holds a very special place in our hearts for many reasons, but needless to say no matter what the reasons, having an Apostle visit our mission is such a wonderful blessing and great privilege. We had been planning for his visit for weeks. Everything had to go like clock-work. It kind of reminded me of planning for a wedding. You want every detail taken care of so there are no surprises and so you can fully enjoy the experience. He arrived on Saturday morning. We were excited to have them at the mission home for lunch. He then met with all the missionaries in the mission at 2:00-5:00.  As we drove up to the chapel the missionaries were arranged on the adjoining hill for a picture. As we drove up and into the parking lot, our hearts were so full of love for them. They literally looked like angels standing there on the small hill waiting patiently and reverently for us to arrive. After the picture we went into the chapel for a 3 hour meeting with him.

Left to right-Elder and Sister Halladay, Sister and Elder Renfroe, Elder and Sister Stanfill,  Sister
and Elder Vinson, Elder and Sister Bednar, Sister and President Cosgrave, Sister and Elder Wardle, and Sister and Elder Wood
All the Ghana Kumasi Missionaries with President Owusu and Darko, President's counselors far right

Dinner with Bednars, Renfroes and Africa West Area Presidency

We had prepared a surprise musical number for him. He had written the words to a song, "One by One," that I saw in the July New Era. So we took the missionaries closest to the mission home and prepared to sing it for him as a special musical number. They sounded wonderful and Elder Bednar was very pleased that they would sing it.

He then spent the whole meeting with the missionaries teaching them by asking inspired questions, and then he gave the missionaries time for them to ask questions. What would you ask an Apostle if you had the chance? After the meeting he shook all of their hands. It is almost impossible to describe the reverence that was in that meeting. Elder Bednar is a masterful teacher. We all went away edified and touched by the Spirit. That evening we had dinner with him and the other members of the Africa West Area presidency. The next morning he met with the 2 combined stakes in Kumasi. It was held in the Great Hall at the university here. The place was packed-about 2,000 were in attendance. It was an amazing experience as well. Sister Bednar spoke as well as the members of the West Africa Area Presidency. Elder Bednar spoke at the end for almost 1 hour and gave the congregation an Apostolic blessing as he taught about the Atonement that it was for each one individually. We were so grateful to be apart of such a gathering. Our cup runneth over.

Elder and Sister Bednar, Me and President

Stake meeting with Elder Bednar (View from the pulpit)

The following weeks have been taken up with conferences in various districts. We also created 3 branches from one in Bibiani. And also held a multi-branch conference in Techiman where we haven’t organized a district yet. It was the first time they had combined all 4 branches in a meeting. It was a wonderful, exciting time. The members were so happy to meet with their old branch members who used to be in the same branch before they were split, and also it was great to see new members enjoy the spirit of unity and meeting new people from the other branches.

Sister Ababio, the Sunyani District Relief Society President in Auxillary Training meeting

Training meeting. Mothers all over the world sometimes have to
 bring their little ones to their meetings.

Seminary graduation

Techiman multi-branch conference

Eric is a young man, 20 years old, and when he was 10 years old he and his mother were hit on the roadside by a drunk driver after spending many months in the hospital oth head injuries his mother was released. Eric suffered damage to his back and hips which left him paralyzed from the waist down. He was baptized several months ago in a touching baptism where he was carried into the font. Here Elder Lesh carries him from the conference  and places him on a motorcycle driven by his sister.

Elder Lesh with Eric and his sister.

Our missionaries serve the people in many ways. Elder Lesh carrying Eric from the conference to his ride home.

We have also started 3 new literacy classes. Elder and Sister Heckle from the area have come up to these branches and trained teachers to help some of the members learn English. They are all very excited. Although this is an English- speaking mission and the official language of Ghana is English, there are many people, mostly women, who do not speak English. Often time young girls don’t go to school because they can’t afford it or their family tradition thinks they should stay home and cook for the family. We are hoping they will continue to study so they can speak English. Sometimes the people come from remote villages and have never had the chance to go to school.

Sister Heckle  (right)) with the help of Sister Wood, one of our senior missionaries (from New Zealand), introduce the
literacy class to some of the members.

I couldn't resist getting the picture of this beautiful sister.

Another one of our wonderful missionaries, Elder Lindley helping the children
read the hymns.

Elder Wood, one of our amazing senior missionaries, is from New Zealand. He  with his wife do everything there is to be done, but mostly they love the people.

Thank you for all your love and support. We feel so blessed to have such dear family and friends. If anyone would like to join us here as  couple missionaries, we would love to have you. We are losing our office couple in March  and our nurse in May. The work is great and the life here is interesting and crazy. Your accomodations are nice-air conditioning, hot water, clean, and very comfortable. You have a 4-wheel drive truck . The food is whatever you want to fix. The work is rewarding and the people are loving. So let us know. Love you all.