Sunday in Buduburam

Sunday we drove to Buduburam to attend church. Buduburam is a community about 27 miles west of Accra. This little village is the home to the Liberian refugee camp. Buduburam began 17 years ago as a United Nations sponsored refugee camp for Liberians. The camp was populated with 40,000 refuges. While it was once a tent city it is now a shanty town with cinderblock homes crowned with tin roofs. There is little electricity in the village and no running water. The Ghanaian government has been trying to deport the refuges back to Liberia this year. Many are hesitant to return. Some having lived in Buduburam during the first civil war in Liberia returned and were killed when the second civil war began in 1999.

Buduburam branch has a current population of 250 members with 125 coming from the refugee camp. The village is on the main highway to Cape Coast, but the branch currently meets in center of the village in the Ghana Primary School building. Few roads are straight. The roads are dirt often with deep ruts washed into them by the rain. For our children visualize the worst case senerio for the Maple Creek Road to our Cabin, except without the steep hills to climb.

Driving through the village without a 4-wheel drive vehicle was quite a challenge. We traveled up and down the road 3 times asking questions about the location of the building, as everyone stared at this nice van (an oddity in itself) occupied by four "Obrunis" (whites). We had in our company the new Area Doctor and his wife. In our last attempt at asking directions we noticed a small family crossing the highway dressed for church with scriptures in hand. A tender mercy of the Lord placed in our path so that we could get to church on time. On the way down the dirt road, another family saw us coming and begged for a ride. We obliged and opened the door to let them in. We had 7 Ghanaians and 4 Obruni's in an 8 passenger toyota van on a rutted dirt road. Needless to say we often drug bottom!

We did arrive on time with just a minute or two to spare. The building was very sparse - a cinderblock building with slits in the walls for ventalation and probably for light, though we did have electricity inside. A chalk board adorned the front wall of the large room with cement floors and folding chairs to sit upon. Sacrament meeting began on time. As we sang the opening hymn I could see people walking quickly to get into the room before the sacrament began. By the time it was passed the room was full - my guess would be about 150 people. A deacon age boy sat in front of us. The McCarthy Hill Stake had had a youth camp during the last week and he pulled the camp's program from out of his scriptures. Notes were scribbeled on the back and he read and re-read the paper carefully handling it as if it was the best experience of his life! Two talks were given by women and the last by the high counselor for the ward.

Sacrament meeting was followed by Sunday School. Primary for age 12 and under was held in another room of the school. The Gospel Doctrine class was attended by families, mothers and fathers and their older children who sat together as families. The teacher was excellent. The subject was Alma - the 2000 sons of Helaman - the wars. We were impressed with their knowledge and ability to glean from the scriptures the truths taught. Having been in a war torn country they had a lot to say about the motivations for war - righteous and unrighteous. They realized in the end that unrighteous wars are for power, and righteous wars are fought for freedom. Even the children participated.


Lastly we attended Priesthood and Relief Society. The main room was divided into two rooms by a metal screen. As we sang the opening song in Relief Society the men were singing their opening song in Priesthood and it was like a competition to see who could sing the loudest! Outside the Young Women sat under a tree to be taught and the Young Men sat under a different tree nearby.

It was just beautiful to see that these people who struggle so much, were able to express their testimonies of the gospel, and treasure the knowledge of the restored gospel.