A Wedding in West Africa

Saturday there was a wedding in the Stake Center here on the Temple Complex. The groom was from Accra and the bride from Cape Coast. As you can see, the wedding party is not unlike one we might see at home standing on the Salt Lake Temple steps except for skin color and the groom's white suit.

The greatest difference is that this was a civil marriage. The Ghanaian government does not recognize a temple marriage as a legal marriage. South Africa just recently sent notice that it would give the temple officiators the authority to perform legal marriages. Our members in West Africa must marry civilly and then within 2 weeks they may be sealed in the temple. This couple will be sealed on Tuesday.

SOME OF THE GUESTS

A Beautiful Family

Our guide in Kumasi joined the church a little less than a year ago. Not only did he join, but also his wife and children. Some missionary had to have been feeling pretty good!

Abraham and his family had been members of another faith. Five years ago he left his church when it was announced that a homosexual was to be ordained to the priesthood. He told us that he knew very well why Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed and he could not belong to a religion that ignored God's commandments. So he and his family read the Bible and said their prayers together daily for four years. One day he came home from work to find two young men in his home talking to his children, the oldest daughter being 20 years old. He decided he would sit in on the next discussion to determine if he needed to tell them to leave. He had lots of questions, but he found each one was answered as they taught. He was particularly touched when he was taught about temples and the sealing of families. He said he knew well the scripture in Malachi about turning the hearts of the daddies to the kiddies and the kiddies to the daddies, and now he understood. His new calling is that of the Stake Family History Consultant and Abraham is excited to do the work for his ancestors.

He said, "Before I joined the church I was good, but now I am better." Others have told me this is one thing they love about church: they are taught how to be better people. They call our church the "quiet church". Most of the churches in Africa have meetings filled with drumming and dancing. The people are entertained but are not given much spiritual food to feast upon.

Abraham and his family are waiting anxiously for the day they will be sealed together in the temple. Pres. Snow has often taught, Salvation is an individual journey; Exaltation is about family.

The Ingenuity of Children

Who needs toys? What a great idea for teaching children letters!!!

Three Villages

Four hours drive north and west of Kumasi are three villages: Awewoho, Antwi Adjei, and Mission. These villages are deep within the rain forest - a 1 1/2 hour drive on a dirt road. Elder Shipley was glad for his experience on Maple Creek road which was not unlike this road only this road was much longer. The rainy season this year was exceptionally prolonged and so the road was moist, filled with ruts and water in places.

Br. Bonsu, our family history director, grew up in the village of Antwi Adje,and has relatives in the other two villages. He and his brother led us and the Bevans, our family history missionaries to meet their family and see what a real village looks like. They sent word ahead during the week that we were coming, but unfortunately the village did not receive the notice. Most of the people were out to their gardens and farms so we saw only a handful of the village people.

Br. Bonsu's family is rather amazing in that they did not get trapped in the poverty of the village. Thirty years ago, Russia was giving African youth full ride scholarships, hoping to convert them to socialism and communism. It was not a successful project for Russia, but it was a huge benefit to the youth of Africa who were able to get an education. Our associate, Brother Bonsu, became a veterinarian. His brother, Peter, attended medical school in Russia, completing his residency training in the United States. He is a pediatric opthomologist in Kumasi and is working with the Moran Eye Institute in Salt Lake to upgrade the opthomology department in Kumasi. Another brother, Peterson, became an agronomist and works for the Ghanaian government improving crop production and exports. The brothers have a sister who majored in Accounting and works for a bank. Only one sister remains in the village.

Realizing education is the key to unlock the door that shuts out the world and dictates a life of poverty, Brother Bonsu has used his own money to build a school for his childhood village, knowing the children's future in the village is hopeless without an education.
Elder Bonsu is on the left. His brother Peterson, the agronomist, is on the right behind just a handful of the village children standing in front of the school. You can see one of four classrooms. The inside of schools here is very spartan. Desks and a chalk board is all the furnishings of a school room.



The Bonsu's village Antwi Adje has no electricity and no bore hole, meaning no source of clean water. The children walk to the river to fill their buckets with water which they carry back to the village on their heads several times a day.


This year is a real problem. The rains have been so heavy that the river has gone over its banks and they are not able to walk to where the water flows. Instead they must pull their water from the muddy overflow of the river. Br. Bonsu's next project is to save money for a bore hole for his village.


We came baring gifts to the village: pencils, erasers, and composition books. We also brought them a treat. I felt like the pied piper as the children came from every nook and corner of the village when they saw that I was handing out candy. I was amazed at their humility and concern for each other. No one grabbed at the candy. When I would ask if I had given them some already, they would say "Yes but this boy or girl has not had any."

Before leaving, we all sang I am a child of God to them.
I am a child of God
And He has sent me here
Has given me an earthly home
With parents kind and dear
Lead me, Guide me, Walk beside me
Help me find the way.
Teach me all that I must do
To live with Him someday.
It was a touching moment. Oh that the world could realize that we are all God's children.

Kumasi - Seat of the Ashante Kingdom

Last weekend we traveled 5 hours north to Kumasi. In Kumasi you will find the palace of the Ashanti King. It is not open to visitors, but the museum is. Long ago the Ashante nation was composed of clans, each with their own king. At one point it was determined that they would have more power if they all gathered together and selected a King to govern them. When they gathered together, the drummers began drumming, a cloud of dust arose, the magician called to the ancestors of the Ashantemen, and the magician danced until he fell. Then a deafening sound was heard and out of a cloud fell a Golden Stool which landed on king Osei Tutu. The ancestors had selected the king. A once weak people, they became very strong. The Golden Stool became the symbol of their power. No one ever sat on it and it was always hidden because of its value, being of pure gold. In 1925 the British came into Ashanti land searching for the Golden Stool, because of its value and also to break the power of the Ashante nation.

They could never find the stool, but they captured the King of the Ashanti nation. He was exiled to Cape Coast. When his followers made their way to Cape Coast the English sailed the Ashanti King to the Seychellles Islands. The Queen Mother fought off the English. She took up arms and led the army against the English. She hid the golden stool in the forest. After 30 years the king was finally allowed to return. The English had built a palace for him, but he refused to occupy it until the Ashantemen paid for it. Because of her valiancy in the wars, the Queen Mother is highly honored. She chooses from her family line the next King when the King in power dies. The king must have a perfect body. He must not draw attention to himself. He is modest, generous, and helpful. He is to have good character and be an example to everyone.

The present King of the Ashante's is her son and has been in power for 10 years. The old palace is now a museum. Pictures are not allowed, but our guide for the day got special permission to let us photograph a few things.

Obama in Ghana

Obama was indeed in Ghana this weekend for 21 hours. He arrived on Friday evening and left Saturday at 5pm in the afternoon. Ghana was bristling with excitement over his visit. Billboards went up with Obama's picture: some with his family, some with him and Atta Mills, Ghana's president, and some with Obama and his wife.


Flags lined Independence Avenue: Ghanaian flags alternating with United States flags.One waiter in our Chinese Restaurant we frequent told us weeks ago that he was so excited and he hoped to meet Obama. We did not want to dash his hopes so we said nothing. Independence Avenue where we work and live was closed down Friday at 4pm or so they said - so everyone left work early. The roads were gridlock. I never did see Obama come into town even though I kept looking out the window, but Saturday afternoon I saw his motorcade go racing by. He had had a meeting in Osu Castle that morning and I'm told thousands lined the streets to get a glimpse of him. My quick glimpse came on his way back from those meetings. I also heard the helicopter that took him to Cape Coast - but I never saw it.

Emmanual, a ten year old, came and sat next to me in church today. During the Sacrament he was pretty fidgety so I gave him a piece of paper and a pen to draw with. His head was not dreaming of Jesus, but of Obama. Emmanuel was in Osu yesterday when the presidential motorcade went by. I have to say that Emmanual caught the picture better than any photograph I could have taken....except that there were multiple vans behind the presidential limo and police cars with flashing lights. He has Obama in his limousine,Obama's house,Air Force 1 with the red carpet laid out. An older boy drew the picture of Obama in the left corner - I thought it was pretty good!

What Obama had to say was right on target but not what most Ghanaians or Africans wanted to hear. They would rather have heard commitments of more money invested in Ghana. But Obama is correct that investments in Africa or Ghana specifically will not be forthcoming until governments eliminate corruption, bribery and brutality. Bribery is a way of life here - If you want a job you generally have to pay a bride to the interviewer. Government skims 20% off the top of business revenues. The need for the government to control its resources and have a society where laws are enforced and people are protected by the police is necessary. Tribalism must be done away. Monies are given to tribal leaders to help develop farming and sometimes never reach the farms. Health issues must be addressed. This is where America poured in some monies. Polio, malaria, and typhoid are all common problems in Africa. Violence must be eradicated: Kidnappings and robbery are common. Governments need to invest in infrastructure. Water, roads, electricity: all are still in short supply.

I rarely agree with Pres. Obama on issues at home, but I believe he said the right things here in Africa. Not much time was spent. A trip to Cape Coast gave his children an education on the slave trade of the 1800's. Though their time was short it was the one thing the Obama family did - tour the Cape Coast slave castle- a 1 hour tour which they did in half the time. I wondered if it was mentioned that the Africans were rounding up their own people (of course from other tribes) to take to the slave traders. The Portuguese, Dutch, and English paid them for this service - but all were involved - that was an eye-opener to me. It was a terrible time of history where people were treated as objects rather than children of God.

Ghana is a leader in Africa in establishing a democratic government. It has recently made discoveries of oil, a resource that could bring great wealth to Ghana, but could also bring corruption and unrest if its people and government are not strong. President Obama reminded them of the destiny that can be theirs if they rise above the temptations of bribes and corruption and can enforce peace.

Rain

It is the rainy season in Accra. It starts in February and usually ends by July. But this year it has just gone on and on. Rain, rain and more rain everyday. I think I can identify with Noah - only I don't have a boat!

I feel rain on my head as I walk to work and more rain as I walk back home. The bricks that form the walkways here in the temple grounds are wet almost always. The cement benches are beginning to show some black mold as are the roof tops of buildings. But the grass is emerald green and the trees and plants are feeling very blessed. The view out our apartment window is lush green, but no blue skies. The view out our office window is much the same.


The towns and villages around Accra have dirt pouring into their streets and ponds forming in the ruts of their dirt roads. The commute to work is becomming increasingly difficult for some of our employees, as roads become challenging to pass.

Our good friends the Miles flew home last week. Pres. and Sr. Sabey brought them to Accra to catch their flight. The main highway from Accra to Cape Coast has become a lake in the town of Mankessin. No worry....the cars lined up and the Ghanains grabbed hold instructing them to turn off their engines as they took hold and pushed the cars through the lake that had formed over a mile wide! Their income was never so good as dashes (tips) were deposited in their hands.


Well I know the sun will come out tomorrow!!! ...and I will smile! I like sun.