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.

The Pioneers of West Africa

Gathered in front of the first church site in Cape Coast, organized before missionaries came to the land, are some of the first members of the church. They went through great trial, but were blessed with many visions and dreams that gave them strength. We listened to them bare their testimonies for two hours. Their faith is strong.

For many, the waters of baptism were this beach. It is lovingly referred to as "Baptism Beach" by the members in Cape Coast.

Joseph William Billy Johnson

Jospeh William Billy Johnson was the Elias of Africa. He is known here as "Billy Johnson". He came upon the teachings of the Church in 1964. His friend Dr. Mensah, gave him a pamphlet on Joseph Smith and the Restoration. After reading it and feeling the spirit bear testimony of its truth he asked his friend if he had anything more. He gave him a book: The Book of Mormon. Billy Johnson had seen this book in a dream and so excitedly took the book and read it. After reading the Book of Mormon, he felt he had found truth. "One morning, at about five o'clock, I got up and prepared for the day's work. I decided to follow Jame 1:5 as did Joseph. When I knelt to pray, I felt transmitted away. I saw the heavens open, and for the first time I saw angels singing praises to God and blowing trumpets. In the course of this experience I heard my name called three times…‘Johnson, Johnson, Johnson. If you will take up my work as I will command you, I will bless you and bless your land.’ Trembling and in tears, I replied, ‘Lord, with thy help I will do whatsoever you will command me.'"

That was the beginning of Billy Johnson preparing Ghana for the church. Over the next 14 years he went door to door to tell people about the restoration of the gospel. He set up 10 congregations in Ghana. These early pioneer saints waited patiently for the missionaries to come to their land so they could be baptised with authority and confirmed members of the church. It was difficult to endur the refusals of their requests for missionaries, but visions and dreams kept them true to their faith. They were spiritually supported by the preaching of Billy Johnson.

Finally in 1978 missionaries came to Ghana. Today there are close to 40,000 members. A temple blesses the latter-day saints' lives here in Ghana and extends every blessing the Lord has to offer, to these faithful people.

Forty-five years since first hearing about the gospel, Billy Johnson's testimony is strong. He has been a temple worker and an active patriarch until about 9 months ago when he was put on emeritus status because of health. Ghana will never forget him. When he passes from this life the prophets who strengthened him to endur, will line up to embrace him.

Sister Priscilla Sampson-Davis, an African Pioneer

One of the great ladies we met on Monday was Priscilla Sampson-Davis. She joined the church in 1978 and is now 83 years old. She is still full of life and hiked down the rutted road (and back)to Baptism Beach with us. Elder Shipley was a great gentleman and assisted her. This is one of the things I love about him - he is very in tune with older people's needs.

In testimony meeting that morning she shared her story with us.
Sister Sampson-Davis first met the missionaries in 1964 in Holland where her husband was working. One day she heard a knock on the door. When she opened it there stood two young men who explained they would like to tell her about the gospel of Jesus Christ. She opened the door and let them in. They gave her a Book of Mormon, and a short lesson. She watched as they left. Her landlord stopped them and talked to them at length and she never saw them again.

Though her husband was not interested in the gospel at this time, she was. Upon returning to Ghana, she heard of Brother William Johnson and his LDS study groups and began to participate with them. Fourteen years later, she and her children were among the first saints to be baptized in Africa in 1978.

Years and Years later, when she and her husband visited the Salt Lake Temple to be sealed, she bumped into one of the missionaries who came to her door in Holland. She hugged him and rejoiced over the difference he made in her life. What she did not know was the difference she made in his life. This missionary had been discouraged because no one in Holland would listen to him. He had threatened to leave his mission but the mission president asked him to try it one more day. That was the day Sister Sampson-Davis let him in. The Elder felt this was an answer to his prayers and remained to complete his mission. Each hugged each other agian and exclaimed "Thank you for saving my life."

About two years after her baptism Priscilla Sampson-Davis had a vision in which she was attending a sacrament meeting where a man in white apparel was standing on the front stand. He beckoned to her to come forward. “I came and stood by him. He asked me to turn around and look at the faces of the people to see if they were all enjoying the service. I said they were and he asked me to look again. Again I saw the same scene. He asked me a third time to look and see if the people were happy and I saw many people looking down at the ground and not singing from the hymn book. He asked me why those people were not singing and I said, ‘Because they didn’t go to school and they can’t read the English book. They can’t sing, and that is the reason they bow their heads.’

Then he said, ‘Would you like to help your sisters and brothers who can’t read and who can’t join you in singing praises to Heavenly Father?’” Even though she couldn’t write the language well(Fante),she replied,“I will try.”

When the vision ended, she immediately started translating “Redeemer of Israel” into her native language and then much of the hymnal. She went on later to translate missionary pamphlets, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, the Pearl of Great Price, Gospel Principles, and various other Church materials.

She says of translating the Book of Mormon,“I knew the Lord wanted me to do it,
because at times when I would use a certain word or a phrase,suddenly, as if somebody was standing behind me, I would hear, ‘No, use this word,’ or ‘No, not that word.’ I always had an eraser with me, because the Spirit was teaching me.”

She observed: “It says in the scriptures that in the last days people will hear the gospel in their [own] tongues. This is what the Lord wanted me to do, and it is by his grace that I do it.”

*some quotes taken from Gospel Pioneers in Africa, E. Dale LeBaron

The Elmina Branch

Last Sunday we were in Cape Coast. It is a favorite retreat of ours. I love the beach - any beach - and Cape Coast is just beautiful with palm trees, sand, and a scenic ocean.

We decided to attend a new branch formed just 3 weeks ago,the Elmina Branch. The Elmina Branch is located next to the Bridge Hotel in downtown Elmina. The bridge to the famous Elmina Slave Castle is just steps away. When we first came into Elmina on Saturday we were pleasently surprised to see the rental building straight in front of our eyes as we wound down the streets of Elmina to get to our hotel. The building is a rental building. It was built in 1854 by the Dutch and has walls that are about 18 inches thick. Physical facilities painted the building a bright sunshine yellow - no one can miss this building! We thought maybe they should paint all of our churches this color - it is a "HELLO!" "We are HERE!" color.

Sunday morning we awoke to rain. It rained hard right up until we entered the chapel and then it began to slow down and eventually stop. About 80 people were in attendance. The previous week 110. The weather kept many from coming - most walk and it isn't easy when the rain is pounding the street, or turning the dirt road where they live into mud puddles or slippery silt. Even with fewer in attendance it was a great experience. The meetings were spirit filled. We went to the gospel essentials class with about 10 investigators. The lesson was on free agency and the plan of salvation. Elder Shipley gave them a roll play experience which they enjoyed and will probably always remember. After that, I attended Young Women, where there were an equal number of young women. It will not be long before this branch becomes a ward.