Where in the world is "Flat Stanley"

Our grandson Bauer has a project in school. 
   

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He was asked to send "Flat Stanley" across the world and have him appear in photos that represent that part of the world.

Ghana MTC

Baby on the Back

Shopping for fruit

Helping the Cook

Carrying things on the head

Ghana MTC 22 December 2015 Slide Show

Fabric, Baskets and Beads

Three of the hidden treasures for the visitor to Ghana are fabric, baskets and beads.  Such colors you have never seen!

Where do the missionaries come from?

During the past two years we have welcomed and trained just under 2900 missionaries.  They come here from 41 different countries.  Here are a few and the number trained from their country:

Nigeria 707
DR Congo 573
Ghana 482
United States 301
Ivory Coast 197
Madagascar 80
Kenya 68
Liberia 60
Uganda 58
South Africa 54
Zimbabwe 37
Togo 37
Burundi 26
France 20
Benin 17
Tongo 17
Sierra Leone 16
Congo 15
Malawi 12

These sending fewer than 10 missionaries:
Samoa
Zambia
Ethiopia
United Kingdom
Australia
Botswana
Fiji
Philippines
Cameroon
India
Namibia
New Zealand
Rwanda
Malaysia
Mozambique
China
Haiti
South Sudan
Thailand
Ukraine
Vanuatu

President Uchtdorf Shares Story About Africa

Last month, in his message during the Christmas Annual First Presidency Devotional, President Uchtdorf taught the following powerful lesson, which bears repeating as we start the new year:

"One example I learned about involved a man who lived in Africa. Because of a disability, this man had never been able to walk. He was forced to spend most of his time in his parents’ home. He could not work; he could not go out with his friends; he could not do even the simple things we take so much for granted.

Then he heard something remarkable! The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was bringing wheelchairs to an event not far from his home!

He asked a friend to take him to the event, and there he watched as dozens of disabled men, women, and children were lifted into new, gleaming wheelchairs. Oh, how he wanted to sit in one of those chairs! How it would change his life for a moment if he could move about by his own power!

He waited in line until finally, it was his turn.

Two men lifted him into a chair and for the first time in his life, he was able to move freely!At first he moved about hesitantly. But as he got the feel of the wheelchair, he moved more courageously.He turned, twisted, and sprinted. He waved enthusiastically with both hands as he raced past his friend.

He flew!

The look on his face was one of joy.

After a time, however, he slowly wheeled the chair back to the others and with an expression of calm resignation he prepared to be helped out.

“What are you doing?” his friend asked. The man smiled and shrugged his shoulders. “It is someone else’s turn now,” he said. 

The Church humanitarian missionary knelt beside him and said, “This wheelchair is yours.”  The man couldn’t believe it. He had assumed this event was only to demonstrate what it was like to ride in a wheelchair. 

“Is it truly mine?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“But I have no money.”

“It is yours. It is a gift from people who love you.”

When the reality of what was happening finally sunk in, this humble man looked at his friend. He looked at the missionary.  He tried to hold back the tears, but it was in vain. And as he wept, he laughed at the sheer joy of what he felt.

His friend and the missionary wept with him.

“Thank you,” he said in a whisper.

He hugged them both, settled into his chair, and then with a “whoop!” he took off again with a big smile.

“I can fly!” he shouted as he sped back and forth along the pavement.

This man understood gratitude."

We have learned that Africans have so little, but do know how to experience happiness.  This joy comes in large measure because of gratitude for the little things in life.  One only needs to listen to the prayers of the African people.  You might have to open your eyes because it feels like the person praying is conversing directly with God.

 

Farewell to the MTC President Couple

It was so nice of the Senior Couples in the Africa West Area to gather together for a nice farewell for us this day.

Look at the second post to this blog and you will see us with the Grahams whom we replaced.  Now they are back as Ghana Accra Temple President and Matron.  Such wonderful people.  We love them.

Great minds think and "sew" alike.

When we arrived in January 2014, we were welcomed by the Grahams at the airport and Mathias Eguko.  He is now a mission president in Calabar, Nigeria and here is his son, a missionary in the MTC.

Left to Right:  Malmroses (returning January 30), Elder and Sister Curtis (Area President), and Robisons

Elder and Sister Curtis, President and Sister Robison

Bookends? (Sister Malmrose, Sister Robison, Sister Hill

Head Table

President Robison

Dr and Sister Hill are singers.  Here their photo and a song they wrote and then shared:

Elder and Sister Hill

SAY GOODBYE TO GHANA
tune Boil That Cabbage Down


You've served right here in Tema and we say hooray for you
You did your best; you passed the test and even ate foo foo
Say goodbye to Ghana   to singing oh so strong
And to all the cops who know that taking bribe is wrong

Serving here in Ghana    is really quite a thrill
Since you will not drive at night you're safe and living still
Say goodbye to Ghana   the memories are dear
You will be remembered as good friends that we met here

You're going home to Utah   and you might find snow there
But Harmattan is far away and you can breathe the air
Say goodbye to Ghana    to taxis and tro tros
To smells that waft up from the ditch and make you plug your nose


When basking in your swimming pool your skin so pale and white
Remember all the folks from here you cannot see at night
Say goodbye to Ghana    to cloth so bold and bright
To babies on their mother's backs    snuggled nice and tight

Your photos here in Ghana of your missionaries dear
Will help you to remember all the lives that you touched here
Say goodbye to Ghana    to people that you love
We know that they will hug you when you meet them up above

You will miss the mangos and the pineapple so sweet
Chocolate and shoe polish you buy right on the street
Say goodbye to Ghana    to seniors two by two
We will not forget you cuz    we are leav-ing too!

OK, Just How Big Did You Say Africa Was?

Big.  Far too many people outside of Africa think of it as a country rather than as a continent.  It is huge!