King Benjamin in the MTC? And Issac?

Elder King Benjamin Izima (left) and his companion Elder Issac are good examples of being given significant names.  In 1985 when  Elder Izima's father was taught by an American senior couple, he vowed to the Lord that if the Lord would let him know the Book of Mormon was true that if he and his wife had a male child, he would name him King Benjamin.  He and his wife had four daughters, but no sons.  When Elder King Benjamin Izima was born, his father promised the Lord that he would endure to the end as he gave his son that very significant name.

Elder Issac's family name is the name of his father.  That is the tradition in many Africa countries to use the father's name as the last name. Most Africans are very religious and devoted students of the Bible and Issac is a witness to that fact.

Missionaries Are Endowed With Power From On High

Above are pictured a group of French-speaking missionaries from the DR Congo and Cote D'Ivoire just prior to entering the Ghana Temple for the first time.

President and Sister Robison are both set apart as Ghana Temple Ordinance Workers to assist in the work of helping each unendowed missionary receive their own endowments.  Over 50% of those entering the Ghana MTC have not been previously endowed.

What Progress Has Been Made on the New MTC After 2 Months?

 

The pictures tell the tale.  There are more holes, more footings, and the work continues.  The holes are now underway for the Front Building as well as for the Classroom building.  The far hole is for the residence.  Notice the color of dirt in Ghana. (Very similar to that of our other mission - Guyana)

Elder Fall - First Missionary from Burkina Faso

 

Elder Fall, 1st missionary from Burkina Faso with painting of first Ghana proselyter, Billy Johnson

 Elder Fall (right) with his companion Elder Gueu from Cote d'Ivoire

Elder Cheick Omar Fall is from the capitol city of Burkina Faso, poplulation 1.5 million named Ouagadougou.  His parents divorced just before he was born so when he was about 2 years old, he went to live with his uncle.  He was raised in that household, but when he was 18 he left to pursue his studies in Benin.  When he left his country he prayed to Heavenly Father that he could find a church where he could worship God.  While in Benin he often saw the missionaries, had the desire to speak with them, but did not get a chance.  One day he went to visit his cousin's family.  When he arrived the missionaries were giving  a discussion.  After the lesson, he exchanged address information with the elders, they came to his apartment at his school,  and subsequently taught him.  He was baptized during that first year in Benin. 

Since he baptism he has been attending Church in Benin, but has the desire some day to return to live in Burkina Faso and bring the gospel to the people there.

What is Cassava?

 

Here Brother Djoussou feasts on "cassava" which has been prepared outside of the MTC.  It is not served in the MTC, but as you can see here, it has been prepared correctly and he is enjoying it.  You are invited, as he would say.

So what is Cassava, you ask?  Cassava is Ghana’s most highly produced crop and a main staple of the Ghanaian consumer diet, with per capita consumption averaging 148 kilograms per year. While the crop is cultivated in large enough volumes to produce an annual surplus of more than 5.6 million metric tons as of 2010, its commercialization is significantly limited by rapid spoilage upon harvest and a lack of processing capacity close to production areas. Due to these factors, cassava has historically been consumed only in raw or lightly processed form, primarily in staple foods such as gari, fufu, and agbelima.Cassava is the third largest source of food carbohydrates in the tropics, after rice and maize.

Cassava is a major staple food in the developing world, providing a basic diet for over half a billion people.  It is one of the most drought-tolerant crops, capable of growing on marginal soils. Nigeria is the world's largest producer of cassava, while Thailand is the largest exporter of dried cassava.

Cassava is classified as sweet or bitter. Farmers often prefer the bitter varieties because they deter pests, animals, and thieves. Like other roots and tubers, both bitter and sweet varieties of cassava contain antinutritional factors and toxins. It must be properly prepared before consumption. Improper preparation of cassava can leave enough residual cyanide  to cause acute cyanide intoxication and goiters, and may even cause ataxia  or partial paralysis.  The more toxic varieties of cassava are a fall-back resource (a "food security crop") in times of famine in some places.

5th Missionary from Professional Lady Golfer's group Arrives at MTC - Forget Me Not

Sister Forget Me Not Mubvumbia, the 206th missionary prepared by the Professional Lady Golfers, CC, Reeve and Lolly, arrived at the Ghana MTC today.  Her mother passed away in 2008, so she was raised by her grandmother.  When she was training to straighten out her name legally at the government offices, since her mother is gone, they registered her as Forget Mubvumbia.  But really she is "Forget Me Not" and will be an outstanding missionary in the Zimbabwe Harare Mission.

Connecting With Elder Hammon's Mother

"On Wednesday, October 29, my 15-year-old daughter Jadi and I flew home to Virginia after speaking at a conference at BYU. While standing in security at the SLC airport, we noticed a lean, tall young man in a dark suit saying goodbye to whom we assumed was his family. After a few final hugs, he joined us in the line.

I turned to Jadi. "That young man is going on a mission."
"How do you know?"
"Look at his mom." 
Just a few feet away, a woman stood between a man and a young adult, perhaps another son. The woman wiped tears from her eyes, but did so without looking away for even a second.  Fortunately, though the mother might not agree, the line was short and we were quickly on the other side looking back.  I watched her for as long as I could and imagined her mixed salad of emotions: sadness, pride (the good kind), joy, satisfaction, loss and longing.

Then, I did what I hope someone would do for my own child.
"Hello there," I said to the young man after we'd all collected our things from the security belt. He was standing alone and seriously studying his boarding pass. 
"Are you heading on a mission?"
His eyes lit up. "Yes, I am."
"Where to?"
"Ghana, the Kumasi mission." (He really said 'Benin Cotonou')

We discussed his trip through Chicago and, eventually, to the Mission Training Center in Accra. As he spoke, I looked him in the eye and saw myself two decades ago making the long journey to an unfamiliar land and language.
"Can I tell you something? I'm just so happy for you." As soon as I'd said the words, I realized I hadn't said them to be nice, I was genuinely thrilled for his adventures ahead.
We talked briefly about the country and he beamed with enthusiasm. When he struggled to find words, which happened more than once, he said simply, "I'm really excited."
As I said goodbye, I shook his hand and reminded him what he surely already knows. "The Lord is going to take care of you, Elder. He loves you. And He's grateful for your service."
"I know," he said with a nervous smile.
"And trust me, work hard, because it's going to go very, very fast."
"I know," he said, again.

We said farewell and I caught up with my daughter. "That one is going to be a great missionary," I told her.  Then we slowly walked away and I looked back to see the elder check his boarding pass one final time and begin his best two years.  If his mother stumbles across this account of our brief exchange, and I can only hope it is shared online until it finds her, she should know that her son has faith in his eyes and fire in his bones. Though our conversation was brief, he represented his family, his faith and the Savior he serves exceptionally well.  And though I forgot his name by the time our planes went in different directions and I could sit to share my thoughts, I'll never forget the impression that your son loves God, and how He must love him, too!  While the days at home may sometimes crawl, before this tearful mother knows it, this powerful missionary will be walking back to her side of security and back into her arms.  I hope she trusts that in the meantime, he is in the Savior's."  (Note:  his name is Elder Brandon Hammons from Payson, Utah)

--
Laura Leigh
512-584-0301

"Before you can change your life you need to change your heart