Week 6 - Language, Callings & an Apostle visit

Hɛlo nnamfonom! Wo ho te sɛn? (Hello friends!  How are you?)

LANGUAGE & NAMES

Ghana is a multilingual country in which about eighty languages are spoken. Of these, English, which was inherited from the colonial era, is the official language and lingua franca (a language systematically used to make communication possible between groups of people who do not share a native language or dialect). Of the languages indigenous to Ghana, Akan is the most widely spoken in the south. Dagbani is most widely spoken in the north. Ghana has more than seventy ethnic groups, each with its own distinct language.

Eleven languages have the status of government-sponsored languages. Of the three Akan ethnic languages, we hear these 2 the most: Akuapem Twi, Asante Twi.

We are loving Ghana!  We have so many incredible experiences happening daily that by the end of the day, our heads are spinning!  It's like learning a new language!  It really is fun to hear all the different languages spoken here.  Today in church, half of the meeting was in English and the other half in Twi.  We are gradually picking up more and more of the Ghanaian English that is being spoken.  I frequently ask them to spell their name for me so I can get it correct, because what we hear them say and their acutal name, sounds totally different! 

There are beautiful names here!  Here are a few of my favorites so far: Lucky, Gifty, Precious, Believe, Liberty, Enock & Esther.  A young employee we work with in the office for Humanitarian projects is named Ezra Taft Otoo.  Love the names!!!!

CHURCH

For our first 2 weeks, we attended the Christiansborg Ward that meets in a Stake center next to the Accra Temple.  We are in the Christiansborg Stake.  After the 2nd week, we were assigned to the Trade Fair Ward in the same stake.  Many senior missionaries are assigned to different stakes and travel much further than we do.  We are pretty fortunate and can get to our ward building in about 15 min. Our first Sunday was awesome.  We met with the stake president and bishop and they welcomed us heartily!  We were told to expect our assignments the next week.  Today, we met with the bishop and received our 3 assignments.  First, we have been asked to help find and reactivate many lost YSA (young single adults) who for one reason or another have stopped coming to church.  Our 2nd calling is to teach the Gospel Literacy Class in our ward. 

Gospel Literacy is a resource for all members who want to participate in home-centered, church-supported gospel learning. Gospel Literacy is part of Come, Follow Me. The Gospel Literacy Basics curriculum provides additional support to members who need to strengthen reading skills, basic gospel knowledge and participation in gospel living and service. The classes teach gospel topics together with reading, writing, teaching and organizing skills. The focus is to help each other live the words of God at progressively higher levels on the covenant path to eternal life. 

Our 3rd calling is to support the Relief Society and Elders Quorum in whatever they need.  As our local bishop Darkey-Collins put it, "I need you to beef up these organizations!"  It will be great to be a part of a local ward and find ways to lift and serve here!

As we walked up to the ward building today, 2 darling children ran to us and hugged us.  We introduced ourselves and discovered their names were Wendy (7) and Enock (9).  They followed us into church and promptly sat down right next to us.  Wendy began to stroke Jordan's hairy arms, laughing as she did so.  She giggled and then began braiding, actually braiding the hair.  It was hilarious!  She was quite adept at braiding this fairly short hair and in no time had a little mini braid sticking up on Jordan's arm.  I tried to take a pic of it but she quickly got shy and brushed it out.  They stayed by us the entire meeting.  At the end of the meeting, other members of the ward asked us who they were.  We had no idea!  They are either children from the neighborhood or came 2 hrs too early for the next ward that meets in the building.  

The church is growing so fast here in the Africa West Area, we heard that the equivalent of one ward a week is being baptized across the 17 countries.  The gospel is moving forward at lightening speed!

The road we take to church is so busy!  With cars and people on both sides, we can barely squeeze through!

APOSTLE VISIT

It's always awesome when an apostle visits your area!  Last week Elder Christofferson came to Accra, Ghana.  It was wonderful to hear him speak to the YSA and then again on Monday morning at our regular devotional.  His message is clear.  Love God first!  Then, everything else falls into place...or falls out of our lives. The Lord's will and vision is what we should be most interested in doing and knowing. 💓 

WEATHER

Today was the first day we could sorta see some sky!  We had a good rainstorm last night so maybe that helped to clear out some of the Harmattan dust.  Everyone says that one day you wake up and it has just disappeared!  Looking for that day!

Hwɛ yie! Ɔdɔ pii a wɔde fi Ghana remena!

(Take care! Sending much love from Ghana!)