This was a banner week! I met Jesus! Although he was younger and shorter than I imagined, I was not disappointed!
We have a new intern that just arrived in Ghana. She will be working in the Legal Department with us for one month. She is a BYU law student and was chosen out of many applicants for this position. I've been working all week to make sure her small but adequate apartment that sits next to the Area Offices where we work, was ready for her arrival. The young man that oversees this ancillary building is named Jesus. He is a kind young man and met me over at the apartment to make sure it was ready. The first time, it was still dirty from another patron using the room. The 2nd time it was also dirty from another temple patron visiting the night before and needing to use the space. Finally, I texted Jesus and let him know our young intern would be arriving Saturday evening and we really needed it cleaned and ready! He assured me it would be ready by 5 pm. A final check revealed that indeed, Jesus had kept his word. Everything was ready and prepared for her arrival.
As I sent a final text saying, "Thank you Jesus," I was reminded how grateful I am for my Savior, who has prepared a way that I might return to Him someday. I feel chosen in so many ways. Chosen to receive under favorable conditions, the Gospel of Jesus Christ in my life. Many do not have this privilege. Chosen to serve Him each day, trying to serve and share the gospel with those who are less fortunate and searching for truth. He assures me that everything is prepared and waiting for my arrival, as I live worthy of this great gift and blessing. Jesus will keep His word and His promises are sure. I can truly say without hesitation, "Thank You Jesus!"
PICTURES SPEAK A THOUSAND WORDS
"KEEP THE BOOK. WALK HOME."
Oral traditions make it possible for a society to pass knowledge across generations without writing. They help people make sense of the world and are used to teach children and adults about important aspects of their culture. These oral traditions in diverse forms (stories, art, dance, folk tales, music, etc) have played a large part in giving the African people their cultural identity. However, at some level, if everything is only passed on through generations orally, much can be lost.
We have some good friends and missionaries here, Jack & Diane Nelson, called to Ghana to help the people in our region understand the importance of Church History in their own lives and how to record memories and important events. For the last year they have traveled extensively and recorded hundreds of hours of experiences, teaching members how to record their stories, so these moments will now become part of church history in various parts of Africa.
Here is one of the stories they related to us:
Liberia is a country that has long been torn apart by war and civil conflict. Liberians have historically been deprived of peace and safety. During a time of civil unrest, the mission office in Monrovia, Liberia, was closed and the Mission President evacuated to Sierra Leone. Looters entered the mission office and pulled out everything of value to sell to people walking by. A young man from Bushrod Island, near Monrovia, was on that street that day in front of the mission home and was offered a book for sale. He read the title, but it was the subtitle that caught his eye, “Another Testament of Jesus Christ”. He repeated the title and thought to himself, "You know, I should buy that!" So, he reached in his pocket and surprisingly had just enough money to make the purchase. He continued on his way to where he could hire a transport to his house, but soon realized he didn't have the fare, his money was spent. The only reasonable option was to return the book and get his money back so he could pay for a ride. However, as he turned around, a voice came to him, saying, "Keep the book. Walk home."
He listened. He walked. What faith! Now, it wasn’t quite a fairy tale ending. He didn’t stay up all that night reading. It took a while before he finally read The Book of Mormon, but he remembered how he felt during his two-hour walk home to Bushrod Island, with a treasure in his hands. That purchase from a looted mission office was not a random or accidental event. It was evidence of our Father’s love, guiding and directing His children through the whisperings of the Spirit. All the money in his pocket was a bargain price! That book changed his life. He was converted and joined the Church and now is serving in a Stake Presidency.
BOYS WILL BE BOYS NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE
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