Week 36 - Pros & Cons of Independence Day

Well, we had a crazy weekend! Thursday was Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day, or in other words, the celebration of Independence for Ghana.  Since it was an official holiday and we didn't have to go in to the office, we decided to head over to the memorial park, get a little outdoor exercise, and see if there was anything going on.  Oh boy!  Was there ever!  A million other people had the same idea!  We were surrounded with celebration!!

First, we met the 2nd son of revered leader Kwame Nkrumah.  He was so kind, waving us over from the crowd, and took a moment to speak with us.  It seems this man carries his father's devotion to honor the freedom of the people of Ghana.  He proudly sat beneath the statue of his father and greeted many many people.  We loved meeting him.  We loved seeing all the Ghanaian pride happening all around us. 

 

      

 Friday, was another celebration day at the office.  Food, dancing and drumming, more food and fun!  Everyone wore their best celebratory outfit to work that day!  It was amazing to see all the beautiful dresses and outfits for men and women.  

                       Winfred - our IT guy                  Dinah - our legal coordinator

                 Mabel - our front reception

       

                             Eric & Daniel                                     Crab rice

                            Desserts                           Cyril - our fleet coordinator

We also planned a get-away for the weekend.  We determined to leave work a little early this day and get on the road.  Our destination was only 35 miles away.  The GPS showed 1 hr 25 min, which is quite typical for this distance during the late afternoon.  We left around 2:30 pm.  Around 3:00 it began to rain, then wind began to blow and everything went a bit crazy from there.  To make a very long story short, we went approx 20 miles in about 5 hrs.  Roads were being flooded and washed out, trucks were being overturned, there was mayhem everywhere.  There was no way out either. When we finally found a way to get across all lanes of traffic (almost impossible when you are at a complete standstill, surrounded on all sides by other vehicles in the same predicament), we were able to get turned around and headed home.  We arrived home by 8:30 pm, tired and frustrated.  Lesson learned... don't leave late and don't travel in the rain!

Saturday, planned protests all around the city were in motion.  In any country, there will always be those who are not happy with who is in power or how they choose to use that power.  Riot police with riot vehicles were stationed at all major intersections.  We decided to risk doing a little shopping and take in a movie, thinking surely it can't be that bad.  It took us only 30 min to the mall where both movie and grocery shopping are located (usually a 15 min drive), and 1 hr home.  Not too bad I guess!!

   

We missed Independence Day in the US this year and will miss it again next year.  Still, it doesn't make me any less grateful for the freedoms I enjoy, each and every day of my life, no matter where I live.  

From the Life of Ezra Taft Benson:

The scriptures make clear that there was a great war in heaven, a struggle over the principle of freedom, the right of choice.

The war that began in heaven over this issue is not yet over. The conflict continues on the battlefield of mortality.

Freedom of choice is a God-given eternal principle. The great plan of liberty is the plan of the gospel. There is no coercion about it; no force, no intimidation. A man is free to accept the gospel or reject it. He may accept it and then refuse to live it, or he may accept it and live it fully. But God will never force us to live the gospel. He will use persuasion through His servants. He will call us and He will direct us and He will persuade us and encourage us and He will bless us when we respond, but He will never force the human mind.

Love from GHANA!!  💓💛💚

  

 

   

Week 35 - Memorial Day & Fan-tastic

 This coming Thursday, September 21st will be Nkrumah Memorial Day in Ghana.  It is focused around Francis Kwame Nkrumah (21 September 1909 – 27 April 1972) who was a Ghanaian politician, political theorist, and revolutionary. He was the first Prime Minister and President of Ghana, having led the Gold Coast to independence from Britain in 1957.  He is one of the "Big Six" original founders.  But he was much more than these titles suggest.  Some of the things he taught that I admire:

• Divided we are weak - united, we are strong.
• Action without thought is empty.  Thought without action is blind. 
• Those who would judge us merely by the heights we have achieved would do well to remember the depths from which we started.
• Forward ever - Backward never!

The monument/mausoleum represents many things.  The trunk of a tree is clearly seen from ground and rising upward.  However, the trees seems to be cut off mid way, representing an unfinished work in progress.  A work that each citizen must choose to continue, working together, unitedly.  

Using your imagination, you can see the shape of the corner pieces representing an upside-down machete with the blade pointing downwards and handle at the top, representing peace and end of conflict.  

The musicians sitting upon the water play the mournful music for a lost leader but also the music of freedom and forward movement.  

Tucked inside the top portion of the monument, the upward-facing edges of the black star at the mausoleum’s top depict the enduring spirit of the Ghanaian people and their aspirations towards a brighter future. The black star is also seen here on the Black Star Gate, commissioned by Nkrumah indicating the freedom and ability of Ghana to control it's own affairs.  

Thoughts on what I've learned...

It can seem that we live in a world full of chaos and confusion, but I choose to see great beauty and possibility.  It depends on what we are looking to find and how we want to contribute. 

"Kindness, love, patience, understanding, and unity will increase as we serve, while intolerance, jealousy, envy, greed, and selfishness decrease or disappear. The more we give of ourselves, the more our capacity to serve, understand, and love will grow."  --Carlos H. Amado

When we allow differences to divide us, we will be weak.  Instead, we must celebrate differences, admire and learn about new cultures and ways of life, realizing that together we are stronger.  

“Desires dictate our priorities, priorities shape our choices, and choices determine our actions.”  --Elder Dallin H. Oaks

"There is a divine purpose in the adversities we encounter every day. They prepare, they purge, they purify, and thus they bless."  --James E. Faust

"Our task is to become our best selves. One of God's greatest gifts to us is the joy of trying again, for no failure ever need be final."  --Thomas S. Monson

 Try not to let discouragement overwhelm our ability to move forward.  The past is the past.  We must learn from our mistakes and always face forward, looking to the bright future that is surely there, sometimes behind the clouds, but still there.  

FAN-TASTIC

I'm not a very craft-skilled person.  I can follow patterns and guidelines, but not very creative on my own with these things.  So, I was thrilled when 2 wonderful Ghanaian men came to help many senior sister missionaries, build our own Ankara Hand Fans. It is quite and art and not without much time and patience required.  I will never see these fans in the markets again and think $3 is overpriced.  What a gift to learn from these amazing artisans.  

As our dear Ghanaian friends say regularly, "Have a blessed day!"  

Week 34 - Thoughts, Insights and Burgers

 Our weeks on the mission are pretty basic.  Mon-Fri we go to the office and work from the minute we land until our eyes are buggy and we head home around or after 5 pm.  Saturdays are filled with necessities like shopping for food, doing laundry, cleaning a bit (we have our wonderful helper Bobby that comes once a week to do the heavy cleaning), and once in a while we plan in a movie on the weekend!  We also take time to work out physically each day because sitting at our desks for so long can really take a toll on the body!  We really do live a simple life here in Ghana. 

Some of the spiritual highlights are:  "Monday Morning Devotional" (all church employees and senior missionaries are invited to attend) where we hear an uplifting message from someone in the Africa West Area (we have 12 active countries of 17) either in person or by Zoom for those not in Accra.  There is always an opening hymn that almost lifts you out of your seat as the saints here sing with every fiber of their soul!  On Wednesdays the senior sister missionaries have "Sister Scripture Study" where we each take turns teaching the class, usually a conference talk or other uplifting material.  This is a great opportunity to learn from each other as so much sharing takes place during this gathering.  So much wisdom to glean from!  We also do our best to attend the temple once each week.  We feel blessed to have a temple SO close!  Without fail, we can look out of our 4th story window, which faces the temple, and see many many families on the steps of the temple having pictures all in white, having just been sealed together for eternity.  Their faces beam with such joy!!

On Sundays, we have the privilege of attending church to partake of the Sacrament and think about our personal covenants with our God.  Every single week, the messages we hear inspire me to want to do better.  From the mouths of the young to the wisdom of the old, we hear profound gospel truths.  Jesus Christ is alive and well in the hearts of the people here in Africa!!

Some thoughts from past moments along the journey here:

Choices need to be made with God in mind.  1 Nephi 15: 8 -10  Have ye inquired of the Lord?  God cannot answer if we do not ask!  When we don't follow and heed the commandments, the Lord cannot give us answers.  God can help us solve all confusion, issues and problems if we will go to Him and ask!  D&C 101:78 - Our moral agency makes us accountable before God.  Humble ourselves, seek for forgiveness, and God will forgive and guide us forward. 

Fear Not - Believe only.  The Savior of the World offers the most eternally significant way to both find good, and do good, at such a needful time as this.  There will always be someone with the motto: "It is always darkest just before it goes pitch black."  What a miserable existence.  We may want to run away from everything. We must never run away from who we are - children of the living God who loves us, is ready to forgive us, and who will never forsake us.  We are God's most beloved possession. He has given us prophets, promises, spiritual gifts and revelations, miracles and messages, and angels on both sides of the veil to assist us.  We must minister to each other at every opportunity we can. Find those that are seeking for help and guidance, who need our love and strength to carry them through this difficult life.  We all have the Light of Christ planted in our soul.  It is the influence for good in the hearts of all who live.  The light protects and teaches us.  Life is the most precious of all gifts, obtained eternally through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.       

"Grow Your Tree in 2023!"  This is part of the Africa West Area mission for 2023.  Family History connects families, past, present and future!  James E. Faust said, "It is a joy to become acquainted with our forebearers."  We can unlock the knowledge of ourselves by finding out more about our ancestors. 

Elder Kyungu (Africa West Area 2 counselor) - D&C 128 - Doing the work for our ancestors is a matter of salvation.  We need them and they need us!  My father came to me in a dream and told me to go to the temple and do ordinances for him.  This work is so very important.

Elder Nielsen (Africa West Area president) - Whatever is important to the Lord is important to the prophet.  He wants us to do family history!  We must grow and gather scattered Israel!  President Nelson wants everyone to understand the power of the Book of Mormon.  It talks about gathering scattered Israel everywhere.  Everything we do leads us to the temple.  Stay on the Covenant path!  Everyone has a miraculous family history!  Discover your story!  

     

Doodles in my journal.. Family Tree and my personal Cairn, pointing heavenward!

And lest anyone thinks we are wasting away here in Africa... our favorite Burger place called RoccoMamas!!

Cheers from Ghana!!! 💓💛💚

Week 33 - Religion, Mosques, Homowo Festival & Fire Safety

RELIGION IN GHANA

According to (state.gov) the 2021 government census for Ghana, approximately 71 percent of the population are Christian, 20 percent Muslim, 3 percent adhere to indigenous or animistic religious beliefs, and 6 percent belong to other religious groups or have no religious beliefs.  Smaller religious groups include Baha’is, Buddhists, Jews, Hindus, and followers of Shintoism, Eckankar, and Rastafarianism.  

Many individuals who identify as Christian or Muslim also practice some aspects of indigenous beliefs.  There is no significant link between ethnicity and religion, but geography is often associated with religious identity. Christians reside throughout the country; a majority of Muslims reside in the urban centers of Accra, Kumasi, and Sekondi-Takoradi and in the northern regions. Most followers of traditional religious beliefs reside in rural areas.

GRAND MOSQUE

Saturday, we were invited to tour the Ghana National Mosque here in Accra.  It is the 2nd largest mosque in West Africa.  The construction began in 2012 by the Muslim community, but was abondoned after about 10 yrs because of lack of funds.  It was eventually funded by the Turkish Hudai Foundation in Accra with support of the Turkish government. 

 

The current Chief Imam of Ghana is Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu and is 104 yrs old.  His personal assistant Dr. Mohammed Marzuq Abubakar Azindoo, gave us a beautiful tour of the mosque.  The one thing that stood out to me as they spoke, is how much they want to be accepting of all people, and work together to find peace in the world.  Marzuq embraced Jordan with one of the biggest hugs of kindness I have seen.  It was beautiful to watch this humble man, show love unfettered in such a beautiful action.  Jordan felt his love immediately.    

HOMOWO FESTIVAL 

For the past two weeks, getting to church has been a bit of a challenge.  The road we take is quite narrow.  Cars park on both sides of the street and generally, it is barely wide enough for 2 cars to pass by each other, very closely.  Now because of the Homowo festival, there are tents lining one side of the street making it almost impossible for one car to pass through.  Today was the final day of this festival.

The word Homowo (Homo – hunger, wo – hoot) can mean “to hoot (or jeer) at hunger” in the Ga language. The tradition of Homowo started with a period of hunger leading to famine due to failure of the seasonal rains needed by crops in the Greater Accra Region, where the Ga people predominantly dwell. When the rains returned to normal, the Ga people celebrated by creating the Homowo festival, hence its name and meaning.

Homowo is greatly celebrated in all the towns in the Ga state. The celebration begins with the planting of maize (corn), which will be used in preparing the food for the festival named Kpokpoi or Kpekple (seen below). 

During this period, noise making is prohibited or banned since it is believed that it disturbs the gods. The meal is eaten with Palm Nut Soup and it is also sprinkled within the town. This is normally done by traditional leaders and family heads. Celebration includes marching down roads and streets beating drums, chanting, face painting, singing and traditional dances. Even though the celebration of Homowo is a Ga tradition, many other ethnic groups are welcomed to also join in the celebration. The Homowo festival of the Ga tribe is believed to have a lineage from the Jewish tribe and its ancestral tradition of the Jewish Passover feast.

Since the church building we meet in, in the city of La, has no air conditioning and we are not too far off the ocean coastline, the open windows and seabreeze are the only way to catch a break from the heat.  With the wide open windows, we have heard all of the celebrations going on for the past two Sundays!  It has been a party for sure!!  Kinda seems like a Thanksgiving celebration to me!

FIRE SAFETY

We drive by this sign on the way home from church every week, and every week Jordan mentions it and laughs.  I had to take a pic of it today.  So, for all of you that thought it was safe....

FINAL THOUGHT

"Pure religion is learning the gospel of Jesus Christ and then putting it into action. Nothing will ever be of real benefit to us until it is incorporated into our own lives.

It seems to me there has never been a period in history when it has been more important for us to be engaged in pure religion as taught by the Savior. This religion is not to retaliate, or to exchange in kind, evil actions or unkind statements. Pure religion encompasses the ability to cherish, to build up, and to turn the other cheek in place of destroying and tearing down. Blessed are they who strive to serve Him without wasting time faulting Him or those who serve Him."  --Marvin J. Ashton