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!"