Green Light on The Gospel Literacy Program

It's been a couple weeks since we posted, but we still don't have internet at the apartment and are using data from the phone. We probably won't be posting as often as at first anyway since this is as we mentioned our "new normal" and we aren't taking as many pictures anymore.  

We got hit with a "gully washer" this week while at the Osu Library. Chuck contemplated making a run for it back to the office, but it came up so quickly that we would have been drenched. It was blowing so badly in the breeze way where we usually meet that we all went inside the blue building on the right, about 25 of us in all.

No one seemed concerned about it and settled in. We were told it would last "45 minutes,"  and they were exactly right, this is obviously not Seattle, and the rain is warm also. We were delighted to find a section of Dr. Seuss books last week, including "Green Eggs and Ham." It has become a favorite.

We had been hesitant but curious to check out the HUGE Makola Market which goes for blocks and blocks. They say you can find everything from car parts to land snails. We saw those and more.

Elder and Sister Hunt are a new Senior Missionary couple from St. George, and they are the adventurous sort, so we invited them along for support/body guards.

After we found some Ghanaian cocoa, I was finished. 
What more does one need anyway? 

 We experienced our first Zone Conference as Area Missionaries with Area President Vinson and his wife. It was a wonderful morning! They are a fantastic group of people to be associated with and have become special friends. They all have such varied assignments, Medical, Humanitarian, Education (Pathways), Employment, Auditing, Young Single Adults, Public Affairs, Family History, Literacy and Secretaries to the Area Presidency. 

We do enjoy eating and visiting any chance we get.

Then for the second time we assisted with the "intake-registration" of a new group of about 130 missionaries who arrive at the MTC, Mission Training Center each 3 weeks from around the world.  They are predominantely from Africa but we met young people coming from Scotland, Brazil, US, and Samoa.  Some of them stay for 6 weeks to learn French, but most are here for 3 weeks before heading out to serve all over Africa. 

 They are such remarkable young people! We've come away inspired each time.

 Here is a carving of the "Tree of Life" spoken of in the Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 15: 21-36. It is on the wall at the MTC. I love to see the artistic expression of this vision from various countries throughout the world.  

Then lastly the long awaited decision from the Area Presidency has been made and we were called in to meet with Elder Nash. As you may recall, they have been "pilot testing" a couple literacy programs in a few areas here.  ENA has a program that functions during the week, who we were able to travel with for their testing and graduation right after we arrived, and also the Gospel Literacy Program which is being testing in a few selected areas as part of a Sunday School literacy class held on Sunday. Both are great programs and have show promising results. But the Area Presidency has decided to make the Gospel Literacy Program, that was/is being developed by the Heckels who served here about 18 months ago, an official part of the church curriculum for the West Africa Area. The manuals are now going through the revision process with Church Publications. 

It will be the first Gospel Literacy Sunday School Class that is part of the curriculum in the church.  This will enable literacy classes to be standardized and spread further as the church grows and to reach more people in the process. We have been going around trying to support the stakes, wards and branches who have been part of the pilot for this, as well as training new stakes who have asked to have this made available to their members. This decision by the Area Presidency will ramp things up significantly as it will be made available to areas throughout West Africa as they are ready to receive and support it by calling Stake Literacy Specialists and teachers for each ward and branch. Elder Nash said we will meet each week as we go back and forth drafting and revising a plan for making the program a standardized part of the Church instruction in the Africa West Area.  Please keep us in your prayers as we will certainly need the Lord's inspiration on this.

We and the Wakilds gave a Stake training in the Kaneshie Stake on Saturday but had quite an adventure getting there as google Maps directed us right through the middle of a HUGE market. Roads filled up and cars came to a stand still. These pictures were taken from three angles out the car windows as we were trying to make our way down a single land road packed with people and booths. 

                                                   Front

                                  
                                                  Right
 

Left

We turned on what we thought was a road out, but it was blocked as well. We figured we were there for the duration. Then there was a knock on our window and a man amidst the crowd asked where we were going. Fortunately we could understand him and he could understand us, which isn't always the case in outlying areas. He said to follow him and he helped us get turned around and directed us to a small road that got us to the church. God bless that man, it was the WORST traffic imaginable.

We were thrilled however, to have 15 people eventually show up at the training including some Bishopric, Relief Society and Primary leaders along with teachers.  It was awesome as they all counseled together on how to support literacy and had better ideas than we could have come up with on our own. It certainly compensated for the trouble getting there.

A well functioning class on Sunday topped off the week-end. Another kind man helped us find our way there by personally going with us when the ward we were trying to visit wasn't in the location listed. He wouldn't take no for an answer. What can you say really about such kind hearted, wonderful people. There aren't words to describe!

Tie Dye, Beads and Green Eggs and Ham

The days are beginning to run together, and we haven't had internet at the apartment for over a week, (that's a whole other story that makes all the customer service horror stories at home seem so insignificant), but one day last week when we were at the Osu Library some people came from the community to provide an activity for the adult literacy students. Sort of took us back to the 60's. They hadn't ever heard of "hippies" but definitely have the tie die thing figured out. 

As part of the activity everyone was expected to write down all the instructions. Everyone was super focused on getting this part done well.

In preparation for another day there, we had downloaded the book "Green Eggs and Ham" onto the phone. Two of the students who we have been mentoring are learning those same phonics words, but their readers are so boring, seriously!!  Humor is always a bit different so we weren't really sure what they would think.  

We decided it was worth a try.

There were some new words but they didn't let that stop them.

There was no language barrier here, as Dr. Seuss seems to speak all languages.

On Saturday we took an excursion with 3 other couples outside Accra to the Cedi Bead Factory. Jewelry is always appropriate for Valentines Day, wherever you live. 

The owner, who is nicknamed "Cedi" and has followed in the tradition of his great, great grandfather, was out guide.

 

First step, various kinds of recycled glass, either powder or pieces are placed inside the molds. He is making a special focus bead (above), layering colored powdered glass to create the design. 

                                             Various sizes and shapes of molds.

Then the molds go into the oven where the glass is melted.

 While the glass is still hot, a hole is made in the middle and the hot bead is rotated around in the mold to make the round shape.  Then the hot bead is flipped over in the mold and the process repeated on the other side.  This is what you would call "red hot."

Next the rough beads are polished on a wet stone, all by hand. 

And these are the results. The black and white striped bead chain on the top is hand painted and was handed down from oldest family member to oldest family member since 1500, so they claim.  They were sold to Cedi Beads by a family as they wanted it duplicated so more of the family could have the beads.  

Life is too short to wear boring jewelry!!

The guys mostly waited outside and watched the food preparation of Fufu going on. Why is that not surprising?

Fufu is a dough that is made from cassava and plantain, mashed repeatedly until it reaches a very smooth texture. It is served in a spicy red soup or stew with vegetables and fish.

I had to try my hand at it of course. I'm not sure why, but the lady who is seated was reluctant to put her hands in the pot while I was pounding the Fufu. We all had a good laugh.

Sunday we went back to the Tesano Stake to visit the literacy classes after doing the training for them a couple weeks ago.  

You will see a lot of people going to church here on Sundays, and there are more ways to get there than you would imagine.

Between us, the Wakilds, and the Stake Literacy Specialist, we were able to visit 4 Wards. We learned some ways we could improve to help the teachers, and had the opportunity to teach a class as well, which is the best teacher.

The highlight once again this week was teaching gospel principles in a beginning literacy class. There is an amazing spirit there and amazing people who not only love the Lord but want to learn as much as they can about him. It's incredibly humbling and reminds us why we are so grateful to be here.

"Divine Design"

On Tuesday, we were walking across the church campus on our way over to the little cafe that some Ghanaian ladies run in the main building. It is mostly frequented by the Africans, but we have come to like the food more and more. The banana looking thing is roasted Plantain, similar to bananas.)

Anyway, we see young missionaries all the time on campus here since the African MTC, Mission Training Center is also located here for training missionaries who will be serving all over Africa. We chat with them now and then but don't usually hold them up as they are busy.
But today as we passed a couple Elders I had a prompting to stop and talk to them. I pushed it off as we passed by, but the prompting came again so we stopped, turned around and I called back to them asking if they were at the MTC, heading out or what. They explained that they had just completed their missions in Kumasi, located about 4 hours North of here and were on their way home after stopping in Accra, one going to Nigeria and one here in Ghana.  We asked if they knew the Wardles, our good friends from home. Their faces lit up when we told them we are friends.  So we had to share stories and a few pictures from our phone, they laughed hilariously when they saw the Wardles in helmets and full biking gear. Then they mentioned the Wintergreen lifesavers that the "Waddles" used to hand out to all the missionaries.  Chuck ran over to the car, grabbed a handful and was able to give them some.

Under strong advisement from Lynn Wardle, we had purchased a couple bags at Costco before we left Utah. It was tough in the end when our "bags were packed and ready to go."  I don't remember that song mentioning anything about how hard the decision would be choosing between chocolate chips and lifesavers when all bags are over their weight limit. I reluctantly left some chocolate chips behind.  It paid off today when I watched as Elder Ansah popped one of the lifesavers in his mouth, closed his eyes and moaned.  I was laughing and didn't get a picture.

As they reminisced, they spoke about how Lynn, being a High School Coach used to take the missionaries through various exercise drills.  They asked us to take this picture of how Lynn would have them tense up all their muscles, then relax. I promised to share it with "Eldah Waddle."

  We spoke for a few moments about how amazing God is that by "divine design" he would create this little crossing in our paths, that it wasn't by chance. This was a sweet reminder that He is so aware of us, loves us and is involved in the details of our lives. We offered a few words encouragement, and wished them well on their way. (Another missionary from Kumasi joined up also.) It was pretty special. Another lifesaver in Elder Ansah's mouth just for the "Waddles."

We learned of an opportunity this week to volunteer at a nearby tiny library helping adults who are learning to read. It is housed inside a 40' shipping container with a covered seating area outside, and nestled beneath big trees, really appreciate those breezes!!  

Meet Ayisha and Bertha. I'm not sure who of us was more delighted to be there. We plan to come back a couple mornings each week. 

Ayisha asked to take a picture of both of us, then I did the same.  I gave her a new English word to add to her increasing vocabulary, "selfie."

History of the Library

The first Children's Library was founded in 1990 under a tree in Accra, Ghana's capital. Canadian Kathy Knowles was posted in Ghana with her husband John, who worked as an accountant for Sikaman a gold mining company.  She enjoyed reading to her four children but noticed that Ghanaians did not have the same opportunities. So each Thursday afternoon, she carried a basket of books into their garden and offered story times to six neighborhood children.

Word spread and more and more children came to the Knowles' garden. To accommodate the increased numbers, Kathy transformed their garage into a library, filled it with shelves and small stools, and looked for more books. Before long, 150 children were lining up each week to explore the magical world of books.

As the Knowles family prepared to return to Canada, Kathy looked for a way to create a more permanent structure. After a lengthy search, she bought a 40-foot shipping container for US $1,200, moved it to a donated patch of land and converted it into a library. Since then OCLF foundation was started and 7 additional libraries have been built in greater Accra and has supported projects in Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso, and the Philippines. 

(Isn't it amazing what just one person can get started!!)

We decided to check out The Goethe Market on Saturday. This is the first one since we arrived and all the Senior Missionaries have talked about it, and about how much money you could spend there. Little did I imagine some 40+ years ago when serving a mission in Germany that I would one day be at a German Market eating Bratwurst in West Africa while serving a Literacy Mission. 

I think they have taken note of the missionaries!

After a stop for a "real sport drink" on the way home, the day was complete. 

The guys asked to have their pictures taken.

Notice the name of their "boutique," love it!

And then of course, we visited a couple of the Gospel Literacy Classes on Sunday in an area a bit outside Accra.  The roads were narrow and crowded, and we heard someone knocking on the side of the car and saying something about "go with you." 



My inclination was to get out of there fast! He knocked again and when we looked, we noticed the young man had a white shirt and tie which does rather stand out in a crowd. We realized he wanted a ride to the church. I guess we stand out even more, even while sitting inside a car!!
He explained that the taxi was full and that he's been coming to church to learn about the gospel.  We were about 5 minutes away and managed to get all three of us there just on time, sweet! 

As we got out of the car, we heard organ music. Mostly we singing acapella here, but this was a keyboard and we heard a beautiful  rendition of "I know that my Redeemer lives" spilling out of the windows into the open court yard.

If that weren't surprise and wonderful enough, we found a young child, maybe 8 years old at the most, sitting at the keyboard and he was incredible!! 

This Sunday being the first of the month, was Fast and Testimony Meeting, where members fast for the equivalent of two meals and donate the funds to feed those in need. This sweet lady named "Comfort" who is in the Literacy class, shared her testimony for the first time in English. How did we get so fortunate to be there for this one?  We would say it was a week full to the brim with "divine design." 
 "Our lives are like a chess board and the Lord moves us from one place to another-if we are responsive to spiritual promptings. Looking back we can see His hand in our lives."  
Elder Ronald A. Rasbank

 

Harmattan sunset