Birthdays are very special here in Ghana. If you recognize a birthday, they really appreciate it. Emma was waiting for us on the way to the Library on Tuesday. She greeted us with a hug, then told us she is 7 years old today.
It wouldn't be considered your typical birthday present for a child at home, but we happened to have a couple simplified manuals of selected verses from John, and she was so pleased to receive one. Sure love this little girl!!
It's been a few months now since our first Stake Training. It's good to follow up, so we were thrilled to be asked back to provide an
"in-service" for two combined stakes of teachers and Sunday School leaders from Kaneshie and Lartebiokorshie Stakes.
This was incredibly encouraging because there were more who attended than at the initial trainings.
Everyone seemed very appreciative and enthusiastic about the materials and progress of Gospel Literacy.
The following Sunday, we made a return visit to Chantan Ward to support their new class and teachers. It's really tender when they ask if we can please come back next week also.
ENA, Engage Now Africa invited us out to Cape Coast for one of their graduation ceremonies in the village of Kissi. There were 100 participants including the Queen mother and 3 of her Chiefs.
It was explained to us that in Southern Ghana they follow the Matriarchal order, meaning the queen's oldest daughter becomes the next queen. If she doesn't have a daughter, her sister's oldest daughter is the next queen. The Chief's are nephew's of the queen's appointing. Their job is to do things that benefit the community.
We were invited guests and got to help present diplomas. We also commended the queen and her chiefs on their leadership by example as they participated in the 18 months of literacy classes.
Afterwards, we met with the branch president and some of their members, 40 from the branch participated and hosted the graduation. They are interested in continuing literacy by having the Gospel Literacy classes on Sundays. The queen and one of her chiefs wanted to come and find out what the meeting was about, pretty sweet!
This small branch is the first that we are aware of in their stake to have Gospel Literacy classes and we hope will help spread the interest and the opportunity for stake training for the other 10 wards and branches in the future.
That afternoon, we pulled in to the Cape Coast Mission Home, where we were greeted by Elder and Sister Fitch, the office couple, sorry no picture of them, from Idaho Falls.
They graciously hosted us that night at their place so we could travel on to Takoradi the next day.
Chuck especially enjoyed talking with them because they both are engineers who worked at INEL, Idaho National Engineering Laboratory where Chuck worked at the time we met. Small world!
A couple of the younger missionaries live in the small home below their place.
The sunrise was lovely the next morning as we started out.
We were warned that the police stops along the way could be "challenging." They gave us all the advice they could to help prepare us.
Sure enough, at about the 3rd stop the officer wanted to see our vehicle registration papers. Just to let him know that we were not your typical Obrunis, I pulled this newspaper article out of the glovebox and placed in on my lap, just fyi Mr. Officer.
He kept pointing to the sticker on the window and saying he wanted the papers for this and that it was expired. When we couldn't locate it, he started writing out a ticket.
You don't really argue with the cops, but as we sat their debating if we should call our contact, Kofi in Accra, number already programmed into the phone; I tried to read through the sticker on the window and saw that the date was printed right on the paper and that it didn't expire until the end of August. It helps to be able to read backwards!! I gently pointed this out to the officer as he was busy writing the ticket. He rubbed it off a couple times, then waved us to go on. Ahhhh!!
Deep yoga breath.... we enjoyed the village sights along the way.
This would be a clothes drying rack.
These signs always crack us up. We hear that property can be bought and sold without the owners awareness or permission.
In Takoradi on Friday morning no less, we were met by two Stake Sunday School Presidents, one High Counselor over Sunday School and several Literacy Teachers. (Many thanks to Rebecca Mills, an amazing Stake Relief Society President who made the arrangements for this.)
They are as special a group of people as you will ever meet. After meeting for two hours and learning about their progress, the two Stake Sunday School Presidents got out their calendars and started looking at dates. They would both like to arrange training for their areas and receive the new materials.
I had noticed one of the ladies really struggling to read and pulled her aside afterwards asking if she had trouble seeing. After using our reading chart, we handed out 4 pairs of glasses, I think. Only one taker for the pink ones today.
After some hugs and kisses, we parted, till we meet again.
The drive back home was uneventful but long. The main road is a crazy two lane highway with insane passing of long lines of cars forcing the opposing cars off the side of the road.
And we stopped at roadside stands for mango, pineapple, watermelon and tomatoes. (We should get more pictures of that I'm realizing.)
We might bring along some chocolate banana bread or something for the police stops next trip...
They started out the class reviewing the letters and vowels so we as tactfully as possible directed them back to the manuals where they learn the letters "I," "a" and "m" and discuss the picture of Jesus Christ and read in John 14:6 "I am the way, the truth and the life..." Then they go on to trace the letters and have a few pages to practice reading that begin with "I am." (brief explanation)
Stake Sunday School President Bortey, in front of the door, came in and both he and the teacher turned to the inspired teacher's manual and helped us teach the class in ways that we aren't able to without them. It turned out to be a wonderful class and they will make great progress. Ahh, we love these wonderful people!!
And we love Gospel Literacy!! And we send our love to you!!
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