One By One

One day a young man and his grandfather were going to the beach.  As they arrived they saw hundreds, maybe thousands of starfish stranded on the beach.  "We must do something or they will die", the young boy said, as he threw a starfish back into the sea.  The grandfather gently said to his grandson, "There are so many you cannot save them all".  To which the boy replied, "I just saved that one".  Heavenly Father loves each and every one of us.  He is concerned about us as individuals.  Bishop Morgan reminded us that we are ministering to one at a time.

 

 At District Meeting the Elders have a white board that has the names of the individuals they are teaching and who have baptismal dates.  We discuss each person one at a time.

 Elder Wheelock doing the first baptism of his mission.  He was very emotional as he said the baptismal prayer.  His heart was touched by one.

 Even though she has 2 sons that are members, Francesca just showed up to church one Sunday.  3 weeks later she was baptized and remains a strong member, being called to the branch Young Women's Presidency.

 Sarah is helping the Wama family take care of their youngest son Jesse.  She was recently baptized and taught a lesson at Young Single Adult's Home Evening, her very first one.

 Hellen Badu is now serving her mission in Lagos, Nigeria.  She has set the example for everyone to follow because she is the first female missionary from the Ho Branch.  Even though her father passed away while she was there, she continues to serve, finding the one.

 The young man is Courage.  He has been called to serve a mission in Sierra Leone.  He is special to us because he has been one we have helped a lot in preparing for his mission.

 The child standing on the fence is Gabriella.  Her parents came to us some time ago and were desperate for help.  Gabriella was not able to eat and when she did, she couldn't keep anything down.  She was so sick, all she could do was just lay there.  They needed to take her to the hospital but did not have the money, so we took them there and helped with the medical bills.  As you can see, today she is one happy and healthy little girl.

 Here are 3 children Elder Lyon did baptismal interviews for in Kpong.  The father is a member so through one, 3 more joined the church.

 This is Nephi.  He is following the example of his father Prosper.  You never know when a little one is watching what you do.

 Sometimes we get calls from families that are in need.  This day we went to the market with a mother, Patience to get some food for her family, because they had none.  Can you guess which one is Sister Lyon?

 As part of nurses training after graduation, the government has a posting and assigns them to different areas as a community health nurse.  We are here with Emelia who was sent way out in the bush to a remote hospital.  We traveled far over very rough roads so we could meet with one member.

 Out of each individual seed springs a very beautiful garden.  Just as each seed brings beauty, it reminds us that each one of our Heavenly Father's children brings their own beauty to this earth.

We were in Kpong for some baptismal interviews and had some extra time.  The Elders were invited to a members house for an FM (free meal) so they invited us to join them.  This is the first time we have ever tried fufu, a local dish.  It was served with fish and a lite soup.  Yes, everyone used their fingers and ate from one bowl.

To say Ghana is not the cleanest country in an understatement.  Unfortunately everyone throws garbage out the windows of the cars or on the ground when they are walking.  When a dumpster gets full, they just start putting everything on the ground around it.  This is one of the service projects we had with the Young Single Adults as they try to Help Keep Ghana Clean.

 The joy that is on Elder Anderson's face as one Mona monkey from the Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary eats a banana from his hand.

This is what happens the one time we leave our camera where the Elders can use it.

Elder Bednar recently taught at a Stake Conference in Scottsdale North Stake, the phrase one by one can be found in the Book of Mormon 6 times.  

"And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety, and did bear record, that is was He, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come."      3 Nephi 11:15

One Year InCountry R & R

We celebrated our 1 year anniversary by traveling to Cape Coast with Elder Wayne and Sister Kay Baker from Teton, Idaho, serving in the Ghana Accra Mission in the town of Koforidua.  We were delighted that President Judd gave us permission to travel to Cape Coast, although only 3 hours from Accra it is part of the Ghana Cape Coast Mission.  The Bakers left for home on September 19th and wanted to see these additional parts of Ghana before they departed.  We were glad to join them.  We had a wonderful time and there were many amazing things to see.

 

 We drove along the Cape Coast Highway and not too long after our first sighting of ocean we came across this quaint fishing village, Saltpond.  We loved the rustic nature of the boats carved from the Odum trees which are huge and very heavy.

 This is typical Elder Baker, wanting to get the details of what the men are doing.

 Many old slave castles dot the coastline of West Africa and were built between 1383 and 1870.  The Cape Coast Castle is one of the very few that has been well preserved and maintained as a museum and historical site.  After negotiating a much lower "Abruni" price we took a very dramatic, sobering tour of the castle. Side note: All Ghanaian points of interest charge a Ghanaian price (very low) and a Non-Ghanaian price (at least double).  We were able to get the price down by letting them know we were missionaries and had been in Ghana for a year paying taxes on all the items we purchase.

 Elder Lyon going down the long, dark tunnel into the male slave dungeon.

 Sister Lyon taking in the ocean view of the well fortified castle.

 Sister Lyon does not want to go into the female slave dungeon.

 View of the Cape Coast Castle from inside the fort.  This was a very sobering and enlightening tour. A plaque on the wall of the castle stated, "In everlasting memory of the anguish of our ancestors . . . . May humanity never again perpetrate such injustice against humanity . . . We, the living vow to uphold this."

 Sister Baker and Sister Lyon are glad to be safely out of the slave castle and find good accommodations.

 Ghana does have a few beautiful beaches, this beach lover enjoys discovering them.

 This beach lover really enjoys walking in the sand!

 What a beautiful sight to find the next morning as we were taking a stroll on the beach.  Possibly  this guitarist will end up in a painting.

 The small village of Elmina close to the hotel property boasts a very large fleet of fishing boats . . . they stretched as far as our eyes could see.

 About a 45 minute drive from Cape Coast is Kakum National Park which has the famous Canopy Walkway. The canopy walk is 333 meters long and suspends 27 meters above the ground. Trees support the walkway, the ropes are changed every six months, nothing is nailed or bolted to the trees to protect them from damage.  The canopy walk is supported by 300-400 year old trees.  We are walking about 12 stories above this beautiful rain forest.

 We really feel like monkeys in the trees.  We were told there are many wildlife species including elephants, monkeys, bushbuck, and of course birds, but the trees hide them from our view in this thick rain forest.

In the leafy treetops.  What a beautiful world Heavenly Father created for us!  What a treat it was to celebrate our 1 year mark in Ghana this way.

What Do You Do In The Summertime?

What do you do in the summertime?  Just like in the United States, the children in Ghana have a summer vacation from school.

If your summers are like the summer vacations in our home, you always had to do chores before you could play ... The top photo Sherpherd and her young brothers and sisters breaking rocks, their summer job.  The rocks are used for construction ... they put them in concrete to make cement go farther.  The next photo is Seraphim pounding pineapple peelings and leaves to make a medicine for fever.  In the photo below young boys are taking the cart to get ready to haul whatever their father asks them to haul.

 Of course, after working hard you need to take a break and enjoy some cold refreshment. This is the Fan Milk man.  He rides a bicycle with a "cooler" on the front. They are all around town, all year actually.  They ring a bell as they go so people will know the "ice-cream" man is around.  The frozen treats are only three ... Fan Ice (vanilla ice-cream), Fan Choco (frozen chocolate milk), and Fan Yogo (frozen strawberry yogurt).  Each is sold for .50 pesewas (about 25 cents).  The frozen treat is always put in a black plastic bag.  The frozen treat itself is in a plastic "sachet" which you bite off a small corner of and enjoy by eating it right out of the package.

 After work and treats games are then played.  The above game is called Ampe.  The game involves clapping, jumping and using strategy to outwit your opponent.  The game is played in pairs, the follower has to match the leaders foot work or they are out.  When asked what their favorite activity is most young people will answer either Ampe or Soccer.

 Boys love their wheels.  Any old abandoned wheel is attached to a stick and rolled down the road.  Sometimes you see them just rolling an old tire, or rolling a tire with two sticks.  They usually are going real fast so it is hard to snap a photo.  These boys stopped to pose, so we were lucky.

 These boys were very creative.  They have sardine cans attached to pieces of tied together cloth.  "Walking" the dog?

 Summer time fun ... off to Youth Camp!

Meet little girl Francesca Jr., she is in the hospital because of asthma attacks.  She was delighted to get some plastic crayons and a Friend magazine to color!  Not all summer vacations go as planned.

Summer officially ends here on Monday, September 3rd.  Back to School! In this land where the sun rises and sets at the same time each day and the weather only changes from wet to dry, we have a difficult time noticing the changing seasons.  We could definitely tell it was summer vacation time because we did not see children in school uniforms in the mornings and afternoons walking to and from school. We hope you have all had  a great summer and are all ready to learn well again!

Ho Branch

We have been very blessed thus far to be able to serve in Ho Branch.  We have grown to really love the members.  At first it was difficult to identify them and then remember names.  There are about 450 members in the branch, but only about 160 or so attend.  That's about normal for any area of the church.  The less actives are one of the main areas we have been concentrating on.  We have seen some success but would love to see lots more return and enjoy the blessings of the gospel. 

 

 This is the road the the building.  As you can see it is a very well maintained road.  It has been this way since we have been here and will probably be this way when we leave.

 A group of young men by our church sign.

 The chapel area of the building is set up in a way as to almost surround the podium.  But when changes to the formation were suggested, they didn't want to try.  Change is very difficult for them to handle.

 Members come to church in all different ways most walk, some take a taxi or tro-tro.  Very few have their own vehicles and when they do, everyone wants a ride.

 This is the famous Ho baptismal font.  When people see photos of it they will invariably ask "How do you baptize people in there, do you kneel down or what"?  Actually most of the font is buried in the ground.  If you have a tall person that is going to be baptized they have to be all the way to the front to get them totally immersed. 

 President Reck, the Branch President when we came.  Here he is testing the waters to see if our truck could make it across this swollen river  He has just started to cross and he is already to his knees.  We decided to wait until the waters receded to cross.

 Patrick Ansah our current Branch President and his new wife Claudia.  This photo was taken before their wedding and sealing, that's why the tank top.

 The young women Sister Lyon works with learning a song for Sacrament meeting.

 Abagail and Abagail with the best smiles.  Sometimes it is so hard to get people to smile and they have the prettiest smiles.

 The Young Single Adults enjoying watermelon after a heath walk.  We are their advisers.

 

 A YSA service project.  We cleaned a wing of the Volta Regional Hospital that had not been cleaned or used for over 5 years.  We really needed the masks and gloves that day.

A few Melchizedek Priesthood brethren from left to right Edem, Bernard, Anthony, Bartholomew and Gilbert.

 Sister Lyon with Justice who is now serving a mission in Nigeria and David who will be going soon.

 Sedem, Emelia holding baby Jesse, Vida, Harry and Diana.

 The YSA's favorite form of refreshments: sodas, toffee, biscuits and Sister Lyon's famous "Ghana Chocolate cake".

 What is a church activity without food?  That is one of the signs of the true church, there's always food or refreshments served.

 Mable and Cephas, 2 of the members that live in Tsito coming all the way to Ho.  All the way, because it takes half an hour to travel by taxi or tro-tro from Tsito to Ho.

 Janet, or as we call her "Mama Be", which is Ewe for little Grandma.  She is one of the elderly of the Branch and has trouble getting around, so we give her a ride to church when she is not traveling.  She is adorable!

 If there is a camera around, children and even adults flock to have their picture taken.  They love it.

On August 18th there was a "Mormon Helping Hands Service Project Day" all over West Africa.  They had different denominations and whoever else wanted to be involved, do service for the day.  Our Branch was given the assignment to clean up an area around some government buildings.  This involved weeding, sweeping, cutlass work, cleaning the gutters, picking up garbage, trimming bushes and of course, having a good time with the fellow members.  We had about 100+ members and 6 investigators there, so it was a huge success.

As we have said before "WE LOVE HO AND THE PEOPLE".  We are so grateful President Judd assigned us to serve here.  We can't think of a better place to be serving.  As we travel around to the different places in Ghana, it's always good to come back.  Ho has become like home to us and the members will be greatly missed when we finish our mission.  But we still have a long time to serve, so "Onward, ever Onward".