Sunday, February 26, 2006
FUTURE MTC CANDIDATES - BROTHER & SISTER
In fifteen years, we might have a second set of brother and sister here at the MTC. The day I wrote the article on the Ani Brother and Sister, these two young members were by the church across the field from the MTC. They had been to church and were just waiting for Sister Nielson to run out and take the picture. The little girl has the tradition African Dress - super small size of course, the young man complete with tie and dress pants lacks only a badge (and a few years of course) from being a missionary. The parents take such exceptional care of their children here in Africa. I believe this particular ward is quite well to do as well because many of the attending members are dressed up very well. Noteworthy as well is the haircut on the little girl - it is a very common sight in Africa, young or older girls and women to have the hair cut as short as the boys.
Bro. and Sis. Ani - Siblings, not a couple!!!
I am not certain how often in MTC history, this event occurs, but the February 20 group had a Brother and Sister both attend the Ghana MTC together. To have siblings serve missions at the same time is quite exceptional, but to have them both enter the same day is a real rarity. They are James Junior Ani and Chinasa Evan Ani - both from a small branch in the Nigeria Enugu Mission called Uwani 1st Branch in Coal City. They come from a family of 15 members (one boy has passed away leavig 14 living members. He is 19 years of age - joined the church to which his parents belonged upon returning home from living with his sister. She is 25 years of age and joined the church 10 years after attending and being impressed with the variety of programs for all ages in the church. Brother Ani has had experience working already with full time missionaries - Sister Ani has had many opportunity to serve - seminary teacher, Relief Society secretary, Young Womens's President, District Primary President - any wonder they are such excellent missionaries? Brother Ani is currently acting as District President of the Moroni District and Sister Ani's music abilities are greatly blessing the devotional and meetings we hold here at the MTC.Saturday, February 18, 2006
SELASI (OUR HOUSEKEEPER) HAS HER BABY
She was anxious to have her baby when we arrived a month ago - work was getting difficult - hot weather and housekeeping - it was difficult - and finally last week, Selasi had her baby - a sweet little boy - how beautiful these small ones are and what a good baby he appears to be. We'd love to post his name, but the tradition here in Ghana is that the husband's family is the one who chooses the name for the baby, and when we went to visit and take the picture, that had not been done yet. But Grandma Nielson had to hold the baby, and cuddle it and love and pretend just a little bit that he was buddies with Alaina before they left for earth.
APOSTLE OAKS VISITS THE GHANA MTC
What a blessing is was for 29 missionaries, 5 teachers, 1 MTC Manager and President and Sister Nielson, not to mention the staff who were working on February 16, 2006. Elder Oaks, an Apostle in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints paid a visit to the MTC. As busy as his schedule was, he took the time to personally shake the hand of each person who was in attendance for the Devotional. He was accompanied by his wife who also spoke to the missionaries about some of her previous missionary experiences - even thrilling the French Missionaries by saying "Je ne parle pas le francais parce que tout le monde pense je parle l'allemagne" (I don't speak french because everyone thinks I am speaking german.). She shared some of her experiences as a missionary in Japan, and encouraged the missionaries to be certain and teach by the spirit. Elder Oaks touched on several topics - reminding the missionaries there job is not simply to baptise, but to built the kingdom - doing all they can to keep people in the church and to achieve all the blessing available to them as members. He spoke of having a firm desire to serve and to maintain that desire throughout the mission. Also the law of tithing - the need to teach it to everyone and the blessing that can come from payment of tithing irregardless of the amount. Following the devotional, Elder Oaks, his wife, President Child and his wife (West Africa Area President) toured the facility, and ate lunch with the missionaries before departing to continue his work here in the Ghana vineyard. 15 of our missionaries thought it was a very special blessing to be taking the same flight to Nigeria as Elder Oaks would be taking - Especially thrilled to have been able to be here for the devotional were six missionaries headed for the Ivory Coast. Their plane tickets had them leaving at 8 AM and thanks to a great staff in the Area Office, they were able to stay one more day and enjoy the spirit of Elder Oaks. In talking of the experience at supper time, they were almost overwhelmed to tears to think of the privilege that had been theirs to shake the hand of an Apostle, and to receive a blessing at his hands. It was a wonderful experience for all.Sunday, February 12, 2006
THE LARGE and the small OF IT ALL
One of the challenges facing an MTC President is to assign companionship by a name on a piece of paper, having absolutely no idea what type of a person has ownership of those names. And so in our First Official group of missionaries were two names: Elder Aniebiet Akpan John and Elder Nafetaiai 'Ahotau Me'afo'ou one from the Etinan Stake in Nigeria and one from the Nuku'alofa Tonga Ha'akame Stake in Tonga. Chances were that our Tongan Elder would be a good size, but Elder John was an unknown. Well much to our surprise, Elder Me'afo'ou was a good size - About 6'4" and probably around the 325# mark. His companion in contrast was about 4'8" tall and even soaking wet wouldn't weign 100 pounds. And they were assigned to be companions - which initially seemed quite amusing, but they were missionaries, accepted the assignment and became (as nearly as we could tell) good companions. It was very evident from the start that no one would make fun of Elder John's diminutive size or they would have to answer to his companion with whom no one wanted to tangle. And so the LARGE and the small of it all became a 16 days phenomenon here at the Ghana MTC. What wonderful missionaries and sports they are.Saturday, February 11, 2006
Primary and Young Womens Visit MTC
The wind was blowing in from the Sahara Desert - it was hot and sunny and two very special ladies took just moment to pause in front of the Ghana MTC and wait while Photo bug (could put a little more on that description perhaps!) Nielson tried to get a shot taken of the threesome. It had been a special privilege of ours to host Sister Dalton (right) Second Counsellor in the Young Womens Presidency and Sister Liffert (left) First Counsellor in the Primary Presidency. They were able to talk to our missionaries - and it was particularly uplifting for the six sisters we had attending at the time to see the example of strong sisters in the church and in the gospel. Although the visit was very short, we sensed well the dedication these sisters have in serving our Father in Heaven - Sister Liffert was not feeling well, but that in no way reflected in her testimony - it was strong and living. Sister Dalton as well spoke to the missionaries as a "Mother" might - and although I didn't see any tears shed, her spirit and her advice was given with the love of a real mother. Bless their hearts they were prepared to try the real Ghanaian food - but our cooks put the fish into batter and the potatoes into fries - and the foo foo and sauces will have to wait for another time and another place. These opportunities to hear the testimonies of our leaders are so important for our missionaries - not only does it strengthen them and built their testimonies - it gives a chance also to break the classroom routine - that is their beginning part of sacrifice in the mission field - to study and learn and prepare and do it with a smile and a good spirit.
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
HELLO AND GOOD-BYE
This was about all we were able to say as the Nielson's arrived and the Ritchie's departed Ghana with 18 wonderful missionaries, 5 teachers and the MTC Manager Eugene Engmann caught in the middle of the change. Luckily we were able to get the group together and take a coming and going picture. The two relaxed individuals seated on the chairs to the left with visions of 1/4 pounders dancing through their heads are the Ritchies - On their way home after two years of wonderful, dedicated service to the young missionaries of West Africa - the other couple, upright and uptight, are the Nielson's - just getting their feet wet and wondering what the next two years will bring. In the Picture also on the back row left side three of our teachers: Brother Baidoo, Brother Koomson, Sister Ompomah, and on the right side are Brother Ofosu and Eugene Engmann. The rest are are wonderful group of 6 Sisters and 12 Elders - note the one white countenance on the back row - that is Elder Morgan from Florida - game as can be trying the Ghanain food and mixing and absorbing the African customs. In the background is the MTC building - three stories high with wonderful up to date modern conveniences - full sized cafeteria, shower rooms and bedrooms for the Elders, and apartments for the girls with private restrooms - all have fans, but only the classrooms and chapel are airconditioned in order to help those not used to sleeping in warm weather make the adjustment. The last two windows on the second floor are the President's apartment which is very comfortably furnished.
Group #1 - January 30, 2006
Here they are - 29 of the finest young men and young women you will ever meet, from a vast and varying variety of countries and cultures - all brought together for sixteen wonderful days of learning, interaction, and preparation. In this group we have 15 from Nigeria, 3 from the United States, 3 from the Ivory Coast, 2 from Tonga, 2 from Ghana, 1 from Sierra Leone, 1 from Liberia, and 1 from Uganda and 1 from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Mix in wetwo Canadiens and we have a regular United Nations - with emphasis on the first word - United. I am not certain where else you could mix that many different backgrounds, traditions, and ideas and still have love and unity - except it be done under the influence of the Spirit - which we definitely feel here. As we study the backgrounds of these young people, we read of having lost a parent, or in one case, both parents while yet quite young and being raised by other family members. We hear of one of our missionaries who was invited to leave home and never return because of his acceptance of the gospel - luckily, the family position softened before he left to come to the MTC and while not yet members, they are partially supportive of his decision to go unto the world to preach the gospel. Several of these young people have put aside studies and jobs, and feel the Lord wants them here at this time to help spread the gospel to this one of the four corners of the earth. Speaking of the four corners of the earth, our two Tongans - Elder Funaki and Elder Me'afo'ou had twenty-four hours added to their already excessively extended trip from Tonga to Ghana with a late plane from Australia and a resulting missed connection. When they arrived at the MTC, they were wearing clothes they had already worn for four days and to top it off, their baggage had not arrived with them - so it was a hasty washing of clothes while tired Elders slept, but thanks to Sister Nielson and the "Maytag" people - the Elders looked presentable and refitted the next morning for classes. Elder Imlah, from Portland knows well the road between the MTC and the airport as one of his bags got waylaid somewhere - five days later it arrived, but Elder Imlah had to go to the airport each time they checked because only he and his passport can claim the baggage - We have four french speaking Elders with us in the group - three from the Ivory Coast and one from the D.R. Congo - it has been so refreshing to hear their french, and see their comportment - Probably our two years teaching the gospel in French has something to do with our joy of hearing that language again. Extremely well prepared young men - they are going to be great missionaries. Our American missionaries are doing very well - learning of the cultural differences, eating the food prepared by Ghanians and carefully listening as the pronounciation difference between Americans and Africans is slowly being absorbed and understood. I can't always say the sleeping is going 100% - but they are adapting and being blessed because of it. A small miracle did take place yesterday as we took the entire group to the Ghana Temple. Of the 29 missionaries, only 8 had attended a temple before, and so for the 21 others, it was to be their first time. Well, there we 3 sisters and 18 elders, of which 15 spoke English and 3 spoke French - none with their own clothing except the white shirt (and five of them needed long sleeve variety which the temple provided) - well to handle that variety of needs in a two hour frame and have them all prepared and ready to attend the appointed session (10:30) - our hats are off to President Gunnell and his temple staff and workers - as the session advanced I could hear whispering in my ears the words of a temple Presidency elsewhere wondering about the wisdom in trying to restrict the number of new patrons in any one session to just one male and one female! - Oh the blessings of willing and worthy workers - the spirit was not in any way lost or jeopardized - A small miracle took place.
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
OUR ARRIVAL IN GHANA
Our arrival in Ghana was relatively quiet and without much fanfare - a warm welcoming committee at the airport to get us to the MTC - in the dark, a chance to meet 18 very wonderful young missionaries already half way through their training with President and Sister Ritchie, and a staff directed by Eugene Engmann who were committed, sincere and effortless workers - both the instructional staff as well as the facility crew. The MTC is located just outside Accra - about 20 kilometres in a quiet little area called Tema. We are not far from the ocean, so the humidity is very noticeable - it appears we will be just a little more mindful of the "heat of the day" than we were nestled in the centre of the Democratic Republic of the Congo four years ago. The Church has built a fabulous facility - which will hopefully and eventually house and instruct over 100 missionaries. Each group arrives every three weeks, and last years average size was around 25 missionaries. Inside the compound where the MTC is located there is a two ward meeting house, a good size lawn (could be used for small soccer games, a cement parking area currently used for basketball court and a volleyball net and field. The compound is guarded 24 hours by a security company who furnish us guards and "peace of mind" - however there has been absolutely nothing that would make a person uncomfortable or threatened in this little corner of the world. Our initial trip into Accra was "highlighted" by the traditional bluffing and blowing of auto horns - the always present 12 passenger busses overfilled with Africans on their way to work or where ever. The continual dusty, smoky air as winds are blowing (nothing at all like Southern Alberta!) - but the climate is pleasant and comfortable. WE are connected to Accra by an "Auto-route" - a 5 cent toll is required to drive on it, and it actually moves traffic quite nicely and quickly between the two cities. My first venture into the "business" world came as we visited the local driver's license establishment. It was about 11 AM so I said good bye to the missionaries waiting to go Nigeria - and off we went to the Vehicles Licensing Centre. I thought it strange that the fellow driving the van came with us, we had my car and he had the other van we were going to use to take the missionaries to the airport. I assumed he knew the way and was going to show us and return. Well, we arrived, and Kofi explained that besides doing what we needed to do, we needed the car in line, so again I assumed he’d park the car in the line and we’d finish it up - but while we were getting pictures taken and talking with the main chief (he said I’d have to wait 6 months for a license - Kofi talked and talked in "tree" - apparently said the right thing and got permission to seek a license) - told me we’d have to take some "tracs" back to him to prove we were missionaries - anyway, the driver was still around - then lines (sort of as people kind of pushed and jamed into the ladies writing things up - got something then had to leave to get an eye test - back again to the lines, finally a hassle about signatures and forms - finally (driver still there) time to pay - but they’d left for lunch break so we wait 45 minutes for their return - Finally I discovered to get a license, you have to have any vehicle you’ll be driving tested as well as you - so both the car and the van had to be inspected (van had a light out of alignment so the driver fixed it on the spot and we passed) But had I know all this was necessary I’d have never gone on a day we needed the van - at any rate, Eugene took the other van and a car and got the missionaries away on time, but I felt like such an idiot being the one who caused them to wait , and wait - talk about reversal of roles. However I can now drive in Ghana - don’t know anywhere to go, but I can drive to get there now!
