Ghana Gazette

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.