Ghana Gazette

This is our second group of 2007 - There is one missionary from Uganda, one from Liberia, and the balance all hail from Nigeria and Ghana. We were expecting one more sister, but the day of arrival word had been sent with one of the missionaries that she had decided not to serve, so instead two sets of sister companions, we had to get by with a group of three. One interesting feature of this group are two Elders whose bass voice is as deep as any voice I've ever heard - and they both love singing, so we have some good bass being sung by this group. Destinations for them are 3 going to the Ghana Accra mission and the other 14 are headed for Nigeria destinations. It has been the second group we've had who are not particularly interested in the activity time each day - just isn't their "cup of tea" - however they still get out and get some fresh air, but no one is going to break a leg playing football, or even basketball for that matter.

They don't get much cuter that Sister Ampomah's little boy Tollestrup. That is his given name...fortunately he also has his African name also...which is Nana Akwesi. Nana means friend and Akwesi means born on Sunday. Tollestrup means that Wayne spent a few days in Cape Coast and the babys father was his guide and chauffeur and good friend. When baby arrived, they wanted to honor Wayne...so they named their first born son after him.They paid us a visit just after the new year - they have been living in Cape Coast - as a family and we haven't seen much of them since she quit and started being a mother - but what a happy, delightful, smart and interesting baby. It looks like they are doing well as a family.

THIS WAS THE WEDDING OF MISS GHANA (ABOUT 4 YEARS AGO) AND ONE OF OUR MEMBERS. It was a massive wedding, with the entire chapel (including recreational hall and overflow) full. We saw more hats, and elegant dresses, and wonderful suits - as they all met to wish the new couple well. Miss Ghana (Benita Sena Golomeke) joined the church about six months ago at which time she was dating a returned missionary (Stephen Kwaku Okity-Duah). He is a very close friend of Aloysius (see previous blog) - and the two were married very closse together. She is a fashion designer and it definitely reflect in her outfit and her bridesmaids

Sorry the head of the lady, or more accurately the hair dressing of the lady next to me interfered with Stephen's picture, but they really are a wonderful couple. One interesting thing at both weddings, it is fashionable for the bride to be late - at the first it was about an hour and a half - at this one about 55 minutes. For much of that time the groom sits in his chair at the front and waits (hopefully not worries) the arrival of his bride. All the customs were the same for this wedding as for the other except for the number of photographers - there were at least two doing videos, and another 7 or 8 flashing stills. They will never live long enough to see all the pictures that were taken. It was a great media event, as Miss Ghana is reverred.
This picture of the bride and groom, best man and bridesmaid, included also two former Miss Ghanas who were in attendance - they are the two on either end of the line. The hat, dress of the one on the left was the fashion of the day. One note of interest, Sunday the entire wedding party arrived for church at the Tema Chapel and stayed for all the meetings. Apprently this custom is carried out to bless the marriage of the new couple, so many of them learned a little about the Church on their Sunday visit to the Tema Ward. All of the group pictures taken for the wedding were taken on the steps of the Accra, Ghana Temple.
This is the entire wedding party - 7 bridesmaids and 7 "best" men. We were invited as well to attend the reception - must have been 600 people there - held outdoors, at night (thanks for the mosqito spray) and all the traditions followed: Chairman appointed, popping of champagne, first dance, toast and replies and a wonderful meal served. We left about 9 PM but they told us the next day it went on until about 11 PM. A wonderful occasion.

On the 9th day of December, 2006, ABIGAIL ABA AHADJIE married ALOYSIUS ATTIOGE and became at that time ABIGAIL ABA ADADJIE ATTIOGE - with a 4 A rating. This was the marriage between our purchasing agent who works at the Area Office - Aloysius, and the daughter of the Christianborg Stake President and the head travel coordinator (Emilia) at the Area Office. We privileged to be invited and saw two very handsome and pretty members start their life together. Here at the reception they are cutting the cake. The reception was held at an outdoor reception center just a block from the Stake Center. It was a lovely celebration for Loys and Abigail.
The father of the bride was able to perform the ordinance which is now recognized by the government as an official marriage. Many members are only married traditionally (dowry and family agreement) and while they can be baptised into the church with this recognized marriage, it must be official before going to the temple. .
Traditionally, the best man and the bridesmaid sit just behind the bride and groom during the ceremony, and one of their chief responsibilities is to keep the sweat off the brows of the participants, so several times during the ceremony, they will take a hankie and gentle dab the face, neck and cheeks of the couple being married - a much appreciated service in this hot country. The service took place in the Christianborg Stake Centre - giving you an idea of the building the church has built here in Africa.

With the Christmas rush over and the pressures we felt to keep their minds on the MTC and not home, it was a real treat to greet our next group of missionaries - they arrived (or were supposed to arrive) on January the 1st - but only one really got here as expected - he was the American from California, Elder Pito (Polynesian background)had never been out of USA.. - the Nigerians were all bumped from the morning flight to the last evening flight, our two french men (From France no less - our first that we have experienced) we didn't even think were coming because of visa problems and had it not been for a worried mother who coaxed the French Mission President to phone and see if the two elders had arrived okay, we would not have been at the airport to greet them. Our missionaries coming from the Congo got into Addis Abbaba to discover the flight they thought they were coming on wasn't coming - they'd have to stay over two days in Ethiopia to get the next one, but one did leave the next day so they were only 1 day late - so we were basically a day late getting started. It also marked the first time that we have had more French speakers (7) thans English speakers (5). And for President Nielson, it was so good to hear the French French again - I had forgotten how fast they can sometimes speak (thanks Elder Richard) - and how nice the sounds flow. They were a super compatible group and did a great deal of mixing - even given the difference in languages. A great way to start off the new and second year of our assignment.

Santa Clause had planned to give each of the Elders a Ghanaian tie made of Kente cloth and a journal to take intothe mission field with them as well as a felt mouse complete with a candy cane (which is another story to be told). These five elders have put on their ties (colorful to say the least - not sure if they fit into the "professional" description as found in the Missionary Handbook - but the mice - well three of them have discovered they are just the right size to fit in their pocket - you can see them there.
The sisters each received a scarf also made out of Kente cloth - again very colorful - the mice found various location with the sisters - but the wonderful thing about the morning were the smiles and expressions of thanks and happiness we saw and heard. No one seemed too terribly troubled by spending their Christmas in the MTC - for that we are grateful, and grateful that they were here to help us through our first Christmas here in Ghana.
Candy canes - Sister Nielson needed some to make the little felt mice - she wanted the missionaries to have one as well as all the children of the staff members - estimated number 40. But do you think we could find any? - well one of the large stores (Koalas) had them around the store as a thank you for their customers - well Sister Nielson asked if she could buy a few and they said no, they were for all customers - so we did more shopping at Koala's for the next few days than we had done in our whole first year here!! Each time a few more candy canes into the purse. The clerks were good and would add a few extra for her - she got her forty, she made the mice, Christmas was a success.

Christmas eve at the Ghana MTC - and a very special program was held for our Christmas Elders and Sisters and for the staff and their families - over 70 people were in attendance. Sister Nielson not having access to her own Grandchildren to enact Luke (the Christmas Story) enlisted the help of the staff members families - and a great variety of people showed up - Samuel the Lamanite (left) Three wise men, Joseph and Mary and Baby Jesus - angels and shepherds galor and all decorated in the traditional robes, sheets, tinsel and ties from all sources. Interspersed with the enactment of Luke were the traditional Christmas carols, sung in part by a great missionary choir (see photo below). The first time or two they sang, we thought we would be importing music for the program, but they improved so much over the two weeks they were here, that they added a great spiritual touch to the program. In fact, the next day they sang at a local baptism and thought perhaps they would go out caroling in the neighborhood - but time did not permit that. But thanks to Sister Nielson a wonderful event took place
One of the interesting things about the program was that for almost everyone in attendance (missionaries and staff) it was the first time they had ever seen the nativity acted out that way - they were very touched and excited and perhaps we've done just a little bit to start a Christmas tradition here in West Africa.
We apologize that this is so late coming to the blog...we have entered it twice, but our internet has been down pretty much steady since Jan. 1.