Travels to Kpong and Ho in Ghana

Dr. Dubatey and his Mother

We just returned from another wonderful, hectic, amazing weekend of travel in Ghana. We left early Saturday morning for Ho, but we had hoped to visit the Kpong Family History Center on the way. We had tried to call and/or e-mail the leaders in Kpong but had no response. We prayed for direction and guidance in our morning prayer and started on our way.

As we approached Kpong, we noticed a sign advertizing the Cedi Bead Industry Annex so we pulled over and stopped. We thought, “Since we haven’t made contact in Kpong, we might take advantage of this opportunity to visit the Bead Factory near Kpong we’ve heard so much about.” The cute little man at the Annex gave us some printed directions to the Bead Factory and encouraged us to go. We stopped at the Kpong chapel on the way and found it all locked up so we headed for the Bead Factory.

When we arrived at the Cedi Bead Industry, we met Kudjo who took us to the shop where they sold their products. When he saw our name tags, he said, “I am a member of your Church.” We told him we had been trying to call his Branch President and Family History Center Director but hadn’t been able to get through. He said, “Would you like me to call my President now?” He had his number in his cell phone and when he got the President on the phone, he was told to bring us to his home so he could meet us. Do you think that was a coincidence? Kudjo got into our car and directed us to President Dubatey’s home. On the way he told us that it is his brother who owns the factory, and his father is manning the Annex. He said there are no missionaries in Kpong, but he is trying to be one. He has been talking to a new employee at the Bead Factory and has invited him to go to Church with him tomorrow.

We had a good visit with Dr. Dubatey in his lovely home near Kpong. He spent twenty years in St. Louis, working in Public Health. His English is excellent. His wife and son are still living in Texas. He is 68 years old and practices medicine some from his home. He called his counselor Francis Kanyi who is a brother to the Family History Center Director Darlington Kanyi (who is in Kumasi for some training), and he met us at the Kpong chapel. His other brother Richard came along – he is a computer specialist. On the way to the chapel, we stopped at the President’s humble complex where he had grown up and met his 96 year old mother.

Lunch at the Volta Hotel was a special treat. This hotel is on a hill overlooking the Akosombo Dam, and we had a great view as we ate lunch and watch the Williams sisters play in the finals at Wimbleton.

Ho is a very strong Branch. We visited them several years ago when they were still meeting in Ralf Avornyo’s home. Now they are bursting at the seams in a rented building; 160 were there today. There are probably 250 on the records. Elder and Sister Sidwell have spent their entire mission there and have made a great contribution. They are presently looking for land on which to build a chapel. We were so impressed with the great spirit in the Fast and Testimony meeting – as members lined up for an opportunity to bear testimony of Jesus Christ and the restored gospel. John taught a beginners’ Family History class during Sunday School while I registered and trained Priesthood leaders and consultants on the laptop computer with a wireless internet connection on the porch of the building. The purpose of our trip was to evaluate the building and the members to consider putting a new Family History Center in their Branch. We are impressed with the atmosphere in the town of Ho – up and coming, clean, vigorous, youthful. The Branch President is 27 – a convert of three years – very sharp. His wife served a mission on Temple Square in Salt Lake City – beautiful young woman. There are about 50 singles in the Branch because of several higher education schools in the area.

We love the beautiful drive to Ho – the Volta Region is one of our favorites – along the Volta River – with beautiful green foliage – agricultural areas. We recognize how blessed we are to have the freedom we do to plan our travels and have such great experiences on a regular basis.

Ethiopian Members come to the Accra templ

Last week 14 members from Ethiopia came by air to the Accra Ghana Temple, thanks to the blessings of the Temple Patrons Assistance Fund. They had a 4 1/2 hour flight. There were four families sealed together -- seven individuals were endowed -- they spent from Tuesday until they left on Saturday in the temple. There were two 18 year-old girls who watched the young children after their families were sealed. One outstanding young man had served as a missionary to Ghana. He brought his beauitul bride of two weeks, and they were sealed in the temple. He is in the Branch Presidency in his home town. One older lady was sealed to her deceased husband and a baby who had died. They are beautiful people -- look more Indian than African. We were able to help them prepare names of their ancestors -- usually parents or grandparents -- some deceased spouses and children.

Elder and Sister Wilkes from Sacramento, California accompanied them. Elder Wilkes is a counselor to the Mission President and the "First Elder" in Ethiopia. The mission includes Zimbawe and Uganda as well. We invited the Wilkes to dinner one evening and had a good visit with them. What an amazing small world it is in the Church! We discovered that Elder Brad Wilkes was one of President Harbertson's missionaries in the Fresno, California mission! They still have a great love for President Harbertson and have visited him for a blessing for each of their three sons before their missions. Their youngest son is now serving in the Washington D.C. mission, Spanish speaking. They left on their mission when he had been out three months and will get home three months before his return. They are in their mid fifties and are young and vigorous.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Hope you had a wonderful and unique birthday in Ghana! We love you and miss you!

Patricia squared

We met the Duah family in Kumasi when we were here the first time. Their youngest child was named Patricia so we became friends right away. She was only nine then, and we had a picture taken of us together. I’ve written to her off and on ever since. It was good to see Sister Duah again. She is one of my role models in Ghana. Her husband died when Patricia was only three months old, and Sister Duah has raised a wonderful family of six children – three returned missionaries. She runs a nursery of about 40 young children to earn a living for herself and her family. Once a month she comes to Accra to serve in the temple for three days. Patricia came with her Mother to see me and to look after the two little granddaughters that Sister Duah is tending while their mother is in the U.S.
Now Patricia is a tall young woman! She towers over me. Her mother is also tall. She is 17 and quite a lovely young woman. She is attending a boarding school about an hour and a half away from Kumasi, and she is very lonely. It’s run by a Pentecostal Church, and she’s not able to attend Church or seminary at all. She says one of the teachers is a member of the Church, but he isn’t well grounded in the gospel. She is a good student and hopes to attend the university and major in marketing. She likes her economics class. She can’t get e-mail at school so I told her I would write to her.

Tonight I invited Patricia to come and watch part of the General Young Women’s Conference on our laptop. She seemed to soak it all in. We watched the opening, including Liz’s prayer again, and Sister Dibb and Sister Cook and then the video. Patricia was impressed that it was our granddaughter giving the prayer. She said, “I would be shaking!” I think maybe Liz was also shaking. It was fairly late then so we turned it off. I had made brownies and gave Patricia some with a scoop of ice cream. She said, “This is very sweet!” I said, “I know that African people don’t like sweets.” She said, “Oh, I like it!” I sent her off with two “New Eras” that we had brought with us and told her I would send her a subscription.

(click on collage to enlarge)

Saturday, May 16 we went with the Shipleys and Binghams to Aburi. It’s a small mountain village about an hour away from Accra. It has two major attractions – the Botannical Gardens started by the British in 1890 and the woodcarvers shops all along the main road. We stopped first at the wood carvers and enjoyed watching some of them at work. See the photo of the lovely carving we bought representing unity in marriage. We don’t have anything decorative in our apartment and thought we could enjoy it here, and it’s not too large to fit in a suitcase when we go home. Then we headed to the Botannical Gardens where we hired a guide to show us around. The Royal Palms along the entrance were planted in 1890! They are magnificent! Because it was Saturday there were a number of school children enjoying the beautiful day and the lovely plants and trees. We had a good time sharing our picnic lunch and arrived home by early afternoon where we promptly took a good nap.

Yesterday was our all Ghana Family History Seminar. We had planned on about 35 attending, and there were 49! . Every area in Ghana was represented. We were thrilled!
The youngest in attendance was a young woman named Joyce, who just a week ago was sustained as a Branch Consultant in Koforidua. She bore a sweet testimony, telling how humble she felt and how overwhelmed by the responsibility. She had felt a special spirit in the meeting, and it was confirming to her as to the truth of the doctrine of Family History.

The most experienced was Brother Afrifa who started working in Family History in 1996! We took a picture of them together.

One of the most popular activities was a quiz where we had them work together with their Stake or District – about four – to come up with the right answers. It was a good teaching tool, and some important things were brought out.

We had a refreshment break and a very good lunch which all enjoyed. We noticed that the men were very quiet when they were eating. The women seemed more willing to visit. Brother Afrifa was our official photographer, and he took many pictures.

We closed with testimonies, and many special ones were shared. We felt that there was a good feeling, and many expressed appreciation. Now Brother Bonsu thinks we should do the same thing in Lagos, Nigeria and in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

Ghana Temple

Ghana Temple

We went on our first endowment session in the temple this week. We were the only white folks on the session and were chosen to be the witness couple. We had a wonderful experience with so many memories of our last mission here. This temple is so uniquely beautiful, and we love it. We have been to Friday evening sealing sessions with other missionary couples. We did a whole hour’s worth of Bevan family sealings. That was very special. So many of the people we helped to train are still serving as ordinance workers and doing such a great job!