...Angels encircle the little ones..

The scriptures witness of Jesus taking each child in his arms and blessing them. Oh, what a sight to behold as angels surrounded that scene. What would I have felt and seen as a father of one of those little ones on that glorious day? But I now know that same witness in my heart because of the events of this past 10 days. This time of the season is known as "holding hands" in the bush region. The farms are planted and very little harvesting takes place from July to mid Aug. All people seem to know to share with their neighbor and "hold hands" through this period of none. This year was an exception and difficult to endure. It began to rain very hard and did not cease for 4 days. We thought there were herds of horses on our rooftop for the full 4 days. The small rivers flooded most of the communities farms and livelihood. Power was out for 3+ days along with phone service, and internet. And on top of that, all roads were flooded with as much as 18 ft. of running water so no travel into or out of the villages in the region. It was a shock to the residents here for they had never witnessed such devastation with no hope for relief. This is a society of farmers who live from hand to mouth, day to day. And the children, they are dependent on mother and father to survive. Confused and bewildered, I saw the little ones suffer the most. Father did not bring home Cassava or Plantain for Fofo. No firewood from the farm for fires to cook or clean, and food still is very scarce. Play areas were under water in some places and snakes and scorpions were becoming a common sighting. Fresh water was not at the outlets because of the loss of power. With the river still flooding, many families were displaced and took refuse in the village homes. It is a time for reflection and hope is the only solaces.
Babies still need to be fed, children still need to be held and comforted, and siblings still tend to their little brothers or sisters no matter where they are housed. It is the way of the Lord that keeps these little ones. I am amazed at the protection of the children, surely by angels. They seem to be lifted above the challenges that are at hand, and why should that be any different in our own lives as adults? I marvel at the desire of the children to embrace the Saviour when He appeared to the Nephites, yet they had not seen him here on earth. Is it a way for Father in Heaven to shelter his precious spirits from the evil one, even when confronted by life threatening circumstances?
I have witnessed the rescue of a mother and her baby daughter who clung to a tree for 36 hours until help came. All the time wrapped on her mothers back and only breast feeding twice during the duration. Only a mother with the help from God can explain that miracle. A child so close to dangerous snakes and yet no strike from the predator. Scorpions running from the water and no child stung. Trees full of snakes and scorpions with children in the tree all holding their position for survival. It is a true modern miracle to me and the villagers.
With nothing but hope these children love life and hold dear the truths their mothers and fathers have taught them. The dry ground will once again appear and father will go to the farm and bring back Cassava and Plantain for Fofo and soup. Mother will still her little ones close to her breast for protection, and Jesus will bless the little ones and they will all be encircled by angels. To that end I testify of Fathers love for all of his sons and daughters here on his footstool.
(It has been and emotional time for Sister Dalton and I these past several days and I testify of the protecting hands of angels in our life and others we love and pray for. This posting has been the most difficult for me and yet sacred to my soul. I shall never forget these feelings or events)

They did not send away any who were hungry.

    We had more rain yesterday.  The rain is causing alot of flooded areas.  Many saints and community people have lost their farms and everything they have.   It's so hard to see people not have any food,  but so humbling to see the  people  helping one another.  They are sharing what little food they have.  They have truely lived the law of sharing with their neighbor.     Sister Dalton

"...they delight in the covenant of the Lord..."

"With all of our heart" she said and he nodded with content. As we sat at their humble table and shared a meal of fofo and snail soup under the open shy, I marveled at their act of kindness to Sister Dalton and I. They sat us in their only 2 plastic chairs as they sat on stones, we dipped our hands in a bowl of freshly drawn water from the river and they graciously waited on us with a dried cloth that had been hanging on the clothes line next to the cook house. As the fire crackled and we shared their meal talking of their life and how a 72 year old man and a 52 year old woman had a 6 year old son. This we a tender moment for Daniel and Mary Danquah and the story begins 36 years before. Daniel was a merchant marine worker and had sailed to Liberia to load medical supplies for the Ghana government. He was at port when war broke out in Liberia and their ship was taken over by rebels. He was held prisoner for 7 months along with a young woman gathered up by the rebels in the city. "She was young and beautiful and should not have been there" he repeated. Daniel protected her from some of the men and assured her she would be safe with him. They grew closer together and when she was released she would return with morsels of food for Daniel. "Just dip your hand into the Fofo and then dip it in the snail soup" she said as she demonstrated the technic. I was enthralled with Daniel's story and did just as she showed me so he would continue with his sharing. "A month or so later, I was released, no ship, no mates, no way to go home" he continued. Yet he knew he had a friend in Mary. She took him in and help plan his return to Ghana. In Daniels own words "I was so taken with this woman's kindness and generosity that I was determined to ask her hand in marriage. I did not want to return to home without her by my side." War and rebellion was rampant in Liberia at that time and Mary's family was leaving to try to get to the United States. She was torn for her loyalty was with her family and America, it was almost a dream, yet her heart was with this good man from a distant land who she knew really very little about. "Oh Mary, this is so good" as we continued to dip our fingers into the Fofo and then the soup. Sister Dalton and I where hanging on for every word from Daniels mouth and I noticed only occasionally would he swallow  a small piece of Fofo or snail or crab that was in the soup. Mary and Daniel escaped from the civil unrest and came home to Sankubenase where they began life together. They are farmers and Mary learned to work along side her husband's side each and every day. They had 6 children when one day a set of missionaries stopped by their home. "It was raining Mary said and they shouldn't have been out in that weather." What light they brought into their home, It was if they were angels with the light they radiated. The whole family was baptized and the branch loved them into the fold. I 2005, Daniel and Mary took their family to the Accra Temple and were sealed as a family forever. It was a tender moment that Sister Dalton and I experienced as we whipped away the tears. They continued, "we were so blessed to feel that sealing power on our souls and have tried to please the Lord in all we do." Two sons have served missions and they have their 23 year old son serving in Nigeria now. "Eleven months now and he is safe and serving the Lord with all of his heart" as Mary brought out a picture he had sent home. We could tell they had held that photo many a times as the corner were dog-eared and it curled from a mothers clutch. "Oh Elder, you have dripped some soup on your shirt, please let me clean it" and she gently dipped her skirt into the clean water and dabbed at my shirt. I was almost over taken with emotion as I was attended to by the stately woman who had worked all day long by her husbands side at their farm and now had cooked a meal for her small family and shared their meager meal with us. Mary then said, "this little boy" as she held their son to her breast, "is our covenant child." "You see he was conceived right after our temple trip and there are 17 years between his brother and him.  We were not ashamed or shocked, but happy God had a son for our family. We have raised him in the ways of the Lord and feel so blessed to see him love the Lord as we do."
They are humble servants of the Lord that trust and know his spirit in all their doings in their lives. Daniel teaches Seminary and Mary is the Primary President for the branch.
As Sister Dalton and I walked the little trail to our car with Daniel and Mary holding our hands, it was if we were being led to heaven. We hugged Daniel and Mary as we arrived to our car. "Safe journey! We love you with all of our hearts." Mary said as Daniel nodded with content.
"Oh we love you too, Daniel and Mary Danquah- for we will never be the same after this heavenly night."

"...for your offering is acceptable to me'

I have pondered the great impact that returned missionaries have in this region. I believe that 70% of the district and branch leaders are returned missionaries. You ask how that can be with these peoples circumstances but the Lord has made a way for this to be true. There are 130 young missionaries in the Ghana Accra Mission, over 70% are from different parts of Africa. The picture below showing two young boys with the Elders along their side are both from Africa. The one in white is from Nigeria, Elder Celu, The one that is dressed is from Western Ghana, Elder Nkestiah. They both serve in Konongo which is the northern most reaches of the mission. They are both converts to the church and have felt the call of the Prophet. They serve faithfully because of honor, commitment, and duty. I have watch them grow and seen the change in their lives as they carry the message to all that will listen. These two young men that are being baptized are referrals from a great family in Domenbra. This is a small village some 40 minutes to the NE of Konongo. When the father was asked if his two sons could be baptized into the church, he said" I am glad to see that they are on the Lords side. They are good boys and I brought them into this world and I want to do my best with Gods help to raise them clean and pure." Their parents are now being taught and the boys have lead the way. Elder Celu was truly touched and saw the hand of the Lord in this contact. When Elder Celu and Elder Nkestiah return with honor to their branches, they will be leaders among their people and this because of their dedicated service to the Lord. These and other missionaries do not have the luxury of showers, or washing machines, of ovens or microwaves, of extra clothes or 12 ties. They wash in buckets, iron with older hot irons, shower with buckets, usealy cold water, cook on hot plates, and yet are so excited to do the Lords work. They are always clean, with white pressed shirts. Never a complaint, never a discouraging word or murmuring. They walk in the rain and sometimes even ride their bikes long distances to small villages to teach those that want the truth. They miss meals, they leave early and get home late in the dark. All because they Love the Lord and have responed to the beckoned call of the Prophet. I am humbled as I associate with this mighty army of Helaman. I have been taught by their example and testimonies. Their offering is all their life and then some.

The lower picture is of a short man who is a leader in the Asunofo Branch. He was born and raised in that village. He is now the 1st councilor in the Branch Presidency, brother George Obeng. He is small in stature yet mighty in Spirit. He was baptized in 1998- the only member in his family. He was young and acted upon the truth he felt from the Book of Mormon. He was determined to serve a mission to thank the Lord for the gift he had received. He worked hard as a farmers helper and carried block for building new building at night to save the money to serve. "I worked hard to show the Lord I loved him and wanted to serve a mission to bring the truth to others." He would fall in bed at night totally exhausted and his family ridiculed him for his efforts and goal. He persisted and in 2000 he received a call from the Lord to serve in Nigeria. This mighty missionary, all 4'8" of pure love for the work, 1 shirt, 1 pair of borrowed pants, a used tie and his scriptures over his shoulder in a homemade bag, began his trek to Nigeria from Ghana. It was long and hard but arrived at his appointed time and place as outlined. Once washed and clothes cleaned he was hard at work doing the Lords business. In his own words, "I baptized many many people who were prepared for His teachings. Some poor some rich some old some young. They were all Fathers children and I needed to remind them of their per-earth life heritage. When they realized they were of royal birth and they were chosen to hold the restored Priesthood of God, they were baptized into His church. I was just an instrument in the Lords work". Sister Dalton and I have visited less active members with Brother George and have witnessed his strong commitment to bring all of Fathers sheep into the fold. He stands strait and true as he bears fervent testimony to those he sheppards. He truly is a giant spiritual leader prepared for his area and bears the authority of God honorably and humbly. His "offering" 10 years ago has prepared him for his continued offering to this day.
You might think his lot is hard for he still has only 1 white shirt, 1 pair of pants, 3 ties and a pair of sandals for Sundays; no stove, no running water, no windows, no shower, no washing machine, no refrigerator and has not married yet. Once again in his own words," when I returned home from my mission, I flew on a plane. I had never seen one before and it was exciting. I flew into Accra and no one was there to greet me. I went to the mission home and asked If I could stay the night so I could be a part of the Accra Temple ground breaking the next day. It was a joyous occasion indeed. I cried as I shook the Prophets hand. He read my soul and drew me to his breast- I shall never forget that moment," With tears streaming down his check, "but the best part of Fathers blessing to me was taking all of my family to that Temple 3 years later after I baptized them all!!!!"
We serve with giants here and we are so thankful for the love Father continually showers on us. Oh how glorious it is to be in this land! The Spirit of the Ghana Temple shines over this people, that I testify.

They the builders of the Kingdom

Johnson Amoh was a school teacher in the 70's in a small village named Sankubenase. Johnson was a very active member of a local Penecostal congregation. In fact, he was a paid minister who was trusted with the churches funds. One day as he was in the Sunday service, he heard a voice that stated "Johnson, do not come back to this church. It is wrong and your family will suffer if you do." He went home after that meeting and told his wife of his experience, and together they never went back to that church. There was some persecution they received, yet they were determined to follow their promptings. One day he was at the school and shared his experience with Steven Abu who was the paymaster for the school and the first person baptised in Ghana in the North region. He began to laugh as Johnson finished his story. Johnson was a bit confused and embarassed with Stevens responce before Brother Abu told him he had prayed mightily for a miricle to take place so Johnson and his family would listen to the truth. He and his wife were baptied by Brother Abu in 1979 and Johnson is still faithful to those covenants. To see the Lords hand in this families life and in the growth of the Church in this area is truly magnificant, for you see now in 2011, 1 son is in the District Presidency, 2 sons are Branch Presidents, 1 son is an attorney for the church in Accra, Johnson and his sons built the Sankubenase chapel, along with Steven Abu and his sons, while serving as the first branch President. Johnson is now the Elders Quorum President of the branch. And his wife and 2 girls, all have been Relief Society Presidents and Sister Amoh is the District R.S. President even now. Does the Lord hear and answer the pleadings of a humble man who loves the church and his children- I say "yes" beyond a shaddow of a doubt!

Sister Alice Amben was a yong mother trying to support her family after her husband died. Steven Abu was always kind to her and passed on fruit to her family from his farm. One day Steven told her that she needed to bring her family to church and worship with he and his family. They came that following week and felt the spirit. She told us she could not deny the feelings and wanted more for her whole family. The missionaries were called and traveled to her home where the truth was taught and she was baptised along with 2 children. That was 1980 and she was called as the first Relief Society President in the Asunofu Branch. She served for 11 years. She is now elderly and a bit slow, yet today she walked to the podium and bore the sweetest testimony in Twi. There was not a dry eye and though I did not understand the words, I did recognise the spirit witness to my soul of her love of the Savior and the restoration of the church. Her neck has a goudor growth that makes it hard to speak but with the Lord, all heart were touched and strengthened. I shall never forget that feeling of the love all of us had for this dedicated builder of the Kingdom in the Abomosu District.

Many of the saints have witnessed to Sister Dalton and I of the mercys the Lord has extended to them. We have wept with their testimonies in our heart and on our mind and feel privileged to also have felt the tender mercys of the Lord. I testify of the Lords hand in our work and the guiding of our visits to members homes. Lives have been changed with Gods help and we are witnesses of those changes, even in our own lives! We have "been brought low" as the scripture says and it is the grandest time of our lives,