Monday, April 23, 2012

...comfort of the good shepherd...


Kwaku Obuobi was set apart as the first District Executive Secretary. To many this may not seem like much of a miracle but I testify this was a miracle in his life and in the districts history. Each of our District Presidency meetings since January, we have discussed men that the Lord would have as the District Executive Secretary. Many were considered but still no confirmation from He who directs this great work. Last month President Oppong called me on Sunday evening and said as he was visiting Abomosu’s meetings that day, he was touched by the spirit to interview a man who had been less active for some time. He had recently become active again and President Oppong was so happy to see him again in the fold. He asked the Branch President if he had a calling yet and was told he had not issued a call but would do so in the future. During the meeting President Oppong witnessed a vision about Brother Obuobi and his great future in the Lord’s kingdom. It brought tears to his eyes as he shared those tender feelings with me that night. After the meeting he welcomed Brother Obuobi and asked to visit with him in his office. President Oppong was impressed as he told of his wonderful visit. They reviewed the years before when he had raised his family in the fullness of the gospel with all being active and supportive of the Church. They shared times of working together on a service day for a widow woman who has passed on now and the feelings of her gracious love as she gave them a sugar cane stock from her humble house. In brotherly kindness, they spoke softly of Brother Obuobi’s beloved wife who had passed on some 5 years earlier. They shed tears together as they bore testimony of her faithfulness and love of the Book of Mormon and the healing words found within its pages.  Brother Obuobi with humble heart relayed why he had not come to church for over 4 years and now had recently come full circle to full activity once again in Fathers kingdom.
Bernice was his life; he told President Oppong, the sun rose and set on her every movement during her life. They were blessed with 4 children who are now grown and moved to various regions in Ghana.  He spoke of his wounded heart as he placed her in a grave at their childhood village in the Eastern Region. For months he grieved for his beloved and began to justify his anger towards the Lord. The grace of God was for others and not for him, he had reasoned. Why would a loving God want him to be sad and unhappy, after her examplenary live of cheering others? More and more he became bitter towards the Church and the members who seemed so happy despite his devastating loss. He alienated himself and felt justified in doing so. He said he was a broken man in spirit and heart. Life marched forward as not to care about his feelings and he was lonely in spirit and soul. During Christmas of 2011 he was invited to services at another church. Their meeting did not have the spirit of love he often felt when he and Bernice sat together on a bench in the Abomosu chapel. He went home and found the tattered Book of Mormon they once read together with passion and fondness. Opening its pages, he felt a warm glow enter his heart and mind and felt as if his beloved Bernice was holding him once again as he began reading the account of Jesus and his accession to the Americas after his resurrection. As he bowed his head, his eyes were opened to see his beautiful wife clothed in purity as she smiled from afar. He wept as he begged her to stay or take him with her. At that very moment Brother Obuobi saw the Ghana Temple off in the distant behind his Bernice, and the dream closed.  Reverently he sat and pondered the vision he had just received. Slowly he arose and walked to the Abomosu Chapel which was locked for the night and just gazed at the heavens while leaning on the front gate. It was there he covenanted to his beloved wife and to the Savior himself, that he needed to be healed form his errand ways and prepare for the temple ordinances he never had time for when Bernice was alive.  President Oppong was notably moved and he held back tears as Brother Obuobi asked for a blessing from his priesthood leader he had always loved. A blessing was pronounced and brothers once again embraced in the fullness of the gospel promises.
Brother Obuobi was called and set apart Sunday April 22, 2012, but more important is a date in May for the entire District Presidency to accompany Kwabu Obuobi to the Ghana Accra Temple for his own personal endowments. Sister Dalton will be proxy for his beloved Bernice and her endowment and then the two will be sealed by heavenly power and authority for the eternities. It is a fulfillment of a dream given to one humbled man who loves the Lord with all of his heart and soul. O what blessings will follow!

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