...to one of the, least of these, ye did it unto me...

Late Thursday afternoon we received a call from President Deho in Asunafo that Brother and Sister Kesse’s home had burned to the foundation. They had lost all of their earthly possessions but their 2 children were safe and unharmed. In fact, Ernest, their 6 year old son, was the one that ran to a neighbor for help. Brother and Sister Kesse were at the farm and Ernest just came home from school. Their 3 year old daughter was at Grandmas for the day. We arrived at the scene as they threw the last bucket of hauled water on the smoking ruble. It was a stark realization we live in a world where good and bad happen to us all sometime in our lives. Their eyes were moist as they surveyed the pile of all their household belongings were in a small smoldering pile. What would they do and how could they ever recover, was in their eyes and on their lips as we hugged each family member. They had saved and squirrelled away enough Cedis for this year’s CoCoa season. The cost of replanting and spraying of the needed chemicals to keep the bush from taking over, all of that money was lost in the fire. Clothes, beds, tables, chemical sprayers, family history records, family hand me downs and sacred keepsakes. The only thing I saw that was recovered intact and unburned was their Triple Combination upon the night stand next to their burnt bed. That was a miracle in itself but other miracles came to them in sweet and tender ways I would like to share this week.

Members of the branch were on hand to take charge and bless their lives. Under the direction of President Deho, the Branch President, shelter was provided, clothing was donated and brought to them as gifts of love, beds donated, tables replaced, food was brought and hope was written in their hearts, once again. It was as if the Lord knew what was needed by this branch and the wonders of His ways are never really understood until time passes. The Kesse’s were at Church Sunday in new dresses sewn by loving sisters, Bro. Kesse wore a new white shirt with a red tie and Sunday slacks that he had never had before. The children were dressed in the finest I have ever seen them in and all were welcomed warmly as they entered the chapel. It was a scene I will never forget. Brother Kesse held his Triple Combination as a sense of witness to the congregation the Lord spared what was most precious to their family. It was moving indeed to Sister Dalton and me when told of their Sunday experience.

There are unsung heroes I know about and have felt so humbled to tell of their contribution to this wonderful family. There is a group from Utah State in Logan, Utah, who over the last several months has changed and improved the lives of many of the community members in Asunafo and Abomosu, Ghana. They are business students that have moved their good work forward with the help of donors who see the vision of the program. It is a program headed by Dave Herrmann of the Business department. They have implemented a wonderful program of Micro Loans for these people here in the Abomosu area. They have developed a small loan program for these fine people who have no way to increase their businesses unless there is help from outside sources. This is a program of teaching, preparing, and following certain guidelines for these micro business loans. Over the last several months they have enlightened so many and have not had a loan default. It is a true blessing for these fine people and gives them hope and confidence to succeed in their business dreams. Each student that comes to Abomosu for the 3 months term, has truly been changed for life and will always cherish their experience here. They learn to grow to love these people as they work and teach them concepts that will bless generations to come. Lasting friendships are made and kept throughout life. It is a perpetual program that will build the good business needs of the community. Other interns have come from the program and laid the foundation and it has flourished wonderfully for these people. But the four interns here now, have been a joy to watch and witness the change they bring to many. Solomon Kesse was one of those. They gave him a Micro Loan for his CoCoa farm. He put that money with his savings and planned to begin using those funds for this year’s crop, next week. Solomon was determined to repay the loan and had told his loan officers he would repay as agreed. As you now realize, that money was destroyed in their devastating fire. The interns were made aware of that loss and on their own, they contacted the programs director and the decision was made to re-loan him the micro loan and extend the repayment days. It was done without announcement or others knowing of this tender mercy they have presented the Kesse family. They came to his home and comforted the family and it was then they gently and quietly placed the exact loan amount into his hand and gave him the new plan they had approved. No fanfare, no praise or lights of fame, just genuine kindness by business partners. Chemicals will be purchased and crops still harvested and hope instilled for a humble family in the bush of Africa that only a very few will ever know their whole story. The kindness and generosity of Utah State Seed Program director, Dave Herrmann, Lauren Pont, Clint Call, Quinn Jensen and Greg Lyons will ever be recorded in heavenly records kept by angels, we testify. 

God Bless all of the Utah State Seed Program donors and participants.

Their picture is at the top of this story.