Football Tournament Pictures

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...remember O remember...

This will be the first segment of a two part series about a very special time in our mission. It is a story that ties our home ward of the Grandview First Ward in Provo, Utah to the children and people of the Atiwa District of Abomosu, Ghana, over half a world apart. It is most important that all involved know the whole story so this may be passed onto future generations to share the humble beginnings of this great friendship.

In August 2011 we received a wonderful email from our Grandview Ward in Provo, UT. asking if they could do a small service project, by proxy, here in Abomosu, Ghana. With careful pondering and depending upon the Lord’s direction we responded some days later with an idea for donating real soccer balls for the 19 World Joy Schools throughout the Atiwa District. We noticed as we visited many of the schools there were no real soccer balls, just old wore out basketballs or flat rubber balls or rag balls made out of rolled up rags and tied with string to resemble a ball to kick. These children range from age 3 to 14 years old and no school had real footballs (soccer balls) for the children to enjoy, and everyone knows, Ghana loves it’s football. The Grandview Ward council met and began organizing a 5K run to raise money for the children of the Abomosu District schools. The date was set for Oct 1, 2011 and a copy of the event can be found on Facebook at: Grand Day for Ghana. It was touching to Sister Dalton and me to watch the videos and gaze at the pictures of our ward family who thought so much of others to run in their behalf. There are those that are aged, crippled, young, and oh so many loving members that through their kindness and sacrifice, have made this a sweet event for us to witness. Though our ward family is some 12,000 miles away and will never see the joyful eyes of so many children, we will always have their faces inward in our hearts and in our minds eye.

Late Dec. 2011, the funds were transferred to a purchaser who filled our order for 60 soccer balls, 4 sets of jerseys and twenty pumps and pins. We planned with the District School board over those months and organized a two day football tournament the the 19 schools. We would have the first day matches for those children of the primary grades, and the following day with those children of the upper grades so all would be equal as possible. Field preparations were on the way with lines painted and goal posts constructed as well as the district volunteered to hire outside referees for the matches. Tents were set up for the dignitaries and cameramen were organized, all in anticipation of two days of grand fun for the children.  

On Feb. 23^rd 2012 the splendid day had arrived and the games began. High noon was the first match of primary age children and what a crowd of over 2400 people and supporters were on hand to see the opening kick. The matches were scheduled to continue throughout the day with games to be played on a 20 non-stop minute match with the boys and girls playing their hearts out. I had the boot of my truck filled with new soccer balls locked and safe from so many wandering eyes that surrounded the field. At the conclusion of each match, the losing team would receive 3 new soccer balls, a pump and pin; the winning team would move onto the next round later in the day. The final championship game for the primary children would he held the next day to decide the champion who would also be awarded a set of jerseys for their school. The same would was planned for the older JHS children who would play the next day, Feb. 24^th 2012.  Many of the teams wore borrowed jerseys and three teams shared their jerseys with other schools. There were players with wore out soccer shoes or tennis shoes, some with only socks on their feet, but most were barefooted and excited to play in front of so many people. The sights and sounds of the pageantry was so exciting and filled our hearts with great passion for these wonderful children.

The first match was to begin and the referees were nowhere to be found. I gathered the 4 missionaries and enlisted their help as referees for the games. They did a yeomen job and were truly great representatives for the Church. They wore their white shirts and name tags but I had them take their ties off for the sun was beating down on us something fierce.  I took out the game ball that would be used for the whole tournament and drop kicked the ceremonial first kick and the games began. It was exciting and these young children took some time to figure out how to maneuver the ball and gauge their kicking strength for this ball really sailed when they booted it and they had not realized the game chancer a real soccer ball would bring to their efforts. It was fun as the referees (missionaries) chased the ball all over the field after a wild kick. Even the children had a great time getting use to a new properly inflated ball. And the fans acted as if this was a nationally televised game as the close goals were kicked and finally after 17 minutes the first goal was scored and the whole field went wild! It was so exciting and the fans rushed the field and lifted the 5 year old on their shoulders and paraded him around as a celebrity. To center field again we began and within a few minutes another goal was scored to tie the game. Again there was great celebration as the parents and supporters were so enthusiastic for the children. With two minutes left to play in the game, we dropped the ball at center field and intense game faces came to light. Just 11 seconds before the buzzer, another goal was scored this time by a 4 year old girl and pandemonium began. There was dancing in the field and chanting as the girl was mobbed by her teammates and fans of both teams. Finally after some time we gathered again to play the last 11 seconds. The game ended with the score 2 to 1, Presby Primary taking the win. The field was covered with children and parents in celebration for several minutes and it was a sight to behold for all of us. We were all caught up in the joyous time and the cheers could be heard throughout the whole district I’m sure. I gathered both teams to the center of the field and taught the winning team to give 3 “hurray’s” for the other team and brought out three new balls for that team that would be going home after their loss. It was the best part of the tournament when the losing team realized they would also get three new balls for just playing and oh what a celebration we all had to know there were no losers for the next two days of matches. I shall never forget the eyes of these children when they held all three new balls high above their heads and cheered that they could take all three back to their schools- it was priceless moments each time I awarded teams 3 new soccer balls. Something the teachers and students had only dreamt about over the years.

The next two teams gathered at the middle of the field to begin their match and instructions were issued and we were ready to begin, but there was no ball. Where was the game ball? No one knew until a group of people told us the story that some teenage boys had stolen the ball and had run in the bush. I said “what? this can’t happen!” Then one of the parents said that I would have to get another ball out of my truck boot for the games to start again……to be continued…

 

 

 

 

...and their hearts are with their God...

It was raining and the counselor stood to open the meeting with only a handful of members present. Men out numbered the women- 14 men, 1 woman, 3 children. They were all rained soaked but in their seats. “Akwaba” and then the familiar sound “Yenna”. Announcements were spoken in Twi and the opening hymn was Welcome, Welcome Sabbath Morning. The hymn was sung rather slowly due to the English words. The invocation was offered by Brother Boafa who dripped water the entire way from his seat and was barefoot as he stood at the pulpit and bowed his head. “God from above, we thank you for the much needed rain for our crops and our wells and our homes….” I looked up as he poured out his heart for those that were not there at the time and asked “the blessings of heaven to carry our brothers and sisters to our meetings”. He never asked for the rain to stop, just that the saints would come to the meetings that day. During the next 70 minutes, I witnessed the whole chapel fill with faithful saints who walked in the rain to their beloved Church; babies upon their mother’s backs who were soaked through and through. Children in Sunday best already muddy and wet, mothers with beautiful head wraps that drooped around their faces, and fathers and husbands with white shirts and ties drenched by the heavy rain. All removed their shoes at the door and reverently entered the chapel barefoot. Where they sat, there were puddles of water from their clothes and faces; not a cry or a complaint was heard. One by one they filled the chapel to capacity and one by one many walked to the pulpit and bore testimony of the blessings they had received by Gods hand. It was a most spiritual witness of these fine pilgrims holding fast to the rod of iron they feel so deeply in their hearts. I saw most men and all of the women that shuffled into the chapel and found a seat, would immediately bow their heads for a few seconds and then would prepare for the meeting. I wondered what their few seconds of thought was about. Here they were soak and wet, had prepared themselves and children in the rain before coming, and walking, sometimes over one hour, down rained covered trails to attend church; and I, arose in a dry home, had time to study the scriptures before I came, and drove in a modern truck over muddy roads to the same chapel to worship alone side these humble saints of God. I felt envious of their pledged hearts, and guilty of my occasional complaints of the elements. Are we not all to be taught by these dedicated humble saints here in Ghana? I feel the need to learn of their ways and their love of God. And of their moments of bowing their heads when they first set down, I inquired of one sweet elderly sister, “I thanked God for the rain today and my every breath that carried me here to church.”