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. 23rd 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. 24th 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…
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