...and their hearts were softened...

The final match time had finally come after 2 days of nonstop soccer games. All had come down to this final game that would determine the champion of 19 bush schools. The teams were called to come to the field. As I stood at center field, I could see a conflict brewing and knew our time was short for this tournament. The team that had been disqualified due to cheating, had banded together with 200 spectators and began to prance their way to the center of the field. The team that was to play was held back on the sidelines by another group of chanting fans. They came to the center of the field, chanting and with arms locked together insisting they play and not the team that had been moved up to take their place for the final game. By this time the team that had earned their way to the final match began to back off the field as more and more angry fans began chanting “we play - no Obruni”. With the missionaries standing mid field with me and many of the organizers seeing this as a riot situation, I spoke to the missionaries and said we were to leave right now and we took the game ball and left the field. We immediately jumped into the truck and drove away from the chaos of 2500 people gathered to watch the final match. The coaches and teachers for the disqualified team had in sighted this movement among the fans of their team during the final match of the Primary children, and had figured the “ole Bruni” would back down and let them play. Little did they realize the integrity or the purpose of the tournament and its organizers. As I drove away I could see in my rear view mirror a full out conflict between those for and those against the call of disqualification of the cheating team and their coaches. It was ugly at best but we were save and away from any danger.

The decision was made that Sister Dalton and I along with President Oppong and Brother and Sister Abu, we would go to each of the schools, the following week, that had not been awarded the new soccer balls and the two winning teams that never got the chance to play, and award the gifts to them at their individual schools. It was a plan that was most effective and rewarding as each school greeted us with open arms and cheered for the right they knew to be true. I shall never forget the wonderful faces of those precious youth as they were handed 3 new balls and the two championship teams received their deserved jerseys. It was thrilling and humbling as we walked the paths to some of these bush schools that had participated.

Now you would think that was the end to this saga of the donated soccer balls and the experience of these children, but know there is more to learn and see the wondrous hand of the Lord in people’s lives. The following Friday morning, one week after the tournament was closed, Sister Dalton and I had a “Agoo” at our door. I opened the door and was greeted by 7 teachers of the school that had been disqualified. We welcomed them in to our home and we formally greeted each one with “Akwabaa” as they sat in our living room. I noticed all of them were involved with the locking of arms and chanting along with hundreds of others before the final match. These were the instigators and those directly responsible for the closing of the tournament and even robbing many teams of the planned closing ceremonies and their awards. What could be their desires was definitely on my mind. Then one rose and asked permission to speak for the group. Humbly he began to ask forgiveness for the actions and conditions that transpired at the final day of the tournament. A spirit of calmness filled the room and all felt the healing power only given to those with humble hearts. He trembled as he spoke of their misdeeds and the poor example of their actions. Other chimed in as he stumbled over some words to express the sorrow of the 7 teachers who were present with him. At one time tears began to flow from all who witnessed the feeling of love. A long silence was felt, before Sister Dalton and I spoke from our hearts. We spoke of the meaning of the gift of the soccer balls by our ward back home in the US. I relayed their sacrifice and willingness to share their time and energy to raise the funds needed to purchase these balls and jerseys for the children. I relayed our only objective was to bless the lives of the children and give them a small feeling of enjoyment. We discussed the effects of their actions on their students and to others that were involved with the games. We read from the Book of Mormon of those that gloried in pride and their ultimate fate was sadness and despair. It was then at that very moment while feeling the spirit through the scriptures, they asked if there was any forgiveness option for them? Sister Dalton testified of the reality of the atonement and the opportunity for all to be forgiven through repentance. A plan was laid for them to write a letter of apology to the two schools that had not been able to play the final match. They were to hand deliver those letters to the students, teachers, and coaches of each school. They agreed and set a date of one week for their completion, where upon we would give them 3 new balls for their efforts. I still remember as they filed out one by one whispering “me dosei, me dosei”. As Sister Dalton and I sat down for a few minutes afterwards we still felt the lingering spirit of peace and warmth within our home. We soaked in what had just happened and thanked Father in Heaven for this wonderful tender mercy. The letters were delivered as promised and friendship rekindled between schools. Forgiveness was freely given when each letter was read to the students and teachers, and as promised, the new soccer balls were delivered to the repentant team.

During the next several weeks, missionaries were contacted by 5 of those humble teachers and asked if they too could receive a copy of the Book of Mormon. Over time, 3 of the seven have been baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints and are fine members of the Abomosu Branch. Though they will be assigned to other schools in the future, they will never forget the lesson of honesty and example they learned in Abomosu.

Wonders never cease and truly the Lord is the Master of his vineyard. He knows his servants and the hearts of those he has prepared for those servants. May we all trust in His ways is my prayer.