I apologize for the delay with our blog contributions but have experienced some technical challenges commonly found here Africa. Over the next few days I will make up those 3 missed weeks. Enjoy-
An assignment
was given to Sister Dalton, me, and the Abomosu Zone Leaders, over 6 months ago
from our mission president; “please teach and baptize the Kade Branch
Presidents wife. She is a key link in the growth of the members and the Church
in that area.” Kade is two and a half hours from Abomosu on the worst roads in
Ghana, and though the distance is not that far, the time of travel is very significant
in a day’s work here. We carefully planned for those days to visit with Margrette
Drah and her family, being careful to use that distance to visit others in Oda
and Asamankase as well. President Drah has been the branch president for over
5 years and has been a “rock” in his service to that small branch without the
help of full-time missionaries to assist in the growth. He was baptized in 1997
and their 3 children have followed suit. Together each week they formed a
strong backbone for this branch and the foothold of the Church in this town of
45,000 in the southern bush. Margrette would attend most weeks but did not
choose to be baptized. Missionaries over the years have made the trip from
Asmankase or Oda to Kade to teach her and share their testimonies, but her
baptismal commitment never came about. Most missionaries who had bore testimony
to her still remember what a good woman she was, yet had no understanding why
she did not partake of the blessings of baptism. She was considered by most, as
that China Egg that would never
hatch.
We counseled
together with the Zone Leaders, Elder Boateng and Elder Garrett Smith, about
our assignment and knelt in fervent prayer before the Lord, and with faith, we
set out to accomplish our inspired Mission Presidents’ request. One day in
August 2012, we met with Margrette at her home late one afternoon. We sat for a
minute and spoke of family and met each child and felt of their spirits. I
shall never forget how within 6 or 8 minutes the dipping sun was shrouded with
thick black clouds rolling with thunder and a fierce rainfall following right
behind. These homes here have corrugated mostly rusted tin roofs; opened
through the rafters to the metal. I was setting alongside Elders Smith and
Boateng. Elder Boateng had opened up the Book of Mormon with Margrette and shared
a reading from its pages of the love of God for all of His children, when all
of a sudden the storm rose with deafening proportions as thunder clapped
directly over our heads bringing all of us to our feet with an electrifying
shock. The rains instantly came down on that tin roof in buckets exposing all
of the leaks through the roofing. We scurried around for pots, pans and towels
to cover the desk where Margrette was setting. Rapid thundering and lightning
strikes continued, making the children scream and hold each other. Is was if the
rath of an unknown power seemed to clutch the moment and even our beings. We
could hear no words spoken, for the torrential rain on the roof did not allow
hearing each other. We experienced the thunder and lightning and rain pounding
upon the roof with such intensity, I prayed for protection and safety and a
release from this awful noise that filled the home. I remember surveying the
situation with which we had found ourselves in; we had come to uncover
concerns, we had come spiritually prepared to teach by the spirit, we had come
to show love to this dear sister and her family. We had come to testify of the
power of the Temple blessings offered to Margrette and the family she loved,
and along with her husband, raised unto the Lord. Yet it seemed our preparations
and the message was overshadowed by the tempest tossed of the elements. We
huddled around the small table on the porch within a screened area with inches
of rainwater all about us on the concrete floor, saying nothing- waiting and
silently praying for help. Twenty five minutes is a long time to listen to
thunderous rain pour over head and to set with your feet covered with standing
water from a furious storm- but we did, patiently waiting upon the Lord.
Through all of this discomfort and furious earthly noise, the Still small voice
whispered to my mind that this fine women had had a dream and had seen herself
in the waters of baptism dressed in white surrounded by heavenly family long
since passed on. I was to ask her of this dream and witness to her she was
highly favored of the Lord and prayed for by ancestors now beyond the veil. I
looked at Margrette and saw her in my mind’s eye dressed in those white
baptismal clothes, and marveled at the wonders of God. Peace overshadowed me
and I testify how I was comforted from above.
…to be continued…
