Creating New Stakes, Wards and Branches

 One of the most fun things we get to see is the growth of the Church in West Africa. One of our jobs is to process the paper work to create the new stakes, wards and branches.

The strong faith and love that the people have here for the gospel is powerful. The Church has only officially been in West Africa about 40 years since Nov. 1978 and so we are seeing its very beginning, its birth.  Bob and I have been attending wards in the Ashiman Stake for the last few months - Bethlehem, Kpone, Dawenya and Michel Camp Branch.

In 2005 Ashaiman was one ward. They met in a tent which had to be put up and taken down each week. When it rained, the woman and children would move to the inside of the tent, the the men would line the outside. 

In 2008 they got a building to hold church in, It quickly became the Tema Stake

But the people kept coming. The Tema Stake divided  in 2014 and the Ashaiman Stake was created . Now we have two Stakes.

All this from one little ward holding church in a tent. .

This is the first Stake Conference of the Ashaiman Stake. If you look closely you can see Elder Wilde and me and Doug and Becky Stoker.  It is such a blessing to be among these people. Elder Holland said it well when he said, "Africa is one of those special places where you get to see the glory of the Lord, the wonder and the miracle of the Restoration, quite literally unfold before your eyes."

Windows of Light

One of the blessings of our mission is the temple in our back yard.

At night it glows.

 "And I will also be your light in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you...."

(I Nephi 17:13)

 "I will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore." (Exekiel 37:26)

"Come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye also may be partakers of the fruit of the tree of life."

(Alma 5:62)

 "Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." (Ephesians 5:14)
One day when I was little and staring at the temple, I asked my Dad, "Why is the angel blowing his trumpet?" He said, "He is saying "Good News the Church is restored."
Good News!

James Town

James Town is the oldest neighborhood in Accra and has more personality than almost anywhere else in town. 

A highlight is the 30 meter red and white colonial lighthouse. You can climb the spiral staircase and see much of the city.

James Town is also the home of James Fort Prison, now closed. It's empty shell is a reminder of hard times past.

With our guide, "Nice One," we went down into the fishing village below the lighthouse. 

This is the 3rd largest harbor in Ghana next to Tema and Cape Coast. Fishing is still the traditional way of life here and fishing boats come in early to mid morning with their catch.

                                                     Boats are made in the village.

Fish are carried to the shore and laid out to dry or put in barrels and taken to market.

The ground is covered with sardines drying so they can be sold. 

Some of the fish are put into trays to smoke them.

Repairing the nets are one of the major jobs that need to be done and redone.

The life of a fisherman's family is not easy.

The work is hard.

But despite this, the people had a sense of community here and they let everyone come here. The school is also paid for by the community so all of the children can go.

This is Elder Wilde in front of the school. This was Saturday so it was closed.

                                    There is a sense of belonging here. And fishing is very important.

The children grow up with boating dreams.