DON'T FORGET TODAY

THERE ARE SOME DAYS THAT YOU NEVER WANT TO FORGET.....Today was one of those days for me. Here on our Mission, you never truly know for sure what your day will hold. I love knowing that any corner, any part of a conversation, any chance given to testify and any gift you have been given from above is accessible in ANY MINUTE WITHIN YOUR HEART. 

Before our mission, I've really never pondered deeply upon or given much thought to those adults that don't read or write, and their plight on a daily basis. I've thought of children and their opportunities and dreams, but not of those adults that are lost in the world of English speakers. As I come in contact with them on a very personal and intimate way, I find them hungry to read the powerful words of God.

Today, in observing an on going literacy class at church, I found my attention focusing on an elderly woman advanced in her years struggling to hold the pencil. What fastened my eyes upon her was the small black purse that laid on the desk beside her. It contained a pencil and pieces of erasers that she was using during the class. I watched her for a moment as she held her pencil and was practicing the letter "R" with such painstaking patience. My heart was flooded with love for this daughter of God that was driven to this class that she may write, speak and read the gospel.

I was thankful that the class had two teachers, and one teacher was giving the elderly woman her individual attention, as others in the class were much more advanced and writing sentences. The wide margin of skills was humbling to watch. I took the teacher and explained gently the methods that we had taught in training and the power they would have on Grandma. The picture we showed her was of Joseph Smith sitting in a chair holding the bible and reading James. I asked the teacher to have her just name some of the things she saw in the picture in Twi since she spoke no English. She saw many things in the picture, but the one that she steadied on was the bible. She thought it was just a big book at first until I brought out a set of scriptures and sat them on her lap and she looked at the picture and back at the scriptures and said BIBLE. Next, we asked if she had any memories or experiences with the Bible, and she told a sweet story in Twi about all of her grandchildren spoke only English and she could not communicate with them as they read the bible. She wanted to share God's words with them.

As I took her small notebook that she had been practicing her ABC's writing them over and over, I had the teacher write "BIBLE" in her workbook. Her homework was to write this word and show it to her grandchildren. That word now meant something to her, because of her desire to be part of her grandchildren with God. The look in her eyes as you looked up at me brought me to my knees as we gazed into one another's souls. With no English except for the word "BIBLE", she smiled with eyes that were clouded with cataracts. I knew in that moment that the word "BIBLE" belonged to her for the rest of her life. 

The story God's grace upon Grandma didn't end there. During the Relief Society Lesson, they were speaking about The Power of the Word of God, and a woman raised her hand about halfway through, and said what about if you can't READ. They spoke of going to the gospel literacy class, and I wondered why this woman would ask such a concerned question. As we were ready to leave, I asked the teacher of the literacy class to tell me the name of the woman who they just called Grandma. The woman who asked the question about not being able to read turned and said, "That is my mother and her name is Margaret". We shared about our experience in the literacy class about her mother knowing the word "BIBLE", and how she had an assignment to write that word in her notebook. We spoke of her children asking their grandma what she learned today in class. 

As we parted and I walked out into the parking lot of the church, I looked up into the heaven's and felt His grace spread to His children that hunger to read His words.  He knew I would be there, the teacher would be there, the daughter would be there and most importantly He knew that Margaret would be there connected together.  Within this view of heaven, His miracles happen just that way.

The pictures below tell a beautiful story of gospel love....and more Margaret's waiting to learn!

 

BEAUTY OF THE LORD

Psalms 27:4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.

I love that within a few steps each day is His House here in Ghana, and that I indeed behold its beauty each time I pass. I often speak to others about the beautiful blessings bestowed upon us that we do not have to sacrifice a long journey to come and inquire of Him. The Saints frequent it so often that one of their customs on their birthday is to receive a priesthood blessing and come to the Temple. This land has much to teach us, and it is so true that when you are among the Saints here your life cannot help but be enriched.

Leaving the office last night and behold........

A NEW CHAPEL

OPEN HOUSE AND DEDICATION....The new La Ward Chapel has given quite a facelift to the surrounding area. As you can tell from the pictures, it is beautiful, the Chiefs that come from the area are in their traditional dress and the building has a classroom for Literacy. I love how the amazing people here celebrate with such tradition.

HOW ABOUT THOSE SMILES

A KNOCK FROM A FRIENDS KITCHEN WINDOW....You start your day the same as the ones before, but this morning as you come downstairs you hear "Sister Terry wait!" When Sister Watson comes out you find that you have dressed the opposite of each other and not even known our wardrobes had matching colors. The smiles that started our day was perfect! Those in the office didn't miss the twin job of dressing as well. The boys didn't do bad as well!

HOLIDAY FOR US

IT'S A HOLIDAY FOR US HERE IN GHANA and we found ourselves walking the streets with others trying hard, harder and hardest to sell us something. This was a street in the downtown sector that was blocked off and people lined up to buy their product. I felt trapped, and Elder Terry tasted everything. In the first picture, he is telling them that he likes Dr. Pepper and not the malt drink they are trying to get him to take a sip of. I don't think they got the Dr. Pepper part. I figured it was about 110 degrees with the humidity and the sweat was pouring off all of us. They have this interesting volume control here in Africa that if they are playing music it is on HIGHEST VOLUME. Can't figure that one out, and I couldn't even think of the people sitting there all day long. I wonder if they can even hear after that work shift. Elder Terry has a nose to find those ice cream/gelato places and we all went in and had a treat. As you can tell, we are more than happy to be here and serve with the wide variety of adventures we have on any given day.

THOUGHTS TO SHARE WORLDWIDE

ISN'T IT GRAND that as we are listening and taking notes from General Conference that within minutes you can find they very words that you wrote with a stunning picture backdrop posted to share with others around the world. Indeed, this is a worldwide church and one that we have been given the very tools to extend it's reach. I found our mission spot on the map below....where are you, and what will you share with another this day?

SMILES

EVERY TIME WE GATHER TOGETHER WE DO IT WITH SMILES! AS WE SHARE LITERACY WITH ONE ANOTHER, AS WE SEARCH FOR TREASURES OF THIS LAND, AS I CONTINUE TO STUMBLE UPON THE EVER OVERFLOWING COLOR OF CLOTH AND THOSE WE STOP AND CHAT WITH AS THEY HAVE COME TO GO TO THE TEMPLE. THE LORD SURELY KNOWS EACH ONE OF US THROUGH THE SMILES WE SHARE, AND THE LOVE THAT BRINGS US TOGETHER UNDER HIS GOSPEL.

INGENUITY

I NEVER GROW TIRED OF ELDER TERRY SAYING, "OH, GET A PICTURE OF THAT!" or DANG THAT WOULD OF BEEN A GREAT SHOT.  THEY DON'T NEED A BRICK AND MORTAR BUILDING BECAUSE THEY CAN JUST CARRY THEIR BUSINESS WHERE THEY NEED TO GO.

MY HEART IS FULL

EVERYDAY THERE IS BEAUTY IN HANDS AND SMILES THAT MEET US. These women are taking the skin off the peanuts we buy here. I find myself passing their stand several times, and its not so much about the peanuts as it is about our conversation with one another. They always pause in their labors to speak with us, and give us a handful to sample. Elder Terry goes for their peanut brittle, and I marvel that I've never passed their stand that they don't have a pan upon their laps. This is one of my favorite stops to share one with another.

MORE THAN A PENCIL SHARPENER.....The next picture is Glory Supply Store. Here name is Rose and we can find just about everything we need for our office and literacy in this little store. I love that we have become business partners, and when I need 1000 pencils, 2000 notebook, 600 pencil sharpeners I can go and give her the business. She has proven herself to be a honest business woman, so I was able to convince the Area Office to let me buy my supplies from her instead of the bigger one they do business with. I love our relationship, and I will be visiting her next week to have her smile bless me once again as I bring her yet another order for supplies. 

THEN THE SLEEPING BABES....tucked safely with their moms wherever they go. They carry their babies with such ease and closeness here.

AT A YOUNG AGE....this little one is wiping off the dust of the benches in the Stake Center before the congregation arrives. When the dust season of Harmattan is upon us it's not a good idea to wear black, because you become the duster and your pants or skirt becomes spots of white.

PALM SUNDAY

IT TOOK US BY SURPRISE here in Côte d'Ivoire to be on our way to church and see processions of individuals carrying palms and walking to church. They were singing and it was beautiful to witness the triumphant entry into Jerusalem in this land of such believers. We have never been anywhere that we have witnessed this type of remembrance, and it reaffirms that there is more right with the world than their is wrong.

The second picture taken from our hotel window was one of those moments that I've seen so many times of wash day and the women hanging things to dry. As I peaked into this woman's day, I wondered what she would be doing after the wash. Up early and to bed late, the women of Africa keep the home and children in safe arms. Even I had a hard time finding this woman after I took the picture, because there is so much surrounding her. In real life it is the same for these African woman who shoulder the family day after day. As I hang things out to dry here in Africa, I join in part of their day with a light load. See if you can find here!

FRENCH OR NO FRENCH

WHAT I LOVE IS THAT YOU NEVER KNOW. When you walk into a literacy class any where here in West Africa Area you can expect just about anything that is unexpected. With book in hand, I walked into a French Literacy Class and become the teacher's helper. With a few hand signals, a interpreter that knew bitty English we got the job done. As they shared their testimonies and I was able to catch portions through the interpreter, they were all waiting and wanting to read the word of God. The woman below on the first row in pink had fallen to her knees weeping to learn even a few words. As we became one and spoke of the love of God for each one of them, the bond is immediate and the powers of heaven take us to HIS LOVE. How can I be so blessed to be standing next to angels?

ANOTHER COUNTRY

COTE IDVOIRE.....BEAUTIFUL WITH SIMPLENESS.  Here we go a traveling and it does seem strange to be in an airport after all these months. As you can see in the middle picture, the airports have a little clearer way of letting you know about DRUG POSSESSION. And the Stake Clerk in the last picture has the long arm of the Lord.

SPIRITS WITHOUT GUILE

Cote d'ivoire.....Surrounded by a sea of spirits without guile!  Teaching and being with them is a privilege that we won't soon forget! These worthy priesthood holders serve as the Clerks and Technology Specialists for their units.  With 7 Ivory Coast Stakes and Districts participating, many of them have traveled hours to be here for a class that was scheduled for 3 hours.  With all their questions and thirst for knowledge the class actually lasted 7 hours! Way to go Elder Terry!