Weeks 18 and 19
We have had internet issues the last two weeks. That along with last Sunday being rather busy prevented us from adding to our blog. So, we will try to cover two weeks in this post. The internet issues are still handicapping us, but hopefully we will be able to get the blog done during the times it is available.
On each of the Tuesdays we went to district councils in the Asamankese Zone. On Tuesday, May 28th we went to Oda. The chapel setting in Oda is quite scenic inside the wall. In addition, there is an actual cinnamon tree in the yard. The cinnamon comes from the layer under the bark.
Oda District
Oda meetinghouse Sister Judd and the cinnamon tree
On June 4th, we went to the Kade district council at the Asamankese Stake center.
Kade District
We have continued to interview the "pioneers" of the church in Buduburam for the history of the church in Buduburam. During these two weeks, we talked with Sister Helena Gamor, Brother Jerry Korboi, and Sister Leona Jackson. It has been amazing to hear the stories of these and the other "pioneers." Sister Jackson is from Liberia and wasn't associated with any church because none of them matched with what she found in studying the Bible. She said she was going to be baptized only one time and in the true church. Her mother lived in England and learned about the church there. Her mother sent her a copy of the "Teachings of the Living Prophets: John Taylor." She read it and found truth in it. Her neighbor saw her reading the book and asked her where she got it. She said her mother sent it to her and she wanted to go to that church. The neighbor told her that she was a member and invited her to go to church with her the next Sunday. She went to church and knew the church was the true church. She was baptized in 2002 and was called as Relief Society president a year later. She was one of the first members to receive her endowments in the Accra Temple after it was dedicated in 2004. Her faith and commitment has been strong ever since.
Sister Judd and Sister Leona Jackson Brother Jerry Korboi
Sister Helena Gamor is Ghanaian and moved to Awutu Breku from Accra. Awutu Breku was part of the Buduburam Branch at the time. She was not a member of the church. Sister Phyllis Tandoh was a member of the church living in Awutu Breku and introduced her to the church. She and her husband were baptized. She only spoke Twi (the tribal language) while most of the branch members were Liberian and spoke English. Several months after she was baptized, the branch president asked her to speak in Sacrament Meeting and asked her to do it in English. He gave her a month to prepare. Her children helped her to prepare the talk in English and helped her to practice giving it in English all during that month. She did it and was so happy that she could. Later, she took the Gospel Literacy class so she could learn to read and write in English.
Sister Helena Gamor
On Wednesday, May 29th we did apartment inspections in the Keneshie Zone. The first two inspections went as they normally do with A LOT of decluttering, especially at the sister's apartment.
Sisters Marume and Paiva Elders Adams and Kanga (AP's)
As we were driving to the third apartment, a motorbike with two guys on it came up and drove alongside the truck and said, "You have a flat tire." We stopped, and sure enough, the right rear tire was half flat and quickly going flat. We called the elders in the apartment we were headed to and told them we would be late and why. They took a taxi and came and helped us. That was a wonderful blessing. Elder Papalii was particularly helpful! A gentlemen named Eric from a business across the street also came and offered to help.
As they were working on changing the tire, Elder Papalii quietly told Elder Judd that they had previously talked with Eric about the church and he had not been receptive at all. When they finished, Elder Judd got a Book of Mormon out of the truck, gave it to Eric, and bore his testimony that if Eric would listed to the missionaries and read the Book of Mormon that he would find greater joy than he has ever known before. The Lord knows the whole picture for each of us. Maybe the tire incident was for Eric's eternal benefit.
Elders Papalii and Musyoki
The inspections this last week on Wednesday were in the Lartebiokorshie Zone. Other than terrible traffic congestion and slow downs, the inspections were uneventful.
Elders Hipwell and Heerdink Sisters Fatai and Moala
Elders Museka and Rapi Elders Hale, Faifaiese, Ward, and Faamoe
Last Sunday, we attended church in Awutu Breku. The Gospel Literacy teacher was not there for some reason. The two learners are just starting Book 2. After Sacrament Meeting, they told Sister Judd that they have their books and wanted to have a class. They asked Sister Judd if she would teach them. Elder Judd talked with the Sunday School president and got permission for Sister Judd to teach since the regular teacher was not there.
Sister Judd teaching Anita and Rena
Last Sunday, we went with the missionaries to take the Sacrament to the Relief Society president, Sister Linda Zormelo, because she was sick and not able to come to church. Just as we were getting ready to leave for Sister Linda's house, it started pouring rain like you can't believe. The road from Awutu Breku to Sister Linda's house in Akoti became flooded quickly, as you can see from these pictures.
The man was selling coconuts before the rain. The flooding was washing his coconuts away. He is trying to gather them up out of the flood.
When we got to Sister Linda's house, essentially the total Relief Society was there visiting Sister Linda. The sisters had hired a tro-tro to take them from the church to Linda's house several miles away. The problem was that the rain had stranded them there because they had to walk back to the highway to get tro-tros or taxis to go to their homes.
Sister Linda after receiving the Sacrament
We love these wonderful dedicated disciples of Christ and their love for one another!
The following quote is from President Jeffrey R. Holland when he visited Africa in February 2012. It reflects what we have observed among these remarkable people.
"The Brethren knew, years ago, that we would be coming [to Africa], because the gospel is for all the world, and we knew that our African brothers and sisters were more than deserving... Their purity is a powerful, central image in my heart. In the West we have always associated happiness with acquisition, but in Africa they've separated that in their minds and in their hearts... things don't have anything to do with being happy. Simplicity is an element of their pure faith that we would do well to copy, remember, and teach. In so many ways, they are not of this world, and it's a great compliment to them."
We love you all.
Love, Elder and Sister Judd
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