Akwaba! (our practice at Twi language)

               
 Eta Sen!

We have had great fun and sweet experiences this week.
The first month we were here we visited the old lighthouse downtown and Jamestown fishing village with the Smiths.  The first person to greet us was Joshua.  As we said in our Feb posting, he is 14 years old and a very intelligent, happy boy.  He led us around his village and introduced us to his teacher.  We gave him a Book of Mormon, and he was very excited to read it.  He said he would come to the United States and tell everyone about it!
Last week Elder and Sister Wall were in Makola Market, LARGE outdoor market.  A boy came up to them and asked if they were missionaries and if they knew the Watsons.  It was our Joshua!  He told them he had been reading and talked at length about what he had read.
We will be checking on him next week.

Can you imagine "accidentally" finding anyone in this market that goes on for many blocks with thousands of people. No coincidences with Heavenly Father.  He is always there for us.

 


On our 4 kilometer drives to and from the temple office we encounter many beggars at each corner.  Some are handicapped, others very young or out of work.  We give coins when we can, but most of the time we have packages of cookies and pictures of Christ to give to them.
Yesterday morning a boy about 8 years old lead his blind grandfather to our car at a stoplight.  I gave him cookies and picture.  He looked at me and asked who the picture was.  I told him that this was Jesus, and that Jesus loved him very much, and that he was a very special boy.  He broke out into the biggest smile and said, "That's my God!"  He just kept smiling at the picture.  5 other little boys came running over when they saw us give him something.  We had run out of cookies, but they asked if they could have the picture and were just as excited.  Is it any wonder that Christ loves the little children so dearly!?

We attended a baptism in the Odorkor Ward last week.  Ibrahima Togola had traveled all the way from Mali to be baptized.  He is now one of only 2 members of the Church in Mali!  The first member is the mayor of Ouelessebougou (You can google to find out more about him.).  They meet and talked about the church.  Since the church has no missionaries in Mali, Ibrahima was taught about the church through a friend in Ghana and over the internet by a man he met who lives in California.  He read the Book of Mormon and felt such a love and strong spirit of the truths taught in it, combination with the Bible, that he knew he must be part of it.  He said he was "so excited to be reborn spiritually in Christ."  His family is Muslim, as is most of the country.  His father gave him permission to be baptized.  There was some concern for his safety in becoming Christian.  He was so excited and happy.

Pres/Sister Hill, Accra West Mission, Ibrahima, Smiths, Watsons


We usually attend a different ward or branch somewhere in Ghana every Sunday to help with any needs.  Last Sunday we had the wonderful experience of  visiting the small Tsito Branch in the Volta Region with 35 members attending.  The Branch President said he was so grateful that we missionaries had "descended upon them" and knew our visit would encourage them on.  They did more to inspire us.  Amazing to be way out in the bush of Africa and to hear the same strong testimonies of the truthfulness of the Gospel and love God has for us, to sing the same hymns, and to have the same Sunday School lessons as at home.  This is the road to the driveway of the small rented house they use for meetings.

How would you like this to be your view from your church doorway!

20 Senior missionaries were invited by some of the Eastern Region Chiefs to attend the Kente Festival, 4 hour drive from Accra.  It's not a tourist activity, but a local celebration of one of their main industries, Kente cloth weaving.  We went to bring the good will of the Church.  We were even pulled into one of the local dances.

At the Festival the children flocked around when they saw electronics (same the world over).  We pulled up church children videos for them to watch, and they were fascinated, beautiful kids.

Getting into the real culture

These women made these pots as we watched.  They don't use potters wheels. They throw the clay on the ground and walk around it carrying children on their backs.  Notice the little guy peeking out from behind.

Love you all LOTS.  Your love and support is a wonderful strength to us.
The Church is true!!  We love the people of West Africa.
Elder and Sister Watson

Here Again, Still!!

We have had so much trouble with Google sign-in over the last 2 months. Wants to reject our sign-in from Ghana.  Working at this moment, so I will try again.
We rode in a leaky canoe up Volta River to visit project at Pediatorkope Island to where children generate their school's electricity with the playground equipment, merry-go-round and swing.  Some of these were set up in villages by BYU.  Elder Watson taught kids his finger snap.

Here are the 9 senior couple missionaries from our apt complex.  There are many others living in other part of the area.  We serve in such areas as Humanitarian, Self-Reliance, Member Support, Family History, Temple, Legal, Public Affairs, Medical, Youth and Young Single Adult Support, Office and Missionary Support, and any other capacity that is of help to the people of West Africa and to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Look at all the BIG smiles!  Missions are GREAT!

Most recently arrived are our couples evacuated from Sierra Leone and Liberia.  They are great and are being reassigned here.  They call themselves the "refuges".  It was difficult for them to get all the missionaries evacuated, but they were able to get the last group out just hours before martial law was declared in Liberia.  It has been very hard to see what is happening to the people of those countries.  They are struggling greatly, but when we speak with them, they say, "We are trying."  Many miracles are happening there, and we know they are in God's care.  Please keep them in your prayers.  The Church is helping with food and medical supplies.

Monrovia, capital of Liberia

Leadership meeting in Bushrod Island, Liberia

This is the bishop's family from Odorkor Ward.  We were lost trying to find our destination (as usual) when they spotted us (we're not hard to pick out).  They drove up beside us, beeped their horn and had us follow them to the ward.  The bishop ran into his meeting, and his wife piled the family out of the car and welcomed us.  Reminded me so much of home!

This is the leadership of the Adenta Stake. They had a FH Stake Fair with about 360 adults and youth attending.  They are holding the stack of family charts turned in by the members to be prepared for their next temple trip.  We are helping with FH Fairs and with the Youth Conferences of "Get to Know Your Grandparents" in a number of areas.

http://www.mormonnewsroom.com.gh/article/church-in-ghana-develops-a-new-family-history-program-for-youth  Check this website for a number of pictures and an article on the Youth Conference we had in Tema Stake.  It is amazing fun.  They are so enthusiastic. 

We hear from home that our Richmond Stake is doing some of the same activities.  Way to go Richmond Youth!!!  You are engaged in a GREAT work that will be a wonderful blessing to you and to generations before you and yet to come.  Thank you.

http://www.mormonnewsroom.com.gh/article/generations-connect-through-personal-histories-and-life-stories  This website has an earlier article on our classes at the African Missionary Training Center in Ghana.  WE have come to love each new group of missionaries.  They are very knowledgeable, spiritual, and dedicated to serving our Heavenly Father.

Can't help but include this one.  There is not a lot of TV or evening entertainment.  These 3 missionaries discovered a DVD of the Disney movie "Tangles".  'nough said ....

We love you all and are SO grateful for your love and support.  It is so fun to get all the updates from home.  We are VERY proud of our wonderful family.