Dancing and Drums

Africans have an amazing gift of rhythm which is most often expressed in drum playing and dancing.  They seem to be born with this gift; as soon as they can stand, they can dance.  When Africans hear music, their bodies begin dancing - no matter when or where.

I recently attended a performance showcasing talents of the children who live at the Liberian Refugee Camp Orphanage (located just outside of Accra).  It is hoped that through performing, these young people can grow in confidence and earn some money to help sustain the orphanage.  This was the maiden voyage of their show.

By tradition, men make and play the drums.  Some of them start very young.  You can tell I had a favorite drum player.   

These girls and young women danced with all their hearts in the performance.  You could tell that it meant a great deal to them.  I was truly amazed how quickly their feet could move.  I have no idea how they danced on the stones of that parking lot with bare feet.  They told me later that it was no problem at all.  

My favorite moment was watching the younger girls run off stage into the arms of the older girls, celebrating their success.  I felt very proud of them.  

Do you want to know how to make an African laugh?  Just have a white person dance. 




  

Help Bless the Children

I remember turning 6 years old and feeling so happy that I would be going to first grade at Hodgin Elementary.  I knew where the school was and that there were teachers there.  I had no idea that this was not true for every child.  For some children in Africa there is no school.  One of our first lessons here in Ghana has been the realization that all our lives we have had so much, and taken it mostly for granted.

Since arriving in Ghana, I have become involved with building a school in a tiny village named Ayi Mensah about an hour outside of Accra.  This little school began with a teacher and about 15 children meeting under a tree.  No desks, no protection from the rain or sun, and nowhere to store any books. 

A few years ago, this situation came to the attention of some ambitious American Expats who believed that we could make a difference.  Everything that has happened since then has been through the generous donations of people who share that vision.  The humble teachers at Ayi Mensah tell me that it has all happened "by the grace of God."  Today Ayi Mensah is a very basic 2 room school with about 65 students.  Once there is a building and you prove to the district that children are coming, they will provide a teacher.  Ayi Mensah now has 3 paid teachers.  The 3rd classroom just got a tin roof and the dream is to complete that classroom for the beginning of school in the fall.

Some years ago, when Gregg and I couldn't think of what to give each other for Christmas someone suggested giving each other a wheelchair (for the wheelchair project).  Polio is alive and well in Africa and we have seen firsthand what a difference a wheelchair can make in someones life.  It may have been the best Christmas gift we ever gave each other.  

Because education can change a child's world, I'm suggesting a similar gift you can give.  Think of a way that you can make a donation to Ayi Mensah or of a group that you can encourage to raise funds for this little school.  All that you donate will go directly to the building of the school.  We know that because Gregg and I take the funds directly to the school and monitor the progress. The first time I took Gregg there his comment was, "those little children deserve a school."  And they do.  Please help us.

Yes, there is a way to donate money to Ayi Mensah School.  The donations should be made payable to the 'Forever Young Foundation' and sent to Sally Murray.  She ensures the funds get to Sterling Tanner, the CEO of Forever Young, who deposits the money to the Komart Foundation in Ghana. I know that this sounds like a long and winding road, but it ensures that anyone who donates money has a tax deductible donation, as Forever Young is a legally registered Charitable Organization.  You should know that none of the contributions are used for overhead; all of it goes to help the school.  These children pay no fees to attend school here.

Just send your check to: 

Forever Young Foundation

c/o Sally Murray
8695 S. 4770 W.

West Jordan, UT 84088

This is Akpormang, the previous school built by this group.  One day, we hope Ayi Mensah looks just this good.

Road trip to Koforidua

The adventure for today was a Sunday road trip and worship services in the Koforidua district.  This was a 2 hour drive out of Accra.  As we ascended the hills north of Accra we had a spectacular panoramic view.  A recent rain made the sky remarkably clear and we could see all the way to the ocean.

The remainder of our trip was through beautiful forest jungle passing little villages along the way. 

In the city of Koforidua we visited 3 different LDS church buildings.  The funnest part of the trip were the little children who stole our hearts.  One little tiny girl walked over and just stood in front of me until I picked her up and sat her on my lap.  We had a picture taken and she was really pleased to see the photo. 

Outside a swarm of children surrounded Gregg (maybe the tallest man they've seen). I had to capture this in a photo.   

It was fun to make the trip with 2 other couples, Elder and Sister Dickson (Area Presidency) and Elder and Sister Powell (missionary couple serving as Executive Secretary to the Area Presidency). 

Best Signs Anywhere

One of the fun things about Ghana is the way they advertise and their signs in general.  Ghana is full of small entrepreneurial businesses and each one has a unique sign.  Sometimes it's just writing on a small piece of wood and sometimes there are great pictures and drawings.  One of our favorites is the "Anointed Plumber" whom we hope to meet someday.  I mean, wouldn't you trust this guy to do your plumbing repair? 

Many of the signs reflect their religious beliefs and roots.  Or perhaps they hope we will trust them by including their religious orientation in the way they name their business.  But I think it is because these people are deeply and sincerely religious.  They seem to have a "spirituality gene" that is not present everywhere.  That's what makes missionary work here such a pleasure.  You are always talking to believers.

Ghana is home to both Muslims and Christians.  Today on the way to church we passed the "Allah is Great Beauty Salon."  Another eye catcher was the "Black Jesus Barbering Salon."

It's good to travel with a Bible in the car, since often the writing on the back window of a taxi is a scripture.  Our favorite is Deuteronomy 15:11.  When we looked it up it read, "For the poor shall never cease out of the land:  therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to they poor, and to thy needy, in thy land." 

Also, on the taxis and tro-tros if their isn't a scripture, there is some reference to Deity.  After watching the way they drive, I can understand why they do that.

A Boat Ride on the Volta River

A new weekend, a new adventure!  Friends invited us to drive to Ada Foah and take a boat ride on the River Volta.  The Volta is a river in western Africa that drains into the Gulf of Guinea (Atlantic Ocean). It has three main tributaries—the Black Volta, White Volta and Red Volta.  Catchy, very catchy. 

Two cars full of people and two hours later, we arrived and climbed into our boat.  We enjoyed a very pleasant and smooth boat ride down to the ocean and back.  It was delightful to float along enjoying the picturesque scenery.  A few rain drops threatened our ride, but that didn't last long.  We are entering the rainy season. 

The boat stopped along the way and we visited two tiny villages built along the river.  The children flocked toward us.  One little boy literally waved us in to the beach; I see a future at the Kotoka Airport for this boy.  They showed us their school where many children from islands along the river come to school.  We were introduced to the chief, a very old man.  It was wonderful to see the picture on the wall of the chief in his traditional dress. 

Further north, Lake Volta in Ghana is the largest reservoir in the world, beginning at the Akosombo Dam in southeastern Ghana and extending 250 miles north.  The lake generates electricity for most of Ghana.  A visit to the Akosombo Dam is in our future.

Elder Wheeler Arrives in Ghana

Elder Parker Wheeler arrived in Ghana on Friday May 13th.  His call is to the Ghana Cape Coast Mission.  We met him upon his arrival at the Accra, Ghana airport.  He is from our home ward, the Sterling Heights Ward, in Bountiful, Utah.  We discovered that he is the only Caucasian in his MTC group of 57 missionaries.  About half of the missionaries are from D.R.Congo and speak only French.  He will be in an English speaking District. 

For a 19 year old from Utah, arriving in West Africa can be a bit like traveling to a different planet.  It is very hot and humid this time of year and he is already noticing that he sweats all the time (we all do).  He has also noticed that the locals speak Engish with a different accent, so we all have to concentrate at first until we get used to the differences.  Gregg and I sit on the front row in church where we can read their lips.   

I am a Registered Nurse, so I help give injections at the Missionary Training Center just outside of Accra.  I went there with Gregg today to help give the first set of shots to the African missionaries.  Since Elder Wheeler has had all his shots, he became my band aid assistant.  He was just the help I needed.  I love being at the MTC.  

Abuja, Nigeria

Easter found us in Abuja, Nigeria this year.  We were invited to attend the Mission President's Seminar for the Africa West Area.  Gregg had been to Abuja and told me it was unlike any other city in West Africa.  He was right!  Downtown Abuja has wide roads, tall new buildings, freeways, and big green directional signs.  I could hardly believe I was in Nigeria.  It is clean, beautiful, and organized.  It is literally a planned community.   

The seminar was held at the Hilton hotel; easily the nicest hotel in West Africa that I've seen. It has 3 restaurants, a giant clean swimming pool, excellent workout facility, and a spacious room with a great bed and soft pillows.  I also saw roses for the first time in Africa.  There were roses at the front desk and on every table at the restaurant; beautiful longstem roses (I'm sure they are imported).  They just made me happy.  

Abuja is the capital of Nigeria and is a relatively new city by African standards. Abuja is a planned city and was built mainly in the 1980s. It officially became Nigeria's capital in 1991, replacing Lagos. As a result of religious and ethnic tensions, Abuja was chosen because it is centrally located and in "neutral territory." As the capital city of a Christian/Muslim country, the government contructed a beautiful National Mosque and a beautiful National Christian Church (nondenominational) near each other. They are both stunning and massive.

The country is about 60/40 or 50/50 Christian/Muslim depending on who you ask.  Nigeria recently held elections and Goodluck Jonathan won the Presidency.  Is that a great name or what?  He is a Christian from the Niger Delta Region in south Nigeria.  Not all the Muslims were happy about it and there were some riots in the north, but all was peaceful in Abuja during our visit. 

When we landed in Abuja, the scenery reminded us of Southern Utah.  It was hot and dry and the city was surrounded by rolling hills, dry grasses, and red rocks; truly picturesque.  

We also saw some amazing little birds named masked weavers. They are a yellow bird with a black mask across their eyes. They weave a round ball-shaped nest which they suspend from a tree where they raise their family.

One adventure led us to the Owessa Muslim Market in search of shawls for some of the women at the seminar (who were cold from the air conditioning at the hotel).  It was probably the most organized market we've been to.  There was parking.  All the vendors were in a stall.  Find what you want and let the bartering begin! 

And the Easter Bunny visited me.  I got a Lindt chocolate Easter Bunny; I never dreamed I'd see one of those in West Africa!