The Maamobi Ward.....where the sheep meet.... and the goats stay outside

We attended the Maamobi ward today;  our second Sunday in Accra.  It isn't far at all from our apartment. Maybe three kilometers.   It gives, however, a very different view of Accra than our neighborhood does.  The service was worth attending in spite of not being able to understand everything that is said.  The masks don't help.  The English spoken as a second or third language by the speaker doesn't help.   Our ears are not yet tuned to the different accents to the syllables we keep hearing.  We had called the bishop earlier in the week and asked if we could come by and attend the meeting and then afterward observe how he and his clerk account for the week's donations.  He was very gracious and said (in words more or less) "of course".  

We need to understand the way unit financial transactions are handled here and get a real feel of the traditions and culture so we can be of assistance.  Many Ghanaians don't make much money. After the two-hour block, the bishop and 2nd counselor went through the donations with us.  Not a complex process, but important to do things according to the established policies that protect the sacred funds and especially those who handle them.  They proved to be two dedicated latter-day saints.  The bishop has been a member since 1988, served a mission in the early nineties, a counselor to two bishops, and is in his second year as the current bishop.  

The chapel is located off the beaten path back in a neighborhood that was a slight challenge to find.  Google maps does a great job of indicating what streets to use, but has no real clue as to what the streets look like and the condition they are in. This one was a path that turned into an alley some years ago and hasn't graduated into a lane yet.  There were large rocks and a cement barrier we navigated.  In fact, we first parked the car on the busy street and walked to the church.  Once inside we met the President and Sister Sanders, the mission president couple of the Accra West Mission.  We noticed a car or two that had made it to the building and parked out front.  He said it would be better to drive the car in; safer.  So I walked back to the car and drove it in.  I need a jeep.  There are goats inside the first enclosure when one enters from the "alley".  A lot of goats.  Some small, cute ones. Then one drives into a second enclosure to arrive at the parking spaces near the door to the chapel.

 

We are glad we attended.  At the beginning of sacrament meeting, the bishop asked the Mission President and wife to share their testimonies, then it was our turns.  When the sacrament was passed, I couldn't help think of Caleb and Ryan back home passing the emblems just like these fine young men were doing.  I mentioned them in my testimony and that I was proud of them and my grandsons using their priesthood to serve others.  That's what latter-day saints do, serve others.  The saints enjoy singing here.  The priesthood lesson on President Nelson's talk, "Let God Prevail" was very well done.  I tried to understand what was said.  I read the talk as the lesson progressed.  It will be one, we should read from time to time because of its relevance to us, right now and the need we have to connect with the Savior each day in all ways we can.

We also met Matt Richards who is the Africa representative for the Church's Pathways Program.  Others will be hired soon to help him cover the continent.  He is a dedicated soul.  Good to run into him.  There is so much going on to help people get into a better place.  The gospel helps one understand who he/she is and so appropriate self esteem is built.  Education opportunities are critical, then work opportunities need to follow.  More effort going on here to lift people up than I had imagined.  Glad to be part of it.   

It was a successful visit with the Bishopric and another education for us in this foreign land.  The gospel makes it not so foreign as much as different.  The Lord's work is making a huge difference in the saints who embrace the truths it teaches.  We made it back to our apartment, our little sanctuary, by a difference route.          

Hey!  Today is Valentines Day!  Funny, we didn't see many hearts, etc. today, and it was a great day.