ENTER TO LEARN -- GO FORTH TO SERVE

“Enter to Learn…..Go Forth To Serve”….. a motto of BYU and on a sign as you enter the campus.  Another motto says, “The World is our Campus”…..also on a sign.  I guess my mind has been drawn more to BYU this week as yesterday was the beginning of a new football season.  But I do like both of those mottos. As missionaries, we come and enter the mission field willing to serve and do whatever we can to help others…..and the goal is to  bring souls unto Christ.  In essence, we enter to learn and then go forth to serve. We also have missionaries all around the world in about 150 countries....so the world is our campus.  Jill and I are helping in that effort, not by proselytizing or teaching, but trying to keep everything organized so that the missionaries can do what they do best. 

As we go around the mission, we see people every day in their walks of life and we are surrounded by their very humble circumstances.  One thing is for sure regarding the saints here in Ghana, they love to come to church. One of the metrics that we follow is that of retention. Once someone is baptized, we like to see how they are doing one year later as far as their activity in the church. This last year, there was an 80% retention level.....meaning 80% of those that were baptized are coming to church each week. That is a very good number. I’ve been amazed at their commitment and dedication, and it is so very clear that the Sabbath means something to them…..something very meaningful…..not just another day of the week.  I’m not saying that the Sabbath does not mean as much to me…..but I see them walking to church, no vehicles, and dressed in their “Sunday best” every week.  And it isn't just the members of our church.....everywhere we go we see people dressed nicely on Sunday and walking to a church. The women clearly have their very best in clothes saved for Sunday and even though they are not wearing designer and fashionable attire in our way of thinking, they look beautiful, and I think they feel beautiful.  In watching them worship, I was reminded of a podcast I was listening to this week on a walk.  The Podcast is called  “Unshaken”.  I wanted to share a few thoughts with you regarding “worship” from this Podcast.

Elder Neal A Maxwell spoke at the MTC a long time ago and said, ”If we choose the course of steady improvement, which is clearly the course of discipleship, we will become more righteous….. and can move from what may initially be a mere acknowledgement of Jesus, on to admiration of Jesus, then on to adoration of Jesus, and finally to the emulation of Jesus.  In that process of striving to become more like him through steady improvement, we must be in the posture of repentance, even if no major transgression is involved. Remember, repentance is not just a turning away from sin…..it is a turning toward the Lord. It’s not just eliminating darkness but embracing greater and greater light as it grows brighter and brighter unto the perfect day.   It is taking one more step in divine directions”.

How does one worship?  What does the Sabbath Day mean to me?  The best way to show our adoration of Jesus is through our emulation of Jesus.  If you want to worship Him, then be like Him. That is a very long, life-long process and that will not happen here on earth, but long into eternity.  Worship is not just simply something we do…..but it is something we do because of something we feel…..about something we believe. And if the belief isn’t inspiring a feeling, and if the feeling isn’t present in worship, then it’s not worshipful. Do we know who we worship? And do we feel a deep sense of awe and gratitude for what the Lord has done for us and continues to do for us. If we have that feeling because of that belief, then do something about it.  Act upon that grace. Become more and more like Jesus. He is who we worship and that is how we worship Him…..one step at a time, one day at a time, line-upon-line, precept upon precept. 

The pictures below will show more faces and people of Ghana.  The women dress beautifully.  The men are in white shirts and black pants, which looks nice, but not as colorful as the women..... so you will see more pictures of women. They all look very nice and Sunday is a special day for them.  One of the videos is of Patrick, one of the employees of the Mission.  He speaks the language here and I asked him about what others speak when we are not around…..and he said TWI.  They only speak English because they are around English speaking people.  Another video is at the bead place, where we drove about an hour to get there.  Lots of beads.  They are going to have a Sister’s conference in September and one of the activities will be to make bracelets and necklaces. So Jill has been out gathering materials. You will see some pictures of another baptism. We go to one each Sunday.  We did have a Primary Program last week and it is was cute to see the little kids singing and sharing a verse or two.  Jill and I attended a District Council and are trying to do that at least two times each month.  These missionaries teach each other and discuss what they can do to improve the work in their areas.  Very inspiring. I love being around them…..their  enthusiasm is infectious.  I also have a video of the MTC here in Accra.  They house about 300 missionaries that are learning a language and will be going to one of the seven countries in the Africa West Area.  French and English are the two languages mostly taught. It is a special place. 

I celebrated my birthday this week and so we went out to eat.  And of course, we will never get tired of the people walking on the streets trying to sell us their goods.  Every stop light we see them coming…..it is like a walking “Walmart”…..out on the street.  It is amazing to see the different types of goods they are selling.  The last video is of me chipping.  It appears I still have the “touch”.  My golfing "repertoire" is driver, 3-wood, chip, and a putt.  That is how I get my par…..you can still see that I can chip.  This was another good week in Ghana.  I hope all of you also had a good week.  We miss you but love what we are doing, and it seems something comes up each week that is new and adventurous.  At least it is for a couple of senior-missionaries....who do not appear to be as old as their age. The age of a person is only a number…..and one is only as old as he feels…..and Jill and I are feeling great. Love You All !!!

A great day for these new members of the Church.

They are drawn to the old, white-haired Grandpa, who loves to take their pictures.

Primary Programs are the best.

The women love to dress up for Church. Sunday is their favorite day of the week.

More Primary children singing.

Another baptismal day for this young lady.

She wanted a picture with Sister Blodgett.

This Ward was amazing in welcoming these new members after the service.

I just wanted to show off more of their dresses.

This little girl would not leave me alone. She would come by all morning long and rest her hand on my knee. I must look very strange to her. She's the age of Sydney and Hazel.

Innocent and beautiful !!!I

I'm almost like the "freak" show in town. They don't see very many white people, with white hair.

One of the Chapels

The chapel from a week ago.

Senior Couple Dinner

District Council meeting. They are inspiring young people.

Same group with Jill in the picture.

These are the missionaries going home in six weeks. We take them to the Temple and discuss their plans after their missions. They write out their "Plan" and set some goals.

One of the favorites parts of our mission is to visit and find out their conversion stories.

Three cute ladies.....all set-apart missionaries.

The full group of missionaries going home in six weeks with their Mission Leaders, the Campbells.

Ghana Accra Missionary Training Center. About 300 missionaries here right now.

BIRTHDAY DINNER

Who said this was an English speaking mission. This is Patrick and he does everything.....including bringing down the cost when we are getting ripped off.

Yes.....i also play pickleball.....with these athletes that are 18 and 19.

She's trying to steal my office space. But it won't work......I like my "area".

This was scart and the only way to get to the chapel.....thru this narrow alleyway.

Never a dull moment when we are at the stop lights....Walmart coming to us.

The making of beads, etc.

Jill negotiating a deal on some baskets.

These entrepreneurs don't seem to worry about their products over night.....they just cover them.

I had to sit down to pay for all the beads and stuff Jill bought from this lady.

We drove over an hour to find this place. but Jill was happy !!!

All colors, sizes, and shapes.

I like her arm around my shoulder. Thanks Jillers !!!

I missed most of her dance. It was very cute.

Pickleball and Golf.....what else could I want? And Yes, I can still putt.