GROWTH AT AN ASTONISHING RATE

The church continues to grow here in West Africa…..and pretty much all over the Continent. There are 17 countries in the area of West Africa where the Brethren below preside.  In Ghana alone, we have six missions and there will be 8 missions by this July.  In the Ghana Accra West Mission (which is the one Jill and I are in), we had a little over 2,000 baptisms in 2025…..which is enough to create one stake.  If you add what the East and North Missions did, along with Cape Coast, Kumasi, and Takoradi…..you can see the problem (which is a good problem) the Brethren have with so much growth.  There could easily be enough people join the church in 2026 to create another 6-10 stakes in Ghana.....growth at an astonishing rate. If you count all of the West Africa Area, there were 45,000 baptisms in 2025.....which is about 15% of all baptisms in the church. If you just look at the numbers, which don't really matter, but provide useful information, the average missionary in the West Africa Area has 12 baptisms annually. In Nigeria last year, the average was more like 25-30 per missionary. It is reminding the Brethren of what was happening in Mexico and Central and South America in the 1970's thru the 2010's. The growth of the Church is happening and the missionary movement is preparing the World for the Savior's second coming.....one person at a time.

I attended a Branch this last week in the Kasoa Stake that held their first meeting in a brand-new building.  They are very proud of this building and very happy to have one so close to where they live.  It looks very nice.  I share some videos below of the Branch meeting inside the chapel and then some when they went out to take some pictures outside.  The one problem…..which is a good problem…..this was their first meeting in their new chapel and there was “standing room only”.  In another year, if 30 people join their Branch, where will they sit for their meetings?  We are seeing that same issue all over Ghana…..a lot of growth and the chapels cannot hold all the people that are coming to church.....growth at an astonishing rate.

This Branch was so cute and friendly and so excited for a new building. I am sharing other photos of missionaries that are doing the work of “bringing others unto Christ”.  Their smiles and enthusiasm to do the work is “infectious”.  People just want to be around them.  There was some training done at the Mission Home, so you can see some pictures of that.  And then Jill and I continue to do our Pickleball thing….even when the gym is under construction.  We went up the night before this last week and cleared things up so we could play at 5:45 am, which is what we try and do about 4 times a week.  There is a group of about 10 people that play.....we have our own schedules so usually we get 4-5 of us playing on a given morning. We do have busy schedules so sometimes it doesn’t work because we have missionaries ringing our doorbell at 6:30 in the morning. Jill feeds them breakfast, pancakes and French toast, and sometimes the size of the group can be greater than 20 missionaries.  Finally…..some of the pictures are of the missionaries involved in a service project helping around the Chapel in the Kasoa Stake.

Growth is good.  And individually..... I would hope we are always trying to improve ourselves and draw closer to Christ.  Spiritual growth begins with knowing yourself and just trying to do something good each day…..to try and serve others and make the world a better place.  Spiritual growth does not usually come through dramatic moments.  Most often, it comes quietly…..through small, consistent choices that invite the spirit to be with us.  And, of course, one of the most important ways we grow spiritually is through our daily connection and prayer with our Heavenly Father. President Nelson said, “revelation comes when we make space for the Lord to speak to us.  When we consistently turn to Him, our spiritual sensitivity increases”.  As important as prayer is…..and reading and studying the scriptures…..spiritual growth also happens as we serve others.  When we lift those around us, we come closer to Christ.  It just makes us feel good inside.  King Benjamin,in the Book of Mormon, knew what this was all about…..”when ye are in the service of your fellow being, you are only in the service of our God”.  Service softens our hearts and helps us feel the Savior’s love more deeply.

It is a new year.  Positive growth can happen if we allow changes to take place in our lives.  Take the leap of faith, make some changes, and tell yourself..... this is the time in my life…..right now, not next month….. that I am going to draw closer than I have ever been before to my Savior.  I promise it will make you happier and more content….. and the more you help others…..the better you will feel inside.  President Monson said, “Happiness comes from serving others.  When we lose ourselves in the service of others, we discover our own lives and our own happiness”.  “True happiness comes only by making others happy…..the practical application of the Savior’s teachings”……President Nelson.  “If you want to be happy, forget yourself and lose yourself in this great cause”. Gordon B. Hinckley

HAVE A GREAT WEEK.  DO SOMETHING GOOD FOR SOMEONE ELSE.  IT WILL DO SOMETHING TO YOU.....ONE CAN’T REALLY EXPLAIN IT…..IT JUST HAPPENS !!!

The West Africa Area includes 17 countries, which include Benin, GHANA, Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Togo, Burkina Faso, The Gambia, Chad, Niger, Mauritania, Guinea-Bissau, and Western Sahara.

These Brethren are very inspiring to listen to when they speak.

Simply beautiful and very innocent. They know no other life than what they have.

Standing room only in a brand new chapel in the Kasoa Stake.

They were very proud of this day and wanted it all to be recorded. Very sweet and friendly Branch of the church and now they have their own Chapel.

They moved outside to get everyone in the picture.

This is Gilbert.....our gate keeper and proud that he is beginning school.....after high school. Mom told you that he went to church yesterday for the first time and said, "this is a day I will never forget". He enjoyed it very much and did not even imagine what he saw in a very strong ward.

We found some chocolate chips.....so we went to work making some cookies.

I have said this before.....but English is not their first language and Twi is what they like to speak.

We are disappointed when they mess with our Pickleball gym.....so we came up in the evening and went to work to get it cleaned up to play the next morning.

And we did a pretty good job and got to play.

This was a video I sent to the Senior Couples who we play with.....with the caption....."My dad used to say, "when you are not practicing, someone else is.....and some day you will meet him.....you can determine the outcome?"

First Transfer training with the new missionaries and their trainers.

There is an immediate bond between them because the new missionaries don't know anything about what they are doing and the culture of Ghana. They rely on their trainers for sure.

I love their smiles.....Elder Basoah to the left, with Elder Carter. Elder Kalubi in the middle.

Elder Karenzi and Elder Lamont to the right.

P-Day for these missionaries helping at a stake activity.