LIGHT THE WORLD

The “Light the World” initiative is a special invitation from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ by sharing His light with others during the Christmas season through acts of kindness.  The movement aims to transform Christmas into a season of service following Christ’s example through actions like feeding the hungry, comforting the lonely, visiting the sick, and showing kindness to everyone.  There is just something different about the month of December for me because I do think of ways to serve and help others.  I love this Light the World initiative the church promotes.  And yes, the church is doing it here in Ghana. 

We had an amazing experience this week with the Light the World initiative.  We delivered 1,500 bags of food to those in need through an incredible ceremony that included the King of the GA State…..who is over the geographic Accra area of 4 million people.  He holds supreme spiritual and cultural authority over the GA people and was crowned in 2020.  He also leads the GA traditional Council, overseeing the customs ad traditions for the indigenous GA-ADANGBE people.  The Area Communications Director for the church in West Africa……organized the providing of bags of food for people in need and the King was there and is very friendly towards the church. He has visited Salt Lake City and spent some time with President Nelson a few years ago.  He is also going to General Conference in 2026.  He attended this event, along with his entourage, and a thousand other people to oversee the giving of the food to those in need.  It was very inspiring for me to be there and especially see our missionaries handing out the food.  The bags were about 50 lbs. each and the Elders carried the bags of food for the people towards their ways of transportation.  They worked very hard in the hot sun…..and the public relations spectacle was a sight to see.  I heard the name “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints” mentioned dozens of times during the program.  Jill and I were even given the opportunity to go up to the stand and shake hands with the King and several of the tribal chiefs.  I have posted several pictures and videos of the event.  The people here know who the missionaries are and the good will the church is providing is very much appreciated from the local King, Chiefs, and other local authorities.   

The Light the World event was an experience I will never forget.  It was a busy week.  We also held two, multi-zone, Christmas zone conferences, where we provided some teaching, videos, games, a delicious meal, and the passing out of gift bags.  It was lots of fun and a few pictures are provided below.  I love this time of year, and it is the first Christmas since my mission 50 years ago that I will not be around my family.  I am with Jill…..who is my family…..but we will miss our kids and grandkids.  Thank heaven for phones and Facetime and Zoom. 

I hope you are enjoying the month of December.  12 Days Till Christmas.....Someone should write a song about that.  And I hope and pray you are feeling the spirit of giving and sharing and being kinder and more thoughtful of others.   I’m trying…..Christmas in Ghana is different, but being kind to others is something we can do all throughout the year…..not just at Christmas.  I read this the other day and wanted to share it.....”Christmas is a message of hope.  It assures us that no matter how broken things may feel, God has not abandoned the world.  Hope was born in Bethlehem, and that hope continues today – offering forgiveness, new beginnings, and the promise that love will always have the final word”.

So..... as we celebrate Christmas, may we remember its true message: 

LOVE CAME DOWN, HOPE WAS BORN, AND LIGHT STILL SHINES.

And always remember to be thankful to our Heavenly Father for the gift of His Son. 

One of the tribesman at the "Light the World" celebration. He wanted his picture taken with Jill. We have never been asked for our pictures to be taken as much as we have been here in Ghana. It is either because of our old age or because we are "white". I think it is the latter....although I would want to take a picture with Jill too. Her smile is "infectious".

This is King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II.....of the GA Mantse Area.....which includes all of Accra, Ghana. He has been to Salt Lake and considered President Nelson to be his friend. He is going to General Conference again in 2026.

The Chiefs and the King enter the stadium for the Light the World celebration.

More of the procession of the dignitaries coming into the gathering.

They want their pictures taken with this "white" woman.....but we do have on badges and they know about the church and the good work we do. Today we provided 1,500 large bags of food to their people and they were very appreciative.

The King and a few of the Chiefs of local Tribes. Jill and I were invited to go up and shake their hands and introduce ourselves. We were kind of embarrassed because we are not dignitaries.

This guy is an "apostle" from his church and loves to sing along. Jill was sitting next to him and he helped interpret what was going on. Not much English spoken.

The women especially were getting into the music.....many of these you see are the wives of the Chiefs. They don't need the food as much as those that are needy....but they came anyway.

This picture of the Savior was presented to the King. From left to right: President Campbell, President Foucette (MTC President), President Sosu (Stake President), President and Sister Beeson (Mission Leaders of the Ghana, Accra East Mission).

The Ghana bags of food were very heavy and very colorful.

Yes.....I did tear a rotator cuff again.....but because I'm on a mission, I am thinking it will be healed without surgery. I was playing Pickleball and the floor had some oily substance on it. It hurts, but I will be okay. I will just look stupid for a while wearing the sling and looking older. Dang. Dang. Dang.

This event was so inspiring to see these missionaries handing out big bags of food. The people in the stands, along with the King, were amazed and impressed at what they were doing for these people in need. The woman on the right was one of the daughters of the King.....She wanted to be down on the front lines helping.

You needed to be there to appreciate what was happening. I have done activities like this before with the Salvation Army and Food Banks in California.....but to see these missionaries out in the sun, working hard, with smiles on their faces was truly a sight to behold. The public relations behind this event will be in the memories of the people in attendance for a very long time.

We had one Zone with about 20 Elders and 8 Sister Missionaries.

Lots of loud music and people dancing.....its Christmas.....and they are getting gifts.

I guess you have seen enough and get the picture of what was done to Light the World with kindness. And I sure do love our missionaries and what they represent.

Ben De Hoyas and his wife, Wendy.......Ben is the Area Communications Director.

The people on the sidelines in their seats waiting patiently for their turn to get some bags of food. The whole event, with the program, lasted about 3 hours.

The Sister missionaries were getting into the music and doing some fun dancing.

These are great and very dedicated sister missionaries.

Now we moved on to the 2 multi-zone Christmas Zone Conferences. The dinner and events of this day were also awesome and very fun.....thanks in a big part to Sister Blodgett.

We had the missionaries even decorate the cultural hall for the festivities. Georgina works for our mission leaders and prepared all the food. It was delicious.

One of the games.....Sister Campbell had 8 stations.....patterned after "minute-to-win-it" games.

They did pretty well with carrying a bucket on their heads.....some did this growing up.

The dinner was spaghetti, salad, rolls, special fruit drinks, oatmeal cookies, and brownies. Jill even brought parmesan cheese for the spaghetti.

We had a talent show after dinner. Lots of music.....each District had to do a number.....talent suspect.... but they all participated and had lots of fun. And I love that the Elders love their companions and are not ashamed or embarrassed to show it.

We watched the videos of Macey, our granddaughter, arriving at SFO from Brazil as her mission of 18 months ended. We had tears in our eyes watching the family greeting Macey, so Sister Kaaen took a picture of us teary eyed. My tears were more for the fact that all of my kids that live in the Walnut Creek area went to San Francisco for a 10:00 pm arriving flight to support the Harlows.....even the 2-year olds. That is what makes a Dad and Grandpa happy.....when your kids support each other and still love to be around each other. There is nothing better than family.

They just keep coming to the Mission Office for one reason or another.....we love it and we love to feed them. And as they waited for their interviews.....they played games and colored and listened to my Christmas Music.....even Mariah Carey and Bing Crosby and the Carpenters.

Thousands and thousands of events like the one above.....LIGHT THE WORLD.....are happening all over the world in our Church. Jesus said, "Love one another".....and that is what we are trying to do. Light the World with love and kindness.....that is what the Savior would want us to do.