MAKING A DIFFERENCE (PART 2)

As I noted in last week’s Blog, I wanted to follow up with some more pictures and videos of the “Ghana Make a Difference Foundation” (GMAD) and the work the doctors, nurses, volunteers, and medical professionals are doing here in Ghana.  We have a picture below of Jill and I with Corey Hoffman, the founder.  We also met his wife, Stacey, but could not find her for a picture.  There is a video below that talks about her and the work she has done. They are very busy people and live in the Boise area. This group of doctors (which includes Jason Hiatt) come two times each year to do surgeries and whatever they can for as many people as they can see.  The rest of the year…..which is 365 days…..they take care of the 50-90 children who live on this property as their home (not an orphanage because they are trying to reunite them with their families).  I shared a video last week highlighting the “Beast” and his donation to build a surgery center. 

The videos below show a little more of what they are doing.  You can go to the internet with this link:  ghanamakeadifference.org.  It is a non-profit organization designed to help those in need here in Ghana.  I cannot express in words what I felt as I walked the grounds and met the people that have come here from America to help.  These people are truly “angels” and are definitely making a difference in hundreds of lives.  I know it seems like a drop in the bucket (meaning a very small and insignificant amount of work done compared to what is needed)…..but as I mentioned last week, one person at a time, one contribution at a time, and reaching out to the “one” is where it all begins. 

I would also like to say that in no way has anyone asked me to write about GMAD or this foundation or try to raise any funds to support this effort. You can do whatever you choose to do. I wanted to write about it because I was moved to a few tears when I saw the faces of the little children and how happy they were to be living in a facility where people love them, take care of them, feed them, and teach them.  They are loved by people that are living their lives unselfishly and doing good.  The foundation also happens to perform medical care and surgeries for hundreds and hundreds twice a year, which is what Amy and Jason Hiatt and their daughters have been doing.  It is a great work and it is here in a country that Jill and I have grown to love.  When I was there last week, walking around the property, tears in my eyes, the words to this hymn came to me:

            “Have I done any good in the world today?  Have I helped anyone in need?  Have I cheered up the sad…..making someone feel glad…..if not, I have failed indeed.  Has anyone’s burden been lighter today, because I was willing to share?  Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way?  When they needed my help was I there?  Then wake up…..and do something more…..than dream of your mansions above.  Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure, a blessing of duty and love”. 

The missionary work of the Ghana Accra West Mission continues to move forward.  We are not performing medical surgeries, but we are working with the hearts of many people as they come unto Christ. I have a few videos and pictures below of a Stake Conference we attended, and the choirs are truly amazing.  I love how they all wear the same clothing to match.  And they love to sing and sing loudly.  Even after the conference is over.  We had some more training in the Mission Office so you can see pictures of some of the leaders.  I am also showing off the Temple grounds once again, along with the MTC.  I love this place.  The cafeteria is feeding about 300 missionaries in shifts and that is about all they can handle.  We visited the Burtenshaw’s, a senior couple working out in the field.  I have a video of where they live.  They do whatever the Bishop or Mission President wants them to do.  I know they are inspecting a lot of missionary apartments, working with the members, fixing a lot of bikes and sending them back out for use by the Elders.  She is also teaching piano to about 30 children, ages 8-18. They love what they are doing…..from Cache Valley, Utah.

The last video with Elder Bednar is something you have all seen.  I wanted to play it again to remind us all about looking out for the “one” person in our lives where we can make a difference.  It does something to your heart when you help someone and it just feels good.  That is also how the church grows…..one by one by one.  We see that here in Ghana.  Last month the missionaries went out and taught one at a time…..three at a time….five at a time.  But they continue to teach because people want something in their lives that gives them hope.  Jesus Christ is their hope and that is a very real thing. In the last 12 months…..the missionaries of the Ghana Accra West Mission baptized over 2,500 people…..that is enough to create one stake.  They are doing the same in the accra East Mission and the Accra North Mission. Think about that.  And we are just three missions. The work is going forward, and the Savior will come again.  This I know to be true. There is not anything else I would rather be doing right now than serving here in Ghana.

I know I don’t do a very good job of expressing how I feel.  A mission is something one has to experience on their own….. anywhere in the World I'm sure they feel the same.....

and you would feel what we are feeling.  This is the gospel of Jesus Christ that we are sharing with others…..He is our Savior and Redeemer and He deserves a little bit of our time and attention..... just go out and do something good for someone else…..just try and make a difference in someone else’s life. 

Jill and I with Corey Hoffman, Co-founder with his wife of "Ghana Make A Difference". They are doing a marvelous work among the people of Ghana.

I thought it was worth sharing what I saw in person in Winneba, Ghana.

One of the few videos I am sharing.....we walked the grounds with Amy and Jason Hiatt.

Amy Hiatt.....Jill didn't know how homesick she felt until she saw someone from home show up.

This show more of the property that houses children and provides medical care for others, including surgeries.

These young people are very thankful they found someone to take care of them and who love them.

The doctors and medical professionals have arrived.....let the celebration begin.

There were about 8 children in the nursery with 24-hour care and are well taken care of for a good portion of their early years in life.

I was moved by the Sunday evening gathering of all the medical professionals and volunteers as they introduced themselves to each other and went over several of the rules and regulations for the week that is about to begin. They will perform between 150-200 surgeries this week.

The surgery center on site. Many, many more surgeries are performed about 30 minutes away at a Trauma Medical Center near Winneba.

Lots of food as they begin the week of 16-hour days and lots of medical help to hundreds of people that have waited for a chance to be helped. Some have waited for years.

They love everyone.....because people first..... showed them love. They are having their needs taken care of..... Most of these kids will live here for a very long time until they can be reunited with their families. I'm sure they don't want to leave. Why would they?

This video will give you and idea of what this program is about. I wanted to share it with you.

Two little children who will have surgery this week.

Shifting gears.....is is a video of the Ghana, Accra, Missionary Training Center cafeteria. There are about 300 missionaries here right now.....they are assigned to one of 15 countries in Western Africa. They have come here to learn the English language.

This is how we watched General Conference. The TV monitor is on ironing board. Sessions at 4:00, 8:00, and Midnight on Saturday.....4:00 and 8:00 on Sunday. It was very relaxing and very inspirational. We have a new prophet, Dallin H. Oaks

Leadership meetings this week for a couple of days. They come to hang out at the Mission Office. These missionaries will be going home in about a month.....they have very mixed emotions about that. They have love being here and were treated with love and respect and honor.....they fear that will all go away once they go back home. That is what is sad about their time as a missionary being over. They make a huge contribution to their families, Wards, and communities.

More missionaries about to go home in a month or so. We will miss them.

She is coming to the desk to get some travel money and I asked her if i could take her picture. She said "yes".....and now, please, could I have some travel money".

Great Sister missionaries.....leaders and trainers. Also about to go home.

This is Gilbert and He loves Sister Blodgett.....he said, she reminds him of his mother.....who he never gets to see. I posted a picture of him last week. He works at our gate 12 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is too expensive to go home so he sleeps at night at his cousin's house. He is a sweet young man, 19 years old.

These next two videos show the back end of the MTC where the missionaries get to work out and get some exercise in their busy schedules. This video was taken at 6:00 am.....this property is beautiful and the people of Accra no that something special is going on here.

The Temple grounds, the Stake Center, the MTC, the Area Offices, and the Distribution Center. I am grateful we are so close to this place.....about 1.8 miles from where we live. We come here every week for one reason or another.

They had a National Cultural Event for the employes and Senior Couples at the Area Offices. I wanted to show how they dressed up to participate. The guy phot-bombing was pretty funny.

Dressed in their Ghanian cultural dress

They like taking pictures of the "abrone's".....which is commonly understood to mean "white person" or "foreigner" in Ghana. We have had little children stare at us in amazement as we walk by in the stores. We are the ones that are different here in Ghana.

This is my "boss" at the Area Offices. He works in the Treasury Department and is currently serving as a Stake President. His name is President Francis Sosu and we have become friends. His father is the one who was a policeman in charge of guarding one of the LDS chapels back in 1989 when the government of Ghana suspended all LDS church activities and public meetings. This ban, known as the "freeze" had been imposed due to misunderstandings and misinformation regarding the church. It lasted 18 months and no members of the church could gather publicly....they met in smaller groups privately in their homes. His father began reading some pamphlets he found on the property and wondered why the government would treat these "God fearing people" the way they are being treated. After the "freeze" ended, He wanted to be taught and learn more. Because of that experience, his son is now serving as the Stake President.

Stake Conference .....a lot of people .....almost standing room only. And they love to sing.

The choirs over here come dressed alike and sing very loudly and very beautifully. We could learn a lot from these people and their love for music.

The Burtonshaw's, from Cache Valley, Utah live out here about 2 hours away and are serving a Member Leader Support mission.

Their home is nice and comfortable and they love being here and serving the people of Ghana.

One of our Zones.....we attend their monthly council meetings.....and are trying to attend weekly District Council Meetings. It gives us a chance to be with them out in the "bush" and not just in the office. I am biased.....but they are incredible young people and I am so thankful for their sacrifice and desire to serve the Lord.

You have most likely seen this video of Elder Bednar in England back in 2011. He talks about an experiment He did with the students at BYU-Idaho.....reaching out to the one. It goes along with the theme of the last two weeks of Blogs....."Making a Difference".