An Intimate Visit to the Nungua Ward in Ghana
A Photographic Essay by Scot Facer Proctor

Part Three

click photos to enlarge

In the Relief Society the teacher was instructing and teaching just like classes we’re used to in the States.  The sisters all seemed so happy to be there and enjoy each other’s fellowship and sisterhood.

I loved being in Relief Society here in Nungua.  The sisters had a true desire to learn and to grow and to wax strong in their knowledge of the Lord.

It was nice to know that even here in Africa, on occasion, a young toddler would escape from her mother and wander around a bit.  These folding chairs are a sight for sore eyes.  When we were traveling in Scotland one early Sunday morning we had tried with all our might to get from Aberdeen to Edinburgh for Church.  We didn’t make it until the last ten minutes of the block.  We came into the overflow section first and, when Maurine saw the ‘LDS folding chairs,’ she promptly burst into tears because she felt so at home.

A young woman on the back row makes a comment after the teacher asks a question.  This group of young women was modest and beautiful.  They were obedient.  They were taking notes all through class for the things the teacher taught them.

I think we could learn a lot from the young women of Ghana.  They are so serious and concerned about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  We felt the Spirit here in the classroom.

The lesson on this day was on the gifts of the Spirit.  It was taught with great power and preparation.  The chalkboard is filled with examples and scriptures on how to draw closer to God and how to develop one’s own gifts.

The deacon’s quorum was small but happy here.  I just couldn’t get over how important it is to understand that the kingdom of God rolls forward individual testimony by individual testimony in classes like this all over the world.

These young boys were handsome and attentive.  I can imagine them growing up, serving missions in West Africa, returning, then becoming the leaders of the Church in this area of the Lord’s vineyard.

The Melchizedek Priesthood met together in the chapel.  I listened to the lesson as I was quietly taking pictures.  It was not altogether different from lessons I hear every week in my high priest’s group at home.

It humbled me to think about these precious brethren preparing and teaching lessons out of the same manual we use in the States.  It’s not like the African Saints are given a simplified manual.  They too have to figure out how to teach from The Teachings of Heber J. Grant manual.

I think everyone noticed that my face was covered with sweat.  One of the biggest challenges of shooting in Ghana is that my camera lens was always fogging up because of the high humidity.  You can see Elders Whisenant and Kirkpatrick of Church Public Affairs there.  Elder Whisenant and his wife had only been here a few days and the Kirkpatricks are a few days from going home.

I noticed in all the classes that when a question was asked and an answer was not immediately forthcoming the question would be repeated again and again until someone would comment.  We noticed this same method of teaching in the schools we visited.  Oh, by the way, at the end of the lesson the priesthood leader said, “Brethren, it’s the eighteenth of the month, we encourage you to get out and finish your home teaching and be sure that you see all of your families.”  Sounded like home.

Click here to go on to Part 4 of out visit to the Nungua Ward in Ghana.