Originally a British Colony, the official language of Ghana is English. But while many Ghanaians speak it to some degree, some even eloquently, a significant number are inarticulate. The majority once you leave the capital city of Accra prefer to speak their native dialects. Often the dialects are sprinkled here and there with English words, not unlike the Spanglish encountered among Latinos at home. Most religious, music, sports and news broadcasts (with the exception of CNN and BBC) on radio and television are spoken in native
dialect.
The Church requires that the ordinances be performed in English, but otherwise the dialects may and more often than not are spoken in Church services. English literacy is being stressed by the Area Presidency and by local leaders at the highest level. Stake Presidents encourage members to speak English to their children at home and to use it more in Church meetings. They ask the members to compare the sizes of the Book of Mormon as published in English, Fante, and Tre. The latter two are smaller in size because the languages do not contain sufficient vocabulary to translate the English fully.
A wonderful new English literacy course has been developed at the Area office. It is complete with various learning tools and strategies, and is easy to teach. We provided what we thought was good inservice training to the teachers in a number of branches. Subsequent results have been a mixed bag. We have seen inspired teachers at work and others who either failed to grasp what we tried to teach or chose to discount it and rely upon time honored methods of teaching in school, characterized by rote memorization. Sister Turner observed a teacher demanding that a student read the first page of the Book of Mormon over and over again, making stern correction of mispronunciation but no translation of vocabulary. This is an extreme example, but because many of the teachers have failed to follow the prescribed instructions, too many students have soon tired of the course and stopped attending.
In speaking to the Ghanaians one is not always sure that you are communicating accurately. Often I have had to ask them to repeat themselves and to even spell some of the words that they are using. Beyond the difficulty of understanding their accents, you must take into account that they desire to make you happy and will, therefore, tell you what they
think you want to hear. And then, of course, you can never be certain that they have understood you entirely. It is common to ask them if they have said one thing or if they have said another which is different, to which they reply simply: "Yes." When misunderstandings occur, they may stare at you with noncomprehending eyes, leaving you to wonder if they truly do not understand or if they just want you to think that they do not.
I have on occasion taught temple preparation seminars in some of the remote branches. Communication in those instances has been interesting. I always carefully instruct the branch presidents to call eight to ten people to take the class and to be certain that these people are temple worthy and otherwise qualified to take the course. Legal marriage, for example, is a requirement before a couple can be sealed in the temple in Ghana. Nonetheless, in one branch the president told his congregation at the conclusion of sacrament meeting that anyone who wished to take the temple prep course could take it. Fifty-seven people showed up, including young men and women, couples who were living together without benefit of marriage, and even one man who had two wives.
In another branch, four wonderfully responsive couples arrived at my first class. They knew all the answers to my questions and seemed ready to take out their endowments the very next day. I was thrilled but then at the end of the class discovered that three of the couples had already been to the temple and only one was a candidate for first time attendance.
In both situations I needed an interpreter as only a few spoke good English. This can be a challenging situation when your interpreter does not fully understand your English or is unable to translate the English in the scriptures to the local dialect. You just have to smile and rely upon the Spirit as the members of the class cheerfully attempt to help communicate the lessons to each other.
The active members of the Church in Ghana live close to the Spirit, closer indeed than many of us do at home. There is no communication more effective.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Earthquake Hoax
An interesting thing occurred the other night. First, most
Ghanaians have never experienced an earthquake as far as I
can determine. Nevertheless, they are terrified of them,
thanks to the television coverage of the recent disaster in
Haiti. Tuesday at about midnight a radio station in the
capital city of Accra broadcast a warning of an imminent
earthquake in Ghana and told people to get out of their
houses immediately. This news spread throughout Ghana and by
3 AM much of the country was up and outside their homes. On
the coast thousands went to the beaches to wait for the
announced quake (which could have been a mistake had a large
quake occurred... psunami waves).
Karma and I received a phone call to vacate immediately. We
were told that a mobile sound truck was cruising the streets
warning people to get out of their homes as quickly as
possible. I would have stayed in bed except for the fact
that the four sister missionaries who live in the house
behind ours were outside and worried about us. We stayed up
for about a half hour and finally talked them into going
back into their house and to bed. Why am I not surprised by
all this? As we often say here in Ghana: "TIA." Translation:
"This is Africa."
--Elder Turner
Ghanaians have never experienced an earthquake as far as I
can determine. Nevertheless, they are terrified of them,
thanks to the television coverage of the recent disaster in
Haiti. Tuesday at about midnight a radio station in the
capital city of Accra broadcast a warning of an imminent
earthquake in Ghana and told people to get out of their
houses immediately. This news spread throughout Ghana and by
3 AM much of the country was up and outside their homes. On
the coast thousands went to the beaches to wait for the
announced quake (which could have been a mistake had a large
quake occurred... psunami waves).
Karma and I received a phone call to vacate immediately. We
were told that a mobile sound truck was cruising the streets
warning people to get out of their homes as quickly as
possible. I would have stayed in bed except for the fact
that the four sister missionaries who live in the house
behind ours were outside and worried about us. We stayed up
for about a half hour and finally talked them into going
back into their house and to bed. Why am I not surprised by
all this? As we often say here in Ghana: "TIA." Translation:
"This is Africa."
--Elder Turner
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
We Want to Contact You!
My parents love reading your comments and often times wish to respond to you directly. However, they do not have contact information for you all--i.e. RICK INGRAM. Please consider leaving an email address with your comments, or if you'd like to be more discreet, you can email me with your info and I will pass it on to Frank and Karma.
They are very excited to have replaced their laptop and as soon as they can figure out the internet connection, they will be much more visible online. Hopefully that means more blog posts and pictures!
Thanks for all of your love and support,
Kara
kara.matsuda@gmail.com
They are very excited to have replaced their laptop and as soon as they can figure out the internet connection, they will be much more visible online. Hopefully that means more blog posts and pictures!
Thanks for all of your love and support,
Kara
kara.matsuda@gmail.com
Friday, November 6, 2009
Mini Miracle
Out of adversity good things often come. In late July of
this year our home was broken into and our laptop computer
and other items were stolen. From a group of neighbors
assembled at our gate later that day, a young man in his
twenties stepped forth and offered his assistance
translating Fanti (the local dialect). Twice he accompanied
us to the homes of some young boys whom we suspected were
involved in the incident. He met us at the police station to
file a report with the authorities and again the next day
for an interview with the police inspector in charge of the
area.
We soon learned that Bernard was highly educated and
articulate. I asked him to tell me of his goals in life. To
my surprise he answered: "I want to be like you." "Like me?"
I responded, "What is it about me that you want to emulate?"
thinking that perhaps it was my remarkably long and
beautiful forehead. "I want to be a missionary like you," he
said. "Are you a member of the Church?" I asked. "No," he
replied, "but I would like to be."
In that Sister Turner and I were scheduled to be out of town
the next Sunday and that we seldom attend the same branch or
ward any two Sundays in a row, I asked Bernard if he would
like to attend Church with a couple of friends of mine. He
said he would. I made a quick on the spot cell phone call to
the mission zone leader and explained that I had a referral
waiting to talk to him at that very moment. I handed the
phone to Bernard and listened as the appointment was made.
After attending Church and subsequent gospel discussions,
Bernard was baptized Saturday, October 17, 2009. Great is
our joy!
--Elder Turner
this year our home was broken into and our laptop computer
and other items were stolen. From a group of neighbors
assembled at our gate later that day, a young man in his
twenties stepped forth and offered his assistance
translating Fanti (the local dialect). Twice he accompanied
us to the homes of some young boys whom we suspected were
involved in the incident. He met us at the police station to
file a report with the authorities and again the next day
for an interview with the police inspector in charge of the
area.
We soon learned that Bernard was highly educated and
articulate. I asked him to tell me of his goals in life. To
my surprise he answered: "I want to be like you." "Like me?"
I responded, "What is it about me that you want to emulate?"
thinking that perhaps it was my remarkably long and
beautiful forehead. "I want to be a missionary like you," he
said. "Are you a member of the Church?" I asked. "No," he
replied, "but I would like to be."
In that Sister Turner and I were scheduled to be out of town
the next Sunday and that we seldom attend the same branch or
ward any two Sundays in a row, I asked Bernard if he would
like to attend Church with a couple of friends of mine. He
said he would. I made a quick on the spot cell phone call to
the mission zone leader and explained that I had a referral
waiting to talk to him at that very moment. I handed the
phone to Bernard and listened as the appointment was made.
After attending Church and subsequent gospel discussions,
Bernard was baptized Saturday, October 17, 2009. Great is
our joy!
--Elder Turner
Thursday, September 10, 2009
The Latest
Dear Family and Friends,
We are at an internet cafe as the computers at the mission home have been down for almost a week and we do not want you all to think that we are not thinking about you or are interested in your lives. We so appreciate your mail, emails, and your prayers.
Elder Turner delights in getting into conversations with the gas attendants and has invited them to go to church with us. We usually make the first contact and then give them to the elders to teach since our responsibilities are with the branches. There is one toll booth that we pass through several times a week and when a certain young man is working, he recognizes us and waves us on through. Of course we have given him literature and he is reading. There is a policeman by the name of Joseph that always remembers us when we come by. He pounds the hood of the car and gives us a big grin and looks to see if we are o.k. This makes being in Ghana even more fun when people remember us.
Some of you may not have known that Frank had a head on collision with a taxi driver that was going way too fast. It destroyed our bumper but demolished the taxi. President Sabey is a lawyer and he became our negotiator. The police were paid off and the taxi driver was heard to say that the church has lots of money so go for all we can get. But President wanted to leave a good taste in everyones mouth for the church and he did by doing a great job of negotiating and making the other party feel like they got what they wanted. No one was hurt except the taxi car. Frank was sitting still when the taxi hit the front of the truck. It was a very interesting experience. Here it is not the truth that counts but who you know and who you can pay the bribe to.
I have been teaching additional lessons to people here other than those that belong to the branches we are assigned to. It is so exciting to hear about our students playing in the branch meetings. They play just single lines or simple two hand versions but that is more music than the branches are use to. That just thrills me. We teach everyday of the week except Monday. We found three keyboards in one of the wards and the bishop there asked if I would teach some from his ward!!! I think when I get home that I am going to try to teach my grandchildren or anyone else that might want to learn to play quickly. Yes really--you will like it!
Our computer time is almost up but please know how much we love you all and miss you but we are so very happy here. Thanks again for your letters and we feel your prayers.
Love,
Mom and Dad
Elder and Sister Turner
We are at an internet cafe as the computers at the mission home have been down for almost a week and we do not want you all to think that we are not thinking about you or are interested in your lives. We so appreciate your mail, emails, and your prayers.
Elder Turner delights in getting into conversations with the gas attendants and has invited them to go to church with us. We usually make the first contact and then give them to the elders to teach since our responsibilities are with the branches. There is one toll booth that we pass through several times a week and when a certain young man is working, he recognizes us and waves us on through. Of course we have given him literature and he is reading. There is a policeman by the name of Joseph that always remembers us when we come by. He pounds the hood of the car and gives us a big grin and looks to see if we are o.k. This makes being in Ghana even more fun when people remember us.
Some of you may not have known that Frank had a head on collision with a taxi driver that was going way too fast. It destroyed our bumper but demolished the taxi. President Sabey is a lawyer and he became our negotiator. The police were paid off and the taxi driver was heard to say that the church has lots of money so go for all we can get. But President wanted to leave a good taste in everyones mouth for the church and he did by doing a great job of negotiating and making the other party feel like they got what they wanted. No one was hurt except the taxi car. Frank was sitting still when the taxi hit the front of the truck. It was a very interesting experience. Here it is not the truth that counts but who you know and who you can pay the bribe to.
I have been teaching additional lessons to people here other than those that belong to the branches we are assigned to. It is so exciting to hear about our students playing in the branch meetings. They play just single lines or simple two hand versions but that is more music than the branches are use to. That just thrills me. We teach everyday of the week except Monday. We found three keyboards in one of the wards and the bishop there asked if I would teach some from his ward!!! I think when I get home that I am going to try to teach my grandchildren or anyone else that might want to learn to play quickly. Yes really--you will like it!
Our computer time is almost up but please know how much we love you all and miss you but we are so very happy here. Thanks again for your letters and we feel your prayers.
Love,
Mom and Dad
Elder and Sister Turner
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Fun on the Highways
We have been having fun on the highways with the police lately. Their presence has been greatly increased because of the large number of fatality accidents which have taken place. It is no wonder, the way people drive here. They pass you on hills and on curves and sometimes directly in the face of oncoming traffic, forcing cars to take to the sides of the road. Yesterday two cars behind me went around me side by side at the same time. There are seldom street lights on the roads, making driving at night particularly stressful. Drivers turn their headlights on only when it is pitch black and sometimes not even then.
Police are found at permanent barriers on the road every so often. They sometimes just motion us on, other times look inside the vehicle and ask us where we are going. Some are friendly, asking how we are and wishing us a good days. Others are not. They sometimes ask us if we have anything for them, meaning a bribe. Other times they ask if we have any "chop" for them, meaning a snack. I have seen people give them pineapples and money.
The story is told here of the former mission president being asked for a blessing at one of the barriers. Without missing a beat, the president made the sign of the cross on his chess in the Catholic manner and said: "Bless you, my son," and quickly drove off, leaving the officer too startled to react.
We never know when we are going to encounter a speed trap on the road. The police select a spot in a semi desolate area just beyond a hill or a curve so that they cannot be seen until too late. Typically they stand in a group of four or five in the middle of the road at a point somewhere after a 50 km speed limit (about 30 mph) is posted. They may then stop you for speeding whether you were or not. Commonly they show you a radar gun which reads 72 km (about 45 mph)which they may or may not have even bothered to point in your direction. Often they are more interested in receiving a bribe than in giving you a ticket.
I was stopped Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of last week. Friday the police showed me their radar gun which read 62 km per hour. That was about 37 miles per hour (in a 30 mph zone). The policeman never pointed the gun at me but refused to talk about that issue. He appeared to be writing me up as we talked but it was on a wrinkled piece of paper which looked anything but official. He wrote in large numbers 200 cedis(about $160.) and said I would have to appear in court before a judge the following Monday in a city that is an hour and a half away from where we live. I played dumb and told him that I was new in the country and did not know where this city was. I asked if perhaps we could just settle things there on the highway rather than me trying to find an unfamiliar place a few days later. He smiled and motioned for his sergeant to come over. I handed then a 20 cedi note (about $16.), and they waved me on my way.
Saturday I was shown a radar gun which read 72 km. I had been carefully going the exact posted speed limit of 50 km per hour, having passed this particular trap a number of times in the past. The policeman never once pointed the gun at me. When I pointed this fact out to him, he simply said: "Tell the judge that the policeman used a faulty 'speed gun'". The officer continued to threaten me with a court appearance but did not write me up. It was obvious he was wanting a bribe. I told him how I love and respect policemen, being surrounded by them in my family. "Policemen in America?" he asked. I couldn't tell if he was impressed or not but he suggested that we talk to his sergeant. I asked the two of them how much it would take to settle the thing right then and there. The policeman said to me: "Let your heart be your guide," which is a familiar response given often when you ask how much something is going to cost you. I pulled out 10 cedis this time (about $8.) but the sergeant refused it, smiled, and waved me on without another word.
Today I was stopped again in a 50 km zone in the middle of nowhere and shown a radar gun reading of 72 km. I was actually going something close to that this time, probably faster, but the officer did not really know because he never pointed the gun in my direction. Inspiration came to me. I pointed to my missionary ID badge which I wear on my shirt and told the officer that I was a man of God and would not deliberatly break the law. Karma jumped in and said: "It is Sunday. We are on our way to church and will repent of driving too fast." I nearly laughed outloud but managed to maintain my composure. I didn't offer to pay any money this time, and the officer called his sergeant over, who just motioned to me to move on.
Drivers do try to warn one another of impending speed traps and commonly blink their headlights to indicate danger ahead. Once in awhile, however, we have come upon a trap without having been warned. Those who have had to go to court for a ticket say it is not pleasant and can be very expensive. One of our elders was fined the equivalent of $200. for supposedly driving 15 miles over the posted limit.
To add insult to injury, the cost of fuel just went up 30% in a single day. We are now paying about $5 a gallon for diesel.
Elder Turner
Police are found at permanent barriers on the road every so often. They sometimes just motion us on, other times look inside the vehicle and ask us where we are going. Some are friendly, asking how we are and wishing us a good days. Others are not. They sometimes ask us if we have anything for them, meaning a bribe. Other times they ask if we have any "chop" for them, meaning a snack. I have seen people give them pineapples and money.
The story is told here of the former mission president being asked for a blessing at one of the barriers. Without missing a beat, the president made the sign of the cross on his chess in the Catholic manner and said: "Bless you, my son," and quickly drove off, leaving the officer too startled to react.
We never know when we are going to encounter a speed trap on the road. The police select a spot in a semi desolate area just beyond a hill or a curve so that they cannot be seen until too late. Typically they stand in a group of four or five in the middle of the road at a point somewhere after a 50 km speed limit (about 30 mph) is posted. They may then stop you for speeding whether you were or not. Commonly they show you a radar gun which reads 72 km (about 45 mph)which they may or may not have even bothered to point in your direction. Often they are more interested in receiving a bribe than in giving you a ticket.
I was stopped Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of last week. Friday the police showed me their radar gun which read 62 km per hour. That was about 37 miles per hour (in a 30 mph zone). The policeman never pointed the gun at me but refused to talk about that issue. He appeared to be writing me up as we talked but it was on a wrinkled piece of paper which looked anything but official. He wrote in large numbers 200 cedis(about $160.) and said I would have to appear in court before a judge the following Monday in a city that is an hour and a half away from where we live. I played dumb and told him that I was new in the country and did not know where this city was. I asked if perhaps we could just settle things there on the highway rather than me trying to find an unfamiliar place a few days later. He smiled and motioned for his sergeant to come over. I handed then a 20 cedi note (about $16.), and they waved me on my way.
Saturday I was shown a radar gun which read 72 km. I had been carefully going the exact posted speed limit of 50 km per hour, having passed this particular trap a number of times in the past. The policeman never once pointed the gun at me. When I pointed this fact out to him, he simply said: "Tell the judge that the policeman used a faulty 'speed gun'". The officer continued to threaten me with a court appearance but did not write me up. It was obvious he was wanting a bribe. I told him how I love and respect policemen, being surrounded by them in my family. "Policemen in America?" he asked. I couldn't tell if he was impressed or not but he suggested that we talk to his sergeant. I asked the two of them how much it would take to settle the thing right then and there. The policeman said to me: "Let your heart be your guide," which is a familiar response given often when you ask how much something is going to cost you. I pulled out 10 cedis this time (about $8.) but the sergeant refused it, smiled, and waved me on without another word.
Today I was stopped again in a 50 km zone in the middle of nowhere and shown a radar gun reading of 72 km. I was actually going something close to that this time, probably faster, but the officer did not really know because he never pointed the gun in my direction. Inspiration came to me. I pointed to my missionary ID badge which I wear on my shirt and told the officer that I was a man of God and would not deliberatly break the law. Karma jumped in and said: "It is Sunday. We are on our way to church and will repent of driving too fast." I nearly laughed outloud but managed to maintain my composure. I didn't offer to pay any money this time, and the officer called his sergeant over, who just motioned to me to move on.
Drivers do try to warn one another of impending speed traps and commonly blink their headlights to indicate danger ahead. Once in awhile, however, we have come upon a trap without having been warned. Those who have had to go to court for a ticket say it is not pleasant and can be very expensive. One of our elders was fined the equivalent of $200. for supposedly driving 15 miles over the posted limit.
To add insult to injury, the cost of fuel just went up 30% in a single day. We are now paying about $5 a gallon for diesel.
Elder Turner
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Testimonies at Fast and Testimony Meetings
June 6, 2009
When giving a talk, teaching a lesson, offering prayer, or bearing testimony, the Ghanaians tend to speak loudly, forcefully, and dramatically. I think it is the pentacostal background of many of them showing through. I am seldom able to understand them because they almost always speak in their African dialects, but I find myself watching them closely as they speak and imagining what they might be saying.
A few months ago a young woman gave what appeared to be a passionately vibrant, almost urgent testimony accompanied by tears. She was so focused and so sincere, so beautifully intent on sharing her testimony I thought. I turned to the counselor seated next to me and asked him what she was saying. He said: "Oh, she is talking about how wonderful her three year old daughter is."
Today a middle aged woman came to the stand and launched into her testimony with marked enthusiasm. Before long she and the entire congregation were laughing and then exchanging comments with each other as she left the stand. I learned later that she told of taking two pieces of sacrament bread rather than the usual one at last month's meeting, being both hungry and thinking that the extra piece of bread would sustain her through some personal problems she had been experiencing. By mid afternoon her stomach was hurting, she said, and she concluded that the Lord was trying to tell her that one piece of sacrament bread was enough.
Elder Turner
When giving a talk, teaching a lesson, offering prayer, or bearing testimony, the Ghanaians tend to speak loudly, forcefully, and dramatically. I think it is the pentacostal background of many of them showing through. I am seldom able to understand them because they almost always speak in their African dialects, but I find myself watching them closely as they speak and imagining what they might be saying.
A few months ago a young woman gave what appeared to be a passionately vibrant, almost urgent testimony accompanied by tears. She was so focused and so sincere, so beautifully intent on sharing her testimony I thought. I turned to the counselor seated next to me and asked him what she was saying. He said: "Oh, she is talking about how wonderful her three year old daughter is."
Today a middle aged woman came to the stand and launched into her testimony with marked enthusiasm. Before long she and the entire congregation were laughing and then exchanging comments with each other as she left the stand. I learned later that she told of taking two pieces of sacrament bread rather than the usual one at last month's meeting, being both hungry and thinking that the extra piece of bread would sustain her through some personal problems she had been experiencing. By mid afternoon her stomach was hurting, she said, and she concluded that the Lord was trying to tell her that one piece of sacrament bread was enough.
Elder Turner
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