YSA in Africa

Elder and Sister Peterson are the Area YSA Specialists.  On the 21st of February we helped them direct some games for a YSA conference here at the temple complex.  The chapel here is the Christiansborg Stake Center.  So for part of an afternoon we had fun with the YSAs from three institute groups from Cape Coast, Kumasi and here in Accra.  All of the groups are affiliated with the University of Ghana.

Robert giving instructions

Three groups rotated through the different games.  In this game, if the person had the "present" when the music stopped, they had to open one layer of wrapping and do what it said.  Some of them were a bit shy to quack like a duck etc. but they got better at it.

Playing the game

The others were generous with their applause when anyone did their action.

Elder Petersen at the cup game

Elder Peterson led a game where two teams competed against each other.  One person from each team had to blow up a balloon and then use air from the balloon to blow down the cups.  The first one to get all the cups down wins a point.

Stacking them up

We led a game where they raced to see who could stack up empty soda cans between paper plates fastest.  Each layer had one more can than the previous, up to five cans on the top layer.  Robert's team trounced my team.

Some Young Adults at the Temple

Many young adults did baptisms for the dead while they were here at the temple.

Sister Petersen teaching the Macarena

Elder Smith can still rock it!

We enjoyed this diversion from our regular office duties.  The students ended the day with a dinner and dance.  We had hoped to see what the dance was like but they hadn't started the dinner when we stopped by so we didn't wait for the dance.

The Petersens have been asked to design, direct and implement a program for the YSAs in this area.  One fourth of the Church population in the Africa West Area is in the Young Single Adult group.  It is important that they have a place to meet and socialize with other LDS young men and women.  The tradition of paying a "bride price" is still prevalent, although it is becoming less so among the LDS.  Still, it is difficult for a young man to feel he is able to provide for a wife and family in this economy.

Elder and Sister Call assist the Petersens in this work.  They also do several workshops on the "Come Follow Me" program.  They are busy training local leaders so they can function and meet the needs of the youth and young adults in this area.