A Piece of African Art for the New MTC

We often refer to the 8th Chapter of 1st Nephi which recounts the story of "Lehi's Dream"

This is a powerful missionary scripture as it refers to a missionary's motivation to serve the Lord. In the story Lehi makes his way along a path and arrives at a beautiful and radiant tree covered with fruit that was sweet and delicious. We soon learn the meaning of the fruit .... it represents feeling of the love of God and of exaltation. As soon as Lehi tastes of the fruit he looks around to see and invite his family to come and partake. Missionaries who have felt the love and joy that the gospel brings soon desire others to come and partake in much the same way.

One day late last year we decided that it might be meaningful to have a carved panel depicting
"Lehi's Dream".

Above the coastal plain surrounding Accra is a small town named Aburi. It was once a retreat for British Colonial Officers and is now the home of a beautiful botanical garden. Auburi is also known for the large part of it's population making a living in the ancient trade of wood carving. 

We went to Aburi in search of a carver who could carve a representation of the scene depicted in "Lehi's Dream" to adorn the walls of the new MTC which is currently under construction. 

While there we took advantage of the Botanical Gardens to get in a good walk

together with Elder and Sister Hill our wonderful new office couple

Looking out from the hollow center of a 'strangler ficus'

Two wonderful Sisters, or as the MTC missionaries call them "Mums"

Looking up through a strangler ficus 

We enjoyed this unique hand carved table with giraffe necks coming through the center

An Eagle Stool - Stools of all sorts have great significance in Ghana

Selling Dried and smoked Fish in the Gardens

Carver Abel's Handiwork

Shaping the rough design is done with an adze 

(the ancient tool used also to hollow out dugout canoes)

This is a first effort at a sample carving

More on this project to follow