OGC Conference

The Africa West Area Office of General Counsel (OGC) recently hosted a Legal Conference for attorneys and their wives. The participants were from Germany, Russia, South Africa and the US. The attorneys were in meetings during the day and the legal department wives (Mary Richards, Bev Winegarden and I) were responsible for entertaining the wives. We planned several activities including going to a factory where they make beads, shopping at a fabric store for African prints, touring a slave castle, visiting 2 arts and crafts shops and shopping at the 'Bags by Bernice' shop. The only pictures I took were at the T K Bead gift shop and at Bernice's shop.



These are some of the containers used to make the beads. Broken glass is put in each one and then placed in a very hot oven to melt and form the beads. This is all done outside on the ground. It is a rather crude operation.




Some of the ladies examining the beads.



One of the workers stringing the beads.




More bead stringing.




Many strands of beads in vibrant, beautiful colors.




Stacks and stacks of beads.




More beads.








































This is part of the group at Bernice's shop: "Bags by Bernice." Standing L-R Lauralee Christensen,
Bernice Frimpong, owner of the shop, Arlene Barrett, Cindy Channer, Ann Adkins. Front row: Mary Richards, Tina Jackson, Janet Nelson, Linda Wakild.




One of our evening activities included a program of traditional African dancing and drumming.


















Drummers




They were very energetic and entertaining!




This is Dr. Emmanuel Kissi, one of the great pioneers of our Church here in West Africa. He was  our guest speaker at a devotional for our visiting guests. He told of his experiences of the early days of the Church here in Ghana. He was one of the main leaders who was responsible for the growth of the Church.

While pursuing advanced medical training in England, he and his wife joined The Church of JesusChrist of Latter-Day Saints in February of 1979. Shortly thereafter, they moved back to Ghana, where they have been instrumental in helping establish the Church in this country. He is a very inspiring, kind and gentle man. He wrote the book entitled "Walking in the Sand," a history of the Church in Ghana.