16 Young Adults from Teshie Ghana Stake Accept Full-time Mission Calls

President Jeffrey O. Botchway of the Accra Ghana Teshie Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints listened to President Russell M. Nelson’s call for more missionaries at the April 2022 General Conference and asked himself what he needed to do to inspire the youth in his stake to serve. With the assistance of inspired leaders, the stake focused on helping the prospective missionaries in their wards overcome the obstacles to full-time missionary service.

As a result of their efforts, 16 young adults from the Accra Ghana Teshie Stake have been called to serve full-time missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They will be serving in countries throughout the world, in Nigeria, Cameroon, Congo, the United States, United Kingdom and Madagascar.

President Botchway recognized that the major barriers to service were the arduous process of preparing the documentation for travel, and the fear and uncertainty that missionaries feel after their service.  He worked with Bishops to start the travel documentation process while the prospective missionaries were still in High School.  This eased the missionary application process and allowed them to receive their missionary assignments sooner.

“The issue of uncertainty for their future was overcome in missionary preparatory classes. During those classes, they tend to grow in faith and hope for the future,” said President Botchway.  “With the help of dedicated seminary and institute teachers, committed bishops and ward leaders, we reinforced the missionary preparatory classes across the stake. Some bishoprics even teach those classes themselves.”

Stake leaders also encouraged the prospective missionaries to enroll in the PathwayConnect program for at least six months before their mission.  This helped them to determine a path for their lives after their missionary service.

“I am grateful to my leaders and especially my Institute Teacher, who is currently my Stake President, President Botchway, and our current Institute teacher Brother Nkonu who helped me along the way when I had lost my motivation to serve while I was in University,” said Richeal, who begins her mission in January, serving in Cameroon and learning French.

"As part of the preparation for my mission, I decided to attend a missionary preparatory class which also helped me to get the desire to serve a mission. I had an amazing instructor who taught me that missionary work starts the moment we have the desire to serve a mission," said David, who will be serving in the Congo Kananga Mission and also learning French. 

"I sat down one day and was thinking about how I became a member of the Church and that was when I realized how missionary work is important and that alone pushed me to serve the Lord," said Fatima, who will be serving in the New Jersey Morristown Mission.

As the enthusiasm to serve continued to grow in the stake, more young single adults were committing to serve. “When Abigail approached me to discuss her willingness to serve, I felt so happy within and perceived her commitment to the Gospel and without doubt, I proceeded to recommend her to serve. I have confidence in her to complete her mission with honor,” said Bishop Samuel Agyei Amankwah, of the Teshie 2^nd Ward, of one of his new missionaries.

President Botchway knew the value of missionary service and wanted that blessing for the young adults in his stake. “My time spent serving a full-time mission has made me who I am today. It made me know God and I felt His love for me. My mission prepared me to see challenges as learning opportunities.  It made me much more optimistic about life, and it increased my desire to keep fighting on the course for good.”