Member Voices
How the Construction of a Church Building Impacted My Life
During my youth, my father had a stable job and made a good living. However, he was addicted to alcohol, and this affected his family life. One day, a building was completed in my neighborhood near our house, and many speculated on its use: a school, a hospital, a church?
It was a building of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. My father was invited there and he went despite the mockery and ridicule of his family members. Eventually my father was baptized.
From that moment on, we noticed a change in his character: To our astonishment, he stopped consuming alcohol and tobacco. He often read a book that later turned out to be the Book of Mormon. After my father was baptized, he invited us to join him in his new Church. The other members of my family were reluctant to join. I had always been close to my father and decided to go to church with him.
After my baptism, my two brothers and sisters joined the Church. My mother was later baptized as well.
I was a new member aged fifteen. I met friends my age who facilitated my integration through morning seminary and the youth activities. I felt good in the Church despite the taunts of my neighborhood friends.
I then decided to serve a full-time mission in Ghana to teach others the gospel of Jesus Christ that I had received and that has had such a positive impact on my family.
During my mission, I was a witness of Christ, and my life was changed forever. Like many missionaries from modest families, I had considered saving some of my mission money to buy a mobile phone at the end of my mission. I was able to save a small amount, which I achieved with some sacrifice. But in the branch where I was serving in Preme, in a rural area, there is a brother who caught my attention. He was always happy, punctual, and paid his tithes and offerings.
One day I decided to visit him at his home. I found that he was living a simple life in a tiny spartan room without any furniture. Apparently, he lived a modest life in line with his income. I told myself that my mission was partly funded by a man who lived such a simple life. I pondered about the many blessings I had and whether it was okay to save some of the sacred mission money to purchase a mobile phone at the end of my mission. I knew that I needed to return the money I had saved to the mission president. I returned the small amount of money that I had saved.
I am currently grateful to Heavenly Father for the opportunity to serve a full-time mission. I have been blessed spiritually and temporally. Having learned English in Ghana, enabled me to get a job as an administrative assistant in a small company in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. It also enabled me to pay my tithes and pursue my studies so I could live an independent life.
I currently take courses on BYU–Pathway Worldwide so that I can get a more skilled job in the future.
My goal is to get married in the Abidjan Ivory Coast Temple which will open soon.
I realize now how much the construction of a Church building can have such a lasting impact on the lives of individuals and communities.