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To those of you who want a straight Ghana reports please refer to the
January 2001 Nichiren Shoshu Monthly for an official Ghana report. This
report is the Black report that get into some of background and detail
workings in Ghana. One other person who also has me shaking my head is
Maude Elmore Devictor. Maude Devictor lives in Chicago and years ago
they made a made for television movie about her life story of getting
compensation for Viet Nam veterans whose life was destroyed by using the
harmful chemical "Agent Orange". Maude is cousin on mind who only
recently I have grown to meet. Maude father and my father's father were
brothers. Over the years Maude was one of those behind the scene workers
and I think that her interaction with Priests over the years lead her to be a
Hokkeko member. I remember years ago of her preaching to me to go to
Tozan. Maude is a strong Buddhist and our Christian family respects
Maude's practice. In February of 1998 Maude Devictor, Bill Giles, I think
Jessica Cole, and others made our journey to Ghana for the Ghana temple
opening. Each year since 1998 Maude has made her pilgrimage to Ghana.
Maude in many words reminds me of Alan. I remember her going through
challenges this year to get to Ghana and her telling me "Cuz I want let your
down you know that it is important that we go to Ghana". Sometimes these
spiritual realms just make me shake my head. Prior to coming Ghana
Maude had problems with the Ghana embassy getting her visa and passport
to her. On Friday Saturday February 24, 2001 I smiled at Maude as she had
entered the temple. On Saturday evening Nichiren Shoshu Overseas Bureau
Chief Rev. Kotoku Obayashi was hosting a question and answer session at
the temple and Maude whispers to me "Ask him about the Black Buddha on
the Gohonzon". We arrived at the tail end of the answer session and I did
not get the opportunity to ask Rev. Obayashi about the Black Buddha. After
the meeting Maude asked me did I have any American money and she
explained her circumstances. Maude sent her passport to the Ghana
Embassy without a self addressed return prepaid express postage and the
Ghana Embassy assumed that she was in no hurry for her visa and sat on her
passport. On the date Maude was to leave the Ghana Embassy had her
passport. Maude had to fly from New York to Washington D.C. back to New
York all in the same day to catch her flight. In addition to flight charges
Maude has to pay excessive taxi rates and she expended all of her money
before arriving in Ghana. Maude said "Cuz I am okay but I will need taxi
fare when I arrive back in Chicago to get home". Maude went on to tell me
that no matter what it took she was going to be in Ghana. I just shook my
head because I would not have the courage or faith to come to Ghana broke.
Maude had a lot of courage and determination to come to Ghana. Maude
explained to me about the hotel near the temple she was living at. It is just
amazing how she get around in Ghana. Maude is quite independent in Ghana
and quite revolutionary. Maude strongly suggested that we
African/Americans should be able to be members of our temple in America
and also temple members in Ghana. The point is that African/Americans will
be members in Ghana as well as their temple. There is simply too much
spirit for this not to happen. It is like the Ghana report in the Nichiren
Shoshu Monthly Ghana is important to Nichiren Shoshu and Ghana will
motivate Black people in America.