Last week I didn't
have very much time. So I just sent a bunch of pictures home. As you all may
know. Elder Rasband from the Quorum of the 12 Apostles came and spoke to us. What
an opportunity it is to shake hands and meet an apostle and the President of
the Area. Not going to lie. I was a little nervous. I don't know why, haha I haven't
done anything to get me in trouble or anything but it’s an apostle. Not many
people get the chance I did this week. As soon as Elder Rasband entered the
room with his wife, the whole room
filled with the Spirit. What came next was the meeting. What was cool was that
when I met Elder Curtis (my homie) for the second time, he didn't even look at
my tag and remembered my name and told me that it was nice to meet again . I
was like wow, but anyway I will give a little bit of background about who spoke
and stuff.
They started the
program. We sang a song then they called on 1 elder or sister from each of the
mission. So from our mission Sister Talah bore her testimony and by the way she
was in her training. Her and her companion have been having miraculous success.
Then this elder spoke from the other mission who looked like he was like 5
weeks in or he just was enjoying in the city. hahah us Bushonaries have it
rough. But anyway I’m having too many ADHD moments.
Elder
Rasband's talk was so powerful and it was kinda based on the talk 'The Divine
Calling of a Missionary.’ He retold the story of him with President Eyring. and
bore powerful testimony that each missionary is called to a place for a certain
reason. What was interesting is he said that they really focus on where the
missionary would finish their mission and I thought that was pretty interesting
and said that anything that happens with you is because there is a person with
the priesthood keys to put you in the mission, in an area, and with your
companion. Everything is done with the keys and for a distinct reason. I just
thought that was interesting. He said to respect the leaders and the companions
because everything is done because you need it and it will help you. That’s pretty
much what we talked about.
Man this week has been a wet week meaning it has been pouring rain all week.
The reason I said moist is because mom doesn't like the word. I won’t go day by
day but I will tell of the experiences I had this week. I feel like it is
boring reporting day by day, and besides nothing new has happened because I
have been here for 3 and a half months. So our mission president has informed
us that we are not allowed to teach a lesson without a member. Of course this
doesn't mean that we can’t proselyte. It just means that if we can’t have a
member teach with us all we are doing is just visiting people. I really like
this rule because it will give the investigators a friend in the church so that
they will be motivated to come and they won’t feel left out.
Chi! (Nigerian word for Wow) Our ward missionaries are champs honestly especially
this one name Dorothy. She is a champ for sure. We need members right now. When
we call Dorothy she drops whatever she is doing and she will come teach with
us. Champ.
So the wood carving
guy came and I bought some more stuff, and I bought some African ties. Right
now i am getting Kente which is an expensive African material. I don't know how
to describe it.
So yesterday we had a
funny experience. We had 2 FM's (free meal) and the first member fed us some rice and beans
and some stew. We finished it like champs, taught a couple of lessons in
between and then it was time for our evening FM. So we are sitting there all
chill and they brought us out this mountain stacked 4 inches high and stew and
Ferrin and I totally hammered it out and they took it as we were hungry and
totally brought out another plate of rice and in Ghana if you don't finish the
food you insult them so we were in a predicament. Ferrin took two bites and
quit and so I had to finish this whole plate by myself. I took the challenge
and I hammered down that plate of rice like a champ and saved the day. So the
story doesn't end. As we walk out of the house we hear lightning and thunder
and stuff and tell ourselves it’s not going to rain at all. Next thing you know
we hear sprinkling and then boom in a blink of an eye it starts dumping rain.
Now I’m not talking about the puny rainfall. I’m talking about the rain that
hurt when it hits you and right now as I’m writing this it is doing the same thing
haha. We were seeking cover at this lady’s provision shop. Bless her soul lol.
These two random white men huddle under it and this rain was sideways rain. There
was no point in hiding because we were still getting hit by rain. At this point
we just walk in the pouring rain not even caring anymore. Our house is like 10
minutes away so literally we are walking in this river because the road gutters
are overfilled. We got to that point where we were so wet we didn't even care
anymore. When we get to our dirt road this is like a muddy river. I felt like a
marine trying to step my way through this. It was hard haha but finally we made
it home. At least we had light though. Ah the charm of Ghana :)
That's it for this
week
Elder Dallin H. Oaks explained why we do missionary work
“We do not preach and teach in order to “bring people into the Church” or to
increase the membership of the Church. We do not preach and teach just to
persuade people to live better lives. We honor and appreciate the many ministers
and others who are involved in the kind of ministry that makes bad men good and
good men better. That is important, but we offer something more. One can
qualify for the Terrestrial kingdom instead of the Telestial kingdom without
the aid of this Church. We are concerned with a higher destination.
The purpose of our missionary work is to help the children of God fulfill a
condition prescribed by our Savior and Redeemer. We preach and teach in order
to baptize the children of God so that they can be saved in the celestial
kingdom instead of being limited to a lesser kingdom. We do missionary work in
order to baptize and confirm. That is the doctrinal basis of missionary work.
The restored gospel gives us added knowledge about Jesus Christ and His
doctrine. But the uniqueness of our message is not just added knowledge. The
requirement of baptism reminds us that the truths we teach are not academic.
The restored gospel consists of doctrines and ordinances. We proclaim that
baptism is necessary in order to redeem us from sins according to the
conditions prescribed by the Redeemer and that only priesthood holders of this
Church have the God-given authority that transforms the act of immersion in
water into an ordinance of the everlasting gospel. Our preaching and teaching
is unto baptism.” (Sep 2009 New Era)
I love all of you guys
and keep you in my prayers. I am happy to be a missionary.
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| Goat! |
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