Marry Christmas! Thanks for all the great letters and pictures. I can't wait to talk to you, i'll call you around two or three(Utah time). Yesterday Elome was interviewed and will be baptized on the 24th right before the branches carols night! We are hoping to baptize Blessed and Godsway on the 31st. Its a busy time of year and we are really pushing hard to make our goal! On sunday blessed was supposed to come to church for his interview but he didn't show up, so we are praying he and Godsway will come this week to be interviewed. So please pray for these three and sister Mary! Mary is getting better but she will be in the hospital for a few more weeks so we will go and visit her in the hospital and I know it will make my Christmas wonderful! I am so excited for Christmas this week, Ghanaian's know the true meaning of Christmas and they keep it all year round! There is not a more God fearing people in the world, some time i'll have to send you some pictures of some of the signs I have seen but almost every store,taxi,trotro and building have a reference to Christ or some scripture! I know this Christmas will be wonderful and I'll never forget it!
We just got back from hiking a hill that overlooks all of Ho! It was pretty neat but not as cool as my first hike. But we did get lost and have to pull out the cuttlers to chop are way up to the top to find the path and then we took it down. The view was beautiful, I really love Ho! My favorite thing is how small it is and how quite it is at night. Some nights when we finish every thing i'll take a mat out and just look at the stars because there are very few lights in ho and so you can see the Stars really well at night! Last night as I was looking at the stars it just amazed me how small and insignificant I am as a human being and the song if you could hide to Kolob came to my mind and how impossible it is to grasp eternity and it hit me really hard what I am doing right now will affect people for eternity! Its a scary thought but I am grateful for this opportunity and I know when I think about that though out this week and for the rest of my mission it will help me anytime I am missing home!
I am grateful for this Christmas season, I am grateful to be serving the Lord and bringing people closer to him, I am so grateful to bare his name everyday and be a Representative of him and his church! I love you all so much and can't wait to talk to you! Have a very Marry Christmas!!
-Elder Andrew K. L.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Monday, December 13, 2010
Christmas Conference
Dear Fam,
Great to hear from you all and especially from Eric and Sherry! This kid looks like a keeper! Our family is growing so fast, I can't believe it! Yesterday I finished The Book of Mormon Challenge, just in time for the Christmas Conference. We have the conference tomorrow with all the missionaries. I am really looking forward to it and to see all the Elders from the MTC. I haven't really interacted with too many Elders because when your out in the Bush you miss out on a few things. But I wouldn't trade any of that for the time I have spent in Ho. I'd say 90% percent of the Elders serve in Accra and I talked to a few Elders that never left Accra for there whole mission so I have really tried to enjoy my time out here. Because this is kind of what I thought about when I would think about Africa. So because we are far out we are going to stay in the mission home and I heard the AC is FREEZING!! So tonight is going to be my white Christmas!
This week in the work Elome and Blessed continue to progress but Elizabeth and her daughter heard some bad things about the church and so we had to move Elizabeth's date back, and then as we continued to dig we found out that she is hoping to marry a pastor from another church. So I immediately started to teach her about Temple marriage and we are going to teach her more about temples in our next visit. Mary's burns are getting better and my Comp and I are going to watch the Christmas DVD and Sing some Carlos to her on Christmas day. I am really looking forward to that!
[Personal messages to family members.] Can't wait to hear from you next week!
Love - Elder L.
Great to hear from you all and especially from Eric and Sherry! This kid looks like a keeper! Our family is growing so fast, I can't believe it! Yesterday I finished The Book of Mormon Challenge, just in time for the Christmas Conference. We have the conference tomorrow with all the missionaries. I am really looking forward to it and to see all the Elders from the MTC. I haven't really interacted with too many Elders because when your out in the Bush you miss out on a few things. But I wouldn't trade any of that for the time I have spent in Ho. I'd say 90% percent of the Elders serve in Accra and I talked to a few Elders that never left Accra for there whole mission so I have really tried to enjoy my time out here. Because this is kind of what I thought about when I would think about Africa. So because we are far out we are going to stay in the mission home and I heard the AC is FREEZING!! So tonight is going to be my white Christmas!
This week in the work Elome and Blessed continue to progress but Elizabeth and her daughter heard some bad things about the church and so we had to move Elizabeth's date back, and then as we continued to dig we found out that she is hoping to marry a pastor from another church. So I immediately started to teach her about Temple marriage and we are going to teach her more about temples in our next visit. Mary's burns are getting better and my Comp and I are going to watch the Christmas DVD and Sing some Carlos to her on Christmas day. I am really looking forward to that!
[Personal messages to family members.] Can't wait to hear from you next week!
Love - Elder L.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Ho, Ho, Ho For Christmas
Dear Fam,
Transfers have come and gone and it looks like I'll be in Ho,Ho,Ho for Christmas! My new companion is from the Great state of Idaho! His name is Elder Kloepfer, and he loves to work, answer to my prayers! I would battle and battle to try and be obedient but its really hard when you are being trained to tell your companion what you should do. We are working really hard and doing all we can to further the work, Elder Kloepfer can tell that my last companion didn't do a whole lot to help me learn or even do all the things we should but he is helping me so much, I feel so happy right now. In the past I didn't do a whole lot of talking in the lessons but Elder Kloepfers biggest thing is teaching in unity! I am kind of shocked to have a companion from the states, I am his first one from the states and he has been out for 18months. I missed you all so much during thanksgiving but I enjoyed the chips and salsa mom sent, my companion also had some beef Jerky and some protein bars and some candy so we really enjoyed. My favorite thing Elder Kloepfer has taught me so far is how to start teaching, we don't waste any time, we have extended so many dates in our first week together. This week we were really hoping the three people we gave a date to would come because we are setting a lofty goal for this month and if these people didn't come we would not be able to make our goal. At the start of church no one showed up, not a single person, I felt sick, and I prayed and prayed these people would come. To my amazement all three of them came late, but they came. I was so happy and I felt it was a huge blessing, earlier this week we only had one person preparing for baptize and now we have four. We hope and pray we will be able to baptize them all on the 18th. Their names are Elizabeth, Jocelyn, Ivy and Elome. I am happy to hear you all had a wonderful thanksgiving. Since coming on my mission I have truly come to see how blessed I am and how much I have taken for granted all my life. But right now I am trying to share with everyone that knowledge I have that I am most grateful and I know will change their lives and bless them just like it has blessed me! Mom, your story was amazing and I am so grateful for all the help you have given
me. I am ok for Christmas, I don't need anything else and I know what you have sent me is more than any other missionary could dream about, so please don't send anything else! I couldn't help but think of you all a lot this week, I am so grateful for the Gospel and that I can share it with the wonderful people of Ghana. I am also grateful to have you all for my family, though your letters and prayers you helped me adjust and encouraged me to move forward I love you all!
Love, Elder L.
Transfers have come and gone and it looks like I'll be in Ho,Ho,Ho for Christmas! My new companion is from the Great state of Idaho! His name is Elder Kloepfer, and he loves to work, answer to my prayers! I would battle and battle to try and be obedient but its really hard when you are being trained to tell your companion what you should do. We are working really hard and doing all we can to further the work, Elder Kloepfer can tell that my last companion didn't do a whole lot to help me learn or even do all the things we should but he is helping me so much, I feel so happy right now. In the past I didn't do a whole lot of talking in the lessons but Elder Kloepfers biggest thing is teaching in unity! I am kind of shocked to have a companion from the states, I am his first one from the states and he has been out for 18months. I missed you all so much during thanksgiving but I enjoyed the chips and salsa mom sent, my companion also had some beef Jerky and some protein bars and some candy so we really enjoyed. My favorite thing Elder Kloepfer has taught me so far is how to start teaching, we don't waste any time, we have extended so many dates in our first week together. This week we were really hoping the three people we gave a date to would come because we are setting a lofty goal for this month and if these people didn't come we would not be able to make our goal. At the start of church no one showed up, not a single person, I felt sick, and I prayed and prayed these people would come. To my amazement all three of them came late, but they came. I was so happy and I felt it was a huge blessing, earlier this week we only had one person preparing for baptize and now we have four. We hope and pray we will be able to baptize them all on the 18th. Their names are Elizabeth, Jocelyn, Ivy and Elome. I am happy to hear you all had a wonderful thanksgiving. Since coming on my mission I have truly come to see how blessed I am and how much I have taken for granted all my life. But right now I am trying to share with everyone that knowledge I have that I am most grateful and I know will change their lives and bless them just like it has blessed me! Mom, your story was amazing and I am so grateful for all the help you have given
me. I am ok for Christmas, I don't need anything else and I know what you have sent me is more than any other missionary could dream about, so please don't send anything else! I couldn't help but think of you all a lot this week, I am so grateful for the Gospel and that I can share it with the wonderful people of Ghana. I am also grateful to have you all for my family, though your letters and prayers you helped me adjust and encouraged me to move forward I love you all!
Love, Elder L.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Hello From Ho
Hello Fam,
Sorry I didn't write last week, I was not feeling well to say the least. I don't know what I ate and for a while we thought is was malaria. I was as sick as I can ever remember feeling but I was given a blessing and was able to go out that night so I didn't even miss a moment of work because it was p-day. It was great to hear from all of you because its been to weeks and I have looked forward to writing you very much. Tomorrow is transfer so next week i'll let you know where I am... The last two weeks I have really been touched by the goodness and charity of the people of Ho. My and your prayers we were able to find someone that was truly looking for the gospel. Her Name is Elizabeth and she has five children although only the babylast lives with her. She was so touch by our message she and she felt so loved, she gave us a chicken! Right as we were leaving she told us to wait a moment, and than she caught a chicken and tied it and put it in a bag for us. That same night we taught the mother of one of our investigators and she gave us a huge bag of rice and another bag of beans. I was so touched, these people are better off than most here but I was so touched, I can't even put it in words! Elizabeth Came to church yesterday and she wants to join the choir, she is golden and I thank you for your prayers.
Eric, I'm not sure on the mission rules on music I will try to find out and let you know this week. The other Elder in the Apartment play what every they want... but I don't think thats in the rule so i'll check. One rule we have that is only in our mission is that on p-days we can't play any sports or do any activities that might cause injury. So no football or basketball. [Personal messages to family.]
[Personal messages to family.] Mom I received the package you sent, thank you so much! Every time I recieve a package I think of the great service the David Widtfelt has provided for me and I hope the Lord blesses him greatly. I hope your knee is getting better and that you and Dad are doing well in your busy, busy lives!! I love you all and pray for you always!
Love, Elder Andrew K. L.
Sorry I didn't write last week, I was not feeling well to say the least. I don't know what I ate and for a while we thought is was malaria. I was as sick as I can ever remember feeling but I was given a blessing and was able to go out that night so I didn't even miss a moment of work because it was p-day. It was great to hear from all of you because its been to weeks and I have looked forward to writing you very much. Tomorrow is transfer so next week i'll let you know where I am... The last two weeks I have really been touched by the goodness and charity of the people of Ho. My and your prayers we were able to find someone that was truly looking for the gospel. Her Name is Elizabeth and she has five children although only the babylast lives with her. She was so touch by our message she and she felt so loved, she gave us a chicken! Right as we were leaving she told us to wait a moment, and than she caught a chicken and tied it and put it in a bag for us. That same night we taught the mother of one of our investigators and she gave us a huge bag of rice and another bag of beans. I was so touched, these people are better off than most here but I was so touched, I can't even put it in words! Elizabeth Came to church yesterday and she wants to join the choir, she is golden and I thank you for your prayers.
Eric, I'm not sure on the mission rules on music I will try to find out and let you know this week. The other Elder in the Apartment play what every they want... but I don't think thats in the rule so i'll check. One rule we have that is only in our mission is that on p-days we can't play any sports or do any activities that might cause injury. So no football or basketball. [Personal messages to family.]
[Personal messages to family.] Mom I received the package you sent, thank you so much! Every time I recieve a package I think of the great service the David Widtfelt has provided for me and I hope the Lord blesses him greatly. I hope your knee is getting better and that you and Dad are doing well in your busy, busy lives!! I love you all and pray for you always!
Love, Elder Andrew K. L.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Conference...Finally!
Dear Fam,
Yesterday we finally watched conference, we watched saterday afternoon session, two talks from the sunday morning session and priesthood and that was it. I felt kind of riped off because I thought we would watch the whole sunday morning session but it's ok. I loved all the talks I heard and I can't wait for the Liahona to come out this month so I can read them all! I fill like at took gerneral conference for granted all though my youth, but yesterday I was almost running to the chaple I was so excited. Mom I was only able to see one song but I was able to find you twice in the song. I think most of the brach knows you are in the chior and knew I was looking for you, it was so fun to see you all the way in Ho, you know most missionaries don't get to see thier moms for two years but not me! ha I thought Elder Gong did a fantastic job, and I was suppried by his jokes because I don't know if I have every heard Uncle Garret ever tell a joke but I think he had more humor than all the other talks that session. Please tell him how happy I was to hear from him all the way over here.
This week I practically shaved my head, it was actually a buzz with a the length 1, I think it kind of looks funny but it feels so much better than before and my mission president dosn't mind, because he does the same. Eric I'm interested if your mission president let you do the same because I imagine the climates of our missions being very similar. The last few months have been the rainy season people say it will only get hotter. I always thought I would be parting my
hair every morning as a missionary but now I have no hair to part.
[Personal messages to siblings.]
This coming week we will have interviews and will go to the temple, I have been looking forward to this temple trip for a while and am so happy to have a temple in my mission. Also I think we will be having a farwell party with the rest of the brach for the Jorganson's because they will be leaving ho to go and work in the office. Thats about it for this week, we are stuggling in the work, things have gone very well since I arrived but now it has really slowed down, and we are having a hard time finding people to teach. Well thats true at all because anyone will we recieve us to ''hear the word of God'' but they are having a hard time keeping commitments and realizing that this is the word of God! So thank you for your prayers and please continue to pray that we will be able to find people that are looking for the gosple. Sis Mary was baptized this week, she was the one I told you of last week, she could barely read when we first started teaching her and now
she can read on her own. This week we were worried because we couldn't get a hold of her for her interview, turned out she forgot her phone and she was so excited that she came to the the church an hour before her interview and talked with the branch president the whole time. We were terrified because she was ready and we thought she had changed he mind in the last minute about being baptized. He baptizim was wonderful she was so happy and it is wonderful to see how the gosple changes people!
Love, Elder L.
Yesterday we finally watched conference, we watched saterday afternoon session, two talks from the sunday morning session and priesthood and that was it. I felt kind of riped off because I thought we would watch the whole sunday morning session but it's ok. I loved all the talks I heard and I can't wait for the Liahona to come out this month so I can read them all! I fill like at took gerneral conference for granted all though my youth, but yesterday I was almost running to the chaple I was so excited. Mom I was only able to see one song but I was able to find you twice in the song. I think most of the brach knows you are in the chior and knew I was looking for you, it was so fun to see you all the way in Ho, you know most missionaries don't get to see thier moms for two years but not me! ha I thought Elder Gong did a fantastic job, and I was suppried by his jokes because I don't know if I have every heard Uncle Garret ever tell a joke but I think he had more humor than all the other talks that session. Please tell him how happy I was to hear from him all the way over here.
This week I practically shaved my head, it was actually a buzz with a the length 1, I think it kind of looks funny but it feels so much better than before and my mission president dosn't mind, because he does the same. Eric I'm interested if your mission president let you do the same because I imagine the climates of our missions being very similar. The last few months have been the rainy season people say it will only get hotter. I always thought I would be parting my
hair every morning as a missionary but now I have no hair to part.
[Personal messages to siblings.]
This coming week we will have interviews and will go to the temple, I have been looking forward to this temple trip for a while and am so happy to have a temple in my mission. Also I think we will be having a farwell party with the rest of the brach for the Jorganson's because they will be leaving ho to go and work in the office. Thats about it for this week, we are stuggling in the work, things have gone very well since I arrived but now it has really slowed down, and we are having a hard time finding people to teach. Well thats true at all because anyone will we recieve us to ''hear the word of God'' but they are having a hard time keeping commitments and realizing that this is the word of God! So thank you for your prayers and please continue to pray that we will be able to find people that are looking for the gosple. Sis Mary was baptized this week, she was the one I told you of last week, she could barely read when we first started teaching her and now
she can read on her own. This week we were worried because we couldn't get a hold of her for her interview, turned out she forgot her phone and she was so excited that she came to the the church an hour before her interview and talked with the branch president the whole time. We were terrified because she was ready and we thought she had changed he mind in the last minute about being baptized. He baptizim was wonderful she was so happy and it is wonderful to see how the gosple changes people!
Love, Elder L.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Another Great Week in Ho
Hello Fam,
Thanks for the letters and the prayers! I loved the pictures and I was a little sad missing Halloween because it is one of my favorite holidays but I did enjoy some of the candy mom sent so I think we can count that as my trick or treating this year. I have had another great week in ho. This week we baptized the rest of a part member family. The father's name is Emmanuel and he was inactive but is once again active and on saturday we baptized his wife (rose), daughters (elome and dinna) and his son Daniel. It was a wonderful service and is makes me so happy to see the family all in church together. This week we will be baptizing one more women named Mary and the first time she came to church five weeks ago she hasn't missed a sunday since. She could barely even read and wasn't really willing to try when we first met her but through the spirit she was touched and when she knew the message we were sharing with her was true she continued to become better and better at reading. Now she can read from The Book of Mormon with little and almost no help at all! Please pray that Elder Frimpong and I can find people that are looking for the gospel this month we have few progressing investigators and it looks like this month the work might not be moving as fast as in the past, so please pray that we can find people that are truly seeking the gospel.
Today I ate something very interesting.... I ate a cat, yes a cat. My companion told my cat meet was very good and I told him I would like to try some some time. So he had a man kill it and we
prepared it. I got some wonderful pictures and some day I look forward to raising many cats and eating them!! Ok, not really but cat meat is very nice and now I know what snowball tastes like. I was quiet surprised how good it was! Last week I was happy to hear the Halloween Canoe Trip was a hit. Please say hello to Elder Lyons for me, I'm sure he was a wonderful missionary! I can't really remember what else I wrote to you last week but at least the internet let me send you a
letter this week!
Love, Elder L.
Thanks for the letters and the prayers! I loved the pictures and I was a little sad missing Halloween because it is one of my favorite holidays but I did enjoy some of the candy mom sent so I think we can count that as my trick or treating this year. I have had another great week in ho. This week we baptized the rest of a part member family. The father's name is Emmanuel and he was inactive but is once again active and on saturday we baptized his wife (rose), daughters (elome and dinna) and his son Daniel. It was a wonderful service and is makes me so happy to see the family all in church together. This week we will be baptizing one more women named Mary and the first time she came to church five weeks ago she hasn't missed a sunday since. She could barely even read and wasn't really willing to try when we first met her but through the spirit she was touched and when she knew the message we were sharing with her was true she continued to become better and better at reading. Now she can read from The Book of Mormon with little and almost no help at all! Please pray that Elder Frimpong and I can find people that are looking for the gospel this month we have few progressing investigators and it looks like this month the work might not be moving as fast as in the past, so please pray that we can find people that are truly seeking the gospel.
Today I ate something very interesting.... I ate a cat, yes a cat. My companion told my cat meet was very good and I told him I would like to try some some time. So he had a man kill it and we
prepared it. I got some wonderful pictures and some day I look forward to raising many cats and eating them!! Ok, not really but cat meat is very nice and now I know what snowball tastes like. I was quiet surprised how good it was! Last week I was happy to hear the Halloween Canoe Trip was a hit. Please say hello to Elder Lyons for me, I'm sure he was a wonderful missionary! I can't really remember what else I wrote to you last week but at least the internet let me send you a
letter this week!
Love, Elder L.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
Still in Ho
Dear Fam,
No surprise this week, I am still in ho. But I am a little surprised that our whole district stayed in tact. We baptized sis pat and prince, it was a wonderful baptism! We also have six scheduled baptisms in the next month. This week we hiked a mountain, it wasn't really a mountain but it is the second highest point in ghana. I can't remember the name but i'll let you know next week. As an insect lover I had loads of fun. I saw the biggest spider of my life as well as centipede and millipede and the ants were wonderful. It was such a wonderful adventure and I soaked it up as well as the opportunity because I know once I go accra I won't have the chance for such fun field trips.
The connection was very slow today so my letter will be very short but I loved you letters and I am glad the baby shower went well. Eric nice to know I am serving in Brazil! since being hear I
have served in Korea, Japan, Netherlands, and south Africa in my dreams. [Personal messages to family]. I love you and will write more next week!! Sorry its so short but I am doing great.
Love, Elder L.
No surprise this week, I am still in ho. But I am a little surprised that our whole district stayed in tact. We baptized sis pat and prince, it was a wonderful baptism! We also have six scheduled baptisms in the next month. This week we hiked a mountain, it wasn't really a mountain but it is the second highest point in ghana. I can't remember the name but i'll let you know next week. As an insect lover I had loads of fun. I saw the biggest spider of my life as well as centipede and millipede and the ants were wonderful. It was such a wonderful adventure and I soaked it up as well as the opportunity because I know once I go accra I won't have the chance for such fun field trips.
The connection was very slow today so my letter will be very short but I loved you letters and I am glad the baby shower went well. Eric nice to know I am serving in Brazil! since being hear I
have served in Korea, Japan, Netherlands, and south Africa in my dreams. [Personal messages to family]. I love you and will write more next week!! Sorry its so short but I am doing great.
Love, Elder L.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Dear Fam,
Great to hear from you all. This week we had zone conference and tomorrow we have transfers. I have already become very close with the three elders in our apartment and it would be sad to
see any of them were transferred. But such is the way of a missionaries life. At zone conference President Smith gave us "The Book of Mormon Challenge" we are to mark red every time we see the name of the lord or any of his other names, we mark green if we see any of the Christlike attributes from preach my gospel, we mark orange any time the lord speaks directly to his servants, and we mark blue for any other doctrine we see. We are to read this by dec. 14th. This
has really helped the scriptures come alive for me. I read it a few times before but I think at the pace we are reading it has really helped it stay in my mind more than those few times combined. Reading the Book of Mormon this way makes me feel like I have never read it before. Which makes it that more exciting to me. I only wish I had read it differently in my youth. Bryan my seminary teachers would often teach us not to nibble or even read but to feast on the words of
Christ. I am truly learning what it means to feast upon the words of Christ. Make sure you really try to get them to understand that. It will help them prepare so much for there missions. I love studying the scriptures and I can't get enough of it, I can't believe how much I have to learn and how much I missed in my youth but its fun to study and study time never seems long enough!
[Personal messages to siblings.] Despite my lack of understanding or teaching abilities at the moment I have been blessed to truly see the importance of planting seeds. I'll have you know that while on my bike I will hardly let a person pass without giving them the biggest smile I can and asking them how they are doing. I know that everyone is looking at me, they see my name tag and they wonder who I am or what I'm doing. Sometimes it makes me sad not being able to share the wonderful message everyone, but I know that some day they might have the chance, and when they see the other missionaries I hope they will remember me and receive the other elders.
[Personal message to family member].
This week we will watch two sessions of conference and I hope and pray that I get to see you a bunch! I can't wait to watch and hear from the prophet, apostles and seventy. [Personal messages to family members.]
This week we will have two baptisms. Prince(15 year old boy) and a women named Pat. I love this work, I am still trying to adjust but I constantly trying to forget myself and go to work and also remember that I am living my dream. I love you all and am grateful for your love and prayers!!
Love,
Elder L.
Great to hear from you all. This week we had zone conference and tomorrow we have transfers. I have already become very close with the three elders in our apartment and it would be sad to
see any of them were transferred. But such is the way of a missionaries life. At zone conference President Smith gave us "The Book of Mormon Challenge" we are to mark red every time we see the name of the lord or any of his other names, we mark green if we see any of the Christlike attributes from preach my gospel, we mark orange any time the lord speaks directly to his servants, and we mark blue for any other doctrine we see. We are to read this by dec. 14th. This
has really helped the scriptures come alive for me. I read it a few times before but I think at the pace we are reading it has really helped it stay in my mind more than those few times combined. Reading the Book of Mormon this way makes me feel like I have never read it before. Which makes it that more exciting to me. I only wish I had read it differently in my youth. Bryan my seminary teachers would often teach us not to nibble or even read but to feast on the words of
Christ. I am truly learning what it means to feast upon the words of Christ. Make sure you really try to get them to understand that. It will help them prepare so much for there missions. I love studying the scriptures and I can't get enough of it, I can't believe how much I have to learn and how much I missed in my youth but its fun to study and study time never seems long enough!
[Personal messages to siblings.] Despite my lack of understanding or teaching abilities at the moment I have been blessed to truly see the importance of planting seeds. I'll have you know that while on my bike I will hardly let a person pass without giving them the biggest smile I can and asking them how they are doing. I know that everyone is looking at me, they see my name tag and they wonder who I am or what I'm doing. Sometimes it makes me sad not being able to share the wonderful message everyone, but I know that some day they might have the chance, and when they see the other missionaries I hope they will remember me and receive the other elders.
[Personal message to family member].
This week we will watch two sessions of conference and I hope and pray that I get to see you a bunch! I can't wait to watch and hear from the prophet, apostles and seventy. [Personal messages to family members.]
This week we will have two baptisms. Prince(15 year old boy) and a women named Pat. I love this work, I am still trying to adjust but I constantly trying to forget myself and go to work and also remember that I am living my dream. I love you all and am grateful for your love and prayers!!
Love,
Elder L.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Sweet is the Work
Dear Fam,
Like always receiving you letters strengthens me like always. I am glad to hear many wonderful things from conference, I am sure it was wonderful! This week I couldn't help but think how much I had taken conference for granted for most of my life. We will be watching it in the next few weeks and I can't wait to see it. This week was great, I feel like I can finally start to see some improvements with myself which is great but it sure feels like it took a while. This week I really tried to push my companion for obedience, it was really scary because I feel like I know nothing still and it was odd the thought came into my mind that it was like me telling Matt what to do which kind of made me laugh. I still continue to push, it is kind of frustrating at times and it is exactly like elder satiti said it would be but I continue to do my best and do what I can.
I feel like I live in america at times, in the past weeks I have noticed so many things from american culture: Obama Everything: Shirts, Crackers, posters, underware...you name it obama has it. The music, I thought once I left home all worldly music would be left behind.. they love american music over here, I wake up almost every morning to it because the person next door loves it. Clothes: I have seen so many sports jersy from nba, nfl and many colleges. The people are so musical, some of the people hear really have a hard time with sacrament meeting becasue it they think it is boring. Almost all the other churches here in ghana have changed their meetings so they will be musical and attract people to come! It is amazing to see all these people changing from church to church looking for what they like and what fits them best, it is humbling to know I am a missionary for a church with a living prophet! This was on my mind for much of the week. All of these people are trying to get closer to god and I am carrying a message of the truth with me. This week, I saw witnessed as we introduced a Book of Mormon to two sisters. We were discussing it with them and I kept noticing one reading from the intro and looking of in the distance, the spirit really hit me that the Book of Mormon can and will change lives! Even though I don't know as many scriptures as I wish, I love it and I know it can bless people and help them with all of there problems.
Mom, Please pray for Mary, Fransisca, Eugene, Regina, Juliet, Promise and Rose. Thank you so much for the Care Package! I don't think an elder has ever recieved one so big before! I put the Family picture up and look at it all the time. I am saving the chips and salsa for a rainy day...(you know what I mean) but I have been passing out some treats and the kids love them and I have enjoyed some aswell. Please thank the man from delta and remind me of his name! I can't thank him enough. I wouldn't send him anything this next time but maybe for christmas. I worry about what President Smith and the Elders so wait I wouldn't send anything with him this time. The stuff you sent for my legs have really helped and today I found two shin braces that some of the kids used for track, they were for cedi (like 3 dollors) it made my day and are also helping me. I feel so loved and cannot believe how much you have helped me!! Also thanks for the tips from brother botts book and all the other mail you sent. I can't wait to see conference and tell the whole branch thats my mom right there.
I am happy to hear that you are all doing great. I am so happy to hear that temples will be built in Portual and Indiana. Both mean a lot to me! Please continue to update me and I hope to be able to answer more questions next week. [Personal messages to family.] I love you all and always pray for you!
Love, Elder Andrew L.
Like always receiving you letters strengthens me like always. I am glad to hear many wonderful things from conference, I am sure it was wonderful! This week I couldn't help but think how much I had taken conference for granted for most of my life. We will be watching it in the next few weeks and I can't wait to see it. This week was great, I feel like I can finally start to see some improvements with myself which is great but it sure feels like it took a while. This week I really tried to push my companion for obedience, it was really scary because I feel like I know nothing still and it was odd the thought came into my mind that it was like me telling Matt what to do which kind of made me laugh. I still continue to push, it is kind of frustrating at times and it is exactly like elder satiti said it would be but I continue to do my best and do what I can.
I feel like I live in america at times, in the past weeks I have noticed so many things from american culture: Obama Everything: Shirts, Crackers, posters, underware...you name it obama has it. The music, I thought once I left home all worldly music would be left behind.. they love american music over here, I wake up almost every morning to it because the person next door loves it. Clothes: I have seen so many sports jersy from nba, nfl and many colleges. The people are so musical, some of the people hear really have a hard time with sacrament meeting becasue it they think it is boring. Almost all the other churches here in ghana have changed their meetings so they will be musical and attract people to come! It is amazing to see all these people changing from church to church looking for what they like and what fits them best, it is humbling to know I am a missionary for a church with a living prophet! This was on my mind for much of the week. All of these people are trying to get closer to god and I am carrying a message of the truth with me. This week, I saw witnessed as we introduced a Book of Mormon to two sisters. We were discussing it with them and I kept noticing one reading from the intro and looking of in the distance, the spirit really hit me that the Book of Mormon can and will change lives! Even though I don't know as many scriptures as I wish, I love it and I know it can bless people and help them with all of there problems.
Mom, Please pray for Mary, Fransisca, Eugene, Regina, Juliet, Promise and Rose. Thank you so much for the Care Package! I don't think an elder has ever recieved one so big before! I put the Family picture up and look at it all the time. I am saving the chips and salsa for a rainy day...(you know what I mean) but I have been passing out some treats and the kids love them and I have enjoyed some aswell. Please thank the man from delta and remind me of his name! I can't thank him enough. I wouldn't send him anything this next time but maybe for christmas. I worry about what President Smith and the Elders so wait I wouldn't send anything with him this time. The stuff you sent for my legs have really helped and today I found two shin braces that some of the kids used for track, they were for cedi (like 3 dollors) it made my day and are also helping me. I feel so loved and cannot believe how much you have helped me!! Also thanks for the tips from brother botts book and all the other mail you sent. I can't wait to see conference and tell the whole branch thats my mom right there.
I am happy to hear that you are all doing great. I am so happy to hear that temples will be built in Portual and Indiana. Both mean a lot to me! Please continue to update me and I hope to be able to answer more questions next week. [Personal messages to family.] I love you all and always pray for you!
Love, Elder Andrew L.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Teaching for Understanding
Hello Family,
Thanks again for all of the letters and prayers. I am doing better and better every day, line upon line precept! In todays letter I would love to start by sharing a quick story. I taught a boy named Mawuniga this week, I taught him will my
companion interview someone else. I taught him about the sacrament, he barely speaks english but the mission rule is if they want to learn and are trying to learn english they can be baptized. Anyways i was teaching him and I felt like I was doing a really good job to teach about the symbolism simply, so he could understand. I Didn't really ask him questions to see if he understood because it is hard for him to explain things in english, so when my companion came back he asked him what is learned in his language. He responded that we take the sacrament to pray for people that had their hands cutoff. It was funny at the moment but it has taught me to teach for understanding and to
work on my Ghanaian-English. I can understand almost anyone easily now but I still confuse people all the time. I am very good at speaking slowly but I have to work not saying "R's" which is hard. So my name
is "Elda L."
[Personal message to family member.]
You can pray for Sister Rose and her three children as well as her husband Emmanuel. Emmanuel is less active and we want to activate him so he can baptize the rest of his family. Also Pray for brother Promise, he is the boy from
takala I told you about. He is amazing and I mean AMAZING! Yesterday he biked an hour to get to church. His bike broke half way to church and he kept saying the Devil can't win! Please pray for him to continue to be strong! I don't think you need to send me with much from sister dunn: maybe just a treat or two would be nice, what I would really like is one of the pictures that dad and I drew when I was like 6. He promised when i would served a mission he would send them to me. Don't send them all, just one! I can't wait for all conference, all of Ho knows your in the Choir! You could also send the requirements for the tab choir, it is my companions dream, Just like it was yours!
Dad, to answer some of your questions, we live in a place called housing Junction I am not really sure how to describe it to you are give you any landmarks either. But I will try to figure it out this week. You would be happy to know the home of the person we first baptized has the Marlboro Man Painted on the wall right outside the
door! Another thing you won't believe is......... I found a store that has Black Current Jam!! It cost a bit but I don't care at all! It has helped me feel at home, I have never eaten so much bread in one week in my life! This week ten kids followed me for like a block because like always i'm white. Its a parade everywhere I go, just like andrew warren said it would be.
[Personal messages to family.]
I hope all is well, I am praying for you and I can always fill your prayers!
Love, Elder L.
Thanks again for all of the letters and prayers. I am doing better and better every day, line upon line precept! In todays letter I would love to start by sharing a quick story. I taught a boy named Mawuniga this week, I taught him will my
companion interview someone else. I taught him about the sacrament, he barely speaks english but the mission rule is if they want to learn and are trying to learn english they can be baptized. Anyways i was teaching him and I felt like I was doing a really good job to teach about the symbolism simply, so he could understand. I Didn't really ask him questions to see if he understood because it is hard for him to explain things in english, so when my companion came back he asked him what is learned in his language. He responded that we take the sacrament to pray for people that had their hands cutoff. It was funny at the moment but it has taught me to teach for understanding and to
work on my Ghanaian-English. I can understand almost anyone easily now but I still confuse people all the time. I am very good at speaking slowly but I have to work not saying "R's" which is hard. So my name
is "Elda L."
[Personal message to family member.]
You can pray for Sister Rose and her three children as well as her husband Emmanuel. Emmanuel is less active and we want to activate him so he can baptize the rest of his family. Also Pray for brother Promise, he is the boy from
takala I told you about. He is amazing and I mean AMAZING! Yesterday he biked an hour to get to church. His bike broke half way to church and he kept saying the Devil can't win! Please pray for him to continue to be strong! I don't think you need to send me with much from sister dunn: maybe just a treat or two would be nice, what I would really like is one of the pictures that dad and I drew when I was like 6. He promised when i would served a mission he would send them to me. Don't send them all, just one! I can't wait for all conference, all of Ho knows your in the Choir! You could also send the requirements for the tab choir, it is my companions dream, Just like it was yours!
Dad, to answer some of your questions, we live in a place called housing Junction I am not really sure how to describe it to you are give you any landmarks either. But I will try to figure it out this week. You would be happy to know the home of the person we first baptized has the Marlboro Man Painted on the wall right outside the
door! Another thing you won't believe is......... I found a store that has Black Current Jam!! It cost a bit but I don't care at all! It has helped me feel at home, I have never eaten so much bread in one week in my life! This week ten kids followed me for like a block because like always i'm white. Its a parade everywhere I go, just like andrew warren said it would be.
[Personal messages to family.]
I hope all is well, I am praying for you and I can always fill your prayers!
Love, Elder L.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Week 2 in Ho
Dear Fam,
I wish I could take several hours and write you all personally but I don't have enough time to write you all. I wrote mom and dad letters and gave them many of the details from this week, so have them forward their letters and this one as well! I am so greatful for all of your prayers, fasting & letters, they have really strengthened me. I was so pumped and ready to be invincible, teaching with power, talking to everyone, and just being a great missionary. I knew it would be hard, but I thought because of my excitement to be here I would not be affected. haha I don't know anything, about what it would be like, how to teach, scriptures, names, faces, the area. Its been good for me though, I have been humbled like I have never been before in my life. [Personal information.] Right now I don't talk a lot because I am still not great at teaching but I am still serving my purpose despite this because everyone wants to talk to me, and if they talk to me I am still able to plant seeds even though sometime I feel like I don't know whats going on.
Your letters have really, really helped. Its great to hear all of your updates! [Direct messages to siblings.] I love you all so Much, I am greatful to have such a wonderful family that can help lift their baby brother when he needs them most! Next week I will do a better job in my letter and hopeful I will be able to write you all personal letters, I will also write more about what its like and whats going on but I thought I would tell you I will live, I will learn, I will love it! I know these experiences will eventually help me teach, because people here are so humble so I will be better because I have been humbled. I love you all, I know the lord wants me here and he will not put anything in my way I cannot handle!
Love, Elder Andrew L.
[Editor's note: Andrew had sent a previous letter that he asked not to have put on the blog.]
I wish I could take several hours and write you all personally but I don't have enough time to write you all. I wrote mom and dad letters and gave them many of the details from this week, so have them forward their letters and this one as well! I am so greatful for all of your prayers, fasting & letters, they have really strengthened me. I was so pumped and ready to be invincible, teaching with power, talking to everyone, and just being a great missionary. I knew it would be hard, but I thought because of my excitement to be here I would not be affected. haha I don't know anything, about what it would be like, how to teach, scriptures, names, faces, the area. Its been good for me though, I have been humbled like I have never been before in my life. [Personal information.] Right now I don't talk a lot because I am still not great at teaching but I am still serving my purpose despite this because everyone wants to talk to me, and if they talk to me I am still able to plant seeds even though sometime I feel like I don't know whats going on.
Your letters have really, really helped. Its great to hear all of your updates! [Direct messages to siblings.] I love you all so Much, I am greatful to have such a wonderful family that can help lift their baby brother when he needs them most! Next week I will do a better job in my letter and hopeful I will be able to write you all personal letters, I will also write more about what its like and whats going on but I thought I would tell you I will live, I will learn, I will love it! I know these experiences will eventually help me teach, because people here are so humble so I will be better because I have been humbled. I love you all, I know the lord wants me here and he will not put anything in my way I cannot handle!
Love, Elder Andrew L.
[Editor's note: Andrew had sent a previous letter that he asked not to have put on the blog.]
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