Monday, October 25, 2010

Dear fam,

I had a whole letter typed and than it shut down on me, so I will give you a whole letter next week but I love all you letters, I am doing well and this week we have four baptisms! I am really sorry about the letter but I will reanswer all your questions next week!

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.

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.

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.