Dear Fam,

Great to hear all the news from last week. When I get back I can't wait to see all the new places...and new kids! This week I think i'll start of by answering a few questions. I continue to read the Book of Mormon the New Testament and Preach my Gospel! President Smith is ok if we read other things but he has really encouraged us to master these three things. Every one here in Ghana is very religious as you already know but the more we know the scripture and understand the principles in preach my gospel in and out the simpler we will be able to teach and help people understand the basics!

Another thing I want to add while I am on this subject of teaching the basics is almost every single person we teach we have to use Pres Smiths "Teaching Techniques" which are:

1. Ask inspired Questions
2. Listen to investigator and Spirit
3. Discern spiritual Direction
4. Teach the Doctrine (SMALL)
5. Check Understanding

I Love these Principles! These are not something we just learned on mission but I learned them in the beginning, but I realized I never said anything about them. Apart from speaking in a thick accent you have to do these things for almost any Ghanaian to understand because they can get lost so quickly in what we are sharing with them. I am yet to have been able go though a whole lesson because we really have to take it slow for them to understand.

This month we set our Goal for five more to be baptized and we have twelve with a date. We give out dates like crazy but so many of those are not serious, I bet we give out four or five dates to every one person that is baptized. Another reason is because so many people have problems that arise. I'll speak more about it next week because my time is finished but Elder Oaks is coming in Feb. to address many of the Cultural practices the keep people from keeping Gods Commandments, Especially preventing marriage.

Anyways please keep Pedro, Abdule, Rose, Godwin, Victor & Unis in your Prayers!

Love- Elder L.

Sometimes I have no idea what to write in this little box and today is one of those days

Dear Family,

I would love to start this weeks letter by welcoming little [new nephew], that is one cute kid and i'm sure he has a promising future in running or singing. Here in Ghana we would tell him Akwaaba or you're welcome. So Akwaaba little [new nephew]!!

This week had its ups and downs, the downs were some of the people we were teaching and some problems come up and we had to push back their dates to Feb. But we have a few others that are really progressing well towards their baptisms. The first is Abdule, he is from Cameroon and also a Muslim. He started out by trying to help his wife become a better Christian and also wants to make some changes in his life. He called us over one day and things have gone well since. Almost half of the people that we are currently preparing for baptism have called us over. We are also working with a man named Pedro from Nigeria. Pedro truly has the desire but he has had a smoking addiction and sees that he needs help. We gave him a date and we have been calling him everyday and trying help him over come this smoking addiction. We had a great lesson with him on Saturday and told him that if he will relay on the savior instead of himself that he will be able to over come his addiction. We are working with a few other families and the work is moving along well. We had mission tour this week and Elder Satati Came and spoke, he spoke on the same thing he gave me advise on. President Smith Really enjoyed it and now he has
committed us all to be 100% obedient. It was fun to think that I already received this same instruction before I came on mission. [Personal messages to family.]

Love you all! - Elder Andrew K. L.

A Baptism to Remember

Dear Fam,

In week two from "THE Osu", Saturday was a day I will never forget for many reasons. Mostly because of the baptisms of Francisca, Richmond, Gladys, Harrison & Jefferson. Francisca is an amazing person, she told us that right before she was baptized she prayed that all her neighbors, family & friends would see her example and how the gospel has changed her life and be baptized. What more could a missionary as for from a recent convert. She told us she has many people she wants to introduce to us. President Smith Interviewed her and was so impressed that he came to the baptism. The AP's filled up the font and President was afraid it would over flow so he told them to turn it off. By the time the baptism took place most of the water emptied so we had to fill it up while Francisca was freezing. I put the hose in the font to make it fill up quicker. After I let go of the hose they turned it on full blast and hose was more like a fire hose sparing every where and it got me pretty wet. haha We had a few other difficulties but the baptism went on and it was great to witness all of their baptisms. Also I heard that Miracle was baptized. I love that man and was so happy to help him overcome his addiction to alcohol. He has been trying for years and he couldn't do it, only the gospel of Jesus Christ was strong enough to help him over come his addiction. Before I left Ho he gave me a beautiful carving of Moroni burying the golden place. Every time I think of Miracle I think of the Miracle that transformed his life.

In work with our other Investigators Angela was not able to come to church because her husband returned from traveling so she and her children will not be baptized this month, but we are hope and pray for next month. On a happy note Joyce is still preparing for the 29th and her husband came to the church next week and is seriously investigating the church. He really enjoyed church and we are hoping to add his date to his three sons for the 12th of Feb.

Few other random notes: There are a few hamburger, Pizza Joints and Super Markets but all of them are ridiculously priced. Around here one burger its Ten Cedi's which is about the amount of
Subsistence I have for three or four days. I also got my Yellow Stone shirt from the W[]s! Please thank them for me, I have been waring it the last few days with pride!

Also I met Elder Ferguson yesterday at Church, I didn't talk to him much but he saw my name tag and asked if I knew any of the L[]s in West Valley. He told me about one of his memories with Grandpa which made me very happy but we didn't talk to long but I still want to go to lunch with him when I'm home. [Personal messages to family.]

-Love, Elder Andrew K. L.

From the Bush to the Beach

Dear Fam,

Well transfers came up and I can't say I was surprised to be transferred from Ho. I loved Ho so much and it was hard to say goodbye to so many of the people that I love! I'm now in Osu, which is part of Accra. Even though I miss Ho I love this place already, we did a whole lot of teaching this week and we have five people scheduled to be baptized on saturday. Please pray for Fansisca, Gladys, Richmond who are all in the same family. And please also pray for Harrison and Jefferson who are the son's of my companions recent convert. We had fourteen pleople at church which = three weeks in Ho. But why I really love this place so much is because almost all the people we are teaching are families. We have several more with a date and we are hoping for nine or ten baptizems this month. My Compainion is a great guy, his name is Elder Chamberlain and he is a white guy from South African. He is the District leader and he has really turned Osu around. Osu hasn't had more than four baptizems in one month in over a year so he is doing a marvioulious work and a wonder out here and I am happy to be his companion. He has already taught me so many things that have helped me as a missionary. He is the third district leader I have worked with and I have loved learning so many different things from all of them.

My new apartment is inside the compound of the church, infact it used to be an office or something but they cleared it out and put missionaries in there. Its right next to the bishops office and I am almost certain it is as nice as most appartments at BYU.... I couldn't believe how nice the place was! The best part is it has AC, the firstnight I was there I was freezing, it felt really nice to be cold for a change. We also have a PingPong table inside our compond, but don't worry i'm not letting all this things distract me. And I love all the people we are teaching. Osu is a really interesting place, in it are some of the richest people in Accra, I can't believe some of the Cars I have seen around here, I'm a Lindsay so I can't tell you any of their names but I was really surpised. Then on the other side of are area (by the beach) are the slums. Its really sad to so the differences between the two places but I am amazed how much more teaching and most the people we have with a date live in this area and I know it is truely because they are humble. I love these people, their isn't a better people in the world!

-Love, Elder L.

Happy 2011!

Dear Family, Happy New Year! Here in Ho we had a great time for new years, the branch had a small party on Christmas Eve so they went all out for New Years! Elder Kloepfer and I invited as many of our investigators as we could and quite a few of them came, they (and I) really enjoyed it and we were able to introduce them to many members of the branch.

For my P-days we begin by washing our clothes. The trick to washing clothes by hand to let them soak the night before. If you do that it will come right out! I'm thinking when I am struggling to make ends meet when i'm going to school I will continue to wash by hand... or maybe I'll just bring my laundry over to Mom and Dads haha Its not hard at all, but sometimes (today in fact) I become impatient when I am doing it. After we finish washing we will do our cleaning assignment. Then we eat some lunch and go to the Cafe to email. And if we have time we will go to the market, but usually we by things though out the week. We are not allowed to play sports because too many Elder got hurt playing football. So sometimes we play a Grueling game of Chess! (We don't really but I love that movie)

Transfer is this week, so well see what happens. The other Elders said Missionaries hardly ever stay more than two or three transfers for there first area but well see, I might be writing you from the big city next week. Being here first and seeing how Accra is has kind of made me fond of the small town life. I hear Accra is always loud and busy but here it gets really quite soon after its gets dark. Its just a great place to be!

This week Godsway was baptized, he is the one that came up to us and asked us about the Book of Mormon and to us to his house. I have witnessed a Miracle take place in Miracle's life, he continues to go without alcohol. He hasn't had a drop for almost two weeks!! and its amazing to see the changes that are taking place in his life. Please also pray for Blessed, Abigale, Philip, Elizabeth and Judith.

My time is short so I just want to add that yesterday, to my delight Elder and Sister Sitati came to the Branch and it was great to see them and to talk to them for just a few moments. I mostly talked to Sis Sitati because Elder Sitati had a lot of business he had to take care of. She was able to tell me a little bit about Grandma and Grandpa and that was treat! I also got a picture with them that i'll send your way! [Personal messages to family.] I am grateful for all your love and prayers!

-Love Elder L.