Monday, February 28, 2011

Great Week From Osu

Dear Fam,

I am happy to hear all the great news from home, especially about the babies and the new homes. Mom and Dad, I still can't deiced if I want my room painted Blue and White or Red, Yellow, Black and Green. Let me know when I have to deiced by. The house is in the [specific neighborhood]? I didn't recognize the area from the picture. This week as you know Elder Oaks came and addressed us. It was great to meet him and hear from him, it wasn't originally planed so he only spoke for 30min. I really enjoyed things he shared with us and I forgot to bring my notes so I will share more next week but he didn't really say anything that blew me away, I'm not sure what I was expecting but he just shared a few scriptures, and spoke about a few points from PMG. I enjoyed the most when he spoke about caring the spirit with us and told us that the most learned and convincing men could not convert one tenth of what a humble, unlearned servant of the lord that carries the spirit with him. If I learned one thing from Elder Oaks it was the importance of carrying the spirit with me, not because of what he said but by his example. When he walked in the room the spirit flooded in with him, there was a wonderful peace over all the room, and I know that if I can carry that same spirit with me more people will want to hear about the gospel and more people will be baptized. That has been my focus in everything I do over the past week and even though many things didn't work out this week I have been happier this week than many of are past weeks when we had great success.

This week both are candidate were not able to be baptized. One couldn't get of work and the others sisters are preventing her from being baptized even though she wants to be, it breaks my heart how many people we have had lined up but circumstances prevent so many people from being baptized. But you can be sure that Elder L. will be carrying the spirit with him more this week than I did last week and that I will continue being happier and happier.

Love, Elder L.

Monday, February 21, 2011

A Week of Great News!!

Dear Fam,

I had a nice long letter once again but the internet froze and I forgot to save because the auto save usually works so sorry about that. Please know I am doing very well and I am especially happy to hear that the house has been sold! Answer to Pray. Please congratulate Ben and Spencer for me, they will both be wonderful missionaries. We found out on Sat. that Elder Oaks will in fact speak to us tomorrow, so I am very excited about that. I heard about President Judd, I was signed up for his class last year but things didn't work out. I wanted to take from him because his son was my favorite seminary teacher in 9th grade, I have always considered him my favorite teach of all of them. I got to run but know I will answer all you questions next week. Please pray for Unis and Earnestina, we are hoping they will be baptized on sat.

Love, Elder L.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Short and Sweet

Dear Fam,

Great to hear from you all as always! This week we had four baptisms(Pedro, Rose, Godwin and Comfort) are other two were ready but for one reason or another we had to move them to the 26th. The people I have met since I have been here are amazing especially Pedro! That guy has seriously changed his life around and when I heard him say the things he has come to know are true it really moved me and made me so grateful to help people change their lives.

In Preach my Gospel it goes talks about our purpose as a missionary, and it lists of several things that are part of our mission. But President Smith has reduced everything to Baptize and Help people endure to the end. I have really been blessed to have almost every single on of my Recent converts stay active(to my knowledge) but I have really been thinking how I can do more. I know that everything points to the temple and it is only though the temple that my recent converts can enjoy all the blessings that God wishes to bless them with. So I noticed in the distribution center they sell the Liahona for 30 peswas(=20 cents) So I decided that I will buy the special edition one on the Temple for all of my recent converts. Yesterday I gave two away to Francisca and Pedro and tonight we will give one to Juliana and Rose and all their kids. It has [Personal messages to family.]

Love, Elder L.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Dear Fam,

This week the work has been great, yesterday we had four of our investigators interviewed. (Rose, Godwin, Comfort & Earnestina) Rose, Godwin & Comfort are all family that live in the same compound as Juliana, Harrison and Jefferson and they are all family. We have these Four for the 12th and there is a possibility for two more, Unis and Pedro. Unis and Pedro both have the desire to be baptized but they both could have problems that could postpone their baptisms. Pedro has continued to keep the Word of Wisdom, we have called him every day for the past three weeks and we thought he would have to wait until march. Pres Smith told us this week we could move up the baptism if he is ready but he needs to get work off and he isn't sure if he can get it of with such short notice. Unis loves the gospel and was hoping to be baptized with her husband who committed to be baptized. But things have not gone the way we hoped and now we are hoping and praying that he won't prevent her from being baptized and that in the next month or two he will follow her example. Please keep Pedro and Unis in your prayers. We will see what happens but we are hoping for five or possibly six on Saturday. This reminds me of a question asked last week that I didn't get to, I only know of one or maybe two of my recent converts that are struggling to stay active. Its a problem out here but the biggest problem is what I was talking about in my letter last week about the culture making it difficult for people to keep the commandments and that is why Elder Oaks is coming out.

This week I ate cat again, but this time the members wanted us to show them we are truly Ghanaian. They had us eat the bones, eyes and brain! After this experience I honestly think I will one day be able to eat nasty things like tomatoes, olives, and Mushrooms! [Personal messages to family].

-Love, Elder L.