Happy New Year

Dear Fam,

Happy New Year! It sure sounded like everyone had a happy New Year. I'm excited about this year and I have tried hard to set some goals to help make me a better missionary and to ultimately help prepare me to become the person my Heavenly Father wants me to be. Last week we went to a ward party, it was really fun and some of our recent converts were able to come, it was really sweet. In PEC we helped the ward come up with the ward mission plan. This ward is the first ward I have been that does PEC every week which is great. The church is growing really well here but you can tell its new here (which isn't bad) it just takes time to get things refined. Anyways, the bishop here is amazing. He has been a member for only two years; every now and then he still gets a few things mixed up. But his willingness to serve, learn and follow the spirit is why it is so great to serve with Bishop Felix. The same is with all of us. In this New Year I feel recommitted to serve the best I can and to continue to learn the language of the spirit. In my blessing the most common word or counsel is that I should learn!
 

This past week has been a little rough, we haven't been able to spend as much time as I would like and we have really been trying to build our teaching pool. Its just been hard to make return appointments with people, but will keep our chins up and keep pushing along. We are working with one sister named Irene; she is 19 and is the niece to the Bishop that was released about a week before I got here. Irene told us that she has been going to about 5 churches and has been baptized twice. She says the Bible is so confusing and she just doesn't know what to do. So we taught her about the restoration and committed her to read and pray about it. She seems pretty cool and will just work and pray and hope that everything works out. We have a few more people but we have a ways to go with them so I'll keep you posted. Keep Irene, Catharine, Richard and Emmanuel in your prayers.
 

Now here is a fun little story for you guys, last week after Christmas Conference we were putting up chairs before a stake had their Christmas party. I had the pleasant surprise of seeing a few of the members from Osu branch! Then I saw Pedro Williams Patricks from Nigeria! He was one of our recent converts when I was in Osu. The missionaries had started teaching him before I got their but he had a really long way to go to overcome some word of wisdom things. It took us a few months for him to work things out but he finally did it. He is doing so well, he has a calling (I can't remember what it is) he loves institute and he has received the Higher Priesthood. I can wait for when he goes to the temple! Then I talked to one of the Elders serving in Ho. He was telling me that many of the people were still active and doing great. Including the Amagaie Family that Elder Frimpong and I worked with. The first recent convert of my mission was Eugene Sougbe, he is in the young men’s presidency, president of institute and received the Higher Priesthood and is also preparing to go to the temple. I didn't mean to go on like that but it all just hit me and it felt amazing. I hadn't heard from our about these guys in forever so I feel very blessed and I pray they can continue to go in the direction they are going. I know the church is true and that this is the Lords work, I know this is the best work. I can't even explain how happy all that great news made me feel and my prayer is that we can continue to find those looking for the truth. I love you all!

-Elder L.

 P.S. I couldn't find the cord for the camera.. don't worry I know I have it, I just need to find it