Hello Family and Friends! How are you all doing? It feels weird to think that the holidays are here. I hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving. I want you all to know that I am thankful for all of you guys and hope the best for you all. :)

This week we had a Zone Activity at the Zone Leader's chapel and we roasted a pig! Elder Kaivelta and Elder Kano took care of the cooking while the rest of us talked and played games at the chapel. We played dodge ball as districts and had a tournament, but unfortunately our district got out pretty fast ha-ha but it  was still fun! After wards we had some of the pig and some yams and it was delicious.

Roasting a pig in Cape Coast (from an earlier event)

 This week we also visited Elizabeth who lives right by the chapel. I don't believe I have mentioned her before. But we had a gospel conversation over there a little while ago and today was our first lesson with her. She seemed really excited and had very good questions, and said she would come to church on Sunday. After that lesson we saw Bianca and she actually lives by one of our members (Sister Vivian) and has a little shop and we went over lesson 1 with her,  but the kids got out of school so we didn't finish all of it, and so next time she asked us if we could come earlier and we said yes.

Some of our investigators in Swedru

 On Wednesday Elder Montgomery and I had kind of a slow day. We were heading to our first appointment when Bishop Wallace (Bishop of 3rd Ward) called and said we had to go back to our apartment and put out an empty gas tank for a driver to pick up and deliver to some of the Sister Missionaries in Winneba. So we traveled back to the apartment and put the gas tank out, and luckily we were in time because the driver came and picked it up 5 minutes after we arrived. Finally Elder Montgomery and I head back out and we shared a first lesson with a potential investigator named Isaac Benson and we addressed his concerns regarding Purgatory, Heaven and Hell and we gave him a Lesson 2 pamphlet. We were going through it small, but we didn't get very far; however, he seems excited to learn and grow. After that we Saw Mercy and she lives in a compound with some of our investigators (Specifically Comfort and Teresa) and we went over lesson 1 and she seemed to really enjoy it, but said she wouldn't be at church which is okay because we will be back to see her soon.

Some of the roads we travel

This week we also met with Bright who likes to ask questions A LOT and he kind of goes all over the place, so it's hard to have a set lesson with him because of his questions. But Elder Montgomery and I did our best to answer his questions and it looks like he really is interested in the Law of Chasity and the Word of Wisdom and we told him we would go over both of them on Sunday. We had to give him the low down about meeting him, because he lives outside of our Center of Strength (30 minutes of walking Distance any direction from the Chapel) and he isn't a referral from a member and hasn't been coming to church, so we  can't teach him out in Happy Home until he comes to church from now on. He said he would.

A crossroad we frequently pass to get to certain parts of the city

 We also followed up with Fredrick and the Restoration DVD we left him, and he said everything is true! Awesome right!? However he doesn't connect that we are THE ONLY TRUE CHURCH and doesn't understand  why baptism is necessary,  but somehow he committed to December 5th for Baptism and for coming to church on Sunday (which he REALLY needs to do).

Toward the end of the week we traveled to Cape Coast to have the doctors look at my toe, Yay! However we had to wait for the tro to fill for an hour,  but during that time we meet some people from Germany and Switzerland who were Oboruni and they were very nice. They are here for 3 months or less and it's for nursing and they asked about us and they asked how long we are staying here. We said 2 years they said, "Wow that's  too long" ha-ha.

Our address

Our street with a water tank

Our apartment

The doctor said that he wanted to do a small surgery on my toe and get the toe nail fixed but the doctor who could preform the operation wouldn't be in until the next morning, so Elder Montgomery and I got to stay in Cape Coast with the Assistants and that was very nice. They did the toe surgery to get my ingrown toe nail, and of course, Elder Montgomery  was making fun of me for the dress that I had to put on but he actually got to see the surgery. He told me that the ingrown nail was small but the root was big,  but now everything is good with my toe. :)

Now the numbness in my toe is wearing off so I can start to feel the pain now but we were able to go back to work and finish off the week. We visited with Daniel and His Family, teaching them lesson 2 and committing them to be baptized on January 9th (It definitely is a little far a way but we want to make sure that Abigail and her kids attend church enough times and to be fully prepared to make that covenant). After that we saw Stella! We  reviewed Lesson 1 with her and committed her to be baptized on December 5th! That is very close so we are going to do our best to help her be ready for that date.

On Sunday Elder Montgomery and I  tried to pick up some investigators for church but Elizabeth said she wouldn't be able to come until 2 and we tried to pick up Daniel and his Family, but Abigail was going somewhere and the kids had a birthday party, so they weren't able to come. However we did have 3 investigators come to church: Stella, Matilda, and Abina so that was nice.

Unfortunately neither Bright nor Fredrick came to church. We may have to resort to the D.O.D (Do or Die) Lesson with them. Which is sad but hopefully with time, these people will be ready for the gospel and I hope the best for them. Sunday is still a work day for us. So after Church Elder Montgomery and I were able to see Matilida and we went over Lesson 2 with her and we committed her to be baptized on December 5th!

Elder Montgomery and I are going to work hard this next week to make sure Stella and Matilda will be ready and hopefully things will work out. (We just need to get her mother's permission and then we will be good to go). As far as Stella goes, we went over the Book of Mormon Prayer with the Holy Ghost small and then went over Lesson 2. Everything is going well so far so hopefully things will work out for her and her baptism.

So that's all from this week. I hope you have recovered from eating all those potatoes and rolls. I love you all, and I hope you all have a great week!

Love,

Elder Harward

Service Project, In-Grown-toe Nail, and New Mission Boundries

Hello Family and Friends! I hope you are preparing yourself for Thanksgiving and I hope you are all enjoying the cold weather! Thank you all SO SO much for your letters and support, it really means a lot to me.

How we get around: by tro tro

This week we went to Brother Fred's house with the 3rd Ward Elders and we had FuFu with Light Soup. Ha-ha it was really good but I had some cuts on my hands from hand washing so it was a little difficult for me to put my hands into the hot soup but it still was very good! In the lesson I talked about Alma Chapter 5 verse 26. I really have been thinking a lot about this scripture and it's a pretty famous scripture. This is Alma the Younger speaking and is the High Priest over the Church, and he just gave up his judgment seat to go forth and preach repentance unto the people because they are not being too righteous. He says in verse 26 "And now behold, I say unto you my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?" I LOVE this scripture. I taught them how this scripture how it really applies to all of us. We need to continue progressing in the gospel and if we have felt a change of heart in our lives, we need to continue to have that change of heart, and desire to do no evil, but really having a desire to follow Jesus Christ always. I also should be striving always to continue to change my heart and to follow the savior, and that it's not just for these 2 years but every single day I need to continue to have a change of heart for the rest of my live and really do the will that Heavenly Father asks of me.

Getting a haircut. Mom couldn't have done it better.

This week was my first Service Project since I have been out here so I was really excited to go! So our apartment left early in the morning (7:00) and we headed to Akwomokrom and met the other Elders at the chapel and then we started walking to the place. Elder Larsen (One of our Zone Leaders) explained that there was this really old guy who is a member but he can't walk to well and can't come to church and he would like some help with his yard and cleaning it up. So we got to walk to his house. But his house was pretty far ha-ha! We walked out for about half an hour from Akwomokrom! We were joking that the Zone Leaders were making us walk to Winneba (I hope you have a map) but eventually we arrived and we cleaned up this old man's yard. He tried to give us money and he eventually forced it into Elder Larsen’s hand and he said a nice prayer. After the service project we went to an investigator and she was making us FuFu with Light soup! Yummy. So we were excited but she was a little behind, so we sat in the shade, but turns out there is a school right by her home and all these kids started coming around us and then I started to chase the kids (They are afraid of Abrunis) but after that the kids started to chase... ME! Ha-ha it was SO fun! And there were at least 200 of them chasing me and then we played some games with them with the other elders and it was really fun. Finally we had the delicious FuFu with Light soup.

Elder Harward and his Zone leaders

Getting some love from the Zone Leaders

On Friday Elder Montgomery and I traveled to Cape Coast! Fun! We actually went to DIS (Doctors In Service) for them to look at my ingrown toe nail. I tried digging it out myself (and if you are lucky you can get it without getting your toe infected) but my toed got infected. So I took some antibiotics but the doctor wants to see it in a week so we shall see ha-ha but I am doing well still! Funny thing was that Elder Day Elder Kiplinger and Elder Stole picked us up. I haven't seen Elder Day for a little while and it was cool to see him again, and they took us to Medallion Pizza and we had chicken pizza which was really good.

Cape Coast

Saturday we helped the Zone Leaders find a pig guy so we can have a pig for our zone activity and then we went to Bishop Wallace’s (Bishop of 3rd ward) father’s funeral and he wanted all the missionaries to attend. So we did and we were there to offer support and encouragement. After the funeral service Elder Montgomery was not feeling well at all and it wasn't looking good, so we went home and I called some people and made sure it he was okay. Then I did some cleaning, and slept for a small time while he was trying to rest and make sure he was okay. He got better enough to attend Steven’s baptism for 3rd ward and we had a great time seeing this new member so happy!

Swag

On Sunday we watched General Conference!!!! We only got to watch it small but it made Elder Montgomery and me really happy!!! I am hoping to read it all because we only got through 5 talks in English and the first part was in Fanta so I didn’t understand Jeffery R. Holland :( but I am going to try and read all of it . After that we meet with a guy named Isaac for the first time and that was really cool and then Elder Montgomery and I headed to Sister Vida and Theolopus for Jollof and we helped her cook it and it was SO good! We had a small lesson on the plan of salvation after that just up to Adam and Eve and the fall but it was so good!






Elder Harward and Elder Montgomery


Okay so as for Mission News here we go: As of January 20th 20`16 the Accra West Mission will take over the Winneba Stake and its areas. So basically the cape Coast mission is getting a little smaller and the Accra West Mission is getting brighter. I forwarded a message from President Stevenson to my parents if you want to look at it and what it says. But basically our whole zone will be splitting up to new areas for sure in January so that is sad but also exciting because President is opening up new Ares and the work is going to be so great! It will be sad to leave Swedru but I know it’s the Lords will and I am grateful that I get to serve and love all of the people hear and I can't wait to see where I can help more people next.



Elder Montgomery and I are doing well! He is as great guy, and our companionship has grown so much these weeks and we are having so much fun together during the work. IT will be sad to see him go but I know he will be a great instrument in the hands of the Lord.

This is how we get around. But I wish

That is about it for this week. I hope you are all doing well. I love you all and continue to pray for you all. Stay strong!


Love,


Elder Harward






Hello Family and Friends! I hope all of you are doing well, and I appreciate all the letters you send me.


P.S. We also had interviews, one person at a time met with President Stevenson. It was a really great interview and instruction session and I learned a lot. Oh, and on Sunday we had 3 investigators come to church. Paa Joe his soon to be wife Abina, and Matilda. (We actually saw Paa Joe at his shop before he came so small small hopefully he will start to not work on the Sabbath). Unfortunately Vida's baby Marion got burned on her leg due to some hot water, so that's why she wasn't there today but after church we went over to her home and made sure she was okay and she is doing much better! One more thing: On P-Day we had a ping pong tournament and I got 2nd place, pretty cool right?


So that's all from Swedru here in Ghana! I hope you are all doing well and that everything is going well. I love you all and I hope you all have a great week!


Love,





Elder Harward

Beach Rugby, Missionary Work, and Pizza in Africa.

Hello Family and Friends!

 I hope that you are all doing well, and I hope you are enjoying the weather. It feels weird that we are here in November because it still feels like June but the work here is going well.

Okay so this week a slow one. On Monday we had a Zone Activity at Winneba Beach and it was a lot of fun! I actually played some Rugby on the beach although I wasn't good at it, but it was fun! And I actually got a little sunburned and wet but it was fun! Don't worry...no swimming. I will send pictures of that event all through this letter. That night our FHE with the LA woe’s fell through due to some miscommunication.

On Tuesday we had District meeting and received great instruction from Elder Wightman (our District Leader. I'll get a picture of him and his companion soon) He talked about Hymn #335 Brightly Beams our Father's Mercy comparing how we are the lower lights along the shore and how we need to help all those we can make it safely to the harbor. We should keep our lights on so that we may always be a representative of Jesus Christ. Elder Montgomery and I also attended Ward Council where we made a Progress Record and made photo copies so the ward council members could see our progress and goals as missionaries.

On Wednesday our Quorum President Brother Charles had some referrals for us (Awesome right?) and we went to their houses and met one (Kolby) and we set up a time for Friday. We also did a service project for the Kick Polio out of Ghana Campaign. So we volunteered this last Sunday­­­­­ to go around to people and let them know that if they have children 5 years and younger they qualify for the free Polio vaccine at the health center. We also went to Dannie’s house and we saw his Mother and she said we could start teaching the family together, so we set up a time for Saturday and that was awesome.

On Thursday after Weekly Planning Elder Montgomery and I went out to Happy Home. We really wanted to see this guy named Bright (who was taught by Elder Collings and Elder Day) and we tried calling him, but unfortunately we couldn't reach him, and we don't know where he lives yet, so we weren't able to meet with him. But as we went to Happy Home there was this SWEET old woman who sells fruit and she is so great! Her name is Mama Abina (In Ghana you call everyone your mother if they are older than you, but if they are around your age you call them Sister) So Mama Abina is really sweet and she always gives us extra fruit even when we pay her very little. She reminds me of Grandma! She can't speak English at all but we speak to her small and she tries to call a translator over for us so we can have a full conversation, and it is so great. (I will try to get a picture with her because she is great!) So we are in Happy Home and we drop of a Book of Mormon at Hannah's house and some chocolate (We made a promise we would bring her some) but she wasn't home so we gave it to her brother but eventually we did have a lesson with Linda (Did I mention her?) She lives by Brother Billy and is in S.H.S., so last year of High School and she is a very active member in her church but is willing to learn, and seems excited. We went over with her Lesson 3 due to her concerns on the Sacrament and how we perform baptisms and it was a good lesson! 

As for Friday it was another slow day but we did have some success! We went with Brother Charles to Visit Kolby and unfortunately he wasn't home, and we tried his other referral and that person wasn't there, so that was sad. But he is a great guy and he tells us that he will keep looking for people for us to teach, and that we can use him if we need to, and that is so great! So after that Elder Montgomery and I picked up Brother Frank and we went to See Paa Joe and his Wife Abina and that was really exciting. We reviewed with them Lesson 1, (except for Abina because this was the first time she was taught, because she doesn’t speak or understand English at all, so Brother Frank was a BIG help). And it went really well, and they seemed to understand it well. Then Elder Montgomery and I traveled back to Happy Home because Hannah called and was happy for the gift and she wanted to meet with us again, so we asked if tonight was okay and she said yes. So we go over to Happy Home and we are about an hour or so early so we explored Happy Home area for a bit, because it's pretty big. While there we walked left as far as we could and we met Ellen who knows Sister Gabriella and knew Elder Collins and Elder Day and that was exciting for us because she seems to be a good potential investigator Then we traveled back to the junction where Hannah and Sister Gabriella’s place is, and we traveled to the right as far we could but we couldn't get far because of a dog kept growling at us and he looked very s\serious so we were only able to see one person, and she was very sweet to us. So finally we meet with Hannah and she actually fed us with rice and stew and that was nice. SO while we are eating Hannah turns on the televisio and guess what? Lost comes on! *(crazy right) This is the Season 3 finale where Charlie dies and it was towards the end and it was sad, but it made me think that I would start that series over when I get home ha-ha! Anyways eventually we get to the lesson and turned the TV to silent (Hannah didn't want it off) and we did Lesson 1. Elder Montgomery and I thought it was a great lesson! We really felt that our teaching style and flow between points really allowed the spirit to be here, however... she was totally disconnected. She was lying down and she didn't want to kneel for the prayers and really didn't seem like she wanted to learn and that was sad (She is very active Pentecost member) we invited her to church and she said no, which was surprising. It was that straightforward because most people will lie to you but it was good she was honest, but it's really sad to her interest in the gospel decrease. So we are giving her one more shot before we stop because she is not progressing at this time but hopefully things will work out.

On Saturday Elder Montgomery and I took Florence (A member in 3rd ward) to go with us to teach Daniel and his family and it was a great lesson! We went over lesson 1 with them and  gave them the Book of Mormon and Abigail (the Mother) was really excited and seemed  very interested in learning about the gospel and her children are so great as well and have potential to grow as well in the gospel. We have Daniel (15) Enoch (12) Sarah (8) Moses (5) and Elizabeth (1 year old) and they have really great potential. Their father doesn’t live with them and I am not sure why but they are a great family and we committed them to read and pray and Abigail gave a great prayer at the end of the lesson so that was awesome! After that l­­­­­esson we saw Bismarck (who was a referral from the Zone Leaders) and he actually works across from Paa Joe and we had no idea! He is very excited to learn and read all of the Pamphlet the zone Leader’s gave him and wanted more and we gave a lesson 2 pamphlet and we promised to give him Book a Mormon on Sunday when we meet him again and he seems like he has great potential!

So on Sunday we have church, and Elder Montgomery and I go to Lord's house to pick him up. (We have been trying to meet with him all week since the drunk night but it was unsuccessful and he wasn't home) and he wasn't home, so that was sad but we picked up Brother Frank and went to chruch We had 3 investagators attend church: Vida, Abina, and Matilida (we actually gave Matilida a Book of Mormon and told her we would like to meet and start teaching her but we need the mother’s permission, so we are just waiting on that for now), and that was exciting, but we have some work to do. It's exciting to at how much we can learn and grow. So after church we were supposed to see Sister Vida and Theolopus on our usual day but Theolopus was working and Vida was going to Wawa’s to see her Mother so Elder Montgomery and I went home and had lunch, and then went to see Bismarck, We told him we wanted to meet him at the chapel and we saw him as he was closing his brother's shop and we gave him the Book of Mormon and wrote our information down and he said he would be at the chapel. SO we go to the chapel and we wait, and wait, and wait, and wait. And then it's 6; 45 and we go down to see if he needs any help but we get down there and the shop was closed, so we got back to the chapel and waited, and finally at 7:00 we decided to go home because we knew he wasn't coming, and that was sad, but we will follow up and find out where he lives so we can personally go there instead. Although while we were waiting Elder Montgomery and I were telling each other jokes and that was fun! So Elder Montgomery and I close our day and week and we talked about what these first 6 weeks were like and what we could improve on, and we made goals and we are pumped for these next 6 weeks and they should be great!  Then we went to the zone Leaders’ house\ small to celebrate Elder Larsen’s 21st birthday! It was fun and we had some brownies and then we headed home.

Today is Monday Yay! and we did our wash and cleaned the apartment small. For Lunch Elder Wightman wanted to go to Rayna’s restaurant (his first name is Ryan) so he could take a picture with the sign and the sign looked like it had..... PIZZA!!!!!! And it did!!!!! So I got the Chicken Pizza, and it was SO good! I mean it's not like at home but for pizza it was pretty good, and I enjoyed it. 

 Now that we are in November the Liajona will come out and I can read the General Conference talks and I am SO excited just because there is so much that I need to improve on, and learn. I really have been trying now to really rely upon the Lord because I get stressed sometimes and I think what can I do to make it better? But I haven't relied upon the lord (Elder Wightman gave me that great advice) and it is so true, and I really want to improve on that, because as I do so I know that the Lord will help me through all of life’s difficult moments, so always turn to Him. Because we need not be alone, and as we are humbled and turn to Him he will help us and encircle us in his arms of love. One of my favorite hymns right now Is Where Can I Turn for Peace. The lyrics are so powerful and they mean a lot to me, and maybe they will help you guys out as well.  Well that is all from hear in Swedru! I hope you are all doing well and are enjoying life, and the weather. Keep me updated on all of your fun adventures! I love you all! Until next week! Stay Strong,

Elder Harward