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
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