Matilda's Baptism and Goodbye Elder Montgomery

Hello Family and Friends! How are you all doing? Are you all excited for Christmas? :) I love it when they play Christmas music here in Ghana because it reminds me a little bit of home. So guess what? It's Hamattan! (Or the Dry Season) It has officially started as of Friday. I was looking at the air and I was thinking "Why is it so foggy?" But Elder Wightman explained that it's the dust from the Sahara Desert blowing over here and so and it will last for a couple of months or so. So it's foggy every day kind of reminding me of winter, but definitely not anything close to what you guys are experiencing. 

Okay so as for this week!  On Monday we had a zone activity at Winneba Beach! We had A LOT of fun and Elder Montgomery and I brought our Christmas Hats and took pictures on top of the boat and we had a good time. That night Elder Montgomery and I went to FHE with Elder Wightman and Elder Kavilata to Brother Fred and His family's home. They made us DELICIOUS FuFu with Light soup and I really enjoyed it! (They make REALLY good Light soup) After wards we only had a small time but Elder Kavilata and Elder Montgomery said good bye and Brother Fred shared a great scripture in Mosiah about being born on God and it was a nice FHE.

On Tuesday we had District Meeting and Elder Larsen (Our Zone leader) gave one of his lasts instructions and it was on remembering and he really focused on Lesson 1 and the points of Lesson 1 and what we can do to improve as missionaries and that was a really neat lesson! After that Elder Montgomery and I saw Matilida in the evening and we just finished up Lesson 4 with her and Matilde is doing really well. After That Elder Montgomery and I saw Sister Vida and Theolopus and we just watched Finding Faith In Christ with them because we thought they were leaving soon, but Theodosius told us that he didn't want to Sister Vida to travel in December and so they won't do the Knocking or Bride Price until January 1st so hopefully all will go well with that, but we just really wanted them to keep pressing forward and really follow the savior.

We saw this little girl who had a SUU shirt. I asked her if she knew what her shirt meant, but she didn't. But it made me think of home.

Wednesday and Thursday were both pretty slow days but Elder Montgomery and I were able to see Matilde both Days. On Wednesday Elder Montgomery and I stayed for Mutual and Elder Montgomery taught the youth how to sing and I did a small role play where I was an old man and the youth came over and were showing to me service and that was fun. As for Matilde on Wednesday we finished Lesson 5 and Thursday we interviewed the Baptismal interview questions and got her information and she really understood it and truly was ready for Baptism. (We also confirmed her Mother's permission to baptize her so that was amazing!!!) On Friday I went on exchanges with Elder Kavilata and that's when Hamattan started and it was a good day. It was a holiday (Farmer's day) and everybody was gone so our appointments fell through but we did go to Richards Baptismal Interview and he passed! After that the family brought out Cocotena (Face the Wall) which is like a softer FuFu but it's weird because the dough is hot and not the soup but it was pretty good! Elder Wightman and Elder Montgomery came right as we were eating and Matilde Passed her Interview and she asked Elder Montgomery to baptize her and that was really neat!!!

 

Finally it was Saturday and our apartment went to Chapel Cleaning in the Morning and then came back home and did our studies and eventually we Had Matilde’s and Richard's Baptisms (We combined with 3rd ward0 and it was SO great! The service was spiritual (I got to talk on the Holy Ghost) and the Holy Ghost really was testifying there at the service and it was so great. I am SO grateful that Elder Montgomery and I get to be an instrument in the Lord's hands because it is his work and if we listen to the spirit and follow its promptings we will always find those who the lord needs us to find. After the baptism our district headed to Ryan's Restaurant to await Transfer news and our zone is last (Winenba) so it takes a while but after we eat us all split up and we got back to the apartment. We sit down and then we go the call from the zone leaders, so here we go.... I am staying yay! I wasn't surprised by that, but my new c companions name is Elder Jones. There are two Elder Jones in the Mission and I know both (One is my in my MTC group and one is in the office) so I don't know who is coming but I ready to work hard these last 6 weeks before Accra West comes in. (This is the last transfer I will be here for sure because next transfer everyone goes for sure). I Was Sad to see Montgomery go but that night we took our Christmas Pictures and they are awesome! (Did you see the lights in the background!? IT really is looking like Christmas!)

On Sunday we had Fast and Testimony Meeting. Matilda was confirmed a member and given the Gift of the Holy Ghost and it was amazing! Elder Montgomery gave his last testimony and it was sad, and the ward will miss him. After Church we had to go home and Get Elder Montgomery y Packed because he was leaving on Monday then on Wednesday (which is usually when people switch around) but after he got packed, we headed over to Aboso to have a party with the other Elders and it was fun!

Our District

Today I actually said goodbye to Elder Montgomery and that was hard. I will miss him, but I learned so much from him and we had some great moments together. I know he is going to do great things in Liberia and that the Lord has great things in store for him. Anyways that is all here from me. I I hope you all have a good week! Enjoy the weather okay? :)

Love,

Elder Harward