Saturday, September 24, 2016

Only Pictures (Sorry) Cape Coast Zone before Transfers and me eating FuFu with Palm Nut Soup :)

The highlights for the week were Sister Florence and Ninson have a Baptism date for October 22d, ISaac Pentil is back and he has a date for October 8 along with a child of record, and I said  goodbye last Tuesday to all those leaving the zone. 

We are trying to work with the members more and are trying to do our best to seek referrals. That's about it haha for the highlights; sorry that this week wasn't a good email, but I loved the pictures, and everything, I am so grateful for everything that you do. I don't think I need anything haha. Tell mom and everyone I say hi, and that I love them, and sorry for my not responding, I hope that everything is well, and that you have a great week okay? :)
Love,
Elder Harward
P.S. Tell Katie that her email was wonderful. 

Sunday, September 18, 2016

Matching African Shirts, Zone Activity with District Shirts, Zone Conference, Francis's Baptism and Transfer News

Hello Family and Friends! What a couple of weeks it has been! I hope that everyone is doing well. I apologize for last week. I was writing my email, but the computer stopped working and we had to go out, so I am sorry for that. But the past week was pretty good, seeing our recent converts as well has preparing for Isaac and Francis’ Baptism.






So as for this week it was a pretty good week. My companion and I picked up our African Shirts a couple of weeks ago, and they are pretty great! Elder Nsenga's is a Button Up on and mine is an open collar shirt, and they are pretty cool! On a sad note Isaac Pentil did not get baptized; in fact, we haven't seen in him, in almost 2 weeks. :( He was going to renew his health insurance card in Cape Coast and was supposed to be back on Monday, but hasn't returned. President Thompson told us he thinks it's because of the fact that he can do what he wants, and has no curfew, but at President Thompson's place he has to live by the rules haha. Hopefully he comes back so he can learn and grow. I really thought he was accepting the message well, but we shall see if he comes back, and what will happen.

Okay so this last Monday we had a Zone Activity at the Abura Chapel and our Abura District wore our District T-Shirts! We looked pretty great in them :) I am a little biased but we truly are the best District in the G.C.C.M. :) We took some photos and we had a really great time at the activity. I even made sure to take a picture of the Abura 8 Sisters because they are really great sister missionaries.

Tuesday was kind of a slower day. NO district meeting due to Zone Conference on Thursday, but Elder Nsenga and I saw a former investigator named Eunice who sells Kenke and we just sat down and had a good discussion. She is very sweet, but I think her problem is not coming to church haha, but hopefully we can help her out. I was joking with my companion that tonight is the night that trainer's get called and that he was going to get called for the 3rd time haha. He also was joking with me, because there is an Elder Howard coming in the mission. Well we didn't get the call but two of the Sisters did in our District, so that was great!! Super happy for them! Even one of my former companions (Elder Hodson) is also training, so I am excited for him.

Wednesday was a pretty good day. We saw Regina and we talked with her about Lesson 3, and she had a concern about the Holy Ghost, so we are going to follow up on that, but she is doing well. Elder Nsenga and I went to Abura to do a Baptism Interview for the Abura Sisters for a small girl named Filomina (She is 9) and it was really great! Then we saw Francis Baidoo and we reviewed the Baptism Interview Questions and collected the Baptism Information, everything went well!!! :)


Thursday was Zone Conference at Ola Chapel!! And I ABSOLUTELY loved it! We talked about Establishing Zion and what it takes from Past experiences in the scriptures to have Zion. President Stevenson put all the qualities on the Blog so you can check them out, as well as our Zone Picture, where I participated in a Role Play and the Musical Number so that was fun. :) I really loved Burning our Weapons of War, promising to be better, and do what we need to do to be better missionaries. Truly a spiritual highlight for me, that I want to remember forever. We even got a paper reminding us of burying our weapons of war. It was a great zone conference :) After Zone conference our appointments fell through so that was about it for Thursday.


Friday was a bit of a slower day, but Francis got interviewed for Baptism and Passed!!! Elder Nsenga and I are going to Abura to witness their baptism for 3 people, so that was really sweet!

Saturday came around and Elder Nsenga and I did our Weekly Planning today (Due to Zone Conference) and it was nice. We then had Francis’ baptism with 2 children of record (1 child didn't come so she will get baptized later) and it was really sweet!! The spirit was so strong there, and the Sisters from Abura came to support us!!! In the rush of things we weren't able to take any photos :( but I will try to get another picture with Francis this next week. After Francis’ baptism we saw Sister Vida and Patience and finished Lesson 2 again for Sister Vida, and Patience asked good questions. Sister Vida told us that Brother Ninson was coming to church tomorrow, so that was exciting to hear. Then we found out Transfer News later that night.... Which I am Staying, with Elder Nsenga!!!! Party! Transfer #3  together so he will be my longest companion (close to Elder Hodson but he will pass him by two weeks) but we are excited! With that said 3 of the sisters are going on transfer, so we will receive two new Sister missionaries and Sister Johnny to be with Sister Ruskin, so our sisters are going to 6 now, so that will be interesting instead of 8. Oh and we are getting a new zone leader, one of my T.C.'s is coming, (Elder Edwards) so that'll be great.


Finally Sunday came around and Church was great. A miracle happened: Brother Ninson actually came to Church!! YES!! Major improvement. He seemed to really enjoy the teachings and the service, so no we are hoping to help him progress to a baptism date. (I will get a picture with him soon) Also Brother Francis was confirmed, and it was another spiritual moment for me, hearing the blessing from Brother Ampiah. After Church we had P.E.C. and that was nice, and then we saw Brother Otu and talked about Lesson 3. He is doing well, preparing for his daughter's weeding soon, so we will just take it small small and see what happens. After Otu, our other lessons fell through, but we did get some FuFu with Light Soup from Sister Sophia which was really nice. Sundays are hard because we can't go home after church for lunch (the distance is too far) so we just stay out and proselyte so we don't waste time. Sometimes I will buy a biscuit on Saturday and save it for Sunday so I can eat it after Church to keep me going
But that is all for this week!!! I hope that everything is going well for you all. My companion and I are excited for this next transfer, and I hope we can help all the people that we come in contact with feel the Savior's love. I love you all, and continue to pray for you. Have a great week!
Love,
Elder Harward

P.S. Here is a joke from a return missionary that I just loved. "What did the baby corn ask the mama corn? ..... "Where's POPcorn


Love you all!

Sunday, September 4, 2016

Baptisms in Abura and Primary Anniversary Day!

Hello Family and Friends! How are you all doing this week? I hope that everything is going well for you all. This past week was another good week in Ntranoa.
Tuesday we had District Meeting and it is always of course pretty funny because of the Sisters (the 8 of them). When we sing the Mission Hymn,  they are always so loud haha. It's hard to hear that Elder Nsenga and I are singing, but they are great. Sister Monyei instructed us this Tuesday (because she is going home this transfer) about what she learned throughout her mission and it was really nice. It will be sad when we lose her and Sister Otusanya, but I know they are going to do great things back at home. After District Meeting Elder Nsenga and I saw Isaac Pentil and we finished Lesson 1 and it was really great. We then saw Francis Baidoo and talked about Priesthood and Auxiliaries and Learning and Serving in the Church. They are both doing really well!
This is where our branch meets for Sacrament Meeting
Wednesday was a bit of a slower day, but Elder Nsenga and I were able to see Padmore in Koful and we had a LENGTHY discussion on God having a body and we are hoping that he prays about what we taught him. He knows the Bible well, and has been taught before, so hopefully we can help him progress.
On Thursday after Weekly Planning we went to Abura to do Baptism Interviews. I was able to do 6 this day, and it was wonderful! I told all the candidates that I am their best friend, so they can be free and just talk to me. I really loved Sister Johnson's interview because she was so funny during it, and it was a good day.
A donkey we met during our tracting
Friday was another good day. Elder Nsenga and I tried to see some people before heading to Abura, but it didn't happen. We went to Abura and I did my last interview for the Abura Sisters and then Elder Nsenga and I went to the chapel to witness the baptisms. They had 8 people baptized. Four were for Abura 2-A and the other 4 were for Abura 1-B so they combined with the wards for the baptism and it was really great. Only one person I didn't interview (Due to an abortion problem) but it was really great to see all of these people enter into the waters of baptism, and I really loved getting to know them. Sister Ruskin, Sister Mawaswha (Abura 1-B), Sister Thomas, Sister Udom, Sister Monyei, and Sister Apio (Abura 2-A) are doing really great work so they are powerful!

Saturday was another good day. Elder Nsenga and I saw Isaac Pentil and we taught all of Lesson 2 to him, and he knows that The Book of Mormon is true! He is a pretty sweet young man. I will try to get a picture with him this next week. Elder Nsenga and I then went to the chapel for the Primary Anniversary Day and the Children were great with their singing and program, it was great to watch! We then saw Francis and taught him just about Service because he was a little  bit  busy but it was good.

Sunday was a bit a slower day but we saw Otu and we talked about the Book of Mormon and committed him to pray about it again. We also saw Isaac again and taught Lesson 3 and he is doing well for his baptism date for September 10th, and Francis is also looking really good for  the 10th!
Anyways that is all for this week. I hope that all is going well for you guys. I continue to pray for you all each day. Have a great week!
Love,
Elder Harward