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. 

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!

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

Ground Nut Soup, Kintombola, and All Africa Service Project!

Hello Family and Friends! How are you all doing? I hope that you are doing well, and that you are excited to go back to school. I am sure that you guys are going to learn so much, and the Lord will help you along the way.

So as for this week it has been a pretty good week. Elder Nsenga made Ground Nut soup this week, a stew and rice mix and it was really good! He is always really creative when it comes to trying some new things. Sometimes he has been calling me Kintombola and I have been thinking it means White Guy. So I tell him Dabai “I am a black man” (To joke back at him you know) and he just laughs harder. Well the real meaning of Kintombola means Ballfloat (whatever that is) so he has been calling me Kwame Kintombola and so I call him Kintombola as well haha  :)

On Tuesday we had MLC report. I learned some new things to apply as a missionary work and it is always so great to learn and grow. Elder Nsenga and I also saw Sister Vida and we had a great lesson about the Temple.

On Wednesday we saw Mary and found out from Sister Wood that the father does NOT want her to be baptized :( We don't know why, but Sister Wood is going to a small village past Swedru to ask him in December and see if he will change his mind, so for now we will just pass by her, and see how she is doing. Elder Nsenga and I were able to see Brother Patrick (One of our members) and we had a good discussion with him. We also saw Francis and talked about Tithing and Fast Offerings. He is doing really well. His Baptism date for September 10th is looking really solid so that's great!

Thursday and Friday were pretty slow days unfortunately, but the zone leaders came down for an exchange on Friday so it was nice to see them, and we saw Sister Vida on Friday so that was good :) She is always so funny. Every time she sees me she yells Kwame Jata and I always say Mame Ekuwa (Mother Wednesday because she was born on Wednesday). Her family really is great!!

Saturday was All Africa Service Project! For the Cape Coast Stake we went to Ankaful Pysicatric Hospital (which is pretty close to Ntranoa) so the Elmina Zone, and Cape Coast Zones were there and we did some  good work. Elder Nsenga and I were at the front fixing the road with the holes. (We just filling the holes with dirt and smoothing it out, because usually they don't like to replace the whole road, just fix the holes). Elder Nsegna and I saw Francis again that night and we finished Lesson 4.

Sunday we received a referral from one of our members for a guy who is working next to the church, and we had a lesson with a guy named Melecon who actually works at Ankfaul Psychiatric Hospital, so that's cool. We also saw President Thompson's Nephew and we had a good lesson with him. :)

Anyways that is all for this week. I hope that you are all doing well, and I continue to pray for you all. Have a great week!

Love,

Elder Harward

In the 20's Club

Life in Ntranoa

Hello Family and Friends! I am now 20! Yay! So I am in the "Club" since Elder Nsenga is 25 so now we are 20 buddies ha-ha! I have A LOT of pictures this week from this past transfer to now so I hope you enjoy them!!!

This past week was a pretty good week, but also a bit slower but that's okay. Tuesday we had District Meeting and we welcomed Sister Thomas to the Abura District. I have thought about why we have 8 sisters in our district and I love them like my sisters. They remind me of Katie and Camille and I think that's part of the reason I am with these sisters: they remind me of my family back home.

The sisters work really hard and are doing really well. Sister Otusany and Sister Moneyi finish this transfer and Sister Ruskin finishes her mission the transfer after that, so it will be sad to see these missionaries go home. But in our district meeting I talked just small about change and improving (since it was my 20th birthday) allowing ourselves to change and improve every day and let the past be the past and continue to move on in Faith. I showed them the picture of “Jesus Christ Knocking on the Door”, illustrating Jesus Christ is just waiting on us, to let Him into our lives to change. After District meeting we had a small party! We brought drinks, popcorn, and biscuits! The Abgura Sisters made fried rice and chicken and brought Fan Ice and we played some games and it was sweet. The Abura Sisters even gave me a gift (which was a shirt and that was nice of them), and then they soaked me of course, so that was cool! :)

Wednesday came and I officially Turned 20! Wahoo! :) Some people from the zone wished me a happy birthday and that was nice of them. Otherwise it was a pretty normal day. We saw Otu (Whom we believe is a chief) and he was very defensive about Multiple Wives and, so it was only an okay lesson. (We really think he is a chief in another place.)  We also saw Sister Mary Menash and helped her small with her Family History which was SO cool! She is preparing names to go to the temple!! We also met a less active named Benjamin in Quarters and he is a sweet guy! He is 17 years old and seems like just a normal teenager ha-ha. I am sad that he doesn’t come to church but we tried just to be his friends and make him feel loved, so hopefully we can see him more.

Thursday we saw Francis Ampiah and he is understanding the Word of Wisdom which is great! And we talked about the Law of Chasity and Obedience, and Following the Prophet. Elder Nsenga and I then talked to President Thompson about some concerns and challenges we are facing in Ntranoa and we got some really good advice and a referral for his nephew Isaac Penti who is 14 and is now living with them, so that's really sweet!

Friday and Saturday were pretty slow days. We saw Brother Evans on Friday and we just had a nice talk to him. He is moving to Elmina soon, but he says he will still come to our branch, (Hopefully that will be soon because he hasn't been to church in a long time :(  But it was a good talk.

Saturday we saw Florence Awuni and we had a great lesson with her on Authority and we asked her to pray about Priesthood Authority. We asked her if she came to know this is true, she would be baptized and she said yes! So hopefully she got an answer to her question so she can be baptized (She could use some prayers right now).

Sunday was a good day at church, and PEC was a nice discussion about the ward and how to avoid the problems of people asking us for money. (There have been missionaries in the past who have given money to ward members which is cool, but now it’s a culture of asking and we had 3 women specifically wanted to talk to me privately about money issues. I just can't get involved nor have that kind of money to help. So Elder Nsenga and I have a plan that if anyone wants to talk to me privately, he will always be there because they won't talk about money if he is around. I am grateful for him :) The branch is really good, we just want the members to know we are just here to fulfill our purpose and not to get involved in matters like that, even though it is really sad at times. We just want to encourage them to go to the ward for help.

After PEC we had FuFu with Sister Fransica and her two daughters celebrating our August Birthdays. Let me just say Groundnut soup is pretty great!!! :) One of my favorites for sure.

Anyways that's all for the week!! :) I hope that you are all doing well, and I continue to pray for all of you and hope that you are all doing well. Stay strong :)

Love,

Elder Harward

Elder Kiiza is gone and now we are Two!

Hello Family and Friends! So first off a shout out to Camille and Sam for getting engaged! :) I am so happy for you guys!!

We don't usually get around this way, but it was a fun ride while it lasted. 

This week it was a bit of a slower week.Tuesday was a nice day. Elder Kiiza was saying his goodbyes, so it was "his day" for what he needed to do, and who he wanted to say goodbye to.Then on Wednesday Elder Nsenga and I said goodbye to Elder Kiiza and that was sad (I have pictures, but I can't send my pictures for some reason, so hopefully next week. Sorry :(  He is a great guy, and I learned some really good things from him in our short time together. I also got to see the August group at the station: Elder Wightman, Elder Stulce, Elder Hannemann all those guys. They really were a great group. Some of my favorite people for sure, and I will miss them. After we dropped of Elder Kiiza Elder Nsenga and I headed to Ntranoa had some FuFu and saw Francis and we had a nice lesson with him on Lesson 3. 

Thursday and Friday were both pretty slow days. We saw Brother Otu again and talked about the Book of Mormon. Very intelligent man, reminds me of Dad. It was a good lesson, and he seems to be doing well. On Friday we saw Francis and talked about the Word of Wisdom. He was so open this lesson! (YES!!!) He really didn't like the whole no Coffee and tea thing, but it was nice because he was honest telling us how he liked Cowbell Coffee. We talked about the dangers of both and modern revelation and committed him to pray and talk to Brother Ampiah. Questions are (usually) always good because that means he really is learning and wanting to improve.

Saturday another slow day unfortunately, but we saw Samuel Dadzie and went through lesson 1 again (As he is a recent convert) He gets distracted so easily so it's hard to teach him but we managed to get through okay and then I gave him 1 cedi to go and get some Pollo (This woman made some hot ones of the bread and it was really good, so he was happy).

Sunday was fast Sunday and Elder Nsenga and I got to bless the sacrament. I haven't blessed in a long time so I was nervous, but it seemed to go okay. After that we had Branch council. We got some good direction for Francis and Priscilla so that was nice. We went to see Ana B (The woman who asked us about our tags)  and after that her mother joined us in for the lesson. Very intelligent again. Asked about American Indians and if they knew that they were descendants from Lehi (Never been asked that before) but it was a good lesson. We committed them to pray so hopefully they will do so.

That's all about it for the week! I turn 20 on Wednesday, I am so excited!!! :) This next week should be a better week, so things are going well here. Fun fact about Elder Nsenga is that he is 25 years old. So it's like I am with Katie because he is her age haha, so I told him when I turn 20 I will be in "The 20 club" so that will be fun!!!! I hope that you are all having a good week, and I am always praying and hoping the best for you! I love you all!

Love,

Elder Harward

Re: Simeo, The Spiders are finally dead, Transfer News( Now down to 2), and Forgiveness.

P.S. Yeah I killed two huge big spiders that have been haunting me forever. #Finally Free!!!! 

Hello Family and Friends! How are you all doing? I hope that all is going well for you! I also hope that you are enjoying the weather and getting lots of fun in the sun ha-ha :)

Okay so as for this week it was a really nice week,

Tuesday we had a combined District Meeting and Sister Ruskin instructed us, and it was on Charity and love. It was really good! I received some new insights from her instruction, and I thought about all of my companions. To all of them I say a BIG thank you for always showing me charity and for always treating well. Heavenly Father has always known which companion I need at the right time, and it's been pretty incredible for him to know that. So thank you all of my companions for helping me learn and grow. I know I needed the attributes that you have taught me. :) After District Meeting we got to eat FuFu (Yes!) and then we saw Francis and then we have 2 children of Record coming up this next month so we saw Brother Nyarko's daughter, so we just talked to her and said hi.

Wednesday was a nice day. We saw Sister Wood's Daughter Mary (She is one of the Children of Record) and that was nice. Then we saw some new people named Otu and Padmore (in Koful) so it was really nice. Also we taught Polycarp (Sister Millicent's Husband) He just came back from Upper East Region or Somewhere, and he is Roman Catholic and has O desire to change and it was like that throughout the lesson on Temples and Families. Sister Millicent is really struggling with him because he just drinks and vomits and sleeps and does that day after day and anyway it's pretty complicated but hopefully thinks will work out, so she can provide for her family.

Thursday we went to Simeo! We got to see Brother Evans who is a less active and he admitted it, but we had a good lesson with him sharing with him our favorite scriptures from the B.O.M. and it was sweet!

Friday was a little bit slower but we saw Louisa Quantson whom we thought was a child of record but she will get baptized next year so that's good!

Saturday was nice! We saw a Young woman named Ana who stopped because she loved our tags and wanted to get some so she can use them for her church. We told her honestly that we don't know about that information and explained our purpose to her and had a nice lesson with her; hopefully she prays about what we taught her. Then we saw Sister Vida and Mary and reviewed Lesson 1 with them. They are so great! I love them so much. They are a great family. Then we saw Francis Ampiah but he wasn't doing well and we didn't get too far in Lesson 3 when we just stopped. He wasn't feeling it and he seemed frustrated when we asked him why because his baptism is something we have been working on, so he just said okay to August but that's not the point. We want him to be baptized but we are also his friend so we want to help him to the best of our ability and really help in whatever his concern is so hopefully we can figure it out.

So that night we received Transfer new. Elder Kiiza is going so it will just be me and Elder Nsenga and then the 8 Abura Sisters. SO we are going to enjoy. I have never served in just a 2 man apartment but it will be great, and we will have some fun together Elder Nsenga and I :)

Sunday was a great day for me. The actual day was slow, and we only Saw Priscilla and we got over her concern of the Word of Wisdom and went in to Tithing small so that was good. But the really cool part for me was during Priesthood and Relief Society. President Thompson talked about Forgiveness. It was SO great! There has been some drama in relief society and on Sunday they just addressed it, and specifically two women shook hands at the end of it (I guess during the lessons they bring in their own personal problems into the lesson and it creates drama and everything) but a lot of people left in tears after that meeting, and it was really neat for me to see. I LOVE the concept of forgiveness and starting new.

 For me I am starting new this transfer and for my 20th birthday just to let my faults go and just follow Jesus Christ. To anybody who I have hurt I am really sorry and I hope that you can forgive me one day, and for me I am letting everything in the past stay there. I love you all so much, and I love forgiveness because it goes hand in hand with charity and with loving every body. Thank you to my companions for always forgiving me and for being kind to me. I love you guys so much! Thank you for all that you do! I hope that you all have a great week okay? Keep having lots of fun adventures :)

Love,

Elder Harward