Goin' Ham

Gotta work my face off this coming week. Decision made the other day. Mission is totally the best everyone!! I am so excited to talk to you all! Wow! This week has really been killer.

This Sunday my companion pointed out that I have spoken in Sacrament for five weeks in a row, and I will probably continue to speak in the coming weeks as well. I have taught Sunday School and Elders Quorum lessons for the past three weeks as well, and even yesterday I got to conduct Sacrament meeting! #secondcounselor #tinybranch

With Elder Harvey, who understands my hashtags, I have been becoming more prone to use these hash devils. They're fantastic. It's really something great. Usually it's in the form of #righteous or #sick, which, of course, fits the profile the other missionaries have given me, conveniently enough.

Also recovered from a head cold all week, but pushed it through! The runny nose is almost gone as well! The work stops for no man, however! I'm pushing and kicking until the end! Hopefully the end is no time soon... but we'll still kick it anyways!

To the week!

Tuesday

Pancakes for breakfast, and off to district council. Got a ride all of a sudden with this guy who said he used to be a member, but left because of some confusion getting him married in the temple. I'm trying to see if I can get it sorted out as we speak. Then we came back and taught J, who introduced us to his best friend JY. I love J. That guy is just so killer. Then we saw O, and talked some basic stuff about L1 and we are wondering where he will go.

Wednesday

Had spaghetti for breakfast. This terrible sauce that we made, but had to eat and finish. Aah, what sadness. Anyways, then we went to market, and ended up Seeing J and JY again, as well as O, and then ended up teaching E for the first time in a while as well.

Thursday

Toast for breakfast. Starting to change it up. Had a first contact lesson with a zealot from some local church, which was fun. Then we taught A, and are preparing to send him to HCity to be baptized there, so he can have fellowshippers. I really wish we could baptize him here though, but really it would only be to increase in my own pride. Forgive me please, haha. Also, later that day we taught a lesson where I was essentially Pastor Harris. This large group of people gathered around, and seemed super passionate about everything I was saying, but none of them came to church. Shows a lot there. We finished with Institute, which was disturbed by light off.

Friday

Oatmeal. Not as filling as I was hoping it would be. I was hungry sooo fast afterward. We saw J, and taught him about temples, and then had a lesson with SA, and a couple of others during the day. 

Saturday

Had a short exchange when Elder Tyokolwana came to interview B, and Elder Obiarinze and I taught P as well as E while waiting. Then some random guy came and found the wallet that Elder Harvey had lost some time ago! Totally awesome!! Finally had a Senchi branch activity to close.

Sunday

Had church, conducted the Sacrament meeting, and wrote this awesome talk, but only had a few minutes to speak, so I guess I'm saving it for another time. Then I spontaneously taught Sunday School, and during quorum, bucketed water into the baptismal font. Pretty great stuff. Finally, we taught EA, after a couple of additional meetings, who says he's never felt the spirit. We'll see what we can do about that.

Monday

We had a zone activity in SCity,  and played football(soccer) against the Elders from KCity! We lost in a tiebreak, but it was still fantastic!

For the week, I think I have only a simple thought on the value of work and dedication. One of the most powerful things we can do is work hard even when it doesn't feel like we'll get all the benefits or value that we deserve. Elder Harvey and I are blessed with a beautifully fruitful area, but other places in our district are not seeing as many blessings from their work. However, as they work, and as we work, I can testify that it can truly change our characters for the better, and draw us closer to God.

I love you all!

Rockin' it

Righteous

Elder Harris

Found my true team, West Brom from my British Bruthah, Elder Harvey. #pumped #westbrom #football #England #ghana #missionary #feelinbig #matching

A papaya our investigator gave us. #massive #hungry #papaya #weneverateit #itwentbad #ghana #missionary

It's the Best Week When We Receive an Email From the B's!

We were able to drop off Elder Harris' package to him this afternoon. We always love seeing him! He looks happy as always! We found them along the roadside teaching:)

Ubruniland and Shiny Fans

Hello Hello! Long time! Wow! You're lookin' good today! Have you been working out? Oh, it's good to see you!

It's been a little different since we last talked, because we now have two white guys proselyting hard core in JCity, and all of the locals know it. "Yevu, yevu" they call, or "Ubruni!" We are quickly and easily identified. Mostly by small children. I have also eaten a lot of toast this week, spontaneously. And been using margarine, which would make my father cry I think, but you gotta do what ya gotta do to survive in this world. Also vegetable oil, sometimes I use that when I cook now. Oh, I feel I've done it. I've disappointed him. Well, gotta continue on.

Also we got rechargeable fans!!! Even when it's light off we can have fans now! They're fancy, have remotes, are white and shiny, and have lights and timers.... aaah, they are the best things ever. Blackout? No problem! Shiny fan power!

So the week was totally killer, we worked hard, were exactly obedient, contacted like nobody's business and saw miracles pile up! It was powerful and amazing! This is truly the one true mission my friends!

To Run Through the Week!

Tuesday

Had toast and eggs, and then went to district council, and had a lesson with ED and a member, and she pretty much refused to even touch the Book of Mormon. We then taught SA a little more from Lesson 2, and are watching him progress slowly but surely. Finally we saw a recent convert with a member from SCity. A and R.

Wednesday

We spent the morning talking about too much deep doctrine and got our new fans! So fantastic. Then we went out and saw SA with D, and they totally hit it off, and we are hoping that this will motivate SA to come to church. Then we saw B, who takes in information like a sponge, and will be baptized later in the month. Then we gave a pamphlet to a guy A, who called us later with questions, and seems to be progressing very well, and even came to church on Sunday! First lesson to the baptismal date as well. Let's see if he can keep it. Then we saw E and a new investigator as well. From the moment she saw the picture of the first vision she said she believes Joseph Smith was a prophet, but it seems that like many others we talk to, that has not yet motivated her to any form of action.

Thursday

Made me some nice breakfast pancakes, and then we went out to teach and taught J and A. Both, we got a little more of the first lesson, to talk about prophets and Joseph Smith. Both seem very interested, and we will see where it goes. We talked to FX for like two hours, and didn't seem to get anywhere, he was just super happy to have visitors though. We will follow up another time, and see how it goes. We had a docrinal class as well as a quick presidency meeting. 

Friday

Powerful moment when I realized it was 9-11, gave a minute of silence and sang the national anthem a couple

of times. The anthem is awesome. I sing it like every week and I'm pretty sure it irritates my British companion. Then we went out to teach SA with Brother Michael, and then taught B again. We ended with a lesson with A and B, and it started raining hardcore, and soaked Elder Harvey.

Saturday: A actually dedicated the day to go out proselyting with us, and wants to do so again! We went out, and she gave us like a billion referrals.  Then we taught A again, and a new guy J, who works at a bike shop. We taught most of lesson 1, and they have been taking it really well. J came to church on Sunday as well! Fantastic!

Sunday

We had 5 people come to church, and I gave a talk on the Law of Chastity, and also taught Quorum. Then we had meetings after church, and taught C, and gave her a baptimal date, and then taught EA as well. He's a good guy! Love him.

Monday

We washed clothes, ate, and came to cafe. Plans for football fell through the floor unfortunately, but to everything its own time.

For a spiritual thought this week, I wanna talk about the power contained in a church leader. People set apart by God and given stewardship and sometimes keys to help and support us. It's something very powerful that we have access to. We also need to do everything we can to support and help them as well. It's a fantastic system we can use!

Love you and miss you all!

From the one true mission.

Keep on Rockin' It.

Elder Harris

Righteous

So... I am short on time this week. I require your forgiveness.

This week was totally a blast though. I put off a stoner vibe it appears, I give that off to the new trainees, which fits me well I guess. I always use words like, "righteous" and "sick" and I love to hashtag things, so I guess it fits! Not literally though, don't get that vibe. 

This week we are preparing three people for baptism this coming Sunday, which should be good. Also had the opportunity to work through a bit of a head cold, and am working on crushing it! Awesome! Aside from that... this week my companion lost his wallet, which stinks, but we'll push through again.

To the week!

Tuesday

B called us and it turns out he had already compiled all of his baptismal information for us! He's on top of the ball! We also met with P, who began to read the pamphlet we gave him and had questions, and said he would come to church this coming Sunday. We also had a few referrals from one of our coming baptisms, J and his sisters! Totally awesome! Then I spontaneously taught a lesson almost in Eue, and taught the Plan of Salvation, and she said she wanted to be baptised! We'll see how the coming month will go for her. Then we saw a couple recent converts in the evening.

Wednesday

Pancakes for breakfast, which was good, and then we went to see J, and I decided I love the guy so much!! He would be a super great friend back home! I wanna just take him to America with me when I leave, haha. Then we saw JJ. Then we saw a few other people, including the mother of one of the children who wants to be baptized. We'll see how it goes there.

Thursday

Pancakes again.  Saw a few more investigators and it turns out some old solid investigators came up against some anti mormon material, which is sad to lose people to such negative vibes. 

Friday

We saw a couple of people, and essentially .... I think I misplaced a day... This was a bit of what I wrote for Tuesday... forgive me...

Saturday

More stuff. No time.

Sunday

We had a baptism for a member's kid this week, and we ended up being at the chapel for meetings almost all of Sunday. Made a super stong tomato stew/sauce for dinner. 

The week was good! Forgive me for time! I love you all!!

Elder Harvey and Elder Harris

Photo from the Elders in Ghana Facebook Page

Testimonies Are Totally the Best!

Man! The week has totally gone by since we last talked! You might not believe it!! It totally happened. Intense. So this week was pretty good. 

I went to pick up my trainee Elder Harvey from Accra this week. He's from England, UK!  So here in JCity we got two Ubrunis preaching the gospel! It's awesome! I am having a blast with this guy, and so many good things are happening here! We get along really well and are having a really good time. Now, to the week!

Tuesday

I went to Accra, and left pretty early to the mission home to pick up my trainee and drop Elder Ojaide off at the mission home. I picked up Elder Harvey! We also came back in the nicest tro tro I've ever seen. It was padded and had air conditioning, so not typical at all.

Wednesday

Made chocolate pancakes and had district council. We had apartment inspections and things like that, and then went out around to see a couple of our investigators and to meet with a member. Had Banku for dinner that our neighbor made us! So good!

Thursday

We walked to M and taught one of our investigators, P, and extended a baptismal date for this month on the 20th. Then we saw JJ and talked to him a bit, and then saw another couple of investigators and watched a movie about John Tanner in doctrinal class.

Friday

Woke up and had lachili (like milk and... stuff...) to make a porridge! It was pretty great! think I'll get it again!  We also had a spontaneous zone conference and President Heid came and visited us, and we talked about getting revelation and helping our investigatros feel the spirit and identify it. 

Saturday

We walked around a lot, and did some contacting in MCity, and even got a couple of new investigators. Then we walked to ACity and did a lot of walking around there essentially trying to find another of our investigators and essentially being lost. Sister Theresa ended up making us akbeleh and dedechi for dinner, which was fantastic!

Sunday

Church service was great, although we only had 2 investigators show up to church. Then we actually had a bunch of meetings before church, and got to meet with G and bear testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith! Good day!

Monday

Preparation day! We had light out and went to teach an investigator who seems pretty set on joining the church because his friend recommended it to him. He wants to meet with us several times this week (he said every day actually), and we are hoping for good fruit there. Awesome!

The spiritual thought this week is all about testimonies. Testimonies are totally the best! Testimonies are what we have always had to fight this spiritual war, even from the foundations of the world. When Alma stepped down from the office of a chief judge, it was to "bear down in pure testimony". He know so much, and was probably educated, and good at debate and whatever as a judge, but what was most valuable was the testimony he bore.

Love you all!

Elder Harris

Starting with the left, the three Ubrunis in my mtc! Looking so good!

The second picture is three generations, me, my trainer, and my trainee!

This picture is my MTC companionship, all of us called to train! Me, Elder Grant, and Elder Koronikalou!

Our new ubrunis in the district.

 What proselytizing often looks like!

This Week Was Pretty Killer!

Man! So this week was pretty killer! Got a lot of news.

For the basic stuff, we had four baptisms this week. AA, BH,  RG, and EY. All great people!  And I am so excited to see them progress in the church and in their lives. It's something so powerful to watch! 

So for the big news this week, I have been assigned as a trainer! Holy cow, I'm jsut getting done with my own training, it's something crazy and I am hoping to be up to the cause. I'll be going to Accra tomorrow to pick him up. Sounds like it should be a productive and growing week.

To the week:(forgive me, not a lot to talk about this week, mostly routine work).

Tuesday

We went to District council, and got Elder Ojaide's hair cut, and then we went around preparing the 4 people four baptism, asking them the questions and collecting their information for the forms. 

Wednesday 
I went on exchanges in SCity with Elder Smith, and totally had a fantastic day. We went out preaching the word all over the place, and a member came with us for a chunk of the day. It also helped me realize if I'm not working, I'm starting to feel a little antsy. I just need to be out there!

Thursday
Stayed SCity again and went to Accra for trainer's council, and spent pretty much the whole day there.

Friday, We held our baptismal service and went to teach a couple of lessons with the relief society president, and then came to the chapel to prepare a presentation.

Saturday
We went to KCity for a meeting after a lesson, and then ate at the Royal Senchi buffet, and spent a good chunk of our sub! Good day.

Sunday
We had a couple of meetings after church, and set our monthly goals and things and so forth. We'll be shooting for 2 baptisms this month.

Monday
We pretty much cleaned in preparation for the new missionary and inspections.

For a spiritual thought this week,  I was thinking about the assignment as a trainer and feeling a little intimidated, when I remembered the story about the early bishop who heard a voice that said, "The strength is in me". And when I was reading in Alma 13 about foreordination, it dawned on me that this was no circumstantial situation, or assignment. Even from the foundation of the world, my calling was made secure and given as a potential to be fulfilled, if that makes sense. Everything in the service in the church is something so powerful, in the sense that God has been preparing us for the situations we are in for the longest time.

Elder Harris