Week in a B

Finding foods starting with a B is becoming more difficult than I imagined. I need assistance on topic line finding. Please, peoples, give me ideas!

The week was fantastic, I am coming to love my new companion, Elder Akichi, more every day! We are having a blast! It is weird having language study though, to help him with his English. My mind is blown by this.  I try to find ways to help him with English, but he's already pretty proficient. Pretty much just a resource for big words, haha. But it's AWESOME!

I made custard in the week. Not as talented as I thought I would be, but I'll figure it out eventually. Practice makes perfect. Anyways...

TO THE WEEK!

Monday: 

After emailing we went to see Be, and it turns out Ma was back! She'd said she wanted to be baptized before she left, so it was super good to see her again!

Tuesday: 

We had district council, and afterwards saw Sa and Vr, who we committed to baptism. It's funny, Elder Akichi forgets who has baptismal dates, so he will often extend a baptismal date to people who already have one, haha. Anyways, after we saw them, we saw Ic, and his buddy, Dd, joined in on the lesson, and it turns out Dd has a brother who's a member! Also extended a date to them. Then we saw Sr, and El came to translate for us, and we taught her about the gospel of Christ, which she accepted very well. Then we saw Ca, and prepared to baptize her later in the week! Then we saw Em's family, and taught her mother the first lesson, and it seems she is slowly progressing! She said she'll come to her children's baptism for sure! We'll see how the spirit catches her!

Wednesday: 

We went to market, after language study, and then went to see Bn, and taught him about the restoration of the Gospel. He's a retired teacher, so he understood very well, and seemed to desire to know if what we told him is true, so we'll check on him next week. Then we failed a heck of a lot of appointments and went to quickly visit Pk at the close of the day.

Thursday: 

We taught Sa about where we go after we die, and committed him to come to church. He wants to be involved in missionary work! Then we saw Cn, a guy who contacted us while he was drunk, and taught him about the first lesson. He understood remarkably well, and seems like he might progress in the future. Then we taught a couple of Muslim guys who had questions about Christianity, and who Christ was. Then we saw Sr with El again, and taught her about the plan of salvation and the word of wisdom. Even though she doesn't speak English, she still understands the doctrine remarkably well. It's fantastic! Then I taught the institute class about Moses and the exodus from Egypt. Then we taught Ca about all of the commandments and clarified her baptismal details. 

Friday: 

Our district leader interviewed Ca, and she passed! Then we had to talk with her to clear up some of the false doctrine she had learned in said interview. Sigh. Then we saw Be and Ma again and committed Ma to be baptized! Then we dropped by Je and taught him about the Priesthood. Then we saw Pk's wife, and taught her about baptism. Dang, she's stubborn, but she can possibly learn very well! Then we saw Ie and her family and set a baptismal date with her, for quite some time in the future, like March (not sure if she'll keep that, even), but committed her to come to her children's baptism! Then we saw Er and Ja, and made sure everything was good there. 

Saturday: 

We opened up by seeing Aa, and committing her to a baptismal date. Then we saw La, and started to teach her, and it seems she has a genuine interest in the Book of Mormon. Then we taught Cn about the story of the Book of Mormon, and then we saw Dd, who is a fantastic learner, but we'll see how far he progresses. Committed him to baptism later in the month, or in February. He's got a genuine interest in the message, and his brother is there to help him as well! Then we saw the landlady, Gs, and taught her about the restoration, followed by Vr who seems to have a powerful desire to change his life. I think he can make baptism before I go, even! Fantastic guy! Then we went to chapel cleaning, and closed for the day.

Sunday: 

I spoke in Sacrament, and taught Sunday School. Not my best day of teaching I think. Afterwards, we had Cy's baptism! Wonderful stuff! Finally decided to use my white trousers too, which was good! Then we taught Ge and Saviour with El about temples, and they want to go be sealed! Best thing! Then we had weekly planning and closed for the day.

I've been thinking a lot this week about unconditional love. It's so important to show the pure love and charity of Christ to all people. We are commanded to forgive, and treat others as we would be treated. All people deserve the love and care we can offer, no matter what previous feelings we may have, or predispositions. 

Anyways, love you all!

Rock it!

Elder Harris

How Big is Africa?

From the Ghana MTC blog:

Big.  Far too many people outside of Africa think of it as a country rather than as a continent.  It is huge!

Week in a Bagel

I decided I might occasionally title weeks according to different foods that start with B. I might change the letter as well, but I am truly title lacking. Anybody with title strategies please tell me. 

The week was a bit rough to be honest. Long story short my companion Elder Harvey went home due to medical issues and death in the family. It's hard to watch the people you love suffer, but God will support him through and through.

I did get a new companion though! Elder Akichi is from Ivory Coast, and a native French speaker! He's great, 23 and has been on mission for a year now. I've been told I'll be transferred from JCity in 6 weeks, and he'll be the senior companion after I leave, so I just get to train him in the area and go! It's weird, knowing that I'm going to be leaving JCity, but it just means I've got that much more work to do until the end! 

I also asked Elder Akichi if he liked brownies, and the response was, "What is... brownie?" I have serious work to do. Thankfully, I have a microwave brownie recipe that I can put into action. I love the guy already and am looking forward to a fantastic transfer.

To the week: 

Tuesday: 

Instead of district council, President Heid had everybody clean their apartments and update the area book. Then we went out to teach Gy about lesson two and gave her a baptismal date. Not sure she'll keep to it, but it's good to keep her progressing toward something. Then we went to Accra so Elder Harvey could see a doctor, and while I was there I cut Elder Morris' hair! Picture to be included!

Wednesday: 

The Sanders fed us pancakes, which was wonderful! Then we saw the doctor, and went to KCity for a dinner the district held for us, where we talked with branch presidents about what we could do to coordinate better.

Thursday: 

We went to brother Ai's place to teach him and his wife, and ended up waiting a while for him to prepare food that he insisted on feeding us. It was so much I couldn't finish, and almost offended him. Eeesh, scary stuff.  Then we saw Jf, and he invited a friend, Rj to the lesson, and he was totally killer! He practically extended the commitments himself, and told her he'd come pick her up for church. Then we saw El, and talked about the temple, and found out he really wanted his Patriarchal Blessing! Powerful guy. Then we saw Aa and Jt, and dropped by Em's to close off the day.

Friday: 

We figured out the process of Elder Harvey going home, and spent time packing, and getting a couple things for him, and then went to teach Geo and his wife Sr, and both are committed to baptism! Then we said a bunch of goodbyes, saw a less active, and then closed the day.

Saturday: 

The district, and even zone leaders came in the morning to say goodbye to Elder Harvey, and then I picked up Elder Akichi! We first taught Pe, and clarified her confusion on the Fall, and how God had planned for Adam to take the fruit. Then we saw Dl, who expressed a desire to be baptized, as long as he can stay in town long enough. Then we helped at the chapel cleaning, and then went to visit Em again before we closed for the day. Em is a recent convert from ACity, and we are planning on baptizing her little sister! 

Sunday: 

I conducted sacrament, bore first testimony, and then taught Sunday school. Then, for quorum class, the area seventy, President Carter, showed up! We took a picture before he left, and then we waited and had meetings after church. Then we saw Al, and taught her about the plan of salvation, and dropped by Pk for the first time in forever, and it looks like he's doing well from the hospital! Love this guy! Then, in weekly planning we set a goal for 3 baptisms for the month, and we'll see how it goes! Also, it seems that President Kassah got permission from Cy's mom for her to be baptized, as long as it's in the next week that is! It's fantastic! Report on that next week.

This week I've thought a lot about trials, and how God gives them to us so that we can be strengthened, and humble. "I give unto men weakness that they may be humble." It's been heartbreaking for me to see my companion struggle, but I know that God will stand by him, even when I can't do much for him.

I love yall!

Rockin' it!

Elder Harris