Pictures

Elder Twede and Companion

 

The Baptismal Font

 

View from a Member's Apartment

Licking the Pot

 

Eating Fufu

 

Elder Twede using Mortar and Pestle

 

Transfers

Good Afternoon Everyone!
 

This past week wasn't too eventful due to the fact that we had Zone Meeting on Tuesday, Wednesday was market day (which means that no one is around to contact or teach), and my companion knew that he was going to be transferred to a new area so efforts died down. The last week of each transfer is usually pretty dead, but this was worse than the last one. Elder O--- knew that he would be leaving for home (he finished his mission with 22 baptisms), so it was hard to focus on the work at hand because he was constantly singing songs about going home. This transfer will be different though, as both Elder R--- and I will be receiving new companions, both from Zimbabwe. We will be staying in Mampong (Elder Ag--- is leaving for Obwase), so we will do everything to move ever onward. I think that I need a change in things, so it will be nice to have a new companion.
 

Last Monday, we had a wonderful FHE at a member's home and received a free meal of rice, chicken, and salad. We have been fed in the past by Sister B---, and her food is always much appreciated. She will be leaving in a short while, so we will be having another meal tonight at her house to say our goodbyes. She has always been kind to the missionaries, so it will be sad to see her leave.

On Saturday, we received transfer news and fellow missionaries were calling our phone all day so it was hard to teach lessons. Elder Ag--- is very excited to leave M--- as he has been here for 8 months now, so I will be receiving a new companion by the name of Elder P---. I have high hopes for my new companion, and I feel that we will see more progression in the area because people were getting too comfortable with Elder Ag---. I don't know how long I will be staying here for, but I will do the best that I can wherever I am needed, whenever I am needed.
 

The people we taught last week didn't seem to hold too much of an interest in what we had to teach. Elder Ag--- and I have always felt the Spirit strongly in each lesson and we help the people to know that what they feel is the Lord telling them that our message is true, but many investigators just turn themselves away. I know that as missionaries, if we do all we can do to help others to build their faith in Christ, then we have done our work. People bring what faith they have to us, and we just help them to build upon it. We do not try to break them down, but build them up. Even after all is said and done though, it is the investigators choice to either accept the gospel for themselves, or say that it isn't for them and move on. It definitely pains me to see people turn themselves away or allow themselves to be blinded by deceiving men, but I know that they have their own agency to choose and we aren't here to force them. I pray every day for the investigators that we teach, and I know that we are doing the Lord's work here on Earth. Being on a mission has been such a blessing to me, and I have grown so much from it already. I don't know where I would be right now if I had just stayed at home. Mom, Dad, thank you for pushing me forward to do this work. I am eternally grateful for the example that you have shown for me. I pray that I can become a good dad to my children someday.
 

Sincerely,

Elder Twede