Thanksgiving Week!

We were able to chat with Conner this morning!  Jared was able to talk to him before work and Cameron was home and able to talk with him.  Conner wants to know everything about Cameron's wrestling season.  Conner said they had 10 missionaries stay over at their apartment on Sunday evening and they had a Turkey Bowl and played football.  Conner said he and his companion did not play as they stayed behind and cooked for all the missionaries.  He said it is so hot there right now that they only played for about 30 minutes.  It most certainly does not feel like November to him!  I also spoke to Conner's companion.  He is such a kind guy.  Conner said they are walking about 10 miles a day.  His legs are no longer sore and he said he has been getting up early to exercise.  They had a stake conference last week and he said he was blessed to be able to hear his Mission President speak.  All is well!

Conner's weekly email:

This week was a pretty unremarkable week compared to what I was thinking it was going to be. Elder Matakaiongo is still with me so that is great.  I have not idea what is happening with that but that is alright.  I did make some pizza last Tuesday.  Our zone leaders had a small oven and I had some pizza dough and sauce sent to me by an awesome person back home.  It turned out pretty good considering the instructions were in Fahrenheit and the oven is celsius.  Also they don't make a lot of cheese here, but we had some of the finely shredded parmesan that we put on afterwards though.  It is funny that they don't make too much cheese here because they have cows walking on the roads everywhere all the time.  The cows also have like this saggy camel hump thing on their backs.  They are very different from the cows back home.  The other thing I got last week was a mango.  It was slightly smaller than a full size American football. It was sweet.  I think my favorite thing in Ghana, outside of the people, is the fruit.  You can buy the best tasting softball sized pineapples for about 20 cents in American money.  It is 60 cents for a full sized one.  I think the only thing food wise I don't like anymore is when they use a lot of pepper.  Last week we ate a stew that was almost all pepper.  It messed my stomach up, but I'll get used to eating that too.  Elder Matakaiongo has taught me how to eat his peoples food too.  That stuff is the bomb.  I'll make it for you guys when I get back.  As far as the work is going we have some awesome referrals and we contacted two families.  I really am hoping that they can progress toward baptism, but we will see what they chose to do.  Anyways, I hope all of you have an amazing Thanksgiving.  Enjoy that turkey and pie for me.  Let me know what you all are up to.  I'll talk to you all next week.

Elder Garrison

This Crazy Week

All the Missionaries in the Ghana Accra Mission.
They were together this past week for a devotional with Elder Patrick Kearon and Elder Nash.

Conner's Weekly Email:

This last week we had transfers and I was supposed to get a new companion, then after some small confusion and a few phone calls to the president, I still don't know what is going to happen in my area.  It is a little stressful not knowing who and when I will start living and working with someone new but that is just another day in field.  We also had to all go to Accra, a 3 hour drive due to traffic, for a devotional.  It was really cool.  There was even another mission there.  Elder Nash and Elder Kearon from the First Quorum of the Seventy and two other area 70's spoke to us.  Elder Nash and his wife stressed how everyone needs to use the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is Faith in Christ, Repentance, Baptism, Receiving the Holy Spirit, and Enduring to the end, everyday to achieve success and to leave a legacy for our children to follow. The spin he put on it was unique and entertaining.  Elder Kearon (from London) and his wife spoke about exact obedience, especially with the morning routine.  I think my new favorite chapters in scripture are John 14 and 15.  I really felt the Spirit as such inspired men tried to impart wisdom to us.  As far as the work is going, things are starting to slow down. I hope that all the work we have done and the seeds we planted will lead to us or others to reap in this area.  I love the people here and I hope that they gain a desire to begin working out their salvation.  We teach how and give guidance but the change they make comes from within.  I know that only through that restored gospel of Jesus Christ they and all of us can find peace not as the world gives but as He gives(John 14:27).  I hope everything back home is going great and that everyone is enjoying life.

Love,

Elder Garrison 

A really exciting week!

Today is Veteran's Day so Lindy and Elise were home from school and able to speak with Conner.  He was on a "Trotro" or bus going to the Internet cafe.  They report each week to their mission president via email.  Conner said he can't decide if the people of Ghana are the best drivers in the World or the worst!  He said the Trotro is a 12 passenger van that has been stripped down and has bench seats put it in so 15 people can squeeze in.  He said there are no seatbelts and children sit on laps.  He said at first it made him nervous as vehicles drive inches apart but now it just seems normal to him.  
Conner and his companion went with some other missionaries and cooked a pig today.  He said meat is expensive to buy in Ghana so it is a treat.  Some of the Tongan missionaries are leaving so Conner said this might be the last time they do this for awhile.  He often cooks eggs and eats bread as it is only $1.00 a loaf.  
Conner sounded happy and upbeat.  He said things have been going well.  

Below is this weeks email:

I have only a short time to email this weeks I apologize for any grammar mistakes.  We have not received transfer new yet, so I will let everyone know who my companion is next week.  We did receive some great news though, we are becoming a technology mission.  We should get smart phones in the next few months.  It will make teaching really nice.  We can start using videos and contacting will become much easier.  I am super excited for that.  As far as the work is going, we have had a few setbacks but we are making progress.  Last week we taught 14 new people! I found myself teaching five people at a time.  I could feel the Spirit help me as I answered the questions of those susceptible, and they eventually opened up and agreed to read the Book of Mormon.  We will see what happens, but I have done my part so far.  I really felt good this last week.  I as going to send pictures but I ran out of time.  We had a massive lightning storm last night and we are having random blackouts more than usual.  I hope everything back home is going well.

Elder Garrison

Another week!

Below is Conner's email update.  He sounded good today and is well.  I am grateful to be able to speak with him each Monday and for the meaningful conversations we have.  He truly is growing so much.

This last week was a little slower for the work but that is to be expected sometimes.  I am excited for this next week though, we have received some awesome referrals from some of the members.  I am also hoping that those we have been teaching will do the last few steps to get into the waters of baptism.  In doing so they will be able to partake of the blessings that come from promises you make with baptism.  Only by doing so can you receive a better kind of happiness than what you have now.
As far as the weather is concerned, it was extra hot this week.  It was raining all around us so the humidity was up, but there were no clouds to cover us from the sun.  We were baking pretty good.  This next Sunday we get transfer news.  Elder Matakaiongo is probably going to leave but anything could happen.  We will not be together after this transfer though.  Elder Matakaiongo is a good guy and we have had a lot of laughs together.  There is always something exciting or nerve racking around the corner to keep things interesting around here.  I am really enjoying it out here right now.  I hope things back home are going well.

Elder Garrison