Christmas Celebration in Ghana

Conner has not been able to email pictures home as the internet connection has been terrible at the internet cafe in his area.  You can imagine that we were thrilled to see these pictures of Conner today!  The mission had a Christmas multi zone conference.  It looks like the missionaries had a feast, received a gift, enjoyed a devotional and played some fun games to celebrate the Christmas season.  Conner looks so happy in these pictures!  It made our day.  

Here is Conner's weekly email home which truly touched our hearts:

This last week I went on two exchanges, so that meant a lot of time out of my area or in Tro Tros (buses).  We didn't teach as many new people this week but we did have two people commit to baptism.  The first was our Bishop's cousin and he will be a strong member of the church.  He has already read Gospel Principles and is asking us great questions.  The other person we found almost miraculously.  As missionaries we are supposed to be out teaching, serving or finding people from 10 in the morning until 9 at night.  The sun goes down at 6 in the evening all year over here.  Often times it can be hard to find people to talk to past 7:30 because everyone is asleep or eating.  It was one of those days when I was on exchange last Thursday, so we just started walking.  A man came up to us and we started to talk.  He asked us who we were and why we were there.  We told him and had a small gospel discussion.  He said that something inside him just told him to come talk to us. We explained how that was the Spirit and a little about how it works.  He ended up asking how he could join the church.  One thing that has brought me so much joy here in Ghana is the strengthening of my relationship with the Holy Ghost.  I love the way the prophet Elijah explains how God speaks to us.  "....the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks...but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: and after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice." 1 Kings 19: 11-12.  Too often we expect something different than what the Lord gives us.  We often expect things to feel a certain way that when the Lord speaks gently we don't feel it. I have often found that I am too preoccupied and stressed with not feeling the Spirit the way I want to feel it that I miss that still small voice.  I am learning to just do what I know I am supposed to do and to trust that the Spirit is there.  I have been noticing it more lately.  When we read the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon, pray, strive to follow the commandments and to be more Christ like, the Lord cannot help but to speak to us in that still small voice.  I know that voice is real. I have felt it countless times.  It only comes when you work for it.  This Christmas season is the best time to see if Christ will speak to you through the Holy Ghost.  I hope that you all had an awesome week.

Elder Garrison