The First Week of the Year!

Conner was unable to call today but we messaged back and forth for a few minutes.  My heart is full of gratitude as he seems so happy.  He said everything is going very well with his new companion.  I think about Conner everyday and pray for him.  Many do not understand how we could possibly go two years without seeing him and also don't understand how we can possibly not call him.  He can only call us once a week.  Truly, this has been a time of such peace for me.
In the Book of Mormon it states, "Perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy." Alma 29:9  Joy does come from serving the Lord and helping others find Christ.  Joy comes when we seek after Christ and strive to live our best lives. When I start to miss Conner I remind myself there is no place we would rather him be and nothing we would rather him be doing.  I don't want to see him before August of 2021 because we want him to finish his commitment to serve the people of Ghana.  This time will bless his life forever and hopefully along the way he will make a difference in the lives of many he comes in contact with.  

Conner's weekly email:

This last week was good.  New Year's here is celebrated more than Christmas in some ways. It is a religious celebration so they go to their churches to cross over to the New Year.  They sing, dance, and praise God all night long for letting them see another year.  It slowed the work down and woke us up at midnight, but it was fun to see everyone smiling and laughing all day.  Henry and his family finally got over their fears to come to church.  At least his wife and children did, Henry had to work.  They seemed to enjoy it a lot and the ward members.  They walked 45 minutes one way to get there and asked about where they could pay tithing.  They had forgotten that they didn't have to yet.  I am really excited for them.  They really do want what is best for their children, and have received a witness that becoming members of Christ's church is what is best for them.  I have been in Africa for five months now.  I am entering into what missionaries call my eternal year.  This entire year will be spent here.  It seems like a long time, but if time keeps moving like it is this year will be over before I know it.  A season called Harmattan season has just started here.  Basically it gets very dry and the dust gets kicked up by the wind.  The dust blocks out the sun a little bit so everything here is way cooler.  I am not getting sun burned everyday now!  It is nice here right now.  I am really glad to be here in Ghana.
With the close of the year I have been thinking of what I have accomplished out here. In all honesty I haven't been as successful on paper as most of the other missionaries I came out here with have been. I feel like I should be worried about it or stressed out, but I am not.  I really do feel like I am going about doing good.  I do what I am supposed to do and I do it with the best of my ability.  I feel happy out here regardless of what others choose to do.  I know that 2020 is going to be a good year, and I wouldn't spend it anywhere else.  I hope that you are all doing great back home. I hope 2020 brings you many good things.

Elder Garrison