Busier than Ever!

This last week has been a fast one. There is just so much work to do and not enough hours in a day to do it. We have been talking to as many people we possibly can and we have been finding tons. We have 30 people we are teaching. I have never felt so busy. It is a missionary's dream to spend almost all day in lessons. We put 4 people on date for baptism and we are hoping to put more on this week. 

We also made a video with Louis. It has the most views and reactions out of any of the posts that have been on the page yet. Here is a link if you would like to see it!

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=248548313389503

One of the people we put on date is named Erica. After we put her on date we said a closing prayer. After the prayer she began to sob. She said that it was a good feeling and she didn't know why she was crying. I looked at her mom who had been listening but hasn't showed interest and she had tears in her eyes too. Out of all the people we are teaching, Erica deserved the spiritual witness the most. She was reading and praying like we asked, and was really engaged in the lessons. We get out what we put in. I wish the other people we were teaching understood that concept. 

A good portion of the people we are teaching are Muslim. I find it very interesting that they don't believe in the divinity of Christ. They read the bible and say He is only a prophet. They pick and choose what scriptures they like out of it. I find the religion on the whole to be hypocritical. With all of this said, they can be exceptionally nice people. I hope I can help some of them to find the Christ. 

I hope you all have a great week!

-Elder Garrison

Hard Work & Maggots

This week we had Zone Conference. It was about faith and what is expected of us as missionaries. He spoke of faith and how the Lord blesses us when we do as instructed. We have been busy because of it. We are expected to speak to 20 people a day and find 12 new people a week. We are teaching up to 8 lessons a day, and have very little time to breath. I am starting to pick up heat rash again. The work is hard but it is sweet too. It is a good problem to have more work than ability to do it. 

The other day we had an appointment cancelled so we went to eat lunch. After I had ate my piece of chicken my companion noticed what we thought were maggots on his chicken. I looked at my bone and discovered two very small ones. Let's say I didn't finish my rice. The woman was angry we didn't finish! Ghana makes me want to pull out my hair sometimes! Other times it makes me want to jump for joy. We have been teaching quite a few families lately and to see them work toward baptism is amazing. 

I am doing well. I love each of you! 

Elder Garrison

We received this in the mail today from a church member in Mountain View, Arkansas.
It is a laminated newspaper article showing Conner and the missionaries serving at the 
local food bank.  It was a fun surprise to receive.  The people in Arkansas will always 
hold a special place in Conner's heart and he is grateful for his time there!

Quarantine and 18 months!!!

This last week was pretty long. The only day we were able to go out and work was Monday evening. Some Elders in our district left to serve in Nigeria. We hugged and said goodbye. Later that day we found out one of their Covid tests came back positive. None of us have any symptoms and we are all doing fine. I think the only thing we had was cabin fever. I did a lot of reading, playing chess and phase 10. 

The biggest highlight came unexpectedly the other night. I got a call from the Elders in my first area, Afeiyna. They told me someone wanted to talk to me. It was Henry! I had taught him for a long time, and we had lost touch when I left. I had baptized his family before I had left. He asked me to baptize him! To me this is a miracle. I am so grateful for the time I have as a missionary. 18 months ago today I left for Ghana the first time. It feels like I was saying goodbye to my family just the other day, but I can't believe so much has happened so far on my mission. 6 months doesn't seem like much time. A mission is never easy but it is always worth it.

Elder Garrison

Henry and his sweet family about 1 year ago!