Zone Conference & Baptism

This week started with a Zone Conference. It was a big one with half the mission there. President and Sister Young spoke about obedience. They also talked about contention. They explained how we can help our companions be obedient while keeping it from being a source for contention. It was also good to see and talk to a lot of the people there. 

I went on exchanges with Elder Winfield. It was great because we had been in the same district when I was in my first area, Afienya. It was interesting looking back and seeing how much better at teaching and finding we are now. We have had a lot of learning and growing experiences since then. 

Saturday someone that we had taught for a long time was baptized in Sun City. It was Fati, Erica's mum. It was good to see that family smiling in the pictures.

I hope you all are doing well!

-Elder Garrison 

Tema Zone

The Baptism of Fati

Tema Newtown

I didn't get a chance to email last week, but a lot has happened. In my last email I said I was going to Tema Newtown. I like it here. The people here speak a lot of Ewe so it is has been nice to speak that language again. Our area is on the ocean, giving us fantastic views from time to time. It also brings a nice cool breeze which makes the work a lot easier. Ghana has a problem with waste management. It makes me sad to see all the pollution and trash that is going into the ocean. My companion is named Elder Kankam, a Ghanain from Central Region. He speaks Twi which is super helpful. He also knows how to cook some of the foods. 

We are teaching a lot of people here. I look forward to what we will be able to accomplish for the next few months. I don't know the area very well yet. It probably has the largest population out of any area I have been in. They don't speak English as well here. This leaves me sitting and watching my companion teach in Twi often. Even more often I have to make an extra effort to speak loudly and slowly so people can understand. The people here are poorer than my last area and so they aren't as educated. I can feel my effectiveness in teaching decrease because of this barrier. How do you teach when you have a hard time communicating thoughts to people? The answer is through the spirit. The language of the Spirit is universal. It is a language of showing love and interest of those around you. All can feel that. Everything else is easily forgotten. 

I have had a lot of spiritual experiences lately. They have been private and personal instances when I feel the Spirit of the Lord. I attribute this to a study of the Book of Mormon I have recently started. I am counting and looking for every time God speaks to people. I am writing down anything that could apply to me. It has been enlightening. Receiving revelation is far simpler than I had previously thought. I feel more deeply as I become more in tune with the Spirit. I look forward to what I will glean from this study. 

I love all of you! I hope that each of you are doing well! I look forward to seeing many of you in the next couple months. Many of you have asked what my plans are for when I get back. I am going to BYU Provo for school a month or so after I get back. I am planning to get a degree in business. I am excited for the opportunities that are coming my way. Let me know how you all are doing!

Elder Garrison

Conner & Elder Kankam

Tema

Conner was able to call today.  He has moved to a new area Tema, and he is enjoying it there so far.  It is near the ocean, so it is a bit cooler.  He has a new companion who is from Ghana and Conner feels they will be able to work well together.  Conner said the members of the ward are extremely nice. Many in his new area speak Ewe, so Conner is working on learning more of the language.  His time is short and this will be the last area he lives in.  He is ready to work and make the most of the time he has left.

Elder Robertson is the companion Conner just left behind and he emailed me some pictures today.  Conner sure enjoyed his time with Elder Robertson as he is a great guy and missionary.  

A Great Two Weeks

These last 2 weeks we had a lot of opportunities to do a lot of good for some of the people we are teaching. Our phone was broken, so I did not get a chance to email. This email will be long because so much has happened in the last two weeks. 

Last Saturday I was at a baptism for some other Elders in our district. I saw a man named Wisdom who Elder Freedland and I contacted when we were together in December. We didn't have bikes to get to our area so we decided to go and find some people to teach for the other Elders. We contacted him and taught him about the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We told him to read and pray about it. To be honest, it took us longer than we should have to get him in touch with the other Elders. I thought I had dropped the ball. We left and never heard anything about him again. It turns out that he had been baptized and ordained to the Melchizedek Priesthood. This really touched me. We never know the good we do. I am so grateful to have been able to hear about this. 

Another situation we were in that allowed us to do some good was with Erica, a recent convert of ours. We found out that she had no money for school. We tried to help her mother do the math to try to figure out how to pay for it. Even with her getting a new Job, nothing worked out. We then met with a inactive member named Joseph Emmanuel who we have been working with. He is exceptionally kind. It turns out that he ran a program that helps gives kids an education for free. Erica met the requirements. It was such an answer to prayer.

We also were able to baptize Rita! She was a Muslim we have been working with since I have been here. It was great to see her make her decision to come unto Christ. I had the opportunity to confirm her a member and give her the Gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. I felt the Spirit strongly as I did so. 

We also received some transfer news. I am leaving for Tema Newtown. I have never been there before. I have heard a lot of good things about it though. It is sad to leave a lot of the people we have been working with. I know they will be in good hands. I am going to miss Elder Robertson. It has been a great experience teaching him how to be a missionary. I have come to feel strongly God orchestrates all of the work we do. It really is not my work, it is His. I am grateful that He is willing to let me do my best to help Him. I have felt the love He has for me as He gives me some of that love for others. I only have 12 weeks left as a full time missionary. I am so grateful for the time I have spent here and the time I have left. I cannot wait to see what the Lord has in store. It wil be hard, the jorney uphill to God always has been. I love y'all. 

-Elder Garrison