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!

Book of Mormon

This last week I finished the Book of Mormon another time. I have finished it multiple times so far on my mission. This last time was a little different. I have taken notes before on the Book of Mormon, but never as in depth as the ones I took this time. I started really taking notes in Alma chapter 40, pg 307 and there are only 531 pages in the Book of Mormon. I wrote 65 pages worth of notes on only 224 pages of the Book of Mormon. It took me months to do. I am in awe at the overall complexity and depth of the Book of Mormon. Sometimes I would spend an hour looking into only a few verses. By careful analysis of the wording I could discover concepts and ideas that were before completely foreign to me. It is a seemingly endless fountain of truth. Especially as it teaches the doctrines of Jesus Christ's atoning sacrifice. It has practical wisdom on how to become more like Christ. I found it remarkable at how flawlessly it agrees with itself. It is true. 

The work this week could have been a little better. We had a lot of the people we are teaching go out of town. It was a little rough. We also had about 15-20 lessons fall through during the week. A person who was supposed to be baptized this next Saturday left for school without telling us first. We do have a lot of promising leads for next week though. That is how it is sometimes. Sometimes we do the right things but people choose to make different choices. We did learn how to make red beans and fried plantains. It is pretty good. 

I am doing good. I am happy to be here. Let me know how you are doing. Have a great week. 

Love, Elder Garrison

A Wonderful Two Weeks!

Sorry for not emailing last monday. We were super busy. Things are going really well right now. Last week we had transfers and Elder Freedland left for the bush. He is a good missionary and I will miss him. I now have a companion named Elder Robertson. He is new to Ghana, but has been adjusting extremely well. I don't think I have ever seen someone get used to the food so fast here. He is going to be a great missionary. 

The work has been really sweet. Saturday we had our first baptism since being back in Ghana. His name is Louis and he was really prepared for it. He is super excited to start serving in the church. I can't wait to have him bless the sacrament for us soon. We also have had a lot of the people we are teaching come to church. Last week we had 6 and this week we had 7, 8 if you are counting Louis. We are super busy throughout the day. We are teaching at least 5 lessons a day. 

We are seeing our share of miracles too. Last Monday we had a missionary near us who was having a really hard time. We started walking to his apartment. We didn't have the money for a taxi and our bikes were not working. It wasn't long until a random person offered us a ride. We asked him how far he could take us, and he said the exact place we needed to go. This is about the 3rd time in the 9 months in Ghana that someone has offered us a ride. The fact that this happened right when we needed it the most was amazing. Another day last week we were teaching a lesson. One of the people asked a unique question that we don't hear a lot as missionaries. I had just been studying that morning about it. It is always a good feeling when you can see the hand of the Lord so clearly in your life, especially when you can feel the Spirit. When you feel and see those things you know that you are doing and being who God wants you to be.  He can communicate to us through our thoughts and feelings. 

With this said, life isn't always sunshine and rainbows. Yesterday we came back from church to find an inch of water in our room and bathroom from the toilet leaking. Elder Robertson is also currently laying down sick after throwing up a few times. Getting the keys for the baptism was chaotic and Louis could of used another foot or two of water for it. I have learned that these challenges are not things we would ever put upon ourselves but have a way of keeping us humble and teaching us lessons from the school of life. 

Life is sweet! I hope you each of you are doing well. Email me and let me know how you are doing. 

Elder Garrison

Conner and Elder Robertson

Luis

A New Companion

I had the opportunity to speak with Conner this morning.  He wasn't able to send his weekly email out today but he is doing very well.  He is still in Sun City and has a new companion who just finished his Missionary Training at home in Utah.  Conner is enjoying his new companion and they were thrilled they had 6 people they are teaching come to church on Sunday.  They also have a baptism scheduled for this coming Saturday.   The branch he is serving in is working hard to grow and become a ward.  Conner is feeling good and is excited to make the most of the last 6 1/2 months of his mission. I think of Conner every day and miss him.  However, my heart is full of joy to know he is striving to help others.  There truly is nowhere else I would rather him be! ~ Mom

New Years

This week went really well. New years was a lot of fun. They had an end of the year party with our branch. It was fun because we probably had around 10 investigators there. We spent the whole night laughing, eating, and trying to dance with them! African dances are funny and difficult to learn, for me at least. New Years is a bigger deal than Christmas. It was so loud New Year's Eve that we found it hard to sleep. As far as the work goes, things are good. Church starts at 11 instead of 8 now so it will be easier to get people to church. We also found 10 new people to teach. Life is good. This next week is transfers and I am almost certain that I will have a new companion. I am not sure if I will stay in Sun City or not. At this point it does not matter to me. I am happy to do what I am supposed to do. I have been out on my mission for almost a year and a half now. I feel as if I have an opportunity to do something here now that will change this small part of the world for good. I hope that I am ready and that I am given a chance.

My thoughts have been dwelling on righteousness lately. To be righteous means to do what is right because it is right. The lack of it is the woe of the world. Some say the commandments of God are restrictive, but I have found the opposite to be true. They are liberating. The fact is those that do wrong, can't hide themselves from their conscience. Keeping the commandments has promised us peace. That doesn't mean a hammock on a beach. It means knowing you are right with yourself. I hope each of you are well. Have a great week! 

Elder Garrison

Conner with his companion Elder Freeland

They were able to spend some time today at the beach!