A Week Of Miracles

Wo ho t3 s3n??

The fact that it is already April really actually creeps me out. At the beginning of my mission the first month or so was a mental struggle just thinking about the time left.  Everyday for the first month I would say to myself,  "Once I am 6 months on my mission, everything will be okay."  I got over home faster than 6 months, but the point of this is that 6 months felt like NOTHING. When January came it was not a big deal at all. Now it is April and I want time to freeze!  The only good thing is that my birthday is close :)

Farming with Gladys' family

This past week could be looked at as bad, but for my companion and I we have seen it as a week of miracles. The first bad thing is that my companion had no money and I had 7 cedis for the week (one meal is usually 2.00 cedi).  We were not able to get our snacks during the day or have fancy meals but we were filled when we went to bed at night.  Most of the week we survived on nothing but rice and Bonku. And we had meals from investigators and members almost everyday which never really happens. God watches out for us!!!!

Second bad thing, was the lack of lessons we were able to have. Tuesday- Friday we had one lesson a day.  Usually it is way more, but we were not able to have translators with us during the day. Personally I was a little irritated at the ward missionaries.  I am grateful that I have this great time to be here in Ghana and serve, but sometimes it can weigh on me a little because things are new and still need some fixing. What my companion and I are trying to work on is member involvement. With that and others things it can weigh on us at times. Missions are hard, but do not get me wrong - I LOVE WHERE I SERVE!!! GHANA CAPE COAST MISSION IS #1

Though there was a lack of lessons, we were able to seek out more service opportunities. On Friday, Elder Maumau and I went and sat on a bench to talk to some of the kids at school (kids love us here). A lady was finishing up selling the kids bread and butter for lunch (never complain about school lunch again) and I saw she had plenty of dishes to wash (in a bucket). I felt prompted to help her wash and she let me do them for her. Usually they say no because we are in church dress. Funny thing is Elder Maumau was playing soccer with the kids and the sole of his shoe tore off, so we had to go to the apartment and change his shoes.

We arranged on Wednesday to help a less active, Francis, with doing brick work for his house on Saturday.  Both Elder Maumau and I were excited to do some manual labor, but we called Saturday annndddd of course he turned out not to be working Saturday. So, we went out at the usual time and went to see Gladys (a less active, 18 yr old) and her family.  At the end of our message to them we asked if they needed help with anything.  Her younger sister and mom both said in Twi they wanted us to go farm with them.  We were EXCITED.  We ran to the apartment changed our clothes and walked the 45 minutes to their farm (random stop in the "jungle").  Farming in Ghana involves using a machete to weed.  When we were walking the trails into the farm we had to cut things down to get through.  Just like the movies!!!

Best thing of the week is that we got to watch some of General Conference in the evening at the chapel with some district members and a couple members.  My companion and I saw the last talk of the morning session and the whole afternoon session.  Sadly, I did not bring my notebook to watch conference because we heard they were broadcasting it one hour into the morning session. It was good, but last conference was better because I had a notebook. Thankfully we will see the sessions again on the 24th.

Best thing today---- MONEY DAY

The network stinks and the computer is really slow so that is all for now folks!!

Elder Johnson

I Love This Church

What's cracka lackin?

So here in Ghana they have TOO MANY holidays or as I like to say, "lazy days". Yesterday the internet cafe was closed because I guess Easter is a 2 day holiday... ;)

Last week was week #6 and the last week of the transfer cycle.  In Assin Fosu I've spent 18 weeks and will spend 6 more weeks with Elder Maumau in the same area - which I am so happy for honestly!!!  There are too many people that I love here to leave them so soon.  Plus my zone is the best of the mission!!!  One of our zone leaders gave us some stats from this last quarter (Jan- March) today in our meeting.  In the past 3 months our zone of 18 members has baptized 44 people and has given out 874 Books of Mormon in the last 10 weeks.  Ghana is a fast growing part of the church and it is a privilege to be apart of helping the church grow here.

Sister Constance and our awesome ward missionary, Brother Addo Knack

Not many things out of the ordinary happened last week and my mind is drawing a blank for the most part.

On Sunday we had 2 baptisms! Samuel Odoom whom is 13 years old. He was a member referral that we got a month or so ago. His brother Stephen got back from his mission in South Africa a month ago and baptized his little brother.  My testimony on the importance of members in missionary work has grown so much!! GIVE REFERRALS TO THE MISSIONARIES.  You never know what may come of it. The worth of a soul is to great!!!  Our second baptism was Constance, whom is 42 ish years old. My last companion and comp before me started teaching her around November and months later is ready for baptism. For whatever reason my companion and I felt that she was not ready even though she was coming to church every week.  We knew this last Sunday was when she was ready. She was also a referral by the way... see the pattern??

Front - left to right - Stephen, Brother Odoom and Samuel who was baptized
Back - Elders Johnson and Maumau

To add to my happiness I saw my dad's car in the parking lot at the church building. To my displeasure it was not him ;(  But it was Carol's (I named the Accord - "Carol") Ghana brother, "Carl".  It looked the exact same.  The only Honda accord I have seen in Ghana!

Carol's Ghana brother - Carl

For the past week, every single afternoon, it decides to rain really hard.  It will go from hot to DARK clouds in minutes.  Thankfully my companion and I are close most of the time to the apartment for refuge :)

One of the many reasons I am happy to be in this area still is because of a man named Andrews Kampal.  He is the husband of our recently baptized Comfort. She wants him to come and join her at church so bad. Every time we see her she mentions Andrews.  We have met with him a few times, but he is set on his church.  We have done different things to help him soften his heart, like coming to a FHE activity put on by the missionaries a few weeks ago (he did not come, but Comfort and their 2 children did) and last night we had a wonderful time with Brother Kellikuma and his family in family home evening. We invited Andrews and his wife, but he was not around when we came to escort them. Only downer of the family home evening was they gave us a HUGE plate of rice and stew at 8:30 at night.  Trying to lose the rest of my gut and that did not help!!

Elder Kanongata'a and I today after the meeting. He has since left to Cape coast to board a plane tomorrow to Tonga. Thankfully he will be in the states when I am home.  Love this guy a lot
 

Elder Rothlisberger and I throwing the "whip"

I love this Church.  It is the only true church on the face of the earth! We could give verses from scriptures until we are blue in the face to convince people, but the most effective and best way is to bear our testimony of the Restored Gospel. At the end of our lessons and especially in the first lesson, we invite people to pray to know if this church is true.  And we know if they are faithful the prayer will be answered. So I hope each and every one of us are keeping our testimonies strong by scripture study and prayer everyday, so when that crucial moment comes to bear our testimonies, the Holy Ghost will bear record to them that what we are saying is true.

Have a wonderful week!!

Elder Johnson

An Apostle Of The Lord

O na ho bon ( Hopefully I spelt that right Brother Wright)

This past week in one word is AMAZING!!!! Not as many lessons taught as usual, but that's ok because Elder Rasband came to talk with our mission!  I will explain that a little further down.

On Monday evening our zone leaders organized a "Family Home Evening" activity for our investigators/recent converts/less actives. Our recent convert, Comfort, was able to come with her two small kids Kevin and Rhoda. For the activity one of the members in the other ward talked to everyone on what a family home evening is and why the church recommends we set Monday night apart to spend with our families. Then we watched the Restoration video and discussed further on the restoration of the church.

Tuesday was the normal... Zone meeting.. chop some fufu... emailed for a short time.. went out to visit people.

Beach by the Ola Stake Center in Cape Coast - Johnson and Maumau

Skipping to Thursday, we had our typical weekly planning and then had to meet the sister missionaries at the Tro station to send them off to Takoradi at about 2pm.  My companion and I, along with Elder Havea and Rothlisberger, returned back to the apartment to clean up since we kind of got in trouble with how dirty the apartment was.  Usually some time is spent to clean it, but I gave up after I clean and then it gets dirty again.  At 5pm we went back to the station to depart for Cape Coast which is 2 hours or less away.  About 25 Elders from 3 zones - Telecom, which is the zone I am in, Assin Foso.. and Twifo Praso) slept in an empty senior couples apartment by the mission home. Most of us slept on the bare floor.  Elder Rothlisberger and I slept on a 1 inch foam mat in a room with 10 other Elders. Most of us woke up at 3am so we can be ready to get to the stake center by 5am Friday morning.

Our trip to Takoradi (where I was August- December) was about 2 hours. We had a big bus and a smaller bus. The bus I was in had some mold on the seats... very nice.  We arrived at the stake center in Takoradi at 8:30 am, and gathered in the chapel to get spiritually ready for the meeting. When Elder Rasband/Vinson arrived we went out to take a group picture.

Elder Rothlisberger coming back from Takoradi

President and Sister Stevenson, my mission president and his wife, started by bearing their testimonies.  Let's just say I love them!  Elder Vinson spoke about how great it is to serve a mission. After him, Sister Rasband bore her testimony, followed by Elder Rasband. The spirit that filled that room can not be described. When he spoke I felt like the message was for me personally. Every one else was feeling the same way. Though he spoke one message every missionary got something different from the spirit speaking to us. By the way he told us that when a general authority is speaking you better be taking notes. He said some very, very, very spiritual things that I will not share at this time but maybe in my homecoming talk ;)

After the meeting was finished, they had lunch outside for all 200 of us. It was great to see all the people in my MTC group. That usually does not happen until our year mark when we get our ID's renewed.

Selfie in the tro tro - ballfloat still in mouth.  Oops.

On Saturday we spent some time in the morning preparing bonku for this week at an investigator's house.  Bonku is my #1 food in Ghana with some pepper sauce/stew thing... do not know how it would be considered back home.

I have said it many times but will say it millions more, I know this church is true. Hearing an apostle of the Lord speak to my mission built my testimony of the church even higher. I am happy I get to spend some time serving Jesus Christ in Ghana.

Love you all,

Elder Johnson

A Disciple of Jesus Christ

M3 mo aky3!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful week and hope that this week will be even better than the last. This email is coming a day late because of some events that happened yesterday.. mainly a rain storm that prevented us from leaving the apartment until late in the afternoon.

As usual I can remember only some small things that happened last week. Sorry about that... :)

Zone Conference

Last week we had out zone conference with President Stevenson and the Assistants. I really enjoy conferences or anywhere that President Stevenson instructs because  He is such a powerful man. He talked to us about "Costs and benefits" about becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ.  I should review my notes, but I believe it came from St. Luke in the Bible somewhere.  After the Assistants helped us better understand how to use the pamphlets better

My second favorite part of last week was when I got to go on exchange with one of my zone leaders, Elder Blay. I got to go to his area for Thursday night to Friday night. They are out in the middle of NOWHERE. 

The Zone leader area goes up to the border of the Ashanti region which is the Ghana Kumasi mission. I crossed the border for fun before we got a car back to the apartment

When I walked in the area on Friday I could not help but just smile. It is so awesome that I get to spend 2 years of my life in Ghana. These things I may never see ever again so I need to enjoy it while it lasts. There was a older man we taught that day named Brother Cramwell, 89 years old, and is getting baptized this Sunday. He was apart in bringing in the Presbyterian church into the Assin Foso area some years ago. The missionaries started teaching him some time ago and since that time he has come to church every Sunday. Elder Blay was telling me that Pastors from all around Ghana have come to him to try to get him back but Brother Cramwell says NOPE!

Sign to the chapel in the Akonfudi area

 The Bereku branch chapel. Kinda small

Interior of the Bereku branch chapel

On the long ride home from the Zone leaders area which is over an hour from my apartment and 30 minutes from theres, the taxi we rode in from their apartment got a flat tire. Dark outside and no street lights. One lane roads with no cars coming down... a little scary.  I will put the word into President that I would not mind being in a village at all :)

Random trail picture

Chop bar is like a place to eat.. sorry if you have wondered what that was haha

Still loving the work more and more everyday. I am still alive. Not sick ( Yeminas3)

Love you all,
Elder Johnson

Armor of God

Hello!!!!!

This past week was beyond great!! Let me tell you why....

Elder Maumau and I worked hard this past week and I am very happy for the work we put in. Right now we have 5 people that we are helping to prepare for baptism for the month of March before transfers (My hope is to not be transferred). And each of those people speak little to no English so we have really needed the help of our ward missionaries.

Follow up trainers meeting, we all came in together, trained together, and will leave Ghana together

We had a meeting with our ward mission leader and ward missionaries on Tuesday night. Which was more successful than the past 3 or 4 weeks we have had ward missionaries called in the ward. They all actually came to the meeting on Tuesday!! It was nice to have them all on the same page as us and talk to them with the ward mission leader how important they are to the success of this work.

Stopped by to see my trainer before he is leaves to Sierra Leone

My companion and I are over half way done with his training (12 weeks training). I have loved to see both of our improvement over the last 2 or so months. They say in the training manual to let the trainee take the lead of everything on week 11 but I actually let him take the lead in planning and teaching this past week. It is important for missionaries to know that they are both equal, being the senior companion/trainer does not put you above the junior companion in any way. Both are equal. Both have been set apart to be missionaries.

Comforts baptism "We think you just look great in white" *Best 2 years

#GHANAPROBS #MIKE #POLIO 

Since being in Ghana I have really gained a testimony in everything but especially in the basic things we should be doing as members to help us keep the "Armor of God" and have the Holy ghost with us at all times. First is following the "Gospel of Jesus Christ", Jesus Christ while here on the earth taught people about needing to... have faith in Jesus Christ in His atonement, repent, be baptized, receive the holy ghost, and endure to the end. As we do these things it will prepare us to live with our Heavenly father once again after this life. If these things are not followed then we can not enter the Celestial kingdom. Second, study scriptures everyday, prayer morning and night, and follow the commandments. These basic things help us throughout of daily lives! I love studying the scriptures everyday. I look forward to having that time to get into the scriptures everyday :)

Decided to be cool and match last Pday (not really my style.. just don't have my boots).

Salt and ice challenge, big indent in my skin and now a mark!!

On Saturday and Sunday we had stake conference here in Assin Foso stake!! President/ Elder Curtis were in attendance at all sessions. As missionaries we were able to attend the adult session on Saturday afternoon (1pm) and the session on Sunday. The Elders in my zone made the mistake of showing up to the priesthood session on Saturday morning, President Stevenson said we can go out by the stake center and proselyte since our areas were not close. As a zone we got a box of 40 Book of Mormons and placed them out to people (had 5 for each missionary). That was pretty fun. But President Curtis and President Stevenson are POWERFUL speakers. They each spoke at the sessions I was at but one thing that President Curtis talked about was the growth of the church in the Africa west area. What a honor it is to serve in the fastest growing area of the church!!!

This Ghana baby!

Hope all is well, and I am NOT happy about the ward changes. I am protesting against the changes. ;) Bishop Riewerts - WHAT UP!

President Curtis

Africa Growing Rapidly

--Elder Johnson

 

God has trusted me in this part of His vineyard

Ete sen?

This past week has been long/ short at the same time. Do not know how it is possible though!!

SO much happened this week and will probably remember a lot more of the cool stuff after I walk away from the internet cafe. #missionprobs

Baptism for Abduali and another person from the Sister missionaries

Last week was transfer week and my companion and I are still together and will be until his training is finished in 5 weeks, and maybe we will be together for longer. But Elder Kenyah, the cook, and the funniest guy in the zone got transferred to Axim... which is really far away. When we found out he was leaving, the first thought that came to my mind was.., "who will cook lunch for us now?"  Let's just say we have hit the chop bar a few times since Wednesday. The Elder that came is Elder Rothlisberger, he is from Gilbert Arizona and that is where my future wife is, but let's focus on that later.

This church/school/daycare is right outside our gate of the apartment. Kids came running after the Book of Mormon when Elder Maumau, Havea, Rothlisberger, and I walked out to go to... the chop bar.

Tuesday we had another combined district meeting and we got instruction on working with members. Very helpful as always!!! The sister missionaries brought lunch.  We had a South African dish called chakalaka (?) with Chipaties (?) it was really good food :)  Later that day my companion and I went back to the chapel for ward coordination meeting with our ward mission leader. It is nice being in a ward that takes it serious.  We discussed a lot of things, but our topic was mostly on helping the youth. Since the church is really new here with new members, they do not have the example. the church does back home from leaders and other fellow youth.  Elder Maumau told me that in the MTC he was told the Africa west area (mostly Ghana) is the fastest growing part of the church in the world. When he said that it took me back for a second and I thought about how much of an honor it is that God has trusted me in this part of His vineyard!!

Sister Amedzro - the coolest Sister missionary

The sisters in our district brought some dinner to us at the chapel since Elder Kenyah left the next day. So going to Wednesday, we did not do much missionary work. I felt terrible but that is how it can be on transfer day.

After 4 bowls of bonku and fish (best I have had being here)

The best part of the week was when Elder Maumau and I met a group of young guys (18-20s). They work at the car wash here (side of the road, throw some water on the car with a bucket). We talked with 15 of them - all do some bad things.  Elder Maumau and I brought a whole bunch of Books of Mormon for them. One of the guys actually took a stack and passed them out to the people around hahaha. We hope to teach them and bring them each to the restored church!!!!

Last Monday I forgot to say our awesome stake president killed a huge pig for the two zones in Foso. We ENJOYED!

Yesterday, I taught the young women class in the church. I felt impressed to talk with them on how to have a successful family, which included the basic things that each member should be doing. I love getting up and teaching! I do not know if I am any good, but the Holy Ghost being in the room is what is the most important. He was present, so I hope a heart or two were touched. Then had a baptism for our awesome investigator!!!!  Later we had a FM with the Owusu family. Brother Owusu talked with us and said to stop going to chop bars and learn to cook haha. I can cook, just do not have the same stuff here hahah. It was a good dinner.

Telecom Zone homies!

Thought: Continually I am reminded of the basic things that members of the church should be doing. Like praying and studying the scriptures. If, like the YW in Telecom, do not know who Ammon is, read some more. If we pray, study the scriptures, and attend the church as well as the temple, we will have the spirit. We will receive blessings and have a happy life even when things are not the best.

Love you all,
Elder Johnson

My Mission Is A Real Growing Experience

Yo 'merica what is up

It was a surprise to me that Ghana actually somehow knows what Valentine's Day is. The sister missionaries kept reminding us for the last couple weeks that Valentines was coming up and they wanted chocolate. But money is tight soooo... sorry sisters!!

This week a lot of things went on and in all was a good week.

Me and some recent converts. Brother Forson and his son Kwesi

Elder Maumau and I have really focused on building the relationships with members in the ward so the missionary spirit can improve in the ward. After some time we are starting to see the fruits of our labors. This past week we got 7 referrals from members. We have just done small and simple things that can be overlooked, but really helped a lot to help us know the members more. Unlike America, addresses do not really exist, so you have to find other means or seeing where they live. We have learned where some more members have lived and stopped by to visit and say hello to them.

Weekly planning... have to make it fun before you fall asleep

Tuesday was a llllooonngggggg day. We had a combination of combined zone meeting + missionary broadcast that happened a few weeks ago. The broadcast was 2 hours, but I enjoyed every moment of it. There was a lot that I learned and I have a nice bunch of pages full of notes. The zone leaders were given money to buy lunch for the zone for the meeting. They were looking hard for a drink here known as Alvaroo. You can not find it here in Assin foso until Elder Maumau and I found some in Melcom!! I called the zone leaders on Monday night and they asked us to buy 20 of them. The nice thing was that we carried them in bags back to the apartment since we have no car. Luckily no bags or bottles broke!!!

Zone meeting lunch

My favorite day over the whole week was Friday because we did a companionship exchange with the zone leaders. Usually we do not do it with the zone leaders, just the district leader, but the zone is small enough that President has allowed it.  Elder Kano came with me in the area and my son got to go with Elder Blay to his area in the bush.  Elder Kano is a awesome guy and I really enjoyed the day learning from him. He is a really good teacher and has a lot of good advice when you need it.

Random picture

On Saturday Elder Maumau and I did what the President advised the mission to do, flood Ghana with the Book of Mormon! He said " hand them out like candy."  By the end of the day we handed out 30 total, each that we gave was given an explanation on the Book of Mormon. We went back to the apartment throughout the day to reload our Book of Mormon ammo. Saturday evening we had a baptisimal interview with Abduali.  He will be getting baptized this coming Sunday. With Sister Comfort following the next Sunday because President Stevenson is coming down to interview her next week. 

Handing out Books of Mormon like candy!

Known as "station."  People coming into Foso and going out around Ghana

My mission is a real growing experience for me and for everyone that embarks in the service of God.  Your weaknesses stick out like a soar thumb and you do what you can to make them strengths. Elder Maumau and I have had some long talks together that do not start out so nice.  After each of them we come out stronger as a companionship and know what we should do to get better. So mission prepares you for marriage just a little ;)

Have a wonderful week!!


Elder Johnson