What a wonderful journey this has been. Africa is losing a great missionary, but we are gaining a piece of our hearts back!!!!
Tuesday, November 28, 2017
Wednesday, November 8, 2017
Hop, Skip & a Jump
So now that his hop (Accra to Amsterdam) is done, he only has a skip and a jump left. This skip is across the pond which will take 9 hours and 22 minutes. He will wing his way through 7 time zones to land in Minneapolis (finally on American soil again).
Can't wait to see this kid of ours. . .
Can't wait to see this kid of ours. . .
Tuesday, November 7, 2017
Out of Africa
Stockton has officially left Africa. This boy is headed home.
He is in the first leg of his trip, Accra to Amsterdam (6 hours and 45 minutes). He is hopping one time zone for this portion.
He is in the first leg of his trip, Accra to Amsterdam (6 hours and 45 minutes). He is hopping one time zone for this portion.
Monday, October 30, 2017
October 30, 2017 Final Email
Hey everyone!!!! This will be my last full email because I'll only email to tell you guys to be at the airport next week haha!!!!! This is just beyond amazing!!!!!!
This week has been very rewarding. We had a pretty good time running around and discovering more about the area an the places to be. So Tuesday was quite the full day. We went out and met up with Alice. We taught her about Joseph Smith and she seemed to understand pretty well. We left and met up with Kingsley and Jennifer. So that wasn't a good lesson because they didn't really get along too well. We then left and went to see a few people but that failed. We ended up seeing Frank early and that was still good. We left and saw the Osais and that was good. We even got the mother to join the lesson and that was good. We then left and tried to go visit Jerry and his friends, but that failed. We left and went and taught Earnistina in her compound. We then went and taught the hair cutters and that was pretty good. We came back home and yeah.
Now Wednesday is always a fun day. We got up and went to DCM. That was cool except that part where I was giving a little instruction for the district haha!!!! We left and decided to go to a lot of people, but that failed. We ended up going and seeing Nana Yaw and that was pretty good. We left and came to see Mercy. We talked to her about church and why she didn't come, she said her old church is disturbing her and that she was busy so that was a bummer. We left and tried to meet up with Jerry and a few others, but that didn't work out. We then left and came back for our Coordination meeting. That went pretty well and then we got the chance to meet with Nana Ekow again. For those who can't remember Nana Ekow he is a referral from the church and he is very interesting. He says he receives revelations and visions, but only when he smokes marijuana in his room sooooooo. . . .yeah not that different from other people I have taught haha!!! We met him and he seemed pretty cool. We taught him the first few points of the Restoration and then we decided to end because we think that he might think that he's a prophet. We came back and that was the end of that day.
Thursday was pretty packed!!! We got up and got right to work. We left and tried to see Emama, but she was too tired to listen. We went and taught Frank and that was good. We left and taught Alice about the Book of Mormon. We think that went very well. We then left and taught Kingsley about the Introduction to the Book of Mormon again so that he understood very well, the coolest part was that he liked the feelings that he had when he learned with us and when he read from the book we gave him. He accepted to be baptized on November 5th!!!!! So if everything works out, I can have my last baptism right before I leave Achimota!!!!! So we left there and went to see Peter. We talked to him and retaught him about Joseph Smith and Jesus Christ establishing His church again. He understood well and that was good. We left and met up with Isaac. So Isaac is an interesting guy who can speak a few different languages outside of Ghana haha!!! A little Spanish, Chinese, and yeah haha!!!! We taught him and it was pretty good. We left and met up with the haircutters and that was pretty good. We taught them the first part of the Plan of Salvation. We left and taught Christianna about the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price. All she has to do is get ready for this Sunday and she will receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost. We came back and that was a pretty good day.
NoW Friday, so in the beginning it started pretty well and as for the end well that's another story haha!!! We woke up and did our weekly planning and that was pretty good. We left and went to go see a member in Taifa. We found a lady named Aunty Julie and that was nice!!! We had Rice Ball and Groundnut soup!!!!! We then had to go see Mercy. We went and taught her and that was good. We left and tried to see the Osai family but that failed. We ended up going and seeing Frank. So as we were teaching him we noticed that the clouds were getting much darker. Also a hint that all that day the clouds were dark, but these were dark storm clouds. We ended the lesson and as we were going home we ended up getting completely soaked!!!!! We got back and there was no electricity so that sucked as well!!!! We ended up staying there and not being able to go out to teach again. We sat in the apartment and ended up playing Monopoly. So here is the thing. . .Nigerians are some of the most prideful people I have ever seen in my entire life!!!!! We were playing and it was pretty intense and Bangura had a hotel location and Akpan landed there. He refused to sell his locations and refused to mortgage them. So, we ended up with him saying "I won't sell" so he was out. So we all played on still and it was pretty nice. We finished and then went to bed with light, but then later that night it went out again. . .LIGHT OFF SUCKS!!!!
Now Saturday was pretty fun. We got up and went out fast. We went and met a guy named Fred, we met him like a month ago and now we had the chance to sit down and teach him. We left and taught the Yeboahs a few things. We told them to come to church and yeah. We then left and taught Jerry. We left and met up with a guy named William. He was pretty cool and we only had a little time with him because we thought it was going to rain hard on us again so we left for our chop bar. We sat there but there was no rain that came. We ended up going out again and we saw Alice and her friend Kendrick. We had a good lesson with them and the Introduction to the Book of Mormon. We went and found a member named Nancy. She's from Nigeria and we ended up teaching her husband. We left and went to go teach Christianna. We came home and that was that.
Now Sunday was crazy haha!!! We got up and went to go pick Jerry for church. As we were riding down we were pretty sure that we saw Kingsley, but we weren't too sure. We went on to go pick Jerry, but he said he neded to go buy things for his dad so we just left and came all the way back. We found Christianna there and that was super cool!!!! She was confirmed a member and she receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost. We had Nana Ekow there, Nana Ekwai, and a few of the Yeboahs. No one else came and that was a bummer. We had church and then came back. We got everything ready and then we went out. We went and ran into a lot of people. So Jerry was busy so he didn't come. We went and saw Moses and answered tons of his questions!!! We haven't seen/sat down with Moses in like a month!!! We talked to him and taught him more and answered his questions about the Book of Mormon. We then left and met with Earnistinna. We taught her and then we left and came back to see Obed and Dennis. It was a sweet lesson and they remembered so much and understood very well. We left and at the last minute we found a referral named Francis Mensah. So we taught him and he ran into missionaries over 3 years ago, but he hasn't been able to learn. Now he's back in Accra and is able to learn. We talked to him and then came home. So that was that.
Now today we got up and went to cafe small so I could write this entire thing, after that we met up with Lambson and Bates!!!!!!! We traveled to Chantan to find some old sites and see some old faces and that was AMAZING!!!!! Chai it's amazing how fast time flies when it comes to seeing old companions and going to old areas. . .I haven't been able to visit any other areas, but that's ok. I'll try to come back here and see them so that's what I plan for.
Mission has been a once in a lifetime experience and I couldn't be more satisfied with this choice. In the beginning I wasn't the best, and even as I have served I wasn't the best missionary, but that never held me back from doing better. I can say this, I have learned to improve. I've learned that I want to make something of myself as I grow, and more important I know that I would rather follow God than follow the vain ambitions of men. It won't be easy when I return, but I can't wait to come home. Watch out world, here I go!!!!!!! Soon I will be saying "goodbye to the best 2 years I've known!!!!!!" I know that God lives, I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer of the world. I know Joseph Smith to be a true prophet of God. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. This is His church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, that it is His kingdom.
I love you all and I hope you all are doing AMAZING back home!!!!! Almost there, and I couldn't be more happy or sad in my life.
This is Elder Stockton Matthew Smith, signing off.
Now Wednesday is always a fun day. We got up and went to DCM. That was cool except that part where I was giving a little instruction for the district haha!!!! We left and decided to go to a lot of people, but that failed. We ended up going and seeing Nana Yaw and that was pretty good. We left and came to see Mercy. We talked to her about church and why she didn't come, she said her old church is disturbing her and that she was busy so that was a bummer. We left and tried to meet up with Jerry and a few others, but that didn't work out. We then left and came back for our Coordination meeting. That went pretty well and then we got the chance to meet with Nana Ekow again. For those who can't remember Nana Ekow he is a referral from the church and he is very interesting. He says he receives revelations and visions, but only when he smokes marijuana in his room sooooooo. . . .yeah not that different from other people I have taught haha!!! We met him and he seemed pretty cool. We taught him the first few points of the Restoration and then we decided to end because we think that he might think that he's a prophet. We came back and that was the end of that day.
Thursday was pretty packed!!! We got up and got right to work. We left and tried to see Emama, but she was too tired to listen. We went and taught Frank and that was good. We left and taught Alice about the Book of Mormon. We think that went very well. We then left and taught Kingsley about the Introduction to the Book of Mormon again so that he understood very well, the coolest part was that he liked the feelings that he had when he learned with us and when he read from the book we gave him. He accepted to be baptized on November 5th!!!!! So if everything works out, I can have my last baptism right before I leave Achimota!!!!! So we left there and went to see Peter. We talked to him and retaught him about Joseph Smith and Jesus Christ establishing His church again. He understood well and that was good. We left and met up with Isaac. So Isaac is an interesting guy who can speak a few different languages outside of Ghana haha!!! A little Spanish, Chinese, and yeah haha!!!! We taught him and it was pretty good. We left and met up with the haircutters and that was pretty good. We taught them the first part of the Plan of Salvation. We left and taught Christianna about the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price. All she has to do is get ready for this Sunday and she will receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost. We came back and that was a pretty good day.
NoW Friday, so in the beginning it started pretty well and as for the end well that's another story haha!!! We woke up and did our weekly planning and that was pretty good. We left and went to go see a member in Taifa. We found a lady named Aunty Julie and that was nice!!! We had Rice Ball and Groundnut soup!!!!! We then had to go see Mercy. We went and taught her and that was good. We left and tried to see the Osai family but that failed. We ended up going and seeing Frank. So as we were teaching him we noticed that the clouds were getting much darker. Also a hint that all that day the clouds were dark, but these were dark storm clouds. We ended the lesson and as we were going home we ended up getting completely soaked!!!!! We got back and there was no electricity so that sucked as well!!!! We ended up staying there and not being able to go out to teach again. We sat in the apartment and ended up playing Monopoly. So here is the thing. . .Nigerians are some of the most prideful people I have ever seen in my entire life!!!!! We were playing and it was pretty intense and Bangura had a hotel location and Akpan landed there. He refused to sell his locations and refused to mortgage them. So, we ended up with him saying "I won't sell" so he was out. So we all played on still and it was pretty nice. We finished and then went to bed with light, but then later that night it went out again. . .LIGHT OFF SUCKS!!!!
Now Saturday was pretty fun. We got up and went out fast. We went and met a guy named Fred, we met him like a month ago and now we had the chance to sit down and teach him. We left and taught the Yeboahs a few things. We told them to come to church and yeah. We then left and taught Jerry. We left and met up with a guy named William. He was pretty cool and we only had a little time with him because we thought it was going to rain hard on us again so we left for our chop bar. We sat there but there was no rain that came. We ended up going out again and we saw Alice and her friend Kendrick. We had a good lesson with them and the Introduction to the Book of Mormon. We went and found a member named Nancy. She's from Nigeria and we ended up teaching her husband. We left and went to go teach Christianna. We came home and that was that.
Now Sunday was crazy haha!!! We got up and went to go pick Jerry for church. As we were riding down we were pretty sure that we saw Kingsley, but we weren't too sure. We went on to go pick Jerry, but he said he neded to go buy things for his dad so we just left and came all the way back. We found Christianna there and that was super cool!!!! She was confirmed a member and she receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost. We had Nana Ekow there, Nana Ekwai, and a few of the Yeboahs. No one else came and that was a bummer. We had church and then came back. We got everything ready and then we went out. We went and ran into a lot of people. So Jerry was busy so he didn't come. We went and saw Moses and answered tons of his questions!!! We haven't seen/sat down with Moses in like a month!!! We talked to him and taught him more and answered his questions about the Book of Mormon. We then left and met with Earnistinna. We taught her and then we left and came back to see Obed and Dennis. It was a sweet lesson and they remembered so much and understood very well. We left and at the last minute we found a referral named Francis Mensah. So we taught him and he ran into missionaries over 3 years ago, but he hasn't been able to learn. Now he's back in Accra and is able to learn. We talked to him and then came home. So that was that.
Now today we got up and went to cafe small so I could write this entire thing, after that we met up with Lambson and Bates!!!!!!! We traveled to Chantan to find some old sites and see some old faces and that was AMAZING!!!!! Chai it's amazing how fast time flies when it comes to seeing old companions and going to old areas. . .I haven't been able to visit any other areas, but that's ok. I'll try to come back here and see them so that's what I plan for.
Mission has been a once in a lifetime experience and I couldn't be more satisfied with this choice. In the beginning I wasn't the best, and even as I have served I wasn't the best missionary, but that never held me back from doing better. I can say this, I have learned to improve. I've learned that I want to make something of myself as I grow, and more important I know that I would rather follow God than follow the vain ambitions of men. It won't be easy when I return, but I can't wait to come home. Watch out world, here I go!!!!!!! Soon I will be saying "goodbye to the best 2 years I've known!!!!!!" I know that God lives, I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer of the world. I know Joseph Smith to be a true prophet of God. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. This is His church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, that it is His kingdom.
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| Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. |
I love you all and I hope you all are doing AMAZING back home!!!!! Almost there, and I couldn't be more happy or sad in my life.
This is Elder Stockton Matthew Smith, signing off.
Tuesday, October 24, 2017
October 23, 2017 Email
Now everyone, it was known this week that my companion was a boss!!!!!!! The roads of Ghana hath no sting to him the tro tros are mere dust balls in his presence, but the tro tro drivers are quite the terds haha!!!!! Memmot crashed last week on his bike, bit I totally forgot to put that haha in, by bad!!!!!
So this week has been very interesting to say the least. So Tuesday we had a little adventure riding around and exploring Pillar 2. That's now our area, but we needed to try to find a sister named Nana Ekwia, we ended up finding her, but coming back we got completely lost. So that was nice. We then went and met up with Mercy. So we just taught her a little and that was good. We left and met with Alice. Alice sees very clearly that some prophets/pastors are so fake. We talked to her a little bit and then went to see Emmanuel and Simon later. We talked to them and read the introduction to the Book of Mormon. We then left and tried to see Jerry, but that failed. We went and contacted a lady named Earnistinna. She stays near Jerry and she seems really nice. We tried to teach her, but she had something cooking so that didn't work out. We then left and taught Emmanuel, Bismark and Eric. So that was pretty good cuz we explained that as they keep the commandments we give them and that they seek to do good, God will bless them. We then left and saw Christianna and taught them more of the Book of Mormon. We came back and that was pretty much it.
Wednesday. Chai I have never had to work so hard to get members to accept a baptism before in my entire mission. On the plus side though I hit 23 months on mission so that was sweet!!!!! We went out early and met up with Mamma Lee and Adelade. They were pretty good, but Mamma Lee was busy so that was a bummer. We left them and went to go teach Kingsley!!!! We lost contact with Kingsley a little over a month ago and we then found him again. We found his place and then we went to go teach him. We ended up teaching him and his friend Jennifer just a little bit. We then left and taught Frank. It was pretty good to say the least. We ended up running around and found ourselves at Andrew Brown's. We started to read from 3 Nephi 11 to try to get him to resolve some of his concerns, but we'll see how that goes. We left and had to go to our Coordination meeting. So that was good, but the Ward Mission Leader had to go so we had to attend the meeting instead. Not only did the people come late, but it was only the Bishop that was there. We then talked about the upcoming baptisms this Sunday and, chai, I've never been more irritated in getting a baptism my entire mission. I won't say, but I don't see effective leadership skills in the people who are called to serve the Lord. We then came home later and yeah that was the day.
Thursday was just a heart breaker to say the least. Chai, so we had our multi-zone conference and that was super cool. We went and I got more ties and fans for people. I also met tons of my friends and that was amazing!!!!! So the only part that hurt was that we went there and that was where Bawden and I had to bear our farewell testimonies to people. Chai, that was rough to say the least. Even I can see that I've changed a lot from the person I was when I started my mission. It's crazy to think how much mission can change you when you embrace it. We talked to a few people and then we left to go home. We tried to go see Jerry and his friends, but that failed. We went and saw Earnistinna and that was good. She had more time so we learned pretty well about prophets in the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We then left and came to teach Christianna and we believed we saw Samuel and Sisco running away, but we resolved that problem later this week. We taught Christianna and then left to come home.
So as for Friday it was a train wreck of a waiting game!!!! So we got up and did our weekly planning. We then left and taught Andrew and we then finished 3 Nephi 11. We sense that there will be some confrontation with him believing what the Book of Mormon says. We then left and taught Vivian. That was good because we talked about the Introduction to the Book of Mormon. We then left and talked to Frank about him keeping his commitments and how important it is for him to keep them. We left and ate and then went to wait for the Zone Leaders to come and interview Christianna for her baptismal interview. So when she got there super late we filled a few things on her form and then the Zone Leasers came late as well. We ended up waiting a long time and that kind of ruined the day. We then had the chance to meet with Samuel and talked to him. He wants to learn more and that is super good. We then left and came back. That was pretty good.
Saturday was alright. We traveled around everywhere and did our best to see people. We first went and saw Alice. She is doing well and it is pretty good to go and see her. We then left and met up with Auntie Jullie and we taught her. Chai, she had a lot of questions for us. We then left and taught Kinglsey. He's doing well and he committed to come to church on Sunday. We then left and told people to come and see the church on Sunday and that was aight. We then left and met up with Nana Yaw. He's super cool and he stays in Dome Born Again. We contacted him last week and we got the chance to go and meet him. We went and taught him and he seemed pretty interested to learn more. We left and tried to see tons of people, but that failed. We found Frank's house and that was good. We then left and talked to Christianna. We filled out more of her baptismal records. We did that and then we left.
Sunday was the day my companion was a legend!!!! Christianna was baptized today!!!!! We got up and went to church, we had 3 people there and it was super nice. We picked Kingsley and that was super cool because he traveled all the way from Dome on his bike because he was worried he wouldn't have enough money for collection, but we don't do that so he was pretty happy by that. We then went to the church and it was pretty good. We had Christianna and 4 other people be baptized today. So Elder Memmott and I have worked tirelessly for this baptism and it was a super good experience. We did that and then we left. We went and contacted quite a few people such a Lovia, Beatrice and Peter. We talked to all of them and then we talked to Domonic and Nana Ya (a different one from the one in Dome Born Again). So that was good. We saw Obed and Dennis. So these people weren't in this order, but I'm just naming them. We then had the chance to go to Skovic and Moses' house and that was nice. We ended up coming back later and meeting with Moses at Mile 7!!!! Chai, it has been forever since we had seen him and it was just amazing!!! We then came home and that was basically the week!!!!!
We are heading to temple ball today and that will be fun. I got tons of gifts for you all, I just hope I can put them in my suitcase and have it be under 50 pounds haha!!!! Thanks for everything everyone!!!! I love you all and I hope that you all are doing AMAZING!!!!!
From,
Elder Stockton Smith
October 16, 2017 Email
And it was known this week, that Elder Memmott and Elder Smith were amazing athletes in the work of the Lord!!!!! Hey everyone!!!!!! Check the week for ya!!!!!
So Tuesday, as for this day it was pretty decent. So we started off by leaving earlier and we went to go see Evelyn and we ended up teaching her and her best friend named Adjua or something like that. We had a good lesson until they started having people come to get their hair done. We then left and tried to see Emama, but that failed. We then went to go see Frank and we just read from the Book of Mormon and that was pretty good. We left and just tried our best to find people to teach, but it didn't work out too well. We then left and met up with an old friend of Memmott's and got some food. We then left from that and we went to see Jerry. That was pretty good and he's liking the church more and more. We then left and came home because we weren't able to see anyone else.
Wednesday is always the day of stress when it comes to seeing people and having meetings. So we went out to our DCM meeting. We had a good time learning more about how we can follow the example of Christ and achieve his attributes. We then left and went to go teach Mercy. We had a good lesson with her and it was a great time to see how the gospel works in other persons lives. We then left and contacted a guy named Prince. We taught him a little and then left to teach Frank. We then had the chance to head back to have our coordination meeting. So no offense to anyone, but I'm glad that we have our coordination meetings rather than going into PEC. So yeah that was that day.
Now Thursday was wicked. We went out and tried to teach Emama, but she was busy so we went and contacted these guys near her place. We then went and taught her and that was nice. We left and met up with Frank. So we wanted to bring him a talk from General Conference, but we forgot. We ended up reading more of the Book of Mormon. We then left and tried to see Mercy, but that failed. We came back and taught Jerry and his friend Sisino. We went and tried to find people to teach and that was somehow. We left and met up with Skovic and we found his house cuz he led us there. We then left and taught Christianna and that was aight. We came back and just chilled.
Friday was pretty intense as well. We got up and did a weekly planning session and then went out to see a few people. We were on our way to an appointment and we ran into Momma Lee and her daughter Adelade. We always went by their shop, but never taught them. We went and taught tem and it was pretty nice. We left and went and taught Alice. She's near another investigator's shop and she was free for us to teach her. She loves hearing the word of God and sees the many false churches and that they aren't serious. We left and taught Mercy and she just gave us the best answer in the world, she knows the Church is true and she accepted a date for November 5th to be baptized. She was very enthusiastic to hear about the Book of Mormon. We just introduced the Book of Mormon that day. We then left and met up with Frank. We taught him from the General Conference edition of the Liahona. The talk was titled "To the Friends and Investigators of the Church".** We had a good talk with him and we hope that that will increase his faith to come into the church. WE then left and met with Thelma. She is a lady that the others contacted while we were on exchange with each other. We finally taught her, but she doesn't understand a lot of English which is difficult. We then went and taught a few members of the Osai family and that was very nice. We taught them the last part of the Plan of Salvation and that was very interesting for them to learn about. We then left and saw Christianna and Samuel. We just read from the Book of Mormon and that was nice. We came back and yeah.
Now Saturday was just a pain in the butt for us. We went out early because we had a Priesthood session for our Stake Conference and that was ok. We went out and saw the Yeboahs and as always it wasn't the best, but we still taught them. We then left and met up with Mercy. We taught her a little bit and then we went to the Priesthood session in Ofankor. That was super nice because President Simpson totally chastised the people on the fact that we need to fulfill our responsibility in bringing people into the waters of baptism. So I will say nothing more on the roasting, but it was music to my ears haha!!!! We had a good time there and then we left and came back. We saw the Haircutters. So we tried to teach them all, but we only taught a few of them. We are seeing that Emmanuel, Eric and Bismark are showing the most progress in the group because they actually pay attention and show interest. We also met Eric, one friend of theirs. We then left and met with Christianna's group and that was very nice. We are starting to reteach the lessons so that Sisco will be able to catch up and learn more. So we taught them and that was very nice. We traveled back and that was good.
And Sunday, so it is always a pain when we have to get up and go pick someone, but it's for their eternal salvation so it's good. We went and picked up Jerry and that was it, his brothers were going to another church and said they would come next week. We then left for Ofankor for our Stake Conference. So here is the thing, more people show up for Stake Conference than General Conference, and they are so disrespectful and it's just too annoying. So we brought Jerry and then we saw a few of the Yeboahs there. We heard a lot of cool stuff and President Simpson was also there and it was super nice to hear form him and his wife. So we also saw Elder and Sister Munro for the last time, which was a major bummer!!!! We left and went to see people. We ended up going and meeting with Felicia, she told us that she wants to postpone her baptism until February when her husband returns. That made us super bummed, but we pressed forward. We met up with a few guys we contacted a few days ago, Obed and Dennis. So we had a good lesson with them, but we can only meet with them on Sundays so that will be good. We then left and ran around to see different people, but that failed as well. We ended up seeing Christianna and then the Yeboahs. We then left and came home. That was the week.
So as for today, we ran this morning to Kaneshi and I got some sick angelina shirts for the fam so that's super cool. We also had the chance to see a lot of people that I know in the market so that was nice. We then left and came back and well, here is the letter for all of you. It was known that Elder Memmott and Elder Smith were AMAZING champions and workers of the Lord, so yeah haha!!!!
Hope you all had an amazing week and are keeping safe!!!!!
From,
Elder Stockton Smith
**
To the Friends and Investigators of the Church - by Elder Costa
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2017/04/to-the-friends-and-investigators-of-the-church?lang=eng
So Tuesday, as for this day it was pretty decent. So we started off by leaving earlier and we went to go see Evelyn and we ended up teaching her and her best friend named Adjua or something like that. We had a good lesson until they started having people come to get their hair done. We then left and tried to see Emama, but that failed. We then went to go see Frank and we just read from the Book of Mormon and that was pretty good. We left and just tried our best to find people to teach, but it didn't work out too well. We then left and met up with an old friend of Memmott's and got some food. We then left from that and we went to see Jerry. That was pretty good and he's liking the church more and more. We then left and came home because we weren't able to see anyone else.
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| Hand carved nativity set |
Wednesday is always the day of stress when it comes to seeing people and having meetings. So we went out to our DCM meeting. We had a good time learning more about how we can follow the example of Christ and achieve his attributes. We then left and went to go teach Mercy. We had a good lesson with her and it was a great time to see how the gospel works in other persons lives. We then left and contacted a guy named Prince. We taught him a little and then left to teach Frank. We then had the chance to head back to have our coordination meeting. So no offense to anyone, but I'm glad that we have our coordination meetings rather than going into PEC. So yeah that was that day.
Now Thursday was wicked. We went out and tried to teach Emama, but she was busy so we went and contacted these guys near her place. We then went and taught her and that was nice. We left and met up with Frank. So we wanted to bring him a talk from General Conference, but we forgot. We ended up reading more of the Book of Mormon. We then left and tried to see Mercy, but that failed. We came back and taught Jerry and his friend Sisino. We went and tried to find people to teach and that was somehow. We left and met up with Skovic and we found his house cuz he led us there. We then left and taught Christianna and that was aight. We came back and just chilled.
Friday was pretty intense as well. We got up and did a weekly planning session and then went out to see a few people. We were on our way to an appointment and we ran into Momma Lee and her daughter Adelade. We always went by their shop, but never taught them. We went and taught tem and it was pretty nice. We left and went and taught Alice. She's near another investigator's shop and she was free for us to teach her. She loves hearing the word of God and sees the many false churches and that they aren't serious. We left and taught Mercy and she just gave us the best answer in the world, she knows the Church is true and she accepted a date for November 5th to be baptized. She was very enthusiastic to hear about the Book of Mormon. We just introduced the Book of Mormon that day. We then left and met up with Frank. We taught him from the General Conference edition of the Liahona. The talk was titled "To the Friends and Investigators of the Church".** We had a good talk with him and we hope that that will increase his faith to come into the church. WE then left and met with Thelma. She is a lady that the others contacted while we were on exchange with each other. We finally taught her, but she doesn't understand a lot of English which is difficult. We then went and taught a few members of the Osai family and that was very nice. We taught them the last part of the Plan of Salvation and that was very interesting for them to learn about. We then left and saw Christianna and Samuel. We just read from the Book of Mormon and that was nice. We came back and yeah.
 |
| Enjoying a smoothie |
Now Saturday was just a pain in the butt for us. We went out early because we had a Priesthood session for our Stake Conference and that was ok. We went out and saw the Yeboahs and as always it wasn't the best, but we still taught them. We then left and met up with Mercy. We taught her a little bit and then we went to the Priesthood session in Ofankor. That was super nice because President Simpson totally chastised the people on the fact that we need to fulfill our responsibility in bringing people into the waters of baptism. So I will say nothing more on the roasting, but it was music to my ears haha!!!! We had a good time there and then we left and came back. We saw the Haircutters. So we tried to teach them all, but we only taught a few of them. We are seeing that Emmanuel, Eric and Bismark are showing the most progress in the group because they actually pay attention and show interest. We also met Eric, one friend of theirs. We then left and met with Christianna's group and that was very nice. We are starting to reteach the lessons so that Sisco will be able to catch up and learn more. So we taught them and that was very nice. We traveled back and that was good.
And Sunday, so it is always a pain when we have to get up and go pick someone, but it's for their eternal salvation so it's good. We went and picked up Jerry and that was it, his brothers were going to another church and said they would come next week. We then left for Ofankor for our Stake Conference. So here is the thing, more people show up for Stake Conference than General Conference, and they are so disrespectful and it's just too annoying. So we brought Jerry and then we saw a few of the Yeboahs there. We heard a lot of cool stuff and President Simpson was also there and it was super nice to hear form him and his wife. So we also saw Elder and Sister Munro for the last time, which was a major bummer!!!! We left and went to see people. We ended up going and meeting with Felicia, she told us that she wants to postpone her baptism until February when her husband returns. That made us super bummed, but we pressed forward. We met up with a few guys we contacted a few days ago, Obed and Dennis. So we had a good lesson with them, but we can only meet with them on Sundays so that will be good. We then left and ran around to see different people, but that failed as well. We ended up seeing Christianna and then the Yeboahs. We then left and came home. That was the week.
So as for today, we ran this morning to Kaneshi and I got some sick angelina shirts for the fam so that's super cool. We also had the chance to see a lot of people that I know in the market so that was nice. We then left and came back and well, here is the letter for all of you. It was known that Elder Memmott and Elder Smith were AMAZING champions and workers of the Lord, so yeah haha!!!!
Hope you all had an amazing week and are keeping safe!!!!!
From,
Elder Stockton Smith
**
To the Friends and Investigators of the Church - by Elder Costa
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2017/04/to-the-friends-and-investigators-of-the-church?lang=eng
October 9, 2017 Email
Hey everyone!!!! Chai things are pretty sweet here in Achimota, but this week wasn't the best for our numbers. We'll dominate this next week though so that'll be good. So as for the week here it was pretty straight forward I guess haha!!
So as for Tuesday it was pretty cool. We got up and went out and had the chance to sit down with Emama. She was pretty cool and we got the chance to sit with her for a little bit. We then left and went to Frank. So after the lesson we just sat and talked with him for a while about animals and stuff, it was weird, by oddly cool haha!!! We went around and met up with the Osai family. So here's the thing in Ghana, either little kids are death scared of us or they love us haha!!!! That happened with these cute little girls here in this compound with the Osai family. Chai little African kids are growing on me, they aren't too bad once you get used to them haha!!!! So we left and saw Jerry. We introduced the Book of Mormon to him and we didn't have the time to teach a lot so we left. We went to Christianna and we talked about what she liked from the General Conference. She loved the talks and it was a super nice experience haha!!! We came back and that wrapped up that day.
Now here is the problem here in Africa, those who enter the church have such enthusiasm for the missionary work, but aren't too bright. The "culture" of the people vs. the welfare of the souls of the children of men. . .and this is iyiyiyi. . .So to begin our Wednesday we had our DCM and that was nice as always. We then left and tried to meet up with an old investigator of Bangura's. Her name is Mercy, but she wasn't there so we taught a lady named Favor. So more than anything in missionary work and even life is that "first impressions have the most impact". Favor said she learned with missionaries before and that she even had a date to be baptized, but due to some unforeseen accidents she wasn't baptized. She also made mention that she didn't have the best church experience. . .this happens a lot in Africa from what I hear. So in church people ask the most stupid questions and can't control the teaching lesson, so when she went to the church she said it sounded more like a court case than a church service. They were talking about divorce and stuff like that on the Sunday that she came, sooooo she had a bad experience. This happens numerous times with people who are not qualified to teach, I won't say more, but yeah. So after that we tried to find more people to teach we just ended up not finding anyone and we went to our meeting with the War mission leader. So he never showed so we had to go to PEC again and chai that just made me mad! So we were hoping to baptize some people on the 21st of this month and confirm them that next day, but due to the laziness of the people and the lack of understanding that the people can't do baptisms on Saturdays because the people don't want to come and that they think it's ineffective. . .I've had to put up with that for my whole mission and yet I still did baptism on Saturdays just with the missionaries and a few members and that was more spiritual and uplifting than an uncontrolled service after Sunday when everyone wants to go home and don't care what's going on. Chai I'm just too fired up about this and it makes me very upset to see that even the people here don't understand the importance of a child of God coming into the waters of baptism!!!!! So yeah, we left and just went home.
Now Thursday was a day to remember! That day a few in our district were going to the temple to celebrate their 1 Year on Mission, so we were invited and we went. Chai the Ghana Accra Temple is amazing!!! I've only gone in a few times, but it's amazing. The funny thing was that I would be heading in there a little over a month later for my own departing session. . .crazy to think. We went through and it was nice. We then went and ate, chai. . .I'm getting fat from all the ampacey and garden egg stew I'm eating haha!!! We left and came home. We went and met Frank when we got back. We taught him a little and then went to the Haircutters, so they are doing ok, but not the best haha. We read the intro to the Book of Mormon. We then left and came home to enjoy more of their 1 Year at the Mall haha!!!!! Don't worry, I only enjoyed a little bit, it's crazy to see how fast mission files, not only for my own mission, but for other missionaries around me!!!!!
. . .and the rain came down and the Elders stayed in, the rain came down and the Elders stayed in, the rain came down and the Elders stayed in until the sun came late. . .So Friday we had it rain quite a bit for the morning haha!!! So we had our planning and then we went out. We tried to meet a lady named Nana Ekwia, but that failed cuz she was busy. We instead went to Frank and read more of the Book of Mormon with him. We are just trying to help him receive his answer on whether he should be baptized and come to church, but it's hard. We went and tried to see a lady named Aunty Julie. She is a lady we met a few days ago and we got the chance to see her, but that failed. We then taught her nephew who is ironically less-active so that was super cool!!!! He was baptized like 7 years ago and he misses the church, he just never has time to come. We talked to him and then we left to go see Evelyn because they were busy. We taught Evelyn, but it was hard cuz she was busy. I feel that if she wasn't busy and we got the chance to sit with her without her being distracted she would be sweet!!!!! We left and went to a group of people we taught on Sunday, but that failed so we traveled around. We tried to see a lot of people, but we didn't have a lot of luck with that. I also forgot to say that we discovered a secret road to Taifa, the other part of our area that is too far away that we just happened to have found a short cut in our area in Dome haha!!! We left and went to Jerry's. So in a way, we are just coming up with a lot of sweet game ideas that will be super big!!!! When I make them it'll be sweet haha!!! We then had to go and meet Andrew, so we read from the Book of Mormon. So he tried to disprove the Book of Mormon very stupidly right off the bat, but we totally shut him down. We continued and he did a little better at learning. We then left and saw Christianna's group and that was nice as always. We came back and that wrapped up Friday.
Now as for Saturday, it was pretty cool. So we went out and had a baptism for the Elders at Ofankor. So the funny part was that we left crazy late and had a meeting with a member and so when we went we missed the whole baptism so that was the start of the long day. We then left and met with Frank. So when we saw him it was pretty good. Memmot said he got a headache and didn't feel too good, but we pressed on. We then went to the Yeboahs to tell them to come to church and to teach them a bit. Memmott didn't feel any better from that. We then left to see Esther and tell her about church and that she was invited. So we had to leave and head home cuz Memmott did not feel good at all. So we got there and he crashed haha!!!! So he had a bad fever and the chills which just suck on mission!!!!! We waited there and then a big storm came so that didn't help either for going back out if he got better. We then had light off which sucked. So that was basically that day which ended in us having our light back.
Sunday, so today was pretty good. We left and went to go pick some investigators in the morning. We met Jerry and his brothers and we got them to come to church. We got there and only Christianna and Angel came. So we had 5 there and then we had a new face come and she is the person we are supposed to go and teach. We then left and came home. We just went out and tried our best to find more people to teach. We managed to find 4 new people to teach and that was super cool!!!! We then came back and then left again for the Yeboahs. So we chastised the family because they all didn't come to church so that sucked. But 4 missionaries against one family. . .I think we won haha!!!! We then left and saw Christianna for a little bit. We then came home and that was that. That wrapped up that day!!!!
As for today we went and played basketball and I saw tons of my buds there again haha!!!! Chai life on mission is sweet and I couldn't be happier to serve at this moment!!!!
Hope you all had an AMAZING week!!!!!!! Take care of yourselves, hope to hear from you all soon, and remember to stay AMAZING!!!!!!!
From,
Elder Stockton Smith
So as for Tuesday it was pretty cool. We got up and went out and had the chance to sit down with Emama. She was pretty cool and we got the chance to sit with her for a little bit. We then left and went to Frank. So after the lesson we just sat and talked with him for a while about animals and stuff, it was weird, by oddly cool haha!!! We went around and met up with the Osai family. So here's the thing in Ghana, either little kids are death scared of us or they love us haha!!!! That happened with these cute little girls here in this compound with the Osai family. Chai little African kids are growing on me, they aren't too bad once you get used to them haha!!!! So we left and saw Jerry. We introduced the Book of Mormon to him and we didn't have the time to teach a lot so we left. We went to Christianna and we talked about what she liked from the General Conference. She loved the talks and it was a super nice experience haha!!! We came back and that wrapped up that day.
Now here is the problem here in Africa, those who enter the church have such enthusiasm for the missionary work, but aren't too bright. The "culture" of the people vs. the welfare of the souls of the children of men. . .and this is iyiyiyi. . .So to begin our Wednesday we had our DCM and that was nice as always. We then left and tried to meet up with an old investigator of Bangura's. Her name is Mercy, but she wasn't there so we taught a lady named Favor. So more than anything in missionary work and even life is that "first impressions have the most impact". Favor said she learned with missionaries before and that she even had a date to be baptized, but due to some unforeseen accidents she wasn't baptized. She also made mention that she didn't have the best church experience. . .this happens a lot in Africa from what I hear. So in church people ask the most stupid questions and can't control the teaching lesson, so when she went to the church she said it sounded more like a court case than a church service. They were talking about divorce and stuff like that on the Sunday that she came, sooooo she had a bad experience. This happens numerous times with people who are not qualified to teach, I won't say more, but yeah. So after that we tried to find more people to teach we just ended up not finding anyone and we went to our meeting with the War mission leader. So he never showed so we had to go to PEC again and chai that just made me mad! So we were hoping to baptize some people on the 21st of this month and confirm them that next day, but due to the laziness of the people and the lack of understanding that the people can't do baptisms on Saturdays because the people don't want to come and that they think it's ineffective. . .I've had to put up with that for my whole mission and yet I still did baptism on Saturdays just with the missionaries and a few members and that was more spiritual and uplifting than an uncontrolled service after Sunday when everyone wants to go home and don't care what's going on. Chai I'm just too fired up about this and it makes me very upset to see that even the people here don't understand the importance of a child of God coming into the waters of baptism!!!!! So yeah, we left and just went home.
Now Thursday was a day to remember! That day a few in our district were going to the temple to celebrate their 1 Year on Mission, so we were invited and we went. Chai the Ghana Accra Temple is amazing!!! I've only gone in a few times, but it's amazing. The funny thing was that I would be heading in there a little over a month later for my own departing session. . .crazy to think. We went through and it was nice. We then went and ate, chai. . .I'm getting fat from all the ampacey and garden egg stew I'm eating haha!!! We left and came home. We went and met Frank when we got back. We taught him a little and then went to the Haircutters, so they are doing ok, but not the best haha. We read the intro to the Book of Mormon. We then left and came home to enjoy more of their 1 Year at the Mall haha!!!!! Don't worry, I only enjoyed a little bit, it's crazy to see how fast mission files, not only for my own mission, but for other missionaries around me!!!!!
. . .and the rain came down and the Elders stayed in, the rain came down and the Elders stayed in, the rain came down and the Elders stayed in until the sun came late. . .So Friday we had it rain quite a bit for the morning haha!!! So we had our planning and then we went out. We tried to meet a lady named Nana Ekwia, but that failed cuz she was busy. We instead went to Frank and read more of the Book of Mormon with him. We are just trying to help him receive his answer on whether he should be baptized and come to church, but it's hard. We went and tried to see a lady named Aunty Julie. She is a lady we met a few days ago and we got the chance to see her, but that failed. We then taught her nephew who is ironically less-active so that was super cool!!!! He was baptized like 7 years ago and he misses the church, he just never has time to come. We talked to him and then we left to go see Evelyn because they were busy. We taught Evelyn, but it was hard cuz she was busy. I feel that if she wasn't busy and we got the chance to sit with her without her being distracted she would be sweet!!!!! We left and went to a group of people we taught on Sunday, but that failed so we traveled around. We tried to see a lot of people, but we didn't have a lot of luck with that. I also forgot to say that we discovered a secret road to Taifa, the other part of our area that is too far away that we just happened to have found a short cut in our area in Dome haha!!! We left and went to Jerry's. So in a way, we are just coming up with a lot of sweet game ideas that will be super big!!!! When I make them it'll be sweet haha!!! We then had to go and meet Andrew, so we read from the Book of Mormon. So he tried to disprove the Book of Mormon very stupidly right off the bat, but we totally shut him down. We continued and he did a little better at learning. We then left and saw Christianna's group and that was nice as always. We came back and that wrapped up Friday.
Sunday, so today was pretty good. We left and went to go pick some investigators in the morning. We met Jerry and his brothers and we got them to come to church. We got there and only Christianna and Angel came. So we had 5 there and then we had a new face come and she is the person we are supposed to go and teach. We then left and came home. We just went out and tried our best to find more people to teach. We managed to find 4 new people to teach and that was super cool!!!! We then came back and then left again for the Yeboahs. So we chastised the family because they all didn't come to church so that sucked. But 4 missionaries against one family. . .I think we won haha!!!! We then left and saw Christianna for a little bit. We then came home and that was that. That wrapped up that day!!!!
As for today we went and played basketball and I saw tons of my buds there again haha!!!! Chai life on mission is sweet and I couldn't be happier to serve at this moment!!!!
Hope you all had an AMAZING week!!!!!!! Take care of yourselves, hope to hear from you all soon, and remember to stay AMAZING!!!!!!!
From,
Elder Stockton Smith
October 2, 2017 Email
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. . .this is due to the fact that I have received an amazing present that I hope isn't too crazy.
So first of the week, as for what happened after emailing on Monday we went to a member's house and just went and talked to her. She is having some problems so we gave her a blessing and that was super nice. After that we went home.
Now Tuesday, I swear this week was just strange!!!! We got up and went out to see people. The first person on the list that we saw was Frank. We went and saw him and had a super good lesson with him. We then went and tried to see others but that didn't work out. As for the downside was that a big rain storm came in and we had to take cover pretty quickly. We ducked into this one shop and just tried to do our best to wait the storm out. We then went and met a kid named Jerry!!!! So Jerry is super cool and we are having better opportunities to teach him. We then tried to see others, but because of the storm we didn't have the chance to see anyone else. We came back and that was a bummer day.
As for Wednesday it was similar in not teaching a lot of people. We went and had our DC Meeting and that was nice. We have an Elder who is training and he is pretty cool. His name is Elder Orton, being trained by Elder Staples. So yeah, we went out and first started with Andrew Brown. So we decided that we needed to press forward and teach him more about the restored gospel through other doctrines in the church. We taught the Plan of Salvation and he seemed to understand pretty well. We then had the chance to go around and try to meet more people, but that failed epidemically. We had to head to our Coordination meeting that never happened and then we had to present our information on the work to the presiding officers in the Ward. At the same time we got a call from a referral. So a few weeks ago we got a call from some sister missionaries in the U.S. and they said they had someone for us to see. We got in contact with him, but haven't had the chance to meet him yet. We met him at the church and we finished our meeting and then we went to go see him. So I'm used to a lot of weird stories and mumbo jumbo stuff so this wasn't really a surprise for me haha!!!! So he said he received visions and revelations, but only when he deep smokes marijuana in his room. He proclaimed that he knew the exact time we would call and that he knew where we would meet before saying where. . .Memmott was a little weirded out by that, but he'll get used to it haha!!!! We left and came home and didn't have a lot of success teaching that day.
So now Thursday. . .if there is one thing I don't like more than anything, is random exchanges with the District Leaders, Zone Leasers or APs!!!! We got up and were getting ready and then Bangura said we needed to do an exchange. So I went with Akpan into their area and that was decent. I honestly can't remember a lot of the people in their area. I guess a lot of it is because they aren't my investigators and I just didn't talk a lot. Akpan literally power-taught all the lessons and I bore my testimony. Talk about deja vu, felt like "he who must not be named or Elder Smith with freak out"!!!! So yeah. We met up with the guys at the apartment and we switched back. So apparently Andrew Brown, he just isn't serious!!!! I mean we knew that, but he just wasn't serious at all!!!!! So he is still stuck on teachings that we have been talking about for weeks and he just isn't committing to do anything. So that sucked. So that was what I heard the other guys do today so yeah haha!!!!
Now Friday, we had the chance to meet a few more people than usual today. We got up and planned and then went out to see Frank. We had a good lesson with him and then we went and contacted. We met a Nigerian named Joyce and she was ok. She is doing something for her church and that is pretty strange. We taught her for a little bit and then we went to eat. We then met up with Jerry and a few of his friends. We taught them and it was very nice. We left and went to go teach the Osai family. We had a good lesson with them and it was pretty good. They are progressing well. We then tried our best to see people, but they weren't around. We then went to the apartment and just passed out haha!!!
Saturday!!!!!! Chai today we had to do stuff like no other!!!! So we first went out and met with Frank. He was pretty cool and we talked about the Word of Wisdom. We had a good time hanging out with him and it was pretty nice. We then left and tried to contact more people, but it just didn't work our. We met some people in a compound and we said we would see them on Sunday. We left and went to go see President Simpson!!!!!! So not only did we have super nice interviews with him, but I also got a present. . .MY FLIGHT ITINERARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mom, dad, I hope you received a copy as well because I am coming home late and you better be there to pick me up!!!!! So I fly from Accra to Amsterdam, then from Amsterdam to Minneapolis, and then from there I head home!!!!!!!! Chai, I can't believe that I know the way home!!!!!
Luckily I hear that I won't be flying alone for long, I'll have my mission family with me for a little while then we split. . .I think that will be one of the hardest things for when we are all leaving together. The family I've found in my TC group is one that will always be with me. I have more family throughout the course of my mission, but even they have made my family bigger!!!!! Mom, Dad, bros, Greg, Gunnar, Adam, ALL OF YOU!!!!!!! You are all my family and that is the greatest thing I could ever ask for !!!!! I love you all and thank you so much for the support that you have given me throughout my mission. So we left and came back to the chapel to watch the Saturday sessions of conference and play some basketball so that was super cool!!!!! We then decided to head home after about halfway through the afternoon session on Saturday. We came back and it was nice.
Now I've said this once and I'll say it again, I love General Conference!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Chai that was just an amazing day!!!! Sunday we had 3 people attend the conference and it was super cool. We then went back out to boost our new investigators up and we rocked that!!!! We found tons of people in a compound and just taught all of them and that was a majority of the new investigators this week. We went back and finished with the Sunday Morning session and that was super nice. We went home and invited the other missionaries to come and play Uno. So Mom, those Uno cards you sent me are the coolest!!!!! I don't know if I told you all, but I did the customization cards:
1) X2 Hand, you double the number of cards in a person's hand
2) New Hand, you get rid of the cards you or someone else has and draw a new hand with the same number of cards
3) Reduce to Uno!!!!! Now this is my favorite card, but now it's everyone's favorite card!!!! It reduces the number of cards in your hand to Uno and you get to choose the card to keep. You don't have to say Uno because that is the power of the card!!!!
So we did that and it was super cool!!!! We also met a friend of Memmot's from his place back home in Nevada! He grew up in Ghana and he comes over every now and then and he was able to meet up with us and deliver some stuff!!!! Chai that was super cool for Memmott and it's super cool to see how fast time flies from when you get on the plane and when you're about to leave on it. So that was that haha!!!! This week has been full of surprises and it's amazing to see how the world works!!!!
I hope you all are doing amazing and staying out of trouble!!!! Mom, Dad, if you got the flight intin
erary then you know when I'll land so please get everything prepared for me to get released the next day and so I can see all my friends the next day!!!!! This is the only time I'm talking about this stuff so I'm not bringing it up again in my big emails so be there or be square!!!!!
Love you all and don't stop being AMAZING!!!!
From,
Elder Stockton Smith
Now Tuesday, I swear this week was just strange!!!! We got up and went out to see people. The first person on the list that we saw was Frank. We went and saw him and had a super good lesson with him. We then went and tried to see others but that didn't work out. As for the downside was that a big rain storm came in and we had to take cover pretty quickly. We ducked into this one shop and just tried to do our best to wait the storm out. We then went and met a kid named Jerry!!!! So Jerry is super cool and we are having better opportunities to teach him. We then tried to see others, but because of the storm we didn't have the chance to see anyone else. We came back and that was a bummer day.
As for Wednesday it was similar in not teaching a lot of people. We went and had our DC Meeting and that was nice. We have an Elder who is training and he is pretty cool. His name is Elder Orton, being trained by Elder Staples. So yeah, we went out and first started with Andrew Brown. So we decided that we needed to press forward and teach him more about the restored gospel through other doctrines in the church. We taught the Plan of Salvation and he seemed to understand pretty well. We then had the chance to go around and try to meet more people, but that failed epidemically. We had to head to our Coordination meeting that never happened and then we had to present our information on the work to the presiding officers in the Ward. At the same time we got a call from a referral. So a few weeks ago we got a call from some sister missionaries in the U.S. and they said they had someone for us to see. We got in contact with him, but haven't had the chance to meet him yet. We met him at the church and we finished our meeting and then we went to go see him. So I'm used to a lot of weird stories and mumbo jumbo stuff so this wasn't really a surprise for me haha!!!! So he said he received visions and revelations, but only when he deep smokes marijuana in his room. He proclaimed that he knew the exact time we would call and that he knew where we would meet before saying where. . .Memmott was a little weirded out by that, but he'll get used to it haha!!!! We left and came home and didn't have a lot of success teaching that day.
So now Thursday. . .if there is one thing I don't like more than anything, is random exchanges with the District Leaders, Zone Leasers or APs!!!! We got up and were getting ready and then Bangura said we needed to do an exchange. So I went with Akpan into their area and that was decent. I honestly can't remember a lot of the people in their area. I guess a lot of it is because they aren't my investigators and I just didn't talk a lot. Akpan literally power-taught all the lessons and I bore my testimony. Talk about deja vu, felt like "he who must not be named or Elder Smith with freak out"!!!! So yeah. We met up with the guys at the apartment and we switched back. So apparently Andrew Brown, he just isn't serious!!!! I mean we knew that, but he just wasn't serious at all!!!!! So he is still stuck on teachings that we have been talking about for weeks and he just isn't committing to do anything. So that sucked. So that was what I heard the other guys do today so yeah haha!!!!
Now I've said this once and I'll say it again, I love General Conference!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Chai that was just an amazing day!!!! Sunday we had 3 people attend the conference and it was super cool. We then went back out to boost our new investigators up and we rocked that!!!! We found tons of people in a compound and just taught all of them and that was a majority of the new investigators this week. We went back and finished with the Sunday Morning session and that was super nice. We went home and invited the other missionaries to come and play Uno. So Mom, those Uno cards you sent me are the coolest!!!!! I don't know if I told you all, but I did the customization cards:
1) X2 Hand, you double the number of cards in a person's hand
2) New Hand, you get rid of the cards you or someone else has and draw a new hand with the same number of cards
3) Reduce to Uno!!!!! Now this is my favorite card, but now it's everyone's favorite card!!!! It reduces the number of cards in your hand to Uno and you get to choose the card to keep. You don't have to say Uno because that is the power of the card!!!!
So we did that and it was super cool!!!! We also met a friend of Memmot's from his place back home in Nevada! He grew up in Ghana and he comes over every now and then and he was able to meet up with us and deliver some stuff!!!! Chai that was super cool for Memmott and it's super cool to see how fast time flies from when you get on the plane and when you're about to leave on it. So that was that haha!!!! This week has been full of surprises and it's amazing to see how the world works!!!!
I hope you all are doing amazing and staying out of trouble!!!! Mom, Dad, if you got the flight intin
erary then you know when I'll land so please get everything prepared for me to get released the next day and so I can see all my friends the next day!!!!! This is the only time I'm talking about this stuff so I'm not bringing it up again in my big emails so be there or be square!!!!!
Love you all and don't stop being AMAZING!!!!
From,
Elder Stockton Smith
Monday, October 23, 2017
September 25, 2017 Email
Hey everyone!!! Chai things are just crazy here in Achimota!!! Training is a blast and my comp's the BOMB!!! Things couldn't be better here in Achimota, except that people here aren't serious haha!!!
So to start off the week, things here are pretty cool. As for keeping up with everything, I'm not too good at it haha!!! So on Tuesday we went and taught Andrew Brown. He is pretty stubborn about the Bible, but we are instead teaching the Book of Mormon more and he can't argue with us on it so that's good. We then had to go and see Frank and he's amazing! He read 1 Nephi 1 all by himself! We read chapter 2 with him and he is just doing great! We then left and taught Vivian and her sister Evelyn and that was very nice. We had a good lesson with them, but it's just as teaching Ghanaian people. . .slow. So we then left and taught a friend of ours that we met a few days before that, her name is Emama, she seems interested and likes the teachings we have. Unfortunately she is busy most of the time so that's a bummer. We went and taught Moses and Skovic after that. We had a good lesson with them about Joseph Smith and they are progressing very well. We then went to the Osai family. We found them with an old investigator and they are doing well. We have Esther, Forestina, Emmanuel, Simon and Akorfa. So they all seem interested in the gospel and all we have to do is just teach them. We then left and went to go see Christianna and Samuel. That was good as always and then we came back home.
Wednesday just sucked for us here in Achimota, but that's not completely true for this one. We went to DCM and that was nice, afterward we went and got our haircuts. So at least I look decent to be a missionary haha!!! We then left and saw Frank and his friend Steven. Frank read the first part of the Plan of Salvation and we rnded up teaching all of it!!!! Steven just came at the end, but he seemed very interested in the Kingdoms of Glory!!!** We then left and just tried to find people to teach, but that failed so badly!!!! We went and got food and filled out some paperwork and then went to our meeting after a few failed attempts to teach people. So yeah, that was all good and then we went home.
Now Thursday was a little more interesting haha!!! We got up and had to go out pretty quick because Bishop was going to show us to Felicia's house!!! So if you think about it, I was being sent home to see my house again haha [because my mom's name is Felicia]!!! So we had to book it over to his house and then he lead us to find her house. She's a sweet investigator and now we finally know where she is! We got the chance to talk to her and yeah. She has a little girl and her husband is in South Africa for some stuff. We are hoping to baptize her on the 21st of October so yeah!!! We then left and went to go see people. We went and tried to contact more people and we were able to find ourselves in a compound contacting a few houses. We ended up teaching these two kids and it was pretty ok. We then left and taught a guy named Theophilis and his friend Kwaku. They were alright, but not the best. We then went and found ourselves seeing Caroline and a few other people. We met them about a week or 2 ago and we had the chance to talk to them for some small time. We then left and taught Moses and Skovic, chai they are just amazing! We taught them the Book of Mormon and it was super good. We then left and taught the Osai family and that was pretty decent. We then went to who we call the "hair cutters"! That's Isaac, Emmanuel, and all those guys in a barber shop. We taught a few of them and then left to see Christianna. We had a good lesson with them and it was pretty sweet haha!!! We came back and that was the end of that day.
Now Friday. So as for today it was aight. We had an alright time going out. We met with Francis, and that was pretty good as always. We went and taught a guy named Kelvin when we were contacting and that was pretty good. We then left and taught Moses and Skovic and they had a lot of good questions for us. We just enjoyed talking to them and it was a nice time. We left and taught Evelyn at her shop, but the stupid part was that her older brother joined the lesson and he just interrupted us and it just ruined the lesson. On the plus side, Elder Memmott is becoming a kick-butt missionary!!! We taught him and caught him at each of his objections. We left to go see Andrew Brown. We told him that all the things we teach are hinged on the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. As of right now, he doesn't want to learn too much from the Book of Mormon and wants to learn more about Joseph Smith. We will continue to see him and teach him, but he's gotta decide if he wants to change or not. We tried to see Christianna and the others, but a rain storm came and we came back, we also got dirty from riding our bikes so that sucks. As for the rest of the day I was just tired.
So now Saturday, it was pretty good I guess. We went out and taught Vivian and that was pretty good. We then left and went to teach Frank. Frank was less enthusiastic when we talked about church and things like that. He said he would try to come and that was about it. We left and saw the Yeboahs. We literally went there and told them that church was important and that they needed to come. We then left and went to teach Felicia. We had a good lesson with her and it was very nice. Her little daughter is so cute, I had a Fanyogo in my bag (for those who don't know Fanyogo, it is like a yogurt drink on ice) and she saw it. . .she could not take her eyes off of it, so I just gave it to her hahaha!!!! We then left and tried to invite others to church and that was somehow somehow. We left and taught Christianna, Samuel, and Sisco that they need to come to church. We had a good lesson and then we left. We came back and we all got news that we were staying for this next transfer. We then celebrated with fake fettuccine!!!!!
Now Sunday. . .so I figured out how Sundays work sometimes. So even though very few to none come to church, we succeed in receiving more investigators to teach after!!! We literally taught 5 more people and it was almost all in one lesson!!! We just had Felicia and Christianna come to church. We had a pretty bad class/teachings. . .chai people are just weird and it's surprising that some people are members of the church here, I'm not gonna say why, I'm just very surprised. We left and went to eat. We went and taught a few people. We finally got a chance to be with Jerry and it was sweet!!!! But, before we got the chance to see him, this one really annoying Muslim dude stopped us and like talked crap about the U.S., even when he lives there sometimes. Chai, people are so stupid sometimes that they don't know how the world works. So yeah anyway it was pretty good. We came back and did some work on the area book.
As for today, we went and played basketball on the temple site and I saw tons of my friends there and it was amazing!!! Also, I got a new camera so I'll do my best to keep an eye on this one. I'll do my best to keep everything going here in Achimota, but I'm not too sure. I know that President doesn't want me to die haha!!!!
Well I hope you all had an amazing week and are staying safe!!!!
From,
Elder Stockton Smith
**
Three Degrees of Glory
So to start off the week, things here are pretty cool. As for keeping up with everything, I'm not too good at it haha!!! So on Tuesday we went and taught Andrew Brown. He is pretty stubborn about the Bible, but we are instead teaching the Book of Mormon more and he can't argue with us on it so that's good. We then had to go and see Frank and he's amazing! He read 1 Nephi 1 all by himself! We read chapter 2 with him and he is just doing great! We then left and taught Vivian and her sister Evelyn and that was very nice. We had a good lesson with them, but it's just as teaching Ghanaian people. . .slow. So we then left and taught a friend of ours that we met a few days before that, her name is Emama, she seems interested and likes the teachings we have. Unfortunately she is busy most of the time so that's a bummer. We went and taught Moses and Skovic after that. We had a good lesson with them about Joseph Smith and they are progressing very well. We then went to the Osai family. We found them with an old investigator and they are doing well. We have Esther, Forestina, Emmanuel, Simon and Akorfa. So they all seem interested in the gospel and all we have to do is just teach them. We then left and went to go see Christianna and Samuel. That was good as always and then we came back home.
Wednesday just sucked for us here in Achimota, but that's not completely true for this one. We went to DCM and that was nice, afterward we went and got our haircuts. So at least I look decent to be a missionary haha!!! We then left and saw Frank and his friend Steven. Frank read the first part of the Plan of Salvation and we rnded up teaching all of it!!!! Steven just came at the end, but he seemed very interested in the Kingdoms of Glory!!!** We then left and just tried to find people to teach, but that failed so badly!!!! We went and got food and filled out some paperwork and then went to our meeting after a few failed attempts to teach people. So yeah, that was all good and then we went home.
Now Thursday was a little more interesting haha!!! We got up and had to go out pretty quick because Bishop was going to show us to Felicia's house!!! So if you think about it, I was being sent home to see my house again haha [because my mom's name is Felicia]!!! So we had to book it over to his house and then he lead us to find her house. She's a sweet investigator and now we finally know where she is! We got the chance to talk to her and yeah. She has a little girl and her husband is in South Africa for some stuff. We are hoping to baptize her on the 21st of October so yeah!!! We then left and went to go see people. We went and tried to contact more people and we were able to find ourselves in a compound contacting a few houses. We ended up teaching these two kids and it was pretty ok. We then left and taught a guy named Theophilis and his friend Kwaku. They were alright, but not the best. We then went and found ourselves seeing Caroline and a few other people. We met them about a week or 2 ago and we had the chance to talk to them for some small time. We then left and taught Moses and Skovic, chai they are just amazing! We taught them the Book of Mormon and it was super good. We then left and taught the Osai family and that was pretty decent. We then went to who we call the "hair cutters"! That's Isaac, Emmanuel, and all those guys in a barber shop. We taught a few of them and then left to see Christianna. We had a good lesson with them and it was pretty sweet haha!!! We came back and that was the end of that day.
Now Friday. So as for today it was aight. We had an alright time going out. We met with Francis, and that was pretty good as always. We went and taught a guy named Kelvin when we were contacting and that was pretty good. We then left and taught Moses and Skovic and they had a lot of good questions for us. We just enjoyed talking to them and it was a nice time. We left and taught Evelyn at her shop, but the stupid part was that her older brother joined the lesson and he just interrupted us and it just ruined the lesson. On the plus side, Elder Memmott is becoming a kick-butt missionary!!! We taught him and caught him at each of his objections. We left to go see Andrew Brown. We told him that all the things we teach are hinged on the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. As of right now, he doesn't want to learn too much from the Book of Mormon and wants to learn more about Joseph Smith. We will continue to see him and teach him, but he's gotta decide if he wants to change or not. We tried to see Christianna and the others, but a rain storm came and we came back, we also got dirty from riding our bikes so that sucks. As for the rest of the day I was just tired.
So now Saturday, it was pretty good I guess. We went out and taught Vivian and that was pretty good. We then left and went to teach Frank. Frank was less enthusiastic when we talked about church and things like that. He said he would try to come and that was about it. We left and saw the Yeboahs. We literally went there and told them that church was important and that they needed to come. We then left and went to teach Felicia. We had a good lesson with her and it was very nice. Her little daughter is so cute, I had a Fanyogo in my bag (for those who don't know Fanyogo, it is like a yogurt drink on ice) and she saw it. . .she could not take her eyes off of it, so I just gave it to her hahaha!!!! We then left and tried to invite others to church and that was somehow somehow. We left and taught Christianna, Samuel, and Sisco that they need to come to church. We had a good lesson and then we left. We came back and we all got news that we were staying for this next transfer. We then celebrated with fake fettuccine!!!!!
Now Sunday. . .so I figured out how Sundays work sometimes. So even though very few to none come to church, we succeed in receiving more investigators to teach after!!! We literally taught 5 more people and it was almost all in one lesson!!! We just had Felicia and Christianna come to church. We had a pretty bad class/teachings. . .chai people are just weird and it's surprising that some people are members of the church here, I'm not gonna say why, I'm just very surprised. We left and went to eat. We went and taught a few people. We finally got a chance to be with Jerry and it was sweet!!!! But, before we got the chance to see him, this one really annoying Muslim dude stopped us and like talked crap about the U.S., even when he lives there sometimes. Chai, people are so stupid sometimes that they don't know how the world works. So yeah anyway it was pretty good. We came back and did some work on the area book.
As for today, we went and played basketball on the temple site and I saw tons of my friends there and it was amazing!!! Also, I got a new camera so I'll do my best to keep an eye on this one. I'll do my best to keep everything going here in Achimota, but I'm not too sure. I know that President doesn't want me to die haha!!!!
Well I hope you all had an amazing week and are staying safe!!!!
From,
Elder Stockton Smith
**
Three Degrees of Glory
Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, all people will be resurrected. After we are resurrected, we will stand before the Lord to be judged according to our desires and actions. Each of us will accordingly receive an eternal dwelling place in a specific kingdom of glory. The Lord taught this principle when He said, “In my Father's house are many mansions” (John 14:2).
There are three kingdoms of glory: the celestial kingdom, the terrestrial kingdom, and the telestial kingdom. The glory we inherit will depend on the depth of our conversion, expressed by our obedience to the Lord's commandments. It will depend on the manner in which we have "received the testimony of Jesus" (D&C 76:51; see also D&C 76:74, 79, 101).
September 18, 2017 Email
Hey everyone!!! Chai has this been a week in Achimota!!!!
So to begin, we had a good time after emailing last week because an investigator of Bangura and Akpan brought us ampacey and kontombre. . that's my best food!!!! Chai that night we enjoyed!!! And also, I'm slowly getting better at basketball, thanks to my companion and crazy training haha!!!
So the week. On Tuesday we had a good time going around and trying to find more people to teach. We first went to see Andrew. So as for him he is still pretty stubborn about the Bible and doesn't like us bringing new things to it. We are also working on how we can make him understand that anyone can contend one with another on the Bible, but as for those who are LDS and know how it works, the Book or Mormon has no conflicting teachings and no one argues with one another on it, that's why I love the Book of Mormon!!!! So we left and went to go teach a few people, but they fell through so we contacted. We ended up going and meeting a guy we met a few days earlier and turns out that he's super cool!!!! His name is Frank and he reads and likes to listen to us. It is just crazy to see how it is!!! We had a good lesson with him and it really was clear that he was understanding our teachings. We left and continued to meet people, but they all fell through so that was unfortunate. We went to see Christianna and Samuel. Chai they give us so much fruit it's ridiculous!!! So we taught them and then left. If anything else, having a nasty bug while proselyting just sucks!!!! Memmott wasn't feeling too good so that was a bummer. We went back to the apartment a few times that day as well.
Wednesday was easier because we didn't have so many meetings to go to, but still had a lot of meetings haha!!! So we got up and went out straight!!!! We went and taught Andrew and he is progressing more. Unfortunately, as we were reading the Introduction to the Book of Mormon he had a problem with the sentence of "the most correct of any book on Earth", so he was a little less than enthusiastic about that. We will still work with him and help him to learn more. We went and taught Clement and his friend Maxwell. We taught them, but with their work it is difficult to see them. They work in a drinking place, like they sell crates of soda and alcohol and things like that. We went around and didn't have much success, but we went and taught Dorcas. So she just didn't pay attention and that just sucked. We decided it wasn't very effective to try to teach her much anymore. We left and went to the Mall to pick up earrings from sister Sylvia in Anyaa!!!! She made 100 pairs of earrings so Mom and all the other aunts and people that want them, you are covered haha!!! So we had to book it over to our meeting with our ward mission leader. So that was cool. When we were about to head home we found a guy that was playing basketball, so Memmott went and played a bit and I practiced my wheelies and I gotta say I'm getting it down haha!!! So yea we went back and it was pretty cool!!!
Thursday was just crazy!!!!! We had our Multi-Zone conference in Ofankor and it was crazy!!!! I saw so many people!!!! Bawden, Hall, Ferro, Condie, Stilson, just tons of old friends!!!! But the crazy part was that Elder Stilson is only a transfer ahead of me (6 weeks). I knew Stilson all the way back in Buduburam. . .I came when he was halfway finished in his training. As he bore his farewell testimony along with others, it just hit me that time on mission flies. . .mission is probably the craziest, fastest, most amazing 2 years of your life. Before you know it, you're heading home that next day!!! So yeah. We heard a lot of stuff from President Simpson and he really emphasized how we as a mission need to work better with our companions. How we need to get along and not differentiate ourselves into "ites' as President Simpson put it. No Americans or Africans, no Nigerians or Ugandans, no this not hat, just unity!!!! It was super cool!!!! So we finished and we left. The cool part was that on that day when we left, we didn't see a lot of success, but we found 3 more people to teach after that and it was cool!!! Also we got Isaac and Emmanuel to accept a baptismal date for the 15th of October!!! So it's crazy!!!! We finished the day off with seeing Samuel and Christianna. Still so much fruit!!!
Friday we just went ham on life!!! We got up and just went straight to work. We planned and went to see a sister named Vivian. She sells kente print items like shirts, shoes and skirts and dresses. So we taught her and it was a good lesson. We then left to go and see Frank and he is just doing amazing!!! He learns fast and we just didn't have any conflict in teaching him about Joseph Smith or anything like that!!! We left and went to go see Moses and Skovic. So as for them they sell fresh made bread and it's super nice, but what's more amazing is that they both accepted a baptismal date for the 15th of October as well!!!! We had a good lesson with them and we left. We went and taught Andrew about the 29th Chapter in 2 Nephi of the Book of Mormon**. He hopefully understood that more of the word of God is good and that it is what our Heavenly Father wants for us. We left and taught Christianna, Samuel and her sister Zet. So we had a decent lesson with them so it was cool. We left and came back after that.
Saturday was just bleh!!! We went our and taught Clement. So unfortunately we have been having difficulty keeping an eye on all of them in that area and so it's hard to get them. We are still trying though. We left and went to the Yeboahs. . .chai I have no desire to go there anymore. They used to be our best investigators and now they just don't focus and they aren't too interested anymore. Like I kid you not, I've learned to keep my temper under control on mission, but I was about to lose it with these people. But luckily my companion got my back and I was able to keep it under till we left. So we just left and didn't really have a desire to go back. We went and taught Frank, now that brought my spirits back up and he is just amazing. We read from the Book of Mormon and we even had a good time with seeing how he was feeling about the Book of Mormon. He also accepted the invitation to be baptized, but he was honest and said he needed to learn more and pray. That is just what I like to hear from an investigator because they are being honest with us!!! We taught a lot and then left. We then went to the mall and enjoyed our lunch at Chicken Inn haha!!! So we left and tried to see Moses and Skovic, but they were preoccupied with making bread, but they said they would come to church tomorrow!!! We left and tried to find more people to teach, but it didn't work. We came back and we taught Christianna, Samuel, Mesah, Edna and Priscilla!!!! So the last three people that we just met or that we taught once before, that's Mesah, but Edna and Priscilla just joined the lesson and it was super cool!!! We taught them and then came back. We did some area book stuff and then turned in.
Sunday, so this day was pretty sweet!!! We got up and called a few people and then went to church. We went and Samuel and Sisco came on time!!!! We got them situated and then Christianna and Moses arrived as well!!! So we had a good service, but they talked about a lot of teachings which were super ineffective for our investigators. So we had that and then we got some lunch. We then left and came to see a few people. We went and saw Junior and some of his friends. We then contacted a lot and that was just crazy. We ended up finding a guy named Bismark. So he doesn't know a lot of English, but he was enthusiastic to see us. We talked to him and I had to teach what little twi I knew haha!!! So we went and contacted some more. We met up with Sampson, he's one of our investigators that's super cool. So we met him and he led us back to his house. We sat down and talked with him and a lot of his family members and they seemed pretty interested in the message and that was just crazy!!! It was a great experience!!! We then left and talked to a few guys who didn't come to church. We came back and did some crazy area book work.
Now just this morning we went to cafe and played some basketball. We had a good time, but I'm still a little fried from playing haha!!! We had a lot of fun and I'm getting a lot better!!! So yeah, that's the life I guess. Hope you all are doing AMAZING and still being safe!!!!
From,
Elder Stockton Smith
**
2 Nephi 29
So to begin, we had a good time after emailing last week because an investigator of Bangura and Akpan brought us ampacey and kontombre. . that's my best food!!!! Chai that night we enjoyed!!! And also, I'm slowly getting better at basketball, thanks to my companion and crazy training haha!!!
So the week. On Tuesday we had a good time going around and trying to find more people to teach. We first went to see Andrew. So as for him he is still pretty stubborn about the Bible and doesn't like us bringing new things to it. We are also working on how we can make him understand that anyone can contend one with another on the Bible, but as for those who are LDS and know how it works, the Book or Mormon has no conflicting teachings and no one argues with one another on it, that's why I love the Book of Mormon!!!! So we left and went to go teach a few people, but they fell through so we contacted. We ended up going and meeting a guy we met a few days earlier and turns out that he's super cool!!!! His name is Frank and he reads and likes to listen to us. It is just crazy to see how it is!!! We had a good lesson with him and it really was clear that he was understanding our teachings. We left and continued to meet people, but they all fell through so that was unfortunate. We went to see Christianna and Samuel. Chai they give us so much fruit it's ridiculous!!! So we taught them and then left. If anything else, having a nasty bug while proselyting just sucks!!!! Memmott wasn't feeling too good so that was a bummer. We went back to the apartment a few times that day as well.
Wednesday was easier because we didn't have so many meetings to go to, but still had a lot of meetings haha!!! So we got up and went out straight!!!! We went and taught Andrew and he is progressing more. Unfortunately, as we were reading the Introduction to the Book of Mormon he had a problem with the sentence of "the most correct of any book on Earth", so he was a little less than enthusiastic about that. We will still work with him and help him to learn more. We went and taught Clement and his friend Maxwell. We taught them, but with their work it is difficult to see them. They work in a drinking place, like they sell crates of soda and alcohol and things like that. We went around and didn't have much success, but we went and taught Dorcas. So she just didn't pay attention and that just sucked. We decided it wasn't very effective to try to teach her much anymore. We left and went to the Mall to pick up earrings from sister Sylvia in Anyaa!!!! She made 100 pairs of earrings so Mom and all the other aunts and people that want them, you are covered haha!!! So we had to book it over to our meeting with our ward mission leader. So that was cool. When we were about to head home we found a guy that was playing basketball, so Memmott went and played a bit and I practiced my wheelies and I gotta say I'm getting it down haha!!! So yea we went back and it was pretty cool!!!
Thursday was just crazy!!!!! We had our Multi-Zone conference in Ofankor and it was crazy!!!! I saw so many people!!!! Bawden, Hall, Ferro, Condie, Stilson, just tons of old friends!!!! But the crazy part was that Elder Stilson is only a transfer ahead of me (6 weeks). I knew Stilson all the way back in Buduburam. . .I came when he was halfway finished in his training. As he bore his farewell testimony along with others, it just hit me that time on mission flies. . .mission is probably the craziest, fastest, most amazing 2 years of your life. Before you know it, you're heading home that next day!!! So yeah. We heard a lot of stuff from President Simpson and he really emphasized how we as a mission need to work better with our companions. How we need to get along and not differentiate ourselves into "ites' as President Simpson put it. No Americans or Africans, no Nigerians or Ugandans, no this not hat, just unity!!!! It was super cool!!!! So we finished and we left. The cool part was that on that day when we left, we didn't see a lot of success, but we found 3 more people to teach after that and it was cool!!! Also we got Isaac and Emmanuel to accept a baptismal date for the 15th of October!!! So it's crazy!!!! We finished the day off with seeing Samuel and Christianna. Still so much fruit!!!
Friday we just went ham on life!!! We got up and just went straight to work. We planned and went to see a sister named Vivian. She sells kente print items like shirts, shoes and skirts and dresses. So we taught her and it was a good lesson. We then left to go and see Frank and he is just doing amazing!!! He learns fast and we just didn't have any conflict in teaching him about Joseph Smith or anything like that!!! We left and went to go see Moses and Skovic. So as for them they sell fresh made bread and it's super nice, but what's more amazing is that they both accepted a baptismal date for the 15th of October as well!!!! We had a good lesson with them and we left. We went and taught Andrew about the 29th Chapter in 2 Nephi of the Book of Mormon**. He hopefully understood that more of the word of God is good and that it is what our Heavenly Father wants for us. We left and taught Christianna, Samuel and her sister Zet. So we had a decent lesson with them so it was cool. We left and came back after that.
Saturday was just bleh!!! We went our and taught Clement. So unfortunately we have been having difficulty keeping an eye on all of them in that area and so it's hard to get them. We are still trying though. We left and went to the Yeboahs. . .chai I have no desire to go there anymore. They used to be our best investigators and now they just don't focus and they aren't too interested anymore. Like I kid you not, I've learned to keep my temper under control on mission, but I was about to lose it with these people. But luckily my companion got my back and I was able to keep it under till we left. So we just left and didn't really have a desire to go back. We went and taught Frank, now that brought my spirits back up and he is just amazing. We read from the Book of Mormon and we even had a good time with seeing how he was feeling about the Book of Mormon. He also accepted the invitation to be baptized, but he was honest and said he needed to learn more and pray. That is just what I like to hear from an investigator because they are being honest with us!!! We taught a lot and then left. We then went to the mall and enjoyed our lunch at Chicken Inn haha!!! So we left and tried to see Moses and Skovic, but they were preoccupied with making bread, but they said they would come to church tomorrow!!! We left and tried to find more people to teach, but it didn't work. We came back and we taught Christianna, Samuel, Mesah, Edna and Priscilla!!!! So the last three people that we just met or that we taught once before, that's Mesah, but Edna and Priscilla just joined the lesson and it was super cool!!! We taught them and then came back. We did some area book stuff and then turned in.
Sunday, so this day was pretty sweet!!! We got up and called a few people and then went to church. We went and Samuel and Sisco came on time!!!! We got them situated and then Christianna and Moses arrived as well!!! So we had a good service, but they talked about a lot of teachings which were super ineffective for our investigators. So we had that and then we got some lunch. We then left and came to see a few people. We went and saw Junior and some of his friends. We then contacted a lot and that was just crazy. We ended up finding a guy named Bismark. So he doesn't know a lot of English, but he was enthusiastic to see us. We talked to him and I had to teach what little twi I knew haha!!! So we went and contacted some more. We met up with Sampson, he's one of our investigators that's super cool. So we met him and he led us back to his house. We sat down and talked with him and a lot of his family members and they seemed pretty interested in the message and that was just crazy!!! It was a great experience!!! We then left and talked to a few guys who didn't come to church. We came back and did some crazy area book work.
Now just this morning we went to cafe and played some basketball. We had a good time, but I'm still a little fried from playing haha!!! We had a lot of fun and I'm getting a lot better!!! So yeah, that's the life I guess. Hope you all are doing AMAZING and still being safe!!!!
From,
Elder Stockton Smith
**
2 Nephi 29
1 But behold, there shall be many—at that day when I shall proceed to do a marvelous work among them, that I may remember my covenants which I have made unto the children of men, that I may set my hand again the second time to recover my people, which are of the house of Israel;
2 And also, that I may remember the promises which I have made unto thee, Nephi, and also unto thy father, that I would remember your seed; and that the words of your seed should proceed forth out of my mouth unto your seed; and my words shall hiss forth unto the ends of the earth, for a standard unto my people, which are of the house of Israel;
3 And because my words shall hiss forth—many of the Gentiles shall say: A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bible.
4 But thus saith the Lord God: O fools, they shall have a Bible; and it shall proceed forth from the Jews, mine ancient covenant people. And what thank they the Jews for the Bible which they receive from them? Yea, what do the Gentiles mean? Do they remember the travails, and the labors, and the pains of the Jews, and their diligence unto me, in bringing forth salvation unto the Gentiles?
5 O ye Gentiles, have ye remembered the Jews, mine ancient covenant people? Nay; but ye have cursed them, and have hated them, and have not sought to recover them. But behold, I will return all these things upon your own heads; for I the Lord have not forgotten my people.
6 Thou fool, that shall say: A Bible, we have got a Bible, and we need no more Bible. Have ye obtained a Bible save it were by the Jews?
7 Know ye not that there are more nations than one? Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth?
8 Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word? Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another. And when the two nations shall run together the testimony of the two nations shall run together also.
9 And I do this that I may prove unto many that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and that I speak forth my words according to mine own pleasure. And because that I have spoken one word ye need not suppose that I cannot speak another; for my work is not yet finished; neither shall it be until the end of man, neither from that time henceforth and forever.
10 Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible ye need not suppose that it contains all my words; neither need ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written.
11 For I command all men, both in the east and in the west, and in the north, and in the south, and in the islands of the sea, that they shall write the words which I speak unto them; for out of the books which shall be written I will judge the world, every man according to their works, according to that which is written.
12 For behold, I shall speak unto the Jews and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the Nephites and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the other tribes of the house of Israel, which I have led away, and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto all nations of the earth and they shall write it.
13 And it shall come to pass that the Jews shall have the words of the Nephites, and the Nephites shall have the words of the Jews; and the Nephites and the Jews shall have the words of the lost tribes of Israel; and the lost tribes of Israel shall have the words of the Nephites and the Jews.
14 And it shall come to pass that my people, which are of the house of Israel, shall be gathered home unto the lands of their possessions; and my word also shall be gathered in one. And I will show unto them that fight against my word and against my people, who are of the house of Israel, that I am God, and that I covenanted with Abraham that I would remember his seed forever.
September 11, 2017 Email
Hey everyone!!!
So this was just a week of weird ups and downs!!!! So first off a huge downside, I lost my camera. Mom, dad, I don't know if you want me to get a new one or it I should just not worry about it? I'm going to Circle today to see around, but I need your final say on whether you want me to get a camera or not.
So the week. As for Tuesday that was pretty strange. So we got up and went to go see brother Andrew. He wasn't there so we went around and just explored more of our area. We went back and he was there so we taught him small, but he is pretty stubborn on how the Restoration of the Gospel** comes together. So we had to go because an investigator in the other guys' area wanted to feed us. We ate some super sticky fufu and then we had to book it out!!! We went and taught a new sister named Cecilia. She said she read the whole pamphlet, but it was clear she only read parts of it. We had a really good lesson with her and it was nice. We then left to go and see Victor, Sampson and Evans. We only met Victor and Sampson. So they were super cool and we had a nice lesson with them. We then left and went to the Yeboahs, but we didn't have time to teach them anything which was a bummer. We then had to go to another member's house because as of the ward that we are serving we are having the missionaries go to the members houses in the leadership organization in the ward. We left and met with the Primary president's family. Chai it was super nice and they gave us from beans and fried plantain. . .MMMMMMMMMMMHHHHHMMMMM SO GOOD!!!! We left and luckily they gave us a ride back closer to the apartment because they live crazy far!!! So yeah, that's that.
Wednesday was pretty wild cuz we had meeting to meeting to meeting!!! We got up and went to DCM and that was cool. Everyone was very surprised of us having 19 investigators the previous week so that was sweet!!! We then left and came back. We went and had lunch at this small chop bar and it was nice. We went and taught Andrew afterwards. So this lesson was going super well talking/reading the history of Joseph Smith from when he had the First Vision. So as we were just finishing reading about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appearing to Joseph Smith, it was just a train wreck afterwards. So Andrew believes that the Trinity exists (Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost being in one body)^^, but there are so many scriptures that clearly dictate that they are separate beings!!! Unfortunately, he is too stuck on scriptures that talk about Jesus Christ and the Father being "one". He just doesn't understand the relationship between the Father and the Son. So we then left and contacted some people. We had to go see the Yeboahs and teach them in depth on the importance of keeping the commitment that we give them. So we then left and tried to see Christianna really fast, but she wasn't around. We then had to book it home to get some stuff for our next meeting. We left and got in a tro tro. As we were coming to a junction, this one stupid guy holding like a dead iguana just came up to me and was like "Obroni you like? Obroni you like?" I'm not gonna like, I wanted to knock him out. We had to go and get some stuff for the meeting and then we rushed over to the chapel. We had our meeting with our ward mission leader's wife and that was good. We then left and went to Xexilolos for food and that was fun as always. I took some pics on my cam of the little kids, but well you know from the first paragraph how I feel about that. We went to go and pick Elder Janda and Pinnock for an exchange. We did that and yeah. Things are pretty cool here.
And now the super highlight of the week in Achimota!!!! 9 new investigators this day and we were so so so tired both in body, and in mind and in spirit haha!!!! Like we just ran everywhere just trying to find more people and that was crazy. We went and tried to see Cecilia again, but that failed. We also said hi to Acose and told her we would visit her later. We then went to find more people to teach. We found Isaac, Emmanuel, Kofi and Eric. These guys were in a little hair shop and they were pretty enthusiastic to have us sit down with them. We taught them and it turns out that Eric has met with missionaries before so that was crazy!!! We then left and taught some guys named Kingsley and Clement. We had a good lesson and they had some good questions for us. We then left and went to see Moses and Skovic. So they are guys that work at a bread making place and their bread is so good!!! We had a good lesson with them and then we left. By the way, Skovic is a French speaker and luckily we had a French version of the Restoration pamphlet so that was good. We went to go see the Yeboahs and well it was weird to say the least. . .haha funny missionary moments. We left and went to see Christianna and that was just amazing. We taught her and it was pretty good. We started to go and she just loaded us up with fruit!!!! Apple, orange, pineapple, cucumber, grapes, chai it was nuts!!!! We just had a crazy time doing all that and it was pretty crazy haha!!!!
And now for Friday, the crappy start of the roller coaster. So as for today we went out and tried to see people but we were having a lot of trouble. It also didn't help that I lost my camera!!! So tons of pics are gone and it really isn't nice. So yeah. We taught Andrew, Victor and Christianna. She was kind of a good plus for the day. Also, a fun fact, we got our bicycle stolen that morning and well it sucked. We walked everywhere and it was just ineffective so yeah. We did our best to see people, but it just didn't work out.
Saturday was more or less the same. Luckily we got new bikes, but they broke so we had to walk everywhere that day as well. We saw a few people and that was nice. We also had the opportunity to see Mission President!!!! Chai he is so cool!!!! We had a good time looking around and finding more of the area. There's this lady in our area that gives us free bread every Saturday night so that was a huge score!!!
As for Sunday, we had one person at church early and the other 2 came late. So we had a pretty bummer church service, but we went around and just contacted tons of people and that was super cool!!!! We also had the chance to discover a quicker way through our area and that was also nice. So yeah, we played Uno and ate banku last night.
This morning we went to the temple site to play some basketball and that was fun. So yeah that's that I guess.
Hope you all had an amazing week and are doing AMAZING!!!!
Form,
Elder Stockton Smith
**
Restoration of the Gospel
So this was just a week of weird ups and downs!!!! So first off a huge downside, I lost my camera. Mom, dad, I don't know if you want me to get a new one or it I should just not worry about it? I'm going to Circle today to see around, but I need your final say on whether you want me to get a camera or not.
So the week. As for Tuesday that was pretty strange. So we got up and went to go see brother Andrew. He wasn't there so we went around and just explored more of our area. We went back and he was there so we taught him small, but he is pretty stubborn on how the Restoration of the Gospel** comes together. So we had to go because an investigator in the other guys' area wanted to feed us. We ate some super sticky fufu and then we had to book it out!!! We went and taught a new sister named Cecilia. She said she read the whole pamphlet, but it was clear she only read parts of it. We had a really good lesson with her and it was nice. We then left to go and see Victor, Sampson and Evans. We only met Victor and Sampson. So they were super cool and we had a nice lesson with them. We then left and went to the Yeboahs, but we didn't have time to teach them anything which was a bummer. We then had to go to another member's house because as of the ward that we are serving we are having the missionaries go to the members houses in the leadership organization in the ward. We left and met with the Primary president's family. Chai it was super nice and they gave us from beans and fried plantain. . .MMMMMMMMMMMHHHHHMMMMM SO GOOD!!!! We left and luckily they gave us a ride back closer to the apartment because they live crazy far!!! So yeah, that's that.
Wednesday was pretty wild cuz we had meeting to meeting to meeting!!! We got up and went to DCM and that was cool. Everyone was very surprised of us having 19 investigators the previous week so that was sweet!!! We then left and came back. We went and had lunch at this small chop bar and it was nice. We went and taught Andrew afterwards. So this lesson was going super well talking/reading the history of Joseph Smith from when he had the First Vision. So as we were just finishing reading about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appearing to Joseph Smith, it was just a train wreck afterwards. So Andrew believes that the Trinity exists (Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost being in one body)^^, but there are so many scriptures that clearly dictate that they are separate beings!!! Unfortunately, he is too stuck on scriptures that talk about Jesus Christ and the Father being "one". He just doesn't understand the relationship between the Father and the Son. So we then left and contacted some people. We had to go see the Yeboahs and teach them in depth on the importance of keeping the commitment that we give them. So we then left and tried to see Christianna really fast, but she wasn't around. We then had to book it home to get some stuff for our next meeting. We left and got in a tro tro. As we were coming to a junction, this one stupid guy holding like a dead iguana just came up to me and was like "Obroni you like? Obroni you like?" I'm not gonna like, I wanted to knock him out. We had to go and get some stuff for the meeting and then we rushed over to the chapel. We had our meeting with our ward mission leader's wife and that was good. We then left and went to Xexilolos for food and that was fun as always. I took some pics on my cam of the little kids, but well you know from the first paragraph how I feel about that. We went to go and pick Elder Janda and Pinnock for an exchange. We did that and yeah. Things are pretty cool here.
And now the super highlight of the week in Achimota!!!! 9 new investigators this day and we were so so so tired both in body, and in mind and in spirit haha!!!! Like we just ran everywhere just trying to find more people and that was crazy. We went and tried to see Cecilia again, but that failed. We also said hi to Acose and told her we would visit her later. We then went to find more people to teach. We found Isaac, Emmanuel, Kofi and Eric. These guys were in a little hair shop and they were pretty enthusiastic to have us sit down with them. We taught them and it turns out that Eric has met with missionaries before so that was crazy!!! We then left and taught some guys named Kingsley and Clement. We had a good lesson and they had some good questions for us. We then left and went to see Moses and Skovic. So they are guys that work at a bread making place and their bread is so good!!! We had a good lesson with them and then we left. By the way, Skovic is a French speaker and luckily we had a French version of the Restoration pamphlet so that was good. We went to go see the Yeboahs and well it was weird to say the least. . .haha funny missionary moments. We left and went to see Christianna and that was just amazing. We taught her and it was pretty good. We started to go and she just loaded us up with fruit!!!! Apple, orange, pineapple, cucumber, grapes, chai it was nuts!!!! We just had a crazy time doing all that and it was pretty crazy haha!!!!
And now for Friday, the crappy start of the roller coaster. So as for today we went out and tried to see people but we were having a lot of trouble. It also didn't help that I lost my camera!!! So tons of pics are gone and it really isn't nice. So yeah. We taught Andrew, Victor and Christianna. She was kind of a good plus for the day. Also, a fun fact, we got our bicycle stolen that morning and well it sucked. We walked everywhere and it was just ineffective so yeah. We did our best to see people, but it just didn't work out.
Saturday was more or less the same. Luckily we got new bikes, but they broke so we had to walk everywhere that day as well. We saw a few people and that was nice. We also had the opportunity to see Mission President!!!! Chai he is so cool!!!! We had a good time looking around and finding more of the area. There's this lady in our area that gives us free bread every Saturday night so that was a huge score!!!
As for Sunday, we had one person at church early and the other 2 came late. So we had a pretty bummer church service, but we went around and just contacted tons of people and that was super cool!!!! We also had the chance to discover a quicker way through our area and that was also nice. So yeah, we played Uno and ate banku last night.
This morning we went to the temple site to play some basketball and that was fun. So yeah that's that I guess.
Hope you all had an amazing week and are doing AMAZING!!!!
Form,
Elder Stockton Smith
**
Restoration of the Gospel
In 1820, as He had done throughout history, Father in Heaven again chose a prophet to restore the gospel and the priesthood to the earth. That prophet’s name was Joseph Smith. As a young man, Joseph was confused by the differences among the many churches in his area and wanted to know which church was right. Knowing he lacked wisdom, he followed the counsel found in the Bible, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” (James 1:5).
Joseph Smith decided to ask God what he should do. When Joseph prayed to know the truth, Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him. Jesus told Joseph not to join any of the churches, for “they were all wrong” and “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof” (Joseph Smith—History 1:19).
As God had done with Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and other prophets, He called Joseph Smith to be a prophet through whom the complete gospel was restored.
^^
The Godhead
The Mormon view of the members of the Godhead corresponds in a number of ways with the views of others in the Christian world, but with significant differences. Latter-day Saints pray to God the Father in the name of Jesus Christ. They acknowledge the Father as the ultimate object of their worship, the Son as Lord and Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit as the messenger and revealer of the Father and the Son. But where Latter-day Saints differ from other Christian religions is in their belief that God and Jesus Christ are glorified, physical beings and that each member of the Godhead is a separate being.
Although the members of the Godhead are distinct beings with distinct roles, they are one in purpose and doctrine. They are perfectly united in bringing to pass Heavenly Father's divine plan of salvation.
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