July 3, 2017 Email

Hey everyone!!!

Chai!!!  Crazy to think that it was last year that I was writing about the 4th of July and you all and it is just crazy how fast time has gone by.

So the week.  Tuesday we got ready and went to see Janet.  We then went to see Isaac and Maxwell, he's doing great and is getting ready for his baptism on the 9th.  We taught them and went to Ablekuma.  We met a girl named Delfina and we taught her.  She seems to have a good desire to learn more about the gospel.  We left and saw a few other people.  Other than that, all the people we wanted to see fell through so we didn't have the chance to teach that much.

Wednesday was aight.  We got up in the morning and went to go see a man named Carlos.  He is pretty cool and he is pretty interested in the gospel.  We left and went for District Council Meeting.  Turns out that the other elders weren't coming so it was just for of us.  We had a good time, but it was rough cuz one missionary was stubborn at the meeting.  We left and came back.  We left and went to Pentacost to see an investigator w ho is married to a member.  We taught her a little bit and then we left.  We came back because we didn't have time for anyone else.

Thursday we got up and we went to go see a few people, but a lot of them fell through.  It was a big bummer.  We went to Ablekuma and taught Beatrice.  For her she wasn't feeling too good, but we had an okay lesson with her.  So as we were teaching it turns out the Ememem wasn't feeling good and he had to use the restroom.  I'm just sitting there laughing cuz it was hilarious of how he went to the bathroom.  We went and saw Eunice at Abasi.  We taught her about prophets and stuff like that.  We left and saw Azuma for a bit.  He hasn't been coming cuz people in his family are saying bad stuff about the church.  I honestly don't like that one to say the least.  We left and saw Isaac and Maxwell at Market.  We taught a few points in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  We had a good lesson then we left and taught Livingston about the Law of Tithing**.

Friday we got up and did weekly planning.  But, Ememem was just lazy and didn't do anything, but that's normal for someone in their training.  We left to see a man named Prince at Palas Town and we had a good lesson with him.  We left and went to Pentacost.  We saw brother Elvanyo and made arrangements for us to come and teach his wife more.  We left and went to Agapey Down. . .we haven't been down there in forever!!!!  We went down and saw Mary!!!!  She's an old investigator, but she called us and we had a good lesson on Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon.  We left and came back home.

Saturday was cool cuz we went to see Isaac in his house and we taught 3 lessons in the course of 2 hours so he would be ready for his baptismal interview with Elder Hall.  We had a good time teaching and it was nice.  We left and went to see some people in Ablekuma.  We met a hair dresser named Morda and we hope to come back and teach her this week.  She seems promising.  We saw Azuma and the Nunoo family and then we came back home.  We got transfer new!!!!  Hall, Ememem, and I are staying.  Seninde is going to an area called Iron City in Kasoa.  We are having New Gbawe be whitewashed by Doffou and Wilson!!!  Chai that's amazing!!!!  This district is going to be fun!!!!!

Sunday we had Isaac and Elvanyo's wife come to church.  Isaac had his baptismal interview and he is all set for the baptism this next week.  We came back and did some work with the program we are doing as trainers and trainees.  We went to Ablekuma later and saw Ruth.  She has been sick recently and that's a bummer.  We then left and taught Azuma from the Book of Mormon.  We had an FM (free meal) with the Nunoo family.  We stopped by Francis and turns out he might be moving away!!!!  He hasn't come to church in a while and he wasn't feeling good so that was a bummer.  We talked to him and then we left and came back.

In all honesty here it was a rough week for a few reasons, but sometimes you just gotta try to stay positive to keep things going.  Hope you all are doing amazing and having fun.  Don't enjoy the 4th of July too much.  My old companion Elder Wallin is going home on the 4th so those fireworks are going on for him!!!!!  Take it easy bro!!!!!!  Happy 4th of July from Ghana, Africa!!!!!

From,
Elder Stockton Smith

** Law of Tithing

The Bible indicates that God’s people followed the law of tithing anciently; through modern prophets, God restored this law once again to bless His children. To fulfill this commandment, Church members give one-tenth of their income to the Lord through His Church. These funds are used to build up the Church and further the work of the Lord throughout the world.

One of the blessings of membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the privilege of paying tithing. This privilege is a double blessing. By paying tithing, Church members show their gratitude to God for their blessings and their resolve to trust in the Lord rather than in material things. They also help further the work of the Lord in the earth, blessing others of God’s children with the opportunity to learn of Him and grow in the gospel.

Tithing has been known since Old Testament times. For example, it is recorded in Genesis 14:17-20 that Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek.

Through the prophet Malachi, the Lord declared:

“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it” (Malachi 3:10).

Church members give their tithing donations to local leaders. These local leaders transmit tithing funds directly to the headquarters of the Church, where a council determines specific ways to use the sacred funds. This council is comprised of the First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and the Presiding Bishopric. Acting according to revelation, they make decisions as they are directed by the Lord. (See D&C 120:1.)

Tithing funds are always used for the Lord’s purposes—to build and maintain temples and meetinghouses, to sustain missionary work, to educate Church members, and to carry on the work of the Lord throughout the world.

As with members of many other faiths, Latter-day Saints believe that the payment of tithing shows gratitude to God and brings both spiritual and temporal blessings.