Week Seven Photos

Still can't believe that this is where I live!

These types of meetings happen frequently in our area.

Our steel wire box for our drinking water bags - it appears that we need to replenish.

Another great shot of where I live!

The pop tarts left by Sister Gleed after her surprise visit.

The new sword!  Best thing ever!

Week 7 Letter Home

Hey everyone!!! |So this week has been insane, we have been so busy. But before i really begin talking about that i want to concentrate on 1 Nephi 8:24-28, These verses talk about how there were some people in the vision of the tree of life that made it to the tree and completed and partook of the fruit. |But they began to cast their eyes around and saw a great and spacious building..... after hearing the scorns and the jokes that were being cast at them they allowed themselves to fall into forbidden paths they let themselves get lost in the mist of darkness. Please i beg all of you, do not let this happen. \|When you are called upon to look at those who cast scorn at our religion don't stand by and let it happen. We must respect others beliefs but we must ensure that our voice is heard as well. It is sometimes easier to let others believe they are right just t avoid confrontation but in a way that is keeping them fro the truth that is keeping them from drawing closer to God. We cannot sit by and let people laugh at and mock the truth. It is so hard, it isn't easy, not even for missionaries, but we must try. Our religion is not something to be ashamed of, falling into shadows because you are ashamed to have known the truth and to have traveled the path that has been asked of you is crazy. never use sin (the mist of darkness) to try to cover the fact you have done what God has commanded of you. Keep working keep trying. 

That is one of many things that i will talk about on my mission. I hope it helps those who needs to hear it. Now I would quickly like to talk about the spirit. The Spirit is a gift from God it is not something that we can just expect to have at all times. The way me and my companion teach it is a a toy, when a toy is given to a child and they do not use it properly of use it at all it is taken away until they understand the rules or the true purpose of it. I have begun to realize how it is taken for granted a lot of the time, we believe that we deserve to have it not matter where we are or what we are doing. We even believe that it should be common. this is not the way, this is something i need to work on so much and would challenge anyone reading to do the same. Every time we feel the spirit we should honestly want to record it, we should treasure those moments because they are the moments where we are closest to our Savior and our God. These times are opportunities to bear testimony to stand up and raise the ensign to all who will listen, we cannot let them pass by because if we do we are no longer using the gifts that God has given us. There is a story about this, the story of the Talents, the men who use the talents receive greater rewards while the man who throws his away and wastes the gift that he has been given is shunned. Don't waste the gifts God blesses you with. whether they are personal gifts or those meant to be shared use them the way the Lord would have you use them. Only then can we become the person that we need to become. 

You are all strong, you are all brave. Use those strengths an keep moving forward. We must always try because if we don't how can e progress. Yoda once said "Do or do not there is no try" however great the line is I wish to expand it without trying there is only failure. When we do not attempt we will never succeed, how can we expect to learn and grow when we give no chance for growth. We can't we will never change. I want all of us to see how important trying is even when Yoda (a great master) said we either make it or we don't. So try and see what happens because when we don't we miss a chance.

This week has been so busy i have been going non-stop to be honest. i really hope i can keep going at the pace that i have set for myself. I hope you all know that you have all given me strength and energy to do what I have needed to do. I wish i could be there to share all the thoughts and feeling that i have every day but that defeats my purpose as a missionary. i am to go out and help teach the world not just my family and friends.

I love you all so much. Keep working hard. When we show commitment God can be there as well working along side us everyday. Hope to hear from you all soon

Photos from Dinner With Katie Gleed and Her Friends

Out of nowhere, Katie Gleed and her friends appeared in Ghana!  They took us out to dinner and sent photos home to Mom!  She is mom's new best friend!

Katie Gleed - Edison's Newest Friend (and Mom's Angel)

Below is the text of a letter that Mom received today from a stranger who was an angel to me!


Hello 😊

My name is Katie Gleed. I live in Utah but was traveling in Ghana and ran into your son 😊 he said to tell you he is doing well. We thought you might like this picture from dinner yesterday. We took them out to eat and then unloaded all of our excess American food to them. They are great missionaries. Loved by the branch, happy and working hard.

With love,

Melanie, Rachel and Katie

Letter Number 6

To Everyone:

I am not really sure what to say about this week. I have been able to study a lot on consecration, there are really good talks on it. Most talk about how we must be willing to leave all that we have been given by God on the Alter of Sacrifice. If everything is given from God we should never hold anything back when he asks for it in return. 

Job is the go to example for this. His life was turned upside down. Completely rewritten. He went through so much, even his friends told him to Curse God and Die. His answer to this was to pray to god about how he should have been more patient and about how he wished he had done better. Can you imagine., having everything taken from you and then turning to God and saying I am sorry that I couldn't give it to you faster then I did. It has taught me a lot. I hope this makes sense. I hope you all see what he was put through. But I want you all to read the last chapter of Job and see the blessings that he receievd in the end. We can have that as we try and become consecrated to the Lord. 

I have had a very interesting week, not going to lie it has been very stressful. We went on exchanges with the other elders in Dunkwa (there are four of us - normally there should be eight in this area but right now we only have four - that is why we teach lessons constantly and barely have enough time to use the computer today - we have been teaching all day) then my companion had to get an ID renewal so I had to be placed with other Elders for that time . That was a lot of fun. But I did realize that Elder Stephens and I like to work hard and we have the same standards and the same way of doing things. It was hard to be with the other missionaries who did things a bit different. They weren't bad but just different. I like how Elder Stephens and I have things working. Truthfully, Elder Stephens makes me think that this is what it would be like if Benjamin (my brother) and I were companions on a mission. But everything seems to be finally going back to normal, well normal for Ghana. I cannot wait to be home to tell stories about this place, I have been keeping a journal and even collecting my talks. Just so I have evidence of all that happens here. 

God love you, tha'ts the first thing i state to people who will accept talking to us. I want you all to know the truth behind it. For example can you imagine the pain that it took him to give up His son, for people He knew would probably not care about the sacrifice. How hard would that be. Imagine the pain when He understood that the sacrifice both Him and His son were making would go unnoticed and unwanted by hundreds and thousands of people, and still knowing that if even one would come to Him the sacrifice was worth it. He loves you. Never believe otherwise it is easy to believe that He does not notice you but that is so far from the truth. God Loves you more then you could love anyone.

I miss you all, I hope that everyone is doing well. Don't worry about emailing me. The internet sucks so I may not be able to email back but I will try.

Love, Elder Butters

*From Elder Butters' Mom:  Please keep emailing him.  The internet is super slow and today was frustrating for him. Some of this letter is spliced with things he sent on a chat with me because he couldn't get the letter to send.  I told him to not worry about all of that but to be off doing good things.  We will keep writing regardless of whether we hear from him or not. Thank you for supporting this kid who forgot to mention in his letter that "I bought my first Ghana sword this week".....for those of you who know Edison, you know that his mission is now a success!  The proud owner of a Ghanaian sword.....what could be finer?!

Photo catch up from Start to October 15, 2017

Feels like home - his new home in Dunkwa!

The animals make themselves at home too - perhaps he is on guard duty for the drying laundry.

A street near their apartment in Dunkwa.

Pasta and bread - that amount of tomato sauce seems about right for Edison!

Is that the cutest face, ever!

The young man in the green, Brother Fisi, is being baptized by Elder Edison today!

What a great team they make!

Ta Da!!!

He has always been a great teacher of the young around him and Ghana offers glorious opportunities for him to perfect this skill.

Letter #5 - Busy and Getting Busier!

I got my first baptism!!  This was a young boy, Brother Fifi, who I had taught since I got to Dunkwa. I did not start teaching him but I took over teaching him with Elder Stephens when we arrived here. When it came time for him to be baptized, he specifically asked for me to do it for him.  This was a huge blessing!

Well this week has been insane. It still rains nearly everyday which is nice because it cools everything off but terrible because the humidity goes through the roof. So, please, stop blessing the rains down in Africa.

Oh before I forget, when I went back to my apartment last Monday the power was off. We thought it was Dumso (when electricity stops working) but it lasted over a day. We then realized that the power had been cut off to our apartment, completely. It was terrible. We called a few people to fix the problem and they said it would be up the next day first thing. We then went another full day and night without power. It wouldn't be that bad if I was in Utah because I would just put on more layers but in Ghana that is not the solution. Sleeping has been hard. But luckily for us we got our power back on when we were going on our fifth day with it off. Wow I love Ghana.

I have been going non stop the past few days, but that is to be expected. I I have gotten better at speaking the language but I still have so much to learn and to progress on. I wish it came easy to me but as always it is not a gift I have.

Luckily I have been blessed with another gift, I can now eat really anything that is put in front of me. Fufu, Banco, rice ball, anything. It is great because there isn't much of a selection where I am located. 

So me and my companion have figured out how to have an apartment fund and an extra fund for things we want. It allows us to cut the money that we spend each day. Because of this we have learnt that we live off of three or so dollars a day. Which would not work in America but isn't too bad out here in Ghana. 

I miss you all. I would love to hear from everyone. I am also sorry if i do not get back to you right away. There is so much to do and so little time to do it.

Love to all of you,  Elder Edison

*Things get better every single week and I am meeting so many people. And we are so so so busy!

Surprise Photos from Elder Stephens' Mom!

Elder Stephens got to use the computer to send photos today and I was able to connect with his mom who was good enough to share those photos with me!

Elder Stephens has been out one year as of October 5 - he and Edison get along great and they seem to have been busier than busy these last two weeks.  So grateful for missionary moms all over the country.

Another Week In Cape Coast - Eating and Killing

Well I have had a very busy week. We have gotten thirteen new investigators and have talked even more people. This place has been ready for us for awhile, honestly we are very behind. We will keep working, and continue to push through all that comes our way.

Me and Elder Stephens spent the better part of this morning finishing all the cleaning, the apartment actually looks livable now. But we did find a mouse..... I had to kill it with a machete. That was honestly a very new experience.  So hopefully that's not the only time i get to use a machete, i would love better stories then that. 

Oh when me and my companion came to our area there was already a young investigator. He will probably be baptized this week. Elder Stephens told me that if we are given the opportunity to baptize him, he wants me to do it. So first baptism in my first three weeks in my actual mission. Well that is awesome. Now before i forget. This mission, it's different. This is where the most progress is happening (not my area but most of Africa). I am glad to get the opportunity to baptize but i know that baptism is only part of our purpose. We are out here to plant seeds, to show people that missionaries are good people. I have just gotten lucky in my area.

Life has been really busy. Everything gets really disgusting here very quickly. That just means washing is even more fun. I have actually scrubbed my hands raw. it is only slightly concerning. Lets hope my hands get tougher over time.

My companion and I get very creative with dinner (when my companion and I, I really mean just him.) We have had pasta, toast, and a lot of other stuff. Usually he cooks and i clean. I am very happy with that arrangement. Don't worry i will have him teach me all he knows so i can survive when I am no longer his companion.

We both got sick this week. Nothing bad just colds. But it has been tough. We are entering Hamitan (The hottest part of the year) which means it is a change in seasons from hot to even hotter. So we have been fighting through that. We will never stop 

I love you all, next week I get a chance to send pictures so i will make sure to get those out to all of you. 

Talk soon

Arrival in Drunkwa, Africa (The Armpit of the Cape Coast Mission)

Well, I am finally out. I am free. Well, as much as a new missionary can really be. I have been sent to the area of Dunkwa. It is actually a small, small city in the middle of nowhere. It is the furthest spot on the mission from the mission home. So I had to take another four hours after a eight hour car ride the day before to get here!

I have kept myself busy - me and my companion (Elder Stephens) were able to talk to over eighty people in three days! For perspective, the week goal for a companionship is thirty five hours, so we crushed that completely. It was good exploring our area. There is a lot to see and many people to talk to. 

Our area was once covered by two companionships and has now been condensed to one. We have a huge area. it is crazy!! So much walking. Oh, the sun and humidity is quite terrible. Everyone is always sweating, It is terrible. and with an apartment that doesn't have air conditioning it makes it hard to concentrate.

So because I am located so far away from any place that shows conference I have not seen it yet. So far I have only heard amazing things about it which is nice. I hope to get a chance to read some of the talks soon, but I am not sure I will get the opportunity any time soon.

The apartment that I have been moved into seemed to have not been cleaned for over a few years. Today we spent the better part of four hours cleaning it all. It now looks like a place we can actually stay in.

I am sorry I haven't been able to send pictures. The set up here is not amazing, but I will continue to try. I will also continue to take as many pictures as possible.

So I have gone out to eat twice so far. Both times we have gotten something that cannot be chewed and must be swallowed!! It is so hard. But I have been able to eat it all successfully!!

One miracle that happened this week was when me and my companion were followed by a crazy guy. It was super weird. He just started following us. Luckily a guy that we had talked to no less than thirty seconds before, saw what was happening and scared the guy off. I am very happy that we got blessed that way.

All the children here are so nice. The call us obrioni (definitions: White person) It is so funny because everyone calls us that. So this is a very different place then America.

I love you all so much, I love getting your emails. Hope to hear from you all soon