More Investigators Than Ever!

Hey people, I hope you are all doing well. Please know that the computer I am using is terrible so if there are any bad spelling mistakes I blame the keyboard... Sorry I just needed that to be clear.

To begin I will start with the idea that God helps you reach and even go beyond goals when you are ready. This past week my companion and I came to a common consensus that we did not have enough investigators in our pool so we spent the rest of the week trying to find people. We were able to get 12 new investigators and have follow up appointments with them planned for this coming week. To put this in perspective, you have to understand that in most areas two or so new investigators a week is actualy a very "live" area. We may have changed our entire persective on finding and getting people after what we saw happen this week with the Lord's power working. Everything good comes from God, so from the birth of our idea to find new investigators with extreme vigor, all the way to the execution of that goal, God was in control. Now my companion and i set a goal for five newbies but God knew we were ready and willing for more so He made sure that we found all 12 of those who were looking for something good! Sometimes as a misssionary you think you may just be randomly walking (especially when part of your area makes you feel like Tarzan) around but God is always in control.

I am sure you all know that God is a part of your life (even if you don't, you know there are people who love you on this Earth). Look for the love of others and the Love of God in all the small things. People are always willing to help you and make a day better. Look for those small smiles and the bright moments in your day, and never forget that you are loved more than you can ever understand.

I love you all and I am making sure to keep all of you in my prayers

Talk soon

Elder Edison

Photos of Baptisms and Clouds

Overlooking Telecom 2 after a storm/during a storm/before a storm!

A Double Baptism Saturday!!!

These two young man have made huge commitments in their lives and are being baptized!  Edison did not get much time to teach them but has loved being a part of their baptism preparation!

The smiles on the missionary faces show they know just how awesome this day is going to be. Notice the baptism "dresses" worn by the young men.  It is interesting to see how things are done around the world and every single way is God's way!

Clouds coming into Telecom 2 -gorgeous!  Edison cared for a sick companion all week and photography was a great escape from the constant nurturing required.

That cloud looks just like God could be sitting inside.

Post Mother's Day Trials For Edison

Hey people. I hope you are all doing well. I miss you all so much.

This week has been very different I have spent far more time beign a care taker then i ever thought i would be. Waking up at two in the morning to give medication and keeping people fed and hydrated while making sure everything else is being done is wierd. I appreciate Mothers so much more then i use to. I could hardly do the job i was asked to and usually mothers never get thanked for doing it twenty four seven. Whoever is reading this please thank you mother for being awesome. She gave up more then you know to help you.

This past wek has let me see how to truly give your all. To sacrifice comfort to help a greater good. Now i am not talking about myself but i am talking about my leaders. every morning at 6:30 i would usually get a text or call from both mission president and his wife checking up on my companion. Every moment they could they wished to be apart of his recovery. Now my companion went out even when battling a bad stomach and we were able to find success in just a short amount of time. Seeing people fight against the natural man is incredible. We have all been called to move away from our own selfish and unjust desires and replace them with God's. Be strong enough to put God first and you will be blessed in ways that you or i can hardly imagine.

Thanks for everything talk soon

Mother's Day Letter

Hello people

I hope you are all doing well, I can only imagine what you may be going through because at this point i have no real idea at who reads these letter. Yet i shall not be hindered in the quest to writ to "people" each week.

So this past week has been fun, we have been trying to really explore our area and find new people. It has been proving very difficult because so many people are not serious but there are not enough people to just let them slide through the cracks. We have been working with a lot of people and have also found work in helping members. The reliefe society President here own a small shop and my companion and I will usually go through and help he tie bags of ground nuts, gari, sugar and so forth. I have become so good at tying Ghanaian knots that ballons back at home would be easy.

I have found that patience is soemthing that i really have to work on. There are days where we will end up walking around for hours with no lessons or anything productive to do, But i have realized that as we stay out the day could actually improve. For example a few days ago we had one of the worst days on mission i have ever had, yet as we moved into the evening we began meeting peole who wanted to be taught, met with investigators we hadn'e planned and had an amazing end to the day. God tests you and then give you the rerward, now i am no where near where i ned to be in patience but i want all of us that read these words to try and be a little less rushed in trails because those moments build you more then anything else.

I love you all and i miss you all so much. talk soon

PHOTOS From The Mission Cowboy!

In Assin Faso a missionary can help farmers herd their cattle!

The missionary cowboy and his new friends -

Notice the horns protruding from the back pack - perfect placement according to Oscar.

Love the Welcome sign on the home behind the cattle.

Elder Butters is fond of his new friends in Assin Foso Telecom 2!

Elder Mortimer and Elder Butters just one week into their new area and new companionship!

A beautiful family with a darling little girl - how could Edison not be smiling!

All the elders want into the photograph.

Love these close up shots of this awesome son!

Candy packages bring a smile out in everyone in the apartment -

So much love in this photograph - this young man is Samuel and will be baptized!

Assin Foso Telecom 2

Hello People,

I hope you are all living well in your air-conditioning and all your other comforts and accommodations. I, on the other hand, am out in Ghana, which is nice (just not in the same way). 

I am now in a new area, as I had said last week. I am still attempting to adjust to my new area and ever changing situation, I hope that in the end I learn to love this place, but from what I have seen up to now, I have come to understand that the love I have for my areas only appears as I leave the area. I never know how much I love something until I have to give it away.  My new area is called Assin Foso Telecom 2.....my mom thinks it sounds like another planet!  In many ways, that is correct.

This past week has been challenging. I have had to white wash most of our area because the boundries had not been properly set, so we are trying to learn about and add a whole new (and larger) section to our area. If we take all this into account, then I have had my past three areas be white washes (not technically but in practice). A white wash is when two missionaries are put into an area where neither of them has any real and full experience in it. So we have had a very slow few days trying to find and teach anyone in our new area that would care to listen.

It has taught me, however, the importance of not giving in or giving up. My companion has taught me how to have greater optimism and perserverence in the challenges that we have faced. It has been good to see that as we work hard, even when no fruits are seen, God still allows you to have a peaceful conscience.

We are working hard and we were even able to herd cows when I first got here, I could go home and be a cowboy especially because the companion I am with is an actual cowboy. I don't know where the knowledge I have acquiered about farming and milking will come in handy but I have it now if i ever need it.

A mission is truly a combination of so many things. I am grateful for it all and love my time doing the Lord's work.

Love you all and keep those letters and prayers coming -

Elder Edison