So today I will give some more information about Nkanfoa because I will be staying through another transfer and my companion will be staying with me! Those are both good pieces of news for me.
1. Many people here close their days at 7 pm or so because many get up at 5 am or earlier because they do not want to be working in the hot sun. This makes evening and night missionary work almost impossible because no one is available to talk or visit.
2. Because there are so many different cultures and regions in Ghana, the languages vary wildly which causes great confusion.
3. Missionary work is a far bigger part of the wards here. It takes precedence and missionaries can even have missionary Sundays where they talk about missionary work and attempt to get people involved.
4. The food I can get here is "special"........FUFU is not all that amazing and I can hardly wait for the chicken we sometimes get.
5. Humidity is a killer, i am slowly becoming water; I sweat constantly and drip everywhere.
6. Not really sure what else to add, oh, we have our own personal fans as missionaries to sleep with because otherwise it is too hot to not get dehydrated under the mosquito net.
Now onto the topics I really want to share. To start,I want to talk about the importance of Conference. The first conferences that I had on mission were not available to me at all. I missed the October 2017 and the April 2018 chances to listen to men chosen by God, to speak to the world. Yes, I got to read it but this past Sunday I was able to see three sessions and even the Sunday morning session live!! I cannot express the importance of being able to hear their voice and see their love. Each and every speaker is important. While watching, because of a tech error, the women's seesion was played across Ghana rather then the Saturday normal session. This was rough but while I heard what was happening I saw many men allow themselves to become distracted. Luckily, i was able to focus and many of my questions were answered even though I wasn't technically supposed to be involved in the session. I am grateful that the technical error was sent to me as a tender mercy from my Heavenly Father and that I was allowed to hear things that answered my own questions. I wish to quote the Book of Mormon but I do not know it off the top of my head and I do not have my scriptures beside me at this computer location. There is a time that Nephi talks about how he helps his family apply the Gospel into their lives. This works even when a message is not directed at us in particular (e.g. all the wars in the Book of Mormon); we can still apply it to our lives. There is always a lesson to be learned in every line and verse of scriptures and in all of Conference. Find how the talk relates to you, maybe not directly but listen to your thoughts because they will change and lead you to the answer if you are willing. To all who do not know what conference is, this is a time when the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints gather and listen to leaders in this Church. It is a time where we receive direction and I would prompt all of you to listen to it. It can be found online and even at LDS.ORG.
Now to talk about a specific talk, i wish to draw from Elder Holland. He talked about letting go of old wounds and finding direction. I want to specifically mention a line that he stated that I had written down the previous week (not word for word but in my own words and a similar idea). He said, "Do what you can before you never have the chance again." Let's talk about asking for forgiveness before it is too late. I have had to learn the hard way about asking for forgiveness both on mission and off. It is hard but it allows your conscious to be clear and allows you to again feel God's love for you. Asking for forgiveness even when you believe you are still right is important, asking is not a sign of weakness or a sign of defeat (a lesson that has taken me a long time to learn). Having the knowledge that you have done all you can to fix what you have caused to happen brings release and tranquility. I have even written about this topic before but i feel a need to re-emphasize it for myself. Many times in my mission I have asked people to forgive me for things that I believe and felt did not need to cause anger or a feeling of offense, but I promise that the feeling you get after asking is good enough to outweigh all the challenges about it. Apologize and feel that comfort that you have now made all the restitution you can (for smaller sins). Restitution is an important part of repentance that we teach often around here. To fix it as best you can is not easy but it is at this time that you show God and others that you do not wish to dwell in the mistake. Elder Holland asked us to do all of this with faith. Go forth and fix the issues we all have because you will not want it to be on your plate when you stand in front of God in the last day. Love you all.
Off I go to another week of working in Nkanfoa and doing my best to love those around me as the Savior does. Work hard on your end, too.
Love, Elder Edison
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