A Well Deserved Celebration

These two companions traveled down from Idaho to welcome Elder Butters home. They served alongside him and blessed each other and so many people in Ghana. Edison was so thrilled to see them at church.

Family, friends, companions, ward members.....so many people in our home today to celebrate Edison and his return.

We love this family and we love Alec too!

Don and Tag West joined us from Wyoming (they are cousins to Grandma Reynolds) and it was the first time that Edison got to meet Kate, Jake's wife.

A table of very, very good people.

Edison fell right back into place with his friends from high school.  A great cap-off to two years of blood, sweat and tears (quite literally).  Onward and upward, no doubt.  But, God knew what He was doing when He sent Edison out to watch miracles, create miracles, eat fufu and find out just how hard he is capable of working.

Edison's Homecoming

Edison brought special Ghana ties for everyone to wear to church.  All the boys posed together.

Aaidan needed to get in on the action......a fabulously fantastic day in the Butters' home.

These six siblings have been out and about and not together since October 26, 2016....and now, almost three years later.....they have reunited.  Pretty great day for this mom.

Power Rangers Reunited!

Benjamin had to wait three days because of school before he could reunite with Edison.  They have not seen each other since October 2016....that's a long time for two brothers-in-the-cause to be separated.

This moment was everything!!!  Absolutely everything!!!

So happy to see them back together again.

Finding Grandma and Grandpa

Apollo looks good on him.  We met up with Grandma and Grandpa Butters for lunch so they could greet their newly returned missionary grandson.

He Needs New Shoes

Best indicator of time well spent and a mission well served!  There are no words to express how grateful I am for these shoes and the stories they could tell.

Finding Big Brother

Harrison couldn't make it to the airport because of work.....so we took Edison to Harrison and their reunion was difficult to catch on camera but this turned out to be a great shot of two happy brothers.

He Has Returned!

And after all of that.....he returns.....having accomplished the impossible, having lived through crazy hard times, having loved some who were hard to love, having been loved by many and disliked by some.....he has come home!  Oh, how I love this man.

A darling sister holding a darling nephew who doesn't remember Edison but will soon come to love and adore him just the same.

So glad to have the family together again.  His bags were first off the belt and he could not wait to get out of the airport.  He is not one for crowds or making big deals out of things and so we left almost as quickly as we had arrived.

But, just one more photo to make sure this is really happening!  He's home!  I wouldn't take back a single minute and I am so proud of what he conquered but I think that he is ready for a hamburger!

Curtains Closing

There is a lot of beauty in the end, now that it has come. Honestly it is a lot like finishing the last bite in your favorite type of cake. You so desperately want nothing more than to save the last bite but you cannot contain the desire to taste it again. I really do not want this to ever stop but I know these last few moments will be worth living fully and completely. I often remember watching my brother act on stage when I was young, I loved seeing him perform; every time he would sing and act, it was just perfect. But as often as I wanted the play to continue, the curtains would always fall in the last scene, and that would be it. Life is a lot like that, a play ending. You never want it to, you have come to love the characters through their laughs and tears you went through it all. You want to see the happiness continue to know further and in greater detail all of the stories and lifetimes you will now not be a part of. But you also know the end must come, if it continues the happy ending will change into something else. Yet God teaches us a very important lesson in our life: that no end is final. No Matter how hard it is to let go of something you love there is always another play waiting. There are different characters and new plots, that is the sad thing, it will never be the same as before but that also is the best blessing that we can get. Though we always would love to see the same faces, God places us in front of a different stage and the curtains rise and we have to be ready. Though it will not be the same play you watched and loved before it will be something you can come to love. It may never be as perfect or as fun but that does not matter. what matters is that there is something new to see and something new to come to love. 

Curtains rise and fall

you won't see the same faces 

nor the same plot

but you have a chance to love again

to open your eyes and find what you need to learn

enjoy the search and find the story you need

:Learn what you can and grow

Love, Elder Edison

Spiders Are My New Normal

Miracles happen! All is going well here. Had a lot of people show up to Stake conference! People are finally moving forward. This place will become something great.

I am so happy right now, so much work has been going on even this coming week we are going to have three exchanges which will really keep me busy. 

I have no idea what to write about this week. Honestly I have gotten use to all that happens here it is no longer all that entertaining. From spiders to bad food to talking with people that will just get mad at me, all seems very normal. 

A Baptism

.... This week has gone far too fast. I can hardly handle it. I need more time to do everything. Luckily there was a Baptism this week!!! Sister Dinah is a Part member that we faound and Baptized. SHe is so powerful and will continue to be amazing in the coming weeks, along side the Baptism that will happen in another two weeks of another part member that we located.  Not to mention the family that has been pushing to find the truth is finally making progress again and may be Baptized before i go!!!

This has been a really nice week. Lots got done and many people taught and even a baptism. I got real blessings this week. Sometimes i guess you get to see the fruits after all.

Today i wanted to focus on how our focus chooses our success. When we focus on the end wanting it to be the best it can be we will make our way there but if we are so caught up in the barriers in between us we will only delay our full potential from showing. Many times in martial arts i had to break wooden boards with both my hands and feet. It was a lot of fun but the technique used taught me a lot. When trying to break the boards if you focused on the face of the board that you were going to hit you would never break through but if you focused on where you hand would be if your broke though that is where you hand ended up.  We have to make sure we do not get distracted my the trials, though they are important to plan for we have to know and understand that we can overcome anything with God. Too often we focus on the problem and not ion what we will be after and even when we get though it we have not yet become who we were meant to be. That is the difference between trying and and doing. When we try we may get success but it will not be the results God wants for us. When we try we rely on ourselves and our power or in other words we fear enough to let ourselves have the potential to fail. Unlike trying Doing is having the faith that no matter what comes we will get through it with God on our side, it is not relying on our own power but the power that God gives to us. Knowing that when it gets hard that is when we will either grow bigger muscles or God will step in. Many times we forget that our load will be lightened and lifted when we follow. Now that does not just mean our problem will be come easier for us (sometimes it will) but often it means as we endure the solutions will come in Gods way. 

God does not expect us to make our own miracles but he asks us to expect them if we are worthy of them in our lives.  Sometimes expecting the miracle is the cause of it. It takes faith in a lot of things we cannot see which are true. Lean on the Lord and he will direct you and if you are willing he will be there to preform the miracle that will change everything (even if that means someone will smile at you during a bad day). Expect things to change and they will because you will be working towards that goal even subconsciously. Focus is everything. That is what we need to see. Expect yourself to be better then you are and no matter what the weight that you endure s it will always seem light compared to what God will one day make you.

Love you all 

Ammon The Arm Guy

Wow, another week. I have no idea how they go by so fast. It seems like only Yesterday i was on the computer typing frantically to tell you about stuff and now here i am again doing the same thing!

God sure does like to mess with time! He makes years seem fast and moments seem like an eternity! 

So this past week in preparation for a zone conference we were instructed to read a talk "Stand forever". It is an amazing talk. In it we learn a lot about the need that we have on the Holy Ghost and the amount of effort we need to put in to keep it in our lives. However at one point in the talk it gave symbolism of a old Pioneer fort built out of cotton logs. When he gave this reference i came to think about the role we have in keeping our loved ones safe. Though we are not a perfect protection alone when we stand together we become a force to be reconded with. Just as the cotton logs in the story, one alone could not provide all that much help but as we stand shoulder to shoulder against the enemy those we care for remain safe inside. 

This story was also written of in the great story of Ammon the arm guy! once they have collected the sheep together he told his fellow workers to stand around them so they could no longer flee as he went out to fight the foe. Just the same Jesus Christ has asked us to stand where we are planted as he goes out and fights. Just as Ammon went alone so did the Savior. However unlike Ammon the Savior's battle could only be fought by him. However we can still play our part and Stand forever where we are called. There are many sheep of this fold and they need as a cotton log; a way to buffer  Satan's attack on Gods Children. However when a log is missing the whole construct is left vulnerable. If we abandon or do not take seriously our part we will ruin the protection. From ministering to Prophet all people are needed and essential. Be that defense for others. because someone is or once will be that defense for you. By small and simple things great things come to pass. 

Be The Change

1. Don't know much to say i feel like i have shared all i can about Ghana

This past week has been a lot of fun, many ups and downs. But the lessons i have learned out here have kept me going. God really does tailor fit you for the things that He wants you to accomplish. It has been cool to see how God will control things to help you grow. We know God will never let us be tempted more then we can bare, he is always trying to help us grow and will make sure it is always possible. Growth is his greatest hope for us. Face a challenge and grow to meet it and you will have done what God needed you to do.

So much of the life that I have lived has been different from most, and i cannot be more thankful. Every new thing that happens in my life helps me move forward and take it to the next level. We have all grown in our life, we just need to make sure we are following what God wants us to become. Trees will grow and twist as the reach for light, we to must be ready to change from the path we think is perfect to reach the light of the Son of God. as we do this we help others be guided to the light, we too become the lower lights that are described in "Brightly beams our Father's mercy" (in the hymn book). So what have you become.

One of the hardest times in my life has been a move from China to America. Taking that step and changing all that i knew and loved made me feel very alone. I often found myself resentful for the alteration in my surroundings. However as time went on I came to understand that it was for the best. Many times we believe that change is chaotic , however the greatest peace is found in change. As change occurs me must be ready to follow the path, there is always a light in the darkness. Peace is not the absence of change but the ability to follow the light in the darkness. During change we become more aware of the things around us, ready and willing to make or cut ties. We can then follow the will that God has for us rather then our own. 

Find peace in the change around you. Find God in the change around you

Lots of People

1. Ghana has lots of people and not many like to learn about Gospel or at least the true gospel

2. To eat chicken is very expensive but makes missionaries happy.

So this week has been fun, not many exchanges so i have not been too busy on that front but we have been working hard to try and fill our teaching pole. Many people here in Ghana will let you teach a time or two and then when you try to go to them again they will never be around. It makes it a lot of fun to try and have two days worth of people to teach when both me and my companion have another person in the area with us.... We have been attempting to find a lot more people who will actually be able to make the steps of repentance, it has been fun to see the blessings of it. We have already seen a growth in sacrament meeting attendance. It has been a blessing to us since we have been working our tails off. 

This week it has been different, even today, it has become so easy to work now. I know when i first started i was not as bold as i am now. I have seen the changes in the way i act and talk. I really feel like a representative of the Lord. One thing though that came to my mind when preparing for a talk in sacrament (because the people suppose to give talks never came). So in the five min i had to prepare i thought a lot about commandments and following though with it all. But something also came to my mind. The idea of the Name of Jesus Christ written on our hearts. I found myself thinking that i never really want the name to leave. I pray that i have worked hard enough out here so the Name on my chest has burned deep into my heart. It reminded me of our Baptisml Covenant, we promise to be willing to take upon ourselves the name of Christ. We promise that we will comfort mourn with and lift all around us who need our help. What i love about the covenant is that it doesn't specify the person or their mentality it just says those that mourn, those that stand in need of comfort. We promised or will promise to do that for others. This led me to think of who we might need to help. It also got me thinking about promptings again. Too often we let our selves forget that even if a prompting seems to have not result in the end it will change everything. Can you imagine being Moses and being prompted to divide a sea!!!!!! Instead we are asked to visit to send a scripture text of even to say hi. Just do it and never have to feel the regreat of not followeing the Spirit.

I love you all and love talking about helping those in need. There is a lot that God would like to have us do, most of the time the only thing stopping the full speed of the work is his unobservant servants. Keep your mind open for God to direct you 

No More Scorpions and Will I Transfer?

1. No scorpions this week

2. Trying to carry water on your head is a lot harder then it seems.......

3. When you have a Nerf football (thanks, Mom and Dad for the birthday gift) and four Elders in an apartment, the games of catch are far too much fun.

There is something that I am working on right now: throughout my mission I have been in areas that I have been able to uplift and build only to leave before a lot of fruits become realized. I have never been too unhappy about it, and I have always tried to smile whenever it happens. However, it seems like it may happen again in this area. I expect to be transferred later this week. I am not too sad. To work without seeing the fruits of my labors come full circle is sometimes a greater blessing then seeing the fruits. We are told to walk by faith and not by sight. Many times throughout life we are all called to do things where we will not see or recognize the results and consequential blessings of our efforts. Whether that applies to your family, friends, school, or Church callings. It is not about seeing all the effect you had but being sure that there will be an effect because God would not have placed you in that area or in that calling if you would not have been able to do anything. We are supposed to stand tall and move on when we are told. To see the fruits of our efforts is a blessing but to be asked to leave before we get to see face to face all the effects of our labors, forces us to become more humble and diligent, recognizing that it is all up to God. Nothing we do can really be accounted for by ourselves so why worry who gets the credit, move on and smile.  That is the philosophy that I am trying to develop and nurture because I really do miss the people in each area that I have worked within.

Credit doesn't even belong to us when we are the ones who see the result, all good things come from God. Even one of the Greatest of the Prophets of God was asked to lead a people for over forty years and before he got to the land that he had been promised he was told that he would never enter there.... Instead he simply walked away and was not heard from again (or so it seems). God asks us to grow when he withholds us from something but in the end there was always something better for us to be doing. Just as if I had stayed in the other areas to see all my work progress, I would not have been able to strengthen the other areas that I went to in the same manner. You too may never see the full effect that you had but the ripple that we cause in the water of the world does not stop all that fast and it goes far beyond our ability to see. When a small pebble hits the water it doesn't know the ripple it caused to change and move the whole pond. Make your ripple and Know that God will control the effect long after you are gone.

I love Cape Coast. I love the people. I love my companions and our apartment is so awesome right now.  So much talk of my departure soon but I can hardly stomach the thought.  Thank you for your letters!

Love, Elder Edison

So Many Exchanges!

1. Having A week of three exchanges then a week of four and then a week of two has been a lot of fun. Finally on the downward with only two to go.

2. When eating in a chop bar (the Ghana equivalent to a fast food joint) be careful what you eat. It does not always sit well.... That day was rough

3. Found a centipede in our room this week. I had fun killing it.... it is among the hundreds that I have had to kill,,,

I want to focus on the scripture found in Mormon 8:4, this reference is given as part of the first farewell of Moroni. As he is preparing to finish the record he gives us the final details of his life. He tell us of his Father's murder, his people's destruction, and even keeps us up to date on the progress of the records. However, his line written in verse four has always stood out to me. This man, this Prophet, and great leader tells us that after he hides the book, it matters not where he goes. He straight up tells us that there is no one left, no one for him to turn to, no one to lead. He is utterly alone, but instead of filling the last few pages of this precious book with his story and hardship, he fills it with words of hope. He keeps the commission of Nephi found in 1 Nephi 6:4-5, that talks about how this set of Scripture must be filled with things of God. Though written on different plates, Moroni does not lose sight of this invitation. He walked away from it all. Brave man.

Often we are asked to do things that seem difficult but we too can be like this power house of a man. He ended it all and walked away from the only thing that stood for anything anymore and he trusted that God would take care of the rest. Nothing else was necessary. We are asked to leave a lot behind but when we know that it is for God that we are performing these great things, it should be easy to let the rest fall into place. 

When doing good we often make sure, at least in a slight way, that people take notice. We make sure to get our foot in the door just to make sure we get credit for the things that are happening. But I am learning how important it is to let those moments of recognition go.  Do something good, then stand up and let it go. As you study humility in the scriptures you discover that true humility is giving the credit of all good things to God. "all good things come from God", when we take credit we are trying to say that we were and are in charge of what happens here. That is what Satan wanted. He said that when anyone does something good (and in his plan that was the only option) He must get all the reward. We better not make the same mistake that he did. Smile and be happy about success but make sure you give all the credit to your Father in Heaven. We are only as good as He has made us and we will only be as successful as our efforts and His will allow us to be.  It all belongs to God!  He is our master and I love Him.

Love, Elder Edison

A Goat and a Scorpion

This week has been crazy, I went on three exchanges and have four planned for next week!!!!

1. When a goat breaks into someone's farm and needs to be chased out - if missionaries need to do it, they need to make sure they do it without misplacing their name tag. Yes, this happened to my companion this week. Took us awhile to find it.

2. The second scorpion climbed into our shower.... It is not fun trying to prepare for the morning and having to kill something all while trying to avoid begin bitten and dying.

There is something I want to focus on today: the line "close your eyes but keep your mind wide open". This line is from the movie, "Bridge to Taribithia". It is a great movie but this line came to my head recently. It has so much meaning: when it comes to life we often use our eyes and our own judgement and opinions to try and determine what is going on. In the movie, the line I quoted is teaching someone to use their imagination to improve their world and their place in it.  We can easily apply it to ourselves in everyday matters, as well. We do not always get to see the whole plan of our lives, the part we play or how we fit into it entirely. Just as a puzzle piece doesn't always show the full significance of the puzzle, we too cannot determine our own relevance in the plan of God. If a puzzle piece could talk it may talk about its vibrant colors while another may talk about its dark tones; but if either are missing we would have an incomplete picture. 

We need to make sure that when it comes to us trying to believe in God, we cannot always point out His constant actions in our lives, but we have to make sure we close our eyes and keep our mind wide open. That's how the Spirit can come into our eyes and into our heart. On mission I have met a lot of people who are expecting to have great visions and dreams when it comes to receiving personal revelation. Often they forget that God want us to walk by faith and not by sight. But often I feel that many of us who still believe that faith is foremost, unwittingly fall into the same pit of error. Though we may not expect a dream or a vision, we may expect more then we need. Be ready for God to remind you that your eyes must be closed and your mind must be open. 

Many miracles still go unnoticed today, many are overlooked. Too often we see simple things and believe them to be a natural consequence or a happenstance, however the people of Ghana have indirectly taught me a great principle: often when asking someone if they are alright, they will reply Nameadom (Na-Meh-a-dom) meaning by God's grace. There is a lot that God does on a daily basis that we forget is his handy work. We forget what really went into the creating and formation of this world and its laws. I would invite all of us to go back and try and see what miracles we may be missing in our day. But when you search your memories, make sure you close your eyes and keep your mind wide open.

Love, Elder Edison

Twentieth Birthday in Ghana

To My Friends and Family All Over The World:

Weird to be twenty...... I am going to miss the teens...

1. Birthdays in Ghana are somehow boring... Fufu is still the main meal

2. Teaching in zone conference is not all that great.

3. the sun beats me and then the rain hits me

I am so happy to be able to talk this week. I love all of you and am so happy for all that people have been doing. I have loved looking back recently and being able to see how revelation is able to do so much when it seems to do so little. Many times in my life I have searched for what God would want me to do. Only to be left "unanswered" as I would put it. However, as I have looked back (especially at the past year and a half) I can really see how God was making me into something and testing me at times to make sure I knew I was ready for what came next. Many times in life we look down roads as far as we can and then ask God what he wants, too often we forget that we are here to use our agency, when we ask and do not receive an answer, we still have to act. Mostly when our heart is in the right place we will be led to where God needs us to be.

Now I want to talk about how a smile changes everything! A few weeks ago I went on exchanges with the assistant to the President of the mission. When we went out the goal we set (or one of them) was that we need to smile. Often I find myself not smiling throughout the day. not because I am unhappy but because I do not always feel the need to smile. Lately I have been trying to do better at it. As I have gone around with a purposeful smile I have felt a change. Sometimes to not be Laman and Lemuel we just need to wear a smile. We forget that the simple acts are the way God works. By small and simple means great things come to pass. We are even told that some miracles may seem small to us but are great to God. The one I have come to know better is that a smile is a miracle from God. To be able to be happy and show it to others completes the commitment to let our light so shine before men. This is one of my favorite scriptures. We are meant to be a light. Now as a missionary I have a white handbook that has a lot of rules written inside of it, one of them talks about our appearance and how it is the first thing that many people see. We forget (or at least i do) that it is referencing more than just the clothes we wear. A smile can make a difference. Even in the play  "Anne" there is a song that talks about how it is "what you wear from ear to ear, and not from head to toe" that matters.  To smile can change a day from bad to good. To go about with the warmth of a smile can make all the difference.

Though I am still forgetful about smiling I know that when I remember, my day changes. Though it will still be hard I will see the good in it. and that means i can make it better for everyone.

Smile!

Love, Elder Edison

Have Joy - But No Fruit

Hello Family members and friends. I love you all so much!

1. There is no good fruit around right now......

2. Spiritual experiences happen when people are prepared (when you know it is true you know when you need to act)

3. When you smile all day you get a lot more done

This past week has been a blast I have a new companion. His name is Elder Muhlauyo (however it is pronounced Mu-Shlaa-ouy-yo) Many people cannot say his name so we end up laughing with all the people that we try and contact. It has been fun still pushing this area forward we have a lot of promising people that really know how and why they need to follow the truth. A few of the people we are working with are facing trials that are keeping them from committing, luckily my companion and I have come to know that when you are worthy of the Spirit it will make you say things that truly change the person. We have had some incredibly powerful lessons because of the Spirit's witness to them. You cannot do this work without the constant aid of the Spirit. The past week I have felt the influence a lot in our lessons! 

So recently we taught someone the Gospel of Jesus Christ (faith, repentance, baptism, the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End). During the lesson we compared it to walking up mountains (because my area is nothing but large hills and valleys!) We talked about how the journey of the Gospel can be viewed as climbing a big hill. It takes faith to start, and without the faith to begin you cannot just continue. The steps you take are difficult and full of hardship (repentance) but every step you take is joyous because it means you are closer to reaching the highest point you have ever reached before. Baptism (as compared in the scriptures) we related to a gate you have to pass to reach the top, then as you pass the gate you are blessed to have somone walk beside you (the Holy Ghost) who can be with you as you continually walk to the top (enduing to the end). The lesson was so simple and plain, it felt so natural to talk about so it was a blessing that the Spirit could testify of it so completely. As Preach my Gospel quotes, "the more simple and complete a statement the more chance the Spirit has to testify of truth." 

When we went and followed up in another lesson, they came forward with concerns stopping them from making commitments. They are fully aware of what they must do to follow Jesus Christ and they Believe all that has been testified to them (from Joseph Smith to the Plan of salvation) but to act has its challenges. While talking we again related it to the hill we had talked about the lesson before. We discussed how as Christ declared, we must all pick up the cross and walk with him. This lesson was hard to talk about. We shared with her the the journey we are on is not without challenge or burden. Instead we are commanded to take up our burdens and push forward anyway. The cross we have to carry up the hill is our personal witness to God that we are willing to follow him and His Only Begotten Son. We talked about their challenge and concern and showed how, though my companion and I love them and do not want them to suffer, they have been asked to push forward (not by us, but by God) and get to the top. The Spirit was so palpable i could have cut it with a knife. We also Promised them that as they pushed forward their burden would be made light (not taken away) because of the Love of the Savior.

I learned a lot in that lesson for myself. Even as we go forward in this life a lot happens but instead of seeing it as a burden we have to view it as another chance to prove to both God and Jesus Christ that there is nothing that can stop us following and serving them. The walk up this hill is a long one, full of gullies and bumps but it is all worth it if we can reach the top. Making it is part of the fun, as we know "Adam fell that men might be, and Men are that they MIGHT HAVE JOY" (emphasis added)

love you all

Coconuts Instead of Mangoes and Say Your Prayers!

People of Earth! It is good to once again talk with you.

1. Fresh Coconuts nearly make up for no mangoes (nearly)

2. Fresh coconuts are so much better then store bought

3. When you invite everyone to come to Church and a fraction show up, it lets you see the miracle of even one investigator coming to Church

This week has been normal, to say the least. We have been busy with a lot of things and many exchanges but no giant things seem to have unfolded this past week. I am not sure if that is good or bad. I have realized that on my mission I have been waiting for the picture perfect (Golden Investigator) baptism. I can now say with a lot of confidence that those stories are rare. 

Being in Ghana, Baptisms are common; however, throughout my mission I have seen so many great and wonderful people struggle with singularities and personal obstacles that stand in their way. While they seem to be so prepared to enter into baptism, there is always something that seems to be getting in the way of them making the full commitment. However, this seems to be more of a blessing then a curse. 

I have decided to look at these singularities as God's way of trying them. No person we meet is perfect, all must be prepared. We all know one of the ways that God likes to prepare his children is by testing them. To prepare many for their first covenant many going through a trial of faith. It takes the missionaries, God, and even Satan to see that this person is ready to follow God at all times.

As we give up our natural man we are testifying to God that we are going to give our all to him. Giving up our personal desire for a greater one and being willing to follow the Father, is hard but possible and it is what God requires of all of his children if they wish to inherit all that the father possesses. 

My Mother mentioned prayer in a recent talk that she gave. I wanted to mention it here. To pray with real intent is what makes the difference in my mind. As Moroni 10 3-5 states when we pray with real intent and a pure heart that is when we get a manifestation of our answer. A story was given in a recent Liahona that talked about a little girl praying that her brother's bird trap would not catch anything. When her father heard her prayer he was worried because he had made the trap and he assumed that it would be successful in catching something. When he talked to the daughter about the possibility of the trap catching something, she proudly proclaimed that it would not. The father tried to help her understand that it very likely would catch something but she declared with unwearyingness that it would not. Finally the father broke down and asked how she could have so much faith. the Girl replied that she knew the trap would not work because she had already gone out and broken it to pieces!. I loved reading this story. It shows so much more then a common amount of faith. Faith without works is dead. When you pray you better be ready to do something about it. If you don't who knows maybe you're the reason it will go unanswered.

Love you all 

Elder Edison

86 New Investigators!!

So all of the people that are progressing in our area have left our area and have been sent as referrals to the missionaries in their new home villages....... That has been a lot of fun - NOT - just a whole lot of work and concern for us. Hopefully they all turn out okay and their new Elders love them like we did.

1. When you are called up to speak in sacrament meeting five minutes into sacrament meeting, it sure is fun to throw things together (John 21:15-17 saved my life)

2. Having three exchanges (times where leaders go with other Elders to proselyte) in a week makes the week fly by.

3. As a zone we were able to find 86 new people who will now be taught about the Gosple (the highest weekly amount this zone has ever achieved)!!!

4. When you cut your hand open weeding for people and then have to wash clothes in soapy water and even bleach at times, your hands are not too happy with you.

Wow! Lots happened this past week, luckily no one died. There was no way any one could have passed on but I thought i would make it clear because just about everything else that could have happened this week, did happen, but no death. 

As a mission we are trying to move our focus from individuals to families. It has really sped up the work. My companion and I have been using 3 Nephi 18:21 to teach families about the importance of being one. It is so fun to see how people react when we invite them to pray as a family to gain blessings with each other. I never realized how that was not a big thing here in Ghana, most people do not do such things as a family. Hopefully Ghana Cape Coast mission can change that fact.

Unity has been on my mind recently, unity with God, family, Church leaders, etc. I have come to realize the importance of being unified. Though I have always understood the phrase "a house divided cannot stand", I never saw the personal responsibility to unite with others. As individuals we are each separate puzzle pieces, we can either choose to unite and join the fabulous masterpiece that we are meant to be a part of, or we can fend for ourselves as individuals. I can see how I have struggled with this in the past, there are times we see other puzzle pieces around us, all of which seem dull or boring or, at times, far too vibrant for us to join with. We decide that it is better to be individual and separate rather than have to join these others in what they are seeking. However this mentality is removed when we come to see that there is a bigger picture than just our piece of the pie. As we see how all of the colors around us will join together to create a spectacular work of art we are more willing to link arms and become one. A picture, however, is only as good as its parts. We find that without shading, a picture will be lifeless and unimpressive, however if the shading itself is dull and does not match the color scheme, it will be viewed as a disruption to the overall piece of art. There are times when pieces that seem to have no big role to play make the greatest difference. We are all pieces with different colors and shapes, finding our spot may be difficult but as we work to unite with all the good things around, us our purpose will become clear.

My Sister Molly is an incredible artist. She can draw like none before her! However, as I have viewed her artwork and the process at which she accomplishes it, I have come to understand that the picture lies in the artist's hand and mind and cannot always be seen at once. Many a time I would look at her work confused at what she was doing, As the work began it's completion, I could see the true purpose of the individual colors appearing. Just as my sister's art is hard to predict at the beginning, God's work is nearly impossible to predict at the outset. We may see miracles and great leaps of faith but the true picture lies only in the master's hand. We have to understand at times there are things we cannot effect or control no matter how hard we try. Instead, we have to trust that the greatest of all painters (God, not my sister Molly) knows why color or shading has been used. A friend shared a quote with me: "Everything is happening exactly as it's supposed to, with hidden blessings that you'll soon understand. Sometimes what appears to be the problem is actually an answered prayer in disguise."  Be what God made you to be, if there is only darkness around you while you have been called to be vibrant, do not change to fit the picture you know nothing about. For all you know, you have been chosen to be the stark contrast in a great design. Stand the way God has called you. To conform is different than to unite, God is not asking you to be anything different than your best, you are the best you when you play the part God has designed for you. 

Love you all Not sure why i wroite like i do hope someone understands.

Elder Butters

Zone Conference Speakers

1. Snakes with blue heads are fun to spray with bleach and kill when in the Apartment.

2. Exercising and eating right, really do make a difference.

3. When a storm comes in the middle of the night, it makes rooms a lot colder.

4. When you have a Tongan in your apartment you eat a lot of really nice foods that you had no idea existed.

5. Scheduling internet time for everyone is rough.

6. When giving instructions in zone conference, talking about the Atonement and its effects in missionary work is always the best of topics in my opinion.

So people of Earth we meet again. I miss you all a lot but I love it out here. Because my companion is a Ghanaian we are able to teach a lot of people that I could not communicate with on my own. It has been so much fun to see Gospel conversations change people's lives. It is sometimes difficult to follow lessons fully but that's when you have to rely on the Spirit, I guess. 

This past week, as you can see from my notes, my companion and I had to instruct at zone conference. It was so much fun! I love the topic that we were given from our Mission President: Atonement. My companion and I worked so hard to make sure that our priorities were to teach people about how to be worthy to use the atonement in their lives and how we have to see the potential of our callings in Preaching change, repentance, and the other gifts of the Atonement. When preparing. it was so cool to see how we were using Scriptures and planning great discussions (that actually happened). We had a lot of fun and hopefully helped to make some people more hopeful in their callings.

As members and non-members we have to remember that for us to progress in this life, changes have to be made. In all aspects of life you have to be able to adapt to the circumstances around you. Change is a part of our nature as humans. We are programmed to change (sometimes not for the best).  For those of us with the message of true and everlasting change, we have a responsibility to go out and teach it. All of us can say that change, in the long run, is essential, but if you do not believe in a continuation after this life then change is a pointless aspect of humanity. This is why we have to stand up tall and raise our voices like a trump. We can show people that change is not just for this world but also for the world to come.Without change and development we will falter and fail. Never be stagnant. I have watched many movies on super heroes but the power that has always stood out to me is "adaptation". Many villains have this power as well. It is a gift that allows them to not be defeated the same way time after time, or to be able to fight against the hero more effective ly. This has always made super hero movies fun to watch. When we become better at changing (for the better) we will see that the Atonement can now take full effect. We are no longer just asking for forgiveness but we are using it in our lives. We go from being acted upon to acting. No longer waiting for the next sin to take place but preparing ourselves to fight against it entirely. Adapt to act and go out and change everything.

I love you all - Elder Edison

*Check out the Mission President's New Blog:  www.hillamsinghanacapecoast.blogspot.com

There are photos of our zone conference and my companion and I teaching!  

My Mango Tree

To everyone. My mango tree is dead it got sprayed with poison and is gone.... Next time I need to build a fence around it!

1. People spray poison a lot here......for all the spiders and snakes, that's a good idea but not for mango trees.

Not much to report on. Stay powerful and keep being amazing. Search for opportunities to repent and change and you will be surprised how much you can do to really move this world forward. Opening your mouth to confess the Christ and His gospel is not easy but even as I have tried to put it to practice the results have been amazing. 

We all make mistakes even small ones. For example, last week I sent a picture of me without my name tag on.... mistake and something I need to fix and work on. Too often we let the little things pass. But as we focus on what is right we will be lifted.  I will hold myself to a higher standard this week and challenge you to do the same.

My letter is short but it is late here in Ghana and I have to lock up the building and still need to finish planning for the week ahead. I will make my final (and fourth) phone call home next Sunday if the technology on my end holds up.  In a few weeks, I will be 20 years old. So many milestones and it often feels very strange.  I love it here, I love the people and I love the strong lessons we have taught this week with as much power as we can muster through our obedience and hard work.

Thank you for your letters.

Elder Edison

Time To Type!

I actually have time to type today!!! On the Fourth Monday, my companion and I have so much to do to prepare for the coming month that we are allowed extra time on the computer.  We have arrived early today and I am able to get some things done and communicate with all o you. My mom tells me that it is 3 am where you are in the United States, so Good morning!

1. The train that connects my area and Takoradi is amazing. It even has air conditioning!!!  Luxury!!  We didn't want to get off.

2. When you go on a diet in Ghana, there is not much for you to actually eat.... It makes trying to be healthy very difficult.

3. People here think the word "saints" means some type of Spirit that is sent by the Devil. It makes calling ourselves Latter-Day Saints very difficult to explain. Even if they read the definition in the dictionary, they will still have a hard time believing that we are telling the truth. 

4. When you eat two fufu meals in a row it is very difficult to finish.....

5. I had a member fix me chocolate cake and an egg pudding! It tasted so nice. In return I taught her how to make a makeshift oven so she can start her hand at baking rather then steaming a cake. (steamed chocolate cake is still better then no cake)  

This past week has been very nice. I have had to go on exchanges three times this past week to make sure everyone is trained and doing all that they have to do to be great missionaries. I have had so much fun working with so many of the Elders in the mission. I have gotten to see so many different ways of doing the work and changing lives for the better.

Today I want to talk about understanding the Savior. When we understand Him, that is when we know how to follow. As a challenge from my mission President, I have started memorizing more scriptures on Jesus Christ. So far I have: Helaman 5:12, Mosiah 15:8-9, 3 Nephi 9: 21-22, 2 Nephi 2:6-9, and The Living Christ. Doing this challenge has helped me come to see really what the Lord has done for all of us. As we DO our best to understand his life and his sacrifice and victory, we will better see how our relationship with him should be. He is a loving Brother who wishes to save all that come unto him, but there have been laws given to be able to access his Great Atoning Sacrifice. As we follow and fulfill our part in this contract we will have the promise of Eternal life. Yet we must make sure that at all times we are working towards this goal. As we take steps down the path of life, many small and simple decisions change the outcome of our salvation. It is easy to say I will not steal or kill, but these are not usually the deciding factor for most of us to get to Heaven. Many of us have to focus mainly on the Simple Doctrine of Christ: Faith, Repentence, Baptism, Receiving the Gift of The Holy Ghost, and Enduring to The End. Wherever you are along this path, we must be fully aware and conscious of our decisions to follow Him.  When we hold even a little back, we are no longer worthy of all the blessings that God wishes to give to us as his Children. There is a song that I have heard (sorry I forgot the title) which states "How much can i give Lord, without losing all control?". It is a question referirng to the desire to follow God and Jesus Christ but the want to still have the life we decide is best wants...This is the wrong type of thinking. It is not about how much we can give while we still hold ourselves back. The Lord does not ask for 99% but he requires 100% to save our souls. There have been many times in my life where i have been required to work with people or to do certain assignments yet many of these instances I have always tried to be in control even when I am suppose to be a follower. So being able to give all that i am up and become exactly what others want me to be is very difficult. My fear is that i will become a cookie cutter cookie, not allowed to grow in my own way. (this is one of the main reasons i did not go into military when i was back home). Individuality was so important to me that it scared me to think i would just become like everyone else. However this fear does not need to be placed within the Savior's plan for you. We were all raised by God to be who we are today. When we give it all to God we become not one of a million but we are blessed to be one in a miillion. God does not want individuality to be taken from you. On the contrary, he wants you to be you, but he knows the best you that you have the potential of becoming.  Give all yourself to God and The Lord's sacrifice will take effect (when you ask for it) and you will become the greatest individual that you could ever be.

Love you all

PHOTOS FROM APRIL 22, 2019

Loving Mangoes!

1. I can get 11 mangoes for less then a dollar!!!!

2. Mice are in our apartments.

3. I am trying to grow mango trees in our yard. I will not be here for the fruits but future missionaries will thank me.

4. washing becomes easy after a year and a half.

Okay ointo my topic, I was shown a talk today by a missionary and in it a saying was disscussed. It said, I will wage an all out war against Satan. I loved this idea. I use to just try and annoy Satan every day but now things have changed it is time to have a war. This saying alone got me thinking about how missionaries us their time and even plan it out. I realized that the lessons and people i plan in a day are all my battle plans that i have laid out to be able to destory satan and his work. This is not just a laid back situation but an all out war. We better be ready to fight. What is your battle plan everyday? What is your plan to stoip Satan's plan everyday? These are some of t5he questions going around in my head now. I cannot wait to see how they change me. Even after hearing the talk i went out and taught a lesson and it felt as if i was testifying in a new way, it felt like i actually was trying to save someone. 

I want to see if i can commit all of you. Will your wage a war against Satan? If yes, perfect. Now this war i have come to register quickly will not be fought with swords and cimiters (too bad for me). But we will be fighting for every life we see. Now you do not have to be a full blown missionary to fight, all you have to do is find a way to reverse something Satan has done. A greeting or words of affirmation may be enough to change negative feelings he has placed in someone. If that is not a victory i do not know what is. Go out everyday with a battle plan, make every moment about wining your war and help others do the same. 

This battle may not be life and death but it is more, it is damnation and exaltaion that are in the balance. We all better be ready for a fight, luckily God has given us the power to be able to win. Being his children we have the right to banish Satan form, our thoughts and feelings, we have been born with control to do that. Exercise that power and fight him while God and your Brother Jesus Christ stand by your side.

I love you all, LETS WIN THIS WAR

Act And See

1. Mangoes are the greatest fruits that have ever existed and I eat them like junk food here. Unlucky for me, I just got moved out of an area with amazing mangoes and have to suffer with mangoes that are less then sufficient for my junk food needs in this place.

2. When your companion says, "I want to buy fufu" and your first thought is "what stew will I have with it"? You know you have been in Ghana for a long time.

3. When your whole zone emails at two computers and you have a strict schedule for computer time, power going out at every five minute mark, makes it very difficult to work on things (my entire zone was limited to 30 minutes of computer time today and now that it is my turn, the power is fine and working great but I need to abide by the same time limit they had, to keep things fair)....

I still have not seen General Conference. When I do, I will definitely send something about it. 

Patience versus lack of effort is what I wish to talk about today. I have seen, recently, that there is a difference between the two behaviors, especially when it comes to revelation that can be received. Though we are told that we have to be on the Lord's time, that does not mean that we wait for instruction in every little matter. For someone like me, someone who likes knowing they are in the right from a leader's perspective, we can find this fact frustrating. I see myself waiting for revelation too often. Even in many Liahonas and talks that I have read it has always told me the same thing: We are not always given all things that we desire; more likely than not, we are expected to act in our best judgment and move forward making progress, doing good things and serving God's children. However, it took my mission President telling me that very same thing to my face to have it finally sink in. Act and see. I have talked a lot about this before, but I want to re-state it. God needs you and me to grow and if He made every decision for us, we could never grow at all.  Being in Ghana, I have seen myself grow so much because I have no one to turn to but myself, my determination and my God.  

We may decide that God would want to give us an answer but we also have to make sure we are giving our appropriate amount of effort. If we justify our laziness and call it patience on the Lord, we will falter in the end. Don't justify, but if you get told to wait, then wait. God is in control. Do not disobey what He has asked you to do. Follow through with the thoughts He puts into your heart. Act, do not be acted upon and the world will change around you and because of you.

Have a wonderful week.  I hope to have more time to write next week (if the electricity cooperates).

Love, Elder Edison

Fufu-Cooking Companion

A Late Evening Letter From Ghana:

I am so sorry about all the errors that will happen in this letter. I now only have half the normal time to email thanks to the area that I am now serving in, but hopefully I am still able to get my wild and strange ideas into these letters.  Mostly I hope to be able to connect with all of you and let you know that things are alive and well and busy (really busy) in Mptinsin.

1. General Conference is shown two weeks late here. (This is similar to how I used to have to watch it when I lived in China - we always had to wait a couple weeks for the DVD to arrive before we could watch the sessions).

2. Fufu congolay is now going to be something common for me to eat because my companion is good at making it. I have no idea what it is or if it is nice but I will tell you next week.

3. When you have a member family act out The Story of Nephi and his brothers getting the brass plates from  Laban, they find it absolutely amazing!!!!  (Guess I should be grateful for all those role play family nights my family did when I was growing up)

So today I want to talk abouit something that has been on my mind recently. I have seen a lot with the work that I am in right now, that there are times where even those who feel and see great miracles still have a choice to recognize those miracles or ignore them. As a mission, we have concentrated on teaching and converting with power. As we have done this, I have seen great advancements in my teaching skills and am delighted in that fact. However, even with this great progression that is spreading through the mission, I still have not seen people flock to Church as I had hoped they would. Even this past Sunday as we waited for many of the people that we are teaching to show up to Church, we got very disappointed. Even with the six that we were able to get into the meeting, the others that didn't come left a bitter feeling in my heart. I couldn't help but think about all of the Spiritual and uplifting moments that we had had with so many. But then I began to remember something that I have talked about before... you may make a boat to save people from a flood but it is their choice to come to it. 

However easy certain choices may seem to us, there are always some who will struggle making them. We may look at choosing to play it safe and getting on the ark as something that is easy, but we have to remember all the people who didn't do it. There are times when the Straight and narrow path seems so obvious to us, but others will still be lost in the fog. Each of us goes through different things in life and we are tempted in different ways. The fog may be lifted from your eyes but that might mean that it is collecting around someone else. Everyone has agency, we can help them see the path but we cannot force them to walk it. Just as our mothers always said, "It's time to practice the piano"; it was always our choice to do it or not. For me I chose not to take piano lessons and I do not have that skill. Now even when it is obvious that something will be beneficial for us or those around us, there may be many who still do not take the step. Every step is a step of faith and at times those steps may be too overwhelming!

Stay by the side of those that are blinded by fog. Teach those that are lost, the best way. Do all you can now to save a soul and know that even if they wander again, you have done all that God could ask you to do. People cannot be controlled, people can only be loved or hated. So do your part and love everyone. Then maybe, just maybe, they will think again and follow.

I have to go lock up the building and get home before curfew.  Thank you for praying for me in my new calling and for sending me letters.

I love you - 

Elder Edison