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
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