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