Well, it's good to be back in the city areas. It has been a bit of a difficult week! The area I'm currently serving in is the more wealthier side of the old Nungua ward. Many of the people that reside here usually are in Accra working during the day, or they are just not interested. It's a bit different to my previous areas but it's a challenge, and challenges are really sweet! It's forcing us to be more creative, plan very very carefully and wisely, and continue to work hard continuously.
In the area, our biggest source of seriously progressing investigators comes from member referrals, so we are currently doing all we can to just build relationships with the members, serve and love them and get them excited about missionary work. It makes it difficult as many also lead busy lives with work, but we are doing our best and praying that we will be able to see progress as we continue to work! This past week we worked with one of the RM's in the ward Bro. Francis who gave us some referrals. He just got back from his mission in Nigeria some months ago so working with him is a big help to us. Something quite interesting happened during the week though. As we were going around discovering some new parts of the area we came across some people I knew when I was serving way back in my first few months on mission. They moved from their old place they were residing at in Nungua, and moved to Sakumono. The lady is a non-member but her sister and mother are both members we used to see. When we were walking her kids recognized me and called me over, and we met them. So we plan to teach them, and hopefully things go well! Was it a coincidence? This area isn't going to be easy, but that's not bad! I'm grateful for trials, challenges and difficulties. Do I enjoy them? No. But as I've been on mission and studied the scriptures and words of our prophets, I can bear witness that they are for our benefit. The Lord does not bring hard things into our lives, but rather he permits them so that we may grow, and be better and stronger than before. I know that if we put our trust in the Lord we will also be supported in our trials. I hope you's have an awesome week though Mom and Dad! Oh yeah, we also moved into a new apartment which is too big for 4 missionaries haha, I'll do a mtv cribs video during the week and post in next week. Anyway Love and miss yous! Elder Fesolai The pic of the guy in the blue outfit is one of the actors off the movie FREETOWN. He is an RM and served in the Ghana Accra Mission and also served in the Nungua area too. The missionary is Elder Kallon and is my current companion from Sierra Leone.
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Mom and Dad!
So this past week I kind of spent in Accra in different places! On Tuesday I left Juapong and stayed at the ZL's in Tema for 2 nights. On Wednesday we were able to meet and listen to one of the Apostles in Accra which was really great. Elder Soares was with him as well as the West Africa Presidency, so it was nice to recieve instruction and counsel from them. Elder Stevenson talked alot about Repentance, and other topics in PmG. I really liked what he said about repentance, talking about how it is super important that we ourselves are repenting and becoming more like the Savior, before we are able to help others or extend the commitment to them by the spirit. It is so true. I'm mega grateful for the Atonement and the opportunity and time we have here on earth to prepare...that includes repentance! From Friday onwards we have been travelling to and from the mission home to Nungua to proselyte in our areas as we have not gotten an apartment yet. We will eventually move in on Friday so until then, to and from the mission home it is! Sunday was really really reaaaaallllly wonderful! I was able to see all the members from my old area as we all meet at the same chapel. It was amazing to see my Recent Converts still staying strong and holding to that iron rod! Everyone was shocked but happy that I was back! I'm being teased a bunch, and they think I'll finish my mission there...probably not but that would be sweet! I really am grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I'm grateful for my awesome Recent Converts and their examples and love for this Gospel. Their own conversion solidifies my own testimony as I have witnessed the change and light it has brought to their lives. They are absolutely blossoming in the gospel! I was able to see Sister Naomi and her Husband and their kids including little Obed! I cant believe how grown he is! Their family is super solid in the church now and it just makes me unbelievably happy! I'm grateful for our family, for the both you Mom and Dad for teaching, raising, supporting and just loving me! This week I've been studying kind of alot from Lehi's dream about the tree of life. Whilst studying I've noticed the different multitudes of people's actions so to say! Some get hold of the rod of iron and eventually let go, others get lost, but there are some who hold firm and press forward continually! It brought to my mind 2 Nephi 31:20. Phrases like pressing forward, feasting upod the WORD of christ, enduring to the end are just so vital in our journey here on earth! I know that as we endure, and press forward we too are one day able to partake of the greatest of God's blessings...Eternal Life! I'm looking forward to the upcoming week though being able to serve in Sakumono! It's going to be fun with my new companion Elder Kallon! He's a really good guy! Anyway that's all for me this week! Love and miss you's! Have a wonderful week! Elder Fesolai Hey Mom and Dad,
Well this past week in Juapong has been bittersweet. It has been raining alot, as the rainy season is officially coming to a close. I got transfer news on Saturday though, and to my surprise and shock, I found out I'm going back to Nungua to serve in a new ward that has just been opened up from a ward split. So it's super exciting to go back! I honestly thought the ZL's were playing a joke on me at first. President Heid called me some few minutes later and told me why I was going back. In Juapong though this week we had some really interesting teaching opportunities. We were walking around contacting most of the week and we met some sweet people. One of them who we have been teaching came to church which was great. It's always wonderful to give people hope and assurance through the message of the Restoration. It's kind of crazy to think what happened, God and Jesus Christ appearing to a 14 year old boy, but you'd be crazy to not find out if it is true or not! I know they appeared to Joseph Smith and that this is the Lords Church. My Last Sunday in Juapong was sweet though. I spoke in Sacrament, and then because It was my last Sunday, I was invited to teach the youth and then the Elder Quorum lol...So it was a busy Sabbath day teaching, it was fun though! Good to help and serve wherever I can in the Juapong branch. I will really miss it! After Church we cooked a bunch of food with Bro. Michael and Sister DIanna, a married couple in the branch who I've become really good friends with whilst serving here. President Kassah and another member in YSA came too so it was awesome. I'm grateful for the many opportunities that I've had whilst serving here so far in Ghana though. The people you meet and serve with, the experiences you have, and the joy of sharing the Gospel with others is so great! Hope you's have a wonderful week though! TIll next week hey! Love yous! Elder Fesolai Hey Mom and Dad,
Well first off before I start, Happy Father's Day Dad! Sorry it's late lol, but hope you had a sweet day. I saw that you had a mean breakfast with Nephi...maybe next year we'll have a mean cook up and we'll have some banku lol! Thanks for always supporting me and being a legend mate! Love you! As for last week though, it was really good. On Monday and Tuesday we were in Accra as Elder Palmer had to renew his Non-citizens card. Was really awesome though, there were a bunch of us missionaries staying at the mission home. We were able to do a session in the temple which was sweet too. Always grateful for the opportunity to get a session in every now and then! The spirit is so strong and you just feel at peace! It's a serious refuge from the world! We're so blessed to have temples on earth! The rest of the week was a little bit slow here and there though. We've been doing alot of finding and contacting which kind of just drains you...ALOT! I mean, it wouldn't be bad if we weren't under the African sun haha...the locals always think we are crazy walking under it all day. You adjust to it though. Not sure how much I'm looking forward to our winters back home lol. We have been able to contact and teach a few new people which was really nice. The area at the moment is kind of struggling! It's been pretty tough as alot of people know about the church now and are kind of spooked due to rumors and other silly stuff lol! We'll keep on telling them that the rumors are false and teach them the truth though! We are always praying that their hearts are softened and that we can be the instrument in the Lord's hand to help them feel the spirit! Fast Sunday was sweet. I really love our little branch here in Juapong and the members are so sweet. Some of them were able to go on a temple trip on Saturday so they were keen to testify and share the news about it. I really love these people so much, their sincerity and love for the Gospel is just so awesome! We ended our fast by cooking some yam and stew at Bro Michaels place which was sweet...He finished us by adding Banku when we were like way full already haha. Was great though! I'm grateful for the scriptures though. One thing I've seen alot in the Book of Mormon are the words remembering and forgetting. It is so important that we always remember and never forget our Savior Jesus Christ and his Atonement. That we never forget our covenants, the commandments and the Gospel. They are what at the end of the day bring true happiness and if we endure, eternal life! I'm grateful for the joy and reassurance I feel when I remember these things and help others come to learn of them!!! I hope you's have a wonderful week though Mom and Dad! I'm pretty stoked for next week. We have one of the apostles coming to talk to us in Accra, so that should be super sweet! Keen to get some more work done here in Juapong too. Love yous! Elder Fesolai |
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May 2017
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