Hey Mom and Dad,
So Elder Winborg and I had a super busy week this week. It was really tiring, but our efforts are not going without reward. We have currently 6 baptismal candidates. 2 are being baptised this Saturday (Naomi and Asha) and 4 on the 14th of Nov. We are possibly extending another 2 this week. So we have alot of teaching to do. It is really awesome. Some sad news though. We went to see one of the regular people we are teaching. Found out he passed away, it was quite a shock. He was only 50. So we are going to go see the family tomorrow. We became really good friends with them over the last 4 months, so they want us to go to the funeral. Elder Winborg is super funny though. He's trying all the foods, and some stuff he just cant stomach lol! He's an awesome companion though and we get along really well. Were both young on the mission too so we have alot of enthusiasm and are just keen to get out and work hard. We've been working with the bishop on this members family. The mother is a member and her husband is investigating. He has problems with alcohol though, but its been amazing to see him make changes over the 3 months ive known them. We went to see them on Wedneday, and we gave him a blessing. He was in tears, and his attitude since has just been so different. Im sure the spirit is working in him like it worked in the people who King Benjamin was Adressing (Mosiah 5:2). Intention to do good continually. Each week is just getting better and better out here though. Godwin has been teaching with us alot, that guy is keen to go on a mission. It's pretty awesome, baptised only 4 weeks ago, already out teaching with us. He study's alot, so when we visit him, he tells us what he has learnt and asks us questions. He's smashing through the Book of Mormon too! That guy is an awesome example. Church yesterday was great though. Our ward had their primary presentation. Reminded me of how they were back home. Full of laughs haha, but it was nice! The members Kids here are so crack-up. Super brave and confident, but botz hahahaha! It was awesome to have 7 investigators at sacrament and church though. Our investigators class is just getting too full. Were working with the ward mission leader too on this family home evening program which is fun. FHE at the members is probably one of the funnest things out here. It just helps to get to know them alot more, and what not! To be honest doesnt really feel like its my birthday this week. The sisters are baking a cake for District council, a milo one...sweet! The other Elders are taking us out to KFC too in Accra haha, so that should be awesome! Anything been changing in Melbz? Hovering cars and what not yet?....LOL! Its been pretty stink at the moment. Power has been going of everyday here. We get about 12 hours of Electricity each day. So bucket showers is the way...the only way lol! Cant iron shirts either... But its been good. Sounds like everything is well back home! Hoepfully The AB's beat the wallabies. Should be a good game! Im keen to watch the highlights lol... Love and miss you though Mom and Dad! Ill shoot Keanu another email this week. Ruthless dude haha! Hope you all have an awesome week though! Its gonna be super hot this week in Nungua...we had alot of rain last week. Super muggy! Cant believe its almost November! Time is flying! Till next week! Love, Elder Fesolai
0 Comments
So we get a surprise email from Elder Fesolai this evening, he and Elder Winborg are at the Internet Cafe completing online assignments for their Mission President. It was a great way to spend the evening talking to Elder Fesolai via real time emails. Here is our conversation.
Elder Fesolai: We are at the cafe again. President Has the new elders doing computer assignments so were here just waiting for them. Dad: U still at the cafe? Elder Fesolai: Yeah dad. Maybe another 45 mins to go. My son is doing another assignment President has asked us to do. Dad: awww sweet…Hows it all going Elder? Elder Fesolai: Yeah its going great. Im just organising with the district leader to conduct our interviews for our candidates for next week. We extended another baptismal date yesterday and theres a potential person on SAturday. The members have been helping us alot by giving referrals. So the work is going very well. Dad: Thats awesome to hear. Nothing like seeing the fruits of your labours. Dad: we just at home..Another Friday evening at home…LOL, What type of assignments are they doing? You in Accra or in Nungua? Dad: you have any pics? LOL, I spoke to Uncle George today, he said he got a letter from you. He was cracking up on your botz sentence…hahahahahah Elder Fesolai: We are in Nungua. They are computer Assignments so President knows that we know how to email and what not. I think he uses it as a way to destinguish who he will call into the office...But yeah. We had to do like a mini profile of ourselves, who we were where were were from and how we prepared. All that kinda stuff. Ive got a pic with the guy we are preparing for baptism. He's a big dude haha. Give me a minute or two to upload it. Dad: awww sweet. At least we get to have a quick chat. Thats cool azz. Do you both have to complete the assignments or just you? Elder Fesolai: Yeah we both have to. I finished mine, because i started it a when i first came out. He is just starting his so its taking him time. Dad: Its your birthday next week. Big 20years..You gonna have a party? bangu and fufu…hahahahah Elder Fesolai: Mate im turning 19 lol....Were gonna celebrate at KFC near Accra hahaha Dad: hahahahahahhah oh yeah thats right…19years..sorry Elder…..getting a head of myself. How much is KFC….expensive I bet. The bates crew are in Bali. Uncle Jnr said Iyan has been calling him to get together..hahahah Uncle said its hot azz…lucky buggers.. Elder Fesolai: Getting ahead of yourself alright....LOL, So KFC isnt too bad. About 80 cedis for a 18 piece feed...So we all contribute to enjoy some of that tasty chicken deliciousness hahaha. Only on rare occasions though. Honestly its not even nice hahah. But its KFC....soooo, Oh true, Bali seriously remind me of here sometimes haha! Same weather and sometimes smell lol! Dad: yeah, everytime we eat, we always think of you and what you may be eating or not eating. Do they have a mcdonalds? Is the Mission Pres. coming out to you guys or you just have to do assignments online and submit them? Elder Fesolai: Nah, Mcdonalds does not exist here. Just KFC no other fast food joints at all. I think its because its a chicken restraunt....and they love chicken here hahaha We just submit them online to President Heid Dad: Awww choice one Elder, nice pics. William is big boy alright. Look at that red dirt. It looks like Ayers Rock…Alice Springs mate..you look good elder….I try and eat Tabasco sauce or chillies when i have pork rolls from springvale for lunch…sometimes i can handle it…most times just too hot..LOL.. Elder Fesolai: Awww mate tobasco has nothing on red hot "shito" hahaha. Its a local street sauce here...its kills haha! There is red shito and black shito. Dad: Yeah I bet, you must have an iron stomach, or you will by the time you come home. You will want to have spicy sauces with everything you eat..hahahhaha. DId Elder WInborg go to MTC in Provo or Accra? Elder Fesolai: Elder Winborg went to the Ghana MTC. It was no way near as nice as the Provo he says though Dad: Yeah true that…lol….you were so blessed to go to PROVO…got to see your cousins and Aunty and great Aunty, Uncle Adam and his family. Elder Herschi…hes doing good by the way in Japan… Dad: Ok, whats on the cards today for you being Friday….The pics are great…Love them… Elder Fesolai: So today we have a bunch of people to see. A few referalls we need to contact too. So that should be good. Just another normal day out doing the work though. Dad: Good to hear Elder, you guys on foot or biking or both? How is Elder Winborg holding up his first couple of weeks? Elder Fesolai: So we do both, usually walking is easier. The houses are way to clustered and roads too narrow in this area. Winborg is doing not bad at all to be honest. He is like me, so he tries to stomach it all. I can see on his face that he doesnt like it though hahaha! Dad: Yeah them palagi elders would struggle with the food and culture the smell…hahahahahah good you come from franga mate… Elder Fesolai: Hahaha good ol' Franga...of course! Alright dad were bout to hit the town! Till Monday ay! Love you! Enjoy the weekend, and go to church...dont be a satan guy now....hahahaha Dad: Roger that. Enjoy your day. Love you Son. Go fourth, To Serve! Always at church Elder, always….. Hey Mom and Dad, So yeah of course, another fun/ adventurous yet busy week in Nungua! I got my son on Tuesday, we went to Accra for the day. I think i was somewhat blessed though, we have alot in common! He's an American from Alaska which i think is pretty awesome, his name is Elder Winborg. . He's into fishing and hunting haha, hes a military dude so he can be a botz sometimes. But its an awesome privilege to be his first companion and trainer! I think im learning more as the trainer, but he has a sincere love for the people which is awesome. He's trying with the food too...he wont eat off the street though haha. Not game enough i think lol! He is melting though as he is from Alaska where its just cold... So our investigators are progressing really well! You know, it is alot more fun with a companion who is fresh and enthusiastic as i am, Vernon was great but you know how fresh missionaries are into the field usually are! So its really good, we push ourselves. This last Sunday, 7 of our investigators were at church. Godwin, who i baptised about a month ago is a legend. He's striving to go on a mission when he is ready and hes just helping us so much too. He's been trying to teach his friends and refers them to us. So we teach them together. They are super solid too, coming to church, keeping commitments. The work is moving forward, and we are definately putting our all into it. This past week there were a bunch of storms and rain. Heaps of flooding but not that bad, just the paths and roads inbetween the little tin houses and where were proselyte were like overflowing lol! Theres no drainage here so the water just sits there goes off... The mission is very young now though! Majority of the missionaries are under 1 year out on mission here in the field, so President Heid is making alot of people step up and take assignments. Its pretty good though. Our Baptisms should be on 31st this month. That should be Naomi, This boy Asha, and potentially a man name Frederick. So thats all exciting! How is everything back home though? Hopefully allblacks take the world cup! They smashed france lol! The weather is somehow like Melbourne here lol! Super hot, then rain. Its still super humid though. Like in Bali! Hope all is well! We are doing awesome here in Nungua. Training is great! Im learning alot and i think we are able to easily relate because i had just finished my training! Elder Winborg is still adjusting to the food though, hes trying to hide the reaction but you can just see it lol! Hope you's have a wonderful week though! I love the pictures you send, and its always good to hear how everything is going back home! Love yous heaps! Elder Fesolai Heres some pics of the kids of some of the families in the ward. Theyre super cute haha! The pic of us in the car were the elders from MTC who came out the same time as me. They are both named Elder Smith haha! But President wanted us to go and buy food for the missionaries when we were in accra so he gave us the keys to the car...not bad at all lol! the kids here always take the camera and try take snaps! The one with the 3 kids are Naomi's children, thats Obediah hiding, he's scared of my companion lol!
We were caught in the middle of a thunder storm so we got absolutely drenched! (Thats my new companion by the way Elder Winborg from Alaska) Morning Mom and Dad!
So this past week has been a great one! Was sad to say goodbye to Elder Vernon this morning, but the mission is full of goodbyes! We enjoyed this week alot though haha. Members were having us over for FM's plenty because it was Vernons last week! So i feel like ive gained weight this past week lol! Too much Banku and Fufu.... Our investigators werent baptised this Saturday, we had to postpone it because there was a massive African Stake Festival and they were all participating...Elder Vinson from the 70 was there which was cool! A member from the 12 will be coming soon too, not sure who it will be but that will be awesome! The Festival/Activity was awesome though. There are 10 wards in Tema Stake so each one done an act/dance on the predominant Ghanaian culture in their ward. Because there are the Gha's, Ewe's etc. They are all very very different! Transfers are tomorrow so ill get my new companion tomorrow. Right now im on Exchanges with Elder Onyeugbo for today and tomorrow, so its just us 2 left in Nungua at the moment. His companion went home too, and we are both training. Overall there are about 158 missionaries total in Ghana Accra only. Had a cool little experience yesterday. So it was like 2 months ago now when we had a service project (All African Helping Hands) at the Tema General hospital. We were just working and this guy who was a patient sitting outside for some fresh air was just looking at us work. So i kinda felt prompted to go and talk to him see how he was doing, and so it turned into a contact. He was asking who we were and why there were so many of us just giving service for free. So i explained it all and me and Elder Koronikalou ended up teaching him small, and leaving him a Restoration pamphlet with our Names and Number. He wasnt in our proselyting area though, he lived in an Area called Ashaiman. So i gave him the address to their chapel too. Usually with contacts here in Ghana they love to say things that will please missionaries so he was kinda doing that and all. So i wasnt sure if he was serious.But soon after we went on our separate ways afterwards! So yesterday we got a random call at 7am in the morning from a guy. And who was it? It was the guy I spoke to at the hospital lol! He had held on to the pamphlet and called us to say he was at the chapel in Ashaiman...Their ward didnt start until 9am. So he waited 2 hours and whilst we were teaching investigators class, we get another call from the Bishop in Ashaiman thanking us, saying that this guy was just in tears and so happy to be able to be there amongst the members. He's now solidly progressing which is cool to hear! Its great to see how just the act of us people serving, can have such a big effect on a person! As ive been out here, ive had so many cool experiences and mini miracles! Theyre all recorded in my journal, and i cant rememebr them off the top of my head! But i know that the Lord is watching over us and using us as instruments to do his work! This week should be awesome! Im looking forward to getting my "son" lol! Elder Onyeugbo and I will go into Accra tomorrow for the day and pick them up. It will be an awesome learning experience and it will funny introducing him to the local foods. The Americans are hardcases when it comes to adjusting to everything here so ill be sure to film his reactions when trying Fufu lol! So since we Postponed the baptismal service to the 31st we should now have 4 baptisms for the date. Potentially 6 if we extend 2 more to these people who weve been teaching that are progressing well. We will see what happens though! Everybody here runs on "Ghana time"..similar to Bali time haha! Cant believe its already been 3 months though! By the time i finish training this new Elder, I will have been out for 6 months...Its scary how fast time is flying. I think its because were engaged, but also having fun. I love it alot here in Ghana. The ward is doing great though! Weve been doing home teaching with the members to get them motivated. Theres going to be a ward split soon aswell so theyre just sorting it all out. Alot of changes are being made in the mission field. Because alot of missionaries are going home this intake, President Heid has to change Zone boundaries and Proselyting Areas. Some are being closed aswell. So when the next intake comes Alot of us will have to reopen areas. Should be interesting! Its always good to hear from you's though! Still nothing from Keanu? Sad guy lol...This month is flying though. Sounds like everything is well back home in Melbz! I miss the beach back home everytime we drive past it here. It looks nice here until you get close to the water and see some floating logs...nasty! Have a great week though Mom and Dad! Love, Elder Fesolai Hey Mom and Dad,
So this week was a lot more busier! Elder Vernon and I are doing well. This week we were able to see quite alot of people considering the amount of meetings we had. So its official! Im going to be a father (trainer) lol! So we were in and out of Accra this week at the mission home and Area office so us training missionaries could also be trained and counciled on the assignment. I need to be a good father to my son...lol This week we should have 2 baptisms on Saturday though which should be great. A good way for Elder Vernon to finish his mission too. We just need to organise their interviews, and all will be set. We had this really awesome lesson with this guy named Desmond the other day. I think he will be baptised within the coming month. We taught him about the Book Of Mormon. So we Decided to just get straight into it, get him to read. And so we shared a few verses, and he just fell silent. Elder Vernon asked him how he felt and he was just saying how he felt so different. Just so Happy from what he had read. I knew it was the spirit working in him. We saw him another few times this week and he is stuck into it, reading heaps!!! It was an awesome experience! We also went to see another one of the people we were teaching, (Frederick) who has been progressing really well. But he wasnt at Church the Sunday before. So we visited him and found that he was pretty sick. We taught him about the priesthood and he asked us for a priesthood blessing. So we were able to do that for him and the next appointment we saw him he was telling us how he was feeling alot better. Im definately sure he had the faith that the blessing would help him and im sure thats why he felt better! It's really cool to see people exercise faith in the Lord! Ive been able to learn alot from President Heid this week though as weve been in Accra a bit this week! He taught us alot about Christlike attributes. Applying them as we train the greenies who will be coming shortly. He taught us one thing which is to "Wait upon the Lord". That we are working on the Lords time, and that we need to patient. People will come, lessons will be taught and souls will be converted. We just have to be obedient and patient. He always gives some awesome instruction! The work is really going ahead well though. Sometimes it can get overwhelming with all the people that want to be taught or want you to come talk to them. They definately need more missionaries out here. There are just way too many people too teach. Some arent serious but there are plenty who are! Im always looking forward to the week though, seeing the people and teaching is definately something i enjoy alot. Its also the only thing we can do as missionaries lol! Alot of people here do have the idea that the Church gives you jobs that makes you millionaires lol. There are alot of funny rumuors about the church here haha! But Thats kinda it for this week, hope you guys enjoy the concert! Love and miss you's! Have another wonderful week! Love, Elder Fesolai! |
CategoriesArchives
May 2017
|