Monday, December 29, 2014

It's always sweet calling home!

Its always sweet calling home. After the time is up I always want to call back. Christmas sounds sweet at home. Yeah when I say I am good, it means every things going well. YeahI am only thinking of extending if I can go back to Sierra Leone. I will talk to my mission president about it. The pics look pretty fun. I miss that ocean. And seeing Catalina in the horizon.  I have a few pics I will send to you today. 


We went to the MTC for a Christmas Party this last week. I thought that we would never go back to see that place. We got to go inside and watch "Meet the Mormons". It was fun seeing the US in the movie, and some things looked strange about home.


It seems like we keep running into problems here in Teshie. Elder Garcia went home this week, and it left an uneven number of elders in the mission. So now we are having 3 in our district. Which would not be so bad if we were attending the same ward, but the ward was just split, so we are three elders trying to do missionary work for two wards. We are trying to go on some splits so that we can keep up with the work. Sunday we attended two wards (5 hours of church).
I dont have much to say, I just talked to you so my mind is blank.
elder beckett

Monday, December 22, 2014

"Let us make Christmas a time of rejoicing and celebration"!



Hitchin' a ride from Elder Garcia


This was the Thanksgving dinner that we made ...Fried Chicken and even a little bubbly!

Bed and bikes - Elder Garcia

My shoes that Sister Farrell gave me before I left


The week was full of exciting things.

First thing is that our area has doubled its size which is not all that big, but will be bigger than we are used too.Tthe stake is trying to split, so they put 2 new units in the Teshie area making 3 units into 5 and by thend of next year they want to make a stake.. so I took over half of one of the areas right next to ours and it has doubled our teaching pool. So big things are happening.

Also, we did some service this week. We were able to join in with an organization to help some kids have an enjoyable Christmas. There was about 90 missionaries or so and 1500 kids. The kids were just off the street, the first 1500 into the program would be the ones to enjoy. So we had games and shows and bounce houses and food. It was really good for the kids. They had one of the most exciting days of the year Its pretty weird to think though, most of those kids just live on the street, and the fun they had will end but at least we were able to have fun with them. Another cool thing was that at the service project was all of the Salone missionaries that you sent Christmas gifts for. I love talking to them and Sister Kailie made me my favorite dish, Kasava leaf! So I have been enjoying that for  the past few days. It made me feel like I was back in Salone, people love to feed us there!

The packages that you sent have arrived. Elder Nyelenke, Elder Charles and sister Kailie have seen theirs and Sister Stevens should get hers tomorrow. Wow you should have heard these three missionaries call me the day they got them!  They feel so loved and happy. Elder Nyelenke said he wanted to email Jana to thank her for the gifts (he did and its posted below), and said that our family will always be close in his heart. Elder Nyelenke is a really cool guy, always happy and greatful for everything. Sister Kailie was so thankful. She had been praying for a way to get a camera, she wanted to get one but couldnt, so she was so happy! She loves everything that Grandma and Aunt Pam sent for her. She said she wants to call on Christmas to thank the Anderson family. Elder Charles was also very appreciative. He is a very quiet guy, but very grateful. It was so cool to see them light up like that, Thank you! You really made them feel very loved.

Well I call you on Christmas with more!

love elder beckett

Sister Kailie on the left and Sister Stevens on the right


Thank you email from Elder Nyelenke to Jana:
Dear Sister Beckett,
    I am so grateful to our Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ for the privileged I have to write you this mail. How are you doing? I hope you are doing well and fine with all ur day to day affairs in the U.S.A I know that you will be so surprised to received an email from someone that you never knows well my name is elder Gassimu Nyelenke I am a Sierra Leonean by nationality serving mission in Ghana your brother met me in Ghana whiles they were evacuated from my country because of Ebola he is a great missionary he loves people so much he never knew me but the day I met him for the very first time it was fun he can even speak our country language very well I was so surprised at him like said within myself what a white man speaking my country language. 
Compliment of the season in advanced I  just wanted to share this small thought with you. "And the angels said unto them, fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people". "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a saviour, which is Christ the lord" Luke2:10-11.
Lets us make Christmas a time of rejoicing and celebration, a time to share the marvelous truth that Almighty God sent His be gotten son, Jesus Christ to redeem the world! May the joy of that knowledge be with you this Christmas season  and throughout the coming year. 
Thanks for the wonderful Christmas gift that you sent for me may the good Lord continues to open the windows of heaven and pour out more blessings for you and your family where there shall not be enough room to receive it. You will always be in my heart I hope we shall continue to get in touch with each other. Thanks for reading and accepting my mail. 
Yours Elder Nyelenkeh.  
Elder Nyelenkeh


Monday, December 15, 2014

Modern day prophets can do more than tell us bible stories!




Before Leaving Sierra Leone
Well my week went quickly. I didnt get to work to much in the field this week. I have been needing to stay home with an elder who is sick and has needed my help. As I am looking back on the week now I am struggling to remember what has happened. I feel like I need to stop and look around more on my mission. I get caught to much in working that I dont take time to notice all of the wonderful things happening around me. 
So, a few blessings this week:
1) Talks by modern day prophets. A lot of the personal struggels I have and things that I need to work on to be more like Christ can bother me, but when I read the Liahona or any of the talks you send me it seems as if they were directed, directly to me.  Modern day prophets can do more than tell us bible stories, they can receive revelation about the gospel of Jesus Christ, so we can receive all the blessings of the atonement into our lives. 

2) One Salone woman I met here made me ginger beer this week. Ginger beer is a drink that they make in Salone, its pounded ginger mixed with water, sugar and lime. Its way good. Also the two sister missionaries from Salone are making me Kasava Leaf and Kren Kren, two sweet dishes from Salone!
Christmas is coming soon, I cant wait to talk to you all. Will Jeff be there? 

Welp talk to you soon!

Monday, December 8, 2014

The sweetness of the pudding is in the eating!




Miore beach
Cody didn't give any explanation but this beach is obviously the local dump! 


Dad happy birthday! Also, from the pics it looks like you have had a great Thanksgiving. My new companion is Elder Sibeko, he is from South Africa. Yes everyone loves fried chicken here, its the best.

Wow, you really went all out on the Christmas for those missionaries. They will be really happy. Dont worry about others being jealous.

A
ctually last week Monday I recieved all 4 packages and a few letters. I got a few from you and one from Chad. The Christmas stuff is awesome, I love all the letters and food. The Christmas music is sweet, but not all will play. So I will change them to mp3 so I can play them. For Christmas the mission will give me a sim card with credit to call you, so I will just call you guys this time.


The talks that you sent me about dicipleship were awesome, they were exactly what I needed this week!
Elder James E. Faust - Discipleship
Elder L. Tom Perry - Discipleship
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland - The Cost and Blessings of Discipleship


 There was a man who spoke at church Sunday and he was referring to the gospel when he said " the sweetness of the pudding is in the eating." So it is with the gospel, when we can show the faith to do what is right and most importanly to follow what Christ asks us we recieve a sweetness in our life that would otherwise not be there and if you haven't felt that sweetness than you can try it and see!

Sorry that this is so short. Elder Garcia (in our district) has been sick for a long while and we have to go take him to the doctor.

love you, see you soon!






Monday, December 1, 2014

I still wear the shoes that Sister Farrell got for me!

Hey Dad,
The river sounds nice, I hope that I can see some pics soon. Yeah it will be strange coming home to Zac almost as old as I was when I left.  I still wear the shoes that Sister Farrell got for me, I had the bottoms resoled and they should last my whole mission (Sister Ferrall was Cody's seminary teacher his senior year. She has a tradition of buying each of her students that serve a mission, a pair nice shoes for them to take - Thanks you Sister Farrell...you're amazing!!).


Hey Mom,
This week went by really fast! I dont know what it is, but so far the second year of my mission is going by really fast. I have 9 months left and I feel that it will go by too fast. Does it seem like my time away is going fast or slow?
Elder Sibeko and I have been working super hard, sometimes the work is very dificult. We have a lot of recent converts in the area that we still dont know because we cant get a hold of them and al ot of the recent converts dont know about alot of the gospel.  It seems like the past missionaries didn't teach everything or really prepare anyone for their baptism. Its kind of sad because they are falling less active and they didn't have a full knowlege of what they were doing, but small small we are teaching them.

Elder Krofuah making us a local dish called banku. It tastes good now, but I didn't enjoy it when I came. Its more thick than potatoes, its like play dough.

My companion Elder Sibeko and I

At the temple after stake conference

In our ward we have 411 members and about 120 ish come to church or are active. So our bishop spoke in the third hour of church to a combined class. He talked about reactivation, and missionary work and retention. He made it sound like he really trusts us, which is a really big help, because the members have had some experiences with missionaries in the past that have caused them to not want to be friends with us. So we are really trying to get to know the members so that we can help the less actives and have a stronger ward. That evening we recieved 3 referrals and 2 less actives. So the members are coming along.

Well we have been so busy that I can't even recall everything. I am really loving my mission. Ghana is becoming better in my eyes, but it will never match up to Salone. I am happy and time is flying!

Love ,
elder beckett

Monday, November 24, 2014

Anything you send would be really great...They are so humble!

Okay so I talked to the salone missionaries that you want to adopt for Christmas.

So there are 4 that will be here for Christmas, Elder Charles, Elder Nyelenke, Sister Stevens and Sister Kailie

Elder Charles said that he doesn't really have anything in mind, so just money will be okay with him. I think that he goes home in Feburary or March. Elder Nyelenke is going home in January, for him, he said that he is looking for a phone or tablet for when he goes home. An iphone or small ipad, even if it is one that the family has used would be okay, is that too much? No need for itunes card or anything, he will just get apps for free or something at home.
Sister Stevens and Sister Kailie said anything that you send is okay. They say that they like jewelry, so you can send them that if you like. I dont think they have cameras, if you are willing to send one of those. Sister Kailie will go home in three months and Sister Stevens in about one year. They are pretty ordinary women, so I think it shouldn't be too hard.

For small things, the elders could enjoy a new tie, salonians like butterscotch small candies, not to sure of much else. Letters of love and encouragement. Dont say anything about ebola please. Anything if you ask me I'll know if it is okay. All of them were so blown away that you wanted to send stuff for them, anything you send would be really great. They are so humble, they didn't really have anything to ask for, (except for elder nyelenke), so even if neighbors or ward members want to give you things to send it would be nice. They wont have a really great christmas, they will call home and most of them are afraid to call home because they might get bad news about their family and friends. So this will really help them a lot. 
I will send the scriptures for Osman Sankoh next week, Elder Conteh is going home on the 9th of Dec. so he will take them, he is from the Wellington Branch. I am sending him with small money too because life after mission there is not easy.

Dad, My favorite hymn is "Lead Kindly Light".  Thank you for all you do to support me. Oh and Mom I  have recieved the letter with the debit card inside. Also the talks and stuff you send to me are perfect, they always seem to come at the right time. I was having a hard time with my companion when you sent that talk you gave, and now we are really getting along.  

I am thankful for my family, when I come home I want to spend alot of time with the family. Mom thank you for always helping us to do the correct things and dad thank you for all the support and happiness you bring to us. Sorry that this is so short, the computer keeps on shutting down here, so I love you mom and dad and family!   

Below is a letter from Pres. Heid, Cody's mission president regarding a special day of fasting in West Africa on Dec 7th for ebola and those affected if you too would like to join in:


As you know, the people of Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea are suffering from an epidemic of the Ebola Virus Disease. Although some progress has been made in fighting this disease, individuals continue to contract the disease, and the suffering, both physical and economic, continues. We pray that those who are suffering can be helped and comforted. We pray that those who are mourning the loss of loved ones can be consoled. We pray that the disease will go away and that the people of these countries can go back to normal life. We pray that the disease will not spread to other countries.

We know that many of the members of the Church throughout the Africa West Area and, in fact, the world, are offering these same prayers. Nevertheless, we feel that it would be well for all of us in the Africa West Area to unite in fasting and prayer on behalf of the people of Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea. Would you, your bishops and branch presidents all please invite the people of your units to remember the people of Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea in connection with the Church's regular Fast Sunday on 7 December 2014? In addition to encouraging the people to fast and pray for our brothers and sisters, please encourage them to pay a generous fast offering to help the poor. A good time to announce this will be at your stake and district conferences this week-end, and at sacrament meetings on 30 November 201 4,

Of course, the members may also have other needs in mind as they fast and pray on 7 December 2014. But, please ask them to include this as one of the items for their fasts and prayers that day, and in other prayers that they offer.

Very truly yours,
West Africa Area Presidency for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Monday, November 17, 2014

No more coconut trees and plantain in the back yard!


(This is Cody's response to his cousin being baptized this week by his uncle)
Wow that's super cool to hear, it makes me happy to hear about that. That gave me a big smile... so cool! Everyone looks super good in that picture too. Zac looks older and like a skater kid. I am happy to see everyone like that.  I wish I could have been there too, looks super nice. 







To answer some of your question. 
1. Every so often I will find a small shop that sells tools and become friends with the owner, and they are always happy to lend me there tape measue, but no I don't think I have grown much.

2.  I got the box on transfer day it was at the mission home waiting for me, but they made me pay 36 gc for it. The scriptures looked super good, and the candies are well needed. Those cards and church stuffs will be useful. I am not 20 minutes away from the temple now and they have a small bookstore there, so I can now get most of that stuff here but the chocolates can keep coming ;)

3. Thank you for sending my Chrismtas packages already

4. I thought about the that family Christmas service idea this week and I had an idea. All of the Sierra Leone missionaries that are serving here could really use a Christmas letter or gift. They dont have it really easy, I think that they would love to have something like that. There are four of them in this mission, I can ask them what they would like if you want?



This week was exciting, stressful and valuable. This has been an odd week, we have been so busy trying to organize the area, sort through our area books, know the members and learn the area. 

So we were transfered to Teshie. The area was previously occupied by sister missionaries, they have been here for the past 4 years according to a member. So we had to start fresh with only a few tools to help us know the area and the investigators. The sisters were not serious at all about keeping there area book up to date, so alot of the investigators are lost for now, until a branch missionary can show us where they live. The sisters would also work in each others areas and outside of our ward boundaries, so everything is a mess. We have spent plenty of time organizing and splitting the area. 

We went first to our ward mission leader, we called him and a few other branch missionaries and also the bishop and told them we have come and that we are ready to help them. We are hoping that if we work well with the members that we will be able to pick up on the work as it was left off and even bring the work to another level. I hope in the future this will pay off. One problem we found with the members is that many of the members don't stay in the boundaries of the ward, but they still attend the ward anyway, there are also members who live in the boundaries of our ward that go to other wards, so it is difficult to work with some of the members on that basis. 

we have been very confused about the boundaries of our areas (Teshie 2a and 2b). We didn't come to find a map and all of the investigators seem to be evenly dispursed through out the ward boundaries, so we had to spend a day learning the area and splitting the area. So we now are feeling a little more organized and able to work more effectively. We have also spent a great deal of time trying to get addresses and phone numbers for half filled out teaching records. So a lot of our time this week was spent trying to organize the area. The area seems pretty small, we can bike the longest distance of our area in about 7 minutes, but there are so many people packed in here that it shouldn't be difficult to find or teach people.

Accra is a crazy place. No more coconut trees and plantain in the back yard, but we do have a beach, but this one seems to be the community dump, and I don't mean just trash....haha!!  Accra is also really hot, I sweat more than ever here. Our district is really fun, its me Elder Garcia, Elder Krofua, and Elder Sibeko. Elder Sibeko and Elder Erofuah are both only 3 months on mission, and boy do I now feel old on mission. I can see the difference from when I first started mission. Elder Sibeko (my companion, from South Africa) turned 18  on his mission, so he is very young, and I am about to turn 20. It will be fun being with him, because he is right out of training. So he will remind me of some fundamentals. He really knows his scriptures too.

Accra is also cool because there are lots of people from other West African countries here, so it only took me a few days to find my first Sierra Leonian and of course I spoke Krio to her, although I am losing it small. I invited her to church and she came. So that was sweet. She said she will prepare kasava leaf for us, which I have missed.

At the misssion home I got to talk to Sister Stevens and Sister Kaillie, they are both from Sierra Leone serving missions  here. I served in both of there branches in Salon before they came out. Sister Stevens in Wellington and Sister Kaillie in New London, my first area. So it was lots of fun talking about there and speaking krio. 

The time is going quick!

love elder beckett

Monday, November 10, 2014

Teshi... Here We Come!


This week we did not do much. For the past few weeks Elder Garcia's back has been paining him, and this week it got bad so he had to lay down all week. He is also really tired all the time even though he sleeps all day. We aren't sure what is wrong. We even saw two doctors this week. One day we had to go get his blood tested, that was a fun experience. The office we went to had nice blood stains on the wall and floor, but all went well. We traveled to Accra to see a doctor...a  three hour drive to get evaluated and the doctor still doesn't know whats wrong with him, but small small he is getting better. 




Accra is a very flat place. Koforidua where I am is in the mountains, and there is lots of bush, but when we went to Accra we didn't see one coconut tree.

This was the last week of the transfer, so we were expecting transfer news. We were expecting to recieve two more elders so we could split the area again and work more effectively but wednesday we got a call from the "AP's" telling us that both of us will be transfered to Teshi (in accra) and that sisters will come replace us here. So I get to go and white wash and area (this means he and his comanpion are both new to the area). Elder garcia and I will be in the same district which is cool, because I dont know very many people from this mission.

 Our companions are both only 3 months on mission, so it feels like a big responsibility to have them. I am starting to feel older on mission now. I remember being 3 months on mission, now I am almost 15. It will be a great experience to learn and help others.

I liked the Adweso branch, its too bad I only got to stay here for 3 months, but up and away!  Elder Garcia and I will go down to Accra tomorrow to go to the mission home to be transfered. I will get to serve in a ward, so we will see how that goes (A ward is larger than a branch and he has only ever served in a branch).

With lots of time in the apartment this week I studied a few talks by apostles. I really liked one by Dallin H. Oaks titled "The Desire of Our Hearts" . God looks on our desires to know who we are, and based on our desires and actions we will be just. Sometimes we do good things but we don't do it with a willing heart or we do it with a grudge. Those things are done with no blessing or value. When our desires are good then out actions will follow. So we have to be constantly reminded of what we want to become and do if our desires will be maintained and fulfilled. So I am trying to increase my desire, and I think that it is working. 

Elder Garcia and I have really helped each other a lot and I think that we will be ready for the challenge ahead.

Love Elder Beckett

Monday, November 3, 2014

It's super satisfying when I get to see people changing their lives!


The week went by so fast. We had a great week, we were able to improve alot of our work with sweet goals. We have really been trying for member present lessons so that investigators can have a friend and so they can share there testimonies with the investigators. 
It's super satisfying when I get to see people changing their lives and when we put forward small effort to help someone and they tell us that we really helped them.  There are two people who we saw this week that were really interesting. We have been going through our area books, finding less active and former investigators. One we found that is actually in prison here, he has baptized last year. We decided that we would visit him and give him a Book of Mormon, so he could spend his time learing about the gospel. When we went to see him he was so happy to see missionaries, ends up we were the first people to visit him, so he was excited. Its nice to see people put on a smile even when they are not in great conditions. we felt that we should see him, even though it took us a long tiime to go there, because he is just as important as any other person  in the world. We got to sit in the same room and we had a member come and translate for us.

Last week I heard from one of my friends in Sierra Leone and they said that 4 people we baptized in the Wellington Branch last week. Its super sweet to hear about missionary work over there. I want to go back there so bad. I have started to really enjoy Ghana... I am pretty used to the culture now, I will miss this place also. I have gotten used to teaching in English too. Sometimes I use big words that people dont understand, so I have had to simplify my language. I struggle to speak Krio again. everything is going pretty good over here.

Elder Beckett.

Below is an update from Cody's former misison president on the family who lost their parents to Ebola.


This family's parents died from ebola over 3 weeks ago. The children were just cleared and released from quarantine. While in quarantine, the branch provided them food, clothing and water. Last Sunday, the 4 oldest children attended church. The relief society president works with the government and is finding a permanent living situation for them. 
Grateful for your prayers.

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Ebola has a name and a face!


Family Baptism Day. Mother, Father and baby have since died from Ebola.
5 Surviving Children have been given food and water but are in quarantine for 2 weeks. 



 Message below from mission president and adult missionary couple that were currently serving before the evacuation in Sierra Leone.


David Ostler added 2 new photos.
Ebola orphans. 
Simon Kamara and his wife and young child passed away from Ebola within the last two weeks. The surviving 5 children are quarantined at the home for the next 2 weeks. The oldest, probably 14 years old, is in charge. No one nearby can safely interact with them. We don't know of any family. 
We have been able to get them food and water. Life in Sierra Leone is difficult - just imagine the added difficulty of losing your parents and younger sibling to Ebola, even without the social stigma.
Why do first world problems seem so hard, when this is their reality?
Here is a picture of the surviving children at their home. Here is the family at their baptism last November


Robin Jones-Kanzler LDS Charities: Our Emergency Response staff have had discussions with other relief organizations, and are considering now how we can best be of help in Sierra Leone.

Our Emergency Team are not planning to make any shipment at the moment to Sierra Leon
e, however, members closer to the area are paying Fast Offering to help them. In addition the Emergency Response Team is working with the International Medical Corps. 

The Church Emergency Response Team is also working directly with the local ecclesiastical leaders and local nonprofit partners to assess and meet the most basic needs of those affected. Donation to the Humanitarian Aid Fund is one of the possibility.

Donations to the Humanitarian Aid Fund allow the Church to help people throughout the world by providing relief and help so people may help themselves. Funds for Sierra Leone will come out from the HUM Fund.



If you would like to get involved the best way to help at this time is donating to the general Humanitarian Funds.  http://ldscharities.org/articles/how-can-i-help?lang=eng#donate


After the quarantine is lifted for this family we are hoping we will be able to send gifts so we will keep you posted.

Our thoughts and prayers go to this family and the many others who have been affected by the devestating ebola virus. 

Monday, October 27, 2014

Ebola Round Two!?


Wow.. thats a lot of exciting news from home. Whoa banana splits and tacos in Mexico sound so good. Yeah it will be great when we all come home and head to Mexico for our annual surf trip but Baylor will be able to speak spanish so Mexico will be super cool for him haha! Tell Jeff to send me a post card from Fiji! 

During the week I forget about home and all the things that go on at there. I am really set apart so I forget about the real world, I guess that is how it is supposed to be so we can work with all our heart might mind and strength. Mondays are pretty hard, it makes me think about home, but I like to hear whats up with the family. Happy Halloween.. people here don't do Halloween, but when they see American movies about vampires and stuff like that, they think it's real. 

Ants invading our house

Elder Garcia my companion .... he is from Seattle Washington.

Yummy Fufu - it's made with pounded Kasava root and Plantain
 The fufu used to make me gag, but I put it down now. It is slipery, it goes right down, you dont even have to chew it. You need to come here and try it!


My front yard has a nice view of the bush. I have 
regular showers and toilets now but we still wash our clothes in a bucket. We don't use a brooking board here, just our hands so it's a little harder.



Our stove broke to say the least
Our study room


Ebola round two!  Last night we got the first announcement from the mission about Ebola. Here we go again haha...they just said we are going to be trained on it. I really hope that I wont have to leave, but I am not hopeful because of the news that I keep hearing. Every house here plays the news about it and I feel that we will leave sometime because of flight problems.


Well the work is going okay, we are helping lots of members, but coordinating with them seems to be a little hard. Our next baptism will be in December, there are a few really interested people but we will see how it goes.

We are overloaded with recent converts and less actives so alot of our attention goes to them because our areas are combined. Elder Garcia and I have been teaching some sweet lessons. We have been studying about teaching with unity and listening, and we have really taught with power and authority. I learned when we listen we wont have to think of what to say but it will be given to us, Elder Holland taught it somewhere in Preach My Gospel. I always love improving and becoming better. I have gained a great testimony of prayer and revelation. 

I also bought a cutlas this week, so I can cut open more coconuts on my own. 

Love you! Thank you for the direction in life.


PS - so mom you are going to kill me but I need my Social Security number. I promised I would memorize it when I left, but forgot it again. Can you send that to me. Thank you!



Monday, October 20, 2014

No Ebola in Ghana!


So in Ghana all of the big pastors will make posters and try to get people to come to their service, and they will have crazy themes and titles, so we made one just for fun. 




I was talking to one of the Elders who is serving here in Ghana who is from Sierra Leone, Elder Charles, he was telling me that he can't go home, even though his mission is almost done because of Ebola. He is to continue serving until something changes so he can go home. I love talking to the Sierra Leonians here, I feel like I fit here when I talk to them.  Yeah no Ebola in Ghana and we don't have any precautions yet either. I think its because the church headquarters for West Africa is here. 

A few fun things from the week: 
On Thursday after we finished studying we walked into our parlor and found thousands of ants pouring out a hole they made in the middle of our concrete floor. We also found them in the kitchen and in the halls. They were carrying their eggs around so we killed a few thousand ants this week. They aren't the standard ants you see at home, they are about half inch big. The neighbors said that they will come back in about a month or so when they find a new route, so we will be expecting them. I also learned how to open a bottle with my teeth (don't know if I will do that too much, but at least I learned how.) I also received  the post cards you sent and the letter. Very much appreciated. It made me really excited about going to Hawaii. 


Having a little fun in Ghana!!




The work in Ghana is a little bit slow. People are a little hesitant to hear us because they are afraid of the book of Mormon, they think it has some juju or something. The part of Ghana that I am in is almost all Christian. I can hardly find a Muslim. I am happy when I do because they remind me of Sierra Leone.


Ghana is much cleaner and nicer than Sierra Leone



Elder Garcia and I have had our hands full his week with the areas combined we have had so many people to see. We weren't even able to see all of the people we wanted too but we have had some of the most powerful lessons together and really work well together. Its great when I am with a companion that wants to grow and do things the way the Lord wants. Ee are having a good time here doing some great stuff. 

One of the greatest things that has happened this week is seeing the members here in Adweso really get involved in missionary work. We have been busy trying to see all of our investigators and recent converts that we have had little time to find and do some street contacting but no doubt the members have helped the area. We received 8 referrals this week from families, and they are so interested and ready to hear from us. 

The work is done best by the members of the branches and ward whether you are just a friend to someone or you invite people to church. It's good to be good friends with non members because they will be likely to invite the missionaries in when they come knocking on their door. So be an example and be ready to give a reason for the hope we have. 

Love you, 
I'll see you soon!

Monday, October 13, 2014

It seems as though I am really looked after by God!

Here's a nice bug for you. Milipede or Centipede?



Well this week was different. Not much teaching was done. One of the Elders in my district got malaria for the second time in three weeks, so he was at home the whole week. We got to work on Tuesday and half  Wednesday because I fell sick and had to stay home on Thursday. The same elder who had malaria got a wakeup call from President Heid on Friday saying that he would have to go home, and maybe finish his mission in the u.s. so Friday we were trying to help him get ready to go. 


I am not sure what happened, I just woke up with this on my finger! Ingrown fingernail? It popped and all the puss came out... hopefully it wont come back.


Halfway through our day of Friday President Heid called me and said that the other area in my district would close and my companion would be transfered and I received  the elder who was companions with the malaria elder. So our areas has been combined into a huge area and we are a two man district for the next four weeks. My companion is Elder Garcia from Washington. He is a sweet guy and we get along really well and we are both ready to work. Elder Garcia fell sick on Saturday and Sunday so again we didn't work. So not to much happened but I did inherit some really cool stuff from elder Steinman (the one who went home). His parents just sent him a package, so he left tons of sweet stuff for us.

With my last companion, Elder Odume, we didn't always see eye to eye with the work, and sometimes would disagree on how to work. I knew that I would be with him for a long while  so I had been trying to help us get along. So in the past week before he was transfered, we were able to work out our differences and really get working together. It always seems like as soon as I see my problems... they are solved or when I learn from my surroundings, things change and I receive a new enviornment. So that happened this week with my companion. It seems as though I am really looked after by god and there are things that I have to learn wherever I am and what ever I do, so when I learn, things change and I can move forward much better than before..

Sitting around the apartment all week led to some boredom, so I cleaned everything, fixed the swamp problem in our front yard by draining the water, and got to watch "The Other Side of Heaven". That movie makes me never want to leave this place. 

With our areas combined we have lots of people to teach and tons of less active members, so we are going to be really busy the next few weeks.

elder beckett