Week 27 TRANSFERSSSSSSS

AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH! First of all, 6 months on this mission! That’s cool. Also, I'm leaving Techiman:( It’s a bittersweet moment. Bitter because I have to say goodbye to a lot of friends and members I've made over these 6 months! So sad! But I'll be going to Obuasi. My new area is called Asonkore. When President Cosgrave called me he told me my next branch is struggling... hahaha GREAT! So he asked me to go try to help it. So we'll see how that is. My new companion will be Elder Effiong from Nigeria. He will be going home after this next transfer, so we'll also see how that goes haha! I really don't know what to expect this next transfer! I guess we'll see! 

Brother David

 Not much really happened this week, just a lot of stuff with transfers and preparing to go. I've known I've been going just not where till this week, so I've just been saying goodbye to all the members. Yesterday we went to a member named Brother David. He's our branch clerk, but hasn't been able to come for the past two transfers that I've been here. He was hit by a car! In the picture you can see his cast. But anyway yesterday we went and traveled about 30 minutes to go see him and it was powerful!!  We shared something small.  Before we ended he shared something with me before we left.  Something I'll NEVER ever forget!  He broke out Doctrine and Covenants 61:36-39! Man you guys gotta go read it, I almost broke down, I was choking up a little. 

36 And now, verily I say unto you, and what I say unto one I say unto all, be of good cheer, little children; for I am in your midst, and I have not forsaken you;

37 And inasmuch as you have humbled yourselves before me, the blessings of the kingdom are yours.

38 Gird up your loins and be watchful and be sober, looking forth for the coming of the Son of Man, for he cometh in an hour you think not.

39 Pray always that you enter not into temptation, that you may abide the day of his coming, whether in life or in death. Even so. Amen.

Anyway I've learned a lot here in Techiman. On a mission you can really look back and reflect on how much you’ve grown.  Techiman has made me a better man for sure. 

Anyway love you all! Wish me luck for transfers!

Elder Turner

Techiman Zone

A Chibomb (Fried egg on a roll)

Freida

Dwumoh Branch President Tony

Elder and Sister Wood

Week 26 Techiman

WELL just another week here in Dwumoh. This week went by super fast, once again.  We did a lot this week.  Tuesday we went to watch the broadcast by the First presidency.  Let me tell you, that was crazy!  I'm so excited to have our new First Presidency!  Wednesday we had our interviews with our mission president! Those went very well.  We talked about Dwumoh and how I've been here for a very long time. So you never know with the transfers! hahah!

This week we also had zone conference. It was sweet and I learned a lot. Something that has been standing out to me lately is being a proactive person! We talked a lot about being proactive.  Everyone in this world has to be proactive if you want to be successful!!  We also talked about conducting ourselves as missionaries. President Cosgrave said, "What you do speaks so loud, I can't hear what you say."  Hahaha! I thought that was sweet!

Me with Elder Mbithi at Zone Conference

Elder Vaitulala from my MTC group

Elder Simon the Great!

As for the work here in Techiman, it's ok.  Not much happened this week because we were traveling a little bit!  Our recent converts are doing great. Ernestina is doing well and proselytes with us every single Saturday to invite our members and less-actives for church.  Brother Patrick is preparing to receive the Aaronic priesthood as well.  He traveled for work so we are hoping he comes back for this Sunday, but he could still be at the work place. 

Our teaching pool is ok. We haven't really been able to have any investigators consistently progress. We have a lot of investigators come to church then stop seeing us. So we are just praying for that one to progress. 

This week was a cool week. It went by too fast. I hope all is well where ever you are around the world. 

Elder Turner

Week 25 Techiman

Wow! Week 25. Crazy!! This week was a good week! It went by so fast! I couldn't believe it! The work was really good this week. My companion and I had a little sit down about how we can use the Book of Mormon more in our lessons at the beginning of the week. So we decided to even try to only use the Book of Mormon this entire week. It's almost impossible here in Ghana because all of our investigators ask questions about the bible only.  But I feel we had a great week because we decided to focus on the Book of Mormon more. Even next week I don't think I'm gonna proselyte with my Bible to see how it is. Only Book of Mormon!

Our recent converts are doing well. Ernestina helps us proselyte and wants to serve a mission of her own when she turns 19. Patrick is also preparing to receive the Aaronic Priesthood. So all is well with them. Our teaching pool is doing ok. We have some progressing investigators that come to church every now and then. We are still just increasing our teaching pool week by week.

This morning we went to a place called monkey village! haha! It was so cool! Monkeys everywhere! haha! 

Anyway. This week I read the talk by President Monson, The Power of the Book of Mormon just about 5 times this week. It’s probably the most powerful talk in one page I've ever read in my life. I'd highly recommend reading it.

I hope all is well. Sorry for a short email!

Elder Turner

For my mom and Elder Stapley

Week 24 Techiman

Well, this week was just kinda boring, honestly.  It went by sooooo fast.  That’s how it is out here.  We email Monday, mid-week on Wednesday, church on Sunday, email Monday.... like it just goes by soooo fast! 

This week was okay with the teaching. Our recent convert, Ernestina wanted to come and proselyte with us. Of course, we said, “yes, no problem!” We kill for members to beg us to come and teach. Hahaha!  We went to pick her up and took her to meet with members that are less active.  She did so well!  She asked them if they were a member and the member would say, “yes.” She would then say, "I've never seen you there." Hahaha!  But she helped us a lot and was very outgoing. She’s 17 now, she says she wants to serve a mission of her own. I was so happy and shocked when she said it. She’s truly converted to this gospel.

Also, we had two young men in our branch receive their mission calls. Victor and Samuel. They are both going to Nigeria.

This week we expanded our teaching pool a little. So that was good! We were teaching an investigator about the temple and baptisms. He has been taught by the missionaries for a long time so he knows a lot. He had never heard about the temple. So we told him about Family History and baptisms for the dead. Man, it was so cool to tell him about it. He just knows it was the right thing when I showed him Doctrine and Covenants 137 and 124:29-38.  Not only did it enlighten him, but me as well. After that lesson I knew that God and Jesus Christ loves us so much to give us temples.

Anyway, President Monson passed away this week. Man I was in shock, also crushed. Everyone should find the time to watch "On the Lords Errand: The Life of Thomas Monson.  That man was no doubt a Prophet of God.

Love you all! 

Elder Turner

Week 23 Techiman

WELL, there goes 2017 and here comes 2018!  2017 was a great year with high school graduation and just all that good stuff.  I'm excited to see what 2018 is gonna be like spending it entirely in Ghana.  HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

 Brother Patrick and Sister Ernestina's Baptism

  

This week was a cool week!  Saturday we had our first baptisms!  So that was good!  Sister Ernestina and Brother Patrick.  I was so happy they all worked out! Baptizing them was a cool experience.  I also had the chance to be in the circle when they were being confirmed.  I could totally feel that the Holy Ghost was there!  Man what a cool experience.  I can't wait to see what the future has for them in the church.

Also, this week we had a Multi-Branch activity here in Techiman. A dance! So what just popped into my head was a stake dance back home. Man, Ghana stake dances are so much different hahaah!  This place was crazy.  They all heard there was gonna be free food, so everyone in Techiman came.  I think there ended up being like 250 members in all.  Watching the food line was comical. Hahaha!  But for real, I was in shock.  I didn't even go in the line cause I didn't wanna die. So I cracked open a Fanta and just watched. The activity was good because it brought tons of the members out that haven't been to church all year.  So it was a very effective activity. 

This week I had something on my mind.  It comes from the scriptures in LUKE 22:41-44.  It's about the Savior suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane.  Something that really stood out to me in verse 42 when the savior says, "not my will, but thine, be done."  The Savior didn't want to suffer but yet he did it because it was the will of the Father.  We can apply this to our daily lives. Sometimes there are things that we don't want to do, but it’s not our will that matters, it’s the Fathers, especially out here on the mission.  Sometimes you don't wanna go see that crazy old lady or that creepy man, but it’s not our will, it’s the Fathers. His will always seems to work out.

Also in verse 44 it says "and being in AGONY he prayed more earnestly…" Sometimes life is just gonna suck, but the savior wasn't in the best moment for him physically, mentally and spiritually either. Yet he prayed more earnestly. I hope we can all apply this in our life. When life sucks.... pray more earnestly, and if you aren't praying..... START!  Elder Mbithi, my Father, always said, "When you don't want to pray is when you need to pray most."  TRUE! 

Anyway, I wish all you a Happy New Year and I love you all!

Elder Turner 

 Christmas Caroling

Our Neighbor's Monkey Eating Our Banana