Elder Erickson and I got our pamphlets and our phone, and piled into the back of a van with Elder Lifferth and Lizolo, and all of the sisters. When we got to the church our driver didn't say anything. He just left right after we all got out of the car. So that was fun. We stood there for a while, then headed out to proselyte. We had ZERO training really, so we had to translate our 'get to know you' methods from French to English haha.
When we started, Elder Erickson and I went away from the main road and zigzagged down sidestreets, moving somewhat towards the general direction of the ocean in the morning. We were really timid to talk to people at the start, but eventually we got the courage. The first guy that we talked to was eating pineapple slices on the side of the road. His name is Basil. After a brief introduction, he was very interested, and we found out that he was the optimal investigator. He believes in God, but struggles with the lack of love in the world and how God lets his children suffer. Basil was so open to us with his thoughts, it was amazing. He shared the story of how his dad had married a woman, but then she filed a divorce and took everything. Because of that, Basil sleeps outside a relative's house because there's no room inside; he also doesn't have a full time job, so he just signs up for odd jobs. As Elder Erickson and I talked to him, I felt the impression to share a certain scripture. The scripture was Alma 14:10-11. We asked if he would read it, and he complied happily. As he read it I felt chills go up and down my arms as I began to feel the spirit very strongly. After he read that, we asked him what he thought and he said something along the lines of "Thank you. That really touched my heart. That was exactly what I was looking for." He was such a kind man. I'm kinda crying as I write this haha. He really wanted Elder Erickson and I to teach him, but we're going to Cote d'Iviore. After we had finished talking and had given him a plan of salvation packet, he told us that he had been struggling with alcohol and that day he felt like he should not take it, so we shared a brief word of wisdom overview with him. Ah, he was such a sweet guy. We got his number and then continued on. Ah, I wish that I could've continued teaching him. The next guy(s) that we met was this one guy (who's name I can't remember) and Ernest. The other guy called to us from across the street and wanted us to visit him tomorrow. He dragged his buddy Ernest over too, and Ernest told us that he used to go to church but now school had gotten in the way. They said they would go to church this Sunday, and they wanted us to be there too. But again, we aren't going to be. It's so sad. The next guy we met was Seth. Now Seth was interesting. He made us come into the restaurant where he was getting food. He told us about how alcohol was ruining his his family. It was pretty sad. There was a moment where he left and when he came back he confessed to us that he just drank some shots so... From then on he got crazier and kinda angry so we left...
After Seth, we continued back for lunch, but on the way. BUT ON THE WAY. Elder Erickson and I stopped at KFC. And got. Soft. Serve. Ice. Cream. That was the best thing I've had for the past 3 weeks. It was amazing.
Lunch was chicken and rice of course, at the church, then we went back out to proselyte. We went the opposite direction than we did last time, and we decided to talk to really anyone we saw. The first guy we saw after lunch was John. Another sweet guy. He was working, loading some stuff into a van, but stopped when he saw us walking by and ran over. He was very interested. He believed in God, and wondered about what was going to happen after death. He had to go quick, so we quickly got his info and gave him a pamphlet. It's cool how people are so willing to talk to you. Especially because we're just some white Americans haha. The next people who's info we got are kind of a blur, so I'm sorry that I won't have as much detail as the other 4. As we walked down a sidestreet parallel to the highway, we talked to 4 people. Naina, Elvis, Amelia, and Manuel. Naina was interested, we gave her a restoration pamphlet. Elvis seemed like he might've been homeless and he wasn't very responsive... but we still talked to him and he gave us a phone number. Amelia was sweeping the road but she wanted us to stop by her house later. Manuel was around a corner and I barely saw him, but we went and said hi. He was very interested, and he ran inside the building that he was guarding to write his contact number on a sheet of paper, so that was fun.
The next few people were on various streets, so I'll list them together. Ken called us over to his restaurant. He spoke very discernable english and was quite interested. Rita... I can't remember her very well but I think she wanted to come to church. Shmael (?) and Samoa were very interested, they wanted all 3 pamphlets. Sanny Addini was muslim and we gave him a pamphlet. I think he was just happy for some white people to talk to him haha. Panin was very very interested. Apparently he's a painter and he painted some things for the church before, so that's super cool. He wanted all 3 pamphlets. Bamba was chilling on the side of a road on a lawn chair. He is Presbyterian (?) and says that he loves Jesus Christ. We gave him a doctrine of Christ pamphlet. Blaise & Thomas. Thomas was very interested, and his sister Blaise wasn't as much. We gave them a plan of salvation packet. Juda was painting a house and I think he gave us a fake number haha. I don't remember anything about Addo. Deriana was not very interested, but we gave her a pamphlet anyways haha. Our last guy, Seprosper (?) was actually kinda funny. He kinda yelled and called us over. When we came over, he just excitedly exclaimed "I am going to the bank!" We were kinda surprised haha, it was so random and enthusiastic. He was interested; he wanted us to come over later after he went to the bank haha.
And, on the way back, we got two more ice cream cones from KFC. Best decision ever haha. I also gave Soeur Obalana my extra cash and she bought herself one too.
So, that experience was TOTALLY AWESOME. I mean, I got sunburned pretty bad, despite my efforts with sunscreen. Okay, also. The sewer system in Accra is along the sidewalk... Imagine a trough (as wide as cinderblocks) that runs between the road and buildings (because in most places there isn't anything close to being a sidewalk) that's sometimes covered, but is usually just open. That's their sewer. Many many times during the day we would see people come out of nowhere and just relieve themselves in the gutter (Standing and squatting). So that was super fun. Hopefully that gives you an idea of what everywhere smelled like. Oh, the gutter also had dead fish in it from someone's meal and other random garbage. Smells awesome.
Sorry I got sidetracked haha. But anyways, I loved the opportunity to proselyte, especially with Basil and John, Such sweet guys, I hope that they find happiness.
The rest of the week was good. The new elders came on Friday and Saturday, so that was fun. The elders in my room are both from DR Congo, and their names are Elder Djina (Gina) and Elder Nzeza (Zeehzuh). They're pretty cool, and they're French speakers, learning English. Elder Djina is very talkative, while Elder Nzeza is reserved for the most part. They're honestly really cool, except for the fact that they turn the lights on at 5:30 every morning. It's the kind of the absolute worst!
Every morning I either wake up to the shower turning on and off in rapid succession (for some reason the African elders do that, I don't know why. It's on for 2 seconds, then off, then back on, then back off, and so on), Elder Djina singing, Elder Nzeza brushing his teeth (it's so loud. SO LOUD. I don't know how he manages to create that volume with a toothbrush and his teeth. It's like he brushes his teeth with a megaphone by his mouth.)(perhaps this is where aversions to being around others who are brushing their teeth come from) Suuuuper fun haha. Those elders arrived along with about 120 other new elders this week. It's honestly amazing how quickly the Lord is moving the work forward.
J'ai une ecriture maintenant. C'est a sujet de une experience dans Lake Powell. L'ecriture est dans le livre de deuxieme rois, chapitre six verset six-sept. Lisez-le. C'est tres bien.
( roughly translated Elder Lyman says "I have a scripture that relates to an experience in Lake Powell. The scripture is in 2nd Kings 6:6-7. Read it. It's very good." )
That scripture was not necessarily important other than the fact that it reminds me of when I tried to make a shovel float.
Anyways, my spiritual thought/scripture from this week is about the Holy Ghost. I've often wondered about the promptings of the spirit and how you can discern them from your own thoughts, and the such. But, as I was reading in Ether and Moroni, a couple of scriptures caught my attention. I'm not going to insert them here, but I'll summarize my thoughts on the subject. I had always wondered about that, and I'm far from perfect when it comes to being able to identify spiritual promptings, but these passages helped a lot. My thoughts were that if a thought is good, whether or not it is of our minds or of the spirit, then we should do it. Why should we hold back? And if there's two good things, then we should choose the better choice. If it's our thought and it's good, then it is most likely in harmony with God's will. If it's from the spirit, then it's definitely in harmony with God's will.
"I show unto you the way to judge... whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do good is of me." (Ether 4:12, Moroni 7:13,16, 10:6-7)
I just thought those scriptures were really cool and I'm going to try better at recognizing the spirit. If it's a good thought, then do it, don't worry where it comes from.
I hope you are doing well! I want you to know that Heavenly Father is real and He will answer your prayers if you ask.
- Elder Lyman
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| Not from this past week, but needed at least one photo on here today. |
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