GREAT NEWS FOR GHANA.... Testimony building experience for many

We have had some great news here!

The court case for the 2 elders in prision (Elder Keeng from botswana and Elder Omale from Nigeria)
finally happened on thursday.  It has been put off and postponed about 6 times as the judge just didnt show up.  Last week was supposed to be the final final appeal date but the judge never came!

But finally this thursday they were their waiting for the judge.  She walked in, said appeal granted, charges dismised, you are free to go and walked out.

President was over the moon...  I think he was staring to worry that it might not be cleared up by the time he leaves in 2 and a half months time.  It was an amazing experience for me.  Today president went to pick them up from the prision and tomorrow they are going home.  One only had 4 weeks left on him mission and has spend nearly a whole year extra in ghana. he will finally be able to go home to his family. the other is going to sierra leone to finish his mission with Apples! he has 10 months remaining.

We had a dinner for them tonight and a testimony meeting.  There was not a dry eye in the room, the spirit was so strong, and even now i have a lump in my throat.  We sang "God be with you till we meet again" as the closing song.  It was such a perfect choice for the occation espically after everything that has happened.  The second verse really choked me, "When life's perils thick confound you; put his arms unfailing round you."  It helped us all realize that although the times tought Heavenly Father was always there keeping them safe with his unfailing arms around them!  Listening to their testimonies was a experience in its self.

Even after all the things that have happened to them, their faith in the Lord is unwavering. Their testimony is stronger than ever, President said that in reminded him of the sons of mosiah in the Book of Mormon, wrongly accused and thrown into prision.  But the Lord did not forget them, he continued to strive with them. and eventually the walls of the prision came down and they walked free.
from the we learn that the lord will not desert those who remain loyal and faithful to him. We always knew that they would come free, it was just a matter of when.  And now that day is here and it was truly a enlighting, testimony building, faith promoting experience. and i think heavenly father put me here in the office so that i might be able to witness it. He knows what we need.

We also had the interviews for all the mission this week.

so every day was pretty hectic had to organise food for all the missionaries! about 40 everyday!

but thursdays interviews were all cancelled because of the trial and part of fridays so they continue again this thurday!!! wheww the work is never over!

President keeps us pretty busy and Elder and Sister Barney (the office couple)

It makes me excited to think that this missin doesnt have to be my last!

well other than that this week should be slightly less hectic and hopefully less busy!

lots of love

Elder Anderson

Office Missionary, Driving in Accra and not winning the spelling bee

unfortuntly my shirts are not getting cleaner, the collars are just too dirty for the washing machine to get clean!!

it is pretty cool that i will be seeing the inner workings of the mission and learing how it all works. sad part is that i don't get to teach as much with all the office and running around work.

My money situation is fine.  We get money from the mission and most of the time is does just fine for me and my companion too.

btw his name is Elder George Macauley from nigeria, Akwa ibom (ar-cry-bull) state, it is next to cross river state which is where elder takon my trainer is from!  Small world!  and he sends his grettings to you all.

Still only attend the temple every 6 months.  no special visits.  all the new missionaries go when they are in the mtc so when we pick them up they are all ready to go into the field and start working!

Having the car is somewhat of a new experience because there are so many opportunities lost now.

and the area we proclyte in the some how far from the mission home and ghana is lacking on 2 things when it come to roads.

1. drivers with common road courtesy and

2. parking places!

it makes it difficult to drive (all the cars parked willie-nillie all over the road) and finding a place we can leave it!  I'm in a place called james town, so you can look it up. They donot however have a chapel and meet at the temple site.  It is just a little branch and we are here to help it grow..

The biggest problem we face is getting our investigators (and members) to come to church, they all complain about the distance and money for transport and many other things!

We had 49 at church on sunday and 4 investigators!  thats a pretty big change from 180 attendence at buduburam and 18 investigators!

Other than that the office is pretty sweet, sister smith made brownines for us today as is was sister Barney's (the office coupe) birthday.

We gave her a hand fan (like the poly ones) that was in my package from liz and blaze which arrived today!

She loved it, she was even talking about how much she was wanting one to take to church (as none of the chapels here have a/c) and how every time she saw one they were in a hurry and couldnt stop, or that she saw them with a street hawker but the traffic was moving and they couldnt stop!!

(people here LOVE to honk their horns! it drives me insane!!!!!!!) they also love to cut in any which way they feel like it! it is terribly annoying!!! 

but i'm still enjoying and still get to teach most afternoons and evenings so that is great!

I love you lots and lots  

Elder Anderson