April 27th From the Office

This week has been pretty cool.

We had our stake conference on sunday, which was great!  Really great messages for the people here, The theme was "Becoming true followers of Jesus Christ".  President Smith spoke and the temple president and the stake president and the stake patricah.  The Stake choir that sang was the best african choir that i have ever heard.  They sang come thou fount of every blessing as prelude and it was so amazing. I wish i had my camera and was allowed to flim inside the chapel. It was so great!!  President Smith has a talk that he kind of gives everywhere.  It goes something like this.

"When i first opened my mission call and saw that i was coming to ghana was i scared.  i didnt know what to expect. I heard so many different experiences about ghana from alot of different people and was unsure what i would get once i arrived.  When we drove through ghana for the first time, i was shocked, I streets are dirty, there is trash everywhere, the people here do not have nice houses or nice cars and there are no supermarkets like we have in the US...  I began to feel very sorry for the people here in ghana!

No 5 years later that has compleltly turned around. I no longer feel sorry for the people of ghana, It is the people of the USA that i feel sorry for.  Here you have a nation that depends on God, you are a God fearing people and because of that he blesses the people here. You are a very humble and loving people.  That is something that the people in the USA are not, slowing they are slipping away from God and from the truth, they are moving more and more towards the worldly things. In the Book of Mormon teaches us that when the greater part of the people turn away from God that his spirit will cease to be with them, sure enough we see that happening in the US.

But not here in ghana.  This country will continue to grow strong as you focus of the Saviour and continue to follow his example."

I played american football yesterday and im so SORE!!!! gosh who would have thunk that playing football for 3 hours after doing 0 physical exercise in 8 months would make you sore!!!  (if you knew this please dont tell me how stupid i am!!)  but is was great fun and Elder Tui is teaching me how to play the Uke so i am becoming quite the PRO!!  i will be able to play with Kody when i get back and get a uke of my own!

(i did get a cheep crappy one here but i will dash it to someone when i leave!)

Driving is still fun. Almost crashed about 100 times into silly taxi drivers who dont look or have any idea who is supposed to have the right of way and want to cut in front of you when there is a 3 inch gap between you and the car in front!!! IT IS MADDNESS!!!!!

I'm getting well acquainted with the hospital staff at the C&J hospital that we take all the missionaries too, had a few to many missionaries in there this last 2 weeks!! mostly malaria and food poisoning! but one is have serious chest pains and they dont know what is wrong so hope he will be okay! he is a cool Ghanaian from Cape Coast Named Elder Cobbinah. he came just before me!

this email is kind of all over the place sorry about that but, just so many great things have happened!  EXCEPT this silly computer is saying that my camera is a unreconizable USB device!!!! SAD HUH!

so im going to find a card reader so i can continue to upload my pictures. and if tha fails i will use the nice printer attached to Sis Barneys computer.

(dont know if i told you about them) Elder and Sister Barney the office couple form Arizona. They are really nice. and like to talk!!!

Saturday night it rained soooo crazy we were in an investigators house and were stuck there for about 2 hours!!!! it was fun but!  then all the roads in our area Jamestown were flooded i almost drove the car into a gutter but a nice man on the road side guided me through it! so lucky!!!  but that ment no one out selling!!!! and no bananas for sunday night banana cake!!!

lucky Elder and Sister Barney dashed us from Pineapples so i made a Pineapple Upside Down Cake and some Anzac biscuits and they were amazing!!!!! i will put up a picture, they both turned out great!! they didnt even last until this morning!!!

Another great week! lots to do and still having a great time in the GAM!!!!!

Ghana Accra Mission!

Lots of Love

Elder A. Anderson

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

TRANSFERRED TO THE OFFICE :)

President came out on sunday to buduburam to do abortion interviews for us.

(He has to interview all of our candidates that have had/or partisipated in an abortion before) Which sadly is about 50% + of our candiates.

any way he came to us after and told me that he wanted to talk to me, and told me that i am going to be the new office elder, which means i have to DRIVE... in ghana on the wrong side of the road!!!!! in the wrong side of the car with the crazy taxi drivers all around!!!!  and what makes it even better is that i have to drive a massise bus!   

also i have a car (only 2 companionships in the whole mission have cars and im going to have one for 2 transfers!) and a washing machine, an oven and AIR-CON

so i short one today as time is of the essence but i will write again maybe tomorrow or wednesdays!

P.S i think we are going to the MTC tomorrow so i will probs be able to see apples!

maybe!

P.P.S

I just checked the mail room and i got a letters! what is with everyone sending me envelopes?????????  hehe but i actually think i know the answers to that!!!!

another bonus! i can send letters straight after i write them and i will not have to wait long long long times for my ones to get to me!!! as i an the one going to the post office to collect them!!! :) yay!

love you all

ELDER ANDERSON

TUESDAY 22nd MARCH 2011

SO... Hey! Had a great week! Got a package but cannot pick it up till that meeting on wednesday which is exciting.  It is from the states and that is all i know.  So fingers crossed STAMPS of my very own! which will be wonderful!!

So i had nearly forgotten about all those holidays we have in Australia, there are plenty coming up in April, Easter and Anzac day! But no rest over here i have to think of how i will work Anzac Day into my normal schedule, but it is on a monday so it should be fine!
Saw someone selling an Iphone today!   THE fake-est thing i have ever touched! TERRIBLE really but looked sooooo real. until you turn the screen on. Pretty funny actually. that is something that is easy to come by here knock-offs but i kinda like it cause they are pretty cheep so no need to pay plenty for the things that i need like sunnies.  got a pair of ray bans for 2cedis!!! BARGIN!!! sure they actually say roybon but no one can tell! :)

Making me very excited about this tyedying!!! did you take any photos or am i going to have to wait until next week and see for myself!
who knows!

Your new TV sounds super sweet!!! question but.... is it 3D??? that may be the future of everything         3D!!!! hehe but what would i know right!

Other than transfers next week nothing really interesting has happened! We are teaching some sweet families who are really into the gospel.

This "lady apostle" /actor/song composer/church founder/bible historian/mormon hater tried to finish Elder Evensen and myself in her branch building. It was kind of sad actually but we humbly bore our testimonies gave her a palmflet and left her to her ranting.
what can you do?  some people really don't like the church and it all stems from lack of knlowedge. they just believe anything people say especially when it comes to the church and Joseph Smith i have heard some weird and wacky things!!!  To the west africans to call on saint means like to call a demon or demon worship, you can imagine how confusing that can be to explain! but there are some simple scriptures that explain saints as those followers of Christ.  Also Mormon and Mammon, confusion. But just in another days work!
Every mission has their own challenges and highlights! just have to focus on the good!

Other than that our week was pretty normal! and by normal i mean Excellent.
We had ward conference and an attendance of 185!!! normally 140. (helped alot by our 18 investigators that we had at church!!!) the members here are sooooo great at giving the missionaries referrals! its amazing!

Love you guys lots and hope this week brings more excitments for the both of us!!

lots of love
Elder Anderson!

TO THE BEACH....

GOOD MORNING

Yesterday we went to the beach with one of the members as Sunday was Ghana Indepedence Day and Monday was a holiday so we went with him and all his kids to have a 'picnic' at the beach! and when we got back light was off and it was getting late so we didnt want to go and wait!  (Lucky too as the power came back on at midnight!!!!)   AND it was so hot last night i couldn't sleep untill my fan came back on! and i was so happy that it did as i was dying!!!

It has been a great couple of weeks...  we have been working really hard and the results (as almost always from hard work) have been great!!! :)

Did you get my letters as i sent more!!!!?!!!?

its terrible that it takes soooo long!

We have Zone conference tomorrow so hopefully more letters and a package.... maybe.... but better new i will be able to send the letters i have here!  isnt that exciting!!! i think it is!

So yesterday we went to a really nice beach! It is called Winneba Beach. It is about a 15 min drive from the chapel.  One of the members took us and i put up some photos on facebook from the trip there are more to come! but that is a start it was really good fun!!!  (what wasn't fun was washing our clothes! :(..... never is really) but just something we have to do!!!!

Hope your all having a great time!!  Back with the rain as i hear it!!

Hope Blaze is loving her new sweet car!!  Sometimes i feel like im learing to speak english all over again and then you see a white person and it is akward to talk to them cause you don't talk normal anymore and it is just weird!

Anyway that is my news for the week!!! hope we have another great week this week!

Love Elder Anderson!!!

TUESDAY 1ST MARCH 2011

So my week to has been pretty uneventful.... BUT the highlight as usual was a baptism!!! Bro Charles Desuah and Sis Yah Bleshue!!

They were both golden! Seriously, GOLDEN INVESTIGATORS!!!!!

Great to teach, so into the gospel, and so excited to learn more, and strive to live by the commandments, many they were already living!

That is one really great thing about the huge emphasis of Christianity here, MOST people have high moral standards!

MOST.... i say that cause nearly woman/girl you see is pregnant.... or has a child....

but other than that most are good.... well at least the ones that show interest in the church are good :)

Can't believe apples will be here so soon!!! its crazy!

I probs will not be able to see him as it is on the other side of Accra and its not really allowed to go and see people! espically as im pretty far..... that one hour was a little wrong more like 2 if there is no traffic... which is pretty much never!!!!

however if there temple day is the same of our Zone conference i might see him!

So who knows!

Aiight!!! now to the exciting part!!!  My Encounter with ELDER DALLIN H. OAKS!!!

It was a great meeting.  We were to gather at the temple site at 8am We were running a little late due to traffic so we arrived at about 8:20 (lucky the meeting started an hour late!!) We then mingled together as missionaries i was able to talk to Elder Thom, which was cool.  Has a very thick accent so that was nice to hear for a change!

Then President Smith arrived at about 10 to 9 and said Elder Oaks was running a little late!!!

So we read our scriptures and what not...

Then the call came that he was almost here so we all went out side and lined up to shake his hand.. He stood and the chapel doors with his wife  and President Cardon (Area president) and his wife and shook all of our  hands as we entered the chapel and greeted us all!  it was pretty amazing.  (yes, he really is balded!) The meeting started at 10 and finished at 11.

We listened to the testimonies from President and Sis Smith, President and Sis Cardon and then Elder and Sis Oaks.

It was so nice, Elder Oaks gave some wonderful counsels that i noted down very well i think!  and forgot my notebook today!

But the part that stuck in my mind the most is the reason he changed his mind and the last minute to come and address us.

As you know (at least i think you know) there are 2 of the Elders in this mission in prison for false accusations of rape.  President Cardon, Said that while he was in the temple, a heavenly messenger came to him and told him that they were  innocent and that the time is soon at hand that they will be released"

Elder Oaks continued to tell us about how every thursday the 12 meet together and discuss any  issues that the church is facing all over the world and how they can address them.  He told of how President Faust would always say.....

"Brethren, i think we need some spiritual help with this one."

He then offered a wonderful prayer, asking for the spiritual help in the  situation that we have here.  I felt the spirit so strong, nearly everyone's eyes were wet.  I know they will be alright now.  Just like Ammon and his brethren from the Book of Mormon, The Lord is capable of bringing down the walls of prisons!

It was truly an amazing experience!!! that i will not forget!

Well that is all from me for now!!! hope you are all well and will talk again next week!!!

Love Elder Anderson