Transfer News - June 23, 2014

It has just been one of those weeks, let me tell you.....

  Monday morning the mission sent 2 men to build a small shed for our generator, I told them to mind the garden. When we got home a found they had just trampled through it like horses. I got a bit angry with them and had them fix the plants they smashed. They worked on the shed 2 more days and have not since returned to finish it or retrieve their tools. And the generator sits exposed to the beating of the sun and rains.

   Tuesday was the last District Meeting we had together and I decided to talk about and share Hugh B Brown’s story of the currant bush. We then took pictures as a District and went to work. That afternoon my companion and I had a memorable encounter with a drunk man. He was one of the craziest I have met on mission so far. We were trying to start a lesson and he kept calling my companion and would repeat his name over and over. Getting annoyed I started asking his name which he would repeat again and again. I probably heard it over 60 times but I have forgotten it already.

     Wednesday we got our monthly substance from the bank and just taught the rest of the day.

    Thursday- Had Zone conference at the Belliar Park (mission HQ) President and Sister Ostler were there and we sat through 4hrs of the leaders talking about teaching families. I realize its importance more than I ever have. They did give us hamburgers and fries for lunch so that was fun too :)

   Friday and Saturday I got sick and and by Sunday it started to feel a bit like malaria. Luckily we have a wonderful mission nurse and I have been down that road before. Today I have a small fever and am tired but doing a lot better.

   Friday night was a busy time because it was transfer news. Our apartment changes were, Elder Hofman was room transferred to the other area here and is now DL and I was called as a Trainer.  This will be my 4th time of training - I don't feel all that confident to train in this mission as I am still fresh as well. The area is good though so with some faith it should work out ok. I’ll miss Elder Hofman, I enjoyed being his companion, we've enjoyed some good times together.

   I was sorry to hear about Joseph, I hope to hear from him soon. It was nice to hear the mention of the Manti Pageant, can't wait to see that again one day. Sorry for the unexciting letter this week, sickness doesn't write fun or adventurous memories. Next week should be better. Thanks to everyone though for the love and support.

    Love,

         Elder Ray

PS still no packages at all, don't know what to do because I haven't had this problem on mission before. Anyway you guys could track it?

I am the Gardner - June 16, 2014

First things first, I'd like to wish Dad a Happy Father’s Day! Sadly it’s not recognized at all in Sierra Leone. Hope Dad had a fun time in Oakland or flying home.
   Last Monday while on our way to the internet cafe as I was crossing the street I was looking if it was clear while moving into the road. As I did so I ran into/was struck by a man pushing a wagon of frozen chicken. I knocked it over and fell a bit with it as well. I helped the man pick it up and apologized though he was at fault as well (I feel he did it on purpose.) I thought there was no harm, mostly worried I'd damaged my pants which I don't want to have to worry about right now.
    My left thigh was paining me quite badly but I carried on and later we went and got our hair cut. I asked to have mine a "little" longer in the back and the man gave me a nice mullet, so I had him trim it down as well. Not going for a Billy Ray thing here or now. Walking with a good limp, the other elders called and said they had locked themselves out so our night was cut short and we came home.

    Wednesday morning with the help of a member who hauls us water and helps with general errands, I began landscaping the front yard for my garden. The member finished it while after I went for the morning studies and I set him to find us plants to put in the next day. Later we finished preparing our baptismal candidate for Saturday. He name is H and this woman is smart! She attends a theology college and has really taken conversion step by step, logically. I have really enjoyed teaching her and loved seeing her grow in the Church. By this time my leg began to heal, Tuesday I had it rough limping up and down, but it was only a flesh wound.

    Thursday early early, we planted a lot of tomatoes and pepper plants on one side of the yard and some native shrubs with flowers on the other side. We then excavated the old stepping stones and porch long overgrown to make a better walkway. To think all that was done before 8 am is quiet a miracle and good time management –haha! At first the other elders thought it was a bit foolish to worry about a garden, but as work progressed throughout the week I aligned them to my vision. We made our wild and desolate front yard (only about 10 feet wide and 30 feet long) blossom as a rose. Though we have no roses, some of the pepper plants have started to flower! The tomatoes took the transplant rough, 2 plants died, but the others are enduring. That night I left to go on exchange with the ZLs.

    Friday I was in an area called George Brook with Elder Manizina (from S. Africa.) Their apartment is above the mission office with the OEs and next door to the APs. Had a great time with everyone that night and slept well in the AC. The area is plastered right on the side of a mountain so we walked up and down some, then up higher and higher, straight up we climbed. Pretty good day for an exchange, though it was humid like all get out. I did get a stunning view of Freetown and the ocean from the top. These mountains are the namesake of Sierra Leone, its Portuguese for "Lion Mountain" and these things are lions, but as David we conquered them.

   Saturday we went back to Bellair Park (the name for the mission home and office) to use their baptismal font. I got to be the baptist for not only our candidate, but the sisters as well. It was a beautiful baptism and a lot more spiritual then the last thanks to the good missionaries who helped the event come off. Sunday they were all confirmed and we ended the week with that.

   I chose the title for my letter this week not just because of the garden planted at the apartment but also in the spirit of the famous talk by Hugh B Brown (his middle name is Brown as well, creative!) when he talked about his farm in Canada, the current bush he cut down and scolded saying "I know best, what you are, because I'm the gardner." years later he heard those same words during his disappointment when he was refused a high rank in the Canadian army because he was a Mormon. Like President Brown I have realized again on my mission that God is the Gardner (John 15:1) and knows what he is doing with us. I have seen His hand in my life so much in the last 8 months and I for one am extremely grateful for it. I'll leave you with this...I love you all too.

  Love,

      Elder Ray

P.S.  Still no packages, I got the money no problem, and my leg is good as normal with a gnarly bruise with every color of the rainbow.

I don't care of football/soccer but everyone else in the world does and Ghana and America play tonight. There are some "friendly fights" in the mission right now. Born in the USA! hahaha

Root beer and Stake Conference - June 9, 2014

Elder E and Elder Ray

After Stake Conference in Freetown

Super P-day is where we get the entire zone together for a few hours, normally for games and food. In Ghana we could never get them to materialize because missionaries just wanted to play futball. In Texas we tried to do service project to avoid soccer and volleyball tournaments and in Bo we had a few church movie p-days. Last Monday we had the best Super P-day of my mission so far. We went to Aberdeen beach with Lumley and Freetown Zones. We played the normal games, socialized and ate hamburgers. I had a great time with all these Elders and Sisters. I was burnt after and sore from ultimate Frisbee but I haven't enjoyed a P-day like that since coming to Salone.

   Tuesday I gave an impromptu District Meeting that actually worked and left everyone happy and spiritually satisfied. The Sisters made an eggplant stew with Chapatis and  we left with our bellies full as well.

   Wednesday I went on exchange in Aberdeen and as we walked through the large military barracks, some MPs said the Major needed to speak with us. What we thought was a security problem turned out to be a curiosity question on "what our Mission was?" We had a long chat with the Commanding officer and he invited us back after hearing about Eternal families. We also invited him to Stake conference on Sunday.

   Thursday on the way home we stopped by a small supermarket hidden away that I had my eye on for some time. It was worth it! Finding everything from root beer (first time in 18 months) to Yahoo choco milk and Stoppen' waffles (some things I ate while in Amsterdam).

     Stake conference on Saturday and Sunday had everyone packed into a conference hall and spilling out. We had 16 investigators there not counting the commander who later met with President Ostler. We had to stand with all the other missionaries either in the stair wells or outside, by it was sweet to see the Freetown stake gathered together.

   It was a beautiful week to be in Freetown and a greater time to be serving here, I'm happy but my joy isn't complete, not yet there is still a lot of time left though to fill it up.

  Love, Elder Ray