Daniel Buchanan <daniel.buchanan@myldsmail.net> Apr 11 at 2:38 PM
To
Hello, everyone!!
This has been a really wonderful week for a few different
reasons. Here's what went on with me:
-This past week we had a zone conference. I was able to play
the hymns, but then I was also asked to share a special musical number, so I
played my own arrangement of How Great Thou Art. It was a really good
experience. I love that song so much.
-Now, for food, haha! I had "Red Red" for the
first time! It was actually quite good. It's red oil, garre, plantains, and
beans. It was quite nice. Also, this week my companion and I finally decided to
make that fried rice I had been talking about making, and I must say I think I
did a pretty amazing job, haha!
-I've had my name pronounced a few funs ways this week. I've
been called "Elder Batman" and I've also been called
"Bu-Ghana." So those are a few interesting ones to add to the list!
-It made me a little sad this week when we went to go visit
a recent convert and his wife, there was a small boy over to the side and as
soon as he saw me, he just broke down and started crying. People here threaten
their children with white people, so little children often are just afraid of
me. Then, about 20 minutes later we went somewhere else and I was just riding
by on my bike, and another little boy just looked at me and started sobbing! It
made me so sad, haha!
-This week was the first time that I was able to actually
sleep under my sheets AND the small blanket I brought. Since it's rainy season,
there's often a nice, cool breeze, and it's beautiful particularly at night.
-I love missionary work! I've had two what I would call
miraculous experiences this week. My mission president came and split our
branch and then gave me a list of the members and their phone numbers and
encouraged me to call them and meet them and get to know them. I had been
having very little luck with the list. Almost every single number said
something like, "The MTN number you have called is not available," or
something of that sort. Finally, I came across one person who allowed us to
come visit her. We scheduled here for Saturday afternoon. Then Saturday morning
we went to the district conference and we talked all about not taking offense
and helping those who had been offended come back to church. Then, when we got
back to our area, this lady we had scheduled was the first person we saw.
Surprisingly, she was a less active member who told us that she had been sick
for a long time and then had a baby and only one member visited her one time
over the space of a year and she was hurt by that. Seemingly no one really
cared about her, so she stopped coming. I thought it was incredible that we had
met with someone who had the very same problem we had just discussed in
district conference! So we were able to share some of the things we had learned
and we scheduled a return for the next day (Sunday) to visit her again after
the Sunday conference. So we went to the conference the next day, which was
wonderful, and then I had the second miraculous experiences to which I'm
referring. We got back to the apartment, had lunch, and then I called this
woman to see if we still would be able to visit her. She said she had travelled
to somewhere and was unavailable. Disappointed, I began calling people on the
member list, and, again, was having virtually no success. I had been through
two pages already and had met only one person thus far. I was feeling dejected,
it was getting close to the end of proselyting time on Sunday, and I was tired,
and I kind of just wanted to sit back and relax in the apartment, but I really,
really wanted to be the best servant of the Lord that I could. So, not knowing
what I should do, I got down on my knees and prayed. I asked that the Lord
would guide me so that I would know what to do and that He would provide some
opportunity to teach or to serve that would bring someone to the gospel. When I
concluded, I felt prompted to continue calling members on the list. So I picked
up from where I left off. Again, I was getting messages that the numbers were
inavailable. After a few more calls, one finally went through. It was the name
of a woman in the branch, but it was a man who answered, and he turned out to
be a recent convert who told us that he was available right then! So I grabbed
my companion and we headed out the door. We met him and he had a non-member friend
with him who seemed very friendly and welcoming. They both showed us to the
recent convert's home where we met his wife, who also isn't a member, and they
sat down with us and we were able to get to know them better and share a few
things with them and they agreed to let us return! I have faith that the Lord
will guide us to lead these people into the church and unto Christ. That was a
really special experience for me this week.
I just want you all to know that I know the Lord lives and
that He, as well as our Father in Heaven, love us so incredibly much—more than
we can ever imagine in this lifetime. I love my Savior, and I love serving Him
by serving His children here in Ghana. The gospel I share is for everyone. The
Lord doesn't exempt anyone from His love. All we have to do is to follow Him
and we'll be both blessed and happy.
I hope everything's going well for all of you. Thank you for
everything you do for me and for all the love and support.
With love,
Elder Buchanan :)
P.S. We had some schedule as well as internet issues, so,
sadly, I wasn't able to read and reply to everyone's emails. I'm sorry.
Hopefully I'll be able to find time to do so next week. Don't worry, I haven't
forgotten about any of you!
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| Elder Buchanan at a multi-zone activity |
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| Elder Buchanan at multi-zone activity |
