Daniel Buchanan <daniel.buchanan@myldsmail.net> Jun 27 at 12:56 PM
To
Hey everyone!!
So this week has been ridiculously fantastic. It's not a ton
to say, but here's what went down:
-So I started training this week. My companion is just like
the coolest guy. His name is Elder Tolzmann from Nevada. We get along really
well, and I'm pretty sure he came pre-trained and my work is just to get him
adjusted to Ghana, haha. But I'm way excited to work with him. I can see he's a
hard worker and he's eager to bless people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, so
we work really well together. Actually, my mom had sent me some Lucky Charms
and wrote on the bag "Today's your lucky day!" and it just so happened
that I had lucky charms that morning, so it was indeed my lucky day to get
Elder Tolzmann as my new companion!
-Here's what happened with food, haha. Yesterday was his
first Sunday out in the field, so we made his favorite meal: spaghetti! It was way
awesome because my mom sent me some spaghetti sauce mix and parmesan cheese, so
we both definitely enjoyed a big plate of spaghetti. It was quite delightful.
Also, in this area, people haven't really fed us too frequently. I think people
have fed us about three times in the three months I've been here, and they must
have known that this was Elder Tolzmann's first week, because one day we got
fufu and the next day we got banku! We asked to help pound fufu, and normally,
people will turn us down, but this time they let us help, and then they
rewarded us with fufu. Luckily, people will normally leave us to ourselves to
eat, so Elder Tolzmann found a plastic bag lying on the ground and seized the
opportunity to take half the fufu and hide it in the bag and not eat it, haha.
Then, the very next day, we go to teach a lesson, and after the lesson, right
as we're about to leave, they tell us they've made banku for us! So we sit down
and start eating. I felt really bad, but I did find it humorous how much Elder Tolzmann
liked the food: he didn't. It reminded me of me my first time eating banku and
fufu! This particular day, he grabbed a plastic bag from the apartment before
we left, because if he hadn't, he wouldn't have found relief this time because
there were no plastic bags lying around this time, haha!
-I had a really cool experience this week. When I first came
to Ghana, I truly wanted to bless people's lives with the gospel, and I worked
as hard as I could to do so, but I'll admit that I had a really hard time
learning to love the people here; they're just so different! I had been praying
fervently for the Lord to help me learn to love these people. I feel like I
finally felt like it had been answered during Elder Tolzmann's first lesson. I
was watching him have a little trouble understanding what people were saying,
and I saw myself nine months ago. Then I suddenly had an overwhelming sense of
love for the people of Ghana. I really have come to understand not just what
these people say, but what they're like, how they interact, and what they do.
For the first time, I had a very real love for them, and then I knew that when
I go home at the end of my two years, I will miss these people so incredibly
much. They truly are good people.
One thing I've really come to learn lately is something very
simple: God answers prayers. I've always known that, but I've truly come to see
that to a much greater degree lately. He's blessed me with a great companion
like Elder Tolzmann; He's blessed me to be able to love these people and have a
greater desire to serve them with everything I have. I love this gospel and I
love my Savior. I'm so grateful for Him and for this opportunity I have to
serve Him.
You are all the best. I can't tell you how much I appreciate
all your love and support, it truly means so much to me. I hope everything is
going really well for all of you, and I hope to hear from you all soon!!
With love,
Elder Buchanan
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| Elders Buchanan and Tolzmann at church. This photo was taken by Sister Jane Curtis. Elder LeGrand Curtis has been serving as the Africa West Area President. He and his wife Jane attended the Asutsuare Branch on this Sunday. |
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| Elder Buchanan pounding fufu |
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| Elder Tolzmann pounding fufu |
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| Elders Buchanan and Tolzmann |
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| Four (almost) missionary generations! My trainer's trainer, Elder Iyip, my trainer Elder Saunders is currently in Sierra Leonne, me, and then my trainee, Elder Tolzmann! |
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| Elder Buchanan and other missionaries at the mission office for transfers |
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