Two Years in Ghana: Letter and Photos from June 8, 2016

Daniel Buchanan <daniel.buchanan@myldsmail.net> Jun 8 at 2:42 PM

Hi, all!!

So this has been a pretty awesome week. Sorry for the late email. We had a big combined zone activity on Monday, and the mission president said to email on Tuesday, but when we tried to, it was light out, so here I am finally getting around to emailing you all!

-So the combined zone activity was way fun! It was four zones together, and we all met in my previous, zone, and I was surprised how much I miss that place! But it was lots of sports and games. I played some ping pong and I dominated (only in a few games, for others I was the one being dominated, haha). I got to play piano again!! Holy goodness, I miss playing an actual piano so much. But we had a zone conference where the mission president and a few others spoke to us after the activity, and there was one point when Pres. Heid was talking to us about being 100% missionaries and getting out to work even if we're tired, we have a headache, it's hot, etc. and one elder just got up and said, "President, how hard do you want us to work?" with a sort of attitude like "How can you ask us to work harder than we already are?" kind of attitude. And he just like started challenging the mission president in front of four missionary zones and then started complaining that President Heid was comparing our mission to other missions. I was super nervous, and I was afraid it was going to become a big ordeal, but I was incredibly impressed by Pres. Heid's composure. At one point, all the other missionaries were just kind of telling this one elder to go back to his seat, but President Heid told them to let him talk and that his question is valid. He validated this argumentative elder and didn't even seem to get upset one bit. I think I would have been able to stay calm and not raise my voice in that situation, but man, I was really impressed how well President handled that. But on a happier note, it was planned that I was to play the piano for the conference before I was even asked or notified or anything, so I was kind of flattered that people have so much confidence in me, haha. Then afterwards, they had SUB SANDWICHES WITH CHEESE. Oh man, that was so delightful. It makes me miss Subway, haha. But it was such a fun activity, and it was way awesome getting to see some of my missionary buddies and to hang out with them for a bit.

-So, my district leader got transferred on Monday. Our zone leader was being transferred to our district in the same area the district leader was in. On the way home from the combined zone activity, it was just my companion and I in a taxi and he just says to me, "So you're the new district leader, huh?" And I was like, "Huh?" Haha, I hadn't heard anything like that, but he said that the previous district leader told him that I was, so I called the zone leader and it turns out, I really am the new district leader of the Asutsuare district, and it seems like I was the last one to find out! So that was just kind of funny, but I'm way excited about it! I also don't really know what I'm doing, but I know the Lord will help me as I strive to do my best.

-So this last week had one day that was pretty cool. We were going around trying to meet with some of our investigators, but we weren't having a ton of luck. Finally, we met with one investigator who we knew smokes, so we were planning on teaching him the Word of Wisdom (or basically God's law of health, for those who don't know, which tells us we shouldn't smoke or drink or do anything harmful to our bodies), and as we were sitting down with him, this other random guy walks up, kind of bows to us and shakes our hand, and he just says to us something along the lines of, "I drink. I drink, but I want to follow God. White man, help me." I believe he was still kind of under the influence, but I could see in his eyes the sincerity behind his request. He pleaded several more times for us to help him. He sat down and we chatted for a few minutes and scheduled to meet with him again. It was just neat because we were already planning on teaching that to the investigator we were meeting with, and then he comes in with concerns on the exact same thing. Then, later that same evening, a member who actually owns a bar referred us to another man who's been having a problem with alcohol. We sat down with him, and I could see his eyes welling up with tears, but he didn't actually cry. I don't think since getting here, I've ever seen anyone so sincere in their desire to change. So that was a kind of special day getting to meet people who genuinely want help, and I'm grateful that the Lord has given us guidance to help us in almost every aspect of our lives. We've met with him since, and he seems very sincere, but he doesn't speak English, unfortunately, so my companion's been doing most of the talking, and he's translated for me a little bit, but it's nice to see people who genuinely want to change and knowing that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the answer they're looking for. The gospel really does change lives. I know it does. I've seen it. I've seen it in my own life and I've seen it in the lives of those around me. It truly in incredible, and I'm so incredibly grateful for the chance I have to share that with the people around me. It's all because the Savior, Jesus Christ, came here to Earth and suffered for all of our sins, mistakes, weaknesses, pains, sorrows, everything. I know it's true, and I'm eternally grateful to have a loving Father in Heaven who would send His only Son to suffer and die for us so that we don't have to. I love Them so much.

I love all of you, too! I'm so grateful for the love and support you always give me. You have no idea how much it means to me. You're all the best, and I hope all is going well with you and I hope to hear from you again soon!

With love,

Elder Buchanan :D