Letter and Photo from September 26, 2016

Daniel Buchanan <daniel.buchanan@myldsmail.net>09/27/16 at 4:09 PM

To

Hey all!

    This week was actually kind of slow. It was good, but still kind of slow, so nothing too too crazy to report this week.

    -Alright, so here's what went down with food. We have a few young men in the church (one of whom is a recent convert that we baptized a few weeks ago) and we decided to cook for them. We wanted to know if they'd like some American food, so we made pancakes! We made some pancakes, and we thought syrup would be too sugary for them, so we put a little strawberry jam on top instead and they said it was too sweet! They ate a pancake totally plain and they said they liked it a lot! Then today at church they said we should make them more but with no sugar. I've come to see people here aren't too fond of sugar, haha.

    Also, the student has finally become the master. Elder Tolzmann finally ate a ball of banku faster than me! I know most Americans who come here learn to love banku and fufu and whatnot... I'm still waiting for the day that happens to me, haha, but it's already happening to my companion! He's been out for four months and I've been out for a year and he can already eat more than me, so he's doing well!

    -Yesterday in church I had two special assignments. First, the branch president's wife asked me to help teach her young women class the hymn Our Savior's Love, so I was able to sing there and guide them along in learning the song. Not yesterday, but the last time we sang, the branch president's wife started tearing up while we were all singing it. It really is a beautiful hymn, and the spirit was definitely present there. Then, the young men teacher wasn't feeling well, so he had my companion and me teach the class. We had no manual or lesson plan or anything, and we just get up there and are supposed to teach about fasting for an hour. At first I'm wondering how we can talk about fasting for an entire hour, but it was actually really cool seeing how much we can learn even from something that seems so simple as going without food and water. We discussed what it is, what blessings come from it, how we grow and learn from fasting, and how we can make it a joyful experience. The young men were so involved and inquisitive, and it was actually a really good lesson. We actually had to cut our thoughts short because we ran out of time! But since I've come here, teaching has become pretty enjoyable because it's nice being able to help someone else out.

    -This week in my studies I came across a scripture that's just so awesome. It's very short and simple, but it's very meaningful to me. It's in The Book of Mormon, Mosiah 26:30, "Yea, and as often as my people repent will I forgive them their trespasses against me." I love that so much. I know I've definitely made my fair share of mistakes thus far in life, but Christ reminds us that as often—every time—we repent, He is ready to forgive us. That's why I love this gospel so much. It offers hope to the hopeless. Sometimes we mess up so many times that we feel we've reached the point where we can never change or God will never forgive us, but He constantly reminds us that that's never the case. God is always right there by our side, ready to lift us up when we're down. He's there ready to help us change and become better people. Sometimes our flaws and weaknesses hold us back, but our loving Father in Heaven knows how to help us overcome those weaknesses and turn them into strengths (Ether 12:27). We initiate that change through repentance, and I'm so grateful that the Lord has promised us that every time we truly and sincerely repent, He's ready and eager to forgive us and to lift us back on our feet.

    I love you all so much. Thanks for all the love and encouragement from all of you. I hope you're all doing great and that life is treating you well. I hope to hear from all of you soon!!

    With love,

    Elder Buchanan

I don't have too many pictures this week,  but I thought to send a picture of the outside of my apartment on a rainy day. :D

Letter and Photos from September 20, 2016

Daniel Buchanan <daniel.buchanan@myldsmail.net>09/20/16 at 7:45 AM

To

Hi, all!

This week was pretty good. We had a lot go on.

-Last Saturday was awesome. We took a short little trip to Akosombo where we were able to buy a few things like nice food items for cooking and whatnot, and while we were there, we took the opportunity to get some pizza. It's no Pizza Hut, but it is definitely very enjoyable pizza. So that was pretty fun. Then later that evening, we went to go visit a recent convert named Sandra. We weren't so much teaching as we were just visiting and seeing how she was doing. She seemed abnormally quiet and subdued, so I could tell something was bothering her. While Elder Tolzmann was off to the side with some kids that were around, I started humming a hymn and Sandra told me her favorite hymn was Let the Holy Spirit Guide, so I sang it right then. Then another member came and sat down and started singing a few other hymns with me, and before we knew it, all three of us, including Sandra, had joined together in singing like 10 different hymns, and it was awesome seeing Sandra just light up when singing the hymns. That's what I love to do with music more than anything else. Making music is fun, but the most rewarding part of making music is seeing it lift other people up. So that was a cool experience for me.

-Last Tuesday Elder Tolzmann got sick, so I let him rest for a while. It was nice timing, too, because as soon as he lay down, the rain just came down in buckets. It rains pretty crazy here sometimes. But when he woke up he was feeling better, so then we went to the Akuse apartment to spend the night there since the next day we were travelling to Accra! We put bed mats down in their kitchen and turned the ceiling fan on and dang, it got pretty chilly in there which was awesome. I still love the cold.

-Wednesday was a good day. We woke up at 5, got dressed, and then we went to pick up a tro tro. We didn't have time for breakfast, but there was a woman selling cooked egg sandwiches and hot chocolate, and that was a nice breakfast treat. Then we got to Accra where the entire mission was gathered, and it was awesome! It was great seeing all my buddies there again. But the best part was that we got to see Elder Gary E. Stevenson, one of the new apostles called last year. It was a very uplifting meeting. The thing I liked the most is what he taught about repentance. The scriptures tell us all over the place that we need to repent and we need to help others to repent. He talked about how we can effectively teach repentance. We don't need to get in people's faces and call them to repentance, but we can most effectively teach repentance by repenting ourselves. Even though we go out to teach people the gospel, that doesn't make us perfect, so we, too, need to repent. When we repent, we change and become better people and we truly see how it changes our own lives, and as a result we can help others see the blessings as well. It was amazing learning from an apostle of the Savior Jesus Christ.

-This past Sunday a man named Emmanuel (I mentioned him earlier that he came and his entire family listened to us) brought his entire family to church! It was so great to see them there. Emmanuel looked so happy. I love how that's what the gospel does for us. I've said it so many times and I'll continue to say that the gospel and following Jesus Christ truly will bring us lasting happiness. It doesn't mean that life will be absolutely perfect, but it will bring us happiness.

I love all of you so much! I can't tell you all enough how much I appreciate all the love and encouragement. You're all the best! I hope you're doing well and I hope to hear from all of you soon!

With love,

Elder Buchanan

Here's a breathtaking view of a place in our area. I feel like I do a poor job of portraying what Ghana is actually like because I always send the really cool views like this one. It's more civilized than many would think "haha"

A former companion, Elder Kwofie and I

Another former companion, Elder Udonsa, a Nigerian, who's going home next month! That's crazy!

Letter and Photos from September 13, 2016

Daniel Buchanan <daniel.buchanan@myldsmail.net>  Sep 13 at 9:00 AM

To       

Hi, all!

This was a good week. Nothing too crazy going on, but definitely some good experiences.

-As far as food goes, this week was alright. Wednesday, we went to the Branch President's home and they fed us rice balls/rice banku. It actually initially was really good. Then they had some nice beef as well, and so we both finished one rice ball and I was eating the beef, and then Sis. Abotsi came in and plopped another on our plates. I enjoyed the first ball, so I was excited, but then it hit me really fast that I was full, and suddenly it started to become repulsive... One thing with banku/fufu/any swallow food is that no matter how much you enjoy it, when you get full, it becomes really hard to get down. So normally I'll just push through and deal with it, but not Elder Tolzmann. When Sis. Abotsi stepped out of the room, we his my ball and split his. We've become very stealthy with hiding our food.

Then today we tried out pineapple crisp. It was almost a tropical twist on apple crisp, but it was actually really good. Then we put ice cream on top, and oh, it was a nice treat.

-This Wednesday is going to be awesome. Elder Gary E. Stevenson is coming to Accra! So we're going to be going there and the entire mission is going! I'm so excited. Elder Rasband came a while ago, and only four zones were able to go, but this time all seven are going. I'm so glad the Lord calls men to still lead His church and to guide us in the right direction.

Plus, since we'll be in Accra, you know I'm going to be absolutely sure to stop by the Accra Mall to grab a cheeseburger and some Pizza Hut :D I'll be sure to get pictures.

I'm also excited because I'll be able to

-This past Sunday, there was a man and his son who came to church. We met with him after church and made plans to visit him. We went to see him one evening and we met him and he brought his five children into the room and sat them down in the room and they all listened very intently. The wife was cooking, and so she wasn't able to join us, but afterwards we saw her and then we came back later in the week and we were able to sit down with the whole family. In the 11 months I've been here, it was literally the first time I've sat down with an entire family. The second time we sat with them, We invited them to be baptized and the father said he would be baptized and the entire family would as well. We taught them about the Restoration of the Gospel, and I don't think the spirit had ever been so strong in a lesson. I felt the sincerity of the family and their desire to follow Christ. The children were able to come yesterday, unfortunately the father and mother weren't able to come, so we're going to follow up with them this week, but it was nice their children came. I love seeing how much the gospel can help us to be happy. I'm very hopeful for them. I'll definitely keep you all updated on them.

I love this gohoo.com>spel so much. I'm so grateful for the time I've been able to spend here serving the Lord and I'm grateful I still have plenty of time here to help people change and to be happy.

I love you all!! Thanks so much for all the love and support. It truly means a lot to me. I hope you're all doing well and I hope to hear from you soon!

With love,

Elder Buchanan

Here's a picture from the last zone conference. It's funny, because when I got here, I was the only American out of 14, and now it's 9/14 white elders, so that's just kind of funny. Sorry I don't have more pictures. Not too many picture-worthy events this past week, so I'll include a selfie, too, haha!

Letter and Photo from September 5, 2016

Daniel Buchanan <daniel.buchanan@myldsmail.net>  Sep 5 at 6:53 PM

To       

Hi, everyone!!

This week has been pretty good for the most part!

-Saturday was an interesting day. Our branch president invited us to the funeral of someone in our district. We didn't know where it was, so it took a bit to find the place, but we eventually found it. It was actually pretty sad. No one really takes funerals seriously here. We were at the burial site and people were drunk and yelling and shouting and shoving during the ceremony. It was kind of saddening to me how they're there to honor someone's life and they're just going wild and not even caring or paying attention. The funeral was in a place called Senchi, which is about 10 minutes from Akosombo, so we took the chance to get lunch there. We got pizza :D this pizza was probably the best I've had in Ghana (just behind Pizza Hut, ha), and it was delightful. Then right next to the pizza place was an "American Store," so we took the opportunity to drop by. I got some milk! That's always exciting for me, haha.

-I love the Asutsuare area! The people here are wonderful. I'm going to be so incredibly sad when i get transferred away from this area. I've heard many times from many people that members are the best missionaries, and it's true! Everyone we're currently teaching were referred to us by members. They're the ones who are the most receptive because they can see how the gospel changes lives and how it helps us become better people. Many are doing very well. We're hoping for two baptisms this Sunday, and maybe three additional ones in the following weeks. It's wonderful seeing how people change and grow and become happier because of the gospel. I know I've absolutely seen that in my own life. I love how the gospel is always available to everyone no matter who we are, where we come from, or what we've done. Our Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ, love us and want us to be happy, and that's why they continuously extend their loving arms out to us to lift us up when we're down.

I love all of you so much. I truly appreciate all the love and support you all give me. I love hearing from you, and I hope to hear from you again soon! I hope all is well with each of you!!

With love,

Elder Buchanan

Here's a picture of our district! I love our district, we get along so well, and it's always fun.