Letter and Photos from July 31, 2017

Daniel Buchanan <daniel.buchanan@myldsmail.net>Jul 31 at 1:17 PM

Hi, all!!

This past week has been pretty crazy.

-I got a new companion named Elder Dabata! He's from South Africa. He's ready to get out and work, which is great. I'll attach a selfie of the two of us. Honestly, I had many dear friends within the district either get transferred or go home, so that was pretty hard for me. Plus, my companion and I got moved out of our nice, small AC'd apartment into another apartment. So lots of stuff going on this week!

-We had MLC this week! This time they divided it into the city zones and the bush zones. So I didn't get to see all my ZL buddies, but it was cool. Haha, everyone was so upset that this time they didn't have any pizza, they had KFC! Haha, I definitely enjoy KFC, though. There was one Ghanaian elder who said he wasn't going to come to MLC anymore if there wasn't going to be any more pizza, hahaha

-I guess there weren't too many interesting specific events, just a bunch of little things going on here and there that made the week interesting. I just want to tell all of you that the Savior lives and loves each and every one of us. I know it, and I couldn't be more grateful for the opportunity I have to share that knowledge with the people around me. I love Him and I couldn't be more grateful for Him.

I love you all so much. I hope you're doing well and enjoying life. I hope to hear from all of you soon!!

With love,

Elder Buchanan

A selfie of me and my companion. :D

One of me just looking pretty good, I think, haha.

Letter and Photos from July 24, 2017

Daniel Buchanan <daniel.buchanan@myldsmail.net>Jul 24 at 1:17 PM

Hi everyone!!

This week was definitely an eventful, yet good one. I don't even remember what happened on which days, haha.

-One day we went to the temple. We were scheduled to go to the 10:30 session and we arrived there early, but the session was full! We called the APs who scheduled us and it turned out that somewhere there was a miscommunication and we had showed up one day early! So we got our names on the 12:30 session and then went to the cafeteria in the neighboring area office and I had some nice fried rice. While there, there was a man that one of the sisters starting talking to and I believe this is legitimately the first man I had ever met in Ghana that didn't believe in Jesus Christ or even a God. He was very respectful of the faith and beliefs we were sharing, and of others in general, but he wasn't particularly accepting. It was an interesting conversation with him. Then we went to the temple and it was beautiful and glorious, as always. I hate leaving the temple. It feels like I'm leaving the presence of God.

-One thing we did to celebrate Elder Grant's last week was to go and make cookies again at a good member friend's home. There were some other buddies from the ward and it was so much fun. I would attach a picture, but it's very dark, so I don't know if you would be able to see. But we had a ton of fun there and before we left they broke out a bottle of sparkling grape juice and toasted to Elder Grant successfully and faithfully finishing his two years here in Ghana in the service of the Lord. They voted me as his companion to give a little "speech" toast for him. Man, I'm going to miss that guy. He, as well as half of the entire zone is leaving me. Man, all my friends are either being transferred or are going home. I also got my new companion today! He's from South Africa and his name is Elder Dabata. We'll see how things go with him.

-I just want all of you to know how much I love the Savior. In The Book of Mormon, in 3 Nephi 10: 6, He said, "O ye house of Israel whom I have spared, how oft will I gather you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, if ye will repent and return unto me with full purpose of heart." (Italics added) I love this so much because I know how difficult life can be sometimes. There are trials and temptations. We fall and make mistakes. But the Savior of the World has said that if we return unto Him with our hearts fully dedicated to Him, He will receive us. I don't know how many of you have seen a hen gather her chicks under her wings. It's kind of cool. I see it here often. The hen stretches her wings over the chicks and just brings them in close and folds her wings in, and you can't even see the chicks. But every once in a while, a chick or two have run off and are too far away for the chick to bring in close to herself. The first time I had seen that I immediately thought of a maternal instinct to protect her children. I believe the Savior is saying He will do the same for us. If we stay close to Him, He can and will protect us. If we run off and our hearts are far from Him, we will miss out on the blessings of His care. That's why He invites us to return unto Him with full purpose of heart so He can bless and protect us.

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

With love,

Elder Buchanan

A picture of the Tema District. Literally half of the district is changing and I am so bummed about it. I have come to love my district so much. They're all amazing and I know wherever they're off to they'll do great things.

One last selfie with Elder Grant his last Sunday here in Ghana. We both wore our kente ties. :D

A picture from the day we went to the temple. I liked the lighting there, plus I though I looked pretty good, if I do say so myself... ;) Haha

Letter and Photo from July 17, 2017

Daniel Buchanan <daniel.buchanan@myldsmail.net>Jul 17 at 12:19 PM

Hey there!

This week wasn't too eventful, mostly just a bunch of travelling around the zone, so it was actually kind of a slow week.

-Last week I think I forgot to mention something about food! Haha, I tried a different Ghanaian food for the first time called Tuo Zafe or TZ. I had mentioned before that I don't like fufu... but this tops it. I finally found a new least favorite Ghanaian food, hahaha, so I actually don't mind fufu as much after eating TZ.

-This week we weren't able to see one of our most solid investigators because she either wasn't around or she was taking lessons with a tutor. Hopefully this week with be a little more fruitful with her. Our other most solid investigator is basically ready for baptism, but we are just waiting to hear back from his father to see if he approves for his son to be baptized. So things are going well over here.

-I had one kind of funny experience this past week. We were passing by and greeting an investigator when a Jehovah's Witness comes up and starts saying stuff to us. Obviously, we have different ideas. We were discussing the resurrection and basically what happens and where we go after we die. He specifically said there are only two places one can go after death, either Heaven or they inherit this earth. We believe in the three kingdoms of glory in Heaven. There's no contention between us, but he starts being kind of difficult and won't let us finish things that we're trying to say, plus we were starting to get a little rushed to go somewhere, so I just say, "If I give you a scripture to read, can you explain it for me?" He says yes, so I ask him to read 2 Cor. 12: 2, which talks about a third heaven. I actually had mad respect for him when he simply said, "I don't know what that means, I'll do some research and get back to you on what that means." Most people here when they're stumped they'll just come up with some random explanation that they just make up on the spot, but from that I could tell that he was humble enough to admit he didn't know, and after that I simply said that we have a message that explains everything we've been discussing and we'd love to meet with him again, and he was totally interested! So we're hoping to see him again this week. Definitely kind of funny, but also way cool.

-This experience actually reminds me of a scripture from the Book of Mormon in 3 Nephi 11: 29-30. Christ is speaking here and He says, "29 For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another. 30 Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another; but this is my doctrine, that such things should be done away." I love this so much because it helps us understand how we should behave. Sometimes people freak out and become angry over little things. Becoming angry over significant things, although understandable, is still something Christ encourages us not to do. He encourages us to be loving and patient and kind and He says that rather, we should do away with contention. Contention and conflict does not come from the Savior of the world, but rather our common adversary, the devil. It reminds me that I always need to follow the example of my Savior and best friend, Jesus Christ. I love Him and I know He loves all of us so much.

I also love all of you so much and I hope you're doing well and you have a fantastic week.

With love,

Elder Buchanan

I only have one picture this week, but it's kind of funny. There are lots of funny things that go on here in Ghana, and here is one of them. You'll see the humor in it upon looking at the picture, haha

Letter and Photos from July 10, 2017

Daniel Buchanan <daniel.buchanan@myldsmail.net>Jul 10 at 11:25 AM

Hello everyone!

This week was definitely a busy week, but a good one!

-On Tuesday we went to Dawhenya for District Council Meeting. That was pretty cool. It was a good meeting. Afterwards, the elders there made some lunch of French Toast. While they were cooking it up we played a quick game of Monopoly and I got dominated and by that time the french toast was ready so we ended the game as soon as I lost, haha. They definitely made some mean french toast though, so that was cool. And on the drive back, we passed by the Tema Country Golf Club. I had always been wondering where that was and now I found it.

-Wednesday we had MLC. That was actually pretty cool. That's where I met the new mission president, Pres. Keyes for the first time. He's definitely a cool guy. He's an attorney, and I can tell. The meeting was much more involved than Pres. Heid's MLCs. He had us all give him input as to what Ghana is like, how the culture is, how the work goes, etc. It was actually kind of cool to see the lists we had come up with and how well I have come to know Ghana. Of course, afterward we had lots and lots of delicious pizza.

-Thursday morning we had a combined zone "Meet the President" kind of meeting. It was at the MTC chapel (the chapel we worship at each week) and we had like 70 missionaries there. It was fun. I figured out that Sis. Keyes plays piano by ear. She doesn't know how to read music or anything like that, but she has a good ear and can figure it out, haha.

-Friday... did anything exciting happen on Friday? I feel like something did, but I can't remember, but Saturday was cool. We had an appointment with a member of the stake presidency's family who lives in our ward. They have an oven, and we had seen it before, and we get along really well with their family, so they let us come by and we made chocolate chip/banana pancakes, followed by homemade chocolate chip cookies... oh man, that was delicious. They loved both of them, and they actually asked us when we're going to come by again to make more, haha. So that was super delicious and super fun. Definitely will attach a picture.

-In my Book of Mormon studies, I finished the book of Helaman. One thing that still amazes me is how hard-hearted some people can be. I read about Samuel, who gets up on the wall of the city and proclaims to the people that he knows the Savior will come. He prophesies and gives clear, specific signs of His coming which the people see very clearly, yet they still chock it up to coincidence or lucky guesses. I wish that people would be able to more readily open their eyes and see the hand of God in every day of our lives. He is real, He is there, and He loves us. One time I was in an interview with Pres. Heid and he pointed to a picture of Christ on the wall and asked me, "When you look at that picture, what do you see?" I thought about it and said, "I see a friend." And that's how I think of my Savior. I see my best friend. I see someone who always wants the best for me and will do everything in His power to help me. I see someone who will never fail to be there by my side. That's what He is to me, and that's who He is to all of us. Some people just have a harder time seeing it. But I know that if we open our hearts to Him and let Him in, we will truly see countless miracles and blessings in our lives and we will feel love greater than any love we have ever felt before because it comes from a loving Heavenly Father.

I love all of you so much. I hope you're doing well. I love hearing from you, and I hope to hear from you soon!

With love,

Elder Buchanan

Two pictures from the cookies/pancakes get-together. I felt like a real chef, haha :D

Letter and Photos from July 3, 2017

Daniel Buchanan <daniel.buchanan@myldsmail.net>Jul 3 at 11:39 AM

Hi, all!!

This was a pretty good week.

-This week I got an unexpected call from the mission president. He told me that one of the elders in our apartment, Elder Bidi, is switching places with another elder in the district. So that day they switched places and now we have a new elder in the apartment. It's been fun having him around, but I definitely do miss Elder Bidi. It's just a temporary situation because this new elder is going home tomorrow, actually. We also have a threesome in the office, so one of them, Elder Dzikpe (I believe that's how it's spelled, haha) will be coming to our apartment then. So lots of changes this week!

-We also have a new mission president who arrived on Saturday. Pres. Heid has gone home and Pres. Keyes is now here. He's from South Africa and his wife is from Zimbabwe and they're actually both white, haha. I'll be meeting them later this week, so I will definitely include an update on how they are.

-This week I had kind of a cool experience. There's one member family in our area that we often go to. They're a "center of strength" for us (as Pres. Heid called it). There are some members there who are super active and strong in the gospel, but there's also a few members of the family who are also members of the church, but they're less-active. There's one guy who's about 23. This guy is so awesome. He's super tall and big and ripped, almost kind of intimidating when you first look at him, but he's super kind. He's less-active, I had never seen him come to church, yet he's been baptized and is an elder. He owns and runs a game center. Lots of Playstation 4's set up and he has a pool table there. Whenever we go there, we'll take the time to play a game with some of the people around, and often we challenge him to a game. This guy is super good, like, I can never beat him. This last week I was doing super good and I only had the 8 ball left, but I missed a super easy shot, and then the next turn he sunk like his remaining 4 balls left and beat me in one turn, haha. Anyway, we had been taking lots of time to get to know him really well and to be his friend. About two weeks ago he had appendicitis and had to have his appendix removed, so he had surgery and wasn't doing well. One evening as we were going home, he asked us to get some medication for him from a pharmacy, so we got on our bikes and rode there to get some for him. We had been doing a lot for him, and finally, this last Sunday, he came to church for the first time that I had seen him there in my four months here in Tema! He later told us how happy he was to be back. I hope he'll continue to have the desire to come. Sometimes I think about how or why some people start to fall away. There are so many reasons why that might happen. Regardless of the reason, what I've learned is that we can't ever allow ourselves to forget the feelings that come from the gospel. Whatever doubts or questions may come into my mind, I can never deny that the feelings I have in regards to the gospel can come from no other source than my Heavenly Father. The gospel really brings a feeling that is indescribable. It brings an incredible sense of peace and joy. I have truly felt the Holy Ghost reveal to me the truthfulness of the message that I am sharing with people every day. Regardless of what questions I may have, I can always look back on the fact that I have learned for myself and I know the gospel is true. I know that we have a loving Heavenly Father who sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to be our Savior so that we can live with Him again. I know it.

I love all of you so much. I hope you're doing well. You're all the best and I hope to hear from you again soon!!

With love,

Elder Buchanan

Here's a picture of me and Elder Bidi the morning he left.

  A picture at ward choir practice. There's some boy sitting next to me and then the ward chorister. I had to get a picture of myself enjoying the full-sized keyboard :D