Isaac the Miracle

Dear Family,

This week was crazy. Elder Buys and Krofuah moved out so it was only me and Elder Robertson. We taught 30 lessons this week and had a mission standard week. We were very effective and didn't have any distractions. We gave this guy named Isaac a book of Mormon last week. He was a drunk. Ever since he touched the book he won't let it go. He came to church and hasn't had a sip of alcohol. He still has a long way to go but it was a miracle that was incredible to see.

Other than that a pretty normal week. Today Elder Robertson and I just decided to hike the mountain that is near us. We got to the top and found a legit village with mud huts and stuff. Somebody up there just took us around to see all of the cool things. I love that about the Ghanaian people. If you want to make them happy let them serve you. They guy just dropped everything and took us all over and then asked for our phone number afterwards. He was so happy to see us. It was a pretty cool adventure.

Questions: 

Note - The past couple of weeks I have been reading a book about modern day 

Ghanain tribal king so a lot of my questions came from the reading. -Brigham's Mom

• Is there a king of Okoyo? A Chief
• Are the people really spiritualistic about their ancestors and believe that the ancestor spirits come and direct their lives, or tell them what king to choose?  Yep
• Do they have elaborate, expensive funerals that last for days that they can't really afford?  Hahahahah. I have had to pull out Matthew 8:22 a couple times
  . It happens every week.
• Do they believe in witches and cursings?  Yep. Creates a big problem with the Book of Mormon.
• Do they believe in pouring libations (liquor) daily on their doorsteps to appease their ancestors?  Sometimes
•  What do Ghanaians think about the temple?  It is pretty normal to them. Never had a problem explaining the temple. Baptisms for the dead is the main reason why Bro. Gyasi got baptized.
• Can you buy Kente cloth and is it really expensive?  Remember Isaac? He does kente. It is like 20 cedis for a piece the size of a scarf and 200 for like blanket size. It is really cool though. I want to take a picture of him doing it.
• Tell me more about Gabriel.  Gabriel is the sweetest boy. Really quiet and soft spoken. Not easily influenced by the world. Content with himself.
• Does he live with this family and why is he taking care of their little girls?  He is house help for his Aunt's family. His aunt is always at work. His biological mother and the girls mother are sisters.
•  Tell me a miracle that happened this week and something you did to serve someone.  Isaac was a miracle. We pushed a car all the way up this huge hill. We are planning on reorganizing the Oyoko Library though.

Anyways, love you all.
Elder Shelton

Gabriel's Baptism

Dear Family,

Gabriel's Baptism

We had a baptism Sunday. His name is Gabriel and is 14 years old. He is staying with members but he is a really smart kid and it has been great working with him and listening to him absorb the gospel.The baptism went great, although neither the father or mother was there. Gabriel is such a good kid. He is pretty much the house help for a man named Cowbell in our branch. The boy takes care of the 3 young girls. He cooks, cleans, washes, and does almost everything else in the house. He is taking his Book of Mormon story book to school and reading it to all of his friends. He is quiet and calm, which is amazing considering the 3 small girls he has to take care of. He will make a great father one day. It was wonderful to see him be baptized and I know he has a bright future ahead.

We are also working with a woman named Constance. She is 22 years old and has had a really difficult life but is still positive. She is here for school. Cape Coast University has a distance learning program they hold at Omess on the weekends She will be baptized probably next month but it is a joy teaching her because all of the lessons with her are so spiritual. We taught her about the Atonement and about eternal families this week. Both of them were just incredible lessons because she has had a rough past and has lost both of her parents. She is traveling but when she comes back I hope we will baptize her.

Questions from home:

• How are the people that you have been baptized while you've been there doing? Some have traveled. As is always the case Satan is working on them hard but they are doing well.
• Are they coming to church still? Sometimes.
• How is your Twi coming along. Kakrakakra. If people are talking to me I usually understand it.
• Is it still the rainy season? Yep 

Anyways, other than that we had a fun zone activity today and played soccer and ping pong and just had fun talking together. It seems like because Elder Robertson is fresh from the U.S. he is reminding me a lot of home so my mind has been thinking about you all this week. Again, I can't describe how grateful I am to be a member of a family.

Love,

Elder Shelton

Making Banku