Dear Family,
This week was so so good. President really worked me hard in the office my last 2 days there. It was difficult because both of the AP's are less than 1 month in their positions and the other office elders weren't that experienced either when it came to transfers so pretty much all the other 4 just came to me for everything and asked me how to do everything. That doesn't sound all that humble but it was pretty tiring trying to help everything. I know that they will all learn fast though.
On Tuesday night I finally got out to my area and met my companion. That night we went straight to coordination meeting and then right into PEC. This ward is the most organized I have seen. It was really incredible. We finished around 8:15 and I turned to my companion and asked, "You want to go work?" He said, "Lets go." So we went out that night and saw some people. Since that time we have worked and worked and worked. It is the best thing ever.
Wednesday we had Zone training and I was asked to instruct. I was super tired and so it wasn't the best instruction I have given but it went O.K.
Thursday and Friday I had to do some baptisimal interviews and had to even prepare one of our own for baptism. It was a really hectic week.
Saturday we had a baptism for Eric Mensah. He is 18 years old and is really cool. He came to a ward activity today and is really active. Church was great. I'm getting to know and love all the members really fast.
Today I had to wash by hand again. It was horrible. My hands hurt so much. I spent a long time cleaning as well because the apartment was kind of scary when I got there. I think this next week we will work on building our teaching pool because we don't have that many investigators.
My companion: Elder Niamkey (Nee-am-kay) has been out for 7 months and is the most humble, nice, hard working, guy. He reminds me a lot of Ntumba. You just naturally like the guy. I couldn't have been with a better companion. I think I was a relief to him as well so life is really sweet right now. His English is pretty good and I enjoy seeing him really rely on the spirit for his words. He has given me several testimonies about how the spirit has helped him this week as I have allowed him to talk a lot. Hopefully I will be able so send you a picture. Even seeing a picture of him will make you love him.
Speaking of Ntumba, we have an Elder Ntumba coming next transfer. I am super excited to meet the guy.
I love you all so much.
Elder Shelton
Sunday, April 16, 2017
Sunday, April 9, 2017
Last Two Weeks in the Office
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| Accra From Afar |
Dear Family,
My week was heartfelt you could say.
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| Church Distribution Warehouse |
This week at the post office: To give you a little background there is a section of the post office in which we pick up packages that have custom fees attached. It is by far the worst place in the post office because usually they just open up the package and throw a random number out for how much you have to pay. If you are their friend the price is cheap. If they don't like you the price is high. There have frequently been 2 guys working there. One is our good friend. He laughs with us and gives us good prices and does it quickly. The other is always very stern and charges ridiculously high prices for things (like 200 cedis for a padded envelope). I have obviously tried to get the guy that charges low prices.
The other day I came to a realization that the man that charges us the high prices is just trying to do his best to follow the law (even if the system doesn't make sense). He pulls out the book that has all of the customs fees and taxes in it and tries his best to be honest in his dealings. Last Friday as we went to the post office we got the guy who charges us the high prices. We opened the package and the verdict came back and the price was pretty high. He said, "I hope you remember what I told you last time." I remembered that he had said he wouldn't lower any prices for us again. I said, "Yeah I remember, we will pay what we have to pay." After a couple seconds I said,"I hope you know that I appreciate your honesty." It kinda surprised him. He said something like, "I am used to being criticized for trying to be honest." That opened the door to him and we started into a really good conversation. We talked about being criticized for doing the right thing. Which both him and I could testify about. We talked about how Jesus Christ was hated above all men. He talked about how if you aren't hated by some people, then you are probably not doing it right. It was really cool to see his heart opened and to be able to gain a little more insight about this guy. I shared my own testimony and some scriptures from the Book of Mormon. It was really awesome.
Later that day we were driving out to see Sister Rose. I got a call from Sister Rose as we were going out there. She explained to me that they had just been told by the landlord that they had to move out of the place they were staying. They stay in a house that is under construction. Brother Perfect gets paid to watch over and clean up the house and the compound. So in essence he lost his job and got evicted from his house all in the same day. It was devastating news to me. We immediately went over there and tried to figure out what was going on. We were sacked from the compound as well and had to say our goodbyes quickly. We went to their member friends and told them about what was going on. It was dark by then but after a few minutes Sister Rose and Brother Perfect walked up. They had to stay there for the night and then leave the next morning. The place is just a wooden shack made by the member in an open field. We had a really great lesson with both of the families about Matthew 6: 25-34. Those scriptures had such a different and deeper meaning to me when I read those with them. The next morning they went to Ashalley Botwe, which is in our mission, but they are living with Perfect's grandmother who is Muslim and will not allow anything to do with Christianity.
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| Brigham, Perfect, Rose, & Princess |
I wish I could explain to you both how I felt that day, and also what real poverty looks like. I don't think there are the words to describe it though. I, like Elder Holland, find it hard to sing when I think about how unfair the world is. I remember when I was young I would always say, "But thats not fair." and Dad would always say, "Life isn't fair." I had no idea.
Saturday I went on exchange and it was fun. I got to go with one of my MTC mates.
Conference was spectacular. I got to watch Saturday afternoon, Priesthood, and then we were invited to the Heid's for Sunday morning. We had a Thanksgiving dinner afterwards and it was amazing. I loved so many talks. Of the ones I saw I think that some of my favorites were President Eyering's in priesthood session, and also Pres. Uchtdorf's in the Sunday Morning. I have always said that there are 2 ways to get someone to obey, Love or Fear. Most often here fear is used. It was great to be reminded of what the love and power of Jesus Christ can do to motivate someone.
I love you all.
Elder Shelton
4/9/17
Dear Family,
This week was really busy. On Wednesday I found out where I will be transferred. When President told me all 5 of the office staff was in his office and we were discussing about transfers. I was not feeling well and I was having vertigo so I was a little confused about what was going on. I am going to Teshie 1, which literally borders the area I have now. I am really excited to get back out there though. I plan on enjoying every minute of my time. My companion will be Elder Niamkey. He is about 5 months on mission. I saw him as he came in. He is from Ivory Coast and is a French speaker. He is really quiet and really humble. I am so excited to be with him.
We had MLCMission Leadership Conference) on Thursday. It was a really good MLC. It kept us busy during the week.
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| Last Time Going to the Post Office |
On Friday night President Heid called and asked if we could go up to Kpong the next morning to help him out with the Kpong District Conference. So the next morning we woke up at 5 to go to a 6:30 baptism and then we took a road trip and helped show some videos. Afterwards we went to pick up some elders luggage and bring it back to Accra so they wouldn't have to bring it down for transfers. We got to go to Akosombo, which I think is the prettiest place in the mission. It is like a gated community so inside it is like California. The Elders there stay in a condo type thing and they have a tennis court and a gym right close to their apartment. We got to see the Akosombo dam, the one that holds back Lake Volta. It was really big and beautiful. I am glad that I had the opportunity to go there. We came back through Odumase to pick up another set of luggage. We got back around 8 and then the Assistants were having a hard time planning out the transportation for the transfer so I sat down with them and helped them figure it out. It was an incredibly exhausting day.
Yesterday after church we were invited by Sister Quaise to have dinner. It was really good. Sister Quaise is married to Anthony Quaise who was just called as an area Seventy at last conference. It was pretty cool to see him called.
Today we had transfers and departures. President Heid is really wringing all the work possible out of me before I leave. I've done this so many times it is just ingrained into me how to run things effectively. I saw my MTC sisters go home. That was difficult to see them come with me and then go home without me. It has been a really great day though.
I will leave for my area tomorrow. I can't wait to get out there. I will definitely miss the office. I will miss getting to know everyone and being involved in everything. But mostly I am very excited.
Also one of my favorite members had a very nice traditional shirt sewn for me. It really touched my heart and was so beautiful.
I will talk to you next week from Teshie!
Love,
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| Akosombo Dam |
Monday, March 27, 2017
God Loves Them Too
Fam,
We had another really free week this week. It has been interesting. For the past 2 weeks we have had almost no office work to do. I'm sure that pretty soon though everything will come crashing down upon us again.
The extra time this week mostly went into helping others in my district. On Wednesday the whole district did a contacting activity in one of the areas that is struggling. It was super fun to contact. I generally enjoy talking to people. Especially Ghanaians. In the office we don't get to contact very often because if you contact it is really hard to follow up on the people because you don't know your schedule.
Saturday my companionship went out and proselyted with the sisters that we did the contacting activity for. They are both young on mission so it was fun to give them advice and council and help them follow up on the people that we contacted on Wednesday.
We have still been teaching Rose and Perfect. It was a little tougher this week because we couldn't get many members to come out and help us. They are still doing really well except their home situation isn't all that great and they are being harassed because we are visiting them.
Another cool thing is we had a meeting with the people at the distribution warehouse here in Accra. I have actually really enjoyed gaining insight into how the church works in a more business sense. Working with the area office and such gives you a greater understanding of everything the church does. It is really incredible.
I've learned a lot of important things while I've been in the office. Depending on the day you ask me I might have a different response to that question. I think though I have learned how different everybody is, yet I have also learned how much God loves all of them. In the office you often dodn't see the best side of people. You are often reminded of your own imperfections. Yet God has a plan for everyone, and he loves us all. I used to think, "Why doesn't President Heid just put all the obedient Elders together and all the disobedient Elders together. That way at least the obedient could get some work done." I have learned that that is sometimes contrary to God's plan. God doesn't just give up on those that come to mission with different ideas or values than I do. He loves them too. He has a plan for them too to develop. It is also part of the development of the obedient to learn to love and counsel someone else even if they don't share your same views.
I love you all so much.
Elder Shelton
We had another really free week this week. It has been interesting. For the past 2 weeks we have had almost no office work to do. I'm sure that pretty soon though everything will come crashing down upon us again.
The extra time this week mostly went into helping others in my district. On Wednesday the whole district did a contacting activity in one of the areas that is struggling. It was super fun to contact. I generally enjoy talking to people. Especially Ghanaians. In the office we don't get to contact very often because if you contact it is really hard to follow up on the people because you don't know your schedule.
Saturday my companionship went out and proselyted with the sisters that we did the contacting activity for. They are both young on mission so it was fun to give them advice and council and help them follow up on the people that we contacted on Wednesday.
We have still been teaching Rose and Perfect. It was a little tougher this week because we couldn't get many members to come out and help us. They are still doing really well except their home situation isn't all that great and they are being harassed because we are visiting them.
Another cool thing is we had a meeting with the people at the distribution warehouse here in Accra. I have actually really enjoyed gaining insight into how the church works in a more business sense. Working with the area office and such gives you a greater understanding of everything the church does. It is really incredible.
- Mom's Question of the Week: What is the most important thing you've learning while serving in the office?
I've learned a lot of important things while I've been in the office. Depending on the day you ask me I might have a different response to that question. I think though I have learned how different everybody is, yet I have also learned how much God loves all of them. In the office you often dodn't see the best side of people. You are often reminded of your own imperfections. Yet God has a plan for everyone, and he loves us all. I used to think, "Why doesn't President Heid just put all the obedient Elders together and all the disobedient Elders together. That way at least the obedient could get some work done." I have learned that that is sometimes contrary to God's plan. God doesn't just give up on those that come to mission with different ideas or values than I do. He loves them too. He has a plan for them too to develop. It is also part of the development of the obedient to learn to love and counsel someone else even if they don't share your same views.
I love you all so much.
Elder Shelton
Monday, March 6, 2017
A Really Great Week
March 6
There is a member in our branch whose name is Sheila. She is 19 and is going to serve a mission. She is a really awesome member and helps the missionaries out a lot. On Wednesday night she got a call that her mission call had come and was at the area office. Meanwhile her boyfriend, David, who I also know because I helped him with his missionary application and going through the temple and all that stuff, was going to attend our Mission Leadership Conference at the area office to be set apart and then go to the Ghana Missionary Training Center. Anyways long story short, she was going to come to the area office to open her call and say goodbye to David but was unable to because she had to watch over her mom's provision shop. David opened her call for her because she was unable to come and she is going to Jackson, Mississippi; which never happens so it was pretty crazy! She was so happy but also sad because she was missing out on David's setting apart. Elder Anusiem and I went to go get pizza and as we pull back into the area office Sheila is running at us from behind trying to chase us down. I guess she was able to come somehow and took a taxi straight. She made it back to MLC in time for David's setting apart and then the Jones took them out to lunch and then to the MTC. It was just a really great day for them both and I was so happy everything turned out perfect.
Our investigator Sister Rose came to church on Sunday. She probably walked like an hour to get there. She has a small baby as well who is deathly afraid of me but I am winning her over small small. We taught Rose and her husband 4 times this week. Rose has a husband and he is progressing as well. The lessons with them have been coming slowly because they don't hear English very well but it is really enjoyable to teach them.
We had surprise transfers again this week. A Ghanaian missionary that was with us temporarily finally got his Visa to the UK so he will leave for his mission tonight. So some other people were shuffled around a bit. Elder Koronikalou left to go be companions with Elder Falk. Elder George will replace him as AP. Elder Magda who is 5 months on mission will join us here in the office as a trio. President Heid told me that Elder Magda would eventually replace me. I just hope I am here to see sister Rose baptized. It was a really great week.
I love you all.
Elder Shelton
There is a member in our branch whose name is Sheila. She is 19 and is going to serve a mission. She is a really awesome member and helps the missionaries out a lot. On Wednesday night she got a call that her mission call had come and was at the area office. Meanwhile her boyfriend, David, who I also know because I helped him with his missionary application and going through the temple and all that stuff, was going to attend our Mission Leadership Conference at the area office to be set apart and then go to the Ghana Missionary Training Center. Anyways long story short, she was going to come to the area office to open her call and say goodbye to David but was unable to because she had to watch over her mom's provision shop. David opened her call for her because she was unable to come and she is going to Jackson, Mississippi; which never happens so it was pretty crazy! She was so happy but also sad because she was missing out on David's setting apart. Elder Anusiem and I went to go get pizza and as we pull back into the area office Sheila is running at us from behind trying to chase us down. I guess she was able to come somehow and took a taxi straight. She made it back to MLC in time for David's setting apart and then the Jones took them out to lunch and then to the MTC. It was just a really great day for them both and I was so happy everything turned out perfect.
Our investigator Sister Rose came to church on Sunday. She probably walked like an hour to get there. She has a small baby as well who is deathly afraid of me but I am winning her over small small. We taught Rose and her husband 4 times this week. Rose has a husband and he is progressing as well. The lessons with them have been coming slowly because they don't hear English very well but it is really enjoyable to teach them.
We had surprise transfers again this week. A Ghanaian missionary that was with us temporarily finally got his Visa to the UK so he will leave for his mission tonight. So some other people were shuffled around a bit. Elder Koronikalou left to go be companions with Elder Falk. Elder George will replace him as AP. Elder Magda who is 5 months on mission will join us here in the office as a trio. President Heid told me that Elder Magda would eventually replace me. I just hope I am here to see sister Rose baptized. It was a really great week.
I love you all.
Elder Shelton
An Email From the Mission President's Wife...
March 7
Hi Sister Shelton,
I am helping my good husband this week by reading the letters from the missionaries addressed to me. It is quite touching and humbling. I just read this one from your son, and my husband advised I forward it to you. You will be so proud of your sweet son. They grow so much. Enjoy, and grab a kleenex...
Dear Sister Heid,
Since being in the office I have learned to appreciate a lot of different things. One of those things that I have learned to appreciate is the value of an individual. Before receiving my mission call my dad explained a lesson he learned on his mission. He told me that when he got his call to serve in the South Dakota, Rapid City Mission he was so disappointed. All of his friends were going to foreign missions and he had wished so much to be blessed with experiencing a different culture and language and way of life. He really struggled accepting his mission call and only accepted because he saw it as a 2 year duty that he had to make it through before he moved on with his life. He told me that by the end of his mission he had realized that it wasn't where you served, it was the people you served. People everywhere are in need of Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ is who we are representing as we are here. At the start of my own mission is was very much in the honeymoon stages. I was excited by the culture and the language and the food. Soon I went through the normal adjusting process and finally came to be in harmony. Everything around me just seems normal now. As I have been further removed from proselyting regularly the thing I miss most is the people. I have really felt the worth of one soul in the sight of God. We have been teaching this lady named Rose. She has a baby named Princess. As I was sitting in sacrament meeting yesterday I was sitting behind them and I was touching Princess's hand and watching how she would react to it. I started to ponder about the miracle it was that they were here. That they came from Heavenly Father's presence to Ghana. I started thinking about the life that Rose lives. She is in an uncompleted house that she has taken as her home. She is there almost all day and has to struggle to feed herself and her baby. By the same outfit that she wears to church every week you can tell she has almost no earthly possessions. Yet she walks an hour to church each week with a baby on her back to come to a church where she can only understand half of what is going on. How great is the value of this individual to God. How much love God has for her. How much God desires for her to learn and grow. It is the power and worth of the individual that pushes me to do all I can for her, to make even a small difference in her life.
Thank you for all of your help and kind words. Thank you for being my mother out here in Ghana.
Love,
Elder Shelton
Monday, February 27, 2017
Catching Up
Feb 6
Well this week was a bit eventful. On Wednesday we had a departure devotional for Elder Whiting who had to go home early due to medical issues. He was a really great Elder. I will miss him. It was a sweet devotional and a really emotional goodbye. That meant that Elder Helm was taken out of the office to replace Elder Whiting. So back to just the two of us.
We had MLC on Thursday. It was really good to see everyone again. The meeting was good as well. We talked a lot about the recent missionary broadcast.
On Sunday morning we taught this referral that we received from the MTC presidents wife. He was a way cool guy. His name is Ebeneezer. He had so many good questions and is working really hard to be able to come to church. It felt good to teach someone who was so enthusiastic.
I also got to teach Elder Anusiem to drive. I now understand why parents are so animated when teaching their children.
Sunday we had to help out with a sister transfer. We were moving sisters that will go home next two weeks and it was awesome to hear about their mission experiences. I came home to a home made roast that we had prepared and cooked all through the day. It was the best thing ever. I have never been so happy in my life!!!
I was reading the Book of Mormon this week and I came across these two scriptures in Moroni chapter 9 that really touched me. "4 Behold, I am laboring with them continually; and when I speak the word of God with sharpness they tremble and anger against me; and when I use no sharpness they harden their hearts against it; wherefore, I fear lest the Spirit of the Lord hath ceased striving with them. 25 My son, be faithful in Christ; and may not the things which I have written grieve thee, to weigh thee down unto death; but may Christ lift thee up, and may his sufferings and death, and the showing his body unto our fathers, and his mercy and long suffering, and the hope of his glory and of eternal life, rest in your mind forever." It spoke to my heart so much and it was just what I needed to hear at the moment. Prophets of old have felt what I am feeling. Jesus Christ understands even more. But I love his summary in verse 25. Despite everything that is wrong we can still be lifted up by Christ. That is what I will let "rest in my mind forever."
I love you all so much.
Elder Shelton
Feb 13
Tuesday we had a zone training and it was one of the best ones I have had since being here in the office. Our zone leaders instructed on finding people to teach and also about companionship unity. Since that time my companionship has really strengthened and I have been looking for more ways to find.
On Friday we went to the DMV. I thought the DMV back home was bad. It was really terrible here. We had to go to a couple different places to finally get Elder Anusiem his licence, but we finally got it. We had kinda a cool contact while we were there. This woman named Debora. She was the receptionist there. I was asking about her work and she said it was boring. I told her that we could keep her company because we had a great message to share. She asked what we did and we said we taught the gospel. She asked what we taught, so we said a prayer right there and started teaching her. She had a lot of really good questions and it was a good lesson. It made the DMV experience a little bit better.
Other than that we mostly were taking people to and from their apartment and the hospital and then taking care of them at the mission home.
I love you all.
Elder Shelton
Feb 20
This week was really hectic. On Monday we had 4 Elders get into a car accident so we brought them in to the mission home to recover. 3 of them recovered pretty quickly and they went back out to their areas. My companion went with one of them to his area and I am here in the mission home with the last one who is still recovering. So I have mostly been inside this week because I can't really take him anywhere. It's really unfortunate because we were just getting things going in the area. Now it has all come to a halt again and I will have to pick up the pieces and start again whenever I get a little bit more time to proselyte.
President Heid went gung ho on transfers this week even though it isn't supposed to be until Monday. We are just having a massive transfer in which like half the mission will be transferred. We will have a big conference on Thursday in which everyone will meet and be instructed and then go find their new companions and travel to their areas. President even mentioned that I might give instruction at the conference. We are creating a new zone. So many new zone leaders were called. Elder Falk is now a Zone leader which makes me happy, along with some other really great guys. I got to help out a little bit with this transfer too because the assistants were gone to Ho. It is really cool to see the process. It seems like everyone was transferred but all of the office stayed the same. I am still with Elder Anusiem. We will see what this next transfer will bring to me.
Elder Buys is going home next week Monday. I will seriously miss the guy. He has been my good friend all throughout my mission. I nearly cry even thinking about it. The other day I spent a good amount of time thinking back on my mission. There have been many people who have played a big part during the time I have spent here. He has always been such a great friend and example to me. He has made a big impact on my life. His going home made me think about time and how it passes so quickly. Change is imminent. It is always difficult. I have heard some people complain about the transfer. When things don't go the way you expect it is always hard. I think God works that way though. He allows change occur in our lives whether we want it or not, whether we expect it or not. The purpose for that change is not to "ruin our plans", rather to fulfill His plan. I do have a testimony of that. Although my mission might not have gone "according as planned" I am ever grateful that my mission has gone according to the Master's plan.
I love you all so much,
Elder Shelton
Well this week was a bit eventful. On Wednesday we had a departure devotional for Elder Whiting who had to go home early due to medical issues. He was a really great Elder. I will miss him. It was a sweet devotional and a really emotional goodbye. That meant that Elder Helm was taken out of the office to replace Elder Whiting. So back to just the two of us.
We had MLC on Thursday. It was really good to see everyone again. The meeting was good as well. We talked a lot about the recent missionary broadcast.
On Sunday morning we taught this referral that we received from the MTC presidents wife. He was a way cool guy. His name is Ebeneezer. He had so many good questions and is working really hard to be able to come to church. It felt good to teach someone who was so enthusiastic.
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| Pot Roast |
Sunday we had to help out with a sister transfer. We were moving sisters that will go home next two weeks and it was awesome to hear about their mission experiences. I came home to a home made roast that we had prepared and cooked all through the day. It was the best thing ever. I have never been so happy in my life!!!
I was reading the Book of Mormon this week and I came across these two scriptures in Moroni chapter 9 that really touched me. "4 Behold, I am laboring with them continually; and when I speak the word of God with sharpness they tremble and anger against me; and when I use no sharpness they harden their hearts against it; wherefore, I fear lest the Spirit of the Lord hath ceased striving with them. 25 My son, be faithful in Christ; and may not the things which I have written grieve thee, to weigh thee down unto death; but may Christ lift thee up, and may his sufferings and death, and the showing his body unto our fathers, and his mercy and long suffering, and the hope of his glory and of eternal life, rest in your mind forever." It spoke to my heart so much and it was just what I needed to hear at the moment. Prophets of old have felt what I am feeling. Jesus Christ understands even more. But I love his summary in verse 25. Despite everything that is wrong we can still be lifted up by Christ. That is what I will let "rest in my mind forever."
I love you all so much.
Elder Shelton
Feb 13
Tuesday we had a zone training and it was one of the best ones I have had since being here in the office. Our zone leaders instructed on finding people to teach and also about companionship unity. Since that time my companionship has really strengthened and I have been looking for more ways to find.
On Friday we went to the DMV. I thought the DMV back home was bad. It was really terrible here. We had to go to a couple different places to finally get Elder Anusiem his licence, but we finally got it. We had kinda a cool contact while we were there. This woman named Debora. She was the receptionist there. I was asking about her work and she said it was boring. I told her that we could keep her company because we had a great message to share. She asked what we did and we said we taught the gospel. She asked what we taught, so we said a prayer right there and started teaching her. She had a lot of really good questions and it was a good lesson. It made the DMV experience a little bit better.
Other than that we mostly were taking people to and from their apartment and the hospital and then taking care of them at the mission home.
I love you all.
Elder Shelton
Feb 20
This week was really hectic. On Monday we had 4 Elders get into a car accident so we brought them in to the mission home to recover. 3 of them recovered pretty quickly and they went back out to their areas. My companion went with one of them to his area and I am here in the mission home with the last one who is still recovering. So I have mostly been inside this week because I can't really take him anywhere. It's really unfortunate because we were just getting things going in the area. Now it has all come to a halt again and I will have to pick up the pieces and start again whenever I get a little bit more time to proselyte.
President Heid went gung ho on transfers this week even though it isn't supposed to be until Monday. We are just having a massive transfer in which like half the mission will be transferred. We will have a big conference on Thursday in which everyone will meet and be instructed and then go find their new companions and travel to their areas. President even mentioned that I might give instruction at the conference. We are creating a new zone. So many new zone leaders were called. Elder Falk is now a Zone leader which makes me happy, along with some other really great guys. I got to help out a little bit with this transfer too because the assistants were gone to Ho. It is really cool to see the process. It seems like everyone was transferred but all of the office stayed the same. I am still with Elder Anusiem. We will see what this next transfer will bring to me.
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| Brigham & Elder Buys Although never companions, they lived in the same apartment in Tema at the beginning of Brig's mission, and in Oyoko. Elder Buys was Brigham's zone leader in the Koforidua Zone. |
I love you all so much,
Elder Shelton
Feb 27
This week was pretty crazy. The beginning of the week was pretty normal. I was still with Elder Winborg (injured in car accident). Mostly we planned out for all the transportation and how the transfer would work. Wednesday Elder Anusiem came back from Kpong. Thursday was the conference. It was a really great conference. Really quite short and very spiritual. It was a really stressful day though because we had to take people to get their ID cards renewed and there were a bunch of problems with it and we had to get back in time so that the people being transferred could catch their tro tro back to their area.
Elder Buys has been down here since the conference on Thursday. Its been good to have time to catch up and say our goodbyes. On Friday I got to proselyte some. It was a nice refresher. I hadn't been feeling good towards the beginning of the week so a little fresh air was nice.
Saturday we had our P-Day because today we have departures and preparing for the new missionaries to come in tomorrow. It seems like Saturday was pretty legendary. We woke up, went to Makola Market to buy some food stuff and Elder Buys bought some things to go home with. Then we went to the art market again. Elder Buys also bought a lot of stuff. Then we came back to the apartment and played cards. Went to Shoprite to buy roast for Sunday. Then we went Bowling. There is only one bowling alley in Ghana. It looks abandoned and very scary. It was like we were in a horror movie. The thing was so retro. Uneven lanes and dust everywhere. It was a lot of fun. Right when we finished President Heid asked us to bring him some Book of Mormon stories books. He was at a conference at the stake center. We headed over there and happened to meet Sister Jones and Sister McConkie. Sister Jones is the general primary president I think and Sister McConkie a counselor in the YW. It was really cool and they were really nice and personal. It was a cool experience. We shook Elder Vincent and Stanfills hand as well. After that we went to a baptism and then went out to the area and taught a member. It was a really good day.
Sunday we had an investigator come to church. It was really amazing. We also ate pot roast again with all of the departing missionaries. WOW. It was a really busy week.
I love you all so much.
Elder Shelton
Monday, January 23, 2017
A Baptism and a New Companion
January 16, 2017
We'll transfer news has come... I'm still in the office. Elder Anusiem will still be here. Elder Harris is leaving though which makes me sad because we became really good friends. He is going to Koforidua with Elder Buys who goes home in a transfer. I will be receiving a new companion though. Elder Helm from Idaho will join us in the office to be a three-some. He had previously gone home to have surgery on a bad knee and it is acting up again so Pres wants him here to rest his knee a bit. I'm super excited because the guy is a really solid and mature missionary.
The week was good. I got to go on a full day exchange with Elder Gamil from the Philippines and it was super awesome to be out for the full day teaching people. Also this week President and Sister Heid played tennis with Elder Harris and I. I thought it would be pretty fun and chill but President Heid turned from President to Coach and things got pretty intimidating. It was fun though.
Miracle of this week. In the office it is easy to feel like the work you are doing doesn't really influence anything. This week I was able to do a baptismal interview for the assistants. I originally found the woman on our referral system. She had contacted the church and had spoken to Elders in the U.S. over google hangouts. I called her and found that she was a Kenyan who is here at a university and is a super genius. She gets paid to go to school there. Anyways she lived in the Accra, West mission and I referred her to them. About a month later for some reason I had the prompting to call her again and see if the missionaries had contacted her. They hadn't but she told me that for the Christmas Break all the international students from her school would live in the University of Ghana hostels (the assistants area). I gave the referral to them and they followed up and taught her and now she is baptized. As I was doing the interview it was really cool because I've never seen someone who knows so much and is so prepared for baptism. At the end she bore her testimony about how she was always searching for the truth and could never find it but she had really come to find the church was true through her prayers. It made me so happy to know that I was a little part of that long chain that was able to connect her to the truth and to Christ. I've really never seen a convert so converted before. It was way cool.
Today is transfers so everything right now is pandemonium. That's why I'm using my phone today. Anyways I feel like I am forgetting a lot but I can't remember anything right now.
I love you so much.
Elder Shelton
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| Elder Shelton, his two office companions, the AP's, and Pres. & Sis. Heid |
January 23, 2007
I was able to proselyte this week with a missionary named Elder Magda. It was nice to get out for another entire day. I have noticed that when I proselyte now I proselyte in a very different way. I think I care a lot more about getting to know people and loving them rather than just presenting a message. It truly is a treasure to meet and visit people.
I guess you are probably wondering about Elder Helm as well. He is from Idaho. Was a stud track star and football athlete. He was in the MTC group a transfer before me but might go home with me because he went back home for a couple months to have surgery on his knee. That is actually why he is in the office, to rest his rehabbing knee a bit. Hes a really cool guy. We can just talk for a long time and get along well. Its weird to have 2 companions though. Its like one is always the third wheel. Sometimes I just get left here in the office and it is really weird.
I don't know when I will be transferred out of the office. I think I am about half way done with my service here. I don't know though.
What was a miracle or spiritual moment this week? Good question. President allowed us to be a bigger part of the decision making process when the new missionaries came in. It was really cool to see how a transfer works and the prayerful decisions behind it.
Anyways. I love you.
Elder Shelton
Monday, January 9, 2017
Fun Fact: I Ate Rat
Well this week was pretty busy. We were able to get lots of work done around here. Lots happened. We visited these 2 less active girls on Saturday with the young women's presidency. They actually came to church on Sunday. It was a miracle.
Elder Falk was sleeping here at the mission home on Friday night. I was able to have a long conversation with him. I remembered how much I love that guy and miss him. The office I think really changed his perspective on missionary work and he is enjoying every moment as he is out there.
On Friday the Assistants were gone so they invited us to go teach their investigator at the university. I was actually the first one to contact this woman. She is a super genius and is from Kenya. She has a full scholarship to this prestigious school in Ghana and actually gets a stipend for going there. She is super cool. I asked her what she knew about Joseph Smith. She explained to me like perfectly the whole story. It was really unique for me because I haven't really been able to illustrate the Joseph Smith story in a long time. I have told that story probably over 1000 times. This time it just hit me. Like I always say I know it is true but sometimes in the field it became monotonous. This time as I heard her tell me the story I again believed it was true. It was just a really cool experience to be able to teach that again, especially to someone who knows it so well and has come to believe it as well.
I thought you might enjoy a little thought I sent to President Heid this week in my weekly letter to him:
"I have taken some opportunities throughout my mission to read my call letter over again. I took one of these opportunities when I was about 1 transfer in the office. I remember at that time I was really struggling in lots of different aspects. I think I had just had an argument with my companion. I read the line that promises, "Greater blessings and more happiness than you have yet experienced await you as you humbly and prayerfully serve the Lord in this labor of love among His children." I remember reading that and just laying in bed, thinking if that was really true. I wondered why I didn't feel like I had had a fulfillment of that blessing. I asked God why I hadn't found more happiness on my mission than I did before. I cast my mind back on my mission, on the people I had taught and baptized, on my companions, on the people I had come in contact with. I was overcome with indescribable happiness. I just laid there and started to cry because I was so happy. I truly have a testimony of the call letter and the promises that were made to me. Most of the time it seems like life is difficult, but I know that God is always aware of us. He always wants us to find happiness in all of our situations. What a beautiful thing."
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| Cooked Rat |
Elder Shelton
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| Yes, there is a big, fat rat in that cage! |
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| Yummy! |
Note from Brigham's Mom:
Just before Christmas I got an email from the Mission President's wife, Sister Heid. In part she said about Brigham, " He is so very competent and reliable, and always does what is needed with a smile, a nod, and a willing attitude. Please know that he is doing well, happy in the work, and growing into a strong, service-oriented priesthood holder. You can be very, very proud of this young man." We certainly are proud of him and appreciated her words.
On Christmas morning our family was able to skype with Brigham for about an hour. He looked great! We were able to meet his companion and one of the AP's. He seemed so at ease and happy. He bore his testimony to us and answered all of our questions. It was wonderful to talk with him!
Monday, December 19, 2016
Christmas Craziness!
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| Picking Up the Mail for the Week (He does it just like a real Ghanain!) |
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| Mission Home Open House |
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| Mission Home Open House |
Saturday was our bush Christmas Zone conference. It was pretty good. We made Christmas cards for our investigators. Elder Harris talked about teaching about Jesus from the Book of Mormon. Elder Koronikalou told the Nephite Christmas story. Sister Heid talked about following the spirit's promptings. It was really good because I have been thinking a lot about that lately.
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| Dinner with President & Sister Heid |
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| They Ate Too Much! |
Today we had a multi-zone activity at the beach. It was super fun. I got to play football and cards and some soccer. It reminded me of how much I love the beach. I love the breeze, the sound of the waves, the sand. Oh it was so nice! I did miss the ocean though.
Anyways, I love you all. I think I will try to skype around 3 my time. Our church has been changed to only 1 hour and at 9 so I am free pretty much all day. If you have any other requests of times or anything just email me and I will be able to view it.
I love you all so much.
Elder Shelton
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| Brigham's Apartment Part of the Mission Offices Complex |
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| Mission Office & Home Complex |
Monday, December 12, 2016
Getting Ready for Christmas
Fam,
This week was difficult and tiring. We are trying to get ready for Christmas and there has been so much to do. We are getting Christmas calling cards all ready and it has been stressful because its a lot of running around and trying to communicate things with the phone people. It wasn't all that easy. It was also a week after coming off of transfers which means we had a lot of office updating to do. We didn't get to proselyte at all this week. Thursday we were to stay in and deep clean because of the election. I cleaned all day and it wore me out. I don't think missionaries ever deep clean anything, (or even clean anything). So it was a lot of work. I am actually grateful for Rosa (Brigham's boss in high school when he did janitorial work at our local elementary school) for holding a high standard for cleaning. It taught me how to clean.
My new companion's name is Elder Anusiem. He comes from Nigeria. Like my other Nigerian companions he also comes from a richer demographic. His parents work for the church. He is a really cool guy. It has been a while since I have had an African companion so that has thrown me a little curve ball, especially here in the office when I am talking and trying to get things done at a million miles per hour. I have had to learn to slow down and be a good and patient teacher.
The nice thing about being in the mission home is that you feel so much more of the Christmas spirit. There is more Christmas music and food and lights and parties. The bad part is that it is making me miss home even more this Christmas than last year. But I am grateful to have senior couples and President and Sister Heid to be my family for Christmas this year.
One thing I've been thinking about that I will miss about Ghana and that I have missed since coming to the city: I miss people not caring about how they look. I love being around people that you can walk up to and they could care less how they look. It was really refreshing.
Anyways, Questions
How are things going for your new companion?
It has been a lot different. He is still getting used to things around here but he really wants to work hard and learn things fast. He is really trying to improve in many ways.
Is he able to drive the stick shift? Can't drive at all. Our trotro got taken away unfortunately so I am not even driving the manual. We got this big ol ugly soccer mom van that can't really fit anything besides people. It really is terrible for dropping off supplies.
What was a miracle this week? I got a free T-Shirt at the Vodafone store because I asked if they had any and the woman just dashed one to me.
Tell us about the election. It was very peaceful. Ghanaians don't look for an excuse to be violent. They look for an excuse to party. So mostly it was pretty normal except there was less traffic which was nice. Then when they finally declared the winner people were just celebrating. Packing many people into small cars, hanging out the window. Honking the horn and driving fast. That's a fairly normal practice for weddings and funerals. So not much excitement.
Do you still write a weekly email to the mission president? What do you say to him? Yep, mostly he knows what I do. I usually just write him a spiritual thought I was having during the week.
What was the best thing that happened this week? We had zone training and then went to the temple. That was pretty sweet. We watched the Christmas Light the World video. It was fantastic.
I love you all,
Elder Shelton
This week was difficult and tiring. We are trying to get ready for Christmas and there has been so much to do. We are getting Christmas calling cards all ready and it has been stressful because its a lot of running around and trying to communicate things with the phone people. It wasn't all that easy. It was also a week after coming off of transfers which means we had a lot of office updating to do. We didn't get to proselyte at all this week. Thursday we were to stay in and deep clean because of the election. I cleaned all day and it wore me out. I don't think missionaries ever deep clean anything, (or even clean anything). So it was a lot of work. I am actually grateful for Rosa (Brigham's boss in high school when he did janitorial work at our local elementary school) for holding a high standard for cleaning. It taught me how to clean.
My new companion's name is Elder Anusiem. He comes from Nigeria. Like my other Nigerian companions he also comes from a richer demographic. His parents work for the church. He is a really cool guy. It has been a while since I have had an African companion so that has thrown me a little curve ball, especially here in the office when I am talking and trying to get things done at a million miles per hour. I have had to learn to slow down and be a good and patient teacher.
The nice thing about being in the mission home is that you feel so much more of the Christmas spirit. There is more Christmas music and food and lights and parties. The bad part is that it is making me miss home even more this Christmas than last year. But I am grateful to have senior couples and President and Sister Heid to be my family for Christmas this year.
One thing I've been thinking about that I will miss about Ghana and that I have missed since coming to the city: I miss people not caring about how they look. I love being around people that you can walk up to and they could care less how they look. It was really refreshing.
Anyways, Questions
How are things going for your new companion?
It has been a lot different. He is still getting used to things around here but he really wants to work hard and learn things fast. He is really trying to improve in many ways.
Is he able to drive the stick shift? Can't drive at all. Our trotro got taken away unfortunately so I am not even driving the manual. We got this big ol ugly soccer mom van that can't really fit anything besides people. It really is terrible for dropping off supplies.
What was a miracle this week? I got a free T-Shirt at the Vodafone store because I asked if they had any and the woman just dashed one to me.
Tell us about the election. It was very peaceful. Ghanaians don't look for an excuse to be violent. They look for an excuse to party. So mostly it was pretty normal except there was less traffic which was nice. Then when they finally declared the winner people were just celebrating. Packing many people into small cars, hanging out the window. Honking the horn and driving fast. That's a fairly normal practice for weddings and funerals. So not much excitement.
Do you still write a weekly email to the mission president? What do you say to him? Yep, mostly he knows what I do. I usually just write him a spiritual thought I was having during the week.
What was the best thing that happened this week? We had zone training and then went to the temple. That was pretty sweet. We watched the Christmas Light the World video. It was fantastic.
I love you all,
Elder Shelton
Monday, November 28, 2016
Thanksgiving and Transfers
Fam,
We got transfer news this week. Elder Falk is leaving the office. I will be really sad to have him gone. He has been a good companion. Plus he knows everything around here. I will receive Elder Anusiem-Nzenwa as my new companion. He is a Nigerian. He was called from a zone leader to be in the office. I have served around him in Koforidua. It will be interesting to have an African in the office. It will be a good opportunity for him to see the church from a ministerial point of view. I am excited to have him. Although he is older than me on mission and this might seem like a demotion to him, I just hope he is willing to learn.
This week was cool. I helped Elder Bullie out with getting all of his forms and medical stuff for his passport. I also did a lot of office work this week. I am creating a reference sheet with all of the supplies and how we get them and how much they cost. So that's been time consuming. I am also making another reference sheet for when future Elders need to order food or find a caterer because there is no record of that and every time someone new comes in they just have to start from scratch and find someone that can cater for events and such.
On Thursday the senior couples had us over for a Thanksgiving meal. It was the best meal I have had in Ghana, even though there wasn't any turkey. I love the senior couples. We have Elder and Sister Pace and Elder and Sister Jones. The Pace's are just smart and loving. I will sometimes just come into the office and talk to them for hours. The Jones do the apartment maintenance and medical for our mission. Elder Jones is from Canada and he is so humorous. He just throws in random comments at the funniest times. Sister Jones is like a sweet Grandma. She is from Scotland and has this thick accent. She is the best. Anyways it was a lot of fun. Afterwards we were invited to the Heid's for pumpkin pie. It was really good.
On Saturday we made a big supply run and it was very tiring but we were in Ashaiman and the Ashaiman Stake was having a cultural festival. It was so much fun to go to. There were all kinds of dancing and skits and stuff. Every unit represented a different region and displayed there culture. It was really great.
That Saturday we had another cool experience. We went to this tailor's place because he was fitting some clothes for Elder Falk. We had been there a couple times but we just started talking about worship and the point of worship. I told him I thought the best way to worship God was to obey his commandments. He agreed and asked how I viewed him. We chatted a little more and he just broke down and told us that he is breaking the law of chastity. He knows it is bad and he has fought hard to stop before but he keeps falling back into it. He talked about the guilt that was weighing down on him. It was very spiritual and we just bore our testimonies about the Atonement of Jesus Christ and what that means to us and what it can mean to him. It was really cool. He said he will start sewing white shirts and trousers so he can come to church and be baptized. It was really cool.
Comment on teaching the Word of Wisdom. It is actually super easy here. Lots of people don't drink tea and coffee because it is hot. And mostly those who do when you teach it to them say, "I knew it was bad, I just hadn't had anyone tell me before." and they stop. I have had countless people just pull out their coffee or tea and hand it to us saying they are done.
Comment on Ghanaians and the Word of Wisdom. Ghanaians have a unique ability to obey whether they understand or not. They don't understand or know the reasons for a lot of teachings or doctrines but they just follow it because they have that kind of faith. Its really humbling to see.
I love you all.
Elder Shelton
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| Ashaiman Stake Cultural Festival |
This week was cool. I helped Elder Bullie out with getting all of his forms and medical stuff for his passport. I also did a lot of office work this week. I am creating a reference sheet with all of the supplies and how we get them and how much they cost. So that's been time consuming. I am also making another reference sheet for when future Elders need to order food or find a caterer because there is no record of that and every time someone new comes in they just have to start from scratch and find someone that can cater for events and such.
On Thursday the senior couples had us over for a Thanksgiving meal. It was the best meal I have had in Ghana, even though there wasn't any turkey. I love the senior couples. We have Elder and Sister Pace and Elder and Sister Jones. The Pace's are just smart and loving. I will sometimes just come into the office and talk to them for hours. The Jones do the apartment maintenance and medical for our mission. Elder Jones is from Canada and he is so humorous. He just throws in random comments at the funniest times. Sister Jones is like a sweet Grandma. She is from Scotland and has this thick accent. She is the best. Anyways it was a lot of fun. Afterwards we were invited to the Heid's for pumpkin pie. It was really good.
On Saturday we made a big supply run and it was very tiring but we were in Ashaiman and the Ashaiman Stake was having a cultural festival. It was so much fun to go to. There were all kinds of dancing and skits and stuff. Every unit represented a different region and displayed there culture. It was really great.That Saturday we had another cool experience. We went to this tailor's place because he was fitting some clothes for Elder Falk. We had been there a couple times but we just started talking about worship and the point of worship. I told him I thought the best way to worship God was to obey his commandments. He agreed and asked how I viewed him. We chatted a little more and he just broke down and told us that he is breaking the law of chastity. He knows it is bad and he has fought hard to stop before but he keeps falling back into it. He talked about the guilt that was weighing down on him. It was very spiritual and we just bore our testimonies about the Atonement of Jesus Christ and what that means to us and what it can mean to him. It was really cool. He said he will start sewing white shirts and trousers so he can come to church and be baptized. It was really cool.
Comment on teaching the Word of Wisdom. It is actually super easy here. Lots of people don't drink tea and coffee because it is hot. And mostly those who do when you teach it to them say, "I knew it was bad, I just hadn't had anyone tell me before." and they stop. I have had countless people just pull out their coffee or tea and hand it to us saying they are done.
Comment on Ghanaians and the Word of Wisdom. Ghanaians have a unique ability to obey whether they understand or not. They don't understand or know the reasons for a lot of teachings or doctrines but they just follow it because they have that kind of faith. Its really humbling to see.
I love you all.
Elder Shelton
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| Ashaiman Stake Cultural Festival |
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