MY SWEET FAMILY!!!

I miss you guys like crazy haha. Mothers day will be great!! What time is church 11am? Ill try to call when you guys get out of church, if not then ill do it before. Its a 7 hour difference so we'll see. Just be prepared, it all depends on the other elders in the apartment. Well this week was freakin great! Mostly because of what happened Sunday...So Edmund (the old man who's wife is still in accra:( ) Came to church again and now is hopefully getting baptized on the 16th!! Im stoked for that...except that his wife isnt here in Kumasi yet. Anyways....later that night we had an appointment set up with Harrison (the college nurse guy who has a party life style, like 23) and asked President before hand if he'd go with us to interview him for baptism since he has had some problems. IT WAS SWEET!!! To be honest it was a little nerve racking being with president and teaching small with him. Idk i shouldn't of been nervous but i still was haha. It went soooo well!! Harrison has a few small things to do and just needs to make a commitment to follow the Law of Chastity which he said he'd do....hopefully he is baptized the same day with Edmund! Peter is another investigator who is ready for baptism and needs to come to church so that he can be baptized....maybe 3 future leaders all baptized in a few weeks! Its exciting news for Asokwa! THEY NEED PRIESTHOOD! haha.

Next week Sunday we get to go to UST chapel and watch 2 sessions, probably one from Saturday and one from Sunday...The Elders in that ward are going to ask to stay and watch the rest of the CD's. So we'll see! Im so stoked for that!! I cant believe im having two general conferences in the same ward for the last 8-9 months. Its kinda crazy that I've been here in one area that long but I'm loving it! So hopefully no transfers again!:D Never know with president (or should i say,The Lord) though! The following Sunday is Stake conference and more importantly, MOTHERS DAY PHONE CALL! :D

This week has been really awesome....the lessons are flowing and Elder Clements and I really feel like we have been blessed this whole week. We can see it in how well the lessons have gone and how well the investigators have responded. The Lord is really helping us and we can feel Him there! I just love that. Our ward is becoming more helpful and productive, especially since they changed leadership and a young returned missionary is now the Elders Quorum Prez. Its sweet...he went with us on Sunday for a little while and with the other elders on Saturday along with our ward mission leader (first time for him since I've been here). It seems to be going well... they have officially started home teaching finally...5 months later after telling us they would haha. I love the ward and the members though!! :D

Well that's all that has really happened this week except the usual teaching and district meetings. We had interviews yesterday and it didn't seem like anyone is going for our district, but you never know. I did get the package and loved it!! We used the chopper that day making garlic bread! Chopped up some garlic and fried it in butter...thanks to Sister Kiffer, she told us to try it!! Makes spaghetti so much better and its legit garlic bread! Or maybe my tastes are changing haha.

I love you guys!!

Elder Lehr

Family!

I'm now 20...cant believe it. haha. Anyways...the work is going great. gotta love it when investigators show up to church haha. Harrison came and that old man Edmund who is going to bring his wife when she comes back to town. George and his nephew came, HE TOLD US HE WANTS TO GET BAPTIZED! He knows its true, he just hasn't had the chance to come to church much, which has to change if he wants baptism. Cant just baptize anyone, like elders used to here, hence the 300 less-actives. The work is going well, it was kinda cool to have zone conference on my b-day. We went to the only good restaurant in town and had pizza and burgers and ate a few ice cream bars....big spender haha. It was fun. The week flew by yet again. Its crazy how 8 months snuck up on me, this Wednesday. 1/3 .... cant believe that either, a lot more to learn.

Nothing really big happened this week to mention, but i guess i could talk about that picture of elder Clements and I with the chicken that has no head. Well...Elder Clements was talking about how he is sick of rice or noodles and wanted something good and then he thought of buying a live chicken and killing it. He knows how so why stop him? Hahaha....i thought he'd be the one doing it and then when it came to cutting it off, he turned and looked at me asking me if id kill it and he'd hold it hahaha. My heart was beating, not a big deal but I've never killed an animal before. Kinda funny. You'll have to see the video haha.

I really wish i could have conference to watch or read...it sounded good. I caught a small bit of the priesthood session, but not very much of it. We should get to watch some of it with the stake a week or two after mother's day, I'm excited for that.

Sorry it's such a short email this week, not too much has happened. That's what happens when you're in the same area for 9 months at the end of this transfer. haha. I love Asokwa though. The work is progressing much faster then it was a year or two ago, says some of the members. Asokwa was the best ward in Kumasi, then everyone moved away when the wards split sooo it's left with not many members.


Anyways, I love you guys so much and cant wait to call you on mother's day!! :D It's coming!

Love, Elder Lehr

I FREAKIN MISS MY FAMILY! CANT I JUST FLY OVER TO HAVE A BIRTHDAY DINNER AND COME BACK??

Anyways, Life in Ghana is always interesting. Always. Elder Harris was rushed to the hospital, he was in a whole lot of pain, coming from his right kidney. Everyone thought it was like kidney stones or something. Still not sure exactly cuz the doctors here are always full and you have to get there extremely early to get a spot with the doctor for that day. Sound like whats going to happen in the states?? Hope not, if so....lets go to Mexico! Ive always wanted to learn Spanish haha. Anyways he's ok now and passed something on Saturday, but still has to meet with a urologist on Wednesday if he gets there early enough. I think it's hilarious while you guys are all freaking out cuz its African hospitals and needles and all that....its safe here don't worry haha. I found out today from the Kiffers that Ghana is not considered a 3rd world country! That surprised me a little bit, but hey...there is definitely areas that are more like 12th world if you asked me haha. Anyways, just thought id let you know about him. The UST apartment which is in my district got two different elders. One is from Uganda and the other is elder Clements MT and he is from Samoa. Both way cool guys, we'll enjoy another 6 weeks.

There is a couple in UST ward that are missionaries for some of the branches out past Kumasi area and their son is one of the best players for Ghana's national team! Anyways...his name is Kojo Asamoah and he is coming home next month so we definitely want to meet him. That will be sweet.

Cant believe that i will be 20 this week....still not real to me. Neither is serving a mission in Africa, at least most days it's not normal. I have just determined that i will be here in Asokwa ward for the whole two years....with that in mind it's not so bad to think about 9 months in Asokwa ward after this transfer. Kinda crazy but i like it so its not a big deal.

The family we are working with lately came to church this week, well at least the husband did. Still haven't met the wife because she is still in Accra. She should be home soon as in a couple weeks. He tells us they will come to church together and she wont have any problems joining him. :D :D :D I loved hearing that. We'll see how that goes and work on him and others til this goal is finished. These goals are difficult but definitely amazing experiences of trusting in the Lord and the goal that HE has set. Be obedient, work hard as if it all depends on me and my companion, then pray as if everything depends on Him who sent me. It sounds simple, but it has taken a lot of practice and im still in training with it haha. I have learned so much on my mission and seem to have changed a lot. I loved the priesthood talks by Uchtdorf and Eyring. Those were like the only ones we could download audio for but they are amazing!! Cant wait til next month to see some of them live. Patience patience patience.

Well this week is going to fly by...District meeting tomorrow then institute on Wednesday that we are trying to get investigators to, (its a trial each week haha.) and then zone conference on Thursday...every six weeks! I sure do love zone conference. Mail possibilities, meals both physically and spiritually which motivates all of us to work hard and do what is right all the way up to the next one where that motivation comes again. We continue that every six weeks and before you know it....I'm turning 20 and 8 months on mission....still feel green....still act green. Which is good because some guys lose that MTC fire fast. I know i did, but its been really good for me because now i have to keep myself motivated and the only way to do that is just go out and work! :D This work is divine! haha.

Well i love you guys so much. Glad you enjoyed the ranch house...definitely miss the prime rib. :D Have a great week and remember that a certain Missionary (not a teen-ager)in Africa thinks about you always and loves you so much!

Love, Elder Lehr

Family,

Easter!!! Happy EASTER! Wow, wasn't it just Christmas?? Time is flying and i cant seem to catch up! Am i really going to learn and become what i need to before i go home haha. Long ways away. I am loving life right now haha. Elder Clements is sweet and we are setting up one somewhat big (at least for our area) baptism hopefully for May 16. There is Harrison, Samuel, Peter, George (possibly his NEW wife, GOAL) and another man who came to church this last Sunday and will be bringing his wife when she returns from Accra. It seems like everyone travels all the time to Accra. It gets annoying when members and investigators either have callings or reading assignments and don't do it because they "traveled to Accra." Not much i can do about so the complaining is finished.

Ok now for the exciting news! Elder Clements and i got into 2, i repeat 2 car accidents this week!!!! Hahaha, both were hilarious and not serious by a long shot. The first was with the Kiffers, he was going to turn left and a water truck behind us didn't want to slow down so he tried passing us on the LEFT side, the side we were turning! And BOOM! haha. Everyone was definitely ok and no police was needed which is a good thing cuz they just take money from everyone since they can do that, they have the badge and uniform haha. (side note, people steal police uniforms just to get money from people cuz they cant find a job, kinda sad and a little dishonest i think). Anyways, the second one happened today as we were driving back from a stake activity for young adults (we took Harrison and Samuel) and our taxi driver was about to enter a roundabout and was staring at these freakin sweet puppies (there isn't any good looking dogs in Ghana, so its a surprise to seem any at all) and then BAM Rear-ends the guy in front of us. I was laughing at the guy haha....no damage was done so everyone got back into the car and left. Don't worry mom, I'm healthy and perfectly safe!

TRANSFER NEWS CAME TODAY! I don't know why i put that in big letters, nothing happened to our apartment, we are all staying, which i am definitely happy for because i get to be with elder Clements and stay for the goal and for the phone call and for the fruits of our labors hopefully may 16! So that is definitely good. Our district has changed though, Elder Jeppeson is training, not sure who yet. Elder Holmes is moving to the zone leaders apartment with elder Kwapong (Elder Clements and Ekaette's MT group) and soo some new faces are coming into that apartment. It should be a good 6 weeks and im stoked for it! Cant believe at the end of it ill be 9 months, that's kinda crazy, still not far at all and i still feel green! Which is good cuz satisfaction is when my progression stops.

The church is really strong here in Ghana, even though its small. They are always looking for the missionaries to do a whole lot of things we normally wouldn't be doing if we served at home. I can say we do a whole lot of the home teaching and reactivating and missionary work and fellowship. They even want us to baptize their children when they turn 8, i said heck no to that one and put that one straight!!! Their family needs to see the worthy priesthood holder perform an ordinance for his children!! That's no negotiable. haha. Couldn't believe it when they asked me, even the bishop said to come to us about it. I was shocked. Also, gotta change the fact that they want missionaries to bless the Sacrament...They have plenty of priesthood holders, they just need to get their butts in gear and come on time to do their duty. Working on that as well. We teach a lot about how important that sacrament really is and how its the main reason we go to church and that they need to be on time. We use the example of how us missionaries are invited for a nice Fu-Fu meal at their house and they take all day to pound it and prepare it and we either don't come or reject it when we get there and we ask them how they would feel if that happened. Of course they said horrible and we relate it to our Savior's sacrifice for us and how we are rejecting it when we don't come on time. It may sound harsh but that's kinda how the culture is here, they either need to hear it harshly or else they just wont ever change. So that's what we have been working with lately. Overwhelming sometimes but its the work we are here to do! Even if most of it is supposed to be the wards responsibility, we are teaching them small small.

I hope Easter was awesome, sounds like it was, especially since you guys got to watch conference. sigh. Oh well, it'll come. I love you guys so much and think of you all the time. I am working hard and enjoying my mission %100! I love this feeling and i love the work! Helping people understand the truth and seeing their lives change is kind of a big deal for our Father in Heaven to trust us young men to do. wow. I love seeing things in my own life change, i don't notice it at all day by day but when it comes to months or even when i first came, there is a big difference which is how its supposed to be. My testimony is stronger than ever and my desire to do good and be good is always increasing even when its difficult! I love you guys and will hear from you in a month and a half's time!! :D

Love, Elder Lehr