Familia!

Holy smokes 1 year has been done away with?? Cant believe how time flies, but at the same time it seems like its taken a while for it to come. Weird feeling haha. We didn't really celebrate too much, but it was sweet. Some of our investigators made some food for us, cassava and a sweet stew that i used to hate in the mtc but now love. Its funny how much the Lord has blessed me with loving the food now. Prayer is real. Then we bought some sweet steaks from off the street and bought some Don Simon, no not the alcoholic kind, the fruit juice which is delicious, just expensive! So that is how we enjoyed it, kinda boring. My companion and i came at the same time so we both enjoyed the night together haha.

There was a lot going on in the branch this week which is a big change! Ever since we talked to the branch president about activities he has really kicked it into effect immediately, sweet! There is now keyboard learning Tuesdays and Thursdays, FHE for single adults on Mondays, Wednesday is midweek (just a class for all of the members to learn something from gospel principles), and there was an ALL AFRICAN service project on Saturday! We all jumped into a big truck and took off to a place called Twifo Hemang and cleaned up a hospital and "weeded" the grass and cleaned off their mosquito net screens for windows. It was a sweet activity. A good amount of members came and we all wore our Mormon helping hands shirts. Afterwards we went back to the chapel and cleaned the chapel and enjoyed a sweet fanyogo (a bag with frozen strawberry yogurt in it. These fanyogos get me through!!) Most things here in Ghana are in plastic bags that we chew off a corner and eat or drink right out of the bag, like water and juice and a bunch of stuff. The best part about that service project was to see how many recent converts, less-actives and even investigators there!! The best news of the week came Sunday when they announced the temple trip and I found out that the recent converts that we just baptized last month (that sweet family, Amoamah's). The husband, wife and two children are going to the temple, plus two of their son's friends who we just baptized 3 weeks ago. Not a better feeling as a missionary then to know that the people you helped come to the gospel are now going to the temple, even if it is for baptisms! Next year they will be able to do their endowments and sealing!!! I'm so stoked for that! If i have no other success on mission then that is ok!!

Today we are in Cape coast and got to play football with both cape zones and even swedru came so 4 zones of elders. We got 2nd in the "world cup" because i missed my penalty kick, heart breaker, not playing for so long really does things to ya, i think dad would know. haha. It was fun to talk with all the other elders though. Everyone keeps talking about this new area opening up in our mission! Its the capital city of the region just above Kumasi, i forget the name but the city is called sunyane! They are putting 6 elders there and missionaries are excited to see who will go to that place haha. This week has been a little different then the past, mostly because we baptized almost all of our investigators and now we actually have to do some finding, but no problem because many members promised us referrals this week and there were a few who brought them to church, imagine that, members doing missionary work? ITS SWEET FOR US WHEN THAT HAPPENS!! :D

Well not too much going on this week besides a training thing that all missions are starting to do. That ll be interesting, being trained by the mission president himself. I'm excited to learn!!

I have learned so many things while i have been here, but one thing that Ive been taught comes from the scripture in Mosiah 2:41 i think. President always talks about this scripture and reminds us of the pride cycle and how it just goes round and round and round and NEVER UP!! But in this scripture, king Benjamin describes how when the Lord blesses them and they prosper instead of turning to pride they show their gratitude, repent and move on to a new level of obedience. Ive definitely see that in my life this past one year. I feel like Ive been blessed so much to conquer a few weaknesses that were just irritating me. I know that as we focus on one thing at a time that the Lord will help us through it. Of course it is not for free. It takes work and i mean HARD work to do things the Lord's way, but its worth it. I have come to love the Book of Mormon more than ever. It really is the word of God and teaches us those precious truths that were taken out of the Bible, for example: agency and the Atonement. The Book of Mormon is clear that without agency the Atonement wouldn't mean anything and without the Atonement, neither would our agency. (2 Nephi 2). I used to be irritated when i knew i had to study the scriptures or even pray, but Ive seen a huge difference now that Ive changed my attitude about it. I love the time we have each morning to study and always feel like its never enough! It has enhanced the work I am involved in and now the Spirit is able to help me recall things that Ive learned, unlike before. I'm so grateful for this gospel and for the strength that the prophet Joseph Smith had! I cant wait to meet him haha. STUD! I know the church is true and that as I live by its teachings i will be bless now and eternity. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Love you guys, have a good week!

Cody!