Family,

This week was pretty good. We had zone conference on Friday which went well. I love how president just knows how to motivate and inspire us to be better and to work even harder. He announced the next goal we will have as a mission and its really a tough one. We have to baptize a husband and a wife into the church so that in a year they can go to the temple together. Its going to be tough and we'll need the Lord in this goal more than we've ever needed His help. We have 4 months to complete this goal! It seems like everyone in our apartment has been sick within the last 2-3 weeks! Mosquitoes are killing everyone, even ward members are saying that the mosquitoes are worse now then it has been in a while. The Americans are struggling haha. It wouldn't be a mission in Africa without getting malaria at least once so Elder Clements welcome to the mission! He's been sick the last few days. It's all good, he's a tough guy.

Our apartment is pretty cool.The newest missionary is Elder Ekaette. Elder Ekaette is a stud! Elder Mckay trained him so it makes sense that he is a stud too. I love the guy. We both proselyted together yesterday cuz both of our companions were sick and it went really well. He knows the scriptures so well! He is from Nigeria. His father is a pioneer of the church there and his older brother is a Stake President. Our apartment is playing Phase 10 tonight with the Kiffers, should be fun. I love our apartment!!!!! Elder Harris, Elder Ekaette, Elder Clements and me.....

Missionary work is divine. I love this work so much. Day in and day out I am searching for the humble hearts that the Lord is preparing to receive His gospel. While doing this work along side a companion and the Lord, we have the best opportunity to prepare for our future lives. Elder Holland taught us that Gordon B Hinckley started to create Preach My Gospel because He said there is a problem with the way we are doing this if missionaries can serve for two years and then come home and be inactive. Elder Holland said that Pres H. hates getting emotional and after saying this to the 12 Apostles He sat there and wept. Elder Holland went on to say that Preach My Gospel was born to convert the missionaries! It was sad to hear that but the way He spoke and the way he asked us to silently promise Him that we will ALWAYS be faithful. I definitely made that promise. I loved that experience of meeting with Him and the feelings and strength that he brought.

I know that God lives and loves us all individually. Because of His love He sent His only begotten Son to Atone for our sins. Through Jesus Christ we have prophets, Priesthood and therefore a church for all of God's Children to follow and learn from to be able to Become like Him and to follow Him. I know that Joseph Smith saw what he says he did and that because of his undeniable faith, the true Gospel of Jesus Christ was able to be Restored again to God's Children on the earth again. I love teaching about the Restoration. I always have that same feeling that i had when i first felt that the church was true. Its amazing. Its a warm, peaceful feeling. The Holy Ghost is such a blessing to us. Because God wont take away our agency, but He wants to teach us and help us to learn and grow, He has sent the Holy Ghost to dwell within us to teach us those sacred, personal and special things that our Father in Heaven wants us to know right then. I know all of these things not because anyone told me or convinced me, but because i searched these things out individually and asked in faith and i was answered in the feelings and thoughts i have had. This path is the only true path to live with our Father in Heaven and our Families again. I know these things to be true and hope by writing this that someone somewhere may try this gospel out and see if it is really from God. I say this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

I love you guys and hope you are doing well. Enjoy the rain while you've got it.

Love, Elder Lehr

Family,

How is everyone? Sorry for Karli and the concussion...knowledge knot? I guess youll keep your eye on the ball next time...hahaha. Sorry for being ruthless, just how our family is. Youll get over it bug haha. Anyways! Sorry about the Elders in Chile! Sounds like everyone is ok now though! Best time to do missionary work when the whole country is humbled! I love teaching humble people who ask sincere questions and are really interested! The lessons are always guided by the Spirit and the people progress...amazing how that works. I jsut wish theyd all be humble, but then i always think of how i would be if i was them and id probably be stubborn and run and hide from missionaries. I think thats a huge reason i was born into the church haha.

This last week was incredible....The mission conference was amazing and it was so great to see all the missionaries i havent seen in forever since im in kumasi (its own seperate mission). I love it here dont get me wrong. Elder Holland was incredible. I cant believe how personal the setting was and how he spoke to us for an hour and 20 mins and it felt like 15. I wanted more! I could listen to him all day long. President Snow and Him are hilarious. They talked a lot about being from southern utah and hog tying elders that didnt want to stay out on their mission (and he said stick a boot in their throat, i couldnt stop laughing at that). He told us a lot about how the missionary program was changed when President Hinckley said there is something wrong with the way we are doing the missionary program if missionaries can serve 2 years and fall in-active when they get home. Thats how preach my gospel started.

This last week we taught George...the powerful guy who had a friend in the US who is a member telling him to join the church. We are planning on commiting him to baptism this week so pray for him and us. Peter is also a member referral who we've been wrking with and he met with bishop this last week and bishop said he is a really serious investigator who knows the church is true. So we'll probably commit him this week too. We are kinda waiting for the new mission goal to be announced this friday at zone conference so that we dont finish the goal before it even started! Haha. Elder Holland really loved how unified our mission was in making goals as a team instead of competing against each other for baptisms and lessons taught...He didnt stop praising president Sabey. It was the first time ive seen President Sabey nervous! wow he was nervous haha! I probably would be too!

Bounti (the recent covnert our age)...remember how i said he recieved the priesthood last week? well we put him to work and he went with us teaching on saturday. We went to an investigator who was going to church faithfully around the time bounti started coming to chruch 4 months ago. Bounti and him (harrison) were becoming friends and then harrison just started now showing up or ignoring our calls and stuff. He's been busy and is really challenged by the roomates he has, typical party college dorm where he lives. We watched the Restoration DVD and it was so powerful when all 3 of us bore testimony. He came to church...I JSUT LOVE THAT! The Lord prepares people to hear the message and accept it when they are ready for it. We'll keep at him and see how things go. :D

I love you guys so much and cant believe March is already here! My birthday is coming and then after that i call home?!?! What the heck? 2 years is becoming such a short time when i look at how fast the past 6 months has gone. Its ridiculous! I love missionary work and will always be a missionary even when i come home. This work is His work and we have to do it His way and in His time! The sooner we learn that the better off we are! I cant believe how the Lord has helped me to have a love for everyone and to be able to see the good in everyone (through the Savior's eyes). This gospel is so true and i will give my life for it, whether with my blood or by the sweat of my brow in this Ghana heat! I wouldnt want to be anywhere else. This is an incredible experience and i thank my Father in Heaven everyday for this opportunity. I love you so much and miss you!

Love Elder Lehr

PS:Progression and experience have one Eternal round.... (Hymn 284, If you could Hie to Kolob). Figure that hymn out... haha.