Mississippi Mission President and Motorcycle Mayhem

Good evening everyone! There was a lot that happened this week. I got to meet and hug my new mission president, have a wonderful exchange, and teach some wonderful people. 

Tuesday we our first zone conference with President and Sister Morgan. It was really nice. I learned a lot and we got to know them both better. They talked a lot about their lives, where they're from (which is Mississippi. See title), their families, and how they came to be called as mission leaders. I really received a witness that they're the ones who are supposed to be leading this mission, which felt good.  They've got a lot to do but God is on their side. 

The rest of the week was really busy. Friday we had an exchange. I was with Elder Asempapa, a Ghanaian who is about to finish his mission. He's an awesome guy.

We had some crazy times on the exchange. That is when the motorcycle mayhem comes in, as well as one of the wonderful lessons. We went to Ntiamoah, a small village we cover that has a group, which is a small congregation. Normally we meet up with members to help us translate but because I was with Elder Asempapa who speaks Twi, we went alone. 

We taught only one person because we had to hurry back to town so Elder Asempapa and his companion could get a car back to their area, but it was such a great lesson. Brother Agyemang, the man we taught, has been coming to church for awhile but we haven't been able to teach him for a few weeks. We came especially for him, and it was worth it. We talked to him about baptism and he said he's ready. His baptism will be this coming Sunday. I'm so excited for him! He's so ready to come unto Christ, and I'm happy that we'll be able to do the baptism before the transfer ends. I love brother Agyemang. Keep him in your prayers this week. 

As soon as we closed the lesson, we went to the road to try to get a ride back. Nothing came. No bike, no car, nothing. Cars only run to Ntiamoah on Tuesdays and Fridays because those are market days, which is why we came on Friday, but even then you can't always get a car. Normally people take motorcycles but we're not supposed to because it's against the mission rules. We waited patiently, hoping a car would come. 

Fast forward like 30 minutes. No car has come. We're starting to think we might have to sleep there. 

Finally, a bike comes, and like David eating the shewbread in the temple out of urgent need, we decided to take the bike. The 3 of us (me Elder Asempapa, and the driver) piled on and started going. Unfortunately we ran out gas halfway there and had to walk for like 30 minutes in the mud but then someone loaned us some gas so we could ride the rest of the way to town. It was wild. The wildest part is that the driver charged us the whole price even though we walked like 2 miles of the trip!

That was an adventure. The rest of the week was also cool. I'm learning a lot from my companion. We had a Baptismal interview that had some complications that we needed the mission president's help with but while we were waiting we got fed twice! One of the times was fufu, the next was rice ball with palm nut soup and snail. That was my first time eating snail. It was actually really nice. 

This week was really great, but also really hard. There's some stuff going on that is challenging. What has gotten me through this week is prayer. I know that. Before my mission I had never begged God for anything. I now know what that feels like. He listens though. I know He does. He's carried me through it. When I've needed Him the most, He's been there. That doesn't mean that I haven't felt negative emotions. I've been angry, tired, annoyed, sad, and the rest. But it's never gotten to the point that I can't bear it. God has carried me through. God can do the same for you if you ask Him. In fact, He will. I know He will. Just trust Him. I've thought a lot about Alma 13:28 says we should "humble ourselves before the Lord, and call on his holy name, and watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be led by the spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long suffering." 

If we pray to God and watch continually, we will be taken care of. He'll change us. I know that is true. Repentance and change is a constant process that we all go through! I just love it. So trust Him! Tell Him everything. He'll never stop listening. 

I love you all! The church is true. 

Love, 

Elder Johnson, aka the repentant motorcycle marauder

One other cool thing that happened this week is we were able to give a lot of blessings. We are in branch 2 and share a building with branch 1. The branch 1 branch president is newly called and often asks us to help him with blessings and stuff. We had a cool experience where we have a blessing to a sister who was so, so sick. Like rolling on the ground moaning sick. We have her a blessing, and in the blessing I felt to bless her that she would sleep peacefully so she could recover. As soon as we finished the blessing, she rolled off the stool, curled up, and started sleeping. Immediately. And now she's on the mend! We talked to her family again today and they said she's doing way better. On that same visit we also dedicated their home which was really awesome. I've never been a part of that before but the Spirit was there. 

One thing about the priesthood that I've been noticing is I'm never expecting to give a blessing. Like it doesn't come with notice. It's something you just have to do right away, without time to prepare. You have to be prepared before the moment comes. I always want to live worthy of that. 

Pictures: 

 1. Me and Elder Sampson looking like fresh men of God. 

2. The same as 1 only Elder Tarpeh is also looking like a fresh man of God. 

3-4. The mighty Praso zone. From left, back row: Elder Alusa, Elder Reeves, Elder Amevor, Elder Johnson (me), Elder Sampson, Elder Barile (my companion). Front row: Elder Asempapa (my exchange buddy), Elder Tarpeh, Sister Peter, Sister Lapunare. 

5-6. Me and Elder Barile working righteous hari-kari in our humble way. 

7. Pretty Praso. This place is seriously beautiful. 

8. Me, Sister Peter, Sister Lapunare, and my companion destroying some delicious snail. This is what fufu, banku, and lot of other foods here are like. You get a ball of the starch, whether it's fufu or rice ball or whatever, dip it in the soup, then eat it. Sometimes you chew it, sometimes you just swallow, depending on the food. It took some time to get used to but I just love it. 

9. This is the beginning of the biggest stew I've ever made. I tried to cook for the whole week in one day. It actually went really well. This is just the vegetables. I cooked them down, then added tomato paste and seasonings and water and stuff. It's really nice.

10. President and Sister Morgan and assorted missionaries. I love all the people in this picture.