Party Week!
One big highlight of the week was church this Sunday. In our ward we have a lot of youth, which is awesome. President Prince, our branch president, assigned 5 youth to give talks and asked us to help them prepare. We weren't in our area a whole ton this week because we had a mission-wide Christmas party that we had to travel to, but we were still able to work with them to get their talks put together and it went so well. One thing I love about Elubo is the unique ways there are to build the kingdom. This was my first time helping recent converts prepare sacrament talks, but I absolutely loved it. It was so fun to help them put together their simple talks and so rewarding to hear the talks after they finished writing them. Elubo has a bright future if all these kids stay active.
It was small stressful to get all the talks written though because we left our area Wednesday afternoon and didn't come back until Saturday! The Christmas party was in Cape Coast, which is like 6 hours from Elubo, so they broke up the journey. We went as far as Takoradi on Wednesday and the rest of the way the following morning. Takoradi is where I served before coming to Elubo, and it was great to be back. I got to stay in my old apartment and see some of my best member friends, the Johnson family. It was so awesome to see them and be in Takoradi again. It's a great place.
And the Christmas party was fantastic. We were all spiffed up and looking fresh (see photos below if you don't believe) and the entire mission was there. There was food, games, and a talent show where each zone did a 7 minute talent. Ours was so awesome. Elder Guercio, our powerful zone leader, wrote a parody of "I saw mommy kissing Santa Claus" called "I saw Elders Teaching Santa Claus" that was brilliant. Our talent also included a brethren kick line (throwback to the Merrill Hall karaoke days) and a role play with president Morgan and his wife as Mr. and Mrs. Claus being invited to baptize on Christmas day. It was even more original and hilarious than you're currently imagining.
It was really great to see all my friends in the mission as well. So many powerful brethren were there and I got to see and talk to them. I love the relationships you create as a missionary. It's an unsung benefit of being a missionary. I had so many great talks with different Elders and it was so wonderful. I love the people I've been able to serve around.
We had an exchange on Friday, after the Christmas party which was awesome. It was my 4th exchange with Elder Carr, who is one of the greatest men upon the surface of the earth. This is our 3rd time being in the same zone and the second time he's been my district leader. He's a great man who loves the work and knows how to do it well. He's also really funny and has good things to say so we enjoyed.
We had some great lessons with an awesome member named Vida. She's in her 60s but still proselytes with the missionaries almost every day to help them translate. The Spirit just follows that lady. It was amazing. We also bought a really nice Hawaiian pizza from a resort at the end of the day so it was a very successful exchange.
The pizza made us very late though, so we had to sleep in Esiama again Friday night and were planning to go to Elubo early in the morning. However, we got a call at like 6:30 in the morning on Saturday saying we should attend a priesthood leadership meeting for clerks and branch presidents at Esiama at 8 and not go back to Elubo. So it worked out well. I learned that powerful, correct priesthood holders exist everywhere.
I've also thought a lot about Christ this week as Christmas has been going on. He's the one who shows us our relationship to the Father and the one who lets us know what we should do about it. It is simple and sweet and easy to follow. We need to live His gospel, participate in the ordinances thereof, and endure to the end and we'll be saved. That's the gist of the whole thing.
I'm so grateful that He came and died for us. I always want to believe in Him and do His will. I love you all so much!
Love,
Elder Johnson
1-2. Pretty sunsets in Elubo
3. Powerful ward activity
4. Me, the goat himself Elder Carr, and Vida.
5. Me (yeah my pants are green. How sic is that??), Elder Momoh, and his friend from home and her comp who are also serving in this mission.
6-7. Me and all the people who will go home the same day as me.
8. Esiama district. Love these men.
9. Me and Elder Momoh. This guy is incredible. I've never enjoyed food like I have this transfer
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