Mistake-making Miracle Workers

 Good afternoon everyone! I hope you're all doing well. 

This week was interesting. We had a few days where Elder Greer was sick so we either went out late or came back early, but we saw a lot of miracles in the time we did spend in our area. Dorcas, a lady referred to us by a member this week, is doing well and we also started teaching her sister Amelia. We met an awesome lady named Patience through a member as well and things with her are also great. We also had another stellar coordination meeting on Sunday which I really enjoyed, and we had a much needed talk with our bishop after church.

Our ward mission leader Sebastian rocks, and Anderson, the Elder's Quorum president, is super diligent and helps us teach multiple lessons every Sunday after church. Sister Affran, the Relief Society president, is an organization and assignment making machine. We've had a great time working with them. 

One miracle we saw this week was with Richard, a kid who has been coming to church for months. We've had a hard time teaching him because he stays far from town and doesn't really speak English. However, this Saturday we felt prompted to go see him and it went well. We were able to have a one part English, one part Fante, two parts prayer for the Holy Spirit to help them understand what we're saying type of lesson with Richard and his mom and it honestly went pretty well, all things considered. 

The miracle came after the lesson. We decided to track down a member who lived nearby using the map feature of our digital area book. In the course of our travels, we left the main road and followed some trails into some trees and up a hill. It got to the point where we thought Felicia (the member) was either a rabbit living in the woods or the pin was wrong. We finally found a house and asked for her there. They didn't know her but they helped us find the place after we called her and they translated for us. Only in Ghana would a random person who doesn't know you take 20 minutes out of their life to help you find your way. 

We met Felicia and her daughter Mary and had a great talk with them. They're really good people and are related to Mascar, a member from my first area who I really like. Best of all, Mary speaks English and said she could translate for us when we teach Richard! God is there. We were so close to giving up on finding their place but it all worked out in the end. 

This week was also zone conference which rocked. A lot of my dear friends and comps go home at the end of the transfer and they all bore their final testimonies. I'm sad to see them go but hopefully we'll be able to stay friends. I also bore my testimony and it was not at all what I thought it would be but it worked out. It's kinda like a weekend or test: when it's over it's over, no matter how you did on it. Zone conference rocked though. I'm excited to have better comp study this transfer. I'm also going to have to adjust to studying at night which will be interesting. 

In my studies this week I read a big chunk of Saints, which is the history of the church. One thing that touched me is that all the leaders of the early church made big mistakes quite often. Even Joseph Smith himself made bad investments and choices and had weaknesses all throughout his story. What set him apart was his willingness to humble himself and keep trying. If we're humble and persistent and keep coming to God, there is no end to the good we can do. 

Love, 

Elder Johnson

1. Dishes we washed for someone we met. It took awhile but they gave us Pepsi after. That was my first time having Pepsi and I am indifferent. 

2. Pretty skies

3. Our homie Jeremiah

4. Won the cleanest apartment in the zone banana bread AGAIN.  banana flavored victory. 

5. Elmina district looking both fresh and united

6. Pretty skies again

7. We finally found the high road and have been taking it ever since. Turns out it's an alley way in Elmina that is so narrow our bikes won't fit unless we carry them. 

8. Fried yam and chicken given to us by Dorcas so we'd forgive her for being too busy to meet with us on Wednesday. Forgiveness is pending. 

9. We paid a member of the ward to do African wear for us. After mission YSA activities just got a whole lot swagger. 

10. Banana flavored victory part 2.