Desire

 Good afternoon everyone! This week was fantastic. And also really wet. The rainy season has officially begun and we've felt it. I don't mind the rain but the mud makes it hard to keep our shirts white. We've had fun though. 

This week we had some cool experiences. We were able to start teaching Francis, the husband of a lady named Dorcas we've been teaching which was a miracle. We've been wanting to meet with him for a while and it just worked out. Our first lesson had a rocky start. I ate some bad akyeke right before the lesson and as we were starting we had to excuse ourselves so I could sprint to the nearest public toilet. I can now now say that I've used a Ghanaian public restroom though. Only cost 5 cents and that included a free sheet of newspaper for reading and other purposes.

We also had a cool experience on Sunday with one of our members named Joseph. Sunday was pretty slow. Our coordination meeting didn't happen and the people we were planning to teach at church didn't come to church. However, Joseph, an older member of our ward, came with us to teach Helena, a recent convert and that turned it all around. 

Joseph is an older, single guy who is pretty quiet. He works as a mechanic during the week and comes to church every Sunday. He might be a little reclusive, but he loves doing the work of the Lord. Our lesson with Helena was great, and after we finished teaching her, Joseph took us to a friend of his who is interested in getting baptized. Francis, the friend, said he's been wanting to meet with us for awhile but was too scared to call us because he doesn't speak English. When he saw Joseph walking with us, the wall came down and he was able to act on his desires. It was really cool. And it was doubly cool to see Joseph in action. From the outside, he might not seem like the ideal translator/member to work with. However, he had the desire to work and so the Lord is able to use him. 

I've thought a lot about desire this week. On Sunday we also met a guy named Sylvester (not his actual name) who has met with missionaries for years. It was our first time meeting him though, so naturally at the beginning of the lesson we asked him what he remembered about the previous teachings. He explained the three degrees of glory in heaven and the requirements to enter each degree. Briefly, those who follow Jesus Christ and His gospel and make and keep the associated covenants go to the celestial kingdom to enjoy eternal life with God and continue to learn and progress. Those who live upright lives but don't make/keep covenants with him will go to the terrestrial kingdom. And unrepentant sinners will go to the telestial kingdom. 

Sylvester understands this perfectly. He explained it all to us, and said that he's perfectly content with the terrestrial kingdom. He has no desire to do what it takes to reach the celestial kingdom. We obviously tried to convince him that the celestial kingdom is worth it and will continue to do so, but he still seemed pretty ambivalent. He understands what he should to do but doesn't have the desire to do it. 

I think that in life, missionary work, and discipleship, desire is really important. If we have the desire to do what is right, the battle is half won. And if we don't have righteous desires we can pray for them. God is good like that. 

Love,

Elder Johnson