An interesting week, ha ha!

Just taking some pictures out in the bush, ha ha. Literally everywhere we go it's bush, ha ha.

This last week was pretty good! Our main focus this week, was to be extending a lot of baptismal dates to the people we have been teaching for a long time. Well all of the people we planned to give dates to didn't work out. Literally not one of them, ha ha. It was pretty sad, to be honest, but oh well what can you do!

After all of that, we were somehow able to find a lot of new investigators. Fifteen to be exact, ha ha. They are all really solid people who seem excited and willing to learn! The hard thing is that none of them would come to church, but what can you do? The only thing that we can do is invite people and to testify. That is why our church is so different. We won't force anyone to do anything. I mean there are times that I want to just pick them up and carry them to church, ha ha, But we each have our agency, which is something I have had to learn here. Patience is a very big key in missionary work.

On Friday, Elder Wilcox and I went to Dzodze to do an exchange with Elder Bailey and Elder Khanga. They wanted us to come and help them find new people to teach. SO Elder Bailey and I just went around handing out Books of Mormon and tons of pamphlets trying to find new people. At one point while walking around, Elder Bailey just stopped and said, "Elder Baird, lets pray and ask for guidance and inspiration." So we just prayed, right there, ha ha, next to the road. After that we just went back to doing the same thing, but something just felt different. I felt way more confident and we just started to knock on gates and walked up to the most random of places. We were even able to find a lot of really good new investigators who were super excited to have us come back again! But I think the coolest part, was when we walked up to a big gate and we both reached for the door to open it and then we both just stopped. We looked at each other and said "I have a bad feeling about this one." We then just walked away and didn't open the door. To be honest, I don't know why we both had that prompting and I probably never will know why we were both told not to go there. But I can say that it was one of the coolest experiences to have had both me and Elder Bailey have the spirit confirm to us to avoid that place. 

Exchange with Elder Bailey.

Searching for investigators in the bush, ha ha ha.

Sunday was also pretty interesting. We were expecting to have like 40 people at church. Well, we got 23 instead. The weird thing though was that it was all youth. I think out of all of them only 4 were adults. The funny part is that we have been focusing on adults because they are the ones who we need to build up the branch. But they won't come. It's the youth who are coming. They are the ones who are so excited to come and to learn more of the gospel. I mean don't get me wrong, I was so happy to have all of them there! It's just interesting to see that the youth are the most serious people out here, ha ha. 

 Ha ha, just for fun.

All in all though, the branch out here is growing. It's a slow progress but with time this branch will be one of the strongest in the Volta region. I love it out here. I truly do. Life is hard at times, mosquito's are awful, diarrhea is always here, and so many other difficult things are here. But.... when we are serving the Lord, none of it even matters anymore. Nothing. Because the Lord will make up for the rest. I love you all and hope you guys are doing well. This week I want to challenge you to all share the message of the gospel with someone who doesn't know much about it. Truly I know that if you try and make it an effort, you will be rewarded with so many blessings. So don't be shy, and spread the word of the true and restored church on the earth today. 

Sincerely,

Elder Baird

Mom's notes:

1. He said,"We are supposed to teach from 6-9 on P-day but since we have to travel to Dzodze every week we haven't been. But Elder Wilcox and I decided that we could do better and try to meet more people. We are teaching a lady named Irene who is really cool and then we are going to see the Sedro family. They are a family who came to church in Dzodze four times about a year ago. So we met them again and they are really cool. It's a man and his wife and they have seven children. We will be teaching them about how the church was restored through Joseph Smith and the BOM today."

2. I asked if I should recommend a raincoat to a Mom whose son is heading to Ghana tomorrow for his mission. He said, "I have worn it once, but I would tell her that he needs to bring it. When it rains we just hide out. There have only been a few times that it has rained for an extended period of time. Usually like an hour and it's over. But say it's P-day and they need to go shopping and it's just pouring rain and won't stop. Then you will want one. That's why I used mine."

3. I asked him how his spirits are and if he is happy. He said, "My spirits are so high and I am extremely happy. :) (YAY!!!)

4. He said that the crab shells are "actually really good."

5. This coming week he has Zone Conference in Ho. It is three hours away and they will stay Wednesday night and then come back Thursday afternoon. I told him to get a picture taken by Sister Keyes if he can. He said, "I will don't worry. :)  (...and that's my boy!!!)