Another week bites the dust!

Burger King!!! Man I miss my burgers, ha ha ha!

Well, another week is gone and another one is coming again, ha ha! 

This last week was pretty dang cool! We had some really funny things happen, some spiritual things, and just some fun things that  happened. So let's start with some of the funny and fun things! Today we went to Accra mall for a district activity for the missionaries in our district. The activity was literally just to go to the new Burger King that was opened in Accra mall. :) Ha ha! It was pretty funny because every American was so excited and just couldn't wait to eat there! The Africans were like, "This isn't food, it's a snack" ha ha ha! It was really funny. Then on Friday, I found some Spam in an American store. So Dad, I am cooking up some Spam in remembrance of you. :) 

Now for the spiritual things. First, there is a man named Desmond who is from Nigeria. Elder Blanchard has been teaching this guy for a little while. I met him 2 weeks ago and we taught him for the second time on Friday. When we got there, it seemed like something was bothering him. Before we started, I felt impressed to ask him if he had something that he felt he needed to ask us. He said that he has something very serious he had to ask us. He then went on to say, "Elders, I have been praying to find the answer if what you are teaching is true, but how do I know I have received the answer?"

Close up of his apartment area.

I gave him some examples from the scriptures that helped him to understand that there are many different ways that we can find the answers to our questions. Then I went on to tell him my personal story of how I was able to find the truth. As I was doing so he started to cry. I didn't know why, I didn't think I said anything super powerful or anything, I was simply just sharing my testimony and letting him know how I found the answer for myself. But, apparently that moved him to tears. He looked at me and just said thank you. Then we continued with a lesson. After that lesson, I learned something. Sometimes we don't need to share stories from the scriptures and we don't need to prove that what we are teaching is true. We just need to share our testimonies and maybe our personal stories and that may help them to see the truth and it can change people. 

Zooming out a bit.

Alright, super cool spiritual experience number 2! We were able to attend the temple on Saturday because there were some people in our ward that were attending for the first time. We get to go and support them for their first visit. While we there, one of the temple coordinators told us to wait on one of the benches until they needed us to help in the baptismal font. While we were waiting there, one of the African ordinance workers came and sat by us and he started talking to us. He is pretty old, and I will be honest, he is kind of weird, ha ha. He would just start laughing to himself at some of the most random things, so my companion kind of zoned out and wasn't really listening to him anymore. 

While he was talking to me, he started talking about missions and then looked at me straight in the eye and said one of the coolest things I have ever heard someone tell me. He looked at me, then pointed at me and said, "Elder, you deserve to be a missionary..." and then he just smiled at me and continued on what he was saying. I honestly don't remember anything else that he said. Then he left. 

Its about a 30 minute drive to the temple.

My companion looked at me and said "What was that all about? I didn't understand a word he said."  I looked back at him and said, "Elder Blanchard, I know this might sound weird, but I think that he was inspired to come and talk to me specifically." What that man had said sunk deep into my heart.I haven't had something hit me that hard in a very long time. I deserve to be on a mission. I never thought of it that way before. I have always thought that it's a privilege to serve a mission and that I am blessed to be here, but I have never heard that I deserved to be here. To hear that made me realize that as missionaries, we deserve to go on missions for being willing members of the church. It's something we have been given and it's something we need to accept and not turn our back on. 

So mission is quite the wonderful experience. I have learned so many things out here and it is just such a blessing to be able to experience all of these wonderful experiences. While listening to a motivational speaker/ comedian, he said something really cool,  "In a life full of temptations and difficulties we need to get to one place and that is fresh water." What he means by fresh water is going to the temple, cleaning yourself out spiritually and starting again. But the temple isn't the only way. Read your scriptures, go to church or listen to motivational talk. All of these things are simple and small things. But if these things are the places you go to when you feel like the world is falling on you, you will feel fresh and new. 

It's a two and half hour drive from Akatsi (his previous area).

I love you all and hope you all have a wonderful week! Feel free to email me! I mean all of you who say you read my blog. :) Ha ha, I want to hear how you are all doing! Cousins, Aunts, Uncles, my Moms friends, even that crazy guy who randomly found my blog one day, (that's a joke by the way, ha ha.) Seriously I would love to hear from you guys! Let me know how your life is and what you are doing!

Sincerely,

Elder Baird

Mom's notes:

1. Elder Hafoka and Elder Blanchard have been there for four and a half transfers. Elder Amosa has only been there for one transfer.

2. The mosquito problem is less miserable after they started using the coils. They have to buy one every night.

3. Burger King tastes the same in Ghana and he also learned that there is a KFC in his area. :)

4. This week he has interviews with his Mission President.