Amazing people in Tema

Dear Family,

This week I am really struggling to find something to write about.....  It seems like some weeks, some more than others, just fly by so fast that I don't even realize that a week has gone by.  We were so busy with mission tours this week, all sorts of traveling, exchanges, interviews, it was crazy!  Sorry for the lame email, in my mind...I still am thinking its about the 1st of January....

This week I got some mail from Sister Borden and the Hess family!  Thank you both so much!  I really appreciate it...more than I can explain:).  I also got the things that you sent with Elder Manns parents!  Thank you so much!  I still don't know how I get so excited about pens, shirts and shoe insoles but it was like Christmas all over again ha ha.  I even had some caramels to complete the feeling!:).  Thank you to Grandma and Grandpa Bradshaw for that!  It was like I was walking on a cloud this week, those insoles were definitely needed ha ha. 

I guess this week I'll start off with the questions, maybe that will spark some things to share...

 

You mentioned some of your awesome investigators going cold...how is Albert, Godwin and       Chris????  Are they still interested and progressing?

-yeah....these good people are still progressing but its just been slower than I imagined.  Especially Godwin, he is amazing...but is so hard to meet with!  He is always traveling for work, going here and there, doing this or that, that it makes it hard for him to find time to sit down with us.  The other thing is that he wants to postpone his baptism for a awhile....I was originally going to get all over him for that...'don't procrastinate the day of your repentance'... and all that good stuff...but his reasoning was incredible.  At church last week we had a lesson on being worthy and ready...always to be able to render priesthood service.  After the lesson, he said that he didn't feel like with where he was right now, that he could be committed enough to that priesthood to feel like he was as worthy as he could be.  He continued to explain to us that he has promised to do x,y, and z at his former church, and given his word that he would do it.  He felt that he shouldn't walk out on his word.  I was shocked!  Finding a Ghanian that is true to their word is like finding...okay...I wanted to put some funny thing that was hard to find, but I couldn't think of anything...lets just say its tough!  He didn't want to walk out when he had given his word, so he has still been assisting the catholic church with the things that he said he would.  And in doing so...he thought that since he wasn't giving his whole self to preparing for the Melchezidek priesthood, that he wouldn't feel as worthy as he needed to be in order to perform the things he would be asked to do.  I was even more shocked to hear that answer! Godwin is truly amazing!

 

Albert is still going awesome!  He has thoroughly studied, all of First Nephi and about half of Second Nephi...using the BYU religious studies manual.  But he is still wanting to be "more converted", to put it in his own words.  He heard our bishop talking about how he was concerned with all the people that have come and then left, and he didn't want to follow.  So, we have been trying to get him as converted as we can...so that no matter what Fat Albert ain't going no where!  He is always the first person to church on Sunday though...second row:). 

 

Did you have your mission conference with the area authority?  When is Elder Bednar coming?  What will you get to do when he comes.  

 

Our mission conference this week was amazing!  Super good.  Elder Bednar, I believe will be here next week.  We are taking Godwin, hopefully, to a member/investigator meeting with Elder Bednar which should be cool!

 

When are transfers?  Any news about what you'll be doing?

-yeah they are Wednesday....  I hope I get a new companion, sorry I know that sounds bad, but...we'll find out tomorrow I guess.

 

18 months this week? 

-so so weird!

 

Anything funny to share?

I was on an exchange with Elder Halavaka again, and we walked past this group of little kids, who looked terrified out of their minds.  The kid that looked to be the ring leader it looked like, was saying to the other kids "don't...be...afraid", in the most hushed tones.  He was scared!  Elder Halavaka turns around and asks, "afraid of what?" the big-kid leader fell over in fear and about started to cry as the rest of kids scattered!  I guess two white guys walking down the street...is pretty scary;).

Well, I love you all so much!  Things here are good.  Not always great, but there's times I can't contain my joy and that makes all the bad times seem like nothing! 

 

I love you all more than I can tell you.

Be safe, have fun,

Taylor

Come home but never go back...

Dear Family,

This week was interesting, its still amazing to me to see how quickly you can go from a total high to an absolute low.  Missionary work really is a roller coaster.  This week we had everything from being chased out of compounds by an investigators' angry family members, to being condemned and prayed 'at'...is I guess the best description I can give, by two random pastors.  Investigators that were once progressing like I can't explain...have now gone cold, it was just a week for trials and testing, but I still feel so happy.  It was the hardest week I have had in a while but yet I am still just so happy.  I feel the spirit in my life each day and I just find it hard to be sad, its confusing to me sometimes, but at the same time it makes so much sense...  As I have been reading this week I came across a scripture that I believe describes it perfectly,

 

'And the Lord provided for them that they should hunger not, neither should they thirst; yea, and he also gave them strength, that they should suffer no manner of afflictions, save it were swallowed up in the joy of Christ. Now this was according to the prayer of Alma; and this because he prayed in faith.'

Alma 31:38 

 

The words in this verse that I love so much.  The word that really stuck out to me was, "save".   In this context I believe it could be used like "nevertheless".  I don't believe that it was possible that Alma and his brethren never suffered any pains or sickness, temptations and doubts, or problems along their way.  That just seems impossible when it comes to missionary work, but all those trials that they experienced were swallowed up in the joy of Christ.  They were so sure of what they were doing, they were so obedient in their cause, and so faithful to that which they had been entrusted...that no matter how hard it got, no matter how much they suffered, and how much they wanted to quit they didn't.  I think it was more than just not quitting, but they were happy while they continued.  Of course I am not Alma and the great missionaries of The Book of Mormon...but I have a desire to be.  And I know that as I try my best to be like them, I will be privileged to experience some of the same blessings that they did. 

This week I have thought a lot about New Years resolutions.  It's a practice that I like, but this year I was a bit confused.  I will be spending the next six months in probably the most selfless of conditions, and the following six in probably the most selfish in my life, as I make some big decisions.  I am going to be experiencing change in a magnitude that I haven't ever before experienced.  Something I observed when I was transferred from Koforidua to Tema, is that in Koforidua I can say I was doing pretty well.  I was being more obedient than I ever had on my mission.  I was working harder, feeling the spirit more, and things were going pretty well.  I was comfortable with where I was, I knew my surroundings, I knew my companion, I knew the work, and I was enjoying myself.....then came transfers.  I was taken again from what was my "home", that I had grown to love and dropped into a place I could hardly comprehend, and things were so different.  When the change came, I also saw myself begin to change.  I saw good habits that I had established begin to be harder to follow, I saw my desire to wake up on time diminish, the drive to work late into the night was not really there and I never laid awake at night crying that the time was going too fast.  I don't know why it happened but I guess I could say that I digressed, not drastically, but it was something that really bothered me.  

 

I think the thing that bothered me the most about it is that I knew the biggest changes were right around the corner when I got home, and I didn't know how I would handle them.  I knew I would digress drastically, like I said, but I was nervous to see how my good habits of, reading everyday, staying away from anything that pokes at my spirit, greeting everyone and basically just being excited about the gospel, I didn't want those things to go.  

 

I guess, simply put, my new years resolution this year is to "come home but to never go back".  I want to come home, I am excited as I could ever be to come home...but I don't want to go back.  Elder Bradshaw is different than Taylor was.  Not that Taylor was bad and not that Elder Bradshaw is perfect...but Elder Bradshaw is a whole lot closer to where he needs to be than Taylor was.

 

It's going to be tough coming home, out here I am away from so much filth that the world has to offer.  I feel like that painting that we have at the house, "The Iron Rod", when I came here and finally committed to this thing...I feel like I dropped my load and held fast to that rod.  I have to say though, that being a missionary you have a lot of help in doing that.  I guess my fear was to see how I would react when those things of the world were put back on my shoulders, and I again 'picked up my load'. 

 

I don't want to let go of that rod for even a half a second.  I have been and will be thinking a whole lot more about how I can do that, but one thing that I thought of was to make The Book of Mormon an even more central role of my life.  I thought a lot about the times that are tempting for me, the times when I am weakest, and the times when I am most tempted to make those small small mistakes that we all do.  I figure the more opposed to wrong that I can be here, the better off I will be when I get home.  As I thought, I realized that after I study in the morning that no temptations come, well they come but I literally almost laugh at them because I desire so much to do what is right.  I realized the times that are hardest for me are those times when I have gone the longest without study, once a day for me is not enough for me to keep myself totally fortified against temptation.  

 

I've realize more and more how massive of a role The Book of Mormon is playing and will play in literally every aspect of my life, my repentance, my conversion, enduring, absolutely everything!  That being said... is why I have set it as a goal to make it even more of a central role in my life than it already is.  Of course, I will have my one hour of personal study in the morning that will give me the most strength, and what I need to make it through the day.  But, I am now going to read a few chapters just before I go to bed and just when I wake up in the morning.  I have been doing this the last two days now and I already feel such a difference, it is amazing!  I sleep well, I feel awake in the morning.  I have a disposition to do good more than I ever have.  I have the spirit quicker in the morning, and later into the night.  My mind is more clear and I just feel good. 

 

I sleep with a copy of The Book of Mormon, and my head lamp under my pillow.  I know with all my heart that the more The Book of Mormon is a part of my life, the higher the mounds of dirt, and stronger the wood works of timber around my spirit will be.  

 

I love The Book of Mormon!  I know I talk about it all the time but literally it is the whole center of what I have done every day for the last 18 months!  It is the thing that keeps me going, the electricity that re-charges my batteries, and something that I have grown to love more than I ever thought I would!

Sorry.  I'm about out of time, but I love you all so much!  Lexi I am so sorry to hear about your ankle, that really stinks!  Elli I am glad to hear that you are getting funny now:), you have graduated from that 'Bob looking into the dead sticks joke, that you made up...;).  I love you all so so much!

Mom I am safe, I was thinking about how I thought this place was going to be do dangerous... and now I realize how safe it is.  Yes there is danger here...but I know that nothing will happen to me:).

Love you all,

Elder Bradshaw the older

This area is on fire!!

Dear Family,

Ha ha, Mom I had to laugh at your opening comment in your letter...  

 

"if you were a 'girl Taylor', you would be coming home this month!!!"  

 

Yes, it is true, if I were a 'girl Taylor' I would have like two weeks to go, but honestly...as excited as I am to come home I'm not really ready yet:).  The time is flying by though, its crazy.  I was writing a thank you card and wrote, "I'll be home in July or August", and I just stopped and about started crying....  Looking back serving a mission seemed like the most daugnting task anyone could have ever asked me to perform...but now looking at how close it is to just being done forever...I don't know...It seems like I just started. 

Things here just keep getting better and better and better!  The area is on fire!  I still can't even figure out what is happening.  We were one night talking about how unsuccessful we had been lately and then we met Godwin. I have told you about Godwin before, but since we met him...things are just on an amazing upward track. Each week we seem to be coming into contact with more and more prepared people that are so elect...and so many of them are progressing at a rate that I have never before experienced on my mission. I have had the opportunity to work with some amazing people on my mission...those who I love dearly...but I can safely say that I have never worked with more prepared group of investigators. We had a number of days this week where I could say to myself that I have never been happier. It's been such a blessing to be able to come into contact with these people.  Not only will they be incredible additions to the ward when they are baptized...but the ward is recognizing that fact...and are really starting to be willing to work with us in welcoming them into the ward the way they should. We only had two members present lessons this week, but they were amazing! It was an incredible experience, and one that really open my eyes even further to the importance of members and missionaries working together in this work that we have been called to do.

This week we met a guy named Chris.  Chris is the most energetic guy that I have ever met in Ghana!  We met him on Tuesday, we went back on Wednesday, he was sitting there with two chairs out waiting for us and his Book of Mormon in his hands.  He had read the first 24 pages, like actually read them!  Had all sorts of questions, it was amazing!  To tell you the total truth...NO one in Ghana actually reads...so when he read that much and had questions, it was amazing!  Its crazy to see how big of a difference a little bit of reading can make in teaching.  If you find someone that actually reads the Book of Mormon, I am thoroughly convinced that it is about a 95% chance they will be baptized!  I just know how I feel when I read it...and how could they not feel the same?  There was a quote I once read that said something along the lines of "reading from The Book of Mormon literally unleashes the spirit off its pages."  I have expereinced that so many times over the last 18 months that I just know they will too!:).

Now, for the questions.....

How have you seen the hand of the Lord in your life this week?

-he has 100% guided us in our finding lately.  That is the only way I could ever explain how we could go 4 months with no one, to the next day having the greatest teaching pool I have ever had.

What miracles did you witness this week?

- We taught a man that we had contacted a lesson, and there was this really old lady there that only spoke Twi.  My Twi is no where near the level to able to teach a lesson so we greeted her, but that was about it.  We had an awesome lesson with this guy named Prince (who turned out not to live in our area....) but it was filled with the spirit.  

 

Later that night we went and taught Chris, after which he walked us down to the road.  Somone called us over...and it was that old lady again.  Obviously, I still didn't speak Twi, but Chris translated for us. She said that she wanted us to come and visit her...that while she sat there and listened while we taught, she couldn't understand what we were saying...but that she felt something.  She said that she wanted to know what we were talking about because of how she felt.  It was just cool to see how the spirit can touch someone, even when they can't understand what is said.  

 

I'm learning that if you are worthy and doing what you are supposed to, the Spirit is going to be with you...and there is no way that others won't be able to feel it.

What brought you joy?

-to tell you the truth I layed in bed ever single night this week and just cried....  Never a tear of sorrow.  Just so much joy inside of me that I couldn't keep it in.  I am again expereinceing that great joy that accompanies "The Rest of the Lord."  It has been a while since I had felt it.  Since Koforidua actually.  Even there it was only for a single night, but I have felt it for a solid week now, and even now it still courses through my body.  There is nothing bothering me.  There is nothing weighing me down.  There is nothing I am really all that worried about, and I know that I am doing all that is in my power to magnify this great calling I have been given.  

 

I remember saying a prayer asking God to help our investigators get to church the next day and I remember being about half way through a sentence before I realized what I was saying.  I said, " God just please bring them to church.  I have done all that is in my power" Here, I stopped.  Usually I feel as if I am doing okay, but still feel like there was more I could have done.  This week I could confidently tell the Lord that I had done absolutely all that was in my power to get them to where they needed to be.  I got them a copy of the book of Mormon, I was exactly obedient, and I could turn them over to the Lord and let Him decide whether or not he would like them to be to church.  It's a difficult feeling to explain but one that is amazing to feel.  I am not saying I am great, but I feel much or even exactly like Alma....   

 

Yea, I know that I am ^anothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will ^bnot boast of myself, but I will ^cboast of my God, for in his ^dstrength I can do all ^ethings; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.

 

I know exactly how he felt when he wrote that, its not us that are doing a good job but we are doing all that we possible can, we turn it over to him and He does the rest.

A spiritual experience you would like to share?

-This week I don't really think I had a specific spiritual experience...it was more of just a week full of His presence and influence. I can say that with every passing week, as I continue to improve, I can see and feel His hand more and more in my life and am finally beginning to recognize how He talks to me and how it feels. I can feel a difference when I slip.  When He leaves and then can feel his presence again in my life as I get down on my knees and ask for forgiveness. It's still not black and white to me, obviously, but I know that with time that contrast will only become more and more prevalent in my life.

What have you been grateful for this week?

-I've been grateful the spirit...it's the best.

 

 

Well, I've got to go.  I'm out of time.  

 

Love to you all. 

Love,

Taylor

Tema finally taking off!!!

Dear Family,

Yes I broke my promise....

Remember how I always said, "I'll never let myself be sick on Christmas...NEVER!"  Yeah, I was way sick this year ha ha.  I guess better this year than next year right?:)  It was killer though!

I woke up not feeling all that well, but couldn't really tell if that was just from excitement to talk to you, or what.  I made an awesome breakfast, took a few bites and then it just hit me!  I went and laid down still trying to convince myself that it was just because I ate too fast or something...but it persisted...I died that day!  Ha ha, I felt terrible!  I thought that I started to feel a bit better, then I woke up and threw up more than I think I ever have in my entire mission!  Mom like you said, throwing up is a bit more common in Ghana than at home, but I promise you never get used to it! ha ha.  I always have the same thoughts..."I'm going to die".  Ha ha...and I think every missionary truly does believe that they are going to die when they are sick here.

I started to feel a bit better before the phone call and I was so happy that I would be able to talk.  And then about an hour before the call...the worst of the worst came and I knew I could not talk.   I remember convulsing, and just being covered in sweat and saying a prayer just begging to be able to have the strength to talk to you.  6:00 came and I was still feeling like I was going to die so I asked one of the other Elders to put my phone chip in the phone so that I could send you a text that we would have to do it another time...and right when he handed me the phone I started to feel 1000 times better.  I stopped needing to run to the bathroom...I did the call...and it was great!

I think this was God's little way of helping me to be obedient to the 40 minute rule.  I knew that was going to be a really hard one for me to follow, since we got to talk so long last year...so I had been praying all week for help in being obedient.  And...literally...as soon as Dad said, "okay time check, its been about 40 minutes", my stomach pains came back.  Not with as much vengeance.  We ended the phone call on time...I ran to the bathroom...and then I felt fine!  Yeah still sick but it was something that kept me distracted so that I ended on a happy note and didn't really allow myself to get to the sad/homesick part...so I was pretty good after the phone call this year:). 

I loved talking to you all though!  It was such a highlight, and a blessing that no one but a missionary really fully comprehends.

Okay so this week my email will be a little short, we have a mission tour this coming week so I had a few things that I needed to do for that on the computer today so that took most of my time but I love you all so much, next week I should have more time!

Tema is finally taking off though!  We are finally getting out of this rut and up on to the tops of the mountains again!  We have been so blessed with the people that we have been able to work with lately.  It is such a blessing and a privilege to be where I am right now.  We have my two favorites right now, Fat Albert and Godwin, I talked about Fat Albert but maybe Mom you can put in a little more of the practical info on Godwin (Taylor told us that Godwin is a great investigator that has graduated from college (unusual) and his two sons are at university right now...close to graduating...extremely unusual)

Anyway story of the week.....

We met Godwin about two weeks ago as we were walking home one evening, we set our first appointment, and things have just been incredible since then. We went to visit him this week and when we arrived he had his laptop opened up to LDS.org in front of him and was reading from his copy of The Book of Mormon. We started talking with him, and I can safely say it was the best lesson that I have ever had on my mission! I have had lessons where I was overflowing with the spirit but I have never taught someone who is so prepared and ready to receive this Gospel. He truly STUDIED The Book of Mormon, I find it difficult to explain just how prepared this man is...but it was a lesson and an experience I will never forget. We had a quick lesson and then gave him a quick little tour around lds.org, as we showed him a few places we thought he would enjoy.  We felt prompted to show him Elder Holland's General Conference address about the Book of Mormon from a few years ago. We found the talk and began to play it, he listened intently and the spirit soon filled the room. All three of us were edified and two of us were in tears by the end of that amazing testimony.... (Elder Nondala is a little tougher than Godwin and I were) ha ha.

We had the opportunity to follow up on Elder Hollands testimony and add our own simple testimonies of The Book of Mormon as well.  As I bore my simple, but sure, testimony of The Book that I have grown to love over these last few months, I was filled with an even greater measure of the Spirit.  Obviously, it wasn't as eloquent and magnificent as Elder Holland's but it really vitalized the quote from I forget who that, "a testimony is to be found in the bearing of it". My testimony isn't grand but I can say with more surety than I ever have before...that God lives. He hears my prayers each and every time, and He answers them in the best way possible. I know that Christ came to die for me specifically, and although repentance isn't easy, it is worth it (kinda like a mission), the Book of Mormon is true and NO one, and nothing can turn me from that knowledge that I have. It has been amazing to see since I started my mission how much my faith and testimony has grown, not just my testimony of the Atonement, or the Book of Mormon...or any one principle...but my testimony of nearly every aspect of this great Gospel.

President Judd once said to me, "Elder I will die for this church! And I think you would be right along side me, wouldn't you?" I think I nervously shook my head...but I can now say with confidence that I would. I have always known this Church to be true but now I know it with a surety.  I'm ready to let it lead and be the top priority in my life. Its an amazing feeling! I love it!

I love where I am.  Yes I am jealous of ski trips but I've got my whole life to do that!  I love where I am, I am now healthy and I am happy.  It's hard but I am happy.

Love you all, be safe, no getting lost in the Back country....oh wait that was me ;)

Taylor

Afehyia Pa or...Merry Christmas!

Afehyia Pa, or Merry Christmas,

I cannot believe that is time for Christmas again!  The time is flying by...like I can't even explain!  Its exciting but at the same time make me sad.  The things that I am learning, the experiences I am having, the spirit I am feeling, the people that I am interacting with, they are just unparalleled by anything else!  I know I will still have all of this back home but I just can't imagine it being at the same level.  The way we live as missionaries is amazing!  At first for me it was hard, but now as I look at the blessing and the spirit that come from living exactly how I have been asked, seems like the smallest sacrifice.  It's a tiny price to pay for the reward we receive. 

Anyway, this week I received my Christmas packages!  Thank you all so so much!  I got one from Grandma and Grandpa Bradshaw, one from the Dew family, and I got the ones that Mom and Dad sent.  I got a dear elder letter from Grandma and Grandpa Bradshaw, and a mystery letter.....?  My guess is Grandma Palmer, but it was sent from Maine and signed "Mom", it was a bit wet, well really wet so that threw me off as well... so no idea on that one....?  But thank you EVERYONE so so much for all the letters and cards, I have read a few but am saving them mostly for Christmas:).  That was the best part!!  And Mom and Dad, thank you so much for sending some things for my companion....  That truly was the best part of my package this year.  Not going to lie as I sat there holding it I had some thoughts of just keeping it for myself, I don't know what is in there but I know it will be good, I looked at my pile of packages in the corner and looked at him there, happy, but with nothing.  I gave it to him...and at first he thought I was just letting him look at it but when I told him it was his, he didn't really know how to react...  He took it, thanked me and as he walked out of the room, I head him say, "now it's Christmas!", there was a little tear shed from both of us that night.  Giving truly is the greatest gift of Christmas.

The Ansah family.  Bro. Ansah's baptism day, being baptized by his oldest son.  Sis. Ansah will be baptized on Christmas.

 

Speaking of the greatest gift I could receive this year.... I had this picture in my inbox this week:) :).  I don't think you will recognize this family...they are the family that I just loved back in Koforidua...but that is Blessed Ansah being baptized by his oldest son this past week:).  He was then given the Priesthood and will be baptizing his wife on Christmas!  This work is amazing!  

 

Explain some of the photos you sent...

 

You with your two trainees...how fun is that???  Was that at your Christmas conference?  How did that go.  How is Elder Mc Donald?

 

Elder McDonald...Taylor (Elder Bradshaw)...and Elder Nondala

-yeah that was at Christmas Conference.  Spending Christmas with the mission family:).  Elder McDonald is doing great!  His shoes are destroyed but he is doing well ha ha.  The greatest thing to take on a mission is Eccos, just in case anyone asks!

You with a thumbs-up with a guy with his shirt off...you both look super happy!

 

Taylor with his new favorite investigator...'Fat Albert'

 

-That's Fat Albert, my favorite investigator.  He likes reading all sorts of books and they keep getting in the way of him reading the Book of Mormon.  So we challenged him to read nothing but the Book of Mormon for a week and he said, "no...its just too boring!"  

 

I realized that he likes looking deep and finding things that others don't.  I had this prompting to give him my BYU Book of Mormon study guide, so we stood up in the middle of the lesson and went and got it for him.  I got a call from him the next day during the Christmas Conference.  He said that he needs a Doctrine and Covenants, and and LDS edition of the Bible AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!  He said, "I have a Bible but without all these JST's how am going to know what really is true and what was added by man?"  

 

He is awesome!  Anyway, one day after we gave it to him, despite a funeral, he had read the first 25 pages of the Book of Mormon.  Then Sunday morning I called to remind him about church, and his reply is, "you're too late, I'm already here."  Yep he was to church a whole hour early ha ha.  I love that guy!  He calls me every night just to say..."Elder Bradshaw, this book is amazing!"

You and comp? with two other African's...one with glasses and yellow tie

Taylor with Patriarch Ahadjie, his grandson Prince and Elder Nondala

-Patriarch Ahadjie, and his grandson Prince that we baptized.  He is a black version of Grandpa Bradshaw.  The baptism was in November...I only interviewed him but it was so spiritual!

 

At the baptism of Prince...Can you find Taylor?

QUESTIONS FOR YOU:

Are you doing any Christmas-y things? 
-I think I am going to make us all a sweet breakfast:)

Okay about out of time, Love you all so much!  Talk to you soon:). 

 

Merry Christmas,

Elder Bradshaw

Refined through obedience

Dear Family,

Holy cow I am so happy to email today!:).  Thank you all so much for the emails, they lighten my day and make me so mappy!  

Yes, my time in the cafe has been cut down....  I think that, as our mission gets more obedient we are given the opportunity to be more and more refined in the things that aren't as obvious. When I first got to Ghana, President was asking the missionaries, to stop having girlfriends within the mission boundries, or to stop calling friends back home on your personal computer or cell phone that they had bought.  Now we are being asked to make sure our top button is done up or spend less time in the internet cafe and things like that.  It's been a cool thing to witness though.  I have seen the change and I have seen the blessings and miracles that occur when a mission, as a whole, is obedient.  Kinda stinks though, that we had to have shortened cafe time....so that is why my letters have been a bit shorter...sorry.

The tree festival thing sounded pretty cool!  I am sure you guys made a sweet one!  You should try and send me a picute of it.  And I was so so glad to hear that the Palmer side is doing some great stuff this year.  That is such a great thing!  I was so happy to hear that!  

It is just the most foreign idea to me right now, that somewhere in the world...it's actually cold! I really am going to die when I get home.  It rained the other night and I was so cold.  My companion was making fun of me because it really wasn't cold at all...but aparently I have just  been well adjusted to the weather ha ha.  I'll be super excited to experience the cold again though, that is going to be quite the sensation:).

I love the Friday devotionals. Yes, I love watching the movie but even more so...its just such an awesome thing to get people into the church.  This week we didnt have it due to a funeral held on the same day for a member of the stake...but this Friday we will be watching part two of 'The Work and the Glory.'

Yeah sorry...my camera is working fine.  Just with the short cafe time, I am having a hard time wanting to take the time to put them on.  We have wifi at the apartment though, so I'll see if Tony will give us the password and I'll send some home:).

Questions:

Most spiritual part of your week:
-This week, like I said there was a HUGE funeral!  It was for a church member that lived in Tema that had a massive influence in the revolution of Ghana.  Not like Mandela, but pretty big.  He was the founder of the reigning political party in Ghana so there was like 400 or 500 people there.  We were asked to be there to be available for contacting and help to greet people and all of that.  I happened to be standing by the door where the body was and where people would come out after they viewed the body.  Let's just say there was a lot of weaping and wailing....  There was these tribal drums and what not being played...and the spirit was not there and I just felt down.  I was thinking, what the heck is up with this death stuff, and things like that, and I just wasnt in a good mood.  But then, all of the sudden the drums stopped and the Stake Choir began singing, 'Master the Tempest is Raging'.  The whole mood changed. Just as they began to sing, the worst weaper and wailer of all...came out of the room.  As she left, my entire body was filled with a comforting tingle and warmth that filled me with joy.  I changed from being in a sad mood to having to try and calm myself down a bit because I was a bit too enerjetic and happy as I greeted all the crying people.   I know that death is not the end.  We do live after this life...and that life is going to be so much better than this one!  Like think about it, no more pain, no more sin, no more Satan, no more ski lift lines...it's going to be amazing!  I'm not excited to die, but I'm not afraid to either.  

Mail:

- I got a package from the Hunter's, I think they called it a 'Halloween' package...which by the way thank you SO much!!! It was amazing!  And I got one from Grandma and Grandpa Palmer.  Don't worry. I didn't open it. I did have to put it in my suit case though because it was so tempting!

Love you all, about out of time...but you are the best family in the world,

Love you SO much,

Taylor

White Christmas

Hello Family

Sorry this is going to be so short.  We had a lot to do and I had to do some other things online today, surveys and what not...so I only have a few minutes...but I promise to get a good email out next week!  

Anyway, I love you all so so much!  It is always so so good to hear that everyone is doing well.  I, myself am doing great, I'm tired but I guess that means I am doing something right.  President once said, "if you have trouble falling asleep that means your not working hard enough!"  Lets just say I have no trouble falling asleep at night:).  

This week was fun.  We had our first missionary devotional, which will be happening each Friday from now on.  It's a plan we organized with the bishop to not only get new investigators into the church on a less conflicting time, but a plan to retain new converts and less actives.  I am thoroughly convinced that if you can get someone into the chapel, they will feel something different...if they allow themselves to...and that something will drive them back to the church on Sunday.  This week we watched 'The Work and The Glory', it was pretty awesome!  We had a great showing.  We had about 10 recent converts, a few members and one of our new investigators with his less-active brother, who were then at church on Sunday as well!  It was great.  The bishop was thrilled with it, and everyone loved it!  The investigator was so impressed with how the same problems the church is encountering today (rumors, etc.) was exactly what they were experiencing from the beginning.  His name is Meshack, by the way, and he is going to be baptized on the 25 of December!:) 

Our apartment is organizing a "White Christmas", well lots of white clothes at least:).  Hopefully.  I am really excited about it!  I had a realization with the whole Thanksgiving thing and realized the same to be true about Christmas.  I will have every year in forever to enjoy myself on Christmas by eating fancy food and sitting around with family and opening presents...but when else am I going to have the opportunity to stand in the baptismal font with my hand to the square and help to give one of my brothers and sisters the greatest gift of all time?!  I love this work and I know it to be true!  I love being here, and love my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

Sorry its short, if you haven't sent my last package yet I need a black belt... mine fell apart.  And this time maybe a bit smaller, and not one that is shiny.  One likes dads.

Love you all

Taylor