BSGC Be Strong and of a Good Courage

Hello Family Friends,

Another week has flown by. It feels like every missionary day is half the time of a normal day. I guess that is what happens when you find joy in the work. I am absolutely loving my mission right now. Elder Mubenga and I are working super hard (averaging 50 hour weeks) and having a lot of success. We are getting to the point where we have so many investigators that we can barely teach them all in a single week. We have been leaving the apartment early every morning and returning late at night and we still don't have time to teach them all. We had one baptism yesterday and this next Saturday we are planning on baptizing six people!

Two Sundays ago three Nigerian sisters, Gifty, Goodness and Success,  that we have never met with, came to church. They said that they heard about the church from a friend and wanted to see for themselves how the church is. They have now come for three Sundays and are preparing to be baptized this Saturday. This past week we had a super powerful lesson with them. We met them and asked if they had any questions. Each one asked a very inspiring question. But the two questions that really struck me were WHY DOESN'T THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS USE DRUMS AND CLAP WHILE PRAYING? AND HOW DO WE KNOW THE CHURCH IS TRUE? Here in Ghana there are churches on every corner. It is the most Christian country in the world. All most everyone attends church and believes in God. Many of the churches believe in the gift of tongues where they have a pastor that just yells a bunch of random sounds into a microphone. There is one church that does this right next to our apartment and I can barely fall asleep because of the guy. There are also many churches here where people clap, and yell and drum and play all sorts of instruments. 

After Gifty asked this question Goodness said that these things aren't necessary at church. We go to church to be uplifted and to feel the Holy Ghost. And when there are these loud things at church you can't feel the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost can only be with us when we are doing things that invite and help us to feel the spirit. My companion and I were amazed. That was the exact right answer.

For the second question we asked sister Gifty how we could know that this was the true church. She talked about Joseph Smith and the priesthood power and why Jesus Christ only went to John the Baptist because he had the authority. To hear her answer the question so well made us very happy. These Nigerian girls are really progressing and listening to what my companion and I are sharing with them. 

The joy that you feel from seeing an investigator progress and accept and actually follow the commitments that we extend to them is powerful. It is awesome to see people change their lives for the better because of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that Jesus Christ lives and that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints really is Jesus Christ's church restored again back to the Earth. The gospel of Jesus Christ helps us to have joy and happiness and to become better people.

I love you all and hope you have a great week.

Love,

Elder Ordyna

we had a powerful lesson with three of our investigators sisters (gifty, goodness and success) we met gifty and goodness  weeks three ago but for sister success just two weeks, so while we were teaching them about lesson 3 when we invited sister success to be baptize  be baptize then she asked a question " why should i be baptize while i have already baptized?"  i had something to say but i felt like i wasn't the right person to answer that question then i looked my companion may be he was the right person to answer but he was still quiet saying nothing we stay quiet for almost two minutes, then a feeling came and to my companion that the right person was sister gifty was also an investigator, then i said it rapidly sister your are the right person to help your sister to understand why she have to be baptize again, well then she said i am going to try  she said:"my sister jesus while he was on the earth he did call twelve people and gave them the priesthood so that they can baptize, and teach people but because people were wicked the killed some and later on they were all gone even the priesthood was gone, then many years later joseph smith who wanted to know which church to join because he was confuse , so he red james 1:5, AND DID WHAT JAMES TAUGHT AS HE PRAYED GOD , the father and the son both appeared to him, and jesus told him to join none of them, and if he keep have faith in christ he will be the instrument to bring the true church on the earth, then 9 years later peter, james and john appeared to him and gave him the priesthood and that power to baptize was given to joseph smith so the only church who have that power is the church of jesus christ of later day saints that is the reason why you have to be baptize again" after she ended her words her sister was totally convince through the power of the holy ghost, i was felled with the spirit while she was explaining the all point i wept and my soul rejoiced to see the result of following the spirit, she was our real Amulek.

much love elder mubenga

Grand Master OP Recording Studio

The Apartment Having Fun on a P-Day

Mid-Day Break at Bishop's (Anytime We Were Tired Proselyting We Knew We Could Get Drinks and Snacks from His Family)

Success

Companionships in our Aprtment-  Elder Vaitulala & Elder Woplah - Elder Ordyna & Elder Mubenga

Hello Family and Friends!!

This week has been amazing! I have received a new companion and there is a brand new missionary in my apartment from Texas. I have been helping him out a lot. I know exactly what he is experiencing!! After almost three months here, I can say that I am pretty accustomed to life in Ghana. 

On Wednesday I went to Metro Mass to pick up my new companion. On transfer day all of the missionaries in Kumasi meet at Metro Mass for transfers. So, it was awesome to see the other missionaries. All of the Elders and Sisters in this mission are amazing. My new companion is Elder Mubenga from DR Congo. He is a really powerful guy and a hardworking missionary. We are having a lot of fun together. 

Thursday I showed my companion around the area. The hard part about Kumasi is that there are no addresses or street names. All of the streets are dirt and are arranged like a maze. With Elder Speakman we would get lost all of the time and I was stressing out because I knew that I would have to show my next companion around. But, luckily after being in the area for a month and a half I have come to know the area very well. I have been able to show Elder Mubenga around with no problem. Even though I am still in training it is pretty sweet to show my trainer around and be the one that knows the area the best. We continue to have much success here in Asuoyeboa. Every day we have received referrals from the ward members which have turned out to be super serious.

 On Friday we went out to our farthest area called Tanoso. As we were walking down the street we saw a man washing his car. My companion asked him if he needed any help. He declined but asked us who we are and what we do. We told him and he instantly had interest and wanted us to tech him. His name is Gilbert. We taught him lesson one and when we got to Joseph Smith we found out that he has done a lot of research on Joseph Smith and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He told us that he studied religions in college. While he was studying about Joseph Smith he found out about the Book of Mormon and has wanted to read it ever since. We gave him one and invited him to church. After the lesson my companion and I talked about that experience. During the lesson the spirit was the strongest I have felt on my mission so far. I knew that the words that I said were directly from the Holy Ghost and were exactly what Gilbert needed to hear at that given moment. We talked about how if we never asked him if we could help him we would have never found him. The power of the Holy Ghost is real. It truly testifies of the truthfulness of the gospel. 

This week we have worked very, very hard. (over 50 proselyting hours) And on Sunday we saw the fruits of our labors. We had 12 investigators on Sunday! The most I have had so far. And after church we had three of our investigators come up to us and ask us if they could be baptized that day. Two of them Alfred and Ernest have come to church three times and are preparing to be baptized next Sunday. The third was Gilbert. We will have baptisms every week this transfer which will be awesome!

I have had a great week and hope that all of you have a great week!!

Love,

Elder Ordyna

Elder Woplah and I Popping Elder Mubenga's Back

The Apartment Chilling at Bishop Owusu's House

Asuoyeboah and Dichemso Zone Conference

2nd Trainer Elder Mubenga

The Squad (Elder Woplah, Me, Elder Vaituulala)

The Posterity (Elder Mubenga trained Me and Elder Crossley, Elder Crossley trained Elder Okogbua)

Change, Change and more Change

Last picture with Elder Speakman

Aug. 7-13 2017 

Hello Family and Friends,

Hope your week has been great!! This week has been crazy. There have been changes around the whole mission. They have opened two new zones and have had to close areas because there has been a decrease in missionaries. Plus, one of the elders in my apartment has been called as the new assistant and he left very early so we were in a three person companionship for a couple days. 

It has also been a very sad week. It was Elder Speakman's last week in Ghana. We made a countdown for him to countdown the days until he is gone. I can't believe I have already spent six weeks with him. I have learned so much from him and have enjoyed my time with him. He goes to the mission home in a little bit and I will be with Elder Woplah until Wednesday. Elder Woplah is training a new missionary this next transfer which will be sweet. We will have a brand new missionary in the apartment and finally I won't be one of the youngest missionaries in the mission. 

Asuoyeboah and Abuakwa District (Elder Johnson, Elder Okon, Elder Kayitare, Elder Yeboah, Elder Woplah, Elder Nygren, Elder Speakman, and Me)

My new companion will be Elder Mubenga. He has been out for over a year and is from the Democratic Republic of Congo. I haven't met him yet but I have heard he is a really hard worker and loves to joke and have fun. It will be a lot different but a great experience at the same time. He will be my trainer but will be new to the area so I will have to show him around. We will see how well I know my area. We might get lost a couple times. Haha He will also be the new district leader. Which will be cool because I will travel to different areas for exchanges and baptismal interviews. 

Mary's Baptism 

On Elder Speakman's last Sunday we had a baptism. Which was way cool for him. We were supposed to have one more but Sister Christiana has had a very difficult pregnancy and wasn't well enough to meet with President Cosgrave. We hope that this week she will be able to have her interview and be baptized. The first couple weeks of the transfer we were having a very difficult time. We didn't know our area at all. We had no idea where any of the members lived or all of the parts of the area. We had to work super hard and at times I was getting very discouraged because all of our hard work seemed like it was in vain. But, Elder Speakman told me that during the hardest moments is when you work the hardest. So, we didn't give up but continue to go out and be the best missionaries that we could. And because we have continued to persevere and work hard we have found so much success. On Sunday we had 8 investigators at church. Six of which are preparing to be baptized in the coming weeks. I know without a doubt that this is truly the Lord's work. Everyday I am grateful for the wonderful opportunity I have to serve a mission and to share the gospel of Jesus Christ here in Ghana. It has been hard, but I have loved every minute of it. 

I love you all and hope you have a great week!!! 

Love,

Elder Ordyna

Elder Speakman's Last Sunday (Sandra Owusu, Bishop's Daughter)

Elder Speakman's Last Sunday (Freddie Owesu, Bishop's Son)

What's for Lunch?

Lunch Anyone? You can order the Fresh Bushmeat Special

August 1-6 2017

Hello Friends and Family,

Time continues to zoom by! I can't believe it is already August. The work continues to go very well. Elder Speakman has 8 days left in Ghana!!

Tuesday - We met with two of our investigators Mary and Dorthy, they are very close to baptism. We just need to teach Mary the rest of the lessons and Dorthy needs to attend church. We are planning on baptizing Christina and Mary on Elder Speakmans last Sunday, which would be SWEET. We taught institute today.  It was very last minute and we had no idea what we were going to teach. I came up with the idea to teach the Plan of Salvation. Elder Speakman taught how the story of the Good Samaritan teaches the Plan of Salvation. To sum it up, the man that went down to Jericho symbolizes all of us coming to earth. While the man was traveling he was beat up by thieves, this symbolizes the temptations and trials we will have during our life here on Earth. The good Samaritan represents Jesus Christ. The injured man could not save himself just like we cannot cleanse ourselves of sin. The man needed to rely upon the Samaritan, similar to how we need to rely on Jesus Christ and His atonement to completely receive remission of sins and be forgiven.

Language - After we taught institute we went to a member's shop to buy eggs. I asked Janet (14 year old girl/shop owners daughter) for a full crate of eggs. Because of the accent and dialect differences she thought I said four eggs not a full crate. I asked again for a full crate of eggs and this time she brought back four full crates of eggs. My companion and I had a good laugh afterwards. It felt like I was in the movie The Best Two Years.

Wednesday Water Wars - We started our day out by stopping by a members drink shop. Sandra, another member, was there. It was Sandra's birthday so we had a massive water fight! Apparently it is a tradition in Ghana to soak people with water on their birthday. I guess Smingus Dingus is somewhat real here also.
We taught Christiana the last lesson. She continues to progress towards baptism. She is one of our baptisms scheduled for August 13th. It is amazing we are having so much success in an area that hasn't had a baptism since February. Apparently, Asuayeboa has been an extremely difficult area in the past. Elder Speakman and I continue to work hard and try our best and are grateful we have people to teach.

 Asuoyeboah Apartment interviews with President Cosgrave

Thursday -   Today Elder Johnson came to Asuayeboa and I went with Elder Oken to Abuakwa. It was nice to visit a different area for a day. Elder Okon is from Nigeria and is a really kind guy. All of our appointments were at different parts of his area so we had to walk a lot! I think it is the most I have walked in one day on my mission so far. While we were walking it began to pour rain. We had to take shelter for about 30 minutes or we would have been soaking wet. I had a great day in Abuakwa but I know that I am suppose to be in Asuayeboa right now. I need to work hard, love the people and help all in my area come unto Christ.
Side Note: I saw a girl with a pet monkey

Exchange with Elder Okon (Nigeria) in Abuakwa

The Outhouse We Would Pee in While Proselyting

Saturday- Today we explored a new part of our area called Tamasa. We found some members and they gave us referrals! Hopefully our investigators will come to church tomorrow. If everyone of our investigators came to church we would have 18, a record for us. We are hoping for at least 8. It is very hard for people to come to church, especially here.  Everyone already belongs to their own church and has callings they need to do on Sundays.

Transfer Interview- I had my first transfer interview with Presidednt Cosgrave. We discussed how everything is going, I said "it is going GREAT!". He told me my next companion will most likely be someone with one transfer left, like Elder Speakman. He said by the end of my second transfer I will be an expert at sending missionaries home (hahah).  If this happens I will have three companions in my first three transfers. I am sure I will be blessed to learn from so many great missionaries.


Sunday- Today was a fantastic day. Our recent convert was confirmed and given the gift of the Holy Ghost. We had 6 of our investigators show up! Heavenly Father's work is moving forward, how grateful I am to be a part of it.  We stayed for ward choir, which still makes me laugh.  We went to visit an investigator that didn't make it to church. We ended up teaching her 19 year old sister. She asked us to stay and teach her before we had a chance to even say anything to her. When you are praying for missionaries to find those that are prepared to receive the gospel know that those prayers are answered everyday!  It really happens!

This week has been amazing. Thank you for the love and support you have shown me my first couple months in the mission. Time really does fly by when you are serving. I will miss my time with Elder Speakman, he has been a great first trainer.



Have a great week.
Love,
Elder Ordyna

Eating Banku at a members home for dinner

Pounding FuFu at a members home