Daaban is Now A Ward

Companionship Study with Elder Amaechi, Elder Moak and myself

Bantama Zone Conference (Elder Duncan, Elder Moak, Elder Amaechi, Elder Ordyna and Elder Amponsah)

Dear family and friends, 

The big news this week is that I am now officially serving in a ward again. This past weekend was Daaban Branch conference. And the stake president announced that the First Presidency approved making it a ward. Man, all of the members were so happy and couldn't believe it. I will seriously have to get used to calling the Bishop "Bishop" not president anymore. A lot of the members of the branch now ward are among some of the first members of the church in Kumasi. Even one of the sisters Nana Kanadu was the member that brought a branch to Daaban like ten years ago.

I have to say it is so cool serving in a place where the church is so young and developing. There is a lot of training and advice that we do as missionaries; we get to help the members and branches become better disciples of Jesus Christ, we also get to interact with some of the first members of the church in this part of the world,  their stories are so powerful. We went to Nana Kanadu's last Sunday for dinner and she shared her conversion story and how she found the church in Accra and was traveling five hours every Sunday to attend church services. Some Saturdays she didn't have enough money to get to Kumasi, but she had faith that she would get the necessary funds to go there. One Saturday she was walking along the side of the road, and a Tro pulled over and offered to pick her up for half the price. Another Saturday she was conversing with one of her friends, and she found that he was going to Accra that evening and she was able to get a ride with him to church. My branch president in Techiman was the first member in Techiman. He told me stories about how he traveled two hours every Sunday to Kumasi for church and similar stories about how miracles happened so he could get to church. Then the church came to Sunyani, so he only had to travel an hour instead of two. Then he was able to bring a branch to Techiman, and his wife was the first convert in the branch, and he was the first branch president in Techiman. Just from the faith and devotion of one man twenty years ago there are now four progressing branches in Techiman with 16 missionaries serving there. Later this year they are planning to even create a fifth branch and then to create the Techiman District. The church is seriously growing and doing so well here in Ghana, and I am so grateful for the opportunity that I have to be right in the middle of it as a missionary and to go out every day to help the people and church here in Ghana. 

Investigators at Church (Mary, Boating, and Alfred)

In the office, we aren't able to proselyte much because of all of our other duties and responsibilities. A couple of weeks ago the high councilman over missionary work came to the branch and started to chastise our missionaries for the lack of baptisms and success we have been having. After that, we made some serious goals not to waste a second in the office and to go out and proselyte as much as possible. And ever since we have made that goal, we have seen the success begin. Two weeks ago we had a member introduce us to his friend Bonaface and the next day he came to church. Then this past week the same member showed us a family and the day after we taught them they came to church as well. This past Sunday we had six investigators at church, and all of them are seriously progressing very well, and we are hoping to have three baptisms in April. The work continues to go well here in the best mission in the world GHANA KUMASI MISSION! 

Today at our zone conference President Cosgrave announced that at the end of May FOUR general authorities would be coming to visit Kumasi and we will have a mission tour. One of the four coming will be Elder Neil L. Anderson of the quorum of the 12 apostles which will be absolutely sweet. General authorities love visiting Ghana because of how well the church is growing here if you take away the Africa West Area the number of convert baptisms would go down. We have the highest baptisms in the world. We have had four apostles come in the last year, but not one was able to make it all the way up to Kumasi so it will be super special to have one here!! 

We will also have the great privilege of watching and listening to words from our prophets, seers, and revelators this weekend, as well as view General Conference. I have heard this one will be a big one with the sustaining of President Nelson as the prophet and president of the church and then the announcement of two more apostles. 

I hope you all have a great week and I encourage all of you to go out and do one act of service and share the gospel with one person every day!

I love you all!
Elder Ordyna

Daban

Brother Elvis aka Missionary Work Guru

Elder Moak and I Teaching Investigators with Brother Elvis

THE OFFICE

Elder Ordyna and Elder Moak 

Dear family and friends,

Nothing too exciting happened this week. For me, the first week so far here in the office has been pretty boring. Nothing really happens around here. I was only able to proselyte only 15 hours this week coming from a missionary that is used to 45-50 hours a week. It will definitely try my patience here in the office. One of the mottos that I have heard about office elders is that "We have to think for the other missionaries. Because they can't think for themselves". Already in the short week that I have been here, I can truly see that is true.  (Just kidding)

Picking up the New Missionaries from the Airport

Saying Goodbye to the Departing Missionaries

The craziest day of my mission so far was probably this last transfer day. My companion and I were in charge of getting missionaries to and from Metro Mass (the headquarters of where we do transfers). We were basically like the shuttle service for the whole mission. It was seriously stressful because we had to make sure missionaries were on time for their meetings at the mission home as well for their tros and buses to their new areas.

Relaxing as an Apartment at Big Bob's Burgers (Elder Moak, Ordyna, Ellett and Momotimi)

Office Life (Elder Moak, Elder Ordyna)

But after all, I get to FLEX!! I sit in an a/c office and get a car with a/c, so life is pretty sweet right now. I am seriously missing normal missionary schedule right now, but I know that I am here in the office for a reason. And the skills and attributes that I will gain while serving here will bless me for the rest of my life. On a side note, we get a new mission president in about one more transfer, and I will be in the office when he comes so I will be able to help him get adjusted and all of those things. It will be seriously sweet. I am already enjoying this place, and the Daaban Branch is seriously powerful. It is very close to becoming a ward.

Office P-Day Activities- Vacuuming out the Truck

This week I had a seriously powerful spiritual experience. We went out proselyting with one of our powerful members named Elvis to a Frafra family from Upper East Region. Apparently, they really want to go to church and are super interested in the gospel. But, while we were sitting down and talking with them, a man named Bonaface came over and joined us. His name means beautiful face in Twi. After we began speaking with him and invited him to church, he said that he would come tomorrow and forever. When he said that, I didn't really think anything of it because the majority of the people that we meet say that they will come to church just because that is what they know we want to hear not because they have a desire to come to church. On Sunday when we walked into the chapel at 8:30 am (church starts at 9) he was sitting in the front row anxiously waiting for the service to begin. When we started talking with him, we got his full story. Saturday night he was walking down the trail, and then he saw us, and he said that he had a huge feeling that he needed to come over and join us in our lesson. He didn't know why or even how he sat down next to us before he knew it he was right by us listening very attentively. A member told us that Bonaface called him at 6, then 6:30, then 7, then 7:30 all the way till 8 just asking him if it was time for church yet. He was so serious and excited about coming to church. He absolutely loved church, and when I asked him if he will come back next week he said absolutely and every Sunday from here going, investigators like Bonaface make me so happy. They are so ready to receive the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that missionary work is Heavenly Work's and that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints truly is Jesus Christ's church on the worth. I experience new things every day while out here on the mission that adds to my testimony of the Restored Gospel. I am so grateful to be on a mission especially out here in the best mission ever Ghana Kumasi Mission. I love and miss all of you.

Love,
Elder Ordyna

Last Days in Techiman

Dad and Mom,

Don't worry!!! I am okay. I haven't gotten eaten by a lion or anything. 

Good evening my time! I am currently at the office emailing. I have seriously had a crazy past couple of days! Last friday President Cosgrave called me about my new transfer news. I left Techiman on Monday and travelled to Kumasi by my self! That was definitly one of the craziest experiences of my life. The zone leaders didn't tell me where to get off and I didn't have a phone. Luckily, I used the driver's to call the assistants to come pick me up and I know Kumasi super well or I would have been in big trouble. I was the last one on the Tro and we got stuck in some serious traffic on the way. I was seriously scared and felt really alone. I felt like I should pray so I prayed that everything would work out. My prayer was instantly answered. As soon as I finished my prayer the driver told me to grab my things and he would help me to walk it to the station and I was able to use his phone too to call the assistants. Plus, as soon as I got to the station the assistants were already there ready for me before I even called. My prayer was definitely answered that day and I know that God listens and truly answers us when we pray for his help. He is waiting and wants to help us we just need to have faith and pray to him. 

I am now officially safe here in Kumasi at the mission home. And guess what? I am now the new office elder. Yup I know pretty weird huh. Now I am the nerdy missionary that sits in the office and does paperwork and things on the computer. I was seriously shocked when President called me and told me the news. My area in Techiman is being whitewashed (when both missionaries are leaving an area) even after it is seriously exploding. Elder Westfall and I have had some serious powerful success there lately and are leaving it in great shape for the new missionaries that will come.

Office life is already so much different than being a normal proselyting missionary. We get a car that we can drive around and we are always busy. It will be something very different and I am not sure how it will be. I remember a couple transfers ago President asking me if I wanted to be an office elder. And at that time I told him not really I really want to stay in the field. After that he called me to train. Well, now I am here in the office. I will prepare the way for the brand new mission president that we will be getting in June, President Webster. We are currently getting ready for transfer day tomorrow. One of the craziest and busiest days for us. We have to run people around all of Kumasi and make sure they get to all of their new areas on time and quickly. I will tell you more about how everything goes next week!! Hope everything is all well back home and Mission to Mexico is going great! Can't wait to see pictures!! 

Love,

Elder Ordyna

Elder Ayeque (Creator of the Song It's Techiman)

Desmond (Vatican City Branch Mission Leader)

Philipson (Member)

Sandra and Raymond (Members)

                                                              

Vatican City Round 2

Brother Agyeman and Grandson

  

Hey everyone!!!

I am officially three months away from my big year mark!!!  I am absolutely having a blast and enjoying every single day being a representative of Jesus Christ and sharing the joyous message of the Restored Gospel. There are rumors going around that President Nelson and Elder Holland will be coming to my mission next month for a mission tour. They are making a tour of Africa in April and will also be creating a fourth stake in Kumasi which is super exciting. I hope those rumors are true because it would be amazing to meet the prophet and an apostle of the Lord. 

Richmond, Samuel and Raymond (1st and 2nd Counselor in the Branch Presidency and the Clerk) with Elder Westfall (Companion)

Yesterday we confirmed the three people that we baptized last week. All three were so happy and said that baptism into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was the best decision that they could have made. One of them Sarkodie bore testimony during Fast and Testimony meeting yesterday. Some of his words really struck him. He shared a story about how he was seriously apprehensive about joining another religious group because of all of the stuff he has experienced. He was feeling deep anti-religious feelings and felt like the truth was nowhere to be found anywhere on Earth. Until the two missionaries knocked on his door and after their short 30-minute lesson he felt like what they shared with him was good. From that day he met with missionaries for six months before he made the step to be baptized. But, in his testimony, he also said that making the decision to be baptized was the best decision he has ever made in life. He has noticed many changes these past two weeks. He is much happier and things are fitting into place in his life. It makes me so happy to see how the gospel can bless and change lives. One of the apostles has said, "The gospel of Jesus Christ can change behavior faster than a study of behavior can change behavior." That statement is 100% true and I have seen first hand of it on my mission. 

This week we also met a couple of crazy people. One day my companion and I were contacting and talking to people outside. When we came across two guys sitting outside their house talking to each other. They had super long dreadlocks and seriously looked like Bob Marley. They aren't really known in the US but out here they are called Rasta Men. After a couple minutes of sharing with them, we found out that they were Fetish Priests. As a summary, they worship idols and are the ones that perform the sacrifices and rituals and stuff out in the bush. Both of them are super serious and want to come to church but it will be seriously hard for them to leave behind their false idols. There was another man named Ernest that we met. He has been coming to church for almost a year now. He started to come to church here in Techiman and then he moved to Accra and began meeting with the missionaries down there. He keeps telling us that he was baptized there and confirmed and everything. But, apparently, when he moved back to Techiman his records got lost. My branch here in Techiman tried to request for them and even called the ward in Accra that Ernest came from and there is no record to be found. So, we are teaching all of the lessons over again with him and he will be baptized at the end of March. I have met a lot of people so far on the mission that tell me that they are members of the church. That they have been baptized and everything. Here in Ghana, many people believe that if they just show up to church for over a month they are now a member of the church so it is very normal for random people to claim that they are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. 

The work continues to move along very well out here in Techiman. The days are getting cooler and the rain is coming which is an absolute blessing. Ghana Independence Day is tomorrow so it will be another Christmas and New Years experience with bombs going off everywhere I go which will be fun!

Love,

Elder Ordyna

Recent Convert Dorkis with Mother and Son

Sandra and Gifty (Members) with family

Investigators Steven Mensah and Antony