Extreme Makeover Apartment Edition

My companions and I are helping out in primary (Elder Ordyna, Aye and Dennis)

The Daban Ward Football Team

How far!! (Nigerian Pigeon)

Hope things are great back home! Things in Ghana are as sweet as ever! My energy and spirit for teaching people sure have built up inside me these past months in the office. I am ready to leave this place and to get back out there and in the field again. It will be absolutely amazing. But, for now, I am trying my hardest to magnify all of my office responsibilities.

This past week we spent about three days sitting in our apartment while a carpenter, electrician, and painter came to renovate our apartment completely. We were automatically chosen to be the ones to remain in the apartment because the assistants had a bunch of official business that President Webster needed them to take care of. By the end of it, I was super bored of being bored. At one point I was so bored that I ironed all of my trousers and white shirts for the week. But, I do have to admit after all of the work has been done the apartment is absolutely fantastic and now a celestial apartment.

The Office Staff Assistants- Elder Banta & Elder Momotimi

Office Elders- Elder Aye, Elder Ordyna and Elder Dennis with Brother Cooper the Real Estate Specialist

Brother Cooper's son's birthday party

On Tuesday evening we were invited by Brother Cooper to his son's birthday party. For Brother Cooper, he works for the mission and is in charge of all of the real estate in the mission (namely missionary apartments). The only problem is that he stays on the other side of Kumasi. We were driving for a good two hours through traffic and bad roads in order to get to his house. But, it was a great evening and a whole lot of fun. On the way back we tried to take a bunch of shortcuts down some random backstreets. Which I have concluded is a super bad idea especially out here. You never know where a road will lead you and it could at any time just end or get so bad that it is undrivable. But, luckily around 10 pm we finally made it back to our apartment. That was one of our great adventures we had this week.


Even though we didn't have much time to proselyte and to go out and teach people for the time that we did have there were a lot of spiritual moments. I have increased my testimony so much on mission. It has really grown my faith by seeing people change from the gospel of Jesus Christ and see them gain a testimony for themselves. This week we visited the referrals we received from one of our recent converts Kenneth. All three of them are doing super well and are coming to church. But, none of them were reading the Book of Mormon or said that they received an answer to their prayers. When we went to see them this last time all three of them said that they read the Book of Mormon and even felt like they received an answer to their prayers. One even said that he came from work super tired and wanted to go right to sleep. But, he said that he had a super strong feeling to go into his room and open his Book of Mormon. He really wanted just to ignore it and go to sleep. But, he followed the prompting and read the Book of Mormon, and he said that as he did so he received a huge happy and joyful feeling in his heart and he knew instantly that the Book of Mormon was true. He later told us that he knew God inspired at that very moment to read his Book of Mormon at that very moment because it was the right time to receive his answer. He said that he knew if he didn't obey it he still wouldn't have his answer to his prayers. As investigators tell me how they received a testimony for themselves, it helps me to know how true this gospel truly is and how much God loves everyone and truly wants everyone to know the truth and to come unto him.

Another experience I had this week was with Sister Mavis. She is one of our recent converts that was baptized last month. She didn't come to church yesterday, so we went to her house last night to see how she was doing and why she didn't come to church. When we got there, we found out that she had been super sick the past couple of days and now her whole family is sick, and that is why she was unable to make it to church. As we talked with her, she shared with us that she has not only been sick, but a lot of opposition and obstacles have come into her life. I had the deep impression to share with her the story about Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail and all of the opposition he and the early saints went through. 
After I read this scripture to her and was beginning to explain it and talked more about Joseph Smith I had an intensely warm and peaceful feeling come to me. I had a strong spiritual impression that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and that he truly is the prophet of the Restoration. I also felt an assurance that God lives, and he truly knows each one of us and wants us to be as happy as possible. Sister Mavis then also shared her testimony and knew that through faith she would be able to get through anything. In the end, I was able to give her a blessing of healing and the spirit was absolutely so strong. She called us this morning and said that she had been completely healed. 

This week was absolutely one of the most spiritual ones I have had so far on mission. I have loved feeling the spirit so strongly and being so in tune with the Holy Spirit. Hope all of you have a wonderful week!!

Love,
Elder Ordyna 

The Bantama Stake Chapel

Elder Dennis, Elder Ordyna, Elder Aye and Elder Momotimi

6 more weeks

YSA Pool Party

Poolside with the Apartment (don't worry we didn't get in)

What's Up!!!

Hope all is well on your side. Everything is sweet around here. We just got through with another round of transfers. I am also pretty sure it will be last here in the office. My final six weeks are ahead of me. 

At a lesson with Benjamin and Morfrid (two investigators super close to baptism)

This week a lot has been going on. We were so busy that things seemed like a blur. My companion and I were driving for most of the week. On Tuesday we were honestly driving all day long constantly and had to wake up at 5 am three times this week to take the departing missionaries to the airport and then also to take Tamale missionaries to the bus station. I was honestly exhausted and took a couple of naps along the way to get me through it. 

Chilling at KFC with Elder Dennis and Elder Doudou

We also played a lot of UNO as an apartment to relieve some of our stress. It's not easy overseeing the transfers of 180 missionaries. 

 Classic UNO game to relieve stress

This last Sunday I gave a talk in church about Unity. As I was preparing for the talk, I learned a lot about Enoch and his people. They were so united and had one purpose that they were taken up to heaven. As we all direct thoughts and actions to the Savior we will all be brought into unity because we are all focused on the same thing. Unity will produce miracles, and great things will happen. Out here in Ghana, many branches/wards lack in unity. But, here in Daban, the members are so united in helping each other out and magnifying their callings. Unity has really helped them to go from a branch to a ward, and they continue to strengthen and grow their ward. 

Me chilling in the office as I am writing this letter

Jesus is Coming Soon (these signs are literally everywhere in Kumasi)

Picture by Brother Elvis's house (it was about to rain)

Helping out in Primary

Shortcut from the road to the Mission Home

Road Work is the Best

Football Squad

Daban District

Family and Friends,

A couple of weeks ago the city of Kumasi started road work on Daban road. This thing is absolutely the worst road in Kumasi. It is like the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland every time we step in the car. Back home I absolutely hated construction and road work because it just got in the way of things and created a bunch of traffic. The day I saw them begin to fix the road it was a great day. The only problem is that construction in this country takes months so I won't have the chance to drive on the nice new road let alone actually see it. I will most likely be home by then, but at least it is a great step in the right direction.

After another round of transfers, I am officially staying in the office for another six weeks which means I will be here for six months. Time definitely has gone by so fast. It doesn't feel anywhere close to that much time here. I am in another threesome which makes my fifth of my mission so far. His name is Elder Aye, and he is from Nigeria. He is really funny and likes to make a lot of jokes. He will be going home in the middle of the transfer so he will be with us till that happens. So far it has been a lot of fun, and I am looking forward to it.

Kronum District vs. Daban District Football Match

There wasn't much time to proselyte because we had transferred this week. But, we are still working, and hopefully next week we will have a couple of baptisms here in Daban. 

The Rogers (American Family)

Love you all and hope you all have a great week!! 

Kumasi Traffic

Sister Jessica RC

Elder Ellett and I with Brother Gordon

Ghana is Full of Miracles and Faithful People

President and Sister Webster 

How far!! (Nigerian Pigeon for How are you)

The title for my letter this week comes from many past church leaders thoughts and viewpoints on Ghana. This week we were able to have a special meeting with our new mission president President Webster. He told all about his life and gave us a lot of advice. But, the part that I loved the most was he told us a story that happened at the mission president seminar he attended. During the first day as they were finding a table to sit at President Nelson invited President and Sister Webster to sit with him and his wife. While they were discussing President Nelson shared how much love he had for the country of Ghana and the people here. After he was called as an apostle one of his first assignments was to go to Ghana and visit the people there. President Nelson said that the people have so much faith that miracles happen there every day. Another example was when Elder Anderson came to Kumasi and visited with all of the missionaries. He said that the people here have so much faith and there are so many miracles that Ghana is one of the most important places for the church right now.

President and Sister Webster talked a lot about that same thing in their meeting. I have seen what they have talked about firsthand as I have served here in Ghana. The people here have so much faith and love God so much. I have seen many miracles and great things happen here in Ghana. Africa West area is the fastest growing area in the church. A new unit (branch, ward or stake) is created every day.


This week was definitely a week of miracles. Last week Sunday a young woman came to church for the first time. We started talking to her, and she told us that her friend that lives in the US told her to come to church. She didn't want to at all, and her friend kept inviting her. After over six months of inviting her, she had a strong impression that she needed to come to church and accept her friend's invitation to come to church. So, she came to church and absolutely loved it. Said that she would be coming every Sunday. She has been able to come to church the past two Sundays, and we have been able to teach her a couple of times. She is so awesome. She asks very great questions and loves the Book of Mormon. She reads it every day and even brings the book with her when she goes to work. It was absolutely inspired that we met her.  She absolutely loves the gospel and is soaking up everything that we are teaching her. I know that the Lord had a huge part in helping her get to church. That her friend was inspired to invite her and she was inspired to come to church. I know that God directs this work and wants all of his children to hear the message of the restored gospel.

Daban

Also this week we had another miracle with one of the less-actives we have been meeting with. His name is Elisa Addey, and he has been having a lot of problems recently. He hasn't come to church for over two years and has a broken leg and hasn't received a salary from work for a year. We have been encouraging him and helping him to come back to church but nothing was working. Until we brought one of our members named Brother Brobbey (first counselor in the bishopric) to him. Instantly they hit it off and started talking like best friends. I didn't know what they talked about because it was all in Twi but something inspiring happened between the two because Brother Elisa Addey came back to church!! It was such a great day to see him back. He was so happy to see the members and that they remembered him. Miracles continue to happen every day out here, and I know it is because this is truly Heavenly Father's work and he loves every one of his children and wants them to have the knowledge of the gospel in their lives.

Ma Konadu's house for fried rice. Joshua Rogers and Kyle Paskett came with us

Love you all so much and hope you all have a great week!! Enjoy summer break



Elder Ordyna

FHE with Brother Kenneth and other Investigators

Elder Banta and I in the Daban Chapel

Out with the Old and in with the New (Mission President, that is)

Family and Friends,

This week sure has been a historic week that is for sure. Sadly, I saw the Cosgrave's leave the mission home and this mission. He was such a great example to all, and I have learned so many wonderful things from him. We had one last office council before he left and everyone brought food. It was an all-out party. I tasted caramel popcorn for the first time in over a year. Man, that stuff tastes way too good now. My tongue has changed a lot since I have been out which is kind of strange. I am not a fan of saltiness or sugar anymore, but I have noticed that my tongue has become numb to hotness now. You can give me the hottest hot sauce/pepper, and I won't even feel a thing. One night in the apartment we were having a competition to see who could drink the most sriracha sauce. I downed like five of those things without feeling anything. Back home one drop killed me. Ghanaian food is so plain but like a level 1,000 on the hot scale and that is out of 10. 



I was able to meet President Webster on Saturday. He is such a loving and kind man. As I shook hands with him, I knew that he was called of God to be the next mission president of this mission and is so ready to help this mission and each missionary to be the best that they can become. I will certainly miss the Cosgrave's, but the Websters are some really special people and are so prepared for the job. 



This week was such an enjoyable week in the missionary work department as well. We focused on less-actives again this week. We went with different members to their houses and helped them to come back to church. We met one guy name Elisa Addey. He had a broken leg, was living in a shack and even hadn't received salary from his work for a year. He hadn't come to church for like two years, and members haven't been to his house this whole time. He was completely forgotten by everyone. We talked to him and ultimately showed him love, the member I was with was super kind and even gave him transfer money to make it to church. I have learned that every person is different and have their own time frame on when they accept the gospel and come unto Jesus Christ. It is the same thing for less-actives. Not every less-active leaves the church for the same reason; each person has their reasons. And this past week we visited them and tried to figure out what each of their reasons is. As a result, this past Sunday was such a joyful day when we saw every less-active we were working show up to church. Each one was super happy to be back, and the members loved seeing them and welcomed them back with open arms.

Sister Mavis and Sunita

We also had two baptisms this past week Sister Mavis and Sunita. Sister Mavis was President Cosgrave's last baptismal interview while he was mission president. Both were so prepared and overwhelmingly happy to make that important step in their lives. That is one of the best things about mission is seeing this first hand.



I love all of you so much and hope all of you are letting your light so shine and being an example every day to everyone you meet. 

Love,

Elder Ordyna

preparing for the Mid-Transfer Training lunch

The Powerful Brethren of Daban

A member gave us dog

                                                                                     

Elder Dennis and Brother Bukari