Eti Sεn?
See above, I learned my first phrase of Twi (pronounced “chwi”). It basically means “hello” or “how are you.” One would respond by saying “εyε” which means “I’m good." When we were at the temple last Wednesday I found a Book of Mormon in Twi (Asante). It’s awesome; entitled “Mormon Nwoma No-Yesa Kristo Ho Adanse ε Baako Nso.” Twi has two additional vowels that we don’t use in English, “ɔ” and “ε”. I rather like it; I found the part where it talks of the “Ante-Niphae-Lihae” people, it’s quite fun. I’m learning other greetings and stuff, but it’s hard when you have no idea how to write it down.
We did a service project yesterday as part of the All-Africa Service Day. We cleared the lawn in front of a local library. Picture this: 1-1 ½ acres of knee-high weeds in swampy marshes (it rained Friday) with nothing but sticks, wheelbarrows and cutlasses (machete-like things crafted from scrap). Haha. Actually it was quite fun, although we only had plastic doctor gloves (mine broke immediately) so I ended up with a massive blister on my hand where the handle rubbed. It was pretty deep and broken open immediately (TMI?) so it hurts when I shake hands. It’s healing though, so I’m fine.
An interesting thing happened today during District Meeting. [Jacob is still in the MTC at this point] All week the missionaries have been goofing off; beat-boxing, talking during instruction, bringing up movies, musicals, even fart jokes and farting. It was getting ridiculous, and the teachers were trying to get them to grow up a bit, but it wasn’t working. All but two of us are either American or Australian; the two cultures connect well and at this point a lot of joking was going on. I just kept to myself, studied, etc. as best I could during all this (kept telling myself that is was the District Leaders job to control his district). I would occasionally ask them to calm down (you know me) but it wasn’t my place to lecture or anything AND YET – the Lord makes a time and a place for all things and that came today when I was asked to give a 10 minute lesson on virtue.
I had them list virtuous thoughts and then had them list distracting, worldly thoughts, i.e. movies, music, etc. I then wrote down a diagram of our line of authority: 1) M. Pres 2) Gen. Authorities 3) Apostles, First Pres. 4) Christ. I pointed out that we are only four steps away from reporting to Christ Himself. Before we came out here we were 7 or 8. Unless we get called as aforementioned steps (M. Pres, GA, Apostles, etc), this calling we have now – the office of Missionaries for Jesus Christ – is one of the highest lines of authority and power we will ever know/have. We are to be completely removed from the World – we are accountable for more now than we ever have been and possibly ever will be. For, apart from keys pertaining to the temple, we now hold almost every key a priesthood holder can have. If we say, “In the name of Christ, be healed” they will be healed; if we say “Demons, depart” then they shall be cast out; “yea, and if we say unto the mountains ‘move hither, for the Work of the Lord requires it’ then the mountains will move hither. We are missionaries for Jesus Christ, sent forth and called by Him, through the 1st Presidency, to preach His Gospel. He has deemed us worthy to do so; we must now prove Him herewith if we will be true to this portion of our estate. As such we must let “virtue garnish [our] thoughts unceasingly.” We cannot expect us to keep a portion of this service for ourselves and think the Lord will accept it as a full sacrifice; doing such is lying to God (Acts 5:1-4).
I said a lot more, but that is sufficient for this letter. I felt the Spirit like never before and I could feel the power of the Spirit in the room. It was simply amazing; when I sat down I was week from it all, and my legs wouldn’t stop shaking. My testimony, if not already, is built on the rock of Christ now, fully and it will not shake, no matter the storm.
Alas, the space on this one page is limited. I love you all; take care and God bless!
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