Kinda a day late, but what can you do? So, allow me to start by wishing every mummi out there - both current and future - a Happy Mother's Day! I love you all, and greatly appreciate your profound influence in my life, and that of all others. Remember, "The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rocks the world."
As for the rest of the week, Elder Kalu is going home, so we're getting a new missionary this Wednesday. I don't know about transfers though; I might leave, Elder Nembaware might leave, or we both might stay. I'll update you all next week, assuming I don't get transferred to the bush and lose internet or something; haha.
We weren't able to get anyone to Sacrament this week, which was a real downer. That also meant that no one can be baptized this month now, and we have to start preparing for June; another downer. But we seem to be getting some really great ones for next month, so we just need to learn what we can and press forward. Sometimes it seems that the Lord gives you hard times so you can learn to progress yourself, and prove yourself when it counts. In the end, I think we're doing pretty good, so we just need to let come what may, and do our best while it's coming. Everything else is up to the Lord, so just remember the people of Ghana in your prayers, if you would =]
Prince Allotey was confirmed yesterday. He's the nephew of Mummi Aku from March. He was baptized on the 30th, but due to General Conference we had to wait a week (GC was last week for West Africa, if you didn't remember/know).
I've started an interesting project in the Book of Mormon. I took the Book of Mormon Challenge a while back with Pres. Smith, and I've decided to do it again, but with my own twists. I'm reading cover to cover, and highlighting (in different colors) every reference or example of Jesus Christ/Repentance, Faith, Hope, Charity/Love, Patience/Humility, Diligence/Obedience, Knowledge/Virtue, and Wickedness/Sadness/Afflictions (Christlike Attributes, and then the last one being the antithesis therein). I'm then writing in the margins why I marked it, or whatever little thought pops into my head. It's taking a really, really, really long time, but I think I'll really like the results.
For example, there are a lot of little things in the scriptures that can give Hope, if you're truly reading. Such as "Blessed art thou, Nephi;" it shows that, when we obey God's commands, we will be blessed. There's also the part where Nephi tells his father, Lehi, that he will go and do the things the Lord commands. After this, it says "And it came to pass that when my father had heard these words he was exceedingly glad, for he knew that I had been blessed of the Lord" (1 Nephi 3:8). Lehi received hope in his heart for his son Nephi, because he knew that Nephi was being blessed by the Lord. As such, as we see the righteous actions of our children - or friends, or family, etc - we can know that they are being blessed of the Lord as well, and that can give us Hope for them in the future. Thus, we have hope and knowledge all in one little verse of a father being happy. There's a lot more there, too, but I don't have my copy with me; haha.
The point being, when we study the Book of Mormon - and other scriptures as well - for those things we want to find, and ask for help from God in prayer to find it, we will be guided, and our lives and hearts will be touched much more. If you need to feel peace, ask God for help in finding peace, and then read the Book of Mormon; you will find peace. If you need to feel happiness, ask God for help in finding happiness, and then read the Book of Mormon; you will find happiness. If you need support, purpose, love, relief; anything that ails you; ask God for help in finding it, and then read the Book of Mormon. You will find what you are looking for.
I know the Book of Mormon is True. I know that in it is the answer to all of our questions, the relief for all of our problems, the resolve to all of our concerns. I know that, if we read the Book of Mormon, and then ask God "Is the Book of Mormon True?" He will reveal the Truth of it unto us by the power of the Holy Ghost. I know this is True, because I have done this, and my life has been blessed beyond anything I can express because of this knowledge. The peace and comfort that comes from knowing these things are True, from knowing that God is still speaking today through His living prophet, and that through the Priesthood Authority, families can be sealed on earth, and thus in heaven, and be together as a family for all eternity; the peace and comfort that comes from knowing these things gives such great hope that there is nothing in this life that can alter the path or the course of my life, leading back to the presence of God.
"And now,... remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall" (Helaman 5:12).
Of this I testify.
I love you all. Take care, and God bless!
--Elder Collings
As for the rest of the week, Elder Kalu is going home, so we're getting a new missionary this Wednesday. I don't know about transfers though; I might leave, Elder Nembaware might leave, or we both might stay. I'll update you all next week, assuming I don't get transferred to the bush and lose internet or something; haha.
We weren't able to get anyone to Sacrament this week, which was a real downer. That also meant that no one can be baptized this month now, and we have to start preparing for June; another downer. But we seem to be getting some really great ones for next month, so we just need to learn what we can and press forward. Sometimes it seems that the Lord gives you hard times so you can learn to progress yourself, and prove yourself when it counts. In the end, I think we're doing pretty good, so we just need to let come what may, and do our best while it's coming. Everything else is up to the Lord, so just remember the people of Ghana in your prayers, if you would =]
Prince Allotey was confirmed yesterday. He's the nephew of Mummi Aku from March. He was baptized on the 30th, but due to General Conference we had to wait a week (GC was last week for West Africa, if you didn't remember/know).
I've started an interesting project in the Book of Mormon. I took the Book of Mormon Challenge a while back with Pres. Smith, and I've decided to do it again, but with my own twists. I'm reading cover to cover, and highlighting (in different colors) every reference or example of Jesus Christ/Repentance, Faith, Hope, Charity/Love, Patience/Humility, Diligence/Obedience, Knowledge/Virtue, and Wickedness/Sadness/Afflictions (Christlike Attributes, and then the last one being the antithesis therein). I'm then writing in the margins why I marked it, or whatever little thought pops into my head. It's taking a really, really, really long time, but I think I'll really like the results.
For example, there are a lot of little things in the scriptures that can give Hope, if you're truly reading. Such as "Blessed art thou, Nephi;" it shows that, when we obey God's commands, we will be blessed. There's also the part where Nephi tells his father, Lehi, that he will go and do the things the Lord commands. After this, it says "And it came to pass that when my father had heard these words he was exceedingly glad, for he knew that I had been blessed of the Lord" (1 Nephi 3:8). Lehi received hope in his heart for his son Nephi, because he knew that Nephi was being blessed by the Lord. As such, as we see the righteous actions of our children - or friends, or family, etc - we can know that they are being blessed of the Lord as well, and that can give us Hope for them in the future. Thus, we have hope and knowledge all in one little verse of a father being happy. There's a lot more there, too, but I don't have my copy with me; haha.
The point being, when we study the Book of Mormon - and other scriptures as well - for those things we want to find, and ask for help from God in prayer to find it, we will be guided, and our lives and hearts will be touched much more. If you need to feel peace, ask God for help in finding peace, and then read the Book of Mormon; you will find peace. If you need to feel happiness, ask God for help in finding happiness, and then read the Book of Mormon; you will find happiness. If you need support, purpose, love, relief; anything that ails you; ask God for help in finding it, and then read the Book of Mormon. You will find what you are looking for.
I know the Book of Mormon is True. I know that in it is the answer to all of our questions, the relief for all of our problems, the resolve to all of our concerns. I know that, if we read the Book of Mormon, and then ask God "Is the Book of Mormon True?" He will reveal the Truth of it unto us by the power of the Holy Ghost. I know this is True, because I have done this, and my life has been blessed beyond anything I can express because of this knowledge. The peace and comfort that comes from knowing these things are True, from knowing that God is still speaking today through His living prophet, and that through the Priesthood Authority, families can be sealed on earth, and thus in heaven, and be together as a family for all eternity; the peace and comfort that comes from knowing these things gives such great hope that there is nothing in this life that can alter the path or the course of my life, leading back to the presence of God.
"And now,... remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall" (Helaman 5:12).
Of this I testify.
I love you all. Take care, and God bless!
--Elder Collings
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