So, big thing this week: baptism! Probably the most hectic one I've ever had, too! The dam here in Ghana exploded or something (the pipe, anyways) so water has been shut off to this area for over a week now, and it's very hard to find any. A long and frustrating story made short and more sweet, we had to go looking for water - after 4 hrs of negotiating - and ended up having to look for a place to do the baptism on the beach! However, this is Teshie, and such a place does not exist. As such, ever-knowing our plight, while we headed out to find a place on the beach, we ran into (almost literally) a water truck as it pulled into the only place in all of Teshie to have water. So, we arranged things, and after a long and cumbersome amount of time, he showed up, we got the font filled (barely, but enough), and had a baptism! Great thing! Edward Akosah was the baptist; that's Eugene Akosah's son! Apparently, he was the first member of the Church, and just returned from a mission 2007 (ok, so not 'just' returned). He also got to do the confirmation. He and his brother were so happy! They didn't think this day would ever come; they've been members for a long time. But it did! It was awesome.
We also got to baptize Michael Opoku. His story, however, is not to sweet. He came here from Nigeria looking for his father. He has yet to find him, and was living with some pastor in the meantime. Now, however, since he got baptized, he was kicked out this morning (Monday). He hasn't been able to find a place to live yet, and so he doesn't know what he's going to do... He refused to postpone baptism though, such was his faith. I find it amazing that some people would sacrifice shelter from the rain (this IS the rainy season, remember?) for the Gospel, whereas others won't even sacrifice 60 minutes of television or sleep to do Home Teaching. It's crazy; he shall be made a better person for it though, and blessed accordingly.
During this week, we had instruction, and I thought about how commitments move us forward in life, and how they're so important to Exaltation and true happiness. We read about the Iron Rod in Lehi's Dream (1 Nephi 8) and how it guided everyone back to God. We read that many people followed it and enjoyed the true happiness and joy - the joy greater than anything else in existence - that comes from the fruit thereof, i.e. the Love of God. Too often, however, we seem to get into the habit of thinking that the strait and narrow path leading back to God is a sort of escalator and not a staircase. Each time we make a commitment or a covenant with God, we connect one more dot leading us back to God. However, it is only when we keep that commitment or covenant that we actually move back to God. Making covenants is not enough; we must keep them if we are to move forward. That is why reading and praying are so important. If we cannot do the small, simple things, how can we be expected to do the larger things? When the test comes, we'll fail. Each time we read, each time we pray, each time we do small and simple things, we take a step along the path. Each time we don't, we slide backwards. There is no 'standing still.'
More often than that, we get tricked into thinking that we've already made it. We grow some, we climb our hills, we ascend up the mountain, but then we reach a plateau. We like the view we see, and we take a rest. We decide "this is good enough" and we stop our ascent. What we often fail to realize is that it is not good enough! We must be always looking for ways to improve. We must be always looking for ways to grow. We must always be looking, and when we find them, we must do them! That is what will lead us to Exaltation. We will not magically be perfected, and instantaneously become the fulness of our capacity, even in the next life. We will have to grow, advance, progress; and we will do so at the rate by which we learn to do in this life. I feel that is what Joseph Smith meant when he said that "Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection. And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come" (D&C 130:18-19). If we can learn how to grow while in this feeble mortal state, we will be able to grow so much faster in the life to come.
I know this Gospel to be True. I know The Book of Mormon is the Word of God. I know that when we follow these teachings, we will find true happiness, both in this life, and in the next. And I know that when we do our best to improve ourselves while in this life, we will grow to become what our Heavenly Father wants us to become. And I know that it is in and through the Atonement of Jesus Christ that we may grow, for attempting to by any other means will not be enough. I love my Savior, and I know that He lives. Read the Book of Mormon, ask God if it is true, and have real intent to follow it when you know of its truth, and you will know in your heart beyond any doubt that it is, through the Power of the Holy Ghost. Of this I testify.
I love you all! Take care!
We also got to baptize Michael Opoku. His story, however, is not to sweet. He came here from Nigeria looking for his father. He has yet to find him, and was living with some pastor in the meantime. Now, however, since he got baptized, he was kicked out this morning (Monday). He hasn't been able to find a place to live yet, and so he doesn't know what he's going to do... He refused to postpone baptism though, such was his faith. I find it amazing that some people would sacrifice shelter from the rain (this IS the rainy season, remember?) for the Gospel, whereas others won't even sacrifice 60 minutes of television or sleep to do Home Teaching. It's crazy; he shall be made a better person for it though, and blessed accordingly.
During this week, we had instruction, and I thought about how commitments move us forward in life, and how they're so important to Exaltation and true happiness. We read about the Iron Rod in Lehi's Dream (1 Nephi 8) and how it guided everyone back to God. We read that many people followed it and enjoyed the true happiness and joy - the joy greater than anything else in existence - that comes from the fruit thereof, i.e. the Love of God. Too often, however, we seem to get into the habit of thinking that the strait and narrow path leading back to God is a sort of escalator and not a staircase. Each time we make a commitment or a covenant with God, we connect one more dot leading us back to God. However, it is only when we keep that commitment or covenant that we actually move back to God. Making covenants is not enough; we must keep them if we are to move forward. That is why reading and praying are so important. If we cannot do the small, simple things, how can we be expected to do the larger things? When the test comes, we'll fail. Each time we read, each time we pray, each time we do small and simple things, we take a step along the path. Each time we don't, we slide backwards. There is no 'standing still.'
More often than that, we get tricked into thinking that we've already made it. We grow some, we climb our hills, we ascend up the mountain, but then we reach a plateau. We like the view we see, and we take a rest. We decide "this is good enough" and we stop our ascent. What we often fail to realize is that it is not good enough! We must be always looking for ways to improve. We must be always looking for ways to grow. We must always be looking, and when we find them, we must do them! That is what will lead us to Exaltation. We will not magically be perfected, and instantaneously become the fulness of our capacity, even in the next life. We will have to grow, advance, progress; and we will do so at the rate by which we learn to do in this life. I feel that is what Joseph Smith meant when he said that "Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection. And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come" (D&C 130:18-19). If we can learn how to grow while in this feeble mortal state, we will be able to grow so much faster in the life to come.
I know this Gospel to be True. I know The Book of Mormon is the Word of God. I know that when we follow these teachings, we will find true happiness, both in this life, and in the next. And I know that when we do our best to improve ourselves while in this life, we will grow to become what our Heavenly Father wants us to become. And I know that it is in and through the Atonement of Jesus Christ that we may grow, for attempting to by any other means will not be enough. I love my Savior, and I know that He lives. Read the Book of Mormon, ask God if it is true, and have real intent to follow it when you know of its truth, and you will know in your heart beyond any doubt that it is, through the Power of the Holy Ghost. Of this I testify.
I love you all! Take care!
Oh - and the picture - Coolest.Shirt.Ever! [Jacob grew up with Sonic the Hedgehog]
--Elder Collings
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