Tempting to make a cliche here, but I refrain. Anyway, big things this week: AP's came to District Meeting this week to redraw the District boundaries for the areas. We're now moving the Teshie II Elders to Teshie III, which will be the Teshie 3rd Ward boundaries, and moving the Teshie III Sisters to Teshie II, which will be the new Teshie 2nd Ward boundaries. We're staying here in Teshie I, with Teshie 1st. My area just got a lot smaller; haha.
Speaking of "we," Elder Malley got transferred. I told him that would happen; it's the pattern I've had my whole mission so far. I'm expecting to have my new companion for 2 transfers, and then get a new one. Speaking of which, my new companion is Elder Berry. He's from Utah, 15 min north of Provo or there about. He's coming from Odorkor, my old Zone Leaders' Area. Elder Kanu was transferred back to Cantoments, and now we have Elder Sesay here with Elder Chambers. It should be interesting; Sis. Udoh, by the way, is training. Her name is Sis. Oni, from Nigeria. Half the Zone, apparently, got transferred; every single companionship except the Zone Leaders got changed. Elder Schmidt (my Zone Leader; remember him from Korle-Bu?) was quite surprised, since Elder Berry (the AP, not my companion) told him the Zone would be pretty much untouched this transfer. Guess not; haha.
Now to the next item! We had a baptism! It was great. Celestina Agblewodea (have fun sayin' that one!) and Angela Ojoe got baptized, as well as Nora and Nancy Mantey from Teshie III. It was confusing because of the Ward split, but it all got taken care of. It was also weird, because I had to preside. The Stake Presidency, High Councilors, etc etc etc all had funerals and stuff and couldn't attend, so Pres. told me to go ahead with it and Elder Schmidt said I'd be the one presiding. It was a neat experience; I got to say the closing remarks, which was nice. I really love the Book of Mormon; it makes things so much easier to understand; the covenants we make at baptism (Mosiah 18), the expectations of God for us after baptism (2 Nephi 31), the purpose of baptism and who needs to be baptized (Moroni 8); and countless other things. All of it in The Book of Mormon. I love it so! There is power and clarity in The Book of Mormon that is in no other book. It truly is incredible. The Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price are wonderful too, and the Bible is priceless, but The Book of Mormon stands out among them all as the keystone, the fruit, the proof of all that the Lord has done in these last days. Truly, a man will grow closer to God by abiding by the precepts found in The Book of Mormon than by any other book.
That's about it! Things are going somehow well. July is looking pretty good. Oh! I gave a talk on Sunday (yesterday). Bishop asked Elder Berry and I to give a talk. Elder Berry talked on Faith, and I talked on "Seek Ye First The Kingdom of God." We weren't assigned any topic; Bishop said he didn't want to tell the Spirit what we should talk about, so he gave us the assignment 'like a General Conference address, but to less people.' It went well. Afterward, I was told by a lot of members that they really liked my talk. I talked about how we are told to "seek ye first to build up the kingdom of God" (JST - Matt. 6:33). We do that by Building Others - Missionary Work, Building Members - Home / Visiting Teaching, and Building Ourselves - Scripture Study, mainly The Book of Mormon 5 min a day (at least). I then emphasized how we need to seek to do these things first. When speaking of work or school getting in the way of doing God's work, I quoted my old Mc'Carthy Hill Stake Pres. in this (ok, I paraphrased; I couldn't remember the exact quote):
"God gave you those things. Don't tell God that the things He has blessed you with are stopping you from doing His Work. God's Work is more important. If work or school is stopping you from doing God's Work, He can just as easily take them away! Then you'll have all the time in the world to do His Work."
A lot of the members really liked the talk. Elder and Sister Paige (couple missionaries in the Ward, from...Utah or something) especially liked it, as well as the recently returned missionaries we have in our ward. Bishop also seemed really happy about it. In the end, it tied very nicely with each other, and really helped when, during the third hour, Elder Paige instructed on "Know, Do, Become." He talked about how we have to become what God wants, and not just Do or Know what He wants us to do or know. He was able to use examples from my talk to help emphasize points, and it all worked out very well. I was quite happy with everything.
I know this Church is true. It is Jesus Christ's Church. He is the head of it. He leads it. He inspires His people to speak, say, and do what He wants done in this world. It is the only church wherein this takes place; it is the only church wherein this can take place, as it is the only church wherein the Priesthood Authority of God may be found. I know The Book of Mormon is the Word of God. It contains what men must do to gain peace in this life and eternal salvation in the life to come. I know Joseph Smith was, is, and every will be a true prophet. And I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Savior and Redeemer of the world. I know these things to be true. And if you will but read The Book of Mormon, ponder the message it contains in your heart, and then ask God in the name of Jesus Christ if it is true, He will surely reveal the truth of it unto you by the power of the Holy Ghost. Of this I testify.
I love you all! Take care, and may God bless!
PS: For the letters, I'm going to start typing them, and sending them that way. I don't hand-write very well, and I have little time to do that. But if I type, then I can get plenty in. Hope that's ok with everyone! Know that it doesn't take away any love from it! I prefer to type anyways (computer guy here, remember?) so it's more personal that way; haha.
--Elder Collings
Speaking of "we," Elder Malley got transferred. I told him that would happen; it's the pattern I've had my whole mission so far. I'm expecting to have my new companion for 2 transfers, and then get a new one. Speaking of which, my new companion is Elder Berry. He's from Utah, 15 min north of Provo or there about. He's coming from Odorkor, my old Zone Leaders' Area. Elder Kanu was transferred back to Cantoments, and now we have Elder Sesay here with Elder Chambers. It should be interesting; Sis. Udoh, by the way, is training. Her name is Sis. Oni, from Nigeria. Half the Zone, apparently, got transferred; every single companionship except the Zone Leaders got changed. Elder Schmidt (my Zone Leader; remember him from Korle-Bu?) was quite surprised, since Elder Berry (the AP, not my companion) told him the Zone would be pretty much untouched this transfer. Guess not; haha.
Now to the next item! We had a baptism! It was great. Celestina Agblewodea (have fun sayin' that one!) and Angela Ojoe got baptized, as well as Nora and Nancy Mantey from Teshie III. It was confusing because of the Ward split, but it all got taken care of. It was also weird, because I had to preside. The Stake Presidency, High Councilors, etc etc etc all had funerals and stuff and couldn't attend, so Pres. told me to go ahead with it and Elder Schmidt said I'd be the one presiding. It was a neat experience; I got to say the closing remarks, which was nice. I really love the Book of Mormon; it makes things so much easier to understand; the covenants we make at baptism (Mosiah 18), the expectations of God for us after baptism (2 Nephi 31), the purpose of baptism and who needs to be baptized (Moroni 8); and countless other things. All of it in The Book of Mormon. I love it so! There is power and clarity in The Book of Mormon that is in no other book. It truly is incredible. The Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price are wonderful too, and the Bible is priceless, but The Book of Mormon stands out among them all as the keystone, the fruit, the proof of all that the Lord has done in these last days. Truly, a man will grow closer to God by abiding by the precepts found in The Book of Mormon than by any other book.
That's about it! Things are going somehow well. July is looking pretty good. Oh! I gave a talk on Sunday (yesterday). Bishop asked Elder Berry and I to give a talk. Elder Berry talked on Faith, and I talked on "Seek Ye First The Kingdom of God." We weren't assigned any topic; Bishop said he didn't want to tell the Spirit what we should talk about, so he gave us the assignment 'like a General Conference address, but to less people.' It went well. Afterward, I was told by a lot of members that they really liked my talk. I talked about how we are told to "seek ye first to build up the kingdom of God" (JST - Matt. 6:33). We do that by Building Others - Missionary Work, Building Members - Home / Visiting Teaching, and Building Ourselves - Scripture Study, mainly The Book of Mormon 5 min a day (at least). I then emphasized how we need to seek to do these things first. When speaking of work or school getting in the way of doing God's work, I quoted my old Mc'Carthy Hill Stake Pres. in this (ok, I paraphrased; I couldn't remember the exact quote):
"God gave you those things. Don't tell God that the things He has blessed you with are stopping you from doing His Work. God's Work is more important. If work or school is stopping you from doing God's Work, He can just as easily take them away! Then you'll have all the time in the world to do His Work."
A lot of the members really liked the talk. Elder and Sister Paige (couple missionaries in the Ward, from...Utah or something) especially liked it, as well as the recently returned missionaries we have in our ward. Bishop also seemed really happy about it. In the end, it tied very nicely with each other, and really helped when, during the third hour, Elder Paige instructed on "Know, Do, Become." He talked about how we have to become what God wants, and not just Do or Know what He wants us to do or know. He was able to use examples from my talk to help emphasize points, and it all worked out very well. I was quite happy with everything.
I know this Church is true. It is Jesus Christ's Church. He is the head of it. He leads it. He inspires His people to speak, say, and do what He wants done in this world. It is the only church wherein this takes place; it is the only church wherein this can take place, as it is the only church wherein the Priesthood Authority of God may be found. I know The Book of Mormon is the Word of God. It contains what men must do to gain peace in this life and eternal salvation in the life to come. I know Joseph Smith was, is, and every will be a true prophet. And I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Savior and Redeemer of the world. I know these things to be true. And if you will but read The Book of Mormon, ponder the message it contains in your heart, and then ask God in the name of Jesus Christ if it is true, He will surely reveal the truth of it unto you by the power of the Holy Ghost. Of this I testify.
I love you all! Take care, and may God bless!
PS: For the letters, I'm going to start typing them, and sending them that way. I don't hand-write very well, and I have little time to do that. But if I type, then I can get plenty in. Hope that's ok with everyone! Know that it doesn't take away any love from it! I prefer to type anyways (computer guy here, remember?) so it's more personal that way; haha.
--Elder Collings
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