So, this week, we had a baptism! Matthew Osaghea, Michael Opoku's friend and roommate, got baptized! He was especially excited to receive the Priesthood; he's already wanting to prepare to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood. Also, Angela (from June or July, remember?) came! She had missed some few weeks due to work or something, but she came this week and Bishop talked with her to see how she was doing, and I think things will be ok now.
So, fun story: we've been teaching a guy named Oscar Bawa for some time. He really likes the Book of Mormon, and even has a brother in Osu (I think I mentioned him before; his 'other' name is Joseph Atie; long story, but he actually goes by Oscar, apparently). He came to Church last Sunday, possibly at the cost of his job, and really enjoyed it. We met him during the week to follow up and teach some things, and he brought up baptism (he had a date). He asked if it's good to be baptized more than once. Normally, we respond "yes, it's fine" and talk about priesthood authority and whatnot, but in this instance we felt differently. We asked him what he meant (never done that before; haha) and he mentioned that he's been baptized before, and he found the certificate just last week while looking through the dictionary (odd place to find it, but hey!). We looked at it, and low and behold, it was a baptismal certificate for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, into the Newtown Ward, back in July 2007. He was baptized when he was living with his brother! He simply became inactive when he moved. We've introduced him to the EQP and now he should be able to return to activity! It was quite the interesting experience; not too many people fail to mention that they've been baptized into the Church when we meet them; hahaha.
For this week, I don't have much time, but I would like to testify to the power of prayer, and the wise purposes of God's Will according to His time coupled with complete devotion to that Will.
For the first, let me say in short that I know prayer is a two-way communication with God. He will answer you; you simply must trust Him enough and be willing to listen to Him. He may not answer how you want Him to, but He will answer that which is best for you. I have posted about this before (see "On Bended Knee") and I reaffirm my testimony therein.
For the later, I wish I had more time for this, and I will probably write a more full account on it at some future time, perhaps a Points of Ponder blog entry when I return home, but what I can write now will have to suffice.
Allow me to start by stating that "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven" (Eccl. 3:1). God has a plan, and it is the greatest plan in existence. Nothing can thwart that plan, and if we follow that plan, we will receive complete joy. Our part in that plan is to find out what God wills for us at this time in our lives. We need to prayerfully inquire of Him that which we must do, for "whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him" (Eccl. 3:14).
Once we know the work that God requires of us, we must set about doing it. We must not let ourselves be diverted and distracted by the storms and the wiles of the devil. We must stay concentrated; we must keep an eye single to the glory of God. Remember, "faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work" (D&C 4:5). That work does not simply mean missionary work; it means the work of God, in each of our lives. We cannot fear those things yet to come; they are not part of this time, or this season. We cannot worry about that which we do not understand, nor those things which we feel cannot come to pass, either due to worldly situations, or personal imperfections. Remember the promise of the Lord:
"Therefore, thrust in your sickle with all your soul, and your sins are forgiven you, and you shall be laden with sheaves upon your back, for the laborer is worthy of his hire" (D&C 31:5).
Remember that nothing can be taken from the Lord. If we keep our minds, our pursuits, our ambitions, and our work all devoted to God, to His Will, to His Work, going forth with an eye single to the glory of God, we will receive all things that have been promised us, even since before the foundation of the world.
I know these things to be true. I am so thankful for a loving Heavenly Father who teaches them to me, and for loving parents who prepared me and taught me how to gain this knowledge for myself, that I might be ready to receive it. I know that if we study the scriptures, pray to God, and do our best to perform our labors in this our time and season, we will be blessed, and our sins will be forgiven.
For more on this topic, you can wait until I write a blog on it, or you can go read "Trust in the Lord with All Thine Heart" and do your own scripture study. I suggest the later; haha.
I love you all! Take care! Read The Book of Mormon daily!
--Elder Collings
So, fun story: we've been teaching a guy named Oscar Bawa for some time. He really likes the Book of Mormon, and even has a brother in Osu (I think I mentioned him before; his 'other' name is Joseph Atie; long story, but he actually goes by Oscar, apparently). He came to Church last Sunday, possibly at the cost of his job, and really enjoyed it. We met him during the week to follow up and teach some things, and he brought up baptism (he had a date). He asked if it's good to be baptized more than once. Normally, we respond "yes, it's fine" and talk about priesthood authority and whatnot, but in this instance we felt differently. We asked him what he meant (never done that before; haha) and he mentioned that he's been baptized before, and he found the certificate just last week while looking through the dictionary (odd place to find it, but hey!). We looked at it, and low and behold, it was a baptismal certificate for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, into the Newtown Ward, back in July 2007. He was baptized when he was living with his brother! He simply became inactive when he moved. We've introduced him to the EQP and now he should be able to return to activity! It was quite the interesting experience; not too many people fail to mention that they've been baptized into the Church when we meet them; hahaha.
For this week, I don't have much time, but I would like to testify to the power of prayer, and the wise purposes of God's Will according to His time coupled with complete devotion to that Will.
For the first, let me say in short that I know prayer is a two-way communication with God. He will answer you; you simply must trust Him enough and be willing to listen to Him. He may not answer how you want Him to, but He will answer that which is best for you. I have posted about this before (see "On Bended Knee") and I reaffirm my testimony therein.
For the later, I wish I had more time for this, and I will probably write a more full account on it at some future time, perhaps a Points of Ponder blog entry when I return home, but what I can write now will have to suffice.
Allow me to start by stating that "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven" (Eccl. 3:1). God has a plan, and it is the greatest plan in existence. Nothing can thwart that plan, and if we follow that plan, we will receive complete joy. Our part in that plan is to find out what God wills for us at this time in our lives. We need to prayerfully inquire of Him that which we must do, for "whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him" (Eccl. 3:14).
Once we know the work that God requires of us, we must set about doing it. We must not let ourselves be diverted and distracted by the storms and the wiles of the devil. We must stay concentrated; we must keep an eye single to the glory of God. Remember, "faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work" (D&C 4:5). That work does not simply mean missionary work; it means the work of God, in each of our lives. We cannot fear those things yet to come; they are not part of this time, or this season. We cannot worry about that which we do not understand, nor those things which we feel cannot come to pass, either due to worldly situations, or personal imperfections. Remember the promise of the Lord:
"Therefore, thrust in your sickle with all your soul, and your sins are forgiven you, and you shall be laden with sheaves upon your back, for the laborer is worthy of his hire" (D&C 31:5).
Remember that nothing can be taken from the Lord. If we keep our minds, our pursuits, our ambitions, and our work all devoted to God, to His Will, to His Work, going forth with an eye single to the glory of God, we will receive all things that have been promised us, even since before the foundation of the world.
I know these things to be true. I am so thankful for a loving Heavenly Father who teaches them to me, and for loving parents who prepared me and taught me how to gain this knowledge for myself, that I might be ready to receive it. I know that if we study the scriptures, pray to God, and do our best to perform our labors in this our time and season, we will be blessed, and our sins will be forgiven.
For more on this topic, you can wait until I write a blog on it, or you can go read "Trust in the Lord with All Thine Heart" and do your own scripture study. I suggest the later; haha.
I love you all! Take care! Read The Book of Mormon daily!
--Elder Collings
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