So, this week was interesting. We were able to extend 11 dates! That's great. Sadly, though, it rained Sunday morning, so that means no one came to Sacrament. Ok, well, Justice and Thomas came - Justice even brought his younger brother! - but we can't speak to their parents yet, so we can't do much for them. But it is awesome they're coming! I pray that they'll stay and their families will be able to be brought into the Gospel.
Fun thing, we're teaching a Muslim! Matmoon is his name; he comes from Tamale. His father is Muslim, his mother is Muslim, and his whole family - except his younger brother, who married a Christian and converted. Thus, he has "freedom of worship. Matmoon can be whatever Matmoon chooses to be," is how he put it; haha. And yes, he referred to himself in the third person. It was awesome. His story is that, we contacted him and a big group of friends one night while buying mango. We gave him a Restoration pamphlet, and he read it. He felt something, and really liked it, and had many questions. We had given one of his friends a copy of the Book of Mormon, so Matmoon got it from him and started to read it. He didn't understand it, and got more questions, but he really liked it. He met us and said he wants to know about this, and if we convince him, he'll join 'our church.' We told him it's not our Church, but it's Christ's, and we wont convince him, but God will, through his reading and praying to know if it's true. We then had to explain about "church," Christ, and the Holy Ghost; haha. But he really likes it, and he really wants to understand it. I have high hopes for him.
Now, for Elder Holland! First, I want to talk about the Member Devotional on Wednesday, and then the missionary one on Monday. I'll put here what I sent to Pres. Judd, as he asked for our feelings, etc from Monday in our letter to him today. So, to save time, I'll put what I put there.
On Wednesday, Elder Holland spoke to all the members, and even nonmembers. He spoke about how much he loves Ghana, and talked about how he's had a big hand in the Church history of Ghana. He's the one who walked the grounds and suggested we purchase the grounds on which the temple now stands. He was here when Pres. Hinckley announced the temple, and both times (Mon and Wed.) he mentioned what "electricity" flowed through the Ghanaian people when Pres. Hinckley announced the building of a temple in Ghana. He said he "wept liked a baby" at the amazing presence of the Spirit that was there. He knew it was going to be announced! But he still wept with the people in joy.
He then went on to talk about the story in Acts 3, where a beggar asks Peter and them for money. He mentioned that, at that time, "no one could be more hopeless than the Church and its Apostles when Christ was crucified." He said Peter was probably heading to the temple to receive direction and help, as he and the others now had to direct the Church themselves - through revelation from God, of course, but now Christ wasn't there to answer every question and tell them everything to do.
Anyways, Peter went there and saw the beggar, said his famous line - "Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk" (Acts 3:6) - and then healed the man. He had been crippled for 40 years, and now he was jumping around and everything. Elder Holland pointed out all the verbs that describe what he was doing - jumping, leaping, praising, singing, etc - and talked about how wonderful it was. He then mentioned how Peter "wheeled on the crowd" and kinda finished them for being amazed. Paraphrasing, he said 'How could you be amazed when Christ did this every day? Where were you then?' That day they baptized 5000 souls, and later in the week 3000. The pharisees had a problem with this, and wanted to fight it - but they couldn't. Everyone knew the lame man, and they couldn't argue with the fact that he was now walking and jumping.
Elder Holland spoke on this much more eloquently and inspiring than I have time to type right now, but then he pointed out three things we learn from this story.
1) You can't argue with the evidence. You can talk it away, wish it didn't happen, whatever, but the lame man is still walking, and (for today) the Book of Mormon is still there, and it's the Word of God. Another evidence he mentioned is the lives changed by the Gospel in the Church. He mentioned Gladys Knight and her conversion story (he attended one of her firesides recently), how she saw the change in her children's' lives and couldn't deny it, and was thus converted herself.
2) In this Church, you get more than you bargain for. The man was only hoping for some money - maybe two pence. Or "maybe it was a good day - 1 cedi," was how Elder Holland put it; haha. (That's Ghana's currency). Instead, he got the ability to walk! That's a good bargain. Elder Holland mentioned that, no matter why we joined the Church, God gives us much more than what we were expecting when we join it. This is especially meaningful as most of the people here are 1st or 2nd generation, and suffer much more persecution than we often do back home, in many states.
3) You can't kill this. "There is nothing in all this world that can stop the unfolding of this Kingdom. This Kingdom will roll forth and fill the earth in every nation, kindred, tongue, and people." Just as the Pharisees couldn't kill the work of Christ by simply killing Him, no one can kill this work of Christ's by killing anyone today. It has fallen away in times past, but we have been promised it never will again (see Dan. 2:44). It was a wonderful experience and I'm so thankful I was able to be there as he spoke to the wonderful pioneers of Ghana.
Which brings me to my sharing of what he said on Monday.
What hit me most was what Elder Holland said concerning the tradition and history of missionary work, and specifically what we are doing. He said "You are not free to compromise this tradition!" He later said, "You're making history. You be true to that history...We didn't get to land on the beach with the marines. But you do." His comments that we are working with the pioneers of Ghana and of Africa were in line with the feelings that I've always had since coming on my mission. I've loved the fact that we're working with the pioneers. In my family we have a wonderful tradition, given us from the pioneers. Our ancestors crossed the plains with the Martin and Willie Handcart companies. We have a great love for them and what they did, and I've always seen these people we're now baptizing as the same legacy that children like me will have 4 to 5 generations from now. They will see our converts as we see our pioneer ancestors. My father wrote me something that I've never forgotten since he sent it, and it came to my mind as Elder Holland spoke. If it's OK, I'd like to share it here. My father wrote this to me after reading a talk by Pres. Hinckley concerning Brigham Young sending out help to the Martin and Willie Handcart companies in the October 1856 General Conference. My father wrote,
"Every time I read these stories I am so grateful for the our pioneer ancestors. I get very emotional as it hits to my very soul the impact that their actions have had on me today. I often wondered, What if they had never joined the Church? Would I have been brave enough to have left my family or changed my ways to convert to the gospel? Would I have the strength to withstand the many temptations that are out there if it were not for their example of never giving up? Sometimes as I read the stories and hear the [tales] about their hardships, I feel as though I was there, watching them, urging them on, wanting to help strengthen them, help to push or pull their carts. I 'feel' sometimes the bitter cold to the point that I can no longer feel my toes or fingers. The cold wind as it blows through the tattered and worn thin clothing. I close my eyes and it is [as] though I see the desperation in their eyes wondering if they will make it to the next ridge, the next mile, the next night. I imagine them all huddled together in what shelter they had covered with what few blankets were available to them trying to sleep in the bitter cold, hunger for lack of food. Thinking, will they wake up? only to find some loved one having died in the night because of the cold. I imagine them in this very harsh condition and as I do, my very soul weeps in desperation for them. Then as I look more closely I see in their eyes a fire that burns more brightly than that of the noon day sun. That Fire burns away the bitter cold, the hunger, it strengthens their soul and Spirits. It is their testimony being forged. It is the Holy Ghost. It is the hand of the Lord. I see that Fire burning so brightly as it transforms them into individuals that truly have come to “Know God” in every fiber of their being. It is a Testimony born from the fires of adversity. It is a Testimony for the ages. It is a testimony for us. THAT is our inheritance. They did all this for US. They went through the refiners fire so that we would not have to undergo such trails. When I close my eyes and look into theirs, I see them looking back at me and they are comforting me. It is as though they are saying that it is alright. Do not despair for us. These trails are but a moment in our lives. We are blessed and they did all this because of their love for the Lord, the Gospel and for their prosperity.
I know that someday I will not only have to face the Lord and give an accounting to Him but also my ancestors. I know that they will want an accounting of what I did with their legacy. What did I do with the inheritance, the Testimony that they forged under such hardships and trails. This and the love of my parents and later on my love for your Mom is what has helped me not stray from the paths of the gospel. I know I have stumbled and fallen at times but with the help of your Mother, my children, my parents, my ancestors and our Savior, I have gotten up, I have faced my demons and dragons; my trials and I have overcome and become stronger and closer to the Lord. I know that if something ever happened to me, I have a clear conscious and a worthy spirit.
You have a great heritage from both your Mother and I. Your family tree is intertwined throughout the very early days of the Restoration of the Gospel. Your ancestors have been involved with almost every significant page in the early history of the Church. Your ancestors talked and walked with the Prophet Joseph. Knew Brigham Young and all the other great leaders of the church. You have a great heritage and their legacy and testimonies are there for you to build on and grow. Always be faithful. Always turn to the Lord in gratitude, in sorrow, in joy and happiness and in council. He won’t let you down. Just remember you have a great many members of your family, both those that have already been tried by the trails in this life and those that are waiting to come to earth that are there to help you, encourage you and cheer you on. To me that is a great comfort and also a helpful source of encouragement to do that which is right."
Hearing Elder Holland speak of the love these Ghanaian pioneers have for God, hearing his testimony of the Spirit felt at the announcement of the temple, and hearing him bear testimony and charge us not to compromise this tradition, brought to mind the wonderful love I and my family have for the Gospel, for our ancestors. I owe it to these people to give them the same ancestral heritage of worthy and capable pioneers to look up to, to love, to be strengthened by, and to emulate in days to come, for that is what the Lord has given me, and that is what He expects of me. I'm so thankful for the Book of Mormon. It was the spirit contained in this book that led my ancestors to suffer what they did; their testimony of the truthfulness of this book, and the subsequent love for the Savior and for God that came with it and through their study of it. I owe it to them, to my family, and to my future posterity - and those of everyone I meet in Ghana - to "declare to them what a mission can and ought to be." I feel it can and ought to be "a Book of Mormon mission," and that's what I will do my best to do. These people deserve every blessing I have had, and certainly more. They assuredly suffer greater hardships and trials than I ever have. They deserve this Gospel and the Book of Mormon and the comfort it all brings, as well as the eternal promises for the family.
I'm so thankful for the Lord in giving me the chance to serve here and listen to His servant, Elder Holland.
I love you all! I'm still working on the letters thing. I've been told that I can send envelopes back home; you simply cant send envelopes to me (via pouch, that is). That changes things, so I'm working on it with Pres.
Take care! Read the Book of Mormon every day! Pray about it! God will bless you. Jesus is the Christ, and He stands at the head of this Church. I so testify in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
--Elder Collings
Fun thing, we're teaching a Muslim! Matmoon is his name; he comes from Tamale. His father is Muslim, his mother is Muslim, and his whole family - except his younger brother, who married a Christian and converted. Thus, he has "freedom of worship. Matmoon can be whatever Matmoon chooses to be," is how he put it; haha. And yes, he referred to himself in the third person. It was awesome. His story is that, we contacted him and a big group of friends one night while buying mango. We gave him a Restoration pamphlet, and he read it. He felt something, and really liked it, and had many questions. We had given one of his friends a copy of the Book of Mormon, so Matmoon got it from him and started to read it. He didn't understand it, and got more questions, but he really liked it. He met us and said he wants to know about this, and if we convince him, he'll join 'our church.' We told him it's not our Church, but it's Christ's, and we wont convince him, but God will, through his reading and praying to know if it's true. We then had to explain about "church," Christ, and the Holy Ghost; haha. But he really likes it, and he really wants to understand it. I have high hopes for him.
Now, for Elder Holland! First, I want to talk about the Member Devotional on Wednesday, and then the missionary one on Monday. I'll put here what I sent to Pres. Judd, as he asked for our feelings, etc from Monday in our letter to him today. So, to save time, I'll put what I put there.
On Wednesday, Elder Holland spoke to all the members, and even nonmembers. He spoke about how much he loves Ghana, and talked about how he's had a big hand in the Church history of Ghana. He's the one who walked the grounds and suggested we purchase the grounds on which the temple now stands. He was here when Pres. Hinckley announced the temple, and both times (Mon and Wed.) he mentioned what "electricity" flowed through the Ghanaian people when Pres. Hinckley announced the building of a temple in Ghana. He said he "wept liked a baby" at the amazing presence of the Spirit that was there. He knew it was going to be announced! But he still wept with the people in joy.
He then went on to talk about the story in Acts 3, where a beggar asks Peter and them for money. He mentioned that, at that time, "no one could be more hopeless than the Church and its Apostles when Christ was crucified." He said Peter was probably heading to the temple to receive direction and help, as he and the others now had to direct the Church themselves - through revelation from God, of course, but now Christ wasn't there to answer every question and tell them everything to do.
Anyways, Peter went there and saw the beggar, said his famous line - "Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk" (Acts 3:6) - and then healed the man. He had been crippled for 40 years, and now he was jumping around and everything. Elder Holland pointed out all the verbs that describe what he was doing - jumping, leaping, praising, singing, etc - and talked about how wonderful it was. He then mentioned how Peter "wheeled on the crowd" and kinda finished them for being amazed. Paraphrasing, he said 'How could you be amazed when Christ did this every day? Where were you then?' That day they baptized 5000 souls, and later in the week 3000. The pharisees had a problem with this, and wanted to fight it - but they couldn't. Everyone knew the lame man, and they couldn't argue with the fact that he was now walking and jumping.
Elder Holland spoke on this much more eloquently and inspiring than I have time to type right now, but then he pointed out three things we learn from this story.
1) You can't argue with the evidence. You can talk it away, wish it didn't happen, whatever, but the lame man is still walking, and (for today) the Book of Mormon is still there, and it's the Word of God. Another evidence he mentioned is the lives changed by the Gospel in the Church. He mentioned Gladys Knight and her conversion story (he attended one of her firesides recently), how she saw the change in her children's' lives and couldn't deny it, and was thus converted herself.
2) In this Church, you get more than you bargain for. The man was only hoping for some money - maybe two pence. Or "maybe it was a good day - 1 cedi," was how Elder Holland put it; haha. (That's Ghana's currency). Instead, he got the ability to walk! That's a good bargain. Elder Holland mentioned that, no matter why we joined the Church, God gives us much more than what we were expecting when we join it. This is especially meaningful as most of the people here are 1st or 2nd generation, and suffer much more persecution than we often do back home, in many states.
3) You can't kill this. "There is nothing in all this world that can stop the unfolding of this Kingdom. This Kingdom will roll forth and fill the earth in every nation, kindred, tongue, and people." Just as the Pharisees couldn't kill the work of Christ by simply killing Him, no one can kill this work of Christ's by killing anyone today. It has fallen away in times past, but we have been promised it never will again (see Dan. 2:44). It was a wonderful experience and I'm so thankful I was able to be there as he spoke to the wonderful pioneers of Ghana.
Which brings me to my sharing of what he said on Monday.
What hit me most was what Elder Holland said concerning the tradition and history of missionary work, and specifically what we are doing. He said "You are not free to compromise this tradition!" He later said, "You're making history. You be true to that history...We didn't get to land on the beach with the marines. But you do." His comments that we are working with the pioneers of Ghana and of Africa were in line with the feelings that I've always had since coming on my mission. I've loved the fact that we're working with the pioneers. In my family we have a wonderful tradition, given us from the pioneers. Our ancestors crossed the plains with the Martin and Willie Handcart companies. We have a great love for them and what they did, and I've always seen these people we're now baptizing as the same legacy that children like me will have 4 to 5 generations from now. They will see our converts as we see our pioneer ancestors. My father wrote me something that I've never forgotten since he sent it, and it came to my mind as Elder Holland spoke. If it's OK, I'd like to share it here. My father wrote this to me after reading a talk by Pres. Hinckley concerning Brigham Young sending out help to the Martin and Willie Handcart companies in the October 1856 General Conference. My father wrote,
"Every time I read these stories I am so grateful for the our pioneer ancestors. I get very emotional as it hits to my very soul the impact that their actions have had on me today. I often wondered, What if they had never joined the Church? Would I have been brave enough to have left my family or changed my ways to convert to the gospel? Would I have the strength to withstand the many temptations that are out there if it were not for their example of never giving up? Sometimes as I read the stories and hear the [tales] about their hardships, I feel as though I was there, watching them, urging them on, wanting to help strengthen them, help to push or pull their carts. I 'feel' sometimes the bitter cold to the point that I can no longer feel my toes or fingers. The cold wind as it blows through the tattered and worn thin clothing. I close my eyes and it is [as] though I see the desperation in their eyes wondering if they will make it to the next ridge, the next mile, the next night. I imagine them all huddled together in what shelter they had covered with what few blankets were available to them trying to sleep in the bitter cold, hunger for lack of food. Thinking, will they wake up? only to find some loved one having died in the night because of the cold. I imagine them in this very harsh condition and as I do, my very soul weeps in desperation for them. Then as I look more closely I see in their eyes a fire that burns more brightly than that of the noon day sun. That Fire burns away the bitter cold, the hunger, it strengthens their soul and Spirits. It is their testimony being forged. It is the Holy Ghost. It is the hand of the Lord. I see that Fire burning so brightly as it transforms them into individuals that truly have come to “Know God” in every fiber of their being. It is a Testimony born from the fires of adversity. It is a Testimony for the ages. It is a testimony for us. THAT is our inheritance. They did all this for US. They went through the refiners fire so that we would not have to undergo such trails. When I close my eyes and look into theirs, I see them looking back at me and they are comforting me. It is as though they are saying that it is alright. Do not despair for us. These trails are but a moment in our lives. We are blessed and they did all this because of their love for the Lord, the Gospel and for their prosperity.
I know that someday I will not only have to face the Lord and give an accounting to Him but also my ancestors. I know that they will want an accounting of what I did with their legacy. What did I do with the inheritance, the Testimony that they forged under such hardships and trails. This and the love of my parents and later on my love for your Mom is what has helped me not stray from the paths of the gospel. I know I have stumbled and fallen at times but with the help of your Mother, my children, my parents, my ancestors and our Savior, I have gotten up, I have faced my demons and dragons; my trials and I have overcome and become stronger and closer to the Lord. I know that if something ever happened to me, I have a clear conscious and a worthy spirit.
You have a great heritage from both your Mother and I. Your family tree is intertwined throughout the very early days of the Restoration of the Gospel. Your ancestors have been involved with almost every significant page in the early history of the Church. Your ancestors talked and walked with the Prophet Joseph. Knew Brigham Young and all the other great leaders of the church. You have a great heritage and their legacy and testimonies are there for you to build on and grow. Always be faithful. Always turn to the Lord in gratitude, in sorrow, in joy and happiness and in council. He won’t let you down. Just remember you have a great many members of your family, both those that have already been tried by the trails in this life and those that are waiting to come to earth that are there to help you, encourage you and cheer you on. To me that is a great comfort and also a helpful source of encouragement to do that which is right."
Hearing Elder Holland speak of the love these Ghanaian pioneers have for God, hearing his testimony of the Spirit felt at the announcement of the temple, and hearing him bear testimony and charge us not to compromise this tradition, brought to mind the wonderful love I and my family have for the Gospel, for our ancestors. I owe it to these people to give them the same ancestral heritage of worthy and capable pioneers to look up to, to love, to be strengthened by, and to emulate in days to come, for that is what the Lord has given me, and that is what He expects of me. I'm so thankful for the Book of Mormon. It was the spirit contained in this book that led my ancestors to suffer what they did; their testimony of the truthfulness of this book, and the subsequent love for the Savior and for God that came with it and through their study of it. I owe it to them, to my family, and to my future posterity - and those of everyone I meet in Ghana - to "declare to them what a mission can and ought to be." I feel it can and ought to be "a Book of Mormon mission," and that's what I will do my best to do. These people deserve every blessing I have had, and certainly more. They assuredly suffer greater hardships and trials than I ever have. They deserve this Gospel and the Book of Mormon and the comfort it all brings, as well as the eternal promises for the family.
I'm so thankful for the Lord in giving me the chance to serve here and listen to His servant, Elder Holland.
I love you all! I'm still working on the letters thing. I've been told that I can send envelopes back home; you simply cant send envelopes to me (via pouch, that is). That changes things, so I'm working on it with Pres.
Take care! Read the Book of Mormon every day! Pray about it! God will bless you. Jesus is the Christ, and He stands at the head of this Church. I so testify in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
--Elder Collings
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