Dear Family:
Guess who my new companion is! Sister Thacker! Ha ha. No Joke. Sister Gundersen got transferred but Sister T. and I are still together. That means by the end of this mission we will have spent half our missions together. Crazy huh. We love it. I guess you just can’t split a good team. :) We’re sad that Sister Gundersen had to get transferred. However, I know she will do a lot of good in the branch she’s in now. They could use some Sister Gundersen energy!
And thank you! thank you! for all of the birthday love! Even though I skipped the day the rest of the world still lived it so I guess it still counts. The birthday package was wonderful! We loved it! I should have a birthday every week just for the mail. Ha ha.
Let see what happened this week:
Ernest had a baptismal date for the end of the week so we were preparing for that, but because of certain circumstances he postponed it until April. We felt good about that too. A lot has been going on in his life. It’s amazing how when people choose to take the steps the Savior has asked us to Satan literally will unleash his forces. We’ve seen a lot of that with Ernest. However, through it all we’ve seen “many mighty miracles.” For example, his 3 kids got their visas from Ghana to come to the States! It was a miracle and Ernest knows the Lord is looking out for him. I’m excited to meet them when they get here. They will be here for his baptism!
AND Dennis has been committed to be baptized! Dennis is the one that we meet in his barbershop every week. It’s always an adventure. Just picture this hole-in-the-wall store filled with Ghanaians coming in and out and three sister missionaries sitting on old sinking couches trying to teach the gospel. Africans coming in and out, in and out, always sure to give us their personal opinion on the topic we are discussing. And then there is Dennis, sometimes we get him to sit still but like last week I’m pretty sure that during our one hour lesson he gave three haircuts and sold a car. Ha ha. But he listens intently, asks incredible questions and somehow the Spirit is always there ready to teach. It’s a pretty unique experience.
We also started teaching Richard, one of Dennis’s customers who we noticed just “happens” to come in every Monday night at 6pm when we’re there. He’s a good man and has some great observations! We gave him his own Book of Mormon last night and he was really happy.
Dennis’s big question is about authority and who has it. We’ve had some phenomenal lessons about the priesthood and a few weeks back Brother Howard was able to give Dennis a blessing. It makes me so grateful to know that God’s priesthood power IS on the earth today. Think about it, God’s POWER. I guess growing up with the Priesthood in my home I didn’t necessarily grasp the incredible blessing it is. BUT IT IS! Dennis is picking up on it now and we’re really excited. During our lesson last night one of his good friends walked in and told us he was a member. He grew up in Ghana, he’s been a member his whole life, he even served a mission is Africa. He’s name is George. When he told Dennis that he was a member Dennis started telling him off about how he’s known him for four years and he never shared it with him. (That’s my plug for member missionary work!) My favorite line Dennis threw at George last night was when he said, “How can you keep the “good news” in your pocket!” Ha ha. I love these guys! There are good men! Ghanaian’s are truly some of the most faith-filled and trusting people I’ve ever met! They have truly been prepared for the gospel!
Dad just so you know, I told Kate (my sweet Ghanaian sister from Fairfield) that we’d bring her out to Utah and take her to General Conference when I get home. So plan on it. :) And Mom, George told me his mom is the Relief Society President in the Assin Foso 1st Ward in Accra, Ghana. I told him I’d have you talk to Sister Hoffman and see where Elder Hoffman is serving.
I’ll include the picture we took with Dennis, Richard, and George. Dennis is in the front, Richard is in the white and George is on the left of him.
I’ve got to run. Sister T. is patiently waiting for me.
Until next week…
Lots of Love from your favorite sister missionary!
Sister Painter
Dennis, Richard and George. . .
No comments:
Post a Comment