11/13/2023

Hello Elder Dube🇿🇼

It was a good week, and a busy one. So my new companion is Elder Dube, who is from Zimbabwe. He is a grade A slime🤑. He came from my old area Kalpohin, Tamale, and we are here in Education Ridge, Tamale. We are the zone leaders here in Tamale too so that is what is making us busy. We had to hit an 8 hour bus ride to Kumasi to go to MLC, and then pick up 3 new missionaries that are getting trained in Bolga🟢. They had a lot of questions... especially the two Americans. The other one is Nigerian. It was good to see some new missionaries eager to learn, they will do great!! We also got to eat some fire food down in Kumasi!🍕

Yesterday we were able to get in some finding after church. We said a prayer that the Lord would bless us with someone who is prepared for this message. We decided to pass by this house where we were teaching someone named sister Caroline. She wasn't around, but her brother, Anthony, was there. I had met him one other time, and he didn't say much. This time he was happy to talk to us, offered us chairs and sat down with us. He had great questions about repentance and baptism and we were able to teach him. 

We still have Barginton on baptismal date. His little brother and his aunt also want to be baptized now. We have a goal to give both of them a baptismal date this week as well. Other than that we were able to find a couple of new people this week, and sort out some people who are not serious. I'm happy to be here in Education Ridge with Elder Dube. The members here at the branch are amazing at helping us with the missionary work!

I really enjoyed MLC on Friday. These are some of the things I learned as I studied about this question that was asked. What is the rebirth and power of baptism? Rebirth: Mosiah 3:16 Moses 6:54–55, 59–60 The rebirth of baptism is necessary because sin falls upon us naturally because as we grow up sin concieves in our hearts. The purpose of baptism is to be born again, born in to fulfilling the commandments. Power: John 1:12–13 Doctrine and Covenants 11:30 We recieve Christ through baptism, and then we are given power to become the sons of God. Only through Christ can we become like the father. We are given power to access the blood of the atonement of Jesus Christ. Romans 1:4 Power when teaching or declaring something comes from the Spirit of holiness. Holiness comes from fulfilling commandments, and keeping covenants. 

- Elder Willden

11/06/2023 

Bye Bye Elder Sehi

Elder Sehi finished his mission and he's going home. I'll miss the homie for sure!!

On Monday last week we had an appointment fall through. We decided to go and visit one of our friends instead. On the way we met a sister named Betty who is a single Mom. She seemed very happy to meet us, and we were able to tell her what we do, and get a return appointment. Since then we have started teaching her, and hopefully this week she will come to church. 

We had the baptism service for sister Dorcas and brother Joe after church yesterday. I am so happy for both of them. They have come a long way and I'm excited to see how the progress in the church. We also were able to have Bargainton, his aunt Elizabeth, his little brother Elton, and our other friend sister Gifty attend church, and the baptismal service. They all loved it. Bargainton is on date and we hope to put his brother and aunt on date as well. Sister Gifty also loved the service. It has been awhile since we've taught her because she's been travelling, but she is back now so we will get opportunities to teach her this week. 

In a talk by Elder Boyd K. Packer given in 1983 I found a new insight that helped me understand D&C 98:12. It says, "For he will give unto the faithful line upon line, precept upon precept; and I will try you and prove you herewith.". Elder Packer shares a story about when he was a mission president, he was prompted to release one of his counselors. He spent time trying to seek guidance as to who to replace him with and why he should do it, and he recieved no guidance. Later on he decided to act on the previous prompting and release him. It blessed the life of the man, and he then recieved more guidance from the spirit as to who to call, and it all worked out. We can apply this into our lives as well. When we recieve a prompting, we need to act, and trust that more will come. If we sit and wait for more revelation, nothing will come. It comes line upon line, precept upon precept.

- Elder Willden 

10/30/2023

We have a friend named sister Dorcas, who was on baptismal date, but backed out of it because she had a couple of concerns. She didn't come to church since then until district conference. She came to church yesterday, and told us that she wants to be baptized now. When she stopped coming, the Spirit still worked on her. Her concerns were minor, and pretty easy to resolve once she decided to talk about it with us. 

We were able to get Bargainton and Dorcas on baptismal date. We also want to give Elton, Bargaintons brother, a baptismal date, but we want to wait until their mother returns so we can talk with her and hopefully start teaching her. We are also going to meet with Joe this week and our hope is to give him a baptismal date as well. We are having success in finding as well. We were able to teach two new families, and start teaching a part member family. Our friend Joe brought one of his friends named Mary to church on Sunday, and she is excited to meet with us and learn. The Lord is blessing us with people to teach right now.

While reading the Book of Mormon in Mosiah 11:29 it reads "Now the eyes of the people were blinded; therefore they hardened their hearts against the words of Abinadi". How were their eyes blinded? Jacob 4:14 and John 7:51-52 helped me answer my question. The eyes of the people were blinded because they were looking beyond the mark. They justified their actions by claiming they kept the law. Because of this their hearts where hard against the plainness of the gospel that Abinadi preached to them.

-Elder Willden

10/23/2023

Family Reunion

On Saturday I was on exchange with Elder Bloomfield. We were knocking doors. Behind one of the doors we knocked was a man named Mutala Muhammed. He immediately gave us chairs, and wanted to learn with us. He cares deeply about his family, and we started talking about prayer. After talking for a minute, we found out he was muslim. He doesn't go to pray at the mosque very much, but he told us he does personal prayer and family prayer and asks God for blessings. We ended up teaching him about prayer, and got a return appointment to talk about how families can be united through eternity by priesthood authority. His family wasn't around, but he's married and has five kids. I am excited to meet them.

This week was amazing. The Lord is blessing us with people to teach. You were able to meet Bargainton and his brother Elton at church today. We plan to put Bargainton on date this week. We also will be going to talk to Joe this week about his situation. We have a referal from our member named Patricia. When we went to see her we met her sister, Pamela, who is also very interested. We will invite them to church this week. One of our progressing people named Gifty returns home from traveling this week, and is coming to church on Sunday as well. 

In D&C 100: 7-8, I learned that if we preach the gospel with a soft and steady heart, having the spirit of meekness, the Holy Ghost will testify of the truth. When teaching, we should never get angry or upset, if we do, the spirit of meekness is gone, you harden your heart towards the person, and the Holy Ghost cannot testify to their heart. In short, never bash. 

This Sunday we had District Conference. Elder Kaku from Cape Coast and the area seventy was presiding. I got to see all of my old friends from Kalpohin at the conference. The Tamale district also includes Bolgatanga branches, so they were also there. My guy brother Evans, who me and Elder Ncenga baptized was there and the craziest thing happened. His brother and his family from Bolga came, and his sister. They have been members since 2018 and didn't know that Evans joined the church. It was awesome to see how happy they were to see each other, and to see that Evans had been baptized!

-Elder Willden

10/16/2023 

Mud on the Tires 🚲

I'll tell you all right now we've been on bike all day everyday and my phone is in my bag so I have been terrible at taking pictures. Anyways Tamale roads during the rainy season are not nice. Because it is pretty flat here, everything is mud and puddles. There were a couple of nights this week we got back to the apartment, and I have mud up to my knees. It has been awesome though riding bikes through puddles and praying they aren't that deep🤣. It is starting to dry up though, and we are getting to dry season. Bring on the heat🥲🫠.

This week we went to a return appointment of a man we started teaching named Bargainton. He wasn't around, but his sister, Elizabeth, was in the house. She was super interested in our message and we started teaching her about covenants. It was a great lesson. Next time we go there we will get to teach both of them. 

It was a good week. We have a sister we are teaching named sister Gifty and she is awesome. She always keeps commitments. She has some family business to attend to so she will travel for a couple of weeks, but when she get back she will come to church. We also are working with a married couple. Their names are Sam and Janet. They were referred to us by our relief society president and they are very interested in the message and want to learn. We also have high hopes for them. We have a lot of people we are teaching that can only meet once or twice a week so we get to find a lot. As we have prayed in faith before going to find, we have always found someone to teach or serve. 

In Mosiah 2:5-6 I thought it was interesting that instead of just saying the people gathered to hear the words of king Benjamin, it says the families gathered, and pitched their tents with the doors facing the temple. It spoke to me that we should always "face the temple" or look towards our covenants made in the temple. The covenants we make in the temple should be the focus of our lives and always be where we are facing. As soon as we turn away, we do not get the promised blessings from those covenants, and will lead to unhappiness and misery. I thought it was interesting that king Benjamin talks about how they can be happy as families, while they are facing the temple. Always facing our covenants made in the temple to me is "thinking Celestial".

-Elder Willden

10/09/2023

Knock Knock 🚪

First time knocking doors during my whole mission this week, and it was actually awesome too see the results. Usually we contact in public, and get plenty referrals from members. Anyways we found some solid people doing it, so I will definitely apply it until I come home.

On Wednesday we went to teach one of our friends named Vida. She wasn't around, but we talked to one guy in the compound named George. We got to know him and became friends. He was super interested in our message. We came back to teach him the next day and had an amazing lesson with him.

This week I was able to get to know a lot of the members and the people that are being taught here. The Lord also magnified our finding efforts. The Lord led us to find a good amount of new people to teach this week, especially through knocking doors, which was awesome. I'm really excited about two of them, George and Bargainton. We also recieved two other referals. There's a lot of good potential here. The members are solid and they are good at helping us with lessons, and making friends with those we are teaching, and those who were visiting church. 

In Omni 1:25 Amaleki delivers the plates to king Benjamin, and exhorts us come unto Christ, and obtain gifts of the Spirit, and all things that are good. He says the things which are good come from the Lord, and those that are not are from the devil. As I've thought about this scripture, I realized the devil is doing everything he can to confuse that line between good and evil, trying to distort, or copy these gifts of the Spirit. That is why it is so important to study these gifts, and pray for the gift of discernment. By doing so as missionaries we can also help those we meet with to see the line between good and evil as well. It will also help us to discern the needs of those we teach, and apply these gifts to ourselves. 

-Elder Willden

10/03/2023

Back in Tamale☀️🕌☪️🕋

This week, before I left on transfer, I was able to see all of the people I love in Bekwai. The first sister that we baptized while I was there named Ernestina, told me she wants the temple ordinances so bad, and will continue to prepare until she has been a member for a year. Finding her was a miracle. The Lord brought her to His fold, and she has found true joy and hope in the gospel. 

With transfers this week I don't have much to say. It has been an awesome couple of days here with Elder Sehi so far. I am excited to get back to work in Tamale. My goal is to have a stronger focus on Christ, and extend inspired invitations to church when the Spirit is present. This is the Lord's work. I am happy to be a part of it. I love the people here in Tamale with all my heart. That is something I don't want to forget about when adversity hits, and it will. 

President Nelson's conference message has really touched me. Think Celestial. These are a few of my favorite points from the talk.

- Service and worship in the temple builds faith and changes your desires.

- Do not let an obsession or addiction rob you of your freedom to follow God's plan.

- As you focus on thinking Celestial, expect opposition.

- As you think Celestial your heart will gradually change.

- Invision eternal rewards instead of focusing on pains of the day.

- Prayers should be a living discussion with God.

- The Lord's response to my prayers can help me to think Celestial.

I already dropped a bunch of pictures. Will drop more next week. I am excited because we have bikes in my new area!! We are about to grind! It's good to be back in Tamale, even though the sun will kill you here. 

-Elder Willden

09/29/2023

Mɛ kɔ Tamale bio🕌☪️🕋

What is up everyone? Chillin at the mission office right now and I was able to upload pics from the past few weeks. I am getting transferred back to the Muslim capital of Ghana! 

🎶allah ackbar🎶 

-Elder Willden

09/23/2023

💓👁

After church on Sunday we felt that we should visit one of our recent converts who's name is Richard. He hasn't been doing well lately. We were able to visit with him and give him a blessing. Right after we gave him a blessing one of his friends came to visit him. His name is Bright, and he was interested to know us and asked if he could get an appointment to learn with us. He said he hasn't gone to church in two years but wants to start again. 

This week was not easy. I got pink eye in my left eye, and then it moved to the right eye as well. It didn't go away until Saturday. Elder Lui was also having a knee problem and couldn't walk for a couple of days. On Friday night, and Saturday we were finally able to get out to proselyte for the first time since Tuesday. Saturday morning our recent convert named George called us. He had a friend visiting him and she wanted us to come and learn with her. Her name was Ruth and we were able to start teaching her. We also had our friends Jude, Elvis, Margeret, and her daughter Eliza at church on Sunday. We asked our member sister Grace to talk to sister Margeret at church on Sunday to explain that we are trying to help her progress towards baptism. Sister Grace said that Margeret understood and agreed to see us and learn with us and she said she wants to baptize in two weeks. I hope she follows through! 

This week along with PMG I studied diligence and faithfulness. Exodus 15:26 is the first scripture in the topical guide under diligence. If we diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord we are protected from the diseases of the world. We can apply this both spiritually and physically. When we are diligent, specifically in repentance, we are strengthened by the Lord to avoid temptation, and to overcome temptation because we are focused on Jesus Christ and God's will. The Lord is able to heal us because of our patient, and persistent desires to repent and do His will. 

-Elder Willden

09/18/2023

No more fufu🍵

This week I got sick again. Lol. It was a fufu that about killed me this time. Can't catch a break either. Today I got an eye infection. We press forward though, it shall be well.♿️

This week we had someone show up to church named Seth. Apparently he has been taught by missionaries before and now wants to be baptized. Our branch president told us he was regularly attending awhile ago. We will go and see him tonight. 

This week was a little rough. We will not be able to baptize Elvis and Shadrack until next transfer. Wisdom seems to have disappeared. Susy wants to be baptized this week but her father just came to town and Susy told us her father won't allow her. We have met him once and he is a super nice guy. We will talk to him this week and see why he is saying no and see if we can help. Margeret is still upset with us, and Agnes just doesn't seem to want it. She has only been to church once in the past five weeks and can never meet with us. This week we had an exchange and I went with Elder Kashindi. When we were finding we were able to find three new friends and teach them which was awesome. Our recent converts Godfred and George are amazing. Both of them have excitement about learning and sharing the gospel. Godfred just finished school and he wants to come proselyte with us everyday. George always wants to come when we are learning with his friends Shadrack and Elvis. It has been cool to see Godfred and George grow.

I love the scripture Jarom 1:11. Look forward unto the Messiah, believe in Him to come, as though He already was. We should make Christ the central focus every day. Like they say in primary live like He is by your side. A great way to do this is to focus on the covenants made at baptism, and in the Temple. Elder Renlund said "Our baptismal and sacramental covenants personally connect us to the Savior".

-Elder Willden

09/04/2023

Zone Conference, More Miracles.

This week we had zone conference. I was sick so it was not easy, I tried to get as much out of it as I could. We got some fire chicken tho which was nice. Kumasi has good food.

On Friday, we went to go and see one of our elect, brother Godfred. He will be baptized this coming Sunday. We had planned to find some people around his place as well. When we got there, Godfred was busy, but one of his neighbors was there, and we started talking to her. Her name is Priscilla and she was inrerested to know more. We were able to learn about the nature of God woth her, and we will follow up with her this week. 

We will get to have the baptismal service for three of our elect this Sunday. Godfred, Margeret, and George. I am super happy about that. Godfred is awesome. He wants to share the gospel with all of his neighbors and friends. We have been getting to know all those who stay around him and have started teaching a few of them. We have plans to do more finding around our chapel this week as well. 

This week as I've read PMG ch. 9 D&C 100: 4-6 has stood out to me. We need to labor for the salvation of souls. I think the only thing that can drive this, is charity, and faith in Christ. We also need to lift up our voices and speak the words the Lord will put in our heart. For me to do this, I've noticed it is crucial to have a powerful personal study, and meaningful prayer. Those things help me to be more in tune with the Spirit. It all falls back on faith to do these things, and then lift up your voice out of faith and love. 

-Elder Willden

(I added some vids from the week before cause we had wifi)

08/28/2023 

BoM Exchange

I got to go on exchange with my former companion Elder Akwa. We were in Tamale together. Man I love that guy. We had a powerful day. We were using the Book of Mormon to answer peoples questions as we were finding. It was amazing to learn a new way to do finding.

We also were able to have Eldew Lui play guitar while we sang hymns for one of our blind members on Sunday. We always take him Sacrament Sunday night, and he loved the music!

This Sunday we had a new person come to church who's name is George. It turns out one of our recent converts invited him to church, and he came. We taught him during second hour about faith, repentance, baptism, and the Book of Mormon. He told us that so many questions he had were answered, and that he has just felt confused his whole life and he wants to find the truth. He accepted a baptismal invitation and we will fix a day for him this week. It was his first time attending any church for two years.

We also have scheduled baptism for our friends, Margeret, Godfred, Agnes, and Alberta on September 10th. We also found a new family to teach this week as well which was awesome. We have high hopes for a lot of the people we are teaching this week, we will see who comes to church on Sunday. I am learning a lot from Elder Lui as well. He invites the Spirit so strong in every lesson and loves the people!

I am feeling pretty sick again today. Its the third time I've been sick like this in the past month and it has been frustrating. I am praying I can maintain good health after i get over this round. 

This week I read the story of Sherem in Jacob chapter 7. Sherem had power from the devil. He was very learned and flattering. Sherem sought opportunity to contend or bash with Jacob. Because Jacob had developed faith in Christ, and seen and heard the things he had seen and heard, he had great poise. Sherem couldn't shake is faith. I also noticed Jacob showed no anger. In his words were truth and love. As a missionary nothing will benefit the people we visit unless we reach the truth with love. Jacob handled Sherem perfectly.

-Elder Willden

08/21/2023

Pretty Sure I Got Malaria

This weekend was rough. I was sick since Friday night, and by Sunday night I thought I was dying. I had a 102.4 temperature, and it was like no other sickness I've ever experienced. Body aches and pains, feeling cold, migraine, and nausea. But theres nothing some ORS fluid and a priesthood blessing can't fix. The worst night was Sunday night, and I got a blessing. It was a rough night until about 2am when I fell asleep, and when I woke up no fever, no symptoms. Its like the priesthood actually works! (Stole that from Jake Lindsay)

I got a new companion on Friday. His name is Elder Lui. He is from Tonga and I love him he is such a beast. We are gonna have some fun here in Bekwai. Rip to me and Del Campo tho I will miss him. 

On Thursday night this week I was with Elder Kashindi waiting for our new companions, and we wanted to go and see one of our elect in a place in our area called Donkokrom. We thought about not going there because she might not be around, and going to Ishmeal to talk to him. I said a small prayer in my heart and felt that we should go to Donkrokrom. When we went there, our friend sister Margeret, was not there, however we ran into our friend sister Agnes. We taught her my first transfer here in Sefwi Bekwai, but she had some struggles with the law of chastity and couldn't be baptized.When we ran into Agnes she told us that she has now changed and is ready to be baptized. This made me so happy!

We have five elect right now, and we want to find more. One of our elect sister Margeret, wants us to start teaching her husband. He had traveled but I believe he has returned this week. We will start to teach him this week if he's back. We have really been finding success in asking people to sit down and learn when we are finding new people to teach. It helps us to build a relationship with them quicker, and they know our purpose. It has also helped us to better discern who will be serious, and those who are not serious. I have loved Elder Lui so far. He is a dedicated missionary and loves the people. He's really good at inviting the Spirit with him wherever we are, and in the lessons we've taught together. 

In Jacob 4: 10-11 I learned that in order to have powerful prayer, and to recieve counsel from the Lord, we have to be roconsiled unto Him through the atonement of Christ. I wondered what this meant, and I found that reconsiled could also mean compatable, or subject. This means that as we develop our faith in Christ, and access the power of his atonement through repentance, we are more subject or compatable to recieve counsel from God. 

-Elder Willden

08/14/2023

Dagoomba King

Check the photos, it will explain the title.👑

 This week while we were finding, we came across the home of where one of our friends stays. Her name is Hagar, and she used to work with one of our converts, Ernestina. We never taught her because she is always at work and cant come to church. Well it turns out she quit her job, and is interested in learning with us. We were able to start teaching her.

This week was good. We were supposed to baptize four of our friends Saturday. Emmanuella, Ishmeal, Lydia, and Esther. Unfortunately Ishmeal didnt show up to his own baptism again. Now we know something is up and we will see how we can help him from here going. Emmanuella had some complications, and couldnt make it. She traveled to school in Kumasi until December. When she comes back she will be baptized. The good news is that Esther and Lydia were baptized, and we are so happy for them! 

I love studying Christlike attributes. Hope stood out to me, and I learned some new things about hope. Ether 12:4 told me that hope can anchor ourselves to Christ. Let me explain. It read, "which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God." Hope makes an anchor for our souls, to Christlike attributes. Thus anchoring us to Christ. With a hope and focus on Christ, I believe I can improve Christlike attributes daily. Through the good, bad, disappointing, and sad, if we anchor ourselves to Christ through this hope, and rely on it, we can become more like him. How we can gain this hope is by exercising our faith unto repentance. 

-Elder Willden

08/07/2023

Sick Week

This week both my comp and me got sick, but its all good so I wont talk abt it haha. We both suffered from a cold, and then a caugh after and I thought I had malaria cause Wednesday night I was dying lol. But through a Priesthood blessing and some medice im feeling better. Im also happy we manged to proselyte all day each day. We pushed through it! 

Two cool miracles this week. The parents of sister Emmanuella will allow her to be baptized. Im happy for her. We also were teaching sister Lydia, who only speaks twi. We were learning about the Book of Mormon and she just couldnt understand it at all. We had a thought to open the intoduction in the Book of Mormon in twi. Our membner translating for us read it all to her, and then it made everything clear to her!

This last Sunday we had a baptism scheduled for our friends Isaac and Ishmeal. Isaac was baptized, and im so happy for him, but for Ishmeal he didnt show up. We will see him this week and see why, or what hes struggling with. This week we will have the baptisms for our friends Esther, Lydia, and Emmanuella. We have started to teach Lydias daughter, Cynthia, and Esthers friend, Matilda. We also found a few new people on Saturday we will start teaching this week. 

This week studying chapter 5 of PMG, I came across Mosiah 4:9 which answers the question of the soul, "Does God exist? Who is God?" I love the end of the verse. It reads, "believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend." Sometimes things dont go as planned, or our way. As we focus on Christ and understand that He understands everything, He can turn these moments into miracles. He knows where we need to be, and what we need to learn.

 

- Elder Willden

07/31/2023

🏀🚮

This week we were able to go to Kumasi for zone conference. We BALLED at the mission home, but it is evident that I cannot go as hard as I would like too right now😂. Its hard to believe I havewnt played ball more than about six times In the past year. Anyways I took a few spills trying to drive past people to the rack, and walked away with a few cuts and bruises from the cement floor. I think it was a combination of a slipperty floor, and me being super excited about balling that resulted in me slamming the deck three or four times. It will take awhile when I am back, to get back to balling the way I want to. Anyways it was fun to play, and then actually get some real pizza in Kumasi. I also found skittles which was a bonus. However none of it was as rewarding as the things we were able to learn at zone conference! 

Anyways I'll talk about our area.

Sister Emmanuela and Lawrencias parents have been on the fence for them to be baptized. Their mother is okay with it, as for the father we still have to talk to him. Anyways, when we went to their house yesterday, we asked the mother if she would join us in the lesson and she said she was going to cook. We started learn about the first few principles in the plan of salvation, and the mother, sister marium, was drawn into the lesson. She joined us, started asking questions, and was making highlights in her bible. She knows about the Book of Mormon too and we were able to teach her from the Book of Mormon as well. It was awesome. We could tell that she felt she was finally getting answers to questions shes had for a long time, and that the spirit was there. 

We have eight of our friends on date right now. Two of them will be baptized this Saturday and confirmed Sunday. The other six will be done next week. We will continue to help them prepare for baptism this week. We are finding success in finding through members and people being taught as well. A referal we got last week, who is on baptismal date, named Margeret, wants us to start teaching her husband as well. He seems to be very busy but we will push to meet him this week. Our members are stepping up and helping with the Lords work and it is awesome to witness.

D&C 90: 24 was inspiring for me this week. Sometimes when things dont go my way, I can feel discouragement. It is important to keep my head up, and have faith and courage. God knows why things happen, even when we do not understand. He asks us to believe that all things can work together for our good. I would say prayer is huge for me to know His will, and submit to it. Turning to scripture, we can study the guiding, comforting words of Christ. As I have done so, I have felt peace and comfort, even through stressful moments, when the adversary tries to plant discouragement in my heart. 

-Elder Willden

I was able to upload pics at the mission office. Heres a photo dump of the past three weeks.

07/24/2023

Bounce Back

Beginning of the week was fire then it went straight to the 💩's then we bounced back thanks to the Lords help.

This week the mother of two of the people we are teaching named Emmanuella and Lawrencia allowed them to join us at church. Their older sister Albertha will be baptized soon, and her husband is a member, that is how we found them. We also had two members who brought friends to church whos names are Margeret and Alona, who are both interested in joining the church.

At church we started doing a potential members class during second hour, where we teach the missionary lessons to all of the potential members at sacrament meeting. We were able to teach the first part of the plan of salvation, and five of our friends accepted baptismal date. It was awesome. We now have seven of our friends on baptismal date. I am so happy for them, and pray that they continue to progress and that things go as planned. Our branch held a branch council and I was very impressed with how they discussed the needs of members. We also were able to report on recent converts, and potential members, and they are very willing to help us teach and welcome new people. This week started great on Monday and Tuesday, but fell apart Wednesday going. A ton of missed appointments and friends not keeping commitments and we felt some discouragement. We just couldnt find anyone that was serious. We decided to drop a lot of people that are not progressing. The Lord gave us a spark of energy at church on Sunday. It was amazing to see His hand in the work and His love for all of us. 

The Book of Mormon brings peace hope and joy. As of today I have a goal to read from it everyday. This week in 2 Nephi 31:7 I learned that Jesus humbled himself before the Father, and witnessed unto the Father that he was willing to be obedient and keep His commandments. We must follow Jesus by baptisms in order to receive salvation. The new PMG helps me understand the purpose of God's commandments, laws, and ordinaces, and how they all take part in helping us keep our baptismal covenant.  

-Elder Willden

Sorry no pics til we get data next month

07/17/2023

🛐

Can't think of a title so 🛐

On Wednesday night, we had an appointment fall through. We then were able to find a man named Eric, and share a small message with him. He has been going through some hard times, and definitely needed the message of encouragement. He agreed to have us come to his house Friday to meet his wife and kids and learn with them. It was great!

This week the Lord blessed us with people to teach. The Lords hand has definitely been in our efforts to find. The referral we got last week, Albertha, has two sisters who also are serious about learning, and one of them wants to be baptized. Isaac and Ishmeal will be baptized this saturday. Sister Angelina will be baptized later this transfer. We were able to fimd people through members, as well as through our owm efforts this week. We were kept busy this week learning with our elect, and potential elect, as well as finding and teaching new people. We were able to teach 7 new people this week, and we are already set to start teaching 4 new people this week. The Lords hand is in the work and he is helping us!

In my studies this week from PMG II chapter two, D&C 88: 66-68 stood out to me. In verse 66 the Lord says his voice is one crying in the wilderness because we cannot hear him. How can I hear him? In verse 67 I learned that through humility and consistent, powerful personal study, I can fill my body with light, and there will be no darkness, and light comprehendeth all things. This means if I fill my body with light, I can use that light to comprehend the voice of the Spirit, crying in the wilderness. In verse 68 I learned that if I can come to consistently listen to the voice of the spirit, and sanctify my mind single to God, the time will come that I can see him according to his own will, and his own time. 

Sorry no pics this week. Our data is muffed so I won't upload them until tomorrow.

-Elder Willden

07/10/2023

Exploring the Area

This week, the mother of three of our recent converts came to church. We were so happy. Two of her sons were baptized before I was here, and last transfer her oldest son Emmanuel was baptized. We have been learning with her, and she always keeps commitments, but coming to church is a problem because she has a bad knee. She is supposed to get surgery. Anyways we gave her a blessing awhile ago, and her knee was better than ever and she came to church finally. She wants to continue to come and we plan to put her on date this week. 

Yesterday two of our friends, Isaac and Ishmeal, accepted baptismal date. I am happy for them. They are brothers and both teachers, and their availability is rough so it has been a long time coming. We also recieved a serious referral from missionaries in the Accra West mission. Her name is Albertha and her husband is already a member. She has come to church five times already and she wants to be baptized. We were also able to explore a part of our area on the other side of town that me and Elder Del Campo have never been to. We found a couple of new people to teach there. We also found a river with a ton of catfish it was awesome. Aparently the catfish are sacred though, and if you catch them or eat them people will kill you... like they will actually kill you. Glad we asked our members if anyone owmed that part of the river before we went there to catch some catfish. 

As I've studied through the first chapter of PMG II, as well as the scriptures listed, I have learned a lot. I learned from Alma 10:11 that the blessings of the Lord rest upon the people we meet, teach, and serve, according to the words we speak and pray. This is why it is so important to always remain worthy of the Priesthood, and keep covenants so that we can add power to our authority, and be directed by the spirit to what we do and say each day. 

-Elder Willden

We didnt get very many pics this week. Sorry.

07/03/2023

Seeing Joy

For this week it was awesome being able to fully prepare our people for baptism. We truly did "see joy" this week. There was no water at our chapel, but the Lord provided a way for us to get our people baptized in Wiawso and then confirmed on Sunday. I am so happy for them, and Emmanuel and Ernestina, are already looking to do missionary work. They are talking with people about the church and giving us referrals. 

I'm excited for another transfer here in Bekwai. We need to get back to work finding elect. We have three people that we are very excited about. Other than that we will start to find the elect. Me and my companion just requested a list of all the part member families in our branch, so hopefully that can help us get to know our members better and try to unite them in the gospel. I'm excited for what this transfer will bring. The Lord is preparing people here, we just have to find them.

This week I studied in D&C section 3. I learned some great things. Verses 4-5 helped me learn that if I boast in my own strength, set at nought the counsels of God, and follow my own will, I will fall and incure vengeance of a just God upon me. The Lord trusts me to be his missionary. His commandments are strict but I must remember the promises He has given me. Having patience and long-suffering are key I think. The Lord will always fulfill His promises, and I know that to be true. In verse 10 I learned that I will make mistakes, and I must quickly repent, and I am again called to the work. 

We also had someone try and thief us last Monday night around 1am, but the guy got caught and it was some commuinity justice for him. Kind of scary though. Good thing he didnt get anything. Thieves her open windows and use a sticky pole to kife stuff lol.

Also I am chopping one year on Thursday. See yall in a year!!!!!!!❤️‍🩹😪

-Elder Willden

06/26/2023

Baptisms Postponed

This last week we went to see one of our Elect, sister Ernestina. One of the girls that works cooking food at her shop, named Haggar was very very sick with malaria when we got there. Immediately when we saw her we knew it was not good. We had the opportunity to give her a blessing. The next day we came by, and she was working. All of her symptoms were gone. She was healed. Unfortunately she works on Sundays and the boss wont allow her to get off to come to church so we cannot teach her. Everytime we see her now her eyes light up and she smiles big. I hope someday she will have to opportunity to learn with missionaries, come to church, and be baptized.

This week was somehow challenging but we pushed through. Due to some weather issues with a big rain storm, and technical difficulties getting water at our chapel, we postponed all our baptism to this week, July 2nd. We will have five baptisms on Sunday if all goes as planned. We also have some awesome people we can hopefully help progress to baptism for next transfer. I'm happy and excited for the people we have. Our goal this transfer is five, although we were hoping for more this transfer, I now see why prayerfully setting a goal, and working as hard as you can to reach it is so important. Like Elder Gifford Neilson said, "one out of every two people that come to church will be baptized." We are experiencing the truthfulness of his words and promises right now.

In Helaman chapter five, I asked myself, how can the cloud of darkness (sin and temptation) be removed from us? In verse 41, Aminadab says unto those in the prison surrounded by the darkness, "You must repent, and cry unto the voice, even until ye shall have faith in Christ." When the people in the prison did this, the cloud of darkness was dispersed. When we cry to the Lord in faith during times of temptation and sin, God will send the Holy Ghost to disperse the cloud of darkness and give us peace. In verse 47 The Father sent the Holy Ghost to give them peace, according to their faith in His Well Beloved. 

-Elder Willden

06/19/2023

Elder Gong Devotional +pic explanation

For the pictures... I definitely chopped a cheeseburger in Kumasi, and split my head open on a concrete door frame in kumasi cause I was excited to play some ball at the mission office. Whoops. We were there for the conference with Gong and spent the night there. We then had Zone conference the next day.

Alma Chapters💯

About a month ago, Elder Gifford Neilson came to our mission to speak to us. He gave a promise, that if we study Alma chapters 17-27, we will have more success than we could ever imagine. That promise is true.

This week we went to go and meet someone named brother Isaac who was a friend of one of our members. We had learned he came to church awhile ago and wants to come again. When we met him at his place we also met his brother, taught them, and they both came to church on Sunday and want to join the church.

Our are is doing awesome. We were able to teach eleven new people this week. Our church attendance wasnt where we wanted it to be though. We had 6/10. Some of our people had unexpected things come up before church. We are having a baptismal service this next Sunday and are hoping to baptize four of our people. Next Sunday, the 2nd of July we are planning to have another baptismal service. If everything goes as planned we will baptize five more people that day. Its been hard with a few of the people we have that are coming to church because of time to meet with us, as well as translation, but the Lord's hand is in the work, and if we continue to do our part he will continue to make ways for our people.

In my study this week I think I have found my new favorite chapter in the Book of Mormon, or at least my favorite missionary chapter. In verse 2 Ammon asks, "what blessings has the Lord bestowed upon us?" I then compiled a list of blessings the Lord has bestowed upon me and my companion, and I was stunned. The list reads: Unity, Love, People to Teach, Elect, Healing the Sick, Spiritual Promptings, Hear from an Apostle, Knowing Truthfulnesss of Commandments, Patience, Humility, Power, Revelation, Prophecy. As I shared with with my companion in our study, the spirit was so strong telling us both that the Lord's hand is in his work. A qoute from Elder Gong last Monday sums it up, "The treasures of Heaven are right before our faces, and often, we dont even see them."

-Elder Willden

06/12/2023

Elder Gong Devotional

This week was awesome. We had plenty miracles and I saw the hand of the Lord in the work a lot. This Sunday, we had 6/6 investigators at church, and it was raining which is a miracle. Emmanuel, who I met in Nkawkaw came to church and after told me he would like to be baptized. We gave two different people blessings this week and they were healed. To top it off we had a member bring a friend to church and he wants to join us. The work is sweet!

Our area is doing great. We have five people on baptismal date and we have a goal to put four more of our people on date this week. Please pray for Anita. She is the sister of one of our members and a potential member, but she is being decieved by wolves dressed in sheeps clothing.

In Alma chapter 24 I found so many things I loved. Verses 12-17 stood out to me as Anti-Nephi-Lehi addressed his people. When God takes away the stains of my sword (sin) I should stain it no more with the same sin, because perhaps it can no more be washed clean through the blood of the Savior. I need to bury my sword while it is clean and let it stand as a testimony. To top it off I learned something very important in verse 18. The people vouch and covenant with God to not take up theitr swords again. When we truly and fully repent we covenant not to commit the same sin again.

We also had Elder Gong come and speak to us today. It was amazing and Im still gathering my thoughts. I will write about ut next week.

-Elder Willden

06/05/2023   

Sexy Bekwai

The title is definitely clickbait. Me and Elder Del Campo call our area "Sexy Bekwai" instead of Sefwi Bekwai. Its even funnier when we call the area of the other Elder staying in our apartment "Ugly Humjibre". Haha my new companion is pretty funny for coming up with those ones, but in all seriousness, I love my new comp. He is awesome and we are putting in the work here in Sexy Bekwai.

This week we found a man named Vincent while home to home contacting. It turns out his brother Patrick is one of our branch members. Brother Vincent was telling us how he didnt like church because it is their own doctorines, not Christ's. We were able to agree that you can find out the ttruth through prayer, and Vincent told us he would like to find the truth. When we came back to teach him, we taught the natire of God along with the first two principles of the Restoration. I could tell he felt like he found something he didnt even know he was looking for. Understanding who God is, and his relationship with Him opened up his mind as we begun to teach him. 

We were able to hit most of our goals we set for the week. We had six people commit to coming but only two came. Sister Ernestina, was able to come, and has accepted a baptismal invitation. We will set a day for her this week. We will give a few of the people that committed to church last Sunday another shot this week. Most of the people we are working with right now have family who are members in the church so that really helps. We also found out that one lady who comes to church every Sunday for the past two transfers hasnt been baptised. Im not sure of her name but we will find out tomorrow from one of our members, go find where she stays and get her taught and baptised! 

As I studied through Alma chapters 19-21 Ammons humilty sticks out to me. The first instance was when Lamoni offers him his daughter, the next is when Lamoni fears that he is the great spirit, the next. When Lamoni and his household are converted, Ammon immediately falls on his knees and gives thanks to the Lord. After Ammon injures Lamoni's father's arm, Lamoni's father offers him half of the kingdom. Ammon rejected it and stayed focused on the commandments from the Lord. Qmmons humility was great, and even caused Lamoni's father to be astonished because of his love. This eventually led to his conversion.

-Elder Willden