Fwd: Africa

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Benjamin Jolley
Date: Wed, Aug 10, 2011 at 3:12 AM
Subject: Africa

Family,

 

I realized once again that I am serving my mission in Africa. About 50% of this ward is african, and more than that of our investigators are African. Anywho, Wednesday we had a cool training meeting. We did lots of role plays. Also, President announced that the trainers in the mission will have new instructions. They will be with their missionaries for 12 weeks and will have an extra hour of study time. That was interesting. We talked to some interesting people on the train ride back. A french woman and an Italian man, that are muslim originally, but don't believe in God.

 

Thursday, we went out to Kobe's house, the 17 year old ghanan. He accepted a baptismal date for the 3rd of September! We then returned to Reggio where we taught English, and then we taught this man named Jude who we found earlier. We asked him to be baptized. He is preparing to be baptized in another church. Interesting. Then we did some casa and found Jackson and Anna, a nice Ghanan couple.

 

Friday, we planned, did area book, made a baptismal calendar for Kobe, and then we went to Andrews' house. He is now in Holland, but we were able to teach him and his friend Hope a short lesson. Hope wanted to know if drinking alcohol is a sin. He commited to live the Word of Wisdom. And he's a new investigator. Hurray referrals!

 

Saturday, we went to Kobe again, and explained to him what we do in church. He's solid. In the afternoon we taught Ernest the plan of Salvation. He said "Whenever you come to visit me, I feel so happy." He's super cool. He's also one of 16 children, his dad has 4 wives. interesting, huh?

 

Sunday, we had Ernest and Salome and Giovanna in church. We had a super spiritual testimony meeting, and Sorella Chambers said goodbye to the ward. I felt the spirit super strong during church. Then we taught Salome and Giovanna a short lesson, and then we did finding. During lunch, I found a less active's number in the phone. I called, got his address, and we went out there. Gilbert is a stud. He's an Elder, and promised to come to church on Sunday. He also said his brother John would be interested to hear more about the church, so we're going back to teach them on Saturday. Referrals!

 

Monday, we had an awesome district meeting that I turned into a testimony meeting. "how did you come to know the church was true?" It was awesome. Then we did a scambio. Anziano Wilkins and I worked in Reggio, and had all of our appointments fall through. We just did finding work with little success till a group of younger people waved at us from a park bench. We went over and taught them the restoration and gave them each a Book of Mormon. It was awesome. One of them said she'd love to meet with us. So we gave her to the sisters. Also, in another park, we talked to some drunk Ghanans, and I was confused as to why I talked to them until one of them said that he was baptized in the church, and I got Yaw's contact information. We'll teach him on Saturday too.

 

Tuesday, we taught a Liberian named Charles on the street, and then we headed to Piacenza to re exchange. on the way, we talked to a very attractive napoletana girl, who was decently interested in the gospel. Thank goodness she doesn't live here. That would be difficult. Then, as we got lunch at the McDonalds, a man stopped us and said he was a member from Nigeria. We talked to him, and he even called his brother who is a bishop. He hadn't been able to find the church since he's been in Italy. His name is Emmanuel. In the last week, we have found 5 members. 3 have records outside of Reggio. They all live in our boundaries though. It's bizzarre. All of them look like good prospects to reactivate. In the evening, we taught Nicola, a less active, and his girlfriend Antonia about scripture study, and then we went to Danny, one of those 5 people we found. He said he'd come to church. Exciting!

 

Today, we should teach George, another less active, and Hope, Andrews' friend. I love this place.

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