Thursday, November 18, 2010
Elder Reid is "Ghana" Come Home!
Elder Jeremy Reid will be giving his mission report on Sunday, December 12th at 2:30 p.m. for any who would like to come hear about his mission in Ghana!
Monday, November 15, 2010
I Love The Ghanaian People--So Friendly, Generous & Giving--I Will Miss That!
Dear Family & Friends,
Well today is probably one of the greatest days I will be having. Today is kind of my last email. I don't know if I will send one next week because you will be here to see me, but maybe you can check it at the mission home or something, so maybe I will still send one. So this last week was a little hard. We realized this week that we cannot achieve the goal we set, we were so sure about it, but people still fail sometimes. We still had 4 people at church, some of them are new some are old. We will be baptizing two people this week. On the 27th we still have one more baptism, but he is shaky right now. We will find more out on Wednesday to see if he is ready or not. He was supposed to be baptized this week but he did not come to church so we have to push him.
We finally were able to teach the father of the 2 kids that we could not baptize on the first week of the transfer--the guy is really cool and ready for the Gospel. The mother also says she will be coming to church this Sunday so we are happy about that. So things always work out for the best.
Well this is going to be the craziest week of my whole mission---waiting for the day that I get to see my parents once again after 2 years---now that is pretty crazy. I can hardly wait. This Sunday is also Stake Conference so that means that we will not even be going to our own ward so I will not really get to say good bye to anyone. Pretty weird how everything works out.
Yesterday we went to a member’s house for a dinner appointment---that was pretty cool. It’s the first one I have had from a member since I came, so they are really cool. Funny thing is that they lived in America their whole life but they are Ghanaian---so everything they say or do is American. They are way cool. Today we will be going to the Abu's for dinner around 4:00--before we have to go out tonight. Funny thing about them is that Sister Abu is an American from Montana. She is also a convert she is really awesome. Brother Abu is from Ghana, so they are really American too. It’s been fun in this last area. We have worked so hard and I think just like every time when I leave it will pay off. I guess the blessings will come in a different way to me, maybe not in seeing all the people get baptized like I would like.
Well, today on the menu it’s going to be potato soup with bread---for the last week this is all I will be eating. It’s going to be really good. I love potato soup, especially the one at the Manti House Inn. Oh ya, and don’t forget no bake cookies. We are going to make plenty of them before I leave.
I cannot believe in one week you will be flying out to come to Ghana it’s so short now. I think you will be here on Monday so that is the reason I don't know if I will email, but maybe I will still send one just for fun. Then on Tuesday I will get to see you. That is weird. I am just so excited to be done and go back home to see everyone. It’s funny--I have met so many people here and got so use to everything it’s like home. Now I am going to start all over and go back to a foreign place that I cannot remember anything about. It’s weird how things work when you serve a mission.
There are a few things that I want to do before I go back: eat banko with fish for sure, eat some grilled plantain, and fufu with some sweet groundnut soup---those are the things that I love to eat. As for the Ghanaian people, I love all of them. It’s going to be weird not to see any people from Ghana for a while. I have come to love the way they are--so friendly, so generous and giving. It’s not easy to be like that but they are. I will miss that. When you come you will also see it.
Coming back home is going to be nice and I hope there will be lots of things to do. I was just thinking the first thing I want to do is sleep, then take a break for maybe a year and just sit in the house like a hermit. Just kidding! I want to go to work and school. Maybe I can also find a wife. ha ha! That is a joke, I promise. It will be nice to get in the groove of things back home again. No more busy schedule every day on always meeting new people. I just realized that this whole email is about home. I don’t really know what to say because I am just a little twitterpated, like mom always says.
I think the next time I really talk to you it will be in person, that is going to be really nice. It will be good to get released right when I get home. I really don't even know what time we get home, I forgot to look.
Well, I love you all so much. Sorry the email was so random this week. Have a great week everyone, I know that I sure will. I love you all and thanks for all the support while I have been out here with letters and emails and packages and everything else. I will always be grateful.
Love, Elder Jeremy Reid
Well today is probably one of the greatest days I will be having. Today is kind of my last email. I don't know if I will send one next week because you will be here to see me, but maybe you can check it at the mission home or something, so maybe I will still send one. So this last week was a little hard. We realized this week that we cannot achieve the goal we set, we were so sure about it, but people still fail sometimes. We still had 4 people at church, some of them are new some are old. We will be baptizing two people this week. On the 27th we still have one more baptism, but he is shaky right now. We will find more out on Wednesday to see if he is ready or not. He was supposed to be baptized this week but he did not come to church so we have to push him.
We finally were able to teach the father of the 2 kids that we could not baptize on the first week of the transfer--the guy is really cool and ready for the Gospel. The mother also says she will be coming to church this Sunday so we are happy about that. So things always work out for the best.
Well this is going to be the craziest week of my whole mission---waiting for the day that I get to see my parents once again after 2 years---now that is pretty crazy. I can hardly wait. This Sunday is also Stake Conference so that means that we will not even be going to our own ward so I will not really get to say good bye to anyone. Pretty weird how everything works out.
Yesterday we went to a member’s house for a dinner appointment---that was pretty cool. It’s the first one I have had from a member since I came, so they are really cool. Funny thing is that they lived in America their whole life but they are Ghanaian---so everything they say or do is American. They are way cool. Today we will be going to the Abu's for dinner around 4:00--before we have to go out tonight. Funny thing about them is that Sister Abu is an American from Montana. She is also a convert she is really awesome. Brother Abu is from Ghana, so they are really American too. It’s been fun in this last area. We have worked so hard and I think just like every time when I leave it will pay off. I guess the blessings will come in a different way to me, maybe not in seeing all the people get baptized like I would like.
Well, today on the menu it’s going to be potato soup with bread---for the last week this is all I will be eating. It’s going to be really good. I love potato soup, especially the one at the Manti House Inn. Oh ya, and don’t forget no bake cookies. We are going to make plenty of them before I leave.
I cannot believe in one week you will be flying out to come to Ghana it’s so short now. I think you will be here on Monday so that is the reason I don't know if I will email, but maybe I will still send one just for fun. Then on Tuesday I will get to see you. That is weird. I am just so excited to be done and go back home to see everyone. It’s funny--I have met so many people here and got so use to everything it’s like home. Now I am going to start all over and go back to a foreign place that I cannot remember anything about. It’s weird how things work when you serve a mission.
There are a few things that I want to do before I go back: eat banko with fish for sure, eat some grilled plantain, and fufu with some sweet groundnut soup---those are the things that I love to eat. As for the Ghanaian people, I love all of them. It’s going to be weird not to see any people from Ghana for a while. I have come to love the way they are--so friendly, so generous and giving. It’s not easy to be like that but they are. I will miss that. When you come you will also see it.
Coming back home is going to be nice and I hope there will be lots of things to do. I was just thinking the first thing I want to do is sleep, then take a break for maybe a year and just sit in the house like a hermit. Just kidding! I want to go to work and school. Maybe I can also find a wife. ha ha! That is a joke, I promise. It will be nice to get in the groove of things back home again. No more busy schedule every day on always meeting new people. I just realized that this whole email is about home. I don’t really know what to say because I am just a little twitterpated, like mom always says.
I think the next time I really talk to you it will be in person, that is going to be really nice. It will be good to get released right when I get home. I really don't even know what time we get home, I forgot to look.
Well, I love you all so much. Sorry the email was so random this week. Have a great week everyone, I know that I sure will. I love you all and thanks for all the support while I have been out here with letters and emails and packages and everything else. I will always be grateful.
Love, Elder Jeremy Reid
Monday, November 8, 2010
General Conference in Ghana!
Dear Family & Friends,
I am going to be packing this week so that I don't have to do it on another day when I don't have time, because this time there is no getting stuff back later. I washed all the stuff that I will be using till the end for the last time today. Now next 2 weeks I will just have to wash my white shirts and garments and trousers. I had 3 pairs of trousers made with the fabric that Grace bought me. I don't know if I told you about that---well one of our recent converts bought me trouser material. I think she will be one that we will go see when you come in 2 weeks. I am pretty excited about it as well. I can hardly wait. Sometimes I think about all the stuff that I need to do when I go home--it's going to be pretty busy when I get back especially if I go right into school. I hope that I can remember some stuff when I finish because right now I cannot remember any schooling I took. My life has been Book of Mormon for two years and Preach my Gospel.
Well this week was pretty good for us, we had 4 people come to church and guess what it was General Conference. I was so happy to get to hear from the Prophet and the Apostles, it is always really sweet. We did not know that we would finally be hearing some of Conference, so Elder Nkomo and I were fasting so it was pretty cool. We are really hoping that one of the people that came to church this week is going to get baptized on the 20th of November. He has come to church enough times but always says he has been baptized before. This week we think things are going to be different.
Oh ya, to answer your question---there is not anything like scouts or young men and young women here. I think it’s really weird. I don't know why that is but anyway. I know they have some in Nigeria.
This week was Zone Meeting it was pretty much the same thing as always but I did learn some new things that we will try to apply. This week I am way excited--we have Zone Interviews that means we get to go to the Temple! I wonder how my last interview will be. I hope really well. It’s going to kind of be funny. I will probably never see most of the people that I know here ever again. Kind of sad, but I guess we will meet in heaven. I am glad Grandma got home safely. Maybe now she can come here with you so she can get the real experience. That will be fun for her and Grandpa---jumping over gutters and stuff! Ha Ha!
Sounds like your tests went pretty good, Dad. It does not sound very fun to get that done to you. I guess it’s worth it though, then they can find problems early and fix them. I will probably have to have lots of tests when I get home.
Oh ya, did I tell you I got my flight ticket home---Dec. 2nd I leave to come home. I am supposed to inform you so you can come to the airport to pick me up---but I think you will be with me! I am also supposed to inform you to get an appointment with the Stake President so I can get released as soon as I get home. I think that is about all that happened this week. Next week there is nothing extra going on---only going to work really hard so you can see a sweet baptism when you get here. I really cannot believe how fast and slow things are going. Mondays (p-days) are really slow, it takes a long time for me to get through the day, but then the rest of the days are sweet because we are really busy. So to me it will be like 2 more days until you get here. I bet that last Monday is going to go so slow--I will probably think that day is longer then my entire mission. Just like when I think back to those 19 days in the MTC---they seemed like 3 years right there.
Well this week we are having a baptism of 3 people, maybe 4. One person was baptized but their record never showed up---that was 8 years ago and they just found out. So we are going to baptize her again. She seems really cool, we taught her for the first time on Sunday (yesterday). We also have two part-member kids that are really cool and can remember everything we teach them, they are really funny. Last we have a lady from Nigeria that we have been working with---you will probably get to meet her too, I hope. She is really cool. So this week is going to be great! I will be happy to see them get baptized. We have one more baptism before I meet with you to go to the last one---the one that I will get to watch with you!
It’s been a great ride and everything will finish really well!
Well, love you all so much and I can't believe I will see you in 2 weeks. Wow!
Tell everyone that I love them and I am coming home!
Love, Elder Jeremy Reid
I am going to be packing this week so that I don't have to do it on another day when I don't have time, because this time there is no getting stuff back later. I washed all the stuff that I will be using till the end for the last time today. Now next 2 weeks I will just have to wash my white shirts and garments and trousers. I had 3 pairs of trousers made with the fabric that Grace bought me. I don't know if I told you about that---well one of our recent converts bought me trouser material. I think she will be one that we will go see when you come in 2 weeks. I am pretty excited about it as well. I can hardly wait. Sometimes I think about all the stuff that I need to do when I go home--it's going to be pretty busy when I get back especially if I go right into school. I hope that I can remember some stuff when I finish because right now I cannot remember any schooling I took. My life has been Book of Mormon for two years and Preach my Gospel.
Well this week was pretty good for us, we had 4 people come to church and guess what it was General Conference. I was so happy to get to hear from the Prophet and the Apostles, it is always really sweet. We did not know that we would finally be hearing some of Conference, so Elder Nkomo and I were fasting so it was pretty cool. We are really hoping that one of the people that came to church this week is going to get baptized on the 20th of November. He has come to church enough times but always says he has been baptized before. This week we think things are going to be different.
Oh ya, to answer your question---there is not anything like scouts or young men and young women here. I think it’s really weird. I don't know why that is but anyway. I know they have some in Nigeria.
This week was Zone Meeting it was pretty much the same thing as always but I did learn some new things that we will try to apply. This week I am way excited--we have Zone Interviews that means we get to go to the Temple! I wonder how my last interview will be. I hope really well. It’s going to kind of be funny. I will probably never see most of the people that I know here ever again. Kind of sad, but I guess we will meet in heaven. I am glad Grandma got home safely. Maybe now she can come here with you so she can get the real experience. That will be fun for her and Grandpa---jumping over gutters and stuff! Ha Ha!
Sounds like your tests went pretty good, Dad. It does not sound very fun to get that done to you. I guess it’s worth it though, then they can find problems early and fix them. I will probably have to have lots of tests when I get home.
Oh ya, did I tell you I got my flight ticket home---Dec. 2nd I leave to come home. I am supposed to inform you so you can come to the airport to pick me up---but I think you will be with me! I am also supposed to inform you to get an appointment with the Stake President so I can get released as soon as I get home. I think that is about all that happened this week. Next week there is nothing extra going on---only going to work really hard so you can see a sweet baptism when you get here. I really cannot believe how fast and slow things are going. Mondays (p-days) are really slow, it takes a long time for me to get through the day, but then the rest of the days are sweet because we are really busy. So to me it will be like 2 more days until you get here. I bet that last Monday is going to go so slow--I will probably think that day is longer then my entire mission. Just like when I think back to those 19 days in the MTC---they seemed like 3 years right there.
Well this week we are having a baptism of 3 people, maybe 4. One person was baptized but their record never showed up---that was 8 years ago and they just found out. So we are going to baptize her again. She seems really cool, we taught her for the first time on Sunday (yesterday). We also have two part-member kids that are really cool and can remember everything we teach them, they are really funny. Last we have a lady from Nigeria that we have been working with---you will probably get to meet her too, I hope. She is really cool. So this week is going to be great! I will be happy to see them get baptized. We have one more baptism before I meet with you to go to the last one---the one that I will get to watch with you!
It’s been a great ride and everything will finish really well!
Well, love you all so much and I can't believe I will see you in 2 weeks. Wow!
Tell everyone that I love them and I am coming home!
Love, Elder Jeremy Reid
Monday, November 1, 2010
"It's Good To Have An End To Journey Towards, But It's The Journey That Matters In The End"
Dear Family & Friends,
Well this week has been pretty good. Today is the 1st of November and that means that I will be coming home this month. It’s a little sad to think that, but all the same---all good things must come to an end. There was a saying that Mom included once on my email: "It’s good to have an end to journey towards, but it’s the journey that matters in the end". Now I am really preparing to come home and it does not seem real. It seems just like everyday in my mission but I know that I don't have lots of time. Right now we have 2 investigators that do not want to accept a baptismal date. It’s hard to think about that, even when we were teaching one of them it just hit me---this may be his only chance to be baptized into the true church. Well, we bore our testimonies and the lesson was so sweet, but then a man walked by and out of the blue he said are you Evangelists? Very loudly. Then he said have you been baptized---man this guy was crazy. It smashed the whole lesson and we both felt like he was just getting ready to accept a date. Boy, the devil really works in crazy ways. Well needless to say the guy still came to church. He is really cool, just can’t get him to realize his first baptism was not with the right power.
Well this week we had 8 people come to church, it was a great week! We are really working hard, Elder Nkomo and I. It’s not been easy, last week I was so dead I could not even hardly stay up long enough to cook at night. One night I even burned my beans from Taco Bell. Ya, they have Taco Bell here!!! jk So the people who came to church are lots of people we have been teaching and one that we have never taught. She is French and very cool. Four of them will be baptized on the 13th of November and 4 on the 20th. We don't know how many for the 27th yet---we should have 4 if they come to church enough times. We even went to pick one of them up, which was pretty cool. Every time we go there, (her name is Queen), they feed us and it’s always really good. So we were not worried about going to pick her up. She is one that will be baptized next week. Then we had Kennedy, he came 2 weeks ago and the guy is really cool. He was the guy we contacted once and he came to church. We also found a guy named Godfred---this week he is preparing for baptism now. Then the 2 girls that have a sister who is a member--they are way cool. So in all this week was great! We have to set are new goals on Tuesday. We are thinking of a goal of 5 or 6 but we do not know yet. We really could have up to 12, but some of the people are a little shaky.
I did not even remember that it was Halloween so we missed it all the way, but we are going to now make no bake cookies to make up for it!
So this week we have Zone Meeting, next week is the temple trip, the next week we have nothing and then you will be here. So it’s not long at all now. Here we have been keeping busy with all the people we are teaching and trying to find more. Oh ya, this week also we have had like 4 people stop us. One was a man that has lived in U.S. for a while; he is like a weight lifter. When we met him I was like this guy is going to smash me. He would like us to come by and teach him. He acts just like an American. Then another man that had a broken arm came up to us when we went to buy something that the store did not have. We taught him on Sunday about baptism and he accepted to be baptized. So it was pretty awesome! He has a wife who sat with us for part of the lesson and 2 kids (one girl one boy). They all seem really cool. So we are having a really good time in Achimota and I hope that it will continue.
Elder Nkomo and I have been working together probably the best that I have ever felt here. There have been so many moments where I felt the spirit was there and it really helps. Still people have their agency, but we are helping them to see a better way of life. We are really working to be exactly obedient and it’s fun because he wants to also and the other missionaries want to, too. So it’s sweet. It’s not like I am forcing him to do it. It’s funny how some missionaries have not the drive to help them do the work. I just wonder how they lost it, because when I came out and trained all my greenies they all wanted to work hard, sometimes harder than me. Well, no worries I don't have to deal with that anymore.
These last couple of weeks have been some great weeks. I have loved the work and I am really feeling more happy. These last few weeks will be over, and then I will be wishing I would not have tried to hurry it up.
Guess what? I was thinking of some of the food that I miss the other day like Shellie's! That is going to be some good food because I have been eating spicy food for the last 2 years. And I was thinking about scones, so I decided to make some scones. I don't think it’s going to be really easy but I will do it tonight. I have not thought of what you will be eating when you are here. I think you will like yams, I will make them for sure and some stew and I will make you aba. Those things are easy to make in the house and they are really good. Chop bars are pretty risky, you can get pretty sick from them and I don't think you will like it anyway. Lots of play dough (fu fu). ha ha! Well maybe you have it all planned out--I hope.
Well, have a great day and week. I will see you all soon. Love you tons and tons. Miss you.
Love, Elder Jeremy Reid
Well this week has been pretty good. Today is the 1st of November and that means that I will be coming home this month. It’s a little sad to think that, but all the same---all good things must come to an end. There was a saying that Mom included once on my email: "It’s good to have an end to journey towards, but it’s the journey that matters in the end". Now I am really preparing to come home and it does not seem real. It seems just like everyday in my mission but I know that I don't have lots of time. Right now we have 2 investigators that do not want to accept a baptismal date. It’s hard to think about that, even when we were teaching one of them it just hit me---this may be his only chance to be baptized into the true church. Well, we bore our testimonies and the lesson was so sweet, but then a man walked by and out of the blue he said are you Evangelists? Very loudly. Then he said have you been baptized---man this guy was crazy. It smashed the whole lesson and we both felt like he was just getting ready to accept a date. Boy, the devil really works in crazy ways. Well needless to say the guy still came to church. He is really cool, just can’t get him to realize his first baptism was not with the right power.
Well this week we had 8 people come to church, it was a great week! We are really working hard, Elder Nkomo and I. It’s not been easy, last week I was so dead I could not even hardly stay up long enough to cook at night. One night I even burned my beans from Taco Bell. Ya, they have Taco Bell here!!! jk So the people who came to church are lots of people we have been teaching and one that we have never taught. She is French and very cool. Four of them will be baptized on the 13th of November and 4 on the 20th. We don't know how many for the 27th yet---we should have 4 if they come to church enough times. We even went to pick one of them up, which was pretty cool. Every time we go there, (her name is Queen), they feed us and it’s always really good. So we were not worried about going to pick her up. She is one that will be baptized next week. Then we had Kennedy, he came 2 weeks ago and the guy is really cool. He was the guy we contacted once and he came to church. We also found a guy named Godfred---this week he is preparing for baptism now. Then the 2 girls that have a sister who is a member--they are way cool. So in all this week was great! We have to set are new goals on Tuesday. We are thinking of a goal of 5 or 6 but we do not know yet. We really could have up to 12, but some of the people are a little shaky.
I did not even remember that it was Halloween so we missed it all the way, but we are going to now make no bake cookies to make up for it!
So this week we have Zone Meeting, next week is the temple trip, the next week we have nothing and then you will be here. So it’s not long at all now. Here we have been keeping busy with all the people we are teaching and trying to find more. Oh ya, this week also we have had like 4 people stop us. One was a man that has lived in U.S. for a while; he is like a weight lifter. When we met him I was like this guy is going to smash me. He would like us to come by and teach him. He acts just like an American. Then another man that had a broken arm came up to us when we went to buy something that the store did not have. We taught him on Sunday about baptism and he accepted to be baptized. So it was pretty awesome! He has a wife who sat with us for part of the lesson and 2 kids (one girl one boy). They all seem really cool. So we are having a really good time in Achimota and I hope that it will continue.
Elder Nkomo and I have been working together probably the best that I have ever felt here. There have been so many moments where I felt the spirit was there and it really helps. Still people have their agency, but we are helping them to see a better way of life. We are really working to be exactly obedient and it’s fun because he wants to also and the other missionaries want to, too. So it’s sweet. It’s not like I am forcing him to do it. It’s funny how some missionaries have not the drive to help them do the work. I just wonder how they lost it, because when I came out and trained all my greenies they all wanted to work hard, sometimes harder than me. Well, no worries I don't have to deal with that anymore.
These last couple of weeks have been some great weeks. I have loved the work and I am really feeling more happy. These last few weeks will be over, and then I will be wishing I would not have tried to hurry it up.
Guess what? I was thinking of some of the food that I miss the other day like Shellie's! That is going to be some good food because I have been eating spicy food for the last 2 years. And I was thinking about scones, so I decided to make some scones. I don't think it’s going to be really easy but I will do it tonight. I have not thought of what you will be eating when you are here. I think you will like yams, I will make them for sure and some stew and I will make you aba. Those things are easy to make in the house and they are really good. Chop bars are pretty risky, you can get pretty sick from them and I don't think you will like it anyway. Lots of play dough (fu fu). ha ha! Well maybe you have it all planned out--I hope.
Well, have a great day and week. I will see you all soon. Love you tons and tons. Miss you.
Love, Elder Jeremy Reid
Monday, October 25, 2010
Fetching Water, Bucket Showers & Boiled Cornstarch!
Dear Family & Friends,
Well this is truly it---in one month from yesterday you will be with me here in Ghana! How sweet is that! I think it's true---the longer you wait for something the sweeter it is. Today I am very happy; we have been having a great time here in Achimota. And your letters just made me so happy. I read about the girl that was probably the funniest one of all. I have been speaking like a Ghanaian for two years. It’s really actually hard to teach ladies here because either they have a husband that they go to church with or they just don’t really care about the whole gospel thing. We have had some success with one sister who they were teaching before I came here. She is really cool and she came to church last week and is planning on getting baptized on the 20th of November. We have some people planned out for the 27th when you are here, but we will just have to see what happens--either here or in Adenta. I hope we can get lots of people for a baptism here, but we will just have to see. There are 3 right now.
So this week at church we had 6 people come. It was really great again. Lots of the people we just met and they have been really cool. One man we met the first day that I came here. He has been going through some challenges in his life and we invited him to church. He was early and ready to learn---the man is about 62 years old (I think). I love the guy, he is so cool. We taught him about the restoration and tried to commit him to baptism. He keeps saying when I come then we will see. It was not an easy lesson, but he came to church so now this week we will be giving him a baptismal date. I really hope that he accepts it. So then to continue---we are teaching a brother and sister who we met last week---they both came to church and they loved it (at least I think they did). Then some kids that are really awesome, their sister is a member. I will take some pictures of them. So, to say the least, Elder Nkomo and I are having a great time!
Well, for the last week our water pump has been broken so we have been fetching water and doing the bucket shower thing! All the plates in the kitchen are dirty and the lids to the pans because we used those for plates! Also all the bowls and utensils are dirty. But then a miracle happened, someone came to fix it! Okay, not as great as your were probably hoping, but still I was happy! Oh ya, next week will be November and I am sure happy about that. It’s going to be really crazy to get to the end of my mission. I still don’t know what to do. I am so happy and yet so sad---it’s really weird. In the end I think it's going to be good to go home. See all the people I have not seen forever.
Well, it sounds like everything is ready for you guys to come over. I am really happy that so far everything has worked out. Well, to answer your questions: I have not tried the pizza; I was out of money really bad so I was just trying to make it. So maybe we will go on Tuesday. Elder Neilson is from Syracuse. I am trying to take more pictures. At church I took one that Dad will like. I bet he has the same picture from his mission! It was a little girl who looked like a Native American--the way she had her hair. She is cute so you will get to see that picture. I will take more--I promise. I will try to take one everyday from now on, but that is a lot. Like my journal---I have tried to fill it out everyday---but sometimes I got really lazy and did not do it for a week or two.
So this week we have decided to make some of Elder Nkomo’s food---it's corn starch (boiled). It’s going to be pretty sweet! We ate some last night because we did not have any food, but we had some shito. It was pretty nice, but somehow thick and lumpy, but nice. We will make it with groundnut soup or peanut soup.
That sounds pretty cool to go to the Medical School Josh is at. I would be pretty happy to do that---then I can just live in their house, also. Ha ha. That will be funny since Jenny’s niece is also there. ha ha. I was not thinking about that before I said that I could live there. Guess what---I am trying also to get everything ready before you come. I have to throw away lots of stuff, but I just keep thinking I have about 6 months before I have to do that and then I realize that it’s been 5 months since I have been saying that! My bags are way too heavy and I have lots of stuff inside that I will never take home with me. I don’t know where to put it. I am also trying to get my stuff clean---like my ties and bedding and bags and everything---so when I come to meet you they will be clean. It’s not easy though still I don’t have time to do anything. I hope the next few weeks are a little less crazy.
That is good that you got the camera so fast for Elder Gale. I got some letters this week because the office managers came out to bring some stuff, which was nice of them. There is a church outside playing their music so loud; it’s not serious at all. You will love other the churches here. You will get to see what they really do here. How it really goes.
I did not even talk about the baptism we had. It did not get planned out very well and we had to change some few things, but then we had it and it was a pretty good baptism. One child of record, that is way funny. Then Cynthia, our candidate, she is 14 and her father is a member and mother also, but the mother is inactive, sadly. Her sister was the child of record. The Tantra Hill Elders had one baptism also. Elder Neilson performed the baptism, he did a good job. On Sunday I did not have to do numbers so we planned---then I fell asleep on my bed and now I am behind on my Book of Mormon reading. I hope that I can catch up today, but I also want to make some food.
Well that is about it for us this week. Now that it’s winding down, I feel like every week I just tell you the same things as I did the week before—but I don’t really know. I hope you all have a good week. I sure will. Now there are only 4 more Mondays that I will be emailing. That is pretty intense. Love you all tons--miss you--but now I will see you all very soon.
Love, Elder Jeremy Reid
Well this is truly it---in one month from yesterday you will be with me here in Ghana! How sweet is that! I think it's true---the longer you wait for something the sweeter it is. Today I am very happy; we have been having a great time here in Achimota. And your letters just made me so happy. I read about the girl that was probably the funniest one of all. I have been speaking like a Ghanaian for two years. It’s really actually hard to teach ladies here because either they have a husband that they go to church with or they just don’t really care about the whole gospel thing. We have had some success with one sister who they were teaching before I came here. She is really cool and she came to church last week and is planning on getting baptized on the 20th of November. We have some people planned out for the 27th when you are here, but we will just have to see what happens--either here or in Adenta. I hope we can get lots of people for a baptism here, but we will just have to see. There are 3 right now.
So this week at church we had 6 people come. It was really great again. Lots of the people we just met and they have been really cool. One man we met the first day that I came here. He has been going through some challenges in his life and we invited him to church. He was early and ready to learn---the man is about 62 years old (I think). I love the guy, he is so cool. We taught him about the restoration and tried to commit him to baptism. He keeps saying when I come then we will see. It was not an easy lesson, but he came to church so now this week we will be giving him a baptismal date. I really hope that he accepts it. So then to continue---we are teaching a brother and sister who we met last week---they both came to church and they loved it (at least I think they did). Then some kids that are really awesome, their sister is a member. I will take some pictures of them. So, to say the least, Elder Nkomo and I are having a great time!
Well, for the last week our water pump has been broken so we have been fetching water and doing the bucket shower thing! All the plates in the kitchen are dirty and the lids to the pans because we used those for plates! Also all the bowls and utensils are dirty. But then a miracle happened, someone came to fix it! Okay, not as great as your were probably hoping, but still I was happy! Oh ya, next week will be November and I am sure happy about that. It’s going to be really crazy to get to the end of my mission. I still don’t know what to do. I am so happy and yet so sad---it’s really weird. In the end I think it's going to be good to go home. See all the people I have not seen forever.
Well, it sounds like everything is ready for you guys to come over. I am really happy that so far everything has worked out. Well, to answer your questions: I have not tried the pizza; I was out of money really bad so I was just trying to make it. So maybe we will go on Tuesday. Elder Neilson is from Syracuse. I am trying to take more pictures. At church I took one that Dad will like. I bet he has the same picture from his mission! It was a little girl who looked like a Native American--the way she had her hair. She is cute so you will get to see that picture. I will take more--I promise. I will try to take one everyday from now on, but that is a lot. Like my journal---I have tried to fill it out everyday---but sometimes I got really lazy and did not do it for a week or two.
So this week we have decided to make some of Elder Nkomo’s food---it's corn starch (boiled). It’s going to be pretty sweet! We ate some last night because we did not have any food, but we had some shito. It was pretty nice, but somehow thick and lumpy, but nice. We will make it with groundnut soup or peanut soup.
That sounds pretty cool to go to the Medical School Josh is at. I would be pretty happy to do that---then I can just live in their house, also. Ha ha. That will be funny since Jenny’s niece is also there. ha ha. I was not thinking about that before I said that I could live there. Guess what---I am trying also to get everything ready before you come. I have to throw away lots of stuff, but I just keep thinking I have about 6 months before I have to do that and then I realize that it’s been 5 months since I have been saying that! My bags are way too heavy and I have lots of stuff inside that I will never take home with me. I don’t know where to put it. I am also trying to get my stuff clean---like my ties and bedding and bags and everything---so when I come to meet you they will be clean. It’s not easy though still I don’t have time to do anything. I hope the next few weeks are a little less crazy.
That is good that you got the camera so fast for Elder Gale. I got some letters this week because the office managers came out to bring some stuff, which was nice of them. There is a church outside playing their music so loud; it’s not serious at all. You will love other the churches here. You will get to see what they really do here. How it really goes.
I did not even talk about the baptism we had. It did not get planned out very well and we had to change some few things, but then we had it and it was a pretty good baptism. One child of record, that is way funny. Then Cynthia, our candidate, she is 14 and her father is a member and mother also, but the mother is inactive, sadly. Her sister was the child of record. The Tantra Hill Elders had one baptism also. Elder Neilson performed the baptism, he did a good job. On Sunday I did not have to do numbers so we planned---then I fell asleep on my bed and now I am behind on my Book of Mormon reading. I hope that I can catch up today, but I also want to make some food.
Well that is about it for us this week. Now that it’s winding down, I feel like every week I just tell you the same things as I did the week before—but I don’t really know. I hope you all have a good week. I sure will. Now there are only 4 more Mondays that I will be emailing. That is pretty intense. Love you all tons--miss you--but now I will see you all very soon.
Love, Elder Jeremy Reid
Monday, October 18, 2010
I Got Transferred!
Dear Family & Friends,
Well this week was pretty crazy. I got transferred for my last transfer on mission. So that was pretty exciting news. I did not go far though. I just got transferred to Achimota. I think that it’s pretty cool to end my mission. I am now with Elder Nkomo. He has been out for a little over 4 months. No more stress just small now. So I will be finishing here. The only sad thing is that there were so many people that we were teaching in Adenta that started to progress. Here there are only 4 but that’s okay though already this week we found some cool people and got them to church. The area is huge like Kasoa. There are tons of houses everywhere and people, kids, and families. I think it’s one of the greatest areas. So I hope that we can do something before I leave and get lots of people baptized. That will be way cool.
So I got the call on Monday from President and then on Wednesday I went to my new area. That was pretty sad--I had to tell everyone in Adenta good bye and sorry I lied that I would not be in the area to finish my mission. The ward here is so sweet--I loved church on Sunday. I got to bear my testimony--that was cool. It’s been a long time since I have done that. Then it was so quiet during sacrament. I was sitting on the front row so maybe that was why. I don’t really know. So my new companion is from Zimbabwe. He is really cool. He is more like the people from back home because he lives right next to South Africa so he’s very westernized. He knows how to teach great, Elder Fisher, his trainer did a really good job. I also think that he is naturally gifted. He is pretty funny--at first I did not think so because all the time when we came to Achimota to do interviews he was very quiet—but then when you get to know him he is more outgoing. We have been working so hard. Last week we did plenty of contacts, more than usual. Oh ya, also because of transfers I ran out of money so I was suffering this week small because I forgot some of the food in the other place. So I had to get some money. I hope that it’s my last time ever getting money out. This week I made some beans like the ones from Café Rio and they were so good. Then I made some tortillas and they were really good too. I put it all together last night with some cheese spread that Shelby and Matt sent and it was amazing. I cannot wait to go back to hot and spicy Mexican food. El Mexicano's is going to be the best.
So I am getting really excited about you coming. I cannot believe how fast it is going by. This week is now over and I only have 5 more. I can’t believe it. At the first it seems so far away. This week also I will get my 23 months on mission. It’s crazy. Then we will be in the month that you will be coming. I am happy. I am not trunky at all. I think that I am working harder now then ever before--I just want to end on the best that I can. I hope that we will have lots of success right before I go, because it’s been really hard, but worth it.
This week we met a man at his house who came right out and sat down to talk with us. The guy was ready to come to church by the end of our lesson. We taught him the next day and he came to church it was so cool. That is how I hope lots of people come. Then also another guy showed up to church the first time and was asking the qualifications of baptism. We will teach him on Thursday. The last guy that came to church this week they have been teaching for a while. One of the greatest concerns he has is that all other churches are wrong (that is what Christ told Joseph Smith). For me, I know if he will read the Book of Mormon and pray, he will know that it’s true--but some people don’t want to do that. I like the guy, he is very straight forward.
Well today I will be going to the market to get some food. Probably try to make some better tortillas. I love to make them, it takes lots of time, but they are so good. I like them with beans and I wish I could get some meat, but it’s never good here so I think I will buy some salmon to put inside of them. They are going to be pretty awesome, I hope. Even right now I am pretty hungry. I just ate a ground nut paste and chocolate spread sandwich--it was good but not filling. So now in the apartment there are only 4 of us Elder Nkomo, me, Elder Neilson (DL), and Elder Attah from Nigeria. It’s pretty cool. I am still in the same zone so even on Sunday I got to see Elder Amoah and Elder Beeston. It’s weird that I did not go far. That is kind of how it is now--you don’t move far from where you are. At transfers I did not know anyone there---they are all new missionaries.
I have not taken lots of pictures. I don’t know why--I have just had a hard time getting my camera out. But I guess since this is it I will take lots. I think I forgot to take some of the apartment in Adenta so I guess I will have to go and do that when I get done. I will take lots more. This area is cool and I have never served in a place like this so I will take lots of pictures. There is also a pizza shop here, so that is cool. I have not tried it yet but maybe next week. All the people we were working with in Adenta came to church this week--I was happy to hear that. I will miss all of them, but there has to be cool people here too, so we just have to go out and find them.
Sounds like Josh’s White Coat Ceremony went pretty well. I will look forward to seeing it all on camera--I hope it’s not too shaky! ha ha. I hope he does a good job. Maybe I will just follow him and do the same thing, ha ha. No, I think I want to go into Physical Therapy still, but now I have no idea. I bet he loves all the studying and work and stuff.
Well, I love you all so much! Thanks for the emails and letters! We have one more temple trip--that day will be really cool. I will just get your emails and maybe the office managers will be really nice and bring my mail out--I hope but no problem if not. Miss you all, but only a few more weeks. (It feels pretty darn good to say that). Like Dad always use to say---if we work hard we can finish early. I’m going to work hard because I want to finish early.
When you come I will just ask for one thing: when you get to New York please get me some pizza from that Sabados or something like that. Ha ha--I hope it does not spoil. That is if you are going through New York. Oh ya, Elder Gale was wondering if you could bring him a camera from his parents--his broke. So I don’t know exactly how, but I thought I would ask you if you can or not. Also the guy that was the driver for Elder Pearson’s parents wanted me to ask you if you could bring some stuff for him. I told him I would ask. So you can tell me what you think about that stuff also now I don’t even know when I will talk to him because I am not in Adenta anymore.
Love, Elder Jeremy Reid
Well this week was pretty crazy. I got transferred for my last transfer on mission. So that was pretty exciting news. I did not go far though. I just got transferred to Achimota. I think that it’s pretty cool to end my mission. I am now with Elder Nkomo. He has been out for a little over 4 months. No more stress just small now. So I will be finishing here. The only sad thing is that there were so many people that we were teaching in Adenta that started to progress. Here there are only 4 but that’s okay though already this week we found some cool people and got them to church. The area is huge like Kasoa. There are tons of houses everywhere and people, kids, and families. I think it’s one of the greatest areas. So I hope that we can do something before I leave and get lots of people baptized. That will be way cool.
So I got the call on Monday from President and then on Wednesday I went to my new area. That was pretty sad--I had to tell everyone in Adenta good bye and sorry I lied that I would not be in the area to finish my mission. The ward here is so sweet--I loved church on Sunday. I got to bear my testimony--that was cool. It’s been a long time since I have done that. Then it was so quiet during sacrament. I was sitting on the front row so maybe that was why. I don’t really know. So my new companion is from Zimbabwe. He is really cool. He is more like the people from back home because he lives right next to South Africa so he’s very westernized. He knows how to teach great, Elder Fisher, his trainer did a really good job. I also think that he is naturally gifted. He is pretty funny--at first I did not think so because all the time when we came to Achimota to do interviews he was very quiet—but then when you get to know him he is more outgoing. We have been working so hard. Last week we did plenty of contacts, more than usual. Oh ya, also because of transfers I ran out of money so I was suffering this week small because I forgot some of the food in the other place. So I had to get some money. I hope that it’s my last time ever getting money out. This week I made some beans like the ones from Café Rio and they were so good. Then I made some tortillas and they were really good too. I put it all together last night with some cheese spread that Shelby and Matt sent and it was amazing. I cannot wait to go back to hot and spicy Mexican food. El Mexicano's is going to be the best.
So I am getting really excited about you coming. I cannot believe how fast it is going by. This week is now over and I only have 5 more. I can’t believe it. At the first it seems so far away. This week also I will get my 23 months on mission. It’s crazy. Then we will be in the month that you will be coming. I am happy. I am not trunky at all. I think that I am working harder now then ever before--I just want to end on the best that I can. I hope that we will have lots of success right before I go, because it’s been really hard, but worth it.
This week we met a man at his house who came right out and sat down to talk with us. The guy was ready to come to church by the end of our lesson. We taught him the next day and he came to church it was so cool. That is how I hope lots of people come. Then also another guy showed up to church the first time and was asking the qualifications of baptism. We will teach him on Thursday. The last guy that came to church this week they have been teaching for a while. One of the greatest concerns he has is that all other churches are wrong (that is what Christ told Joseph Smith). For me, I know if he will read the Book of Mormon and pray, he will know that it’s true--but some people don’t want to do that. I like the guy, he is very straight forward.
Well today I will be going to the market to get some food. Probably try to make some better tortillas. I love to make them, it takes lots of time, but they are so good. I like them with beans and I wish I could get some meat, but it’s never good here so I think I will buy some salmon to put inside of them. They are going to be pretty awesome, I hope. Even right now I am pretty hungry. I just ate a ground nut paste and chocolate spread sandwich--it was good but not filling. So now in the apartment there are only 4 of us Elder Nkomo, me, Elder Neilson (DL), and Elder Attah from Nigeria. It’s pretty cool. I am still in the same zone so even on Sunday I got to see Elder Amoah and Elder Beeston. It’s weird that I did not go far. That is kind of how it is now--you don’t move far from where you are. At transfers I did not know anyone there---they are all new missionaries.
I have not taken lots of pictures. I don’t know why--I have just had a hard time getting my camera out. But I guess since this is it I will take lots. I think I forgot to take some of the apartment in Adenta so I guess I will have to go and do that when I get done. I will take lots more. This area is cool and I have never served in a place like this so I will take lots of pictures. There is also a pizza shop here, so that is cool. I have not tried it yet but maybe next week. All the people we were working with in Adenta came to church this week--I was happy to hear that. I will miss all of them, but there has to be cool people here too, so we just have to go out and find them.
Sounds like Josh’s White Coat Ceremony went pretty well. I will look forward to seeing it all on camera--I hope it’s not too shaky! ha ha. I hope he does a good job. Maybe I will just follow him and do the same thing, ha ha. No, I think I want to go into Physical Therapy still, but now I have no idea. I bet he loves all the studying and work and stuff.
Well, I love you all so much! Thanks for the emails and letters! We have one more temple trip--that day will be really cool. I will just get your emails and maybe the office managers will be really nice and bring my mail out--I hope but no problem if not. Miss you all, but only a few more weeks. (It feels pretty darn good to say that). Like Dad always use to say---if we work hard we can finish early. I’m going to work hard because I want to finish early.
When you come I will just ask for one thing: when you get to New York please get me some pizza from that Sabados or something like that. Ha ha--I hope it does not spoil. That is if you are going through New York. Oh ya, Elder Gale was wondering if you could bring him a camera from his parents--his broke. So I don’t know exactly how, but I thought I would ask you if you can or not. Also the guy that was the driver for Elder Pearson’s parents wanted me to ask you if you could bring some stuff for him. I told him I would ask. So you can tell me what you think about that stuff also now I don’t even know when I will talk to him because I am not in Adenta anymore.
Love, Elder Jeremy Reid
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
