Just Keep Swimming

As all of our favorite fish, Dori, says, "Just keep swimming!" Whether deep sea fish with big teeth or sharks or jelly fish or seagulls or whatever! Just keep swimming!!

This week was, as the Ghanaians say, small small. Not to much happened. Not that there wasn't plenty work and sweating and spirit and love, but none too noteworthy. For Valentines day this week I celebrated by eating a pancake. Not just any pancake, but a pink pancake!! But as a missionary serving God with all my heart, might, mind, and strength, that was all the Valentine love we get. 

This week I was reading in a Liahona that said that this year's motto is in Moroni's final exhortations before he buried his record for 1000s of years. What a better way to end The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ then by inviting all that read to "Come unto Christ and be perfected in him." Perfection seems pretty nice. That would get rid of a bunch of problems and make life all around easier. All I have to do to be perfect is Come unto Christ? That's not too hard. Well, it is hard, but it is worth it. Coming unto Christ is the most important and influential path that we as God's children can ever walk on. As we come closer to the Master, we may not have complete perfection but we will grow in testimony and in understanding of trials. What better day than today to start on the quest? Start today. Come unto Christ.

Moroni 10:32

Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.

1- Me making the traditional Ghana fish baskets!

THE COOLEST GHANAIAN KID I HAVE MET. I was sitting next to him waiting for someone and he turned to me and said, in perfect English (which doesn't happen much) and said "Do you about Superman?" So for the next 20 minutes of waiting we talked about Superman and other superheros. Of course Jesus came up as the best Superhero. So of course we also had to pose for a picture as Ninjas. that just seemed right.

Next time you are snacking on a Chocolate chip cookie you can know the origin of the Cocoa you are eating! The pods grow right off the trunk and when they are ripe they turn bright Yellow!

Humble Lion in the Hood

One of my  member buddies liked to rap and that little gem came out one time.

I can truthfully say that there is room for improvement here. Perhaps not the best it can be, but that's just life. And sometimes in life, God throws something hard at you to see how you react. That's where I am right now, in the middle of God's test to me and it is up to me and only me to pass. Humility is rewarded by God, but not by man. It's not easy.

This weekend there was a funeral for a church member in Esheim. There was just big parties all day and lots of loud music and old ladies dancing funny. Ghana funerals are definitly a sight!! The good thing about them are that family from all around come, for Friday, Saturday.... and Sunday!! And Sunday means Church!! So with all the family and friends that were visiting we had about 20 investigators in Gospel Principals class!!! Every chair was full to the brim. I don't know how many will come back again, but now they can firmly say that Latter-day Saints don't have any blood sacrifices and spirit chantings... So thats still a plus!

We found ways to serve this week. As we were coming into Esheim a old old man was making traditional Ghanaian fish catching baskets. So guess who now knows how to make traditional Ghanaian fish catching baskets? Thats right!! Me! They call them something like Toris... or something and they are made from a part of a palm tree. I got to talk to the man and teach him the gospel small and all parties were happy.

Today, we had a zone service activity where we filled in the patches on a road on a hill and weeded the side. So for a good hour I went head to head with a sword against the oncoming weeds. Elder Riehle- 1, Ghana Vegetation- 0. It was great to see the apprection (and shock) from all the people walking by. Everyone except for the rich pastor in his shiny car who said that all of Ghana's problems are caused by white people and fixing a road doesn't help anything. In return, I said "For me I know that when we are in the service of our fellow beings we are in the service of your God." Crazy guy doesn't even know I quoted scripture at him!

As a final story, I smelled cheese this week. You might not think that is a big deal... but it is. Elder Wamono and I just stood and smelled for a long time. I have no idea where it came from, but all that can be said is that God blesses his servants in his own time and own way.

D&C 58:4- For after much tribulation comes blessings

"For after much tribulation come the blessings. Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand."

Elder Riehle

Short on time this week!

This week was a very odd week in that... no missionary work was done. My companion was sick and we were unable to go out. So for the whole week I had to find stuff to do all week. I learned how to cut my hair, play harmonica, made brownies and pizza (on a oven) and read a whole gospel book, listened to a whole 8 hour talk, and redecorated the appartment. Ie I was really bored. But I grew in knowledge and skills that will help me as a missionary!

Transfers came and I am staying in Nketsiekrom with Elder Wamono.

Praying for you all!

Elder Riehle

I get knocked down, But I get back up again!

Times are tough in the mission of Elder Riehle. I have learned so much of the importance of companionship unity. When it is not there, the Spirit runs away faster than a Ghanaian child seeing a White man for the first time. (That means Really fast.)

We had the pleasure of hearing from our President this week on what it means to be a Consecrated Missionary. Give all your heart, might, mind and strength. But it really applies to everyone. As for me, I have been called and asked to give ALL my time and effort for the work of the Lord. As for most people, that is not the case. This week one of our recent converts was called as the 2nd councilor in the Relief Society. It was so amazing that just hours before she got the call from Bishop, we had just taught her a lesson about callings and committed her to accept one when she is called. It is so nice to have the Spirit on my side. I didn't know that she was going to be called, but God did. And he made sure to let me know. So in all that we have been called to do, whether bishop, Sunday school teacher, mother or father, we have to give our all and Do Your Best. Just like in the Good old Cub Scout days.

We had a long time investigator, who is so sincere and so ready, who had a date to be baptized this week, have to be pushed back up to 6 weeks because of transgressions in the past. It was hard for him at first but it really showed him the MAGNITUDE of the covenant of baptism. We can't just be sinning one week and decide to be baptized the next. Repentance truly is the second principle of the gospel and it must be done to the fullness possible. 6 weeks will be a long time for him, but he will truly have the mighty change of heart that the Book of Mormon talks about. 

Everyone has their time and this week is my father/trainer, Elder Harris's last week in the country he loves so much. He was such a great example to me and I am sad to see him leave. But the Lord only calls us for the Best Two Years and not any more. Ghana will loose a little bit of light, but I hope I can grow enough to be as bright as he was.

1 Peter 3- If ye are reproached for righteousness, Happy are ye! If ye suffer for the name of Christ, Happy are ye!

Super 8

The time for being 8 months has come! Not that I am counting. It is just that ties are really cheap here and I restrict myself to getting a new tie once a month! 

This week was pretty good. Always the few ups and downs. The village is continuing to prosper and flourish! The more effort you put in the more you get out!! We have been finding people that have been taught by the missionaries before, but don't remember ANYTHING so we are just trying to  get past the language challenges and the education challenges and teach veerrry simply. The people are so smart with what they have. They have HUGE farms that the only tool the use to cultivate is a sword. You go guys! This week I got to go out with the big Ghana Machetes and collect fire wood for about an hour for an investigator who is not very serious with our message. Usually we come and she says the is too busy and that we should wait. We wait for some time and awkwardly get up and say we'll comeback another time. But NOPE! Not this time! We went and worked for her for an hour (in the 150 degree sun) and came back to teach her and she humbly pulled up chairs and waited for what we had to say. Thats right! Take that! Service in your face!

All the Elders in my district all stay in one apartment. Last P-day we planned a water pistol ambush for some of the elders in the district. They walked out of their room and Bam! The water fight commenced. We did it mostly because the power was off and none of the fans worked. And don't worry, we worked hard for the rest of the day.

The work is divine and we are working hard!

Elder Riehle

Pictures

Pic 1- What a lot of my area looks like! Barren hills!

Pic 3- The road to Eshiem

Pic 2- Super Kid!!

Village Life!

Being in village with 200 people in it is definitely a different style of missionary work. With missionaries going there for the past year, EVERYONE has been talked to and taught. Going here, so many people said, "Its a dead area, there is no hope there." Other missionaries may have been there, but Elder Riehle hasn't! As I am sometimes called, Ohiniba Abeiku! Meaning, "Cheif-son Born-on-Wednesday." All you need is hope and optimism and the Lord provides! This week in Eshiem was awesome! The past few weeks we would be there for 2 hours and have NOTHING to do and just walk around talking to people for hours. But this Sunday, a return missionary and I got there at nine for church and we were busy till 7! We are the first missionaries in months to really be trying at all there and we are gaining the members trust and referrals are popping out everywhere! We got fed three times and even taught the chief! 

I have been thinking a lot about personal salvation this week. God only cares how much I do and how obedient I am and how hard I work. The life and choices of others can't affect my salvation. That is the glory of Agency. Making choices is the reason we came to this earth, so if there is ever a time you find yourself off the path, choose to come back. Choose to make today a great day, Choose to live a Celestial life. Through our outlook and optimism in life will affect how we work and how we live. So Choose today to be awesome and just do what God says.

This week someone looked at me and said I look like Tom Cruise. I'll take that as a compliment. That goes along with the being called Jesus a few weeks ago, all and all, peeps dig me!

2 Nephi 2:27 Choose to have joy!

"Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.

Hot and Cocoa. Not Hot Cocoa

My new apartment has its ups and downs,

but a serious UP is that it is next to one of the largest Cocoa refining factories in Ghana! So everyday coming and going from home we get a blast of delicious Hot and Cocoa air. Delicious.

The work is moving surely and steadily, But still on the climb. Still only have about 2 serious investigators and a lot of just 'buddies' who like the missionaries, but just have no interest in our message. Working on it. We had these 2 investigators having a baptismal date for this weekend, but because of some issues it has to be pushed... for a while. It is a sweet couple and the woman comes from the eastern part of Ghana where her family believes in the "traditional beliefs" or Juju. Basically Devil worshiping. Basically just problems. 

Pic 1- My fresh companion and our fresh cuts.

I got my first Ghana haircut this week! My companion is all about looking fresh.. So now... I am something like that.. The Ghanaians absolutely LOVE it. "Wow you are so handsome" "your hair is too fresh." Uh.. Ok. As Long as it helps in the work!

Pic 2- Typical service in my superman shirt pounding plantains!

Teaching is a little on the slow side, so we are doing everything we can to keep busy! The ward was having a big party on Saturday and we spent the whole morning making all the food! Everyone was so surprised the white guy could do anything. They would ask, "Do you have onions in your country?" "Uh.. yes" "How about tomatoes? chicken? fish? rice?" "Of course! You do know we live on the same planet, right?" Sometimes, only a sparse few times, have I had to inform people that No, America is not in the clouds... Basically, everyday is full of surprises.

D&C 100- God promises to bless families with missionaries! 

Elder Riehle

Pic 3- Steps made carved out of a hill. Typical in Peanut town.