Happy Birthday MOM!

(Written December 16, 2013)

I am a blessed Missionary. This week was one of those you wish you could share with everyone. 

First off, I don't know if anyone in the Robinson family reads this blog. But I want you to know that I am praying for you. I love you. God Loves You. 1 Nephi 11:17 I don't know why things happen, I would never pretend to understand all of it. But I do know that God loves all of his Children.

If someone paraphrases this for them, please let them know that there are prayers said, far away as Ghana, for them. Mom I hope you share that email I sent you with them. Could anyone provide me with their address?

This week is another of many parts that has built my testimony of God's love for each person. I saw it on both sides of the work this week, those who entered the fold and one who wouldn't, hopefully just for now.

Elder Jones had to travel to Accra for Zone Leader Council. So I was in a triple combination with Elder Hancock and Johnson for a few days. One night we went to meet a lady named Gina. She has been investigating for a while, I have heard her name since I came to Ho. Both the Elders have worked hard for her, even their families spoke to her over facebook.

She was doing good and even had a baptismal date. Then she didn't show up to church for three weeks and slowly got farther away. The Elders had come to a point where they had to 'drop' her. 

Dropping is the worst part of missionary work. Seeing her was taking away from others who would listen. So they had to tell her that they wouldn't be coming to teach her anymore. I had to be there for it though.

As we talked with her, and tried with everything we could to help her feel loved and feel a desire to come to Christ, she was pretty unaffected by it, at least that I could see. It came to a point where there wasn't anything left to say, we had done all. But I could feel the weight in the air. In all seriousness the Heavens were saddened. This was a daughter, who wouldn't come home. Hopefully just for now.

For missionaries we can't be here with people forever, but members can. Home and visiting teaching is so important. It is not going to teach a lesson! It is going to love a family and be their friend, it is bringing them the love of God. The Spirit will teach them what they really need. The greatest home teachers are not scolding for not coming back to church. They are a bridge for them to feel the love of God. It is not 'finished' or 'done' each month. It is either 'current' or 'not current'. Home and visiting teaching is a work, love, and friendship never finished.

I invite anyone who reads to consider how we can magnify our callings. There are people who need you right now.

As for the week, Saturday was one of the most incredible days I have ever known.

The morning started off disappointing. The baptism was cancelled since we couldn't get a key to get the robes. Ceaser was really down, he had been walking to the church. Freda, or Esinam, were also down. 

That night we went to see her. She looked, sad, broken, ready to give up. As we talked with her there was a lot of silence where there is usually laughter from her. 'Elders, next week then, not this week for baptism.' She left to grab something. As she came back outside, and sat down again we had a conversation completely from the Spirit. There is no way I could have found those words. The Spirit confirmed that she had been hurt by someone close, but that she also wanted to be baptized, truly from her own heart. So I expressed this impression to her. She paused and said 'O it was nothing.' We waited, Elder Jones and I expressed our love and concern for her. 

I saw the Scriptures sitting on the table. I knew if I opened them the words would be there. They landed in the Doctrine and Covenants. Maybe section 59? One where the Lord councils a man who has seen sorrow to repent and be baptized. I put her name in instead of 'James'. 

I knew God was pleading for her to come to him.

She began to speak of how the members she was staying with had gotten angry at her for a joke she said. She is usually light hearted and very humorous. We talked about how we knew she still wanted to be baptized. That she knew this was right. Esinam agreed she did. Suddenly another prompting found Elder Jones. 'If you come to the Broadcast tonight (the CES one) you will hear the words you need.' 

I saw a light catch in her, a fire revived. Like hope was still there. The Spirit confirmed that tonight would be far greater than I had expected.

We quickly left since it was about 5:45, and we picked up Ceaser as well. The ride was quite and the walk to the Chapel, both looked worn out. As the four of us sat down to watch the talk even mentioned 'think of all the troubles that disturb you or weigh you down.' The fireside had points were video clips were shown. Many spoke of Relying on God. As it went on they both turned and said 'Can we be baptized tonight?'. The key was here now and Elder Cosgrave was there. We organized a program and ran to grab the baptismal clothes for Elder Jones. 

We returned to everyone preparing and took pictures out in the dark night. The service was so sweet, the spirit was so strong. It may have been dark, but there was a light amongst us. There was more than short lived excitement within them. They were very determined and certain of the choice. That meant much more to me. 

As they came out of the water, they truly seemed to be different people. It was the most incredible service I have seen. The next day I was blessed to confirm Esinam and be in the Circle for Ceaser. Esinam had stitched a dress and was very serious about the confirmation, she glowed with it. She invited her sister to attend and she did. Ceaser's father came too. I feel that these two are true converts.

I made myself remember the details of that night. The clouds, the full moon and stars. The old baptismal font, to be replaced this week, used one last time. I wish I had more time to express all of this but my time is up.

I love you all and so does God.

Mom happy Birthday!!!

I love you from Ghana and back and to Eternity

Love,

 Elder Van Wagoner

It's the Holiday Season!

Just bein Logan! 

Look Mom! I cut my own hair!

? Gotta love him!

(Written December 9, 2013)

Okay so this week I did not do well at time management so this email will be brief. The computer shuts down at exactly 2 hours so I have about 14 minutes left... hoping my computer skills are still around. Nope not really, they are dying off haha.

This week went by way fast, I thought it was Monday like yesterday. But Transfers are this Wednesday. Look at that, a whole transfer older. That is three of them. 

On Tuesday and Wednesday I was in a triple combination with Elder Johnson and Elder Hancock. My companion traveled to Odamasi to do some work and check on the Elders there. He traveled with the Cosgraves. It was great getting to work with some of their people. I see them at church but never get to know the whole story as much and some of them are just awesome. Really working to overcome addictions and everything.

Wednesday was somehow humbling. We went half in their area and half on my side that day. We met with Corney and he is still working with his mom. But that guy is great. Every missionary he meets he always asks 'what inspired you to go on a mission.' That brings some very sweet moments. Some time to think about you. It definitely takes you back a moment. Well after that pretty much every lesson I had planned fell through. The back ups did too. We did contact some cool people though. I just try to do more than knocking on doors since that very rarely brings a serious investigator.

On the way back I was feeling pretty tired, and a little discouraged. But we went to mutual and the kids there can't really leave me unhappy haha. This girl, Mintaa, is about 4 or 5. Her parents were baptized the past two weeks by the other Elders. She wanted to draw on my planner and then grab my arm and have me pick her up. For some reason that is just the funniest thing to her. :) Guess the Lord really doesn't ever leave us comfortless longer than we can stand. :) I hope everyone feels and knows that, Sav I hope you keep going to the temple, like Elise told me you did. 

Their is the peace of the World and the peace of the Lord. They will not come in the same place, in fact they are most often opposed to each other. It is a lot easier to be living the gospel as much as you can, giving 100 percent, than giving 98. Promise you that one.

I did buy a guitar the other day! It is sweet and it was way cheap, o bless Ghana! But it is nice to have, even though I don't have a lot of time to play since.. well I am a missionary.. so kinda self explanatory.  haha

One funny story is that elder Hancock and Jones were doing this thing were you back flip over each others backs with arms locked. they got it to work a couple of times and then Elder Johnson came. It didn't work and he landed on his head and we had to call Elder Cosgrave to clean up the cut at like 1020 the other night, but he is fine now.

WE had 8 at church and it was wonderful! Phillipa came too! so a great week!

Love you all,

Elder Van Wagoner

Logan's Companion...ouch!

Logan's Drinking Water!

Merry Thanksgiving!

*Mom Note-- When Logan left I asked him to relay a few events from every day of his week, and list the names of the people he is teaching so we could pray for them! You can download the pictures and use windows photo viewer.  If not I will fix them and send them along shortly. I am going to send a package to him this week for Christmas.  He has very limited time on the computer on pday. If you would like to jot him a quick note and e mail it to me so I could print it and send it to him for Christmas that would be awesome. He says his favorite thing is regular letters because he actually has time to read and re read them. Thanks for all the support to him! Love, Myrna

(Written December 2, 2013) 

So I guess November is done! That was a quick month. Surprised to find myself in December. That also means that I have been a missionary for about 4 months now... what do you know... 4 months. 

Well Tuesday was a pretty normal work day. We had coordination meeting. After the meeting, Corney brought us some baguettes back form Togo! The best part is I was the only one who liked them in our apartment haha That night we met with a less active girl named Abigail. She sells shoes from Togo at the road side. (everyone sells something at roadside). She introduced us to her friend who serves killy whilly (deep fried plantain with plenty ginger). Her name is Phillipa. Every night since we pack her stuff, which she stows in our compound. I took up the habit of carrying the huge bowls on my head, which is something only Ghanaian's do. So everyone gets a good laugh from the yeavuo who is carrying. I love it though! We meet a lot of people this way. Phillipa is really grateful to and she is so sincere. Her spirit is true.

Wednesday was a bit slower but in the evening we got to be in charge of mutual. So we made this sweet scripture chase game and everyone loved it! If you answered right you got a chance to shoot a bean bag (a sock we filled with rice) into one of our washing buckets. Dina hit one from the 2 point line and everyone was so excited! I may have jumped up too... haha But Bernard (This small boy who was baptized two weeks ago) hit from the three! He is so shy that he ran when everyone cheered! haha.

We sat with Esinam that night and she is preparing to be baptized in two weeks! She is really sweet too us and is helping to stitch some of the gifts I am sending home.

Thursday was funny because I found out I was going on exchanges with a french speaking elder from cote divore. His name is Elder Grissignon. That was funny. We met Faith, a recent convert in the morning. Then we went to get Kente from a man named Holy. Kente is the traditional fabric, native to Ghana. I can't even explain how they weave it because I don't even understand how it is possible.. but they do. So I got some sweet Kente for everyone! I think you will like it? Hopefully haha but I think it is sweet!

Well the exchanges ended and that night we went up to a somehow hotel called 'Bob Coffie'. We heard they had burgers so we went to get some, for thanksgiving, with the other elders in our apartment. We sat enjoying the place and talking about Ghana. They brought the burgers and they had no meat. We asked them and they said 'you ordered the cheese burger.' So we had cheese, and no meat haha! We finally convinced them that a burger should have meat, but we still had to pay an extra four cedis. I noticed we weren't being overly grateful so I suggested we go in a circle and each take turns saying what we were grateful for. We said we would go maybe two times. But we went again, and again, and again. As the Thanksgiving went I felt the Love of Christ. I am grateful for my family, for the Book of Mormon, for the Savior. We talked about many things and why. I am grateful for my mission, it is something I won't ever be able to bring others to understand, because everyone has their own mission, and some things are just for us to experience. I feel like for every one door I open five more are beyond.

But that was a night I will never forget, a true Thanksgiving in Ghana.

Friday was crazy. We had five lessons before we even left Housing (our neighborhood)! That was around 2.  We got to sit with Corney and talk about making the choice. Pray for him everyone, and for his mom to come around. We taught Phillipa too. She has an honesty within her, it is wonderful. But she told us she will be moving soon. Not going to lie. I am heart broken. I pray she will be able to have this gospel. She is ready and deserves it.

Later that night we had a dinner with the district and the couple missionaries. They cooked up some chicken and vegetables and I thought I would pop! It was sooo good! Then the packages came from you all!! So I could only eat like one thing and that was it! Eating the processed food is funny for us. So we haven't made to big of a dent because it fills you like automatically. haha.

Saturday was a good busy day and we got to pack Phillipa's stuff again. Man I am really going to miss her. She deserves the best of whatever is waiting beyond.

Sunday we showed 'the testament' and everyone really enjoyed it. All right next week everyone! Love you all but my time is up in 10 seconds!!

Elder Van Wagoner