There is Beauty all Around

September 22, 2014

When there's love at home!

This week was filled with some very special moments for me. So I imagine that there must be love at home. Whenever there is love at home, the storms of life and the darkness can be overcome. If we find difficulty in creating love at home, take heart 'By small and simple things are great things brought to pass'. 'You receive no witness until after the trail of your faith'.

Above all REMEMBER (the most important word in our existence) that there is Love in your Heavenly Home above. A loving Father and Mother who care for you and watch over you daily. REMEMBER these things.

 We were able to spend more time working and less on exchanges this week. During the week, we were working with some good people, but we couldn't get a lot of them to commit to church. Nice that they were honest and actually had real things they were doing though. We even had a day were it rained on us pretty good as we went out proselyting. It was good, I felt like we were giving it our all. Unfortunately most of our appointments got messed up with the rain haha. My companion didn't enjoy the rain, but both of us new we had done our part.

As Sunday approached we were wondering who would come. We had a few people committed, but we couldn't feel solid about anyone. That Sunday morning, I felt I should pray for us to meet someone who would be solid, who would be ready to progress and follow the principles and receive the ordinances of Salvation (One of about 3 times I have felt to pray specifically for that. Like the day I met Desmond in Cantonments). As we came into church a new face was there. I went and talked to him, Ebenezar is his name. 

We went to meet him that evening. He introduced his wife and two kids to us and we had a great lesson. He even told us that he was about to go and hit his wife with a rag and then remembered our lesson in Elder's Quorum (I taught a discussion about culture that was different about Heaven and Ghana) and decided to walk outside instead! They seemed pretty excited that we were there and it was such an awesome and wonderful experience.

As Elder Scanlan called me to do our weekly reports, he asked how I was doing. Usually nobody asks that question, report on yourself. But, as he asked I just had an overwhelming appreciation and gratitude for all the blessings that were with us, for my chance to be here, to be a missionary, and that Spirit that I felt. Sometimes missionary work is wonderful, I love being a missionary. :)

Another great moment came when we had another appointment fall through. As we walked away from the house we took a new road. I looked down this rough road and saw Ghana it all it's greatness :) An old song came to my mind "Is this what I have waited for all of my life?" That song is by matt kearny, and it's not about missionary work. But that day it was about this wonderful time and the blessings I have sought for. They are right there, if only we will realize it. If only we will REMEMBER :)

I love you all forever, from Ghana and Back and to Eternity

REMEMBER God always REMEMBERS you.

Elder Van Wagoner

Ho is a District!!

Hey everybody! I sent an email earlier, but it didn't go through because the cafe internet dropped. So now we went to the cafe down the road. Currently sitting next to a guy who is scamming a lady who lives in france and thinks she is speaking with a french guy, but they are just using google translate...... awkward. On my right is a guy on a creepy foreign dating site.... the one day I leave my pamphlets at the apartment! haha

Well this week flew by. To be honest it seems like I go outside and then a whole novel of exsitance flashes before my eyes and then I am walking back in for the day. Time moves differently on mission. Especially after the year mark.

September 22, 2014

We had some real solid lessons and a lot of help from the members. Always a downer when you take a member and then the investigator is not even around haha especially when the back up fails too.... shoot. But we did meet a sweet guy named ernest jr. We went to contact his house because it looked like a house from the volta region. The time we came back we found that he had read the first 2 chapters of the book of Mormon and the introduction pages! This guy is really having a personal conversion and the Spirit is softening his heart. Praying that he can continue to read, each time he reads he answers his own concerns. And that will happen with anyone of us who reads the Book Of Mormon, you will answer your own concerns. The Book of Mormon is incredible.

We had a good week for working with the members. The support was really there. Not always the investigators though, which was the problem. We would get an appointment and a back up lined up and then both would fall through. Always feel bad for the members in that situation, but grateful that they are so helpful. Learned a lot about working with members in the past couple of transfers.  

I got to go on an exchange with Elder Fransisco this week. He is a great elder and has a real solid love for those that he serves. You can see that the only barrier he has to express or show it is just the language (he speaks Portuguese, he is from angola). I was impressed with his love though. His language is on the rise and I asked that he study the Book of Mormon during the companionship language study. I think it is already making a difference. 

Some random things from the week: Swapped to the new pair of shoes, the other ones reached there limit. (see the pics) and then today I had a hamburger!! Pretty awesome day to say the least

Today I called some of my recent converts from Ho. Ho became a district! Brother Hope is the new Ho 1st branch President. They were pretty excited and I am too! Elder Turley called me and told me that Divine, the man we worked with forever, the jewish-jehovah witness man came back to Ho. When he got back he said, 'you are right, I need to be baptized.' Yes!!!!! And then to top it off he is moving to afloa! The church is now trying to open up there and he will be so solid for them there! 

I can't remember if I said it or not, but Hohoe opened up and one man that we were teaching just went there. His name is Herbert and he got baptized just after I left! Really this was such a sweet day for me. Mission is a beautiful thing big downs and even bigger ups :) There is more up in the world than down.

I know that my Redeemer Lives and everything else can follow from there. Joseph Smith is the Prophet of the Restoration and the Book of Mormon is true, more than any book on Earth. 

Millions shall know brother Joseph again. It is a blessing to be here, thank you so much for your support and prayers, I am praying for you.

I love you forever, from Ghana and back and to Eternity

Elder Van Wagoner

Happy (Late) Birthday Elise!

September 8, 2014

Mom note: I'm not as flaky as I seem..well maybe I am..the reason these don't get sent out on Monday is Logan and I write back and forth but I'm usually out running so it's all on my phone.  He is usually off long before I get back home so being the fluffy brained female that I am, I forget to forward. My apologies, especially to Mom and Dad who say, "hey where is our email from Logan"..so I will try to do better. Love you all. Myrna

The Pics are a throwback to elder Beckett and I with the Chineboa family. Sister Juliana, the mom, reminds me of mom so much haha, in a Ghana sort of way. And then the other one is our sweet elders quorum get together on Saturday.

Elise Happy Birthday!!!!! We definitely killed a goat for your birthday at the chapel! That was totally not part of the elders quorum activity and just because we wanted to celebrate your day with some nice goat :) fufu too! Besides that crazy moment it was a good day and I hope that it was sweet for you. It was the first thing I thought about in the morning and remembered that a year ago I had celebrated here in Ghana too. Only this year was a lot better. :)

We had an interesting week since our phone is not working. Lots of things didn't work out and getting members to come and help out is borderline impossible without a phone in this area. Still at the activity we taught some people there, even got a referral!!! We will be meeting with him again on Tuesday!

This week was up and down with people. Met a lot of people who were really wanting to bash with us. Gives you a sweet chance to open up the Book Of Mormon and 'liken' a scripture unto them. I love coming to something like 1 nephi 2:16 and showing them that even Nephi had concerns and questions, yet he, unlike others, had the faith in Christ to go and ask if 'these things are not true'.

I have gotten into this weird habit after being with Elder Beckett: contacting with chastity pamphlets or showing people 'The Family' pamphlet. It's pretty sweet though, inviting people to repent right on the spot, it has actually opened up a lot of sweet conversations and works out really well in Ghana.

We were teaching this lady (whom we contacted with chastity and a talk about eternal families) and then a man comes up on his moto. He was asking about us and so we set up to come see him the next day. His name is Sayuty (say-ute). We biked over in the morning and got to his house. The guy is the coolest muslim ever! He read the restoration pamphlet about 3 times the night before and knows the bible like nobody! He told us he was muslim mostly because the churches around didn't follow the bible. We discussed the possibility of an eternal family, which he was excited about and also about the Book of Mormon. He told us he had really wanted to get a copy which was a first. Sweet man though with a wife too!! Hoping for good things to come for him.

Had to move Stanley's baptism back again, he is going to have to get the lady to stop selling cigarettes or move. It's a battle, but I know he can do it. I have seen God do many things.

Today we got to go to this garden place. First time I haven't seen trash everywhere in 13 months today! Way cool place and almost nobody but our zone was there.

I was washing my clothes today and as I listened to President Hinckley speak, as well as 'Praise to the Man'. I had one of those wonderful moments when you find that beautiful reminder: It is true. Hye, me nim se assori eno krey (see, i know that the Church is true). I love this church and the wonderful Gospel of our Father. This is truly the Church of Jesus Christ. He lives and loves us. I know that anyone who repents will find solace in Him, for 'Sweet is the Peace the Gospel brings'.

Praise to the man who communed with Jehovah. Millions shall know brother Joseph Again.

I love you all from Ghana and Back and to Eternity!

Elder Van Wagoner

Money is Cheap

September 1, 2014

Mom note: sorry about the delay.  Life has been a little crazy. Hope everything is good for all of you! Fast day is on Sunday and if you could remember Elise and Matt and their little baby in your prayers and fasts, we would be oh so grateful. As I read this letter I am so grateful for the family I was raised in and the much bigger extended family I have now. Grateful for the love that was and is always extended to me.  Thanks everyone. We are all so lucky to have the family that we do. Love, Myrna

The end of another week in paradise, a new one about to begin. Somehow exciting to think about what I will write about next week. This week we are going to see some people soon and so I will have to cut things a bit short, sorry mom!

Elder Dube came this week, we traveled to Accra at like 4 in the morning to get there and it was sweet! We had some really good instruction about working with our members and making lasting changes. One thing I love about these special meetings is they bring a new focus and help me get the right perspective back.

His wife is awesome, she was so humble and good for her instruction and it really touched me. That is the type of woman you will want after the mission, someone who is willing to give her whole heart to our Lord.

I sat by Elder Strong for the first meeting since my companion was not a part of that meeting. We stayed in our seats for the second meeting and got called up to do a role play together! Just like the MTC again!! During the role play we were addressing a family concern with the Book Of Mormon (best book on earth). Elder Crisp and his wife were the 'investigators'. Elder Crisp is our office couple and they are awesome, he got chocked up and couldn't keep reading after a point in the verse we shared. A reminder of what message we are really sharing: The Gospel of Hope :)

This week was promising. We were able to coordinate a bit more with our members and I am still working on the assignment to take our Bishop out to work with us (Elder Dube assigned all the mission leaders to do this), problem is he is very busy at the area office. He did agree to meet with Matilda on Sunday, they may move it to Wednesday after the mid week program. We have a great ward here and I feel blessed to serve with them. Our Ward Mission Leader is really trying. Our Ward mission leader decided we should make a proposal for a ward mission plan for the ward council to consider when we were at our coordination meeting.  We are looking at working with more part member families making it a statistic that we keep track of, as well as 'investigators with a fellow shipper'. Hoping that these can improve our efforts with the Ward.

Stanly came on Sunday and so did a man from Mali named Ezekias. Ezekias is learning English and is really excited about the gospel. Sunday school was about temples and he wants to go there so bad! Really excited for this guy, he is moving though and so we will have to refer him. It was nice having Elder Grissignon around to teach in French when he got confused. We have been teaching a lot of french people lately, feels weird, like I am the one learning the language. Interesting perspective for me to see from though.

We went to Adenta to play sports with the two zones today. I forgot to pick up elder Grissignon's wallet as we were leaving and as we were walking away I remember and we went back for it. Some kid had taken money from it and the kids around the park took us to go and find him. When we did the neighborhood was looking to beat the kid. I got caned a couple times as they tried to hit him and got me instead. Took the canes and broke them and threw them away. Told them to not beat the kid, that we forgave him and they should try and talk it out with him. He was like 5.

We keep working with Matilda, she feels just like my sister. She has lost a lot of weight too and my heart aches for her and her two daughters. Definitely getting brought down, just praying for her. I write 'Money is Cheap' because most of the mans concerns involve money issues. Anyone can make money, just depends on what straw they drew with life, the cards they were dealt. Yet Character, is not cheap, it is worth something that makes you realize money is nothing beside it, a non-existent thought. We are so beyond blessed to have this gospel and to have the families and the situations that we do. Nothing could be worth so much as a family in which is infused the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

These things have been weighing on me. I used to want to go home, during my training, but now I don't want to go. There is so much work to be done here and they need it so much. I see a bit more of what the Savior see's with me and others now 'Hating the sin, Loving, with ALL you have, the sinner.' Mission means a lot to me. These People mean the world to me. I just hope that they can feel that, and that the Lord will work through me and despite all my weaknesses. This truly is his work.

I don't like sending home things that sound negative because I don't want anyone to get a negative perspective on Ghana. These People have more good than bad in them, the whole world does :) . I am so happy to be here with them. Most of our problems come from this: Not smiling. Please 'Scatter sunshine, all along your way.'

love you forever, from Ghana and Back and to Eternity!


Elder Van Wagoner

MA SUSU WOOOO PAAAA

August 17, 2014

This is one of the sweetest recent converts ever!!!!! Her name is Nana Ama Atoko! We were referred to her from the Kpando elders and she accepted everything so quickly! She was baptized the week that I was transferred to Kwabenya. Told me that she had a dream before she met the elders in kpando, that God had been raining rocks on her for not taking the Gospel seriously (haha)!

Side Note: Elder morpkorkpor is me. You say it like MO-PO-PO (with the k in your throat sound that I will have to show you when I get home) That is my ewe name, it means 'Hope'. It was given to me by some sweet members from Ho. 

People like this are out there, as I have been learning on my mission you can sacrifice doing good things for doing great things.

Second, I would love to say that her joining the church was all me, but not even close. The Lord will hasten his work in his own time, she was prepared and we were just blessed enough to be the ones who get to teach her.

Who you are is the example your recent converts will have, they look up to you. They think that you are what 'perfect' is as a Latter-Day Saint. I'm so grateful that when we were working with her I had such a great companion who could set the example for her to be serious, I was just lucky to be there haha.

Elder Van Wagoner

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Apolonia Nanama <akoto.nanama91@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, Aug 17, 2014 at 2:50 PM
Subject: MA SUSU WOOOO PAAAA
To: Logan Van Wagoner <logan.van.wagoner@myldsmail.net>


Hey....
My friend, am good and very healthy.  Am planning on visiting you, so I will tell you the the actual date later.
Am in kpando now because am done with my practical, now am home resting and teaching friends and family about the CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS .... and the restored GOSPEL.  Guest what,  I met a man at the age of 40-45. And he said he is having the book of mormon and he took from a friend because he thought is a spiritual book.  And I told him that's a true book that we use at church with the bible. He then ask the spirit that we are worshiping? Continue asking if they are worshiping my head? Hahahahahahaha .... I then told him that, we are learning the gospel and worshiping God and jesus christ....  I taught him very well,  I use two days to teach him and today, he came to church, took one of the elders number "Elder Levit " to polish what I taught him so that he can be baptize.
He really enjoy church, the teachings and the love everybody showed him today at church.
Elder Morkporkpor, hope I tried?
Mmm... am very happy of hearing from you today.
I miss u my friend, my teacher alot.
I know the church of jesus christ of latter day saints is true and the book of mormon ... so I never regreted joining this noble family.
And less I forget, the man has stop drinking alcohol.

Sweet Days

August 18, 2014

 

I am just about out of time. I got an incredible email, that I forwarded to you, from a recent convert and was trying to get a reply out to her. This week was great though!

Just got a sweet email from one of the people I got to teach up in Ho. Her name is Nana Ama, she was telling me about how she had met a man who was trying to tell her the church was worshiping spirits. She taught him the things that she knew and then invited him to church. The man came! He is trying know to stop drinking and the missionaries are teaching him there in Kpando! So sweet to see the progress, I would love to say that it was all me that brought her to the church, but it was definitely all the work of God. We were just lucky enough to get to teach her. I feel some sort of joy that I have only felt a few times. It comes when months later I hear of someone I got to teach, and they are just solid. A feeling like 'you have made a difference.'

We had an interesting week in our area. Didn't get to be in the area as much, got to go and do interviews and we had zone meeting as well. Still I got to learn a lot this week. We have been trying our possible best to teach families. Able to meet one great couple, James and Sheida. Both really educated and I think that they have some potential. We have been trying to teach more people, and less lessons. Sometimes, especially in Ghana, it is easy to just focus on the apostasy and restoration, everyone has concerns about that. We have made it a focus to look more into what people need to hear then, then tie it into the Restoration. Had one person ask us 'why do you focus so much on going to the temple, and why is that something you both care so much about?' Never had that before! So excited!
One man called us over, I knew the place was sometimes used as a church. I also knew this man had some connection with the leadership of the church, turns out he is one of the lead pastors. He wanted to know why we were passing each day and what made our church different. Obviously the first thing that popped into my head was 'Priesthood, we have the Priesthood'. He had a bible sitting on his lap, my mind flashed to how Elder Beckett is smart enough to carry around the 'Temples' magazine. Seeing that he was ready to bash we started to talk about temples with him instead. Totally took him by surprise as Elder Beckett pulled out the magazine and we showed him the pictures as we explained how 'one thing that made us different was the temple'. He was stunned by the temples and really loved it. There was no bashing, no loss of the Spirit and he accepted the invitation to read and pray about it.
Not sure if this man is ready to progress because of the church he is helping to lead, yet at least we planted some seeds and actually brought the Spirit into the lesson instead of the typical 'pastor bible bash'. We can and always win everyone of those, you learn a lot of scriptures that pretty much undeniably prove the Church correct, that isn't what Christ would do though. Now this approach, It allowed us to teach about the restoration from a different angle. To allow him to act and find if we had the authority to build temples, do temple work, and if it was given to Joseph Smith, instead of us trying to prove the Priesthood.
I have been praying for help to be more loving when people want to bash. Sometimes I get tired of it and want to start showing them all the places the bible is translated incorrectly and how it doesn't prove them right, (don't do that). My prayer was answered that day, and everyday.

Elder Beckett and I are doing well. He is a true humble follower of Christ and has good intentions. I am grateful to be his companion and learn from him. I admire the spirit that he has. Elder Peterson and Elder Henrie are diligent and obedient, I have been very impressed. The elders in Achimota are also working hard. I look forward to whatever work lies ahead for us.

I really love getting to serve here. A prophecy of President Judd has been fulfilled. About 11 months ago I had an interview with President. I was trying my best, but still having a tough time. I walk in and the first thing he says is "elder, may I prophesy: one day you won't ever want to leave."  He was completely and totally correct.

We are so blessed to be serving here in Ghana. God loves us.

keep on smiling and lift where you stand. The Lord has said to the prophet Joshua "I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee". and to the Prophet Alma "I will go with thee, and deliver this people out of bondage" (Mosiah 24:17)

I love you all forever, from GHANA!!!! and back and to Eternity!

Elder Van Wagoner

Glass of Water- Coldplay

July 25, 2014

mom note: sorry for the overload from Logan but my dad informed me I missed this sending this one..I don't know how that happened.. well I do because I'm a spaz and that's just how I roll! This was his half way letter which was back on July 25th and one of the pictures is the box we sent.  He's moved to Kwebenya and apparently they have a beauty supply store..not sure what in the world he would be doing there but...he was. And lastly at one of his baptisms. Clearly based on the one pic he hasn't lost his ability to be goofy. whew!!

This week I have had a song stuck in my head. Elder Jensen will remember it for sure. Glass of Water, by Coldplay. I've been scared to say I am over the hump because hump has a downside. So I'm trying to keep a glass half full look at things. I should just be getting better at missionary work from here.

Very hard to believe it's been a year, but sure enough you really do wake up one day and realize you have been here for a year. Got out from under the mosquito net, saw the phone on the desk and the date: 26 July 2014. 

We had some funny things happen this week, met some cool people. One guy we met, Brother Joseph, didn't really want to talk at first. His cousin is like half jamacian/american and ghanaian. As we talked you could just see a light come on, at the end he said 'I am filled.' with a smile on his face. Not sure where this will go but praying for the best!

One day we had a lot of things go wrong and lot of things not work out. Good example was this: As we walked out onto the street and started going up towards the ashongman estates area an old lady came up to us. She was missing a toe, but you could tell the injury was very old and didn't affect her anymore. She came up trying to scam us and when I would say 'Ega melio, or menti Sika!' (ewe and twi for I don't have money) she would just shout and beg again and again! We tried to walk past her and then she grabbed my companion and was trying to hold him back. Crossed my mind that I may have to physically remove her, but didn't want to go to that. So we stepped back and pulled her off than pretty much pushed on past hahah. Everyone was laughing at us and we were like.. what were we supposed to do? Punch her? haha scammers.

On a brightside, Samuel was baptized on Sunday!! The baptism was a little noisy and I had to have the baptist repeat the prayer about 5 times but still, he was baptized!! It was light off on saturday so we couldn't get water, confirmation will come next Sunday. When it's light off the pump for the polytank doesn't work and, unless your tank is elevated, you can't get water. Samuel brought his sister and we had his uncle do the baptism it was great!

Adwoa came to visit too, she is living in Accra right now since all the polytech schools are on strike. She was in a neighboring ward but came for the day to visit me, awesome to see her!

That same day I got the package!! The Achimota elders had to go to accra for a dentist appointment, they picked it on the way back. Sunday I went to interview them and check on them. Got the package while I was there, it's huge!!! We opened up some cookies and downed it in like 2 seconds. Looked at the t-shirt and we all died laughing haha The letters are so great, thank you everyone for writing to me. Landon's talks brought some tears, so did the stories of others and the photos of Cole's scans. The little ketchup bottle is awesome haha it's just tiny I love it!! Thanks for the temple photos too, they are incredible!! The article about religion in Ghana made me laugh because they got it very wrong haha you just have to live here to get it. Thank you so much for the package though family, I love you guys so much :)

Also that Sunday we went to the Sackey's house. The one with the lady named Myrna. They gave us a great rice meal and talked about visits they made to America. They even went to Bountiful one time! Great to have members finally invite us over :)

The actual year mark day was pretty normal, did a lot of contacting. Met Joseph though. When we got home that night I sat in our compound playing guitar looking at the Sky(e). Played some old things from home and wrote a song about the glass being 'half full'. Life should be half full. It was meant to be loved. I sang about my family and got to think about a year gone by.

Sometimes you wonder if you are changing enough. Doing enough. Becoming what you are meant to be. Sometimes I wonder if I am at the point God wants me to be, or if I have fallen behind. You would think at a year that you would be some spiritual giant or something. I have changed a lot but mostly I feel like me. Maybe the most important part is usually I haven't been thinking of me. Because it turns out that it never has been, nor never will be, where you serve. It is, and always will, have to do with who you serve and how.

When you open up your mission call, I wish I could have told myself, the place doesn't mean much, but who is there does.

Mission is a beautiful and wonderful thing. Made so incredible by the sharp contrasts, different experiences, and people you get to be with.

Family I love you all so much. You mean the world to me and thank  you so much for caring enough for me to have made it here. I hope you know how grateful I am for all you do, that I pray each and everyday for you. Let the Holy Spirit Guide, till we meet.

I love you forever, from Ghana and Back and to Eternity.

Elder Van Wagoner

Elder Beckett

August 11, 2014

Hey everyone! How's the day? I heard about the family reunion, that sounds like such a fun time! Let me know how it goes and plan one for next year haha! I heard that Landon is arranging hymns again and he played for 10th ward. You should send those to me sometime! Everyone is telling me that it is the greatest thing ever!

Big news came to me this week. I got a call from the zone leaders at 11:30 one night. They said 'a bombing happened in Accra and we are all leaving.' I freaked out at first, definitely don't want to leave Ghana. Then they told me they were joking and that actually we would have two new elders come to Achimota area. Two elders evacuated from Liberia!

Next day we went out to work and as we were teaching this sweet guy we contacted, named Charles, the a.p's. called. "Has president called you yet?" "No but I heard about the new elders in Achimota." "ya, but two new elders are coming to Kwabenya, is your apartment ready for four?" ............... (nope not at all) "yaaaa, sure!"

Rushed home and set up a bed and re-organized the apartment. Found out the bed is broken and we can only sleep someone in the bottom bunk, ya Ghana stuff isn't exactly solid. We finished up what we could and went out to teach more. That night we met up with the two new elders. Elder Beckett and Elder Henrie get out looking pretty shell shocked.

As soon as I saw Elder Beckett I knew he was going to be my new companion. Nobody knew so we had to call President, I was right.

Super short time with Elder Peterson, but I will still be living with him, so that will be cool.

These two  elders got moved from Sierra Leone and sent up to Portugal and then to London, then finally back to Ghana. They have had some big adjustments to make very quickly, and I am proud of how good they have handled it. You think leaving an area is hard? Try theirs out, they left a mission behind. Praying that we never, ever, ever have to do the same.

It was very obvious that the cultures of our two missions were very different. Both serious and hard working, but focuses and strengths in different areas. So, this is perfect! We get to learn from and incorporate the best parts of 3 missions together now!

These times have built up, even firmer, my testimony of praying with faith. I have truly desired to improve who I am as a missionary. I have been working hard and doing all I can, but I felt like there was more. I didn't cause ebola to spread, but God did allow this very special answer to my prayers. 

I am excited to work with the new elders and learn all that I can from them. They have a lot we can apply to our mission and we are seeing the blessings already. In my heart I can feel the importance of what is happening right now, maybe it is hard to see the massive impact of it from across the sea. But God answers prayers.

1 Nephi 2:16 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, being exceedingly young, nevertheless being large in stature, and also having great desires to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore, I did cry unto the Lord; and BEHOLD he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father; wherefore, I did not rebel against him like unto my brothers.

The love of God is something dimensions and universe's beyond what we can comprehend, at our present state, however that portion that we have (in our comparatively sub-atomic particle level), can be shared with others to the exaltation of all those who will allow it entrance into, and the enhancement of their very character.

Pray unto the father, with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love.

Please keep Sierra Leone, Liberia and GHANA in your prayers. Pray for these new elders and those that have been moved outside of Africa especially.

This is the work of God and I am so happy to be a part of it. I love you all from Ghana and back and to eternity. God Loves YOU :)

Elder Van Wagoner

Your Missionary Son

August 11, 2014

So I got this in the night last night..I do sleep..just not last night..haha.  I am so grateful that there are couples who are watching over all our missionaries. They are such a comfort to all of us crazy moms that roll things around in our heads all night.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Marva Pothier <marvapothier@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Aug 11, 2014 at 4:22 AM
Subject: Re: Your Missionary Son
To: Myrna Van Wagoner <mfvw500@gmail.com>

Wow! you WERE up in the night.  I couldn't believe how quickly I got your reply.  I meant to write to you when your son first arrived and hadn't gotten it done.  Maybe it was because now is when you would need it.  We REALLY appreciated your reply and knowing that it might have helped you in some way.

Your son is such a fun personality, confident and engaging.  You have done a great job of raising him.  I received word from my sister-in-law who is an accomplished doctor at the U of U that Ebola is really not that infectious and the normal precautions should keep all safe.  The Lord is in charge of these missionaries.  I know that to be true.

It sounds like you are a missionary family.  I have the heart of a missionary mother and your return letter brought instant tears.  

Thank you and I hope we do meet some day

Bob and Marva Pothier

On Aug 11, 2014, at 9:08 AM, Myrna Van Wagoner <mfvw500@gmail.com> wrote:

This was a heaven sent email..I am sitting up thinking of my son as we speak. I have tried to be realistic about the ebola but it has still caused me concern.

My aunt and uncle are in n Argentina on a mission but in two weeks are being transferred to Chili. My son in law served in Brazil.  Our extended family has 5 missionaries out serving right now, not including my aunt and uncle,  and my next son leaves next summer.

I was born and raised in Tucson..what a sweet thing to know my neighbors from Mesa are taking care of my son.

You're work sounds amazing and all encompassing. I'm sure it's hard to miss those special events in your grandchildren lives. But from a mother, I just wanted to say thank you.  This letter and your care toward my son ease my concern. I didn't know of his new transfer and with pictures! How can I thank you?!

I'm excited to share your blog with my family as we are always trying to know more of what he is experiencing.

Thank you. I hope one day to say thanks in person!

With much love and appreciation.

Myrna Van Wagoner

On Aug 11, 2014 2:48 AM, "Marva Pothier" <marvapothier@gmail.com> wrote:

Myrna

We just had your missionary son, Elder Van Wagoner, in our home for dinner and enjoyed such a nice time with him.  He has served in our area the past month and is doing very well.  He had dinner with us the day he arrived.
He truly is a fine young man with a great personality and we loved having him.

We served a mission at BYU Idaho which extended to 5 1/2 years and although we were released, we still serve the school. That's why we are in Africa, trying to facilitate some programs, working with PEF and the Self Reliance Center, Engage Now Africa and the Golden Sunbeam International School.  We've been here 8 week and have two weeks left before we return to Mesa, Arizona.

It meant a lot to us to have these four Elders eat with us as we are missing our own grandson's homecoming today. We were not there for his return from Chili and now have missed his homecoming.  We have another grandson in Brazil and two more planning to go next summer.  It's a great work to be a part of.
Elder Van Wagoner is a great blessing  to the people of Ghana.  Those who discover the church move forward in so many positive ways.  It is the  catalyst for change that is so needed.

Elder Van Wagoner is partnered with Elder Beckett  who has been recently transferred from Sierra Leon due to the Ebola outbreak..  They will get along well, I'm sure.  .

The epidemic of Eboai is very serious but not a problem here.  Apparently the missionaries were confined to a few apartments, crowded, not enough beds and little food to share but it was just for a short time and they got out safely.

  I am writing a blog about our African adventures, two blogs in fact…one for the business part and one for personal.
You are free to look at them to learn more about Ghana and possibly what your son is experiencing.  I doubt you get a lot of detail.growingghana.blogspot.com and nanapothier.blogspot.com.

One of the elders, Elder Beckett, was thanking us for the dinner and evening and said, ,"I just feel so comfortable here.  I feel like home."  That was the sweetest complement he could have given us. Having them for dinner blessed us all.

Thank you for sharing your son,

Bob and Marva Pothier

It Just Takes Some Time

Mom note: No pictures..boo..but this week is hump day..BOOYAH!!!!!!! Happy 25th to Logan..and..happy survival to me!!  I only have 3 years of this to go..........did you hear that sound of an echoing tunnel sinking to eternity..haha..that was just me thinking about it! Kidding..it's all good.

July 21, 2014

Little girl, you're in the middle of the ride, everything everything will be alright! My comp has been singing that song to me all the time haha funny guy. Well everybody how is the day? Things are cool here in Kwabenya. We had a baptism scheduled for this week but Stanely traveled to Togo to get his family for the baptism and couldn't get back in time. Hopefully this week Stanely and Samuel Young will be baptized. Interviews are this week. Zone leaders want to go on exchanges this Tuesday after district meeting.... I'll probably get lost.

A few pretty good referrals, we were trying more to ask this week, not perfect but better. Had a couple members introduce us to friends. They didn't come to church this week, but maybe this is the week. Usually it seems like the first week people don't come, unless they are already serious. Like the man Herbert in Ho. Elder Turley called me and said he is progressing well and even is from Ho Hoe! He will move back in September... about the time they will be preparing to send missionaries up! The Lord has everything planned perfectly. I listened to a Bruce R. McConkie talk this week. He said that 'God already knows everything, to say that He doesn't is to say that the Plan he created is not already the best and thought out to perfection. He could not have created a better plan and to say that there could be one is to say that God does not know everything.' Very very true. He loves us and has our best already prepared.

Elder Peterson is doing well. Pretty easy going guy and we are starting to get more in sync with our teaching styles. We are teaching a lady named Faustina, she is so cool! Looks like this big black celebrity whose name escapes me.. anyways, she knows the Book of Mormon is true and has a testimony, we got her a fellow shipper (an awesome lady in the branch named Juliana, who used to be a Jehovah's Witness) but there is more work to do. She is the lead singer for the church and the pastor got her money in a tough time. Still she knows what she needs to do and I believe she will come this week.

Still learning Kwabenya but this place is good. Sorry about pictures, the other cafe is having light off and this one doesn't have the hardware to connect my camera with. Mom just know I am alive and well and bonus: didn't take any sweet pictures this week, just funny ones involving a stack of like 30 fridges in the middle of no where.

Thanks so much for the support, prayers and help for the people we work with and even for me. Mission is still beyond words, just come and serve and everything will follow, give it all you got. This is the Lord's work and it is true. His church is the only place where we can receive the fullness of his blessings and it is our time to consider seriously our commitment to Him. He loves with a perfect love. He loves you and obedience to Him is and always will be the best thing for you ever.

I love you all from Ghana and back and to Eternity.

Elder Van Wagoner

Kwabenya

July 14, 2014

Hey first sorry everyone the cafe is super slow today. It's a little tiny one down here in Kwabenya. This place is so different from Ho. The houses are way nicer. Either my scales have changed or this place just reminds me of America... probably the first but still it's huge and definitely city. I thought Ho was a big town... nope haha Still surprised I'm here, feeling homesick for Ho. But Kwabenya will be sweet and my companion is a cool guy. His name is Elder Peterson, it's just the two of us in our apartment, the apartment is pretty nice though. The toilet faces the right way anyways.

Nana Ama was baptized, I called her and also the Ho elders told me all about it. She was super excited and is doing really well. A few other recent converts have talked to me and they are doing good, which is so sweet.

This week was pretty... surprising. I really thought Cole was going to overcome all these things. Maybe he will, If God can organize a Universe, than he can do anything. Last time I was in the Cosgrave's house I picked up a manual about the new Testament. There was a talk given inside about 'The Man we worship'. He talked about how Christ was not a novice or amateur. He organized 'worlds without number'. He went on to discuss how, though incredible to us, the feeding of 5000 would have been relatively simple for him. Isn't it true? I don't know what the will of God is, I wouldn't even have a good guess. But the important part is that we trust that He can do anything. So whatever He chooses will be exactly what is best. He loves us.

Teaching some cool people though, the man named Stanely, I think you know him, came to church and he has such a solid understanding of the Gospel. It will be exciting to see how he is when he has the Gift of the Holy Ghost. We are also working with Faustina and Phillip, and a few other people who we will have to see how serious they are. The church here is sweet though. Very organized and welcoming. Bishop Aliche is a great guy and they even organized a rescue committee for the less-active. Excited about that. In Ho I was used to just taking care of everything, the branch support was usual minimal except for the youth. The youth are more faithful than people back at home. Now in this ward things are quite a bit different. It will be good to learn some new things.

Elder Peterson is a cool elder and we get along well. He is a pretty good teacher too. We've gotten lost a few times but led to meeting some new people. Guess your not lost, just not sure where you are. The two man apartment can get a little old but again just helps me learn new things. Nice being with him though, this will be a good time.

Thanks President for the support. Not even really sure how I feel, sometimes it hits me other times I'm just trying to figure out where in the world Kwabenya is haha. Hope you have a great week.

One thing though. At the end of the day I made a promise to serve with all I have and do my best. I said yes to that unconditionally. So I will, problems at home won't slow the work. If anything they speed it.

Mom note: sometimes besides our back and forthing on Mondays he responds to my letters... The 25th is one year people...one year!!!!!!..its been long, but he is where he belongs.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Logan Van Wagoner <logan.van.wagoner@myldsmail.net>
Date: Mon, Jul 14, 2014 at 9:20 AM
Subject: Re: I hope you are loving your new place..
To: Myrna Van Wagoner <mfvw500@gmail.com>

Hey mom how are you doing today? Pretty crazy week. Not going to lie I broke down on Wednesday, didn't see that coming at all, when elder Cosgrave called me over I just thought he was saying goodbye.

Since then I have felt better, just so weird being in Kwabenya. I feel homesick for Ho. Nana Ama got baptized the Saturday I was gone for. Sweet but just was imagining going home to Ho, kinda different. haha 

The new area is interesting, The houses are so nice compared to Ho.I always wanted that at first, but now I would rather get back up into Volta region. The ward is very strong, the bishop just organized a committee to rescue less actives. Some of the best organization I've seen in Ghana. Elder Peterson is cool, pretty like chill/reverent, but funny too. it's a two man apartment, so it can get pretty quiet and boring but at least elder Peterson is good.

District leader is like basically the exact same as regular missionary, just that i have to: take care of exchanges, do weekly numbers report on my district, do interviews, and take care of the weekly district council meeting. So as for the schedule nothing really has changed. haha

The Melissa thing is so sweet, she is so good. how are the Andings?

Yes we are still praying for miracles. I haven't really told anyone about Cole except for when I was in Ho. How is Elise this week? How is Matt? Please make sure they know i love them so much and pray all the time for them.

On Mon, Jul 14, 2014 at 7:09 AM, Myrna Van Wagoner <mfvw500@gmail.com> wrote:

I wish more then anything I could have just hugged you this week.  As hard as it has all been, we are all together, facing things together. Laughing, crying, spending time together. But you, you have to hear all this, and assimilate it, but do it yourself. I was so grateful to the Cosgraves and to your mission president.  I have hoped with your new calling and responsibilities that you wouldn't have much free time. That's selfish of me huh? I just didn't want you to have the time to think about everything. I hope you have felt my prayers..I have been so hopeful that you have known how much I've thought of you?

So how do you like your new area? And your companion? And what is it like to be district leader? What do you do? What is your schedule like? ..Melissa spoke in church today and said you told her to make something up...everyone laughed. But she told about Divine and you sharing understanding the spirit.

She also shared a scripture. It was the same scripture that dad had shared with Elise last night before he gave her a blessing. Melissa shared a story about the guy who had given her the holy ghost when she got baptized. She kept thinking about him and finally contacted him after some serious hunting. She didn't know why. She finally did and told him that she had a boy on a mission and she was married in the temple. He shared the story with his missionary son who was struggling and it made a big impact on him. Gave him a new and different perspective on his mission.

Tonight we had the July birthday party..for Allison, Audrey and my cousin Tonya..It was really fun. But the highlight was the quilt Brenda made for Savanah. It was just so so sweet. I'm sending pictures..

So I don't really know what to say about this week. I have been all over with my emotion. But here is what I am going with.  Our family has no shortage of miracles. I don't know why we would give up on that now. And for Elise's sake we are not going to give up on this baby. We are praying for miracles.

We are praying for healing and true miracles.

Dad is reading RJs letter to us. He is a great missionary. He is so sweet.

So I want to tell you a story.  When we moved to this house, we had Elise who was 5 and Ashley who was 3. I was pregnant with you and since I was pretty sick on the first day of school I asked Gerret to walk Elise to the School Bus. When she got there she looked up at dad and said "I want mommy". She was terrified to get on. I was watching her get a blessing last night and I thought of that moment. She was so scared. And in my mind I saw her once again getting on a bus. Still my little girl and still terrified. But she will get on, and she will be ok. We will all be there just like when she was 5. We will all be there and Cole will be part of our family forever. So I fully believe he will be spending time with you. I hope we get to keep him. I love him so much.

So tell me about the very best things this week.

I love you Logan. You are so important to me.

I love you to Ghana and back, and through eternity.

Ghana Mama

Mom

About Your Son

July 8, 2014

Letter from the sweet mission couple who have been with Logan the last 10 months. I am beyond grateful for them.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Michael Cosgrave <michaellcosgrave@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Jul 8, 2014 at 3:33 PM
Subject: Elder Van Wagoner
To: mfvw500@gmail.com


Sister Van Wagoner,

To begin, let us tell you how much we love your son and what a good missionary he has become. He brings a great spirit with him and has the confidence and love of the members in the Ho First Branch.  Elders who have served with him have commented on his strengths and his rapid growth as a missionary.  That being said, we are aware of the love he has for all of you in his family and in particular, at this time, for his sister and her family as they face this challenge with the baby.  In his sweet testimony on Sunday, he shared a bit about what he knew at that time and invited the members to include her in their prayers. Maybe he shared with you in his email about feeling the presence of this baby's spirit that Sunday as he administered the Sacrament. We are currently in Accra to bring two missionaries down here for their return home having completed their missions.  We will be here tomorrow when your son comes for transfers and will be able to have some time to visit with him about the latest findings. He does have a tender heart,but he is strong and we feel certain he will handle this with the faith he has already shown many times.  We do have really mixed feelings about his transfer.  We know he will be a great district leader and will bless the missionaries and members in his new area, but, selfishly, we would keep him in Ho until we go home next year. We will contact you again after we talk to him. Thank you for sharing your son with us and these people in Ghana!

Elder and Sister Cosgrave 

Myrna Van Wagoner <mfvw500@gmail.com>	Jul 11
---------- Forwarded message ----------

From: Michael Cosgrave <michaellcosgrave@gmail.com>Date: Fri, Jul 11, 2014 at 11:54 AM
Subject: Re: Elder Van Wagoner
To: Myrna Van Wagoner <mfvw500@gmail.com>

Brother and Sister Van Wagoner,

Your son is a real valiant soul.  I am sorry that it has taken us this long to report on the conversation that I had on Wednesday with him, but sometimes the internethere is pretty sketchy unless we go to the cafe and we have been on the road since Wednesday.  Anyway, so much for excuses, but to report to you, I visited with your son on Wednesday when he went to Accra for transfers.  He has been called as a District Leader in on of the districts in the Accra area.  I shared with him the results of the testing that showed the Trisomy 13 and then, as best as I could, explained the nature of the defect and the likely outcomes.  He was very controlled, but emotional as you might expect, and as we were near the end of our visit, President Heid came in and sat with us.  He shared the personal experience that he and Sister Heid had had with a miscarriage and their feelings for that baby. He then shared a favorite scripture that has taken him through some tough times.  After he left, I gave Elder Van Wagoner a blessing and then he took some time alone and then went to join his new companion and headed off to his new assignment. Sister Cosgrave shared text messages with him yesterday and he let her know that he was doing OK at that time even though it had been a hard day.  He has great faith which will strengthen him and we know that he will continue to serve well and share his strong testimony.  We know that Heavenly Father is mindful of your family and will bless this good elder and all of you.

Elder and Sister Cosgrave

Halfway HOme

July 7, 2014

What a crazy week. I love Ho :) Well with the photos the one was taken this morning. Elder Henderson has officially left for Accra and will be flying back home tomorrow. Going to miss that guy, he taught me a lot and was one of my great friends on mission. 

The second photo comes from one of the sweetest experiences I have had on mission. We went for exchanges, I was sent to Tsito (Chee-tow the 'ts' is a ch sound) with Elder Kidd from Idaho. We saw a few people and then got to meet with Esinam!! She is the one we got to baptize back in December. Her baptism was the incredible surprise in the night. Another reason to love HO :). Well she left to Tsito because of some issues with a family she was staying with. I was worried it might be hard for her to stay strong without the Support. As we met with her she explained, in her usual goof-ball way, that she would be teaching relief society on Sunday! I asked her about reading the Book Of Mormon and she told me she 'Just tries to read each day'..... YES!!!!! The missionaries there told me she is really solid and fulfills her callings and responsibilities strongly. My mission was part in making a difference, a lasting difference, for Freda Esinam Adiku. :)

Friday was sweet too. We had got a call from Nana Ama and she said she would be coming to Ho. I was having a hard time believing it because she hadn't been able to come the time before and I didn't want to get my hopes to high again. We taught a few lessons in her area and finally she called and said she was around when we were meeting with a man named Herbert (who is a stud and will be baptized in August). Went down to her place and we were feeling somehow nervous about how this would go.... but it went really well. She still really wants to be baptized and is reading from the Book of Mormon all the time! So she will be baptized next week. The problem was she has a shift everyday and just got someone who agreed to work her shifts Friday through Sunday while she takes her shifts from Monday through Wednesday. Double shifts, double serious.

That night we may or may not have obtained (after looking in a thousands provision shops) a firework or two and may or may not have set them off. One was a big and we thought it would may or may not be a dud... definitely not a dud haha big ol aerial and everyone was like 'hey yea you can I do that in your country?' getting angry. We were like '.. yep and whole lot more!' all of this MAY, or may not, HAVE HAPPENED.

Sunday was pretty special for me. Nana Ama was super early to church and this man we met, Wilson, also came. He lost his arm in an accident and just moved back to Ho. His house is really sweet and so (because that's how it is in this mission) we had to try and see who lived there, they could be super educated since they have such a nice place. The tele was on as we walked by so we stopped to knock again. He came and let us in. We talked about his life and family, lost his dad a year ago. So we talked about the Spirit World and the Book Of Mormon. Usually people don't care enough about families to do this, but I felt that he did. Sunday he came and was telling me that he loved the testimonies and the church. Someone said 'the book of Mormon is true'. He looked at me and held his up smiling haha :)

I had the opportunity to bless the Sacrament. As I sat while the 3 were passing I remembered some things. Thinking about the Atonement and the ultimate power it contains, the Spirit seemed to fill up an empty spot. It came with this song 'I'll go where you want me to go". In answer to prayers, Cole was in the meeting with me. Saying "I'll go where you want me to go Dear Lord" He recognized the opportunity that he had to come to such special parents and the Gospel in the home. He understood what he was doing, however things work out, that this Plan of Salvation is too important and this opportunity too rare and blessed to pass. I tried to, very simply, convey some of this in testimony during Sacrament since I knew it may be the last time I could speak to the branch. 

Afterwords many friends and people I love more than myself came to tell me they were praying for the family. I realized something I am so grateful for with the Atonement: That it can sanctify and purify these people I love so much, nothing is sweeter.

Well I've been informed I will be transferred out of Ho. I packed my bags after church, Leaving a lot for the kids here. Feels a lot like leaving home, in someways harder. If I was in charge I would stay forever here. Just have my family come to me.

I've spent more than 11 months in Ghana, almost half way Home. But Ho will always be one of my homes. These are some of the greatest souls who live. They are not like the people you here about. But that's something I guess I have the great blessing of knowing.

I love Ho

and I love all of you, from HO, Ghana and Back and To Eternity.

Love,

Elder Logan Kwobla (Tuesday) Mokpokpor (Hope) Van Wagoner