Easter Weekend

April 21, 2014

Hey everyone! How was Easter? Ghana has some funky ways to celebrate. Like the palm Sunday comes the week before. Everyone hangs palms at the various churches (no not ours). Then Friday to Sunday everyone goes to church. as in they go from Friday to Sunday, lots of people go all night. They dance and celebrate. Sunday we watched a church parade by with some pastor carrying a cross in front and his congregation following behind with a big brass band and shouting and dancing. Nice little quiet Easter in Ho.

I am still in HO by the way, and still with Elder Monday. So I get another 6 weeks in HO!! :)

Makafui was baptized on Saturday and confirmed on Sunday! I got to be the baptist and in the circle for the Confirmation. What a sweet experience. The youth of our branch are incredible. They bring friends and have a desire to do good things. I am so proud of them!! We just had a branch activity. A little Easter 'picnic'. We played sports in the dirt lot down from the church. Pretty sweet volleyball match! But the youth had friends there and half the people who came were youth. Just need to get our adults as motivate in the hastening. Makafui is serious about her studies and wants us to come over just so she can ask questions. I know adults who aren't as smart as this girl!

Called my first baptism yesterday. Remember Matilda? She is in Tesano and doing great! Just came from Church and looking forward to stake conference coming up in Accra! She might be in HO in may and then I could see her again. Just felt to call her last night (from time to time i try to call the recent converts) but i didn't have her number anywhere! finally I found it in an old notebook she left it in. Just made my day to hear she is still doing good and going strong. Seriously a joy to know.

Easter was really good and we had all the youth over for dinner and a lesson at the Cosgraves. We watched the 'He is risen' Video. I think that is what it's called. Just think about Christ folding the linen as he left the tomb. Think of the joy and peace he felt "I have done the work thou gavest me." Look to the Sacrament, the symbolism of removing the cloth. He lives. He is there. 'I know my sheep and they know me". We have the true understanding of who Christ is. Study His words and know him. Our Savior. the Redeemer of all.

Come unto Him.

I love you all from Ghana and back and to eternity. Sorry i don't have pictures this week, we had to go to a different internet cafe and it is to slow to send anything. Also sorry for those who have sent letters. They just haven't come to me yet, other wise I would respond. I got one in Feb that someone sent in October.

Love you!

Elder Van Wagoner