Hello everyone! The week in between emails is just what I needed. When I get back down to Kumasi or to an area with a little bit more excitement going on, I will restart sending an email every week. But until then, I have to have the two weeks to let some experiences build up!
So over the past two weeks, there really hasn't been much going on, ironically! But I was able to gather some observations, and I learned a valuable lesson. So, I will tell you.
Fall time in Tamale? As we walk around in our area, there aren't many trees, but the trees we do have are losing their leaves! However, they do not change color or anything like that, but the leaves just fall off. I asked an investigator who lives here why the leaves are falling and trees are being left barren. They told me that this time of year, it gets so hot, and the lack of water during this season that not even the trees can handle the heat! So they shed their leaves and go dormant until there is enough water to sustain leaves again. No more nice shade trees for me! Fortunately, mango trees don't lose their leaves, but most of the others do.
Well, Watah! Watah means water with an African accent with no rain; water is getting pretty limited, but we still have water, just not as much. In our apartment, we have a 1000-liter tank that sits in our compound every few weeks. We have to get it filled. With the lack of water, when the tank runs out, getting a truck to come and refill it poses a bit of difficulty. So, as a result, when we run out of water, we usually don't get it refilled for three days or so. On one of these occasions when we didn't have water, we decided to go and fetch some at the local well. We carried the basins of water on our head back to our apartment. The well is quite far from our apartment, so when we returned, I was so thirsty! The water I was carrying looked about as clean as it gets. It was fresh out of the ground and pretty cold. So I drank a lot of it. That was not a good idea! That evening I had a nasty fever of about 102°F. It wasn't enjoyable, but I learned my lesson! I am completely better now; it was just a bad night. I'm thankful for the fasting and prayers from my family! It helped me so much.
I found this drink called Schweppes citrus. It is a knockoff Fresca, but when I had it, I was flooded with memories of my childhood. I have really been enjoying it! It's crazy how a smell or a taste can bring back so many memories.
I received a Thanksgiving care package! I am so very thankful for my Aunt Debi for taking her time to make my life better! And I'm thankful for everyone else who has sent me packages in the past and also for all the prayers. I'm so very grateful for all of you!
This week we had zone conference! President and Sister Kunz came up to Tamale, and we got to hear from them. This conference was much different and so much smaller than what I am used to. Our zone doesn't have many elders or sisters in it, so it was more personalized. It was quite nice! The topic was about how to make sure our desires to be a missionary are in the right place so we can then help our investigators center their desires around Jesus Christ and making and keeping Covenants.
My personal studies have been in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark. I love learning about the Savior's earthly ministry and seeing how He dealt with and handled situations, especially when He was being betrayed by Judas. When the Savior had finished suffering and taking upon Himself the sins of the world, Judas, who we know was going to betray Him, met Him. When the people had Jesus detained, one of the disciples drew his sword and smote off one of the people's ears. The Savior responded perfectly. He said in Matthew 26:53, "Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?"
I appreciate His willing submission to His arrest and the abuse that followed. Taken literally, "twelve legions of angels" would have been between 36,000 and 72,000 angels. His cursing of a fig tree a few days before had shown that He could destroy with just a word. He had the power to defend Himself but chose not to use it at this time. In the Book of Mormon, Jacob taught his people of the Lord's power in Jacob 2:15, "O that he would show you that he can pierce you, and with one glance of his eye he can smite you to the dust!"
I really need to take some notes because I have a lot to learn. Sometimes when I am aggravated, I can pop off and show my anger. But now I will reflect on the Savior who just endured the most excruciating pain in the world. A pain so intense that blood wept from every pore. He was met by people who wanted to kill Him, and He just stood there and took it, when He could have ended it all. So cool!
Anyways, it was a long email, but I hope you have learned something, and I sure love and appreciate all of you. I'll talk to you in two weeks!
Photos:
Fetching water in Jerry cans (the big yellow thing)
Street meat. This stuff is so good. Not really sure what it is, but it's as safe as it gets.
Sunsets
Schweppes
I got to see Elder Mills again! It's always such a joy to be with him. Sadly, I think this might be our last time seeing each other for a long time, but we made it memorable by getting some ice cream the day before zone conference!
A tree that used to be full of leaves that has lost its leaves due to the heat.
The package that was sent to me by my Aunt Debi! I was finally able to receive it after waiting for a month!
Elder Fuller and I fetching water together.
