Hello everyone, how is everything going? For me, this week in Tamale was pretty good; there wasn't too much that went on, which is a good thing but can also be really boring. Anyways, there were a few things that happened, so let me catch you up.
Transfers happened, and for about three days, I was in a trio with Elder Patterson, one of the other elders in our apartment. His new companion came on Wednesday of last week. He is training his new companion named Elder Halahingano from Tonga, who's really cool. It's nice to experience different cultures, and another bonus is that he is teaching us how to cook and eat well. Also, when we were in a yellow-yellow, we had just barely picked up Elder Hala, so he is in that shock stage that every new person gets in. Our yellow driver was hauling butt through this small market area and didn't see a moto stopped in front of him. We plowed right into this moto, and everyone on the moto was fine, but it dinged up his yellow pretty badly. Anyways, right after that, he was angry for running into the moto, so he was driving real crazy, which is normal, but this was a little extensive. Anyways, a woman tried to shoot the gap, and he hit her. She was okay, but at this point, Elder Hala is almost in tears, scared outta his mind. We got put to help her up and check if she's alright, and the yellow driver is getting chastised by at least 20 people. The driver paid for all the items that got spilled when he hit her, and everyone just went about their merry way. Anyways, it was quite the experience for me and the new guy.
A story from the week is when we were walking down the road to get to our apartment, and some school children were walking the same direction as us. There were about five of them, probably all about 9 years old or so. We nearly passed them, and one of the Muslim boys came up and started to hit me from behind. I turned around and held his arms so he could no longer hit me and asked why. He told me that his father told him that it is very bad to be Christian and that we are very evil and want to hurt them. We tried to help him understand that we do not want to hurt anyone. He calmed down a little bit, but he wasn't done. He wanted to argue about how the Qua'ran is correct and the Bible is wrong. We helped the boy understand that even the Qua'ran has many quotations from the Bible, and we continued on our way. It was quite funny but also a little bit of a shock. It kind of makes me sad that these people are teaching their children that Christians are so evil and want to hurt people. Hopefully, that little boy learned that we are nothing like what his father said we are.
One year celebration!! I finally hit one year, which is pretty crazy because it really doesn't feel like it has been that long at all. But I guess time flies when you are having fun! Anyways, I celebrated with some KFC in the evening after my proselyting hours were finished. Man, it just feels good to know I'm on the downhill leg. I am always impressed with how much the Lord has blessed me this past year. I have learned more than I ever thought was possible. I know that for the remainder of the year that is left, I still have much to learn, but I'm ready for it! Thanks for all of the support each and everyone has given me. It does not go unnoticed.
We got a microwave! I'm not joking with you when I say a microwave is the coolest and best invention on this planet. The day we got our microwave, the entire apartment huddled around it and just watched as we warmed up some beans. It was a pretty memorable moment. But also, I will never take a microwave for granted ever again.
In my personal studies, I have been learning about Acts 10. Just one of the main points I have learned is that it is not bad to be a vegan, but God gave us these animals for a reason. Also, I learned that the gospel does not discriminate. In the time of Jesus, the gospel was really only allowed to be preached to the Jews and a handful of the Gentiles. Peter, who was the prophet at the time, had a dream of a white sheet with a bunch of different animals on it. God said, "Peter, rise, kill, eat." Peter said, "No, for some are unclean to me." Because in the law of Moses, there were many animals that were forbidden for people to eat because they were considered "unclean," similar to the time when only the gospel was allowed to be preached to the Jews. After he said he couldn't eat some, God corrected him and said, "And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common." Peter was confused and did not understand, but later in the chapter, he understands the revelation that is given to him when he receives a commandment to start preaching to the Gentiles or to the "common" people. So we learn that everything that God has made shouldn't be deemed unclean or unworthy.
Anyway, that's all that I have for you all this week. Those are the things that I could remember. I hope you enjoy.
Photos:
Met this crazy guy on the street. At least he loves Allah!
An Investigator's kid. His name is Pyles.
My companion and a cool tree.
Elder Diakuilyia and I on exchange.
The food is called Wassa Wassa or black rice, but it is made from yam. It's a very popular food here. It is eaten with pepe and shito.
I became Muslim for about 30 seconds when I bought a Muslim hat.
I and Elder Halahingano and Elder Patterson.
