The Week-1/20/14

This week has been hard but quite a bit of miracles. One interesting news is that my area got split and so now we have 6 Elders serving in my branch. Also I have to laugh because Elder Spencer Lehr said that there was a bunch of girl problems in the MTC (Spencer just mentioned the missionaries needed to be reminded that not to flirt) and here in BO there are no sister missionaries. Not even African sisters here in BO. So we don't have to worry about that. 

Oh, one cool thing is one of the Elders that came into our branch can play piano. Which is really good. Last week we came early to church so i was just messing around on the keyboard and the branch president asked if i could try to play top hand on the piano. I tried and it turned out pretty good but lets just say i am happy that someone who actually can play piano is here.

More Area stuff: So now is the middle of the dry season. We have pretty much no light at all now and we don't have money as a district to buy fuel for the generator so we have to live off candle lights and flashlights. It's so fun. :) And since we have no light that means that we can't preserve any food in the refrigerator. Writing by candle light would be romantic if I was actually writing to a girl. But i am a missionary and just wrote in my journal. Oh and also soon the water in the well will probably dry so I'll have to bathe with just 2 water bottles. I'm excited it sounds like a man challenge.

The Baptism: So Gbesseh was baptized and it was awesome. One of my recent converts actually was able to baptize him while I confirmed him. There was a really cool miracle. A man named Samba who we contacted has read the Introduction and the testimonies and prayed about it and he says he believes that the Book of Mormon is true and that this is the true church. Samba then came to the baptism and said "this is the correct way to baptize" we are planning to baptize him on Feb 15 and that is so sweet.

Another Miracle: So we have been getting bounced like crazy. Almost none of the appointments we make actually go through. But while we saw Gbesseh yesterday we invited one of our potential investigators to come who is actually Joseph's uncle. He joined us and is really interested in the church. He is really struggling with life and has a word of wisdom issue but he has seen the difference in Joseph, Gbesseh, And James and he wants that change. So we hope that will turn to something.

Joseph gave us a referral to his group of guy friends. They are so fun. One thing i have learned though was never mention America. If i do that then that's all they will talk about for an hour. It was really funny though they were like "If your child is breaking the law don't send them to prison send them to Sierra Leone. They will be begging to come back and will do anything. This place is hell." Man we were laughing pretty hard at it and especially the way they said it because they are black. Man they are so fun but they actually might progress.

Well this is all this week love you all

Elder Christian Lehr

The Good Life - 1/13/14

So this week has been really good but hard as normal. So here goes :)

Investigators: So we have been trying hard to contact tons of people and that we did. So far out of like 20 people we contacted 3 seem like they will progress. It was really cool though we contacted this old man who is paralyzed in his right arm and leg because of a stroke. His name is Harold. He is a muslim but his wife is christian which is very common here. So we shared with him the plan of salvation and he was so interested and was really wanting to know more about the pre-earth life. He then asked for a "Bible" so we gave him a Book of Mormon. He read the introduction already and wants us to come back and explain it more. He is even marking the parts he likes. Also his wife was there for one lesson and we planned to see them both this Wednesday so that will be great :)

Being bounced: One hard thing and i don't know how it keeps happening but what happens is we make like 8 appointments and back up plans and some how ALL of them fail. Everyone keeps bouncing us. It's really funny but kinda discouraging. So we continue to work and contact more people:)

More of the food: So this week we bought some goat meet to eat with our rice and we found out that he put an entire goat heart in the meat. So that's one more i can add to the list :) It's actually really good. But man I have to say rice is evil. It's so good and dirt cheap. haha evilllll. (That’s because he’s gained so much weight from it that he can barely fit in his pants.)  Oh and really cool thing. I found out how to make peanut butter by myself and it's really good and a TON cheaper than buying peanut butter.So that's a blessing. 

Joseph Just Try Sandi Being the Man: So I love Joseph. He is so good and so powerful. He has been helping Gbesseh a ton and also has been trying really hard to bring all of his friends into the church and even simply everyone around him. He is super bold and has such a strong testimony now and will bring others to church with him. He even got a suit coat which makes him look like a bodyguard haha. Man he is such a great man. Also funny story. So there is this little 6 year old boy who really likes Joseph and his parents are both Muslim but he LOVES going to church. Everyday he asks Joseph if they are going to church. While we were teaching Joseph the little boy came and even invited his 4 year old friend to join us and was like "she needs to go to church". haha It made my day.

Gbesseh: Man this guy is sweet. He was interviewed and will be baptized this Saturday. He can't read but has such a strong desire. The gospel has changed his life so much. He used to smoke, drink and do bad things, but now he has left them all and has changed so much. He has a great light about him and is like Joseph and just wants all of his friends and family to join the church.

Well This has been a crazy week and I am really looking forward to what will happen this next week. I love you all soo very much.

Love 

Elder Christian Lehr

Joseph and Elder Lehr