From Feb. 20, 2012: Elder Holland Visits; Crab; Elfrida's Baptism

For Monday Elder Holland of The Quorum Of The Twelve Apostles came to visit the mission along with his wife, Elder Snow from the Presidency Of The Seventy, his wife, and the other West Africa church leaders. We got a mission picture with him and listened to him talk to us. For my thoughts on Elder Holland's mission tour what I recall most is that he said that we are expected to live at huge standards and that no one has lived up to them, but continued to say that he stands humbly in our presence. After the compliment he said that the blessing is our burden. I wrote five pages in my journal about the day and while I'm not a great writer I can say that I felt invigorated and humbled to have the opportunity that we partook in. I also recall the thought from Sister Dickson that was how we are changing peoples' lives giving them the most valuable thing they can receive and coupled with Elder Holland's words on how our family and loved ones don't have a clue to what we are doing here, but they do know that I am on a my mission in Ghana and I owe it to them and his grandsons to serve an honorable mission. I'm striving to live worthy of the people back home who are supporting me. I should live to what people expect from me (Sister Holland). Elder Snow said something that goes with this from a poet: "I don't want to sit at the setting sun and hate myself for what I have done". One of the cool things is that the entire West Africa trip Elder Holland took-including our devotional- was recorded for church history with them telling us it will be posted on LDS.org. 
  Tuesday Elder Cooley and I were inspired from the previous day and we have been working on using the Book of Mormon more in all of our efforts as missionaries. We typically carry 4-6 copies in our bags and often give out all of them. I'm excited to see how the usage of the book of scripture will bless the peoples' lives here. It's been a great week for feeling the joy of the spirit. 
  Wednesday was Elder Holland's devotional for the church in Accra. It was great to see people from all the areas I have lived in. I also was able to meet people I had baptized which was a great experience too. Two things I recall from the devotional was how Elder Holland recounted the story of how he was in Accra just around seven years ago to announce the temple to be built in Ghana. As it was a surprise to everyone there (the church members filling the national stadium), he said he was crying like a baby as he witnessed how the people were overcome with emotion. He continued and said how he wouldn't want to be in another place in the whole world than the very spot he was in. I felt the same way. It was a great opportunity everyone had there. One I will always remember. I also recall what I saw out the window as the plane descended under the clouds; a lot of green trees and dirt roads with dots of people and cars going about. 
  Thursday and Friday I went on a split with my Zone Leader, Elder Lindsay while Elder Cooley went to be with Elder Jones. During the split we taught a man named Emanuel. Emanuel's life is a wreck and the day before we had met him, his friend stopped him from committing suicide. On this visit he was much more enlightened with the spirit and it was great to see it. He was coming to church, but a health problem prevented him, but next week. During the day we were fed lunch where it seems like there was a zoo-full of meat to eat with goat, fish, and crab. The crab had a legspan around four inches. In other West Africa countries they remove the shell as they eat it, but in Ghana they typically eat it whole. It was the biggest crab I have eaten here.
  Saturday Elder Cooley preformed the baptism of Elfrida who was also confirmed on Sunday. It was the best baptismal service of my mission with over thirty people there and Elder Ahajie presiding. We are working for the baptism of three others next week too.
  Sunday it started to rain, but it was nice that it stopped as the rain detours people from going to church. We had four investigators at church.