July 8, 2013 email

Birthdays and Baptisms

 "...when we taught him the First Vision, he immediately understood the implications. He said, 'Whoa. You guys really DO have a huge message.'"

Dear Family and Friends,
    This week was super packed.  On Wednesday, we had an appointment with an investigator who is a cousin to a family in the branch, and she lives with them. We always meet her with Sis T., one of the C. family daughters. Sis. T. is... troublesome, haha. She's very energetic and sarcastic and loves to mess with missionaries. She's the one who caught me sleeping in church. Recently she's been picking on Elder Hansen, making fun of him for not having a girlfriend. Last week she found out that his birthday was on Wednesday, and said, "Oh fabulous! You can bring us cookies and candy and tacos; we'll have such a great party!" She was hanging it over our heads for days.
     So Elder Hansen made no-bake cookies to give them and we showed up for our teaching appointment. Sis. T. came out with a grin, took the cookies, and shooed us into a room off to the side of the porch. She said she'd send out our investigator, then she disappeared back into the main room off the porch (the curtains were pulled over the windows). We were thinking, "Well this is sketchy, what are they planning in there?" We usually teach J. in the main room, in the A/C :)
     We had a short lesson with J., (she was all dressed up and wouldn't tell us why) then she told us to wait and went inside. Then, our branch mission leader, Bro. N., showed up. He had on a wily, nervous smile and before we could ask him what he was doing, he disappeared inside too. Now we KNEW something was up. J. finally returned and invited us in. The lights were off; as we entered, they flicked on--- the room was full of our branch members screaming,“Happy Birthday!”  The room was full of balloons and decoration, with a giant cake at the head of the room accompanied by champagne (or as we call it in the states, 'sparkling cider)'. Not to mention the table of food: fried rice, chicken, salad, pizza, and bon bons. The place was seriously decked out.
     They sat us down and J. started conducting. So we started with a hymn and prayer, then the custom in Ghana is to go around the room and individually give birthday wishes to the one being celebrated. J. wished Elder Hansen to grow old and be a 'toothless grandpa'. I wished him to be like Captain Moroni. Then my comp gave a little birthday speech and we played charades! We ate food and cut the cake. When they lit the candles, we found out they weren't candles at all, but giant fireworks! Haha!  We popped some cider--- One guy popped his into the chandelier and broke some pieces off. Bro C. yelled, "That will be 5 cedis!"
     Finally, Sis. T. brought us soft serve ice cream, strawberry and butterscotch flavored, because Elder Hansen hates vanilla. So we just seriously enjoyed. There were 3 people behind this escapade: Sis. T., J., and V. (another cousin). I think this birthday proves that they love us, haha. They sent us home with cake, more cider, and the kontumbrie stew we payed Sis. T. to make for us. Best. Birthday. Ever. And it wasn't even mine!
     For 4th of July on Thursday, we made good old American burgers! And we had some Arizonas. It was expensive, but quite enjoyable. I've gotten a lot more of a sense of patriotism since I've been out here. Proud to be an AMERICAN!
     Now, on a more not-so-crazy note, we had a baptism this weekend. C.A., 23, was baptized on Saturday by our branch mission leader. We had quite a few people from the branch show up, despite some communication problems we had regarding the baptism earlier in the week. C. was a referral from a powerful convert of just a year ago. I remember when we taught him the First Vision, he immediately understood the implications. He said, "Whoa. You guys really DO have a huge message." It was really nice to teach and prepare a guy for baptism. I loved explaining the priesthood and how awesome it is. On Sunday, I had the chance for the first time to confer the Aaronic Priesthood and ordain someone. It felt very normal and natural. It was very sweet.
     On a side note, President Uchtdorf mentioned an experience in a West African meetinghouse last conference. That was in Ghana, by the way. It was in the Takoradi Stake Center!

Love,
Elder Doggett

E. Hansen's birthday party

Baptism of C.

Square 4th of July hamburger