FRESH ORANGE JUICE, STORMS AND A BAPTISM

Orange juice party!

Dear Family and Friends,

            This week was super busy and stressful. My companion had to go on splits twice this week, because he is the DL. We had a Zone Conference which was pretty cool, all about being a consecrated missionary. We had full days, and we were preparing F. for baptism, which happened right after a ward conference.

            The baptism took place yesterday after church, and it went ok. ___________ didn't fulfill his duties like he said he would. Once again, this is a big challenge here. Most people have no sense of responsibility, everything usually ends up falling on somebody else's shoulders. It's extremely frustrating for me, because I do everything I can to do what I've said I will do, and so many people here simply don't care. I don't want to complain too much, but that has been bothering me all week. The baptism was good though, we had a sweet member from the ward perform the baptism. He's a really nice kid, he was just made an elder a few months ago, and he is goaling for a mission. I love to work with the prospective missionaries, they're always so ready to help teach.

            Our Saturday was interesting this week. We were in the middle of a lesson when we suddenly noticed how dark the skies were. It started raining and we kept teaching until it started blowing in through the screens. We were just in this little porch that didn't have real windows. The rain blowing through the screen was just pushing all the dirt through it and getting it all over us, haha so we had to abort the lesson and take cover. It lasted just over and hour, and it flooded like crazy. It was fun to watch though; extreme weather is always exciting.

            As we were passing the church one day this week, we saw the scouts out in the car park, standing at attention. So we went over to watch their meeting a bit. To my surprise, there is a big African scout program that they run here. It was amusing, because they were all standing at attention, and the leaders were teaching them how to properly march and stuff. I thought the whole regimentation of it all was funny, because back home it is so casual. They were there at the ward conference putting up the flags and stuff.

            Last week we found a juicer in the apartment! It was tucked away up in the corner of one cabinet. We were so excited that we bought a bag of 50 oranges for 5 cedis and juiced them all yesterday. It was a sweet deal, it made 3 litres. Where if you buy juice at the store for 5 cedis you'll get like 1 litre. Anyways, we soon realized how pathetic it was that we were getting all jazzed over a cheap China juicer, haha. Missionaries...

            So back to the Zone Conference we had. President Shulz gave a lot of insight as to how to become a consecrated missionary. I've been reflecting on his instruction, and another talk I've read recently, and I've been setting personal goals. There is always something you can work on to become better. D&C 31:5 states that if we thrust in our sickles with all our might, we are forgiven of our sins. That's a powerful prospect and it is what is driving me to become better.

            Mom, Just remember that no effort is wasted in missionary work. Every Book of Mormon handed out goes somewhere, and will be found by somebody; every testimony gets heard. I just heard a story from Elder Miskin, where one of his EFY counselors handed out a BOM to a non-member girl at a soccer camp. She wrote her testimony and everything in it. She never heard from her. Fifteen years later she gets a Facebook message from some woman saying, "Thank you so much for your testimony and sharing the BOM, here's a picture of my family sealed in the temple." It wasn't even from the same girl, just a stranger that her BOM fell into the hands of.

 Love, 

Elder Doggett

Ghanaian scouts

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".... this marks a momentous event in my life--- I've now officially finished the complete standard works of the church for the first time consecutively. I've studied them deeply, comparing one with another. All I have to say is the Church is true."

Dear Family and Friends,

            I finished reading the Doctrine and Covenants this week, so I will list a few reflections: I learned a lot about the organization and responsibilities of the priesthood, especially from Section 107. The priesthood is divine, no man could invent such a complex, precise, and everlasting ideal. Also, there are some portions of the D&C that are not direct revelations, such as minutes from a meeting or letters from Joseph Smith to the whole church. Every time I read those portions, I could sense the difference between them and the direct communications of Jesus Christ to His prophet. It just made me realize how divine the writings really are. No mere man could write the Book of Mormon, we know, let alone subsequently claim 280 pages of admonishing instruction from the Savior himself. The notion of fraud in the matter is preposterous. Jesus is the Christ. Joseph Smith was His prophet, end of story.

            Now this marks a momentous event in my life--- I've now officially finished the complete standard works of the church for the first time consecutively. I've studied them deeply, comparing one with another. All I have to say is that the Church is true.

            Speaking of scriptures, Elder Ormond and I found a sweet chapter in the Book of Mormon to illustrate the way the adversary tempts us. We taught it in a lesson to a recent convert to show how the BOM applies to us. Go read Alma 47: 1-19 with this key: AMALICKIAH=SATAN and LEHONTI=YOU. I was nerding out about how awesome this was, and how it would make a pretty good screenplay...

            So there is a huge granite quarry not far from our proselyting area near the ocean, and this week we could hear them blasting. A few days this week we would hear the blast, and a bit later see huge clouds of dust billowing into the ether from the explosion. It was cool.

            We have one investigator who is progressing very well. His name is F., and he is 17 years old. He's a referral, from his uncle who is a strong member. Yesterday we had  a lesson with him planned at the same time as another lesson, so my comp and I had to split. I went to teach F. the Law of Chastity with two other teenage boys, which was just dandy, haha. I thought they handled it pretty well, there were only a few isolated giggles. Anyway we are planning to baptize him this coming Sunday. He's already really active and has lots of friends, so we're not too worried. He's a good listener too.

Love,

Elder Doggett

PS (we had a water fight this morning, and I am sad to report that while my nerf gun does well against the crawlers, it can't hold out against water pistols.)

Taxi, anyone?

" I realized just how expansive and everlasting the gospel of Jesus Christ is. It attracts and blesses the lives of people from all walks of life. '...He inviteth them all to come unto him... black and white, bond and free, male and female... and all are alike unto Him...' (2 Ne 26:33)"

Futbol, the favorite game in Ghana!

Dear Family and Friends,

            I've really started enjoying the nerf gun I got for Christmas; it has turned into a giant insect/arachnid eradication unit. I think every apartment should have one, standard issue. That thing shoots hard; I blew a cockroach apart in the kitchen the other day.

 There is a big futbol park in the middle of our proselyting area, and on Saturday they had a big area tournament. The days preceding the tourney, they were making all kinds of preparations. They welded new goalposts and nets, they dug out a new road for cars to pass during the game (because the road ran right through the dirt field), and they even broke up some storm drain entries and buried them. They went all out with flags and painted lines. Haha! The things they do for futbol here. Needless to say, proselyting was not effective on Saturday!

            Currently we're working really hard on getting to know members in the ward. I LOVE the members here. One of my great joys as a missionary so far has been building relationships with the Saints here in the golden coasts of Ghana. They have sincere and moving testimonies, and they're not afraid to share them. This ward has so many member families; it's a missionary playground for me. Through members is how REAL GROWTH is achieved in the church.

            Last night we shared a quick message from the Book of Mormon

, 2 Ne 9:39, with a nice family from Cote d' Ivoire. We started with hymn #243, Let Us All Press On, only we were singing in English, and they in French. It was really something, singing a hymn in two languages simultaneously. At that moment, the Spirit of the Lord joined us. As we visited and shared our scripture, I could feel the light of the gospel glowing from this humble family. I'm not sure how to describe it, that's the best I can do. It just felt so good. I had the impression dwell in my mind that the gospel has greatly impacted this family. The father was a missionary in Ivory Coast in 1992, and now he's a high councilman. He sells home security features door to door. The mother is a hairdresser. They're all refugees from the civil war in Ivory Coast; they've been in Ghana for 3 years. Their kids grew up learning French and their own local dialect, and now they have to pick up Fante and learn English in school. I'm sure it's hard for them to fit in here. They're living in an unfinished flat owned by another member. It doesn't even have a front door or window to its name, just two empty frames.

            So we sat together in a circle, sharing faith and singing hymns to our Father in Heaven in two separate languages. For some reason, that is what triggered the aforementioned thoughts. It was a beautiful moment. I realized just how expansive and everlasting the gospel of Jesus Christ is. It attracts and blesses the lives of people from all walks of life. "...He inviteth them all to come unto him... black and white, bond and free, male and female... and all are alike unto Him..." (2 Ne 26:33) God loves all of his children. Love is the vehicle of the Spirit.  We felt an increased measure of both last night.

Love,

Elder Doggett

Kids from the ward on New Year's 

 

Bring on the bugs!!

Email from Jan. 6, 2014:

REFLECTIONS ON STEEL, GOLD AND DIAMONDS.....

Dear Family and Friends,

            My dark year is finally over! The 'dark year' is considered the whole year that you don't see your family on mission. I saw them in 2012, and I'll see them in 2014. The ward had a huge watch night party that we went to. There is actually an African American sister in the ward from California, and she brought her next door neighbor, so we started chatting him up. We are yet to get into contact with him again. Obviously, we went home at like 9, so we could sleep, haha. No such thing as a night life as a missionary. If there is, you're not doing anything good!

            In a recent email, my dad said something that has caused me to reflect. He was commenting on the struggles of my last area, but also on the blessings. It's like HE was counting MY blessings for me. Specifically, he touched on how Elder and Sister Ivie came into field when they did to give us support and counsel. Thinking back, every time the Ivies gave us a hand, or a meal, it was a welcome respite. I did have a lot of blessings there.

            My father on earth said, "All these things are proof that the Lord really IS who he says he is." At the same time, my Father in Heaven confirmed it in my heart. I had a large sense of reality in that moment. An overwhelming feeling of love washed over me as I realized just how infinitely more wise the Lord is than I. We missionaries are in his hands, whether we know it or not. I think it can best be described in a recent quote from President Monson in the October 2013 General Relief Society Meeting of Conference. "You will one day stand aside and look at your difficult times, and you will realize that He was always there beside you." I can see that now.

            My time in Swedru was extremely difficult for me. More so, honestly, than I usually let on. I didn't have a lot of drive to work, and I was tired of failures. I was confused as to why I also had extra responsibilities given to me. Now I know. There is a reason I was called as a trainer and district leader at that time, specifically. If I didn't have those responsibilities, I may have come out of that area much differently. My callings pushed me to be an example to my district and mission son. (and E. Cowan turned out to be an example to me, too.) They pushed me to work when I didn't want to, which was often. In fact, they pushed me so hard that they pushed me right out of that hole I was in. 

            Through extreme temperatures and long hours of pounding, a common metal rod is transformed into a beautiful blade of precious steel. Through a refiner's fire, the impurities of gold melt away, allowing it to achieve it's potential. Through intense and prolonged pressures, the blackest coal becomes the most magnificent diamond. So it is with us.

Love,

Elder Doggett

Enjoying American hamburger in Africa

15 months in Ghana..........

Elder Ormond, Elder Doggett

Elders with sweet family from the area who used to live in the U.S.

Dear Family and Friends,

            This week was super hectic. P-day on Tuesday and Christmas on Wednesday. We just went to a member's place with the other elders and had lots of free food. So the old holiday tradition of over-eating prevails once again... We had a fun district /testimony meeting in the morning, too. The phone call home was okay this year, our network was kinda bad. I couldn't hear very well. But it was still nice to hear everyone. I just wish I had time to make a list of questions to ask everyone.

            This week's proselyting was pretty weak. Last transfer, Elder Ormond's son (trainee) went home because he claimed he had back problems, so the area hardly got worked on at all. And the transfer before that Elder Ormond killed (was the last companion to) a missionary who was going home, so we all know how that is. We don't really have any serious investigators. We're planning to come in full force this new year though. We've made some plans to kick things in gear, working with members, missionary Sundays, increased enthusiasm. We'll see how things go.

           On Sunday we had a baptism, two young men around 16 years old. They've been to church for a long time and they already seem like part of the ward. Sitting in PEC the other night, I can see how zealous this ward is in missionary work. They are very dead set on their goals. These two boys rounded up their goal of 42 converts for the year. Our ward mission leader is really active and wants to help a lot; he just likes baptisms, I think!  I'm sure we will accomplish a lot here, it seems that the members really live and love the gospel. I think there are like 250 active members.

            Man, my legs are sooo tired, this area has more hills than Green Hill. We've been pounding this place down since I got here, and there is so much dust, haha. Your shoes stay clean for about 10 seconds out the front door. It's a bit smaller than my previous areas, though. I'm surprised, because the ward is so big and the area so small. We're trying to learn where as many members live as possible.

            I'm working on salvaging my photos from my camera cards, so I'll send pictures as soon as I can. It's nearly impossible to keep your cards clean here if you're sending pictures all the time. I hope it works.

Love,

Elder Doggett

Game night

D. and J. baptism on Dec. 22nd

Mattress moving day

Email from Dec 24, 2013:

TRANSFER NEWS:  Mpintsin, Kojokrom

Dear Family and Friends,

            On Sunday D. and J. were baptized before church. Both were member referrals. Both had investigated the church previously and for some reason ceased. It was a pretty good service, just before church with some member support.

            We always taught J. with Bro. O., the member who referred him. He is also an older gentleman, so it was always entertaining. Bro. O. confirmed J. a member of the church; he always helped a ton with our proselyting.

            On a much different note... transfer news. Chapter 4, Mpintsin,  Kojokrom. I'm with Elder Ormond from New Zealand, my MTC mate. He's a big, rugby playing islander. We had transfer day yesterday due to the normal day falling on Christmas. Apparently Mpintsin ward is the fastest growing in the Takoradi Stake; I believe it because I met the bishop last night and he is pretty zealous, in a good way. I've finally made it over to Western Region, and at the moment I am emailing in the fastest cafe in Ghana. Elders Shinasi and Sakala are our ZLs, also my MTs, haha I think we'll have some fun here. I've been waiting for a while to serve with a MT (Missionary Training) elder.

            So, Elder Cowan has gone to Moree in Cape Coast. I went on splits there a few times, it's a big place. It's a giant fishing town, but they have pretty powerful members and a really nice building. He'll probably enjoy himself there.

            To my utter depression though, nobody is replacing us in Swedru. President has killed the area again. My initial reaction was, 'WHAT!? WHY?' We just spent 4 1/2 months picking that area from the dirt and setting it on it's feet. Now, I won't say ALL our hard work is lost, but some of it will go down the drain. We were just contacting last week and we found a lot of promising potential investigators. Since we transferred only yesterday, we didn't have time to record those people; so they'll be lost. Our teaching pool was so intelligent, too! Everyone we were working with were people who would be able to build up the church, which is what Swedru desperately needs.

            I'm also sad that we don't get to teach J. and D. about the temple and new member lessons. Our goal in the Swedru District was to get every recent convert to the temple as fast as possible. I've given some names to Elder Suntau, as he is taking over our area for now, but he is already so busy as a ZL. I pray things will work out. I was deeply frustrated to leave that area with no watchmen.

            While we waited for 3 hours at the Cape Coast tro station, I ran into none other than my recent convert and member from Green Hill! Sis. T. and M.A. were going to Accra to deliver some pastries, and just happened to have one for me too, haha. I'm pretty sure Elder Larsen tipped them off, but they claimed it was all just some crazy big chance. It warmed my heart to see them, I love Green Hill branch. Being a missionary rocks!

            Mom I got your Christmas package just before transfers. It was sweet, thanks so much. I filled Elder Baird's and Suntau's stockings and ambushed them with the Nerf Gun. Then they found theirs and when we should have been packing, we all had a Mexican shootout in the apartment for about an hour. Haha it was awesome. I'm gonna miss that apartment, it was so fun, all we ever did was eat food. The night before we left we had root beer floats and cheesecake. Although, this new apartment is pretty sweet. I'm with Elder Ormond, and my MT Elder Wamono is with Elder Reihle from D.C. Also there is Elder Miskin from Arizona with his son (trainee) Elder Larsen from Logan.  Elder Miskin's father (trainer) was also Elder Larsen, the one at Green Hill now, haha. funny family line.

            Love you,

Elder Doggett

Meeting Old Friends at the Christmas Devotional

Dear Family and Friends,

            This week we had our Christmas Devotional down in Cape Coast. It was a sweet program of singing hymns with a few talks. Then we watched 'Forever Strong' again. That's our mission motto. We finished with a huge dinner and a Zone Talent Show, which was a lot better than last year. Swedru Zone sung a song with a slideshow in the background.

            It was so sweet to catch up with everyone though: Elder James, Elder Hansen, Elder Moore, and others. There are so many new faces in the mission though, I didn't know most guys. This mission is changing so fast, seriously. So many incoming missionaries, and President Shulz has done an amazing job of cleaning the place up in the way of obedience.

            What pleased me the most, though, was hearing that all my converts from Green Hill are still going strong. A. is going to school to be a teacher, C. received the Melchizedek Priesthood, and J. is teaching institute in Accra. I can hardly explain how much that info warms my heart. It strengthens my testimony and gives me confidence that my efforts are not wasted. Truly, how great shall be my joy with them in the Lord's kingdom. I can only imagine!

            Also, Elder Hansen told me that the Green Hill apartment was broken into not long after I left, and they had to put bars on all the windows. I'm not surprised…. looking back that apartment was not very secure.

            Today we had a small service project at an orphanage, where we just weeded the front area with cutlasses. It was fun. I feel powerful with a cutlass in hand! Then we went to the Ivies to watch the Christmas Devotional, which was pretty good.  And it appears from the pictures you sent, Dad, that you also enjoyed it. Probably more than I did. It is very nice to have a senior couple around when we want to do activities, haha.

         We are preparing two more candidates for baptism this coming Sunday, so pray that all will go through well enough. We've been working so hard for these people, their names are J. and Dobby  (No, he is not a house-elf... but he does have really big eyes) Elder Jensen can't hold himself whenever we talk about Dobby, he says, "Elder gave Dobby a Book of Mormon... Dobby is FREE!" Yeah, he's a big Harry Potter fan. Anyways, J. is a 60+ year old bus driver and Dobby is a 27 year old security guard. Both referrals, by the way.

       You guys got to see Gimli?! I'm jealous. And I will grow my beard out and see what it can do after I get home, haha.  Although I might cheat and put Rogaine on my face...

       Don't forget to write a missionary this Christmas! (That means me)

Love,

Elder Doggett

Elders from many nations

Last week's baptism mom forget to post!