Chasing Lizards...

Hello all of my beloved friends and family members!

This week was a pretty cool one! 

A couple of days ago, we were coming into the chapel and saw that somehow a big lizard had somehow gotten inside! So for about 10-15 minutes I got the chance to chase around this lizard and eventually get it outside. Just kind of a funny situation. Also just this last Sunday me and my companion got the chance to teach the primary in church. We taught them the song about the wise man and the foolish man building their houses. Made after the parable taught by Jesus Christ in Matthew. They got very very into it and it was pretty funny!

This week I have been studying a lot about being humble, and also being thankful! As I have been reading in the book of Matthew I am of course learning about all of the amazing things that Jesus Christ was doing among the people. Healing lepers, causing the blind to see, curing palsy, and even raising the dead. When I read about all of these things I think about how blessed I am to be in good health and I am also so very thankful for Christ going through the atonement and suffering for me.

I would encourage you all to think about what you are thankful for this week!

Matthew 5-7

Ether 12:27

Odo,

Elder Brandt

Questions and Answers with Dad...

We just learned he got a bike...

 I was pretty excited to receive these bikes, but they are very small bikes, like Lauren or mom sized and the seat is way to low. It is pretty funny to watch me ride because as I ride, my legs come plenty above parallel with the ground. haha.  I actually already raised the seat as high as it goes. It has a short rod. 

Did they give you bikes so you could go farther?

Actually in this mission anyone can request bicycles if they would like them. For us we requested them because our area is HUGE and sometimes it takes us a long time going from one appointment to another.

Mom's Question and Answers...

How do people celebrate their birthdays in Ghana? Or do they? 

They do not do anything super different than us! Sing happy birthday song, maybe give a gift or two, wish them a good day.

I saw on my weather app that you had a lot of rain last week...
Is my app correct? 

We are just outside of Kumasi, and we did not receive really any rain last week, just two sets of drizzles.

Are you healthy? 

I am healthy! 

Do you need anything???? 

Just  letters! :)

Love you so much!

2 Nephi 28:30

Odo,

Taylor

PS - Taylor said he would send pictures this week - Check back later to see them!  

Nicholas was baptized and I would love more snail mail!

Hello Everyone!

Sorry today the Internet is no good and I am typing on a garbage keyboard so this week might not be long.  This week was pretty cool. Just yesterday we were able to have another baptism! The man's name is Nicholas and is one of the best people I have ever met here on my mission!  He is a teacher and also owns a small phones shop for extra cash. He is a super super nice guy and he loves the gospel and all of the blessings it has to offer!

This week was kind of a normal week other than that! Elder Anai and I are doing very very well! Elder Udobor and Elder Ojok are very cool guys and they make the apartment very fun! I will try to include pictures of them soon! I love you all and appreciate support! Do not forget I LOVE getting snail mail! Do not be afraid to throw something this way!

Odo,

Elder Brandt

Elder Anai and I being goofy

More views of Ejisu

Baptism and Baggy Clothes...

All my beloved friends and loved ones!

This week was kind of cool! I had a couple of realizations this week about how much I have physically changed since coming to Ghana! 

-Let me begin with my shirts. The collar on my shirts is 17.5 and they fit well upon departure. I can now fit my entire hand between my neck and the collar!

-My arms. One evening in the apartment I was wearing shorts and just happened to notice how much darker my arms are than my legs! (since my legs are always covered and my arms are not)

-My pants and belt.  Also upon departure, they fit well.  I was on the second hole in my belt and now I am on the last. I am even about to make 1 new hole in belt.  For my pants I can now hold the button about 4 inches away from my actual waist!

You can see in the pictures I will send!

My new area of Ejisu is sweet! It is also very big! We probably walk an average of at least 5-7 miles a day, and that is just walking around inside of our area from appointment to appointment!  In Ejisu there is a main roundabout called Yaa Santewaa Roundabout. That is the name of the most fierce Ashanti female warrior, supposed to be the most fierce female warrior ever. It's kinda cool. 

Just yesterday we were able to baptize a woman named Rebecca Adubofour! Her husband is a member of 2-3 years and we were finally able to teach her and she was even baptized by her own husband, Asante! It was a great experience!

As part of being a missionary we get to do lots of studying and learning. The past couple of days I was able to study about receiving personal revelation! We know that it comes "line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little." We should not expect that that revelation will just come in some crazy dream and answer all of our problems! I will be some idea... that will seem to occupy our thoughts and press itself upon our feelings!

Good things come to those who wait!

Odo,

Elder Brandt

Here are some Twi (pronounced chi)words I use everyday...

Akwaaba - Welcome

Medase - Thank you

Matiase - I understand

Ma che - Good Morning

Ma haa - Good Afternoon

Ma jo - Good Evening

Me, Asante, Rebecca, Elder Anai

Branch Counselor's son...so cute!

Weight Loss!

Darkening of Skin!

My daily views of Ejisu, Ghana

Hello Ejisu...and 27 new bug bites, fish eyes and cow heart

Hello all!

This week was exciting! I have transferred to a town called Ejisu
which is just outside of the big city Kumasi.  My new companion Elder
Anai is awesome! He is from Ghana just in Accra. The other people in
the apartment are Elder Udobor from Nigeria and Elder Ojok from
Uganda. Elder Udobor is actually a very hilarious guy and he is
cracking jokes all the time!  Elder Anai is also a really funny guy.
We get along great, love to share jokes and stories, and we also know
how to work hard!

This week I decided to take an inventory of my bug bites. The count is
currently at 27. It continues to increase. All just part of the work!

This week, I also got to add to my "interesting" foods list! The first
thing is fish eyes! I am sure most of you know Gushers! They're kind
of like that. The second is cow heart! I got to eat some of that this
week! It was actually pretty darn delicious! :)

I love you all and appreciate all of your support! :)

Odo,
Elder Brandt

Ejisu, Ghana

Elder Anai (from Ghana)

Transfer to Kumasi!

Hello Everybody!

I hope all of you had a good week! This week I definitely felt all of your love and all of your prayers! I want to quick and just say thank you to all of who have been supporting me this whole time! I love and appreciate all of you! 

This week I got a package from Grandma and Grandpa Lerner! Thank you! :)

I hope you all like news! This is transfer week, and I am being transferred! I am leaving Obuasi! I will be going to the big city of KUMASI!!! I am going to be in a zone call UST, in a district called Kwamo, in a town called Ejisu! My new companion will be an elder named Elder Anai. He is a Ghanaian! I will be able to tell you more about him after I actually meet him! I will be leaving Wednesday morning to go and meet him and move into my new apartment! 

This week we also had what is called a Specialized Training. This is where two of the zones in the mission (Obuasi and Asuoyboa) met to receive an instruction from our mission president and his wife. President Cosgrave and Sister Cosgrave. That was a very very nice conference! They talked about effective planning, faith, and diligence! It was very nice!

I love you all and hope you had and have a good week!

Odo,

Elder Brandt

Teaching a whole family and going to Kumasi...

Hello all! This week was not too bad!

Currently we are preparing a family for baptism next Sunday! The man's name is Kobbina, his wife is Ekwia, and he has two sons Kojo and Akwasi!  Next Sunday we will be able to baptize Kobbina, Ekwia, and Kojo! They are a very powerful family and during our lesson with him last week on Friday, he was thanking us for coming and teaching him. The spirit was there very strong as he thanked us for showing him the truth about Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the gospel!

Today we are going to Kumasi for a specialized missionary training. We will coming back tomorrow! This week was somehow just really good! There was not much that happened but it was just good! This week it seemed I was able to have some time for personal meditation. I was able to think about what is my purpose for being here and thinking about all of the good I have the opportunity to give to people!

This morning was pretty funny we found a centipede in our apartment! Ya, I guess that was pretty cool haha.  I hope everybody is doing well! Feel free to send me snail mail and emails! I love receiving them! :)

I love you all and I can feel you prayers, love, and support!

Me odo empaebo! (My love and prayers!)

Elder Brandt

Random Pictures out of the Blue!

Bahnku and Soup!

Creative Ways to eat Slim Jims...Thanks Gavin!!!