Awesome week!

Dear family and friends, 

This week was awesome!

Scott and I really put some work in to prepare our four investigators for their baptisms. This week was a lot better in terms of directions though - we're getting the hang of finding our way around. 

Last Monday I made the mistake and got some nasty banku for dinner. All day Tuesday and Wednesday I was pretty sick. Pepsi and ibuprofen fixed that problem though. 

There are some Sisters in our zone that are struggling in their area. They are very new and haven't had much success. President Heid suggested we gather the zone together and contact in their area for a half-day. The activity went really well, everyone had a good attitude, and I felt it unified us. It was nice helping other missionaries for a change. 

The Lord blessed us Saturday with dozens of people to teach. I wrote so many names and numbers in my planner I had to switch pages. Scott and I were non-stop talking to people for a few straight hours. It'll take some organization to see and plan for them all, but it was a blessing for sure! 

Sunday was the big day for baptisms. We had Emelia, Emmanuel, Udel, and Monica all lined up for their special day. We were getting worried when sacrament was over and two of them still hadn't showed up, but they eventually rolled in. The baptismal service went perfectly, and it was a special day for them and me. All four are great converts and will be a blessing to the ward. The baptisms were awesome!

President Heid interviewed one of our candidates, and I had the lucky opportunity to join the non-confidential part of it. It blew us away at how President Heid taught. It was so simple, yet powerful. I've thought about it multiple times. Even our investigator bore testimony about the interview. It hit us all that President has been called by God, and he leads by the Spirit. It was awesome to be a part of that. 

Hope you all have a great Spring Break! 

Love Elder Nissinen

Dear family and friends, 

It was a great week! 

Scott and I are working hard and having a lot of fun. Because we're so new, we decided it would be best to sit down with the Bishop and get information about the active and less-active members in the ward. Our Bishop is a stud, and we're developing a solid relationship with him. We spent a lot of time visiting the auxiliary leaders in their homes. We'll continue to do that often.

As expected, we did get lost way too many times. It was frustrating, but eventually we found wherever we needed to go. Thankfully Elder Scott was patient and is great at remembering places. 

I see that you guys are interested in food. This was our lunch the other day. It was pretty good. I don't know why it was wrapped in a leaf. We borrowed the spoons. The meat is called "wule" (woo-ley). It's cow skin. Some cow fat too.

I think the highlight of the week came Saturday. When Elder Burns was here, we committed a super great guy to baptism. We thought he was golden until we didn't hear from him for two weeks. I called him up, and we met. Apparently he got in a minor motorbike accident and was recovering. We set another baptismal date for next week. Saturday we also met with our three other baptismal candidates. If everything goes right, we'll score four baptisms next week! We're excited. 

Guess what we found out? 

Emelia has the same birthday as me! She's '98 though. That means she's like the exact same age as Rosie. Weird, but cool! 

This week we'll also spend some time helping the other missionaries in our zone. Some are struggling in various ways, so we'll go over and help fill their teaching pool. 

Have a fun week. Do something nice for someone that deserves it.

Love, Elder Nissinen

New Companion

Dear family and friends, 

This week was great! 

Burns spent some time this week to show me around the zone. We went on two exchanges on Wednesday and Thursday. Wednesday I went to a cool area near the beach and had a lot of fun with that. We were teaching a lesson to one of their investigators in their chapel in the evening time when the area suffered lights off, so we taught her with just our phone's flashlights haha. After the lesson was finished, we leave to escort her home, when we realize we were locked inside the chapel! Some other members were there, and must have forgotten we were still inside. It was probably really scary for their investigator to be inside a locked inside dark church for a little while. Luckily their Bishop came and rescued us. 

 Sweet primary children!

Then Thursday we went with some of the Sister missionaries in our zone who have been struggling in their newly-formed area. I accidentally left my hat at another ward, so I got burnt really good that day. It didn't help that we spent most of the day walking... It was a lot of fun though working and teaching with Sisters. That is something I never had done before. 

Friday evening Elder Burns and I got a phone call from President Heid. Burns is leaving to finish another Elder's training. Guess who my new companion is? ELDER SCOTT! I almost didn't believe President. It's super exciting, and we're really happy to be companions now. The only problem is is that I've only been in the area for 2 1/2 weeks,so I don't know but few of the members and their houses, and I hardly know the ropes of being a Zone Leader. It'll be a rocky learning curve but Scott and I will figure it out. 

Man this Akple is so good. One of the better meals 

I've had in a long while. Super good stuff.

Those little fish are incredible!

 You guys would seriously like it. 

That's really about it! 

On a spiritual side, we went to a funeral at our chapel for a recent convert that Elder Burns knew well. She passed at a young age, and had two young children, now motherless. Most of the people in attendance were not of our faith. I never knew any of the family, but as the teenage daughter was tearfully talking about her mother, my heart really opened for her loss. I couldn't imagine what it would be like to be a teenager without a mom. Our Bishop stood up and gave a comforting talk on the Plan of Salvation, and how death is not an end, but a step in God's Plan. Our job is to be prepared for when it's our time to move on. I'm sure many left with a different outlook on life and death, because I did. 

Hope you all have a wonderful week. Rosie, don't break anymore hearts! 

Love, Elder Nissinen 

Baptism to come

Dear family and friends, 

The city life is a good life! I'm enjoying it here quite a bit, and I'm learning so much. It's amazing how much one can learn about being an effective missionary. I would assume that after a certain number of months a missionary could have it all "mastered", but I am surprised by how often that is not the case. Elder Burns is teaching me the power of working with the members rather than simply tracting or contacting. I've known it all along, but never really implemented it as a daily task. 

Elder Burns is great. We're having a lot of fun while working hard. I'll have to soak in this small time we'll serve together. 

Elder Burns

One of the highlights of the week was the blessing we had to extend a few baptismal dates. We have two 10 year old girls that really cute and fun, who's parents are either less-active or recent converts. On top of that, we were able to extend a baptismal date to a super cool 18 year old girl named Emelia, who's been coming with a YW friend for a few weeks. She's read everything we've given her, wants to be a member, and is even working on Personal Progress, as a non-member! We're really excited for her baptism, cause she'll make a sweet contribution to the Ward.

A cool story about Emelia: 

We had been trying to meet with her all week long, but we didn't know where she stayed, and her phone number wasn't working. We really wanted to meet with her to start the lessons. Anyways, a few lessons had failed on us, and nobody was around, so were kind of aimlessly walking. Elder Burns mentioned how nice it would be to see Emelia, when suddenly we saw her walking from school. We were able to find her house, get a correct number, and finally extend a date. It was a tender mercy for sure. 

This is Emelia

Sorry about all the rain (and snow?). My arms got burnt last week if that makes you feel better. Have a great week, and get some sunshine in your soul from sharing the Gospel with someone! 

Love, Elder Nissinen

"I Don't Think We're in Tsito Anymore"

Dear family and friends, 

Man, I had no idea I'd have culture shock twice on my mission. Christiansborg is so different from Tsito. It kind of hit me Thursday and Friday. Actually, I'm still adjusting to the city. I've never heard so many people speak English, especially kids. For the first time in a long while, I had my first conversation with a child. I was really surprised when I heard kids (and adults) pray in English. The city life is so drastically different from where I was coming from, it's quite amazing. There are tall buildings, lots and lots of cars, people everywhere (including foreigners) and lots of restaurants. It's a little hotter hear too.

My companion is Elder Burns. He's a stud. We get along really great and he's showing me the ropes. He's been in the area for quite a while, so I've gotta learn quick before he leaves. We have a lot in common actually. I'm excited! 

I haven't done much as a ZL yet, but that'll change soon as Burns lets me do more. 

Sunday we had a surprise guest at our sacrament meeting: Carol F. McConkie - the 1st Counselor in the General Young Women's Presidency. We were also joined by Elder Stanfill of the Area Presidency. Sister McConkie and her husband spoke, as well as Elder and Sister Stanfill. It was a great sacrament meeting, and a rare opportunity to be in their presence. Elder Burns and I actually got to talk to them for a few minutes before sacrament meeting started, so that was cool I guess. Not every day do you get to shake hands and talk to a Counselor in the General YW Presidency. 

We extended a date to a super golden investigator last week. I think we might be able to get a few baptisms next month if things align. He and a few other investigators attended sacrament.

As you can tell, this is a bit more comfortable of an area, so I'm happy about that. The work is different and overall trickier here, so the strategies are also different. I'm really excited to work and grow here! 

Sorry about the flooding. Hope you have a great week. 

Love Elder Nissinen

News

Dear family and friends, 

I got news for ya! 

Our week was normal for the most part. Actually, we had a ton of failed appointments, so we were just walking around a lot of the time looking for people to visit. 

Well, I got a phone call late Saturday evening from President Heid. Looks like I'm heading out of Ho Zone and going to be a Zone Leader near my first area. I was really upset that I have to leave before the baptisms next Sunday but there is a lot of people who are leaving baptisms behind. This next area will for SURE be a lot more comfortable, it's in the heart of Accra. So I am excited for that one. My next companion is from my MTC, he's a cool guy from Utah. 

Horne can do some trick to make it look like he removes his thumb. Kids have been going nuts about it and come up to him all the time to see it. I think they tell each other his name at school, cause we meet random kids all the time who want to see it. 

So guess what?

I GOT MY CAMERA BACK. Long story, but I'll try to make it brief: 

Sunday evening some men called us over to talk with them, saying that they knew about a camera that had pictures of me on them. We got really excited. They told us some lady from the next village has it, and that we could get it in the morning. So, of course, we walked to the next village to find the lady. We found the lady and she said the camera was back with the first two guys (where we had just came from). She said I could get the camera back if I paid her money. I wasn't too happy about it, but I decided it would be worth whatever cost to get it back. 

Back at the apartment that night, we got a call from the two guys. They were yelling and very angry with us. I'm still not sure why, but apparently they were accused by us of stealing the camera or something. They thought we were being bad Christians for asking the lady about the camera. Again, it doesn't make any sense. I was worried I wouldn't get back, so I calmed him down and apologized for nothing. 

This morning we went to the local police station to meet the lady and the guys. The guys were still upset, and I was prepared to give out my money and calm them down. But luckily our 2nd Counselor, who is a police officer, was around and helped us so we didn't have to pay to get the camera back. The camera is fully functional, no pictures have been deleted, and it's back in my possession! Apparently it was found a month ago. People took pictures and videos with it, it's a bit funny actually.

Gloria's farm. We found a cool tree!

Gloria. She'll be baptized Sunday. She is super cool with a hard life. She is Jacob's age.

It's quite a miracle to have that camera back. It'll be a great story to tell one day. That camera has an incredible a story attached to it! 

After nearly 11 months in the bush, I'll be saying goodbye and moving on the bigger (and better) things in Accra. Although the past 11 months -especially the last 4 - have been the hardest of my life, it's really stretched and strengthened me in so many numerous ways. I guess I have to be grateful for the hard times. God loves me! 

Investigator family in Avenui. Cool people!

My Sunday school class. The young men aren't too excited about church yet, but we get some sometimes. Sometimes I teach 10 youth.

Joycelin's last time washing my clothes...

Gloria

Have a wonderful happy week. 

Love, Elder Nissinen

Blessings

Dear family and friends, 

Elder Horne and I had a pretty great week. 

The weather seems to be heating up quite a bit. We're having to sleep with the fans directly on our faces to get any rest now! 

Not only is the weather heating up, but so is our area! It's the same old story of dropping less-serious investigators and searching for more. We did that Thursday I believe. We prayed that we'd be led to some who were looking for the truth, and after a while of contacting, some older guy named Godwin called us over. Apparently he knew everything about the Church, was taught everything by the missionaries, read all the pamphlets, has a Triple Combination, and even had previous baptismal dates. We asked why he wasn't a member, and he told us he travels often between two places and hadn't had the opportunity to be baptized again. Long story short, he has a baptismal date now for the end of the month. If all goes well, we'll baptize 4 converts on the 26th! I totally feel like Godwin was an answer to our prayers. So that was cool. 

Went to go teach an investigator and this is what we saw haha

Along the way, we found a bunch of other people to teach, and will be working on them this week. 

Friday we had the opportunity to do some service for a charitable organization in Ho. We joined with 8 other missionaries and cleaned their compound.

The highlight of the week was definitely Sunday. Yesterday was our Branch Conference. Our small chapel can seat about 45. We had 67! People were outside and in the hallway it was so overfilled. I don't even think the chapel has 67 chairs total. We were positive we would get 6 or 7 investigators, but a bunch of random things came up, and none with baptismal dates showed up. However, a super nice family in a small village walked in about 40 minutes late! I could tell they walked the whole way because they were really sweaty. It was a touching moment. Elder Horne taught investigator's class, I taught Sunday School, and we both taught Young Women's. 

Horne got a giant box of fruity pebbles haha. I got those drink mixes you sent. Thanks so much for doing that. Those really help. 

Elder Horne eating fufu

That's about it for our week! We're firing on all cylinders out in Tsito. We're going to do all we can to prepare those people for their baptisms. 

Have a lovely Valentine's Day, and talk to you next week. 

Love, Elder Nissinen