March 1, 2010

Hey mom and family!

Dad's not back yet huh? well you'll have to tell me how his work is going with the temples and also his book. It's good to hear from you guys, even though it was only mom who wrote in this past email haha.

This past week was eventful and it was a great experience to hear from Elder Holland. He gave us the opportunity to shake his hand and also the hands of the 3 other general authorities that came with him to speak. He told us, just that little moment he shook our hands, that he interviewed us, as he looked into our eyes for that split second.

It was amazing to hear that, but we also know that he has the Spirit of discernment to judge if we're worthy and clean to be here in the mission. His message was basically on obedience, and how we can all work towards continuing to be obedient. It's the 5th principle of the Gospel and it's one of the most important, cause if we have Faith, if we Repent, be Baptized, receive the Holy Ghost, but afterwards, not be obedient to the commandments, we won't inherit the Celestial Kingdom. We as missionaries and members of the church, have a duty to set a good example to everyone we're around. He left one quote to us missionaries, probably and specifically for those who aren't being exactly obedient. He said, "Be the missionary that the Church and your families think and expect you to be.... You (missionaries) are probably prayed for just as much as the Prophet". He helped us understand just how serious this work is that we're doing. He truly emphasized how we need to be obedient in these troubling times. After he talked with us about that, he started teaching us doctrine on the Fall of Adam. He was teaching us that even though Adam transgressed and that people nowadays think that it's a major mistake that he did partake of the forbidden fruit... we know the truth. Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can experience benefits more than disadvantages, from the effects of the Fall of Adam. Elder Holland showed us, as he drew a diagram on the white board, that the Fall of Adam had to happen. Satan doesn't have a plan, only opposition. We need to follow the plan of our Father in Heaven and stay obedient to the commandments.

He said some other things too, that i can share with you guys another time. It was really a great experience and i'm happy that I could have the opportunity to meet him and hear from him as he told us things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. His testimony is very strong and it's great to feel the Spirit as he was there.

I too will add my testimony to his. The things that i'm teaching every day and the things that he was teaching to us are very true. Each time I bear my testimony whether it be in writing or in words, i once again realize how true the Church is. Jesus Christ truly is at the head, and he is guiding us through a living prophet, Thomas S. Monson.

Pres Monson receives counsel and revelation for the Church and for anyone who has the ears to listen. When we follow the prophet, we draw closer to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We can become more like our Father in Heaven, and I know that when we will be obedient to the commandments of God, we will live with our Heavenly Parents again.

Families are eternal and we can all live together in complete happiness. The Book of Mormon is true, and it can answer any question/problem you have in life. It's pages contain the testimonies of so many great prophets and disciples. I feel so blessed to be a member of the Church and more so to be a missionary for the Lord.

Every day we need to realize our calling as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We are so blessed, and the only way we'll really see that is if we take the time to stop, look around, and then thank our God for everything.

I love you guys so much and i'll see you all soon! Time flies. That's the truth. Yesterday i was on the plane and last week we were moving to Utah... wow. Well, all we can do is live every day the best we can and look forward to the coming of our Savior. There's so many signs and it's hard to believe that there are some people who don't believe in the Second Coming. The Church is true... that is all. Once again I love you guys and i'll talk with you all soon.

- Elder Newbold

February 22, 2010

hey family!

this week went by quickly again, just like all the other ones... sadly. but it's gotta happen. we had some good adventures this week and some new investigators. we were blessed to have 3 of our investigators come to church also, so they can gain a testimony about church. things here are going well and i'm happy all of you back home, who got to celebrate gma's birthday. i can't believe she's still so young :) she's healthier than all of us. i wish i could've been there to celebrate it with all you. we had a fun dinner over at a member's house the other day, and got to have some fufu, which is one of the greatest ghana dishes. i can eat a ton of it. when we saw them at church on sunday they said that after we left, their neighbors were asking why they had invited us over to their house. the neighbors went on to say that we were medicine men and did magic hahaha... so the members explained to the neighbors that we didn't sell medicine, but we were missionaries and we preached the gospel of Jesus Christ. so that was one of the adventures this past week.

i did have another humbling experience, one of the many. but me and Elder Rappleye, (the other missionary that came last transfer who's from Layton, UT) the both of us were together cause we went on exchanges that day. we went to a member's house and we were talking with her about her work. she was saying that she's working/ taking a class on computers and that she wasn't getting paid. she'll have to do this class/ workshop for like 7 months without getting any money. we asked her how she'd stay alive and she said she'd manage... which was hard to believe. i wanted to help, but i figured that if i helped her, i'd end up just giving money to everyone and that would be a little much. so i'm not sure what we can do to help her, but hopefully we can think of something for her.

this past week i also did surgery on my face... hahaha. i had like a really big underground pimple that was bothering me, so i decided to do something about it. so after i had hacked up my face, i had a pretty big mark on my forehead haha. i just laughed about it and one of our investigators asked who had hit me... i told her that no one hit me, but that i was trying to become an indian, cause the mark was basically in the middle of my forehead. so i had fun with it. well i'm happy to hear that everyone is doing well back home. dad's staying busy with work, mom's helping out with my 2nd mother across the street ;) nick is doing great i'm sure, keeping up with school and maybe even building a snowman outside like a good little boy. i miss the snow more than anything right now haha, hard to picture it when i'm here sweating in 90 degree weather. man the sun's hot here... but i gotta live with it for quite a little while more. the people here are great and it's fun to have an american in the apartment with me, who's from the same state and city... what are the chances. so we have quite a good time.

tell dan hi as well and let him know that he's being a good big brother, making sure i follow the rules haha. tell him to email me too, that slacker.

ok well i hope everything continues as normal and things keep going well for the family. God bless everyone for your prayers and obedience. you're all great examples to me, here in Ghana. i can't believe i've already been gone 6 months from you guys. i've had some crazy and great experiences here and i can't wait to get back and share them with you all. i love you guys so much and i'll talk with you soon!

- elder newbold

p.s. - i've only received one package, the one with the mp3 player, thanks! transfer news is tmrw, and also we see Elder Holland too. i'm looking forward to it!