Hi family and friends.

Time seriously has been going by quickly and again I'm emailing on Monday. Today it's been rainy, which is good, except for the fact that we were stuck in the chapel for our Pday activity and couldn't go out unless we wanted to get soaked. We've been wanting it to rain for quite a while now and finally at the most inopportune time, it comes. But we're grateful for the moisture, even though it's always humid. The past few months have been really dusty and it hasn't rained in about a month now. So the rain kinda put us behind schedule on things and we are just barely getting the chance to sit down and email. So here goes...

Things are continuing to improve as we keep up the hard work here in our area. This past week we had 6 new investigators and we had 5 investigators come to church. So we can see the difference between now and about 4 months ago, when we didn't really have anyone to teach and bring to church. Now our teaching pool is increased and we're happy to be helping those who will allow us to. Our baptism was supposed to take place on April 10th, but like usual there is opposition and for some reason with this ward, that opposition always comes from the Bishop, surprisingly. He mentioned to us before church yesterday that they would be having Ward Council Mtg right after the church service on the 10th, as they always have Ward Council Mtg every 2nd week of the month. Though they've never mentioned that to us as long as we've been here in the ward and they just chose to finally tell us. We've planned the baptism and told the Bishop about it about 3 weeks ago and he just barely is telling us we'll have to reschedule the baptism. So, enough complaining, but we've had to move the baptism to the 17th now. We'd still like to have it right after church to try to get more members to join us during the baptismal service. So we'll see what happens. Our hopes and prayers are that we'll have two candidates that day and also that the other elders will have two of their investigators join us too. It's been difficult to get any investigator to agree to be baptized around here, as this will be my first baptism in the almost 6 months I've been here in Sekondi. Having less baptisms is mainly particular to Kweikuma Ward and I wish the members would realize that, but throughout the whole rest of our mission, it continues to progress and the Lord's kingdom is surely being built-up. The missionaries who are serving in the northern part of our mission, a city called Sunyani, have also been facing adversity in the work, so we had a mission fast to help them. The Lord's work will continue and overcome all opposition, but in the mean time, there will be difficulties and they will be for our experience and gain.

Last Saturday we had an interesting experience as we attended a portion of a funeral service, held in a Catholic cathedral. The father of a less-active member died some weeks ago and they had his funeral and burial service that day. We only attended the funeral service and we just didn't have a good feeling there in the cathedral, at all. I haven't quite experienced anything like it before, but there was just a sort of emptiness there as we watched and listened the presiding priest there speak to the people present. I definitely didn't feel that it was an environment where the Spirit would reside and I don't think I'll ever want to go back into that specific building again. The contrast was obviously present as I compared our church service or funeral service to the one that we were attending. It made me even more grateful for the Restoration and all the blessings that came with it, because of the love of our Father in Heaven. Especially to know the feelings of attending the temple of the Lord, anywhere throughout the world where there has been one erected to Him, the feelings of peace, joy and love. The feeling that we, as imperfect beings, have the opportunity to enter again into God's presence and to have the great knowledge of His love for us. To remember those feelings and to remember that testimony and compare it to the emptiness and almost despair that was in the building we went to, it was amazing to me. The Church is seriously a wonderful place to learn of God and feel His infinite love. The temple in particular is such a perfect place to gain that witness and knowledge and also to feel the glory of God.

I forgot last week to tell Katie happy birthday and I know it's a little late now. But, even though I'm a few days late, I still want to say it and let you know, Katie, that I hope you had a great day and celebration. My companion's birthday was actually the same day, so we had a celebration for him. I think he's turned 25 now, so he's a little older than me, no problem though.

I hope Nick's teeth are doing well... try not to eat the ground again. I remember a quote that Carol told me and it goes something like this, "If you're not good to your teeth, you'll lose 'em." So, in your situation Nick, be careful and be nicer to your teeth or you'll lose 'em, haha. Congrats of making a part in the musical that you auditioned for. I've also had the chance to be a pirate and it's quite a fun thing to do.

Dan, Brad, and Chels, I'm still wondering how you guys are doing. Know that I'm thinking of you guys, especially the little kids named Emma and Jude. I can't wait to actually get to know them and hopefully, at least Emma, will remember who I am when I get back.

I wish I could've been there with all of you to watch General Conference, but hopefully, if we're lucky here, we'll get it on DVD from the Area Office within the next month or so. I'll be happy to finally watch it and hear it for myself. I already know that what they've said is true, but I want to feel the Spirit bear that witness to me. It's always enjoyable to hear from the leaders of the Church and learn the main messages that the Lord wants us to learn or remember. Most of the time we've already learned it and just need to be reminded that we knew it in the past. Tomorrow for District Mtg I and my companion will be instructing. I'll be instructing on foreordination and our agency, how God has foreordained us each to be here in His work and to play our own part in building His kingdom and because of His foreknowledge, He's trusting us to do our best and follow His commandments. It's all part of His perfect plan and though we have the choice to do either right or wrong, He's relying on us and is even ready to bless us, when we do what He asks, that is to choose the right. We know what we need to do and when we use our agency wisely we have a promise of His blessing. So, I'll expound on that a little bit, unless I feel otherwise within the next 12 hrs or so. I pray that the Spirit will help me teach the elders in my district something new, or at least, like I said, to remind them and refresh their memories.

I'm so thankful for you all and your support. Carol and Mom, thanks for the packages and I'll let you know when I receive them. I'm seriously so blessed to be related and know you guys and I'm so blessed to have the chance to serve here in Ghana. I'm happy to hear that we have over 52,000 missionaries in the world! Let the numbers continue to rise. The Lord is always in need of more servants and workers in His vineyard. We just need to always stay worthy and live according to His will and that's when we can be chosen to do a great work. All He asks of us is to follow the example of His Only Begotten Son, and do our very best to live as He did. The Lord is so gracious to all His children and will always want the best for them. He's always eager for us to repent and come again unto Him. I love you all so much and hope you all have a wonderful week. Stay safe and keep up the good work. I'll talk to you very soon!

- Elder Newbold