WHY --- WHY EVEN GO?

Elder David A. Bednar said recently…..“Why would an 18, 19, 20 year old young man or young woman leave home, go around the world someplace where they are assigned to go…..learn a new language…..at their own expense…..to share the message that Jesus Christ lives and He loves each and everyone of God’s children here on Earth?  They do this because they love this message”.   They know how important it is in their own lives….and all they want to do is share it with the people they meet.  I’ve said this many times before…..but I love these young people and every other young person, both past and present, that have given their time and talent and all that they have to give up 18-24 months of their lives to go on a mission.  Living here in Ghana and being around them and seeing what they do, the sacrifices they go through, the people they teach, and the lives they touch continues to be an inspiration to me.  I continue to relive my own mission of over 50 years ago up in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  Things were very different there (for one thing it was cold…..very, very cold), but the basic life of what missionaries do was the same. All we want to do is bring “others unto Christ” and share with them the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.....He did say, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations.....teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world". Matthew 28:19-20.

The mission experience for these young people requires them to rely upon the Lord daily.  They simply cannot do it without His help. Think about that for a moment?  Every day, in order to survive as a missionary, you rely upon the Lord and call on Him in constant prayer.  They go forward with the faith needed to do the things they do, to meet the people they meet, to teach the people they teach.  They are becoming true disciples of Christ…..by recognizing their absolute dependence on the Lord.  It says in the Doctrine and Covenants, “Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work.  And out of small things proceedeth that which is great”. 

We held three Multi-Zone Conferences this week.  I post a few pictures of the missionaries we saw…..all 174 missionaries in a 4-day period of time.  It was exhausting, but so wonderful.  Exhausting mostly because of the travel and setting up and the feeding of each of them.  The messages from our Mission Leaders were inspiring and the AP’s and Zone Leaders do such a great job in teaching and providing guidance on how to be more effective missionaries.  The part I love.....and is so much fun to observe.....is the “seasoned” missionaries teaching the younger ones because they have been where the young ones are now..... and they now can teach by experience.  They have been taught how to rely upon the Lord, and they are now passing on their “wisdom and experience” to the newer missionaries.  Think about that….a 19–20-year-old with “wisdom and experience”.  One would not think that would be possible.  I love this work.  I love this Church.  I love what it does to me and how it makes me feel.....and to see what it is doing to others. I love how it causes me to reflect on my own life and that it is trying to make me become a better person. The Lord is in charge.  This is His work.  I know that to be true and that is what I wanted to share with you this week after a very busy.... but rewarding week here in Ghana.

Elder McCarthy.....one of the big guys from the Islands of the Sea. Great missionary..... a gentle giant of a man with a great smile.

Sister Fandresebtsoa.....from Madagascar.

Asking me some questions about why they don't have more money in their bank accounts.....Sister Auma and Sister Sammy.

Elder Tshuma.....another great, big, beautiful smile.....showing off the Christmas tie he got.

This is Matilda.....she prepares the lunches for Zone Conferences and is the seamstress of many of the dresses the Sister missionaries have. She has made Jill three dresses now.

The beginning of the Zone Conference for the Kaneshie and Kasoa Zones.

This was an activity where they each had 3 minutes to tell their story to the person across the table.

Lunch time..... they love the food as they do not get to eat like this where they live.

Elder Manakofua.....He is even bigger than Elder McCarthy. I thought this was a picture worth taking to see the difference in size. He is also a loving, gentle soul and I think he could take on a Bear, if he had to, without any problem.

Elder and Sister Kaaen having a good laugh with Jill.

Matching dresses, a guitar, and everyone liking to have their picture taken.

Still going strong.....and We even still like each other.

Jill likes boys....she always has and raised 5 of her own. She likes mingling with these missionaries and you can see from the video..... they also like talking to her.

She probably won't like this picture.....but she is right in the middle of all the action. We like to learn each of their own stories.....they are amazing. We like to learn how they came to know about the church, why they decided to become members, and even go on missions.

I get my Truck washed every week at the Mission Office, but today I wanted it "power-washed" at a place to see what that was like. He crawled into the back of the Cab and washed and wiped it down.....spent a long time on the tires. He did a great job for $10.

Just driving down the highway.....and saw this group of "skinny" cows crossing the road.

THE THINGS WE SEE !!!

I don't think they were happy to have their picture taken.....but I liked it as we see this everyday.

Elder David A. Bednar, an Apostle and Member of the Quorum of the Twelve

Why do young men and women go on Missions?