Ghana Temple

Ghana Temple

Monday, April 19, 2021

Another Great Week!

Hello Everyone,

It's been 3 weeks....so I'll try to fill you in on what has been going on over here in Attiegou!

So, as you know, Elder Kazadi and I are still companions, and still in Attiegou. It has been good so far! They changed our district, but we are in the same zone. Before, the zones and stakes were not the same, so now I think that they are the same. Or, at least, they are closer to being the same.

Speaking of our stake, our Stake President came to the Attiegou Ward a week ago. Then, he also came yesterday. A week ago, the First Counselor in the Bishopric asked me to give a talk, about 5 minutes before sacrament meeting started. Five minutes isn't a lot of time to prepare a talk, let alone in French. I talked on Faith in Jesus Christ, and how we can grow our own faith, echoing President Nelson's last general conference address. It wasn't a super long talk, but I was still proud of myself for giving it in French! Also, after church, we went with the Stake President to visit a member, and he was asking me some questions, and I was answering him. Then, he asked how long I have been in Togo, and I told him about 3 months. Then, he said, "wow! Your French is really good! Did you study before the mission?'' I told him that I didn't, and then he told my companion ''congratulations, your companion speaks really good French'' That was an awesome experience, and an awesome confirmation that my French really is improving!

As for yesterday, the Stake President visited again. After church, he spoke to our ward council about developing a ward mission plan. We met for about an hour, and got some really good ideas, and i think that it will be  great plan. Also yesterday, on our walk home, the wind was blowing really hard, and it was overcast. We knew that a storm was coming, and about 30 minutes after arriving home, it started down pouring, and continued for about an hour or so.

As far as the work, things are going well. We have five people on date for baptism right now, all for May 1st. That day is a collective baptism, with our district. I'm excited for our friends, can't wait for their baptisms. 

That's about all that has been going on. It's still hot, and the work is still going smoothly.

I hope everyone has a great week!

Elder Orchard

 

We played soccer, and I got absolutely destroyed, it was embarrassing.

The view from our rooftop.

 

 

Tuesday, April 13, 2021

Transfer Week

Hello Everyone,

These past few weeks have been pretty good. I'll fill you in on a little that has happened.

Two weekends ago, our friends Ameli and Godwin entered the waters of baptism! I am so excited for them to start their journey on the covenant path. The day before, Friday, Elder Kazadi asked if I wanted to be John the Baptist again. I offered to let him do it, but he insisted that I do it again, so I did. The baptismal prayer in French is not that hard, I have that memorized, but the names are the hard part. Ameli Agbokakpe. I still don't know how to pronounce that. Also, something kind of funny, when we were filling out the baptismal forms, for address, it asks for the street, city, zip code, all of that. Well, because this is Africa, we just put Togo as the address haha.

As far as the past two weeks have gone, it's been pretty well. We have only found two people in the last 2 weeks, but we have been focusing a lot on the people we are teaching, and we've seen the fruits of our labors. We got permission to return to the ward building in Attiegou two weeks ago, so that's where we've been meeting. Before, we were meeting at the stake center in Kegue, and it made it kind of hard for our friends to come to church, because it was so far of a walk. Now, it makes it a lot easier, and we even got 5 people to sacrament yesterday, all for the first time. 

Transfer news came on Saturday morning, and we learned that Elder Kazadi and I will both be staying in Attiegou for another transfer. I was surprised, because this will be his 4th transfer here, and my 3rd. I'm sure that he will probably leave after this next transfer, and I'll stay again. So, I'll probably be in Attiegou for at least 4 transfers, or 6 months. I'm excited though.

Well, that's about it for the past 2 weeks. I hope everyone has a great week!

Elder Orchard


Having some fun with the members.

I wish we had this orange tree in our apartment!

Ameli and Godwin's baptism.



Finding a love for serving the Lord!

This past week we were able to do an exchange, and I worked with Elder Rogers' companion, Elder Kasongo. It was pretty fun. The guy talk...