Elder Osime is Gone

Hey Everyone!

How is everyone doing? I'm doing alright. I don't really feel like writing an update, but I figure that I'd better, since it's been a couple of weeks.

Well, I had Elder Osime as my companion, and things were going great. We were getting along, and having a really good time. Then, we learned about something that happened in the mission, and we knew that some emergency transfers were going to be happening soon. So, on Friday night, after working in our area, Elder Osime and I bought some things to make for dinner, and headed back to the apartment. After about 5 minutes, we recieved a call from the President of our mission. He was going to transfer Elder Osime, and give me a new companion. So, just like that, he left the next morning. It really stinks because we got along really well, and worked together really well. I've been in Attiegou for 4 transfers, so I figured that we'd only get one transfer together, but we didn't even get that.

Now, my new companion is Elder Koadio. He is from Ivory Coast, and he doesn't speak any English at all, which will be fun. We've only been companions for one full day, but things are going good so far. It will be nice to speak only French, to make sure I still remember it. With Elder Osime, it was all English, which probably didn't help.

As far as our area, it is doing well. We are preparing a couple differnet people for baptism, and will probably have about 4 more baptisms this trasfer. Keep our friends in your prayers, that they'll be able to progress well, and move towards baptism. 

Other than that, nothing much new to report. I'm doing well, and my sector is doing well. This week I'll hit 9 months on the mission. If i was a sister missionary, I'd be halfway done haha. However, I cherish that I still have 15 more months to serve the Lord here in Africa.

I hope everyone is doing well, and has a great week, and a great summer!!

Elder Orchard

Welcome to Attiegou!

Hello Everyone,

How has everything been? I hope all is well with everyone. Things have been pretty amazing this past week, so I'll fill you in on that.

First of all, transfers were this past week and I got a new companion! My new companion is Elder Osime. He is originally from Nigeria, but has grown up in the United States most of his life. He has about a year and a half on the mission, and he is an awesome missionary. Also, he's like 6'9''. I'm super excited to spend this transfer with him, working here in Attiegou.

So, I do have a pretty awesome missionary story from this past week. On Tuesday night, Elder Osime's first night here, we met with one of our friends. I was just introducing my new companion to some of our friends, and also asking them if they needed any kind of service. Usually they say no, and this friend in particular always says no, but Elder Osime convinced her to say yes. She eventually did say that she needed some help, so we came back the next day. When we came back, we weren't completely sure what we were going to be helping with, but we were ready to do anything. However, we were a little surprised when she said that she needed help to move some logs that were at her other house. We were guided there by her son, to a house not too far, but probably like 200 meters away. Also, we were in our proselyting clothes, so white shirts and ties. I started with a pretty big log, and it was easy at first, but the house was a lot farther than I thought. We continued doing this service for about an hour, and then helped their neighbors with some tree branches. It was really awesome to see how joyful they were after we offered our service. After this, our white shirts were just wrecked. The logs were pretty dirty, and they had tree sap all over them. However, it was awesome to offer our service, even if the stains won't come out of my shirt. It will make for an awesome souvenir.

Last night, we were at a members house, and we helped cook dinner. Elder Osime and I made a sauce, and pate. I tried helping, but every time I tried to do something, I did it wrong haha, and the member did it for us. I'm sure that I'll learn one day. Other than that, we are continuing to work hard in the sector, and inviting people to listen to our message. We had an awesome week this last week, and it has been awesome to work with Elder Osime. I can't wait for what happens this transfer.

I hope everyone has an awesome week, and I'll be sure to attach pictures down below!

Elder Orchard

Pictures:

- My shirt after Service 

- After service

- Elder Osime and I

- Some pictures of the sector

Baptisms!!

Hello Everyone!

It's been an awesome week! So many things have happened, so I'll try to fill you in. 

So, I'll start off with a little bit of a funny story. So, a couple of weeks ago we had Zone Conference. Well, before Zone Conference, I knew that I needed to get a haircut. I have clippers and some scissors, but I'm still too scared to do it myself. However, I was talking to the same guy that gives my companion his haircuts, and he said he could cut my hair. I asked if he knew how, about 100 times. He assured me that he did, and then I asked him if he had cut hair like mine before, and he said yes 3 times. Plus, it was only gonna be 1000 cfa, which is a little less than $2. So, I figured I'd try it. I get there, and I'm asking again, just making sure. I even pick up the scissors, and asked if he knew how to cut the top with them. Anyways, he starts on the sides and back, and is doing a really good job. Then, I see him change the guard on the clippers, and to my horror, he just goes right off the top. I didn't even say anything, it was too late. I just accepted it at that point haha. In the end, the only thing he used the scissors for was to cut some stray hairs. Overall, I don't think it looks too bad.

Anyways, I don't know how many of you saw this, but we had a collective baptism session this last Saturday! Elder Kazadi and I had four of our friends get baptized! Overall, between us, our district, and a couple other sets of missionaries, I'd say we baptized around 30 people in one day, which is insane. In fact, two Elders from our district had 12 people get baptized in one day. It wasn't all easy getting there though. The meeting was supposed to start at 2 PM, but because of some communication errors, and other things, we didn't even get there until about 2:30 PM. Also, when we got there, already late, only 2 of our friends were there. Thankfully, the other 2 showed up shortly after, and we were able to start the meeting. It was so awesome to see so many people get baptized!

Other than that, I have no real big news. We are in the last week of the transfer, and I wouldn't be surprised if Elder Kazadi gets transferred. He's been here for 4 transfers, about 6 months, and I've been here for about 2.5. I'm excited to see what happens.

Anyways, I hope everyone has a great week!

Elder Orchard 

- pictures from the baptisms

- some pictures of our area

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.

 

 

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.

Scrab the Beetle

Bonjour!

This has been quite the week.

First of all, on Tuesday we had District Council. Our district changed a little bit a couple of weeks ago, with the addition of Elder Osime, and his trainee. His trainee is coming straight from Online MTC, so he didn't get a reassignment or anything, which is crazy to think about, with almost everyone in the past year getting reassigned. However, I have heard of a lot more places opening up, which is good! The Zone Leaders came down to join us for district council, which was good. They shared some training, which is always good.

On Wednesday night, we found out that the next day we would be having a conference with Elder Martinez, the President of the Africa West Area, and his counselor, Elder Kacher, of the Seventy. Apparently, Elder Martinez was just flying through Togo, and had a long layover, and decided that he would call a last minute conference. He shared his conversion story, and how the power of the Holy Ghost impacted it. It was a really great teaching, and I got a lot out of it. Mostly because Elder Martinez doesn't speak French, so he gave it in English, and a translator provided the French haha. So, I definitely understood the English. Then, Elder Kacher, who speaks French, gave a teaching/question and answer, mostly about the importance of following rules.

Some good news this week, we got two people on date for baptism for next weekend! One of them is Godwin, who is Djo's son, the man we baptized about a month ago. When we asked the question, on Wednesday, of when he wanted to be baptized, he responded ''um, Thursday?'' So, I would say that he's pretty excited to be baptized. The other is Amasi, who is pretty elect, to say the least. She came to church last week, by herself. Then, when we taught her on Wednesday, for the first time, we put her one date to be baptized. She is super receptive, and I can tell that she really believes, and wants to be baptized.

Nothing too crazy happened this week, except something yesterday. So, when it was about time to leave for church, it started raining. I thought, ''no big deal, I'll just grab my umbrella.'' Welp, turns out I left that in North Carolina. I did have my rain jacket, but that didn't really help. We walked for 30 minutes in the rain to church, and by the time we got there, we were soaked. However, when church started, the rain stopped. But then, right as church was coming to an end, it started raining again. So, we walked back home for another 30 minutes in the rain. Fun times. I guess we are starting to enter the raining season here, so I'm guessing that will happen more often.

That's about it for me for this week. Hope everyone has a great week. Oh, and I actually have pictures this week!

Elder Orchard

 

 This is the edge of our area haha

 

My friend Scrab, the beetle

 

Elder Kazadi and I

 

 

6 Months and My Birthday!

Hello Everyone!

So, this was a pretty monumental week for me. First of all, last Tuesday, the 2nd, I officially hit 6 months on my mission. Only 18 left. Also, yesterday was my birthday! I turned 19, but I'm sure you could have guessed, it was like any normal day. My parents said that they'll bake me two cakes when I get back, for the two birthdays I'll have on my mission, so I've got that to look forward to haha!

It's been two weeks since I've updated you guys, but not too much has happened. A couple of weeks ago, I went on an exchange with one our zone leaders, who is American. It was awesome. He told me before the exchange that we were going to try to speak only in French, but that definitely didn't happen haha. We spoke in English the whole time, and that was nice. It was also nice to learn from someone that has been in the same situation that I'm in, and he was able to give me some great advice, in terms of learning French, and everything else.

Also, last week we had zone conference again. For zone conference, we had two elders staying with us, just for one night, because they're too far away to make the trip in the morning. They are the same Elders who stayed with us for last zone conference, so it was nice catching up with them. Zone conference was pretty good too. I didn't understand a ton of it, but I actually understood a lot more this time than I did last time! It was also nice to catch up with all the Elders that came in the same time as me, and see how they are doing. Also, they fed us lunch, and that was pretty good too haha.

As far as the people we are teaching, they are doing ok. We have a lot of people we are teaching, but not a lot that are progressing. Nobody wants to come to church for some reason. We did have a couple at church yesterday, so that was good. One of them is a younger girl, and she asked me yesterday ''When is your birthday?'' and I said ''umm, today'' and she didn't believe me because usually when you ask someone when their birthday is, they don't say today haha. 

Other than that, things are pretty normal. Sorry, I don't have any crazy stories from Africa this time, maybe next time. I hope everyone has a great day and a great week!

Elder Orchard

 

 

 

 

 Here is a picture of our apartment, from the front. Its pretty big haha

 

This was my birthday present this year. I'm starting to stock up the African style ties.

 

 Here is a screenshot of me getting to talk to my family on my birthday!

 

 When the other elders stayed at our apartment, we visited Sr. Aimee, and she wanted to arm wrestle lol