The Work Is Exploding Right Now!

April 29, 2019

The power was out this week so Elder Shirley was unable to write an email to us, but we did get the opportunity to talk to him on the phone. Here are a few of the highlights of our phone conversation: 

· He states that “the work here is exploding right now!”

· Elder Shirley and his companion are continuing to teach the mother and sisters of a missionary from the area who is out serving her mission. The family was able to listen to some of the General Conference sessions this past week in their native language of Twi and really enjoyed it. They are all planning to be baptized in the next 3 or 4 weeks.

· They are teaching a couple of other investigators who will likely be baptized in a couple of weeks.

· A recent convert that was baptized within the past couple of months is planning to get married soon and she and her future husband are already looking forward to the day that they will be able to go to the temple. Elder Shirley talked about how gratifying it is to see the joy that has come into her life as a result of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

· Elder Shirley talked about how in the Ghanaian culture married couples and boyfriend/girlfriends never show any physical affection publicly. He says that you never seen anyone hold hands or kiss in public.

· Elder Shirley told us about the 15-year-old boy who accompanies them as a translator. He is very dedicated to helping them and right now, while he is on a month-long break from school, he is working with Elder Shirley and his companion all day, every day. As they spend their days together, they are able to buy him some food, which is greatly appreciated. Elder Shirley told us how most people can’t afford to eat more than about one meal per day and that the amount of money that people typically spend on a meal is about the equivalent of $0.40

· Elder Shirley shared his latest experience with “exotic food”. This past week he ate boiled snails. He stated that they “were nothing like the escargot that we ate on the cruise ship!” He wasn’t a big fan at all of this Ghanaian food!