Looking Forward to 2020

December 30, 2019 

Well I just sent an email just a couple days ago but I can give you a quick recap of what has happened since then. Honestly, being in Kasoa for the holidays has been really great because they know how to have fun here in this stake and ward! 

On Friday, we had a normal day of proselyting which was really great because before that the week was really busy with doing different things with members and missionaries so I was really excited to get back to work on this day and it was a great day of proselyting. We were able to find 3 new people to teach that day, one of them we have great hope for. He is a Nigerian who was taught by other missionaries before a couple times and then we were able to teach him again. He told us that he had prayed to know if the message was true before but never received an answer. Then we came to him and he said now I know what you guys teach I have to take it seriously because you have come around again. We then asked him if he has specifically asked God if Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and he said no. We then invited him to pray and ask specifically if Joseph Smith was truly a prophet of God. We also taught him more about the Book of Mormon and I really feel like he can progress. We are hoping he has the faith to get the answer! 

Saturday we had a stake party all day long from 9:00am - 6:30pm in the evening. It was truly a lot of fun with different games planned like volleyball, soccer, and other different little games that a lot of people got to participate in. There was also a bouncy house and swimming pool for the primary children. We also ate some food and overall it was a great time. The cool thing about it too was that 5 of the people that we are teaching came to the activity and had a lot of fun there and got to see that we know how to have fun too!! 

Sunday was kind of a frustrating day for me when a lot of our people that I was expecting to come to church did not make it and some of the recent converts that we have also did not come to church. As I was pondering on why this was happening and people were not fulfilling their commitments and recent converts not staying strong, I got a firm answer from the Holy Ghost that I just need to do better and re-teach them all of the lessons and then they will become stronger. 

What I know is that if we ask God direct questions he will give us direct answers. Sometimes we go through hard times in our lives and we just ask God to give us relief or to help us. But God wants us to ask him directly what we need help with and then he will help us. As we see in Ether 2:23, the brother of Jared, when he first asked God how he could receive light to travel across the ocean, God did not give him directly but asked him to figure out a way and then come back and ask again. The brother of Jared found a direct way and then asked God to light the stones so they could have light to travel across the ocean. From this he saw a miracle, even to see the finger of the Lord, all of this because he asked directly and had the faith that God would answer and fulfill his way. All of us should have the faith and ask God directly when we need his help. 

I am doing great out here and look forward to the new things to come in the year 2020!! This year is kind of a big year for me because it is the year I finish out my mission, start college, and start on a career path..... not to mention start dating again haha wow this year will be a great year and one to remember! Everyone start the new year right and put God first then everything else will fall into place!! 

Love you! 

-Elder Shirley 

Questions & Answers 

Q. What is the most beautiful gift you have received over Christmas week? 

A. The most beautiful gift that I think I received is the love from members here in this area. I really felt so much love from many of the families here that just take us in and provide for us because they know that what we are doing is so important. We were fed almost every day this week which is not too common in this part of the world. But I think between the 4 of us last week we spent less than 15 dollars on food which is crazy, that is including breakfast lunch and dinner. That was a big miracle that I noticed, as well as a gift. 

Q. Who has been a great example to you on your mission? 

A. There have been many great examples to me on my mission but most of the time the ones that stick out the most are the ones that I work the closest with. Those people being Elder Stapley, Elder Oldham, and Elder Burnett. Each of them really have shown me what dedicated focused missionary work is supposed to be like and I will be forever grateful for the example that they set for me. All of them are home now but they were all great missionaries. 

Q. Do you prefer serving in the bush or close to the city like you are now? 

A. I honestly like both of them, I just don’t like being deep in the city. This place is really nice because I can still buy things and people speak English but the bush was so nice, especially Asuom where I feel like I had a lot of success there. 

Q. What do you do to cope with the heat? 

A. Haha nothing, it is all a mindset, there is no way to run away or hide from it. You just deal with it and go through it. It honestly does not really bother me anymore it's just a normal thing. But I still remember that first day stepping off the airplane thinking oh boy, what have I gotten myself into. Now I soak it in and love every moment of it. I will love the snow though when I get back!! Haha!