Gird Up Your Loins

In the days when men typically wore robes, the invitation to "gird up your loins" meant there was serious work to do and required that the robes be drawn up between the legs and tied off so they were out of the way of the work.  This is my version.

This week we held three zone conferences, sent missionaries to Liberia, trained 28 new trainers and spent two days at the Assin Foso Stake Conference.  Next week is a big transfer and another stake conference.  I'm girding.

We held our last three zone conferences.  The theme was working effectively with members. In this mission, seventy-nine percent of our success in bringing new members into the Church begins with a member relationship.   We talked about building a foundation of trust and love with the members through service and obedience.  We talked about expressing gratitude and showing how important their participation is by the way we treat the referrals they trust with us.  We also talked about partnering with the ward leadership through the development of a Ward Mission Plan.  If we get this right, we will see miracles.  I'm excited.  

PRASO ZONE CONFERENCE

ELMINA ZONE CONFERENCE

WINNEBA ZONE CONFERENCE

 MORE MISSIONARIES OFF TO LIBERIA

Elder Degen, Elder Wight and Elder Treadway

After the fufu and a testimony meeting, the stories started.  I think this one was about Elder Rowe and a pig.

So, we have now sent five of our experienced missionaries to re-start the work in Liberia.  Next week, we will welcome four new missionaries who are assigned to Liberia and who we will train for three months before they begin their labors there.

When all of the new missionaries arrive during this transfer, we will have over half of our companionships in training.  It is a little stressful now, but I can't wait to see this mission in about six months when they have all had a little experience.

THE TRAINERS

These Elders will complete their own training period on Tuesday and receive a new Elder to train on Wednesday.  

DATE NIGHT

Dinner at the new Capital Hill Hotel in Cape Coast

ASSIN FOSO STAKE CONFERENCE

CREATURE OF THE WEEK

Sister Stevenson saw this walking stick on the ground and said it was a bug.  I kicked it around a little and said, "No, its just a long piece of grass."  I went in to get ready for zone conference and a few minutes later she brought me an "I told you so" video of the grass walking.