My
feelings towards the mission have changed a lot. It's something that I realized
was happening just this week actually. Instead of getting upset about the heat, forgetting to
get food, low money or anything about home, I find myself getting more
disturbed at investigators not coming to church, failed contacting, or lessons
with stubborn people. In other words, I'm more concerned about the work now
than other matters. It's a big change and it feels so good! The timing for what
happened at church yesterday couldn't have been better. The branch presidency
decided to show a video about how the church came to Ghana. It made me realize
just how new the church in Ghana is, especially in the areas I've served. These
people are true pioneers and it makes me feel good to be a part of it. I've
seen incredible people and have had many experiences.
Overall things aren't
bad over here. As far as the work is concerned... well I'm not quite sure.
New opportunities and new obstacles. This is also the last week of the transfer
so news will come Saturday evening. We are planning on having 3 baptisms this
upcoming Sunday and I'm so happy! I know that those are more rare in other
missions, but it's been a while since we've had one.
I know that you are
always praying for me and my investigators and I appreciate that so much.
Remember that in missionary work I only ever do about 25% of the work. The rest
belongs to the investigators and the Lord. Surely the Lord will do his part,
but my investigators need prayers in their behalf. Some have willing hearts but
frightened spirits due to family issues etc.. Pray for them please.
Alright let me take a look at your e-mails and
see what questions I can answer:
I never actually know the temperature
here but.. well, it's hot. The humidity is high too being how this is still
rainy season. I got wet again yesterday. The good part is that if lights are
out and there's no running water for bathing, we can always take a rain bath! I
also have made progress with my fat belly! I'm so proud of myself. Give it a
year and I'll come back with armor made of skin! If you want an idea of weather
just go into mom & dad's bathroom, shut the door and windows and turn the
shower on as hot as it goes. Just sit on the ground for awhile and do it
wearing your church clothes.
-Elder Silva
A few excepts from Elder
Silva’s journal- (A request from his mother)
12-24-14
So Christmas Eve was not all that good for me. I woke up in
the middle of the night feeling like I was on fire. I didn't get much sleep. In
the morning we went out for proselyting and had a difficult lesson with an
investigator. After that I told my companion, Elder Okutu, that I needed to go
home. We went back and I layed on my bed feeling terrible. He made me a banana
chocolate shake, which I normally love, but I could barely drink it. I've never
had one since that day. We went out in the evening for midweek, because we
really needed to teach an investigator there. It was a long midweek and the
investigator never showed. I had to wait longer for Brother Bright to finish
with the young single adults so he could take me to his house to e-mail you guys
about the Christmas Skype. There's not much to say since most of the day was
spent in bed. Possible Malaria?
12-25-14
This morning was much better. I was still a bit achy, but my
fever was gone. I made some kind of french toast and I wolfed it all down. I didn't
really eat anything the day before, so I was starving that morning. The day
consisted of going out mostly to recent converts and having a lot of food.
Mostly fufu. I could barely contain it all. Man everyone wanted to feed us. We
chatted with them for awhile and shared stories. It was nice. Towards the evening
we saw the same investigator from the
day before. We just had a nice chat and she ended up feeding us too...(I nearly
died). The deal with food here is that if someone sets the food before you, you
MUST eat everything, otherwise they'll feel bad. I ended up getting to Brother
Bright's house in the evening and after some technical issues that I solved
with my massive brain :/, I was finally able to Skype the family and Chazz. (Austin's
cousin) I recorded how awesome it was including how fun it was to see Chazz. I
also said that Duke (pet cat) was getting fat and I blame that on the family; particularly Brooke. The thing about Christmas is that it's not celebrated here
at all like it is at home. Just a regular day with a special church program, good food and a few cheap fireworks. It was
nice for me though and I'm starting to miss some of my Obuasi converts just
thinking about it.
No it's not an earthquake,
it's soldier ants. These things will tear you apart.
The Barnies. The medical
couple. I love these people.
These are what dragonflies
look like when they're waiting for wings. Kinda cool eh?
Me and "Hyena boy" at the
district conference (The Elder is originally from a different part of Africa
that has Hyenas).
The scary bridge to "Zion" (the name of this area). It gets flooded over sometimes so we have to be careful
when crossing.