May 30, 2011

So what’s up everyone?

Sorry no letter last week! I haven’t been too good at writing so forgive me for my weakness.  I hope to do better. So it sounds like you have been getting some rain back home. Yes, we have been getting some rain here to lately and it should rain more soon.

This week we had a good week. I can’t believe that May is over and now we have started committing people for baptism in JULY. ha-ha! Time is going so fast. We found a lot of sweet families that I am excited to work with. This week we had four people come to church which was sweet! Things have been crazy around here and they haven’t been easy either. This week in my studies I have been reading Alma 8 and Helaman 13 in the Book of Mormon.  Both of these chapters talk about missionary work and some how they have been talking directly to me these past couple of weeks. In Alma 8, Alma is teaching the people in Ammonihah and verse 13

Now when the people had said this, and withstood all his words, and reviled him, and spit upon him, and caused that he should be cast out of their city, he departed thence and took his journey towards the city which was called Aaron.

Well, I haven’t been cast out of any cities yet, but I have been cast out of some compounds and homes.

14 And it came to pass that while he was journeying thither, being weighed down with sorrow, wading through much tribulation and anguish of soul, because of the wickedness of the people who were in the city of Ammonihah, it came to pass while Alma was thus weighed down with sorrow, behold an angel of the Lord appeared unto him, saying: 

15 Blessed art thou, Alma; therefore, lift up thy head and rejoice, for thou hast great cause to rejoice; for thou hast been faithful in keeping the commandments of God from the time which thou receivedst thy first message from him. Behold, I am he that delivered it unto you.

16 And behold, I am sent to command thee that thou return to the city of Ammonihah, and preach again unto the people of the city; yea, preach unto them. Yea, say unto them, except they repent the Lord God will destroy them.

But because Alma went back he found some one that was prepared to receive him.

In Helaman 13 verse 2 Samuel the Lamanite was also rejected and cast out “and it came to pass that he did preach many days repentance unto the people and they did cast him out and he was about to return to his own land but behold the voice of the lord came unto him that he should return again and prophesy unto the people whatsoever things should come into his heart.

In both of these stories the missionaries went to the people and tried to teach them the gospel but were rejected by them and cast out.  My companion and I have had similar experiences where we have been cast out of some homes and compounds but later we felt that we should return and the Lord has blessed us with people to teach. Each time we go back to a place where we have been cast out we always find someone new to teach. It is amazing how the Lord works for us.

This week we really found some sweet people that should be fun to work with. On Sunday we had this random guy just come to church.  So I pulled him aside and did the missionary thing and asked him why he chose to come to our church today.  He said that he had had a dream and that he needed Christ in his life and when he saw the black sign out front that said “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints he felt like he was in the right place.  I just said okay you’re in the right place follow and I will show you were to go. (In my mind I said yes okay the baptismal font is right over here. What size of white clothes do you need?)

Mission life is so sweet! June is looking good. I can’t believe that it is summer for you guys! I hope you all have a sweet one. Maybe you will get some sun!

Love Elder Berry

May 16, 2011 Happy Birthday Miriah Mae

Hi everyone

I have been in this area for about 9 weeks now, and I will be here with my companion Elder Wallenzien for at least another six weeks.  We have had our ups and downs since we have been here.  We have met and taught well over 100 people and we have helped many of them feel the spirit and we have also helped many others feel the spirit of contention and anger.  My companion and I have mostly good weeks until Sunday comes around and then it’s like everyone that says they’ll be to church don’t come.  This week we both had faith that people would come to church. We had a dozen or more people say "yes, we are coming don’t worry".  Then Sunday morning rolls around and we have a dozen or so no shows.  So my companion and I decide to go pick some people up and drag them to church but instead the people ran from us.

Nephi tells us that "I know that the words of truth are hard against all uncleanness but the righteous fear them not, for they love the truth" 2 Nephi 9:40. It seems that even today the word of God is just too hard for some people.  However, some days I wonder if it has more to do with our faith.  Either 12:18 talks about faith "wherefore they first believed in the son of god"

Ever since I was a young boy I learned that faith is the first principle of the gospel and that we need to believe that Jesus Christ is our Savior.  That seems like a pretty simple thing to do until our faith in God gets challenged by “hard things". My companion and I get pretty discouraged after we work hard all week and on Sunday we have nothing to show for it.  The only comfort we get is through the scriptures when we read about the Saviors life when he was upon the earth.  He faced many difficult challenges and many people rejected him and even though He was rejected by so many he still suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane for those very people.  Then he allowed himself to be taken, beaten, spit upon, stripped of his clothing and then nailed to a cross in behalf of the very people that rejected him in life. I might be wrong but I don’t think that was very easy thing to do.

Ether 12:27 tells us that " if men come unto me I will show them their weakness, I give unto men weakness that they may be humble" God has given us all weaknesses that we may be humble, things are not meant to be easy but " my grace is sufficient for ALL men that humble themselves before me, for if they humble themselves before me, and have FAITH in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them. "I know that people are not perfect (some times I wish they were) but I know that when we humble ourselves before him, he will help us find a way to keep his commandments. "I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them”.

Faith is the first principle of the gospel for a reason. As we have faith we hope for a better world, which should motivate us to keep the commandments and serve Him, and as we believe in him, he will help us to do what is right!
Now I just need to find some way to help people see that the commandments that God has given us and baptism is a way to a better life. I guess is what I need to do is have a little more faith, and try a little harder! I know that God is on my side and that everything will work out!  Thanks for listening.

Family I love you! Miriah happy birthday big girl, I love you! Mother happy birthday tomorrow! I love you more then anything thanks for everything, you are the best!

Love bbear

May 2, 2011

Hi Everyone,

So this week was good, but our way correct investigator, who should be baptized in one week, is traveling to London this Friday for a month. He told us he loves the church and is going to look it up in London and find the missionaries. (Well happy birthday to those missionaries!)  Michel will probably be baptized there; I don’t think the London missionaries will pass this guy up.  He is very correct and prepared to be a member.

We are working with a lot of other people and trying to get them ready to become members, as we missionaries do. We are still working with Emmanuel, but he has a job that we are trying to work around. He is also a very correct man. He knows the church is true because there is someone working on him from the other side of the veil.  (Elder Garret)  It’s just a matter of time before he becomes a member.  We just got to get him to church 3 times and he will be good for baptism.

The rain is starting to fall little by little.  It’s rained here twice really hard, so since we haven’t had running water now for a while we took advantage of the rain and took a nice bath.  The rain was pretty cold, but sometimes you got to experience life in different ways a little bit. 

Yesterday we got to watch General Conference, but we only got to watch the Saturday afternoon, and Sunday sessions. It was nice to watch but between being worried about the people who came to church, and taking care of missionary business I really didn’t get a chance to focus on the talks, but it was all good.

Mom if you don’t already have a picture of a temple up in every room, maybe you could put up a picture of the Ghana temple some where. 

It is the start of a new month and we have high hopes for this month.  My companion and I are praying that everything goes well. We are still working with Peggi and Enuise.   Peggi loves the church but she is still having a hard time with word of wisdom, so some day she will be a member, but I will probably have left this area by then. Enuise should be baptized this month, along with the kids we meet two week ago, Brudu, Issac, Eric, and another Emmanuel.

I can’t wait to get the conference talks in the book thing. I want to read them all. I don’t think I have ever been more excited for conference.  Yesterday I was just worried about our people and if they were going to like it because most of the members think it is boring.

Today we had a party for May Day and we played some ball.  Man it felt good to play again! I wish that we had a court on the inside of the church so I could use it in the mornings. Everything is good though, the grass is always green in Ghana and life is good. I can’t wait to talk to the family on Mothers Day.  Hopefully I won’t talk to weird for you this time.

Love you guys,

Elder Berry

April 25, 2011 - Pictures

Hi

Well so I typed this huge email and something happened so I am trying to hurry and kind of summarize everything. This past Friday the day started out hot, hot and did I say hot. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky all day until around 5 pm when all of a sudden these dark clouds just came from nowhere. My companion and I were in the middle of a lesson when we saw the clouds coming, so we hurried the lesson, said a quick prayer and booked it to our house. Within 10 minutes it was pouring rain harder than I have ever seen since I have been here.  We rode in the rain for like 5 miles before we got to the street we live on.  The streets were flooded and all the cars were stopped and people didn’t know where to go, so we had to pick up our bikes and walk through a foot of water to get home. Ha-ha! It was the craziest thing ever! I uploaded a picture that I took of us in the rain when we got back to our home.

We went swimming... Well we just road da bikes in the rain.

This week was Easter and in Ghana it is a big deal. It started on Friday and every one was drinking and partying and doing their thing.  This week we are finally getting to watch General Conference on Saturday and Sunday. Ha-ha! It has been too long since the last General Conference. Everything here is going well the work is moving and we are all still alive!

Love Elder Berry

 Da Bath House

did some work! In side of a home. i am in the front room, and the bed room is behind me.

 Dinner! yumm

 Elder Wardle and Elder Larsen! Last night in Nungua

JD pizza 

 Florence. she feed us like everyday in Nungua

Go for MORE!

 

Posts from Missionary Mom Site

The Elders were picked up on Saturday. Elder Keeng's mission was complete last November, so he went home to Botswania. Elder Omale, from Nigeria, was sent to Seirra Leone. Apparently he has requested to extend his mission by 10 months so that he could serve 24 months as an active missionary. Whether that is extended or not, the faith of these two young men is inspirational.

Barbara Farnes
MM-Elder Farnes Ghana, Accra

Hi Moms
In my sons email Monday, he said he was able to speak to Elder Omale before he
left for Sierra Leone.  My son was Elder Omale's MTC Companion, and they became
best friends, so Sister Smith let Elder Omale call Elder Taylor before leaving.
Elder Taylor said he was in good spirits, but he had a message to leave
everyone.  He said "Tell everyone to be obediant to the commandments of God, and
listen to the spirit. Those two things will save us all." He said Elder Keeng
went home, honorably.He also wanted to thank everyone for their prayers and
fasting done in their behalf.. I just wanted to pass the message on to everyone!
You all are wonderful sisters, this website has helped me so much.  I was in
Shopko when i recieved the email about the Elders release, and i broke down in
tears, and went out to my car and prayed in thanks to my Heavenly Father.
Becky Taylor
mm Elder David Taylor
Ghana Accra Mission
10/09-10/11
Ogden, Utah

April 18, 2011

Hi everyone,    

This past Tuesday we went to the temple and had a great time. It’s been way to long since I have been to the temple.  I feel that we are blessed here in Ghana to be able to go to the temple because there are some missionaries that don’t get to go at all during their missions. It was a great time for me to be able to look back on the past few months of my mission and evaluate the way I have been working and the things that I have been able to accomplish and to look forward to the things that I want to accomplish in the next couple of months ahead of me.

This week after many months in prison, the judge finally let the two Elders go.  Elder Keeng finished his mission about five months ago while in jail, and Elder Omale has been reassigned to finish his mission in another country.  I don’t know too much about it, but everything is well with them. Every one in our ward is very happy to have them out. Some of the members in the ward went to the hearing to support the two Elders. I don’t think that I told you guys but I am serving in the area that Elder Omale was in.

This week in our apartment we have either had NO water or NO power. Ha ha it hasn’t been easy. At the first of the week we had to fetch water to bath, and then the past couple of nights we haven’t had power. Last night under the light of a candle while it poured rain outside, we ate cheese cake that my mother sent to me.

As you can tell by reading this poorly written letter that I am very distracted.  I have been trying to upload some pictures. Hopefully you will enjoy these pictures as being part of my letter today.  Remember that pictures are worth 1000 words.

I have been doing well. I haven’t gotten sick but I do have a head ache right now that is not helping the case of me writing a good letter. Mom thanks for everything that you have sent me and the companion and the other two elders.  We all enjoyed the Oreo pie.  I have uploaded some pictures to picasa. I will send the link to mom. Thanks everyone! Love you all so much!

Love Elder Berry



https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=108728305357677389570&target=ALBUM&id=5596943524521143425&authkey=Gv1sRgCJzj46Thmo6QxAE&feat=email

                                             

Michelle Nielsen posted on the Missionary Mom Site

This is what my son wrote on Monday.

As far as the Elders in prison apparently the hearing which was not going to
be postponed at all costs has been postponed 2x since I last heard. I think
the next attempt is on Thursday this week but we're all losing hope in this
system.....especially as they postpone every hearing attempt. President was
pretty devastated about it and I think Elder Keeng probably
noticed......President privied us to a message Elder Keeng had sent
President over the phone and it was really quite nice. I can't remember the
exact things he said but it was like "nothing can frustrate the works of
God......his promises and blessings will be realized in just a few days
time.....Love ya President, --Elder Keeng"
That was just a slice of the message but I can't remember what else was said
but Elder Keeng sure has a lot of faith.....He's a great guy.....he was
among my 1st ZL's and I also went on splits with him for a brief hour or two
as I remember. I really liked the him. Well let's keep on praying for them
and hope for the best.

Michelle Nielsen
Santa Clara UT

April 11, 2011 Harvesting Seeds

Hi Everyone,

Well this week was a special week to me. Not because we taught over 30 lessons or had 12 new investigators or because 2 people came to church.  No, not even because we had a baptism (which we didn’t have). This week was special because every thing went wrong.

We started off the week with my companion getting his bike stolen so we and had to WALK every where. (I’ve never been so tired!) Our water has been off like everyday, so we have been taking crappy bucket showers (I’ve never been so annoyed!) The two guys Isaac and Cliff that we were planning to baptize this month didn’t come to church. (I’ve never been so sad!) Then Friday EVERY where we went to shop for lunch, we were given this crappy "white man price". We walked up and down every street trying to find something good to eat for a normal price. (I’ve never been so angry!)

At the time I didn’t know why we chose this particular crappy plain rice place to eat, but when I was standing in line I got talking to this man named Emmanuel. He told me he was once a member of the church but that he had stopped going to church because he started school and moved away and lost contacted with his GOOD missionary friend. I was way excited to have met this guy. He seemed way correct and I wanted to see if we could re-activate him.  I talked to him a little while longer and then it donned on me that this guy had never been baptized. He just thought he was a member because he went to church a few times.

So I continued to ask him questions just trying to get to know him like when were you taught by the missionaries, and about his family situation and stuff like that. Emmanuel didn’t have much to say to my questions, but he just kept talking about his missionary friend that was so good to him.  He said that this missionary treated him like he was a KING! Then he told me that he wanted us to teach him so he could be a member again!!!  He said it had been at least 7 years since he had last been taught the gospel.  After about 10 minutes of talking to this guy about this Elder he asked me where I was from. I said Utah; he said “no way” that is where his Elder friend was from.  So out of curiosity I asked him who the Elder was he said his name was Elder Garrett. (I’VE NEVER BEEN SO HAPPY!!!) I like almost started to cry when he told me that.  I told him that I knew the Garrett family and that Elder Garrett’s little sister was in my class. I told him what a great family they are and how blessed he was to have been taught by Elder Garrett.  I could tell what a great missionary Elder Garrett was by the things that this man had to say about him.  He praised him like Elder Garrett was his big brother or something.

I know it wasn’t by chance that we went to that crappy rice place.  I feel there is a reason and I hope it is to harvest the seed that Elder Aaron Garrett planted years ago in Emmanuel.  I’m not sure if Emmanuel lives in my area, but I’m going to make sure that he is taught by the missionaries and is baptized.  It is time for him to join the church! 

So everything is going well.  It has been somewhat of an up and down week.  I was able to get a picture with Emmanuel and I will be sending home soon. Thanks for everything! Sorry not much to say this time. 

Love you all! 

Elder Berry

Email Barbara Farnes sent to the Missionary Mom Site

While we are all trying to be patient in this waiting, I thought I would share just a little more of the story of Elder Keeng and Elder Omale, as I understand it. I spoke with the father of one of the Elders which was serving with one of these elders when this all happened. Elder Keeng, from Botswana and Elder Omale from Nigeria, were each serving with American companions. One night, the police came to accuse the two African elders and ended up beating them badly. They were taken to a foul smelling, dirty jail. They were accused of "defilement" of a 15 year old girl.  The church’s lawyer felt that they were trumped up charges and thought that they would be released. The mission President has declared that they are innocent of the charge. They went through the court system and in August were found guilty and sentenced; one to 7 years and one to 10 years. According to several missionary blogs, they have been leading daily devotionals in prison since that time. Several missionaries have mentioned that President Smith feels buoyed up by them when he goes to visit.

In February, the Accra missionaries got word that Elder Dallin H. Oaks was in Nigeria and he was going to come and meet with many of the Accra missionaries on Tuesday Feb. 22. Unfortunately, the missionaries who live far away were unable to go to this meeting.

Here is a section of my son’s letter as he describes the meeting with Elder Oaks;

    Feb. 28, 2011
Tuesday: so Dallin H Oaks, can I say more... So we make it to the meeting and get to our seats. Then we all get up and walk outside in a line. He walked into the building and then we followed by shaking his hand. When we walked back into the room you could feel the spirit. It was really cool. So we sit and Pres Smith gives a testimony and Pres. Cardon, the area authority gave a testimony as well with their wife’s. That started it really good. Then Elder Oaks wife, and then to Dallin H Oaks. So he spoke to us. He taught us that we need to use our time better, and that we need to keep records better. Then he said, “I want to address a problem we have in this mission” (so I said, oh no, in my heart, like what are we doing wrong? I didn’t think anything was going on in the mission.) But then he said he wanted to talk about the elders in jail. He said that we need to have faith and that he is going to say a prayer for them from the pulpit. So we bowed our head and the spirit filled the room. I never felt or heard such a prayer with such power and such directness. He basically said that they judged them unrighteous, and that we know that the Lord has the power to bring down prison walls. And he talked about how Moses brought his children from Egypt.. And the last thing he said is.. You ready for this.. He said “LET MY PEOPLE GO”. It was nuts and a lot were crying. So following that day they had a court case. And the final judgment will be made on the 31 of March. I feel they will get out. So keep them in your prayers ... it’s something that has to be done.

I know that this experience has been a difficult and growing experience for our sons. I’m so grateful that we have faithful families supporting our missionaries from all over the world. Often, as I have prayed for Elder Keeng and Elder Omale, I have felt a connection with saints from everywhere. I have appreciated more the prayer said for missionaries each time we attend the temple. This is the Church of Jesus Christ and I know that He leads us. I am so grateful to have his leaders at the head of our church.

BarbaraFarnes 

April 4, 2011

Greetings from Ghana

This last week, on Monday night, we went to have family night with my old companion (Elder Farnes) and some of his converts that he baptized.  We took one of our investigators named Hisha. So during the family night it was just like any other family night, we sang a hymn, said a prayer, and the missionaries gave the lesson. We had a nice lesson on the importance of families and how the best way to learn the gospel is in the home. Remember that in Ghana the best way to get education is to send your kids away to boarding school.  So parents usually send there kids off to school like at 13 years old. So we taught them the importance of staying together as a family in order to fight the battle TOGETHER. Every one seemed to understand and it helped Hisha understand the importance of a good family. (Hisha is not married and has one child by herself.)

After the lesson I was called on to give my favorite hymn for the closing song. My mind went to some of my favorite hymns like hymn 2, or 85. But when I opened my hymn book it opened right to hymn number 294.  When I read the title it was like something stuck me right in the heart. I suddenly felt like the lesson we just taught wasn’t good enough unless we sang the hymn I just opened to. If you don’t know hymn 249 is "Love at Home".  There was a spirit there that night that was stronger than I have ever felt.  As I reflected on how blessed I have been with such an Amazing family! I knew that I wasn’t the only one that felt that way, because when we sang the 3rd verse, Sista Evealind began to cry when we sang "oh there is one who smiles on high, when there is love at home". Nothing is truer then what this hymn taught each of us that night. It was then that I realized how important families are! Mom sorry it took me 19 1/2 years to see that.

Well on the other hand, we are teaching this boy named Cliff Black who is19. Cliff came to church this Sunday and after church he told me that the church is true and he wants to join us. But for Cliff he has nothing. He doesn’t have a family to go home to every night. He doesn’t even have a home. He works at an old car body shop where he sleeps on a card board box in the shop. The man he works for doesn’t pay him much, if at all. Some nights when we go to teach him he is not there because he is out trying to find something to eat. To my surprise Cliff is one of the only people here that hasn’t asked me for money or told me to take them to live in America. But he is one of the most correct people I have taught! Ever since we have given him the Book of Mormon we don’t even teach lessons any more we just go over to explain what he has read and to help him understand what is going on. If everything goes well we will be baptizing him on the 30 of this month!

Isaac is a man about 52 who also come to church. We have been working with him for a while now. He has had a problem with the word of wisdom (like half of Ghana) but he hasn’t drank for a while, and he is progressing. So hopefully everything goes well with him, and he can be baptized at the end of the month.

I love my family! Best family around! I miss you guys! I hope everyone took the opportunity to listen to conference. I will get to in about a month when we get the DVD version. Ha! Ha! We are a little behind the times here.

Love you all,

Elder Berry

March 28, 2011 The Glass Half Full

Hi Everyone!

Well it is funny how my family just got the same lesson from the home teachers yesterday as I did. But yesterday in church we had a lesson on “why we need to look at the glass being half full, instead of half empty. I guess there was a talk or section in the new Liahona that talked about how we should look at things. When we get the new one, I can’t wait to read what the apostles have to say about the subject.

The past couple of weeks I have had what seems like major challenges to me but really SMALL problems/trails with my skin, and eyes among other things. Yes I felt like I was suffering and I wondered why all these things were happening to me. (I was looking at the cup half empty) But then I realized that there is so much in my cup that I should be thankful for.  I have no reason but to rejoice for everything that the lord has done for me. In Alma 56:47 says "now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not DOUBT, god would deliver them."

The stripping sons (I feel) had much more reason then I do to have look at the cup half empty.  Again, they “were marching in to war to battle, and they had never fought or were even trained in such an activity, putting their lives on the line for their families but they did not fear, and didn’t doubt that the Lord would deliver them.

In the D&C 6:36 the Lord commands us to “look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not”. Just by being a member of the church of Jesus Christ there is already more in my cup than what is in the cup of most of the world. I have the spirit of God with me, to help me in everything that I do. Just like the stripping sons, I have been taught by my mother the things I need to do. One of the things she taught me is: always leave a "room" or an area better then you found it when you got there.

Being in this new area is not a simple thing. We are working hard just to learn the area and find people to teach. Well, finding them isn’t hard.  I can teach and commit almost any one to baptism. It’s just getting them to come to church as always. But unlike the stripling warriors, I have been doing this for a while and I have been trained to do what I need to do.  So I need to quit looking at my cup as being half empty and start looking at my cup as over flowing.  I need not fear for the lord is on my side, and doubt not because God will deliver. There are so many examples of stories in the Book of Mormon where some one has suffered with sickness, or being thrown in prison, and the Lord teaches them not to look at the bad side of things but to be positive and doubt not the lord.

This past week we worked really hard, but we didn’t have much to show for it. I know that this week will be better for us. We hopefully won’t have any illnesses or anything like that to slow us down. But everything is going so well right now. I have never felt better than the way I feel right now in my life. I know everything will be O.K.  I hope all is well back in the cold! I can’t believe it’s a new month this week! I can’t really write how much I am thankful for everything that you have done for me. Thanks so much!
Love Elder Berry

Info from Elder Brady Bills Letter

Well funny last story. Elder Berry and Elder Wollenzien caught opollo or something. It makes your eye swell up to the size of a baseball. Elder Wollenzein woke up looking like Rocky Balboa after a fight. "Cut me mick. ADRIAN!" Elder Berry then caught it later. I have been washing my hands like crazy lately and have avoided it, plus thanks to the acne problem and the germs dad brings home from work, I have trained myself to not touch my face (or mom trained me not to touch my face) so I am not sick. It is an eye infection that gives you eye goobers and itches. The little kids get it and spread it.

So they didn't go to church and have been wearing big ol' sunglasses haha. They are doing good now.

March 21, 2011 Time is Flying By

So I have been gone now for a half of a year! Where in the world has time gone?  I can only hope that what I have been able to do so far is up to the expectations that the Lord has had for me. I have been so bless to be here in Ghana, where I can talk to anyone about Jesus Christ. I have also been so bless with much success thus far on my mission. The people of Ghana are so humble, and so willing to accept Christ. When I first came here all I saw was poor people. I saw roads that were unfinished, with pot holes, no pavement and dirt roads. I saw people that had to work everyday all day just to feed themselves that night. I saw poor living conditions, where people lived with their big families in one room compounds, sometimes with no power, and most of the time no running water.  I saw kids that were not able to go to school because of lack of money. I saw kids that didn't have any shoes or cloths to wear. Back home we have big stores where you can go and buy anything that your heart desires.  We have nice cars; homes with power and running water; roads that we can drive on in comfort; and school where we can get an education in nice buildings with nice computers and equipment. But now all I see is how blessed these people are. I have not talked to one Christian that does not have a strong belief in Jesus Christ and His atonement. It amazes me every day that almost everyone that we talk to will allow us to sit down with them and teach them about the gospel. To see how these people live may look bad to an American, but Ghana has never turned away from God. The people here are so humble, and happy for what they have, and they have been so spiritually bless for that!
So in the new area everything is going well. We were not able to do as much as we wanted to do this week because my comp got sick for a couple of days. Man did I miss TV this week. Sitting in the apartment all day gets really boring. Ha-ha! But I did take advantage of the time and got in some good studying. Well I hope this letter makes some sense.  It does make sense in my head but I have this eye infection now and my eyes are like swollen so I can’t see all that well. It’s all good though just part of being in Africa. Everything will be alright with your love and your prayers! Thanks for everything that you guys have done for me back home! I love you all so much and miss you too! 

Love

Elder Berry

March 14, 2011 Third Transfer

My week this week was up and down! It was not easy leaving my last area on such short notice right in the middle of the transfer.  I loved my last area and I loved my companion, we were workin hard and thing were starting to go our way, we were getting people to church, teaching lots of lessons and even having  baptism this month, but for some reason the lord saw fit for me to leave and go to Odorokor(spelling) I don't know how to spell it, I can barley say it. This area has been closed for a while. They shut it down for some reasons, and  because it wasn't not having any success at all. So now me and my companion are here, to open the area back up, and to see if we can get it going again. Well first my comps name is Elder Wollenzien, he is from Utah, West Jordan and he went to Bingham.. so now I have had a comp from Davis High and Bingham High! haha well he is cool, he didn't play sports or anything. This past week in the new area has been tough, we have a lot of work to do and then on top of teaching people we are learning a new area.  The other night we got lost and couldn't find our place.. well speaking of our place that is another story, our apartment is the worst I have stayed in this far on the mission. I will just leave it at that, don't want to many people worrying about me. I am in good hands! This area is going to be tough, but I know that I am up for whatever! I am workin harder than I have ever work on mission so far, I feel like I have something to prove coming to a new area, I don't know if that is like the wrong mind set but that is whats motivating me right now.
Well on the better side of things, we are living with the zone leaders. One of our zone leaders is Elder Bills from Orem, he is really tight, and I got to sever around him a little in the bush when I was out there. It will be fun to get to know him and my comp more as the weeks go by!
I hope all is well back home, everything here is Ghana is going well, I am safe, we haven't had any earth quakes, and I am praying for the missionaries and people in Japan! I love you all, thanks for everything you all have done for me, and the money that I have been receiving to support me on my mission! grandpa's grandma's,  friends, ward members, Aunt Arlene and Uncle Randy,  family thanks for all of your support:)
love Elder Berry

March 7, 2011

This week has been a crazy one! It sounds like it has also been back home for Lone Peak! That is tight, way to go team! atta boy Brody! Champs!! Well this up coming week I will be transfered somewhere I don't know yet! Because of all the crazy stuff that is going on in Africa right now(wars and whatever) lots of missionary's are being re-assigned, so my comp will be training someone this week. It has been pretty hard on me, to come here and to build up this area with Elder Farnes, and now I just get tossed out half way through the transfer: (we will baptise 5 this month in Nugnua, but I will be somewhere else now. It's tough, I don't want to leave this place, just as I didn't want to leave Konongo, but everything happens for a reason. I don't know why exactly I was call to be in Nungua, but I hope that I was able to do what the Lord wanted me to do here. Now I just got to go and do whatever else it is whereever else it is (with a smile! yes I know mom)
In Ghana right now it is getting vary hot!" This past week has been well in the 110's at least! I can't wait for the rainy season to come! Well the Internet is not working well... it is getting really annoying.. sorry for the short letter. Doing the best I can under the inconvenience that this cafe is giving me right now! well I love you all so much! Every thing is going well right now, keep praying for me, love Elder Berry

What a Week - February 28,2011

So this week was something else! One of the better weeks if not best week on mission! On Tuesdays we got the special chance to hear from an apostle of the Lord! Elder Oaks was in town this last week, and had a special meeting with the missionaries (as they usually do).  When Elder Oaks pulled up in his car we were all outside lined up because he wanted to shake all of our hands.  As I shook his hand he look right into my eyes, honestly down to my very soul. He told us in his talk that as he looked in to all of our eyes that he had a personal interview with each of us.
Well to start off,  our meeting with Elder Oaks the room had a different light to it as he walk from the back to the stand. The AP was conducting and said that Elder Berry will give us the opening prayer... well my heart pretty much hit the floor and started racing 100 mph... but luckily for me there are two Elder Berry's in this mission, and of course he too thought it was him, and he was sitting in the front so he beat me to it. Then Pres. and Sister Smith gave their testimony's along with Sister Oaks. They all did a really good job, and the spirit was in the room! Before Elder Oaks got up to do his thing, we sang a hymn, and Elder Oaks was just staring at the ceiling, talking with our Father in Heaven about what he need to say to us this day. As he began talking i noticed two things. 1) that this man is a man of god, that he speaks with power and the spirit! 2) being that he sounds the same in person as he does on T.V. Elder Oaks told us a little bit about how life is as an Apostle of the lord. How the brethren get together every Thursday in the temple to talk about matters of the church. They talk about things that need to be done, make sure that everything is moving well, and that the church continues to grow all over the world. He told us how on earth as humans they do everything in there power to keep the church going, to keep getting visa's for missionaries in other countries and etc. Then he said when they have done what seems like everything they can do, they turn it over to the lord, and they pray and fast. He then quickly started talking about our two Elders who are still in prison, and how it seems that everything humanly possible has been down to get them out, but they are not home yet. So he said Elders and Sisters lets pray together, in faith for our brothers that they might be let free. Elder Oaks said the most powerful prayer that I have ever heard in my life, I felt like I was stand in between him and God as he talked to him. some of what he said "Father ye have power to do all, even to bring down the walls of the prison that our brothers might walk free, even as you gave Moses the power to free his people, father even as Moses said to Pharaoh,  let my people go!!
He taught us a lot about the power of prayer when there is not much more for us to do, we turn it over to the Lord. Just as I am in Ghana suffering small trials, there is not much you back home can do for me now, but just pray for me! I know that prayer works, as we pray in faith our Father listens to us all. As Elder Oaks said "he will answer all of our prayers, in his own due time, and in his own way"
I cant wait for April to listen to all the teaching of the Lord!
On Saturday we also had a baptism, we baptised two! Prince and Enoch! I will try to send a pic of them!  We have been working with them for so long, and it was way sweet to get the baptised in to the church! Prince is the most correct Ghana man I have ever meet! he is vary smart and has the biggest testimony of Joseph Smith! The man is my hero! He will be by far my strongest convert to the church! I can see the Lord using him in callings in the church!
Well another week has past!
I miss you all!

love you more, Love Elder Berry

Greetings from Ghana, February 21, 2011

Greetings from Ghana,

 

Well another week just went right by and not much to show for it. But this up coming week is going to be much better I can already tell. Today I got up and washed all my cloths until my hands started to hurt, then we cleaned the apartment like an apostle of the lord is coming to our home. Well maybe not to our home but tomorrow Elder Oaks is coming to talk to our mission, and then on Wednesday he is speaking to our stake to follow up on his all African conference talk. I am praying that I don’t have to give another talk tomorrow. It should be really good though. I should have a lot to talk about next week in my letter. I don’t know if mom has talked much about the problems I have been having, but I just want everyone to know that I am doing just fine. Things here are not exactly sanitary all the time, so I have got some kind of skin stuff going on. But it is not holding me back, as far as anyone knows it is not contagious so I am not that worried anymore about giving it to my people. To go along with my skin dysfunctions, I spilled hot oil on my hand the other day and have a big burn in the shape of an “M” on my hand. But other then that I am doing just fine.  I haven’t gotten sick, and haven’t had to just lie in bed all day. I am still working hard and going strong, anything that doesn’t kill me will only make me stronger! Other then that my health has been wonderful, I have started to work out, so that my pants and shirts will fit properly around my neck and waste, but now they are getting tight around my chest. I miss playing sports and just running all the time.  All I do now is walk around all day. I want to play ball again, or 11 side of soccer! One day, one day!

So as my days in Africa keep growing shorter and shorter, my love for the Book of Mormon grows and grows each day. The people who actually take the time to sit down and just read this wonderful book will come to know that what we are teaching them is true. The prophet Joseph Smith wasn’t lying when he said that the Book of Mormon is the key stone of our religion. The Book of Mormon teaches us about why we need to have faith in Jesus Christ, and tells us all about the wonderful things that can come from believing in him and following his ways. It also teaches us what happens when we fall away from what is right. Before I came on my mission it was vary hard for me to just sit down and read the BOM (well anything for that matter) because I didn’t understand fully what the Book of Mormon was. Everyday I teach some one about the book. I love to contact anyone with it. But as I teach people about the book I teach them three things. 1) I teach them WHAT the Book of Mormon is.  People need to understand what they are going to read before they even sit down and pick up the book to read it, or they simply won’t read it. We teach people that it is scripture and not a bible. Scripture because it contains the word of God and of his prophets. 2) People need to know HOW they are going to read this massive book. Obviously they are not going to read the whole thing in one day. So I teach them and show them right where the pages are that I want them to read and then I mark the scripture 2Ne33:1-10 and tell them to read it by the next time I come which is Sunday. If I tell someone that I want them to read 2NE chapter 33. Not many people are going to do it. They don’t know "How".  They are not going to know where it is or when they should read it by.  3) Then I teach them the “WHY”. Why is this book so important for us to read? Why has this book come forth for us to read?  Why will it change your life if you truly read it?  This is the easiest part.  There are so many examples in the Book of Mormon on why we need to read and learn about Christ. It is simple: Brady is in Africa suffering all kinds of afflictions because the Book of Mormon is the word of god. Because I have read this book and I know that it is true for me. I know that I need to share this with every one that I come in contact with, so that one day they can be blessed as I have been. I know before I came on my mission family scriptures study wasn’t high on my list of things to do because I couldn’t get out of bed at 6 am. But I know now that it is important and I can’t wait to have family scripture study. It is all about the What, How, and Why.

 

Thanks for everything that you are doing for me back home!

 

I love you all! 

 

 Elder Berry

Picture of Mission Tour - 2011

Mission Tour with Elder and Sister Sitati.

Brother and Sister Cranny are on the far left, and the Terry's are on the far right.

(Elder Berry is on second row from the back)

February 14, 2011 Happy Valentines

Well I know that every one wants a nice big letter but I don’t really have that much to write about. We do the same thing every day. We go out and try to find some one that is serious to teach the gospel to but things in this area are not easy. People here are really flakey and tell us they are going to come to church but then no one shows up, so there is not much I can do about that. I don’t know if I have said this before, but in Nungua is like the head quarters for the Jehovah Witnesses (spelling?) Everyday I feel like they are just watching us and every one we sit down with and have a nice lesson, they go there right after and just confuse those people. Everyday I deal with gossip about the church, people think that we drink blood in church, they think that we dig up bodies and take them to a white building and baptize them, they think that we kill animals in church and make sacrifices. We are still struggling to get this area on top. I have been here for 6 weeks now, we have worked hard done a lot of good things, but it is still not going anywhere because no one will straight up tell us that they don’t want to come, so we are always counting on people to come but disappointment usually comes. But we have three guys that have come to church twice, so if they will come this week, then we can start thinking about baptism next Saturday, but a lot could go wrong between now and Monday. So we will see what is going to happen with that. We are going to continue to work hard. Transfers are this week; most likely I am going to be staying here...
So not much is going on, I am just doing work in Africa! This last week we got hooked up with a free meal! We got fed, and served by MISS Ghana! It was a pretty legit meal... Well it was still just rice and fried chicken but it was pretty good! Her family is really wealthy here. Her whole family is members and her father is in the stake council. They are a way sweet family! We are planning on going over there every Fast Sunday to break our fast.
We have a lights out a lot so I haven’t got a nice nights sleep in a while, so I am really tired cant really think straight right now, so sorry for another short letter, there is not much going on right now, just trying to find correct people!" Well happy chocolate day, I love you all! Have a nice week! Love Elder Berry

January 31, 2011

Dont hope for a MIRACLE, MAKE ONE! dream big!!!!
Mom I love you thanks for everything that you have sent me, the calendar was sweet! I am going to hang it up and write things that I did each day on that day!
So a couple of months ago in one of my letters I talk about how I hoped to serve in a area where not much success, so that I would have the chance to turn the area around. Well I spoke to soon then, I am in that area that has not had that much success in a long time. Since I have been here we have worked hard, and now things are starting to go our way!!!! On sunday we got four people to church!!!! so for next month we are hoping for 3 baptisms. If everything goes our way with this family we are teaching we could get 7.
Right now we are teaching Prince, who is our BOY. He is the tightest man in ghana, really smart, and believes everything we tell him, becuase he has a strong testimony of the Prophet Joesph Smith. Prince will be one of our three next month, he loves the church, he cant wait to go to the temple. Enoc is not the smartest person in the world, but he wants to change his life, and he knows that the church is true. He came to church this week, but fell asleep. Angela is a sweet sweet ladie, when we first contacted her, we knew that she was prepared for us to teach her. She straight up told us that her baptism was BS, because she didnt even choose for herself cause she was a baby, so we just gave her a date that day. and now we are working on teaching her everything and getting her to come to church!
This week was really fun! we got invited to a birthday party(I wish fb was workin so you could see the pics, but next week for sure) at the birthday party they feed us nice rice, and gave us so much food, and cake:) the cake was so sweet, I forgot what cake was like. They also gave us this soup, that was the hottest thing that has ever touched my lips, It was like melting the plastic bowl it was in. But I ate it all! This week we also found this place that makes BURGERS haha so we went and had a couple this week, they are not that much and we get fries with them to, it is not the same as the ones in the states tho, that is for sure. but it is nice to pretend like I am an american.
So I sent my card home so that you can see all the pictures that I have taken( not many) but they should be there this week on wednsday or thurday! so I hope that you all enjoy a little bit of Africa. Everything is going well, thanks for all the letters and packages that I keep getting, it means a lot!
So lately we have been eating bread and gravy.. it has saved our lifes this week, we have been eating alot of boncu(spelling?) rice, and candy! we dont ride bikes, we are on foot all day, and we walk and walk and walk all day. I am serving in a ward now, with about 150 as the average attendace(well what they say). thanks for everything I love you all, this is the best work ever, nothing is better, I love my family, go cougs, go PITT, go Barcelona! love you all so much love Elder Berry