Transfer News!

TRANSFER NEWS!!!!  I've been assigned to the USA.  YAY (;    ha ha  My last email.... hard to believe.  I planned on emailing short, until some events transpired.  Everyone sounds good!  I'm excited to see all of you! I know I’m not ready for the cold.  It dropped to 71 here and we could see our breath outside, and I couldn't stand it.  I’ll try to video something before I come down the escalator at the airport. 

I pray you still remember our Olympic athlete friend...  the one who chased us?  Remember now?  Good. Elder Timba was able to meet him. Not the way he would have liked to, but, now they're acquaintances. After greeting some old investigators and catching up, we left their place and were walking down this path to the road.  Some kids up head came running towards us and ran around the corner like a dog was chasing them.  Wasn't unusual... looked like they were having fun, not out of the ordinary.  Both of us continued walking and realized that the main road in front of us was bare... there were two people looking around a corner of a house as if something was coming.  STILL, it didn't hit me that we should stop.  ha ha  Don't know if it was my curiosity, or what...  We kept going until we heard, THUD!!!!. Both of us stopped dead in our tracks.  Something had hit the wall of this shack next to us.  Curiosity still held me.  I stepped forward to peek around the corner... There he was!  I hear, "Companion, lets go!" By the time I turned around, I no longer could see Elder Timba.  :)  ha ha  he was gone!!!!  "Great, now what do I do."  Our friend had a stone in one hand and was looking at me.  I kept thinking, “If he throws it, catch it and throw it back."  :) I was not about to get stoned by this guy!  I kept walking and acted like nothing was wrong.  He yelled,"Why'd he run!?"  I lied and said,"I don't know."  Obviously he asked an uninspired question so I gave him an uninspired answer.  No matter if you are a madman or not, you know if you throw a stone people are running!  As I walked away, he told me to give him money.  I kept walking and then he yelled at me to leave his place! He started following me... oh boy...  he finally turned around and left.  I walked farther down the road and I see Elder Timba emerge from behind a building.  Oh hey companion!  Thanks for letting me hang like that.  Both of us just laughed!  I never knew my companion had speed!  He just disappeared on me! Never thought I'd see this friend again.... EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED!!!

The Baptism for Sister J. was great.  Always rewarding to know that no matter how long it takes, you're efforts will never be in vain.  Love you all!  Until Next week!  U.S.A here I come!!!

Love Elder Zaugg

"I Want To Be Elder Zaugg's Last Baptism"

Sorry about the short emails.... but I at least will let you know I'm doing okay!  

Sister J. is being baptized!!!! After having another dream, she felt that it was the time for her to take that step of faith!  Her words,"I want to be Elder Zauggs last baptism."  So, she will seal the deal!  This Sunday will be my last baptismal service on mission.  Sad to think that, but its a baptism to remember.

Have a great week!  Love you all!

Love Elder Zaugg

                   Elder Zaugg with Elder Jones.  (Both are from the same home ward)

Adventures Never Cease

On New Years, we had an interesting experience.  We all came in, planned, and with the little time left before bed time, we played a game.  All of us are enjoying ourselves, having a good time, when we see red and blue lights flashing outside. I hit the lights while Elder Iyamu looked outside.Elder Iyamu thought it was Daniel (which Daniel was stationed 40 minutes away.... all of us knew that besides him I guess)  so he yells,"Whats up bro!!!"  Then we hear,"POLICE!! POLICE!! COME OUT!!" Ahh.... not the response we wanted.  I would be lying if I said my heart didn't jump a little.  As we opened the door and walked to the gate, the truck drove off.  Hmm.... we went to the gate, opened it, and watched the truck pull around a house. all of us blankly stared at each other.......  then went in. no clue what it was for, but we thought we had done something wrong. these guys were not sounding happy at all when they were yelling for us to come out. 

The other day we went on exchanges with the ZLs, and when they were heading down to kpandu to do an interview, we met up with the other Elders and then they split.  There was a problem though... 3 bikes, 4 Elders.  We improvised and Elder Iyamu hopped onto the pole between the seat and the handle bars of my bike.  Things were going well until he felt the courage to take the handle bars while I peddled.  One of those moments where you know its not a good idea, but since you're the one in the back with someone infront, it gives you assurance that they'll take the blow of it all.  :) now, in Ghana, they have 2 ft ditches that run along the side of the roads with no coverings.  If you're not careful, you'll find yourself in one.  Keep that picture in your head. We get going, and he takes over.  I got the peddles going, and then reality hit him. He realized how difficult it was to steer, so I went to reach for the handle bars.  Before I could get to it, we were on our way towards this ditch.  I still knew I was safe though. everything that ran through my head with the idea that it was bad, was now playing forth in front of me.  The bike approached the side of the road, and luckily Ghana isn't good at keeping up on pot holes, so the front tire entered a pot hole and the wheel went sideways.  Made for an abrupt stop.  Once again, I was safe. he flew into the handle bars and the bike hit the ground with him landing on it.  For me... some how I walked out of the situation, literally.  The tire hit and both of us went forward, but I got projected in such a way, that I walked off the bike.  Miracle?  For me at least... he was feeling it small haha  But, that didn't stop us. We made it successfully home after that!

We did have a baptism this weekend!  Sister P. who has been investigating the Church since September.  Elder Eppich and I had contacted her, and after all these visits with her, she is prepared and ready for that step.  She will be awesome to have in the church! She has a little boy thats the cutest thing in the world.  Whenever he disturbs in lessons, I'll hold him in the air like dad used to do with T. and B. and he starts laughing his head off. Sometimes it makes him sick, but for the most part, it works on keeping him quiet so she learns.

Hope that this week you all stay away from poisonous gases and blown over semis!  Be safe and follow the spirit.  Show why its important to have the Spirit Directing your life.  Thanks again for everything!  Love you all!  Until next week.

Love Elder Zaugg
ukleee mehd oper

We Don't Change the Message, The Message Changes Us

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!

Fun to talk to you all on Christmas day. And the skype........ figured you've waited this long to see my chubby cheeks, you can wait a little longer.  (; 

I try thinking about how I was before I came on mission and the differences from then, to now, and its hard.  I don't remember exactly who I was before I came, but I know it wasn't who I am now.  My understanding of the Gospel has changed my views and my out look on life has changed. Its weird how when you grow up, or come to a better understanding, how
you literally look through new eyes.  I always wonder how it'll be back home.... How much do you conform to the world?  Music, movies, etc.  I know what I should do, but then there is that side of, " But I want to do this."  Which is the natural man.... I just don't know how far to let myself sink back into the world, yet keep a high level of spirituality at the same time.  Things that make me not want to come home (;   I feel I've accomplished things the Lord has put in my path, but I look to the future and see a lot more to come.  Some of the past things this week that happened got me excited to where I wished I still had one more transfer.... to feel like I've accomplished Everything The Lord Has given to this point, Yes.  I feel Thus far, I've given my best efforts.  

This week, we went to see a family in Logba who moved there 5 months ago, who are members of the Church.  We recently found out about them because they came to the church when we were attending district conference in Ho, and no one was around.  I guess they asked everyone in town where the church was, because when we got back, everyone was telling us,"There was a bus full of people saying they were members of your church from Logba."  That got us all excited!  when we got in contact with them, they said they've tried coming 3 previous times, but no success.  So this last week, we went down Saturday and met with them.  Awesome family!  He's from The Cape coast mission, and was the
2nd Councilor in his branch.  They fed us boiled plantain with a nice tomato stew! Delicious.  When we told him about our couple who is investigating the church and want to be baptized that live in the same town, he said, "I'll give them a call and see what we can do.  On the
days neither of us can go, I'll call them to see if they can come to our house, or we can go to theirs and I can do a small Sunday school class."  The guys great!  We are now in the process of seeing whether or not, we can get them permission to partake of the sacrament out there.  It'd help the church grow and give members easier access to the church up north here.  This is what got me excited!!  I can see how the church is going to flourish quickly!  This family is all about spreading the gospel!  They took pamphlets from us so they could start teaching people to get them ready for missionaries.  I feel like I'm not expressing this well enough haha but hopefully you can see how exciting this is.

This was a part of an email that the Kirkhams sent me for Christmas. Loved it:

• Don’t let your worries get the best of you.  Remember, Moses started out as a basket case.
• Many folks want to serve God, but only as advisers.
• It is easier to preach ten sermons than it is to live one.
• People want the front of the bus, the middle of the road, and the back of the church.
• Opportunity may knock once, but temptation bangs on your door all day, every day.
• If you want a better bishop, you only have to pray for the one you’ve got.
• Some minds are like concrete, thoroughly mixed up and permanently set.
• We are expected to be witnesses, not lawyers or judges.
• By ye fishers of men. You catch them.  He’ll clean them.
• Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous.
• Don’t put a question mark where God puts a period.
• Don’t wait for six strong men to take you to church (pallbearers).
• Forbidden fruits create many jams.
• God loves everyone, but probably prefers “fruits of the Spirit” over “religious nuts”!
• God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.
• He who angers you, controls you!
• If God is your co-pilot, swap seats.
• In prayer, don’t give God instructions – just report for duty.
• The task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us.
• We don’t change the message.  The message changes us.  

Love you all!  Be safe on new years and have a great week!  Enjoy the beginning of something new!!! Much love from GH!!!
Love Elder Zaugg

Drum Roll Please!

Alright, alright.  Because of your diligent detective work,  I guess I can let you in on my release date.  Drum roll please............... Feb 2! You already knew that though!  :) That’s when we'll be flying out, so we'll arrive on Tuesday we think.  They'll give us our flight information here soon though.  Have you been able to find out that mom?  I think you can call missionary travel and they'll tell you where I’ll be flying and the time I’ll fly in at.  They'll give you information a lot quicker than I can.  Send my flight info if you find it!  Then I can let my apartment look at it (;    Not like they still have 6 months left or anything...  It’s weird thinking that I have 49 days left....  Don’t know how to feel.  How am I supposed to feel??  I’m excited for new things, yet don’t want to leave all this behind.  like you said, may never make it back here.    I really don’t know what to bring home.... I think about stuff and I feel it’s nothing important...   I’m trying my best to think of things with importance so if I come back with little... sorry?  I pray the photos and videos I took i can recover, because those are what I’d love to have out of everything!  There’s a software called Recover. I don’t know if you can look into it to see what it’s all about.  I only received one package.  It was the decorations and rolls. We're making scones on Christmas with them!! So thanks for sending it! Were you able to send Elder Timba one?

This week nothing happened..... sorry.  But we traveled to a place called Senchi and did a service project.  We were supposed to be helping rebuild a house for this family who are members, but... it didn't turn out that way.  It first started out that we would be helping carry blocks for the masons so they can lay the walls. well, ended up no one laid the foundation.  Plan B was to help build the Foundation.  When we got there, they weren't ready for that.  Plan C, We helped demolish this huge house that didn't belong to the family we needed to help.  So, it wasn't a complete fail, but we were able to get something done for someone!  It was a good time!  This next weekend we'll be traveling down to Ho as well for a Christmas party on Monday.  Exciting! Short email, don’t be mad.  Love you all!  Thanks again for everything, and the support!

Love Elder Zaugg

No Email Today From Elder Zaugg

Everyday We Are Having An Eternal Consequence On Someone's Life

Sounds like Thanksgiving was a success!!   We didn't do anything special for Thanksgiving besides say HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!  Elder Eppich didn't want to do anything because he was going home, :) so it was nothing like last years Thanksgiving. Don’t know where November went... feels like it was just Halloween.  Now we're counting down for Christmas.   Elder Eppich will be leaving this next week, so this means I'll only have ... weeks left!  Guess we'll all find out when I will be going home in 24 days!!  Better start a countdown.  Gotta  keep things interesting somehow.  

The phone call home, not sure what time. Its 7 hour difference, so I’d be calling you in the morning time or early afternoon.  You guys decide.  It’s easy for us to fit it in.  Anytime before 12 would be best, so you guys figure it out and let me know.  I haven't got any of the packages yet... maybe in the next two weeks or so.  I’ll be seeing people to get packages at the latest December 22.  That'll be the last day of getting Christmas packages.  so hopefully they arrive before then!  I'd love to make the rolls, but we don’t have ovens in the Ghana Accra mission.  They have microwaves though.... can you use microwaves to bake rolls? ha ha Guess we'll try! (Lion House Rolls are Elder Zaugg’s favorite, so we thought it would be fun if he had some for Christmas.  Didn’t think about not having an oven.) By the way, start looking into some recovery/ anti virus reversal software that can get pictures back. I think all of my photos are corrupted. I pray they're not.

I remember President Kirkham telling us that every day we are having an ETERNAL consequence on someone’s life.  I've taken that with me ever since that day, and it gives me a desire to do all I can to help all of the people we visit with.  I think back to how I acted towards religion back home, and yeah, it’s something I did, but guess I didn't know really why.... I knew it was something I needed to do, but I hadn't had that real purpose hit me yet until on mission.  I can see that same attitude in people here and it bothers me!  We try all we can to get people excited and have a desire to search the scriptures, but they continue on the path they were on and don’t change.  On a happier note, when you have an investigator tell you they're in Mosiah or 3 Nephi, That’s when it feels like everything is paying off!  Most people don’t reach 2nd Nephi let alone 3 Nephi.  :) So to have someone tell you that, gives you reassurance that your work is not in vain.  

The temple Trip!!  The trip took 15 hours 20 minutes. 10 members went.  We rented a tro tro which is a small van that carries 14 people.  We woke up by 3am, and left by 430.  6 hours later we were in Accra at the temple.  The man who scheduled the baptisms for us didn't mention that by 10am was our time. so we were there by 1030 and they had sent a whole district to go in front of us... ah... not what we needed.  We sat around until 1230 and they finally got us in.   They were able to take our three woman in earlier though.  Beatrice, (Jonathons wife) Josephine (endowed member), and then Helen (Gamelis wife).  All of them had their testimonies strengthened!!  Sister Helen is pregnant and was only able to do Confirmations, but she loved it! She said,"I’m excited to be here! It’s so beautiful!"  She had so many questions after, where we sat in some of the chairs and talked.  Great experience!  Even Jonathons son, whos an endowed member, met us at the temple where we were able to meet him in person!  To say the least, it was amazing!!  Saw Elder Keaton Jones there as well!  All the men then went in around 1 and got to do it.  They didn't let Daniel Opoku because he was endowed and they didn't have enough clothes, so they said to let the other people go ahead.  He was sad, but still kept a positive attitude.  We were able to get back on the road around 230 and get home in a decent time.  Not an easy trip to make in one day.... 12 hours in a van.... not what i call fun, but we made it fun. :) First HoHoe Temple Trip was a success!!!  By the way, We weren't able to do it either, so I still haven't done a temple ordinance for 21 months....its overdue!  I'll do one with President Heid before I fly home, but I think we should all do one when I get back as well.

We have an investigator named Sister J.  Her husband G. will be getting baptized this Saturday.  Anyway, Sister J. has had 5 witnesses and answers to her prayers, and she still attends her church that she knows to not be true.  First one, she had a dream that she explained to us telling her that her husbanded needed to join the church.... okay... don't you think if God is telling your husband to join, that'd mean you as well?  Why would God tell you to do something different?  Second, G. had low blood pressure that he didn't know about and was seriously sick, so we gave him a blessing and he was fine in the morning. Third, she was seriously sick from her High Blood preassure, and we gave her a priesthood blessing and she was healed... Fourth we did a comfort blessing for the same sickness when it came back, and shes been fine ever since.   We went back to talk about all these incidents and to see what she thought they were if they were answers to prayers or
not, she told us about another dream she had about the church. She was at the Temple in Accra and people were asking her why she's not baptized yet.... that's the fifth one.  How many answers does it take for someone to realize where they need to be.... keep praying for her!  Hopefully her husband will have an impact on her!

Thanks again for everything!  Love you all and hope you have a great week!  Keep the festivities going!!  Anything you guys want from Ghana?  Let me know...  thanks again! 

Love you!!

Elder Zaugg

Elder Zaugg Has A Release Date

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!!!  Enjoy this last one without me!!

This week was our Zone Conference in kpong,  4 hours from Hohoe. We went down Monday night to Ho (my last area) and stayed in my old apartment.  We arrived around 9:30pm.  The next morning was zone conference at 9am so we had to leave around 6 because it’s a two hour drive to kpong from Ho.  We're talking in tro tros.... 15 passenger vans... not the Chevy version either.  This is the wagon type. The flat front end, and when you see one passing down the road it looks similar to how Oak used to run.  (Oak is Elder Zaugg’s dog) Remember how his back end would run on the side of him.....?  Think of a car coming at you like that... better yet, a big truck.  It’s a miracle we make it to our destinations safely.  There’s a story of a woman who was sitting in the front seat, and when they went around a bend, the door that was "shut" flung open and gravity/the G force took hold of her and she got sucked out.... kind of funny, but scary at the same time. :)  Don’t worry, we always pray before we go!  Back to zone conference, we were there from 9am to 3pm... Lots of things were learned!  We even had interviews with president.  He kind of assured me of what day I’ll be going home!!!  He said I’ll be going home........ !  Hopefully the connection for the Christmas call will be good so I can tell you (; (Elder Zaugg thinks he is so funny keeping this information from his family)  When it was all over, we traveled back, but ended up having to stay the night again in Ho because of how late it was.  That meant KCS!! PIzza!!!  Can’t wait for real pizza...

The Hohoe group is still small... we'll be going to the Temple this Saturday!  It'll be a 6 hour ride down, and a 6 hour ride back.  So it'll be an early day! Plan on leaving around 4:30-5 in the morning.  But, the group is growing!  The area was split with the two missionaries coming up, and it seems like everyone we contact in our area lives outside of our area.... we work hard at contacting, yet we hand them all over to the other companionship.  :) We're all in it together though, so work harder right?

My companion makes me laugh.  It’s always interesting to be with Africans from different countries. They all have similar personalities but different living circumstances, so it’s interesting. You'd have to be here to understand it.  We get along great though!

A miracle that happened to Elder Iyamu that I’ll share.  The other day when they went to buy some food around town, they took a taxi home, then stopped by our sign out on the road.  They walked back, did the nightly routine, then went to bed.  When he woke up, he realized his wallet was gone along with all his subsistence...  No one knew where it was, and they were making plans of trying to persuade the mission to give him some small money.  Well, this morning we got a knock on the door, and a man said he found this wallet in his taxi.  He said that he found it in the back seat so he held onto it to try and track someone down.  Hoping there was a number on the inside when he opened it to call, but found none.  He decided to follow the sign boards of where he dropped off the missionaries and track down the house.  Well, he accomplished it, and found the owner of the wallet.  How he knew he should check here after all the passengers he took, who knows.  But all we can say is it was a miracle, and we thank God for looking out for him.

Sorry for slacking on giving things to read and what not.

Hope you have a fantastic Thanksgiving! Eat some for me!  Love you all!!  Enjoy the festivities!!

Love Elder Zaugg

Finally Watched General Conference

Might not be a long email because we have to travel to ho, so just know I’m doing good and not a lot happened. My companion is awesome!  We work together great.  It may only be for a short time, but we'll learn from one another. We finally watched General Conference Sunday!!!! Only a month and a half late.  Had some great messages though!  We had a few new investigators who were attending for the first time, so we had to explain afterwards that we don't watch tv for church every Sunday.  You could see a little confusion. But the Spirit was there and we all learned something!  That's all I can write, need to get going to Ho!  Love you all and have a good week!  Next weeks thanksgiving!! maybe we'll eat a hamburger or pizza.... who knows.  :)  love you!  Elder Zaugg

God is Good!

Transfers are this week!  We will be getting two more missionaries added to Hohoe.  One will be with me, named Elder Timba from Zimbabwe and the other Iyamu will be with Eppich from Nigeria.  They come on Wednesday, so we're still enjoying a two man apartment for the little while that we have.    Daniel is now our Group Leader!  Gameli is his Assistant.  Elder Eppich and I are now helping them to know their roles as leaders in the  church now.  Being in a group is fun.  You get to know all the members WELL!  I would love to finish my mission in Hohoe.  I'd be able to see it grow a lot.  Even yesterday, we had 38 attend church.  14 were investigators and the rest members.  The most we've had the whole time having the group here!  So, things are moving right along.  We are teaching some really awesome people that I'll mention later on. There are different challenges from LIB.  LIB people wanted to join and just couldn't read.  But here, people read and have a hard time
joining.  Both are very fruitful places depending on where you are serving.

J's wife, B, was baptized Yesterday!  Now they are preparing themselves to do baptisms for the dead on November 29!  They are awesome.  They've put the temple at the center of their lives already.  Jonathon even received the Melchizedek priesthood Sunday too.  Their family is just flourishing.  She had 20-30 people attend her baptism so it was great.  She bore her testimony after and she told everyone how the Spirit has touched her heart to know this is the truth.  She's moved into her daughters house so she can be closer to the church.  They have sacrificed a lot!

Now onto some of the awesome investigators.  I'll tell you about two who have been struggling with alcohol.  The one, named R, loves the church.  We went one of these days to teach him about the word of wisdom for the first time, and after discussing small, he says this,"I think God is telling me something.  Last night, after work, I went to the "spot" to get a drink.  I don't like to use other peoples glasses so I bought my own and use that each time.  Well, after a few shots, I noticed she wasn't bringing me anymore.  Because she had broke it, she wasn't sure how to tell me.  When she told me, I wasn't mad.  I just felt okay, and went home.  Now, you are teaching me this, so I know I need to stop."  Cool how it had happened the night before.   Really shows us that things happen for a reason.  Also, that we need to follow the Spirit, because what better timing to teach him about the word of wisdom then the day after that happened?  God is Good!

Now to the other one who is having the same problem.  His name is E.  He is going up and down.  The other night when we were talking to him about his baptism and how he needs to stop drinking, we noticed something was different with his voice.  That's when he went in to telling us. He was at a funeral when he opened a bottle of Guinness, and he drank.  Somehow it came out his nose and made him black out.  Now, he has a massive headache and doesn't feel good. That all happened Saturday.  Hopefully he will learn from it and not go back.  We can only pray.

Thanks for everything and keeping me ;updated on things! love you all! 
Elder Zaugg

No Bake November

The question was asked about our water situation:   We have running water.  We get city water that fills up a big tank on Wednesdays and Sundays, and then we just use a pump to pump it through the rest of the house.  It’s weird using a bucket shower anymore. :)  I’ve got reintegrated back into a shower head and a bucket doesn't seem as effective as it did.

All of you are wondering about this crazy brotha of ours.... (The guy who always attacks us on our bikes)  Well, once again, we had an encounter.  Wasn't like the usual encounters as before.  We were sitting with one of our members waiting for a few referrals to come that she had, when a man walks up from behind and stares at us.  He starts off, "I’m the man who chases you. (with a smirk)"  Then he was speaking some jibberish.... the member said it was Jamaican.  We couldn't understand it is all you need to know.  :) Then his next statement: "They stoned me!"   We weren't sure what to do. hahah Most the time we run from him, but now we're stuck.  Luckily he didn't attempt anything, and he walked off with his cig in one hand. At least we know he's not dead!  So, that’s what happened to our friend.  We even saw him on the side of the road as we drove past in the taxi this morning. So he's doing good!

Elder Eppich and I started a tradition in HoHoe, where we make no bake cookies on Saturday!  We've now changed the name too,"No bake November!" Since we can’t do  "No shave November," we resorted to the next best thing.  :)  We are in love with them!

During our Sunday Gospel Principles class on the Saviors Life, I got thinking about what he did for us.  Sometimes we say, "Why do bad things happen to Good people?"  Well, if we think about it, as we endure through our struggles, it qualifies us for the blessings of Eternal life.  Everyone knows good things don’t come easily.  What Christ went through wasn't easy, but now look at him.  His blessing was in Heaven! His perspective was an, "Eternal Perspective."  That’s the perspective we all need to have.  Christ was able to Endure through everything with this Eternal Perspective, so who are we to complain about our minor problems?  They won’t seem as bad if we change our outlook on life.  Think of the good things to come, instead of a narrow mindset of only earth life.  This life was meant for all of us to be happy, so why choose anything else?!  Choose to be happy!  Have an Eternal perspective and look past your situation.  As you continue to obey and do all you can to be as Christ, you'll achieve the happiness promised. Thanks for everything, and all the updates!  Love you, have a good week!

Elder Zaugg

My Patience Has Been Tested!

Our server just went out and I lost the whole email I wrote home.  My patience has been tested... and now I don't have a desire to re write it... sorry if you don't get an email this week. I'm doing great though.  I've lost my patience with this internet service though.... sorry.  I'll try to write something.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Remember a few weeks ago when the guy tried attacking me on my bike? Well, he was at it again!  He came back for round 2!  We were riding down one of the main roads with Elder Eppich riding in front.  There was a man in front of him coming towards us that did this weird slide out of the way move. He was now standing on the side of the road facing us.  I was now approaching where he was, and I saw this creepy smile grow on his face. It looked too familiar... Then it hit me! "No....." He saluted and got in his sprinting position! That’s my Que!! I acted fast and peddled as quick as I could!  As I passed Elder Eppich I thought to give him a slight heads up,"He's running!!"  With a confused look, he turns around and sees home boy in a dead sprint towards him. The look on his face was priceless! I was now out of range and was watching from a safe distance.  Elder Eppich, with a frightened look, went to peddle!  He pushed with all his strength which led to his chain hopping off the track. :)  I about fell off my bike laughing!  The man was now gaining on Elder Eppich, but luckily the chain quickly got back on and he was able to pull away.  With our Bronze medal runner now in the distance, we could only hear the faint sounds of the by standers yelling at the man.  We continued on our way, taught our lesson, then headed back.  While we passed through the same spot, there was a group of men who said," Don’t  worry! We sacked him!"  Ah....  That’s not what we wanted to hear.   sooo.... we pray they didn't hurt him.  We know he won’t do anything to us.... at least we think he won’t.  But hopefully he's not hurt.  It just keeps us on our toes, makes our day more fun!

Sorry I don’t have anything else. I gathered enough energy to re write some.... Love you all!  Thanks again for everything! Have a great week! 

Love Elder Zaugg

Do You Really KNOW if this is the True Church?

There was a lesson we had with one of our investigators who we've been teaching ever since we came.  She's progressing small.  Her interest in finding where the truth lies is there, but she gets confused with all these other churches and now with what we're saying.  In the lesson this last week, it was sad to sit there and see how confused she was with all the different Doctrine. We explained it simply, then bore our humble pure testimony about how true it is, but she still couldn't believe it.  Its hard to sit there and tell someone something that’s true, and they can’t believe you.  All because of the corrupt teachings that have been going on for years that have taken the hearts of Gods children.  Many people haven't read the New Testament all the way through, and many of them just believe there church is true because their pastor teaches from the bible.  It gets frustrating at times with the confusion that goes on.  People no longer can trust anyones word here.  Too many people lie.  She would be an awesome Member and has even given us some referrals!  She’s visited the church 3 or 4 times, and doesn't feel bad about it.  It’s the sincere prayer that she hasn't been doing.  Missionary work is full of emotions.  You experience emotions you never have before!

Another lesson learned this week, was during our Gospel Principles class where we learned about  Obedience.  There was a statement made that said, "Why do we obey? Is it because we're afraid of punishment or because we want the rewards of living a good life?"  It hit me hard when I heard it.  Because of course I obey so I don’t suffer the punishment! And, I want the blessings of living a good life!  It then continued on and said, "We should obey because we Love God and Jesus Christ."  Made me rethink my whole outlook on the commandments.  We need to love them to the point where we don’t want to disappoint them.  Life is simple and yet, we make it hard on ourselves. This may not have an impact on you as much as it did me, but it might....  Think about what drives you to obey.  What is making you stay in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints?  Do you really KNOW if this is the true church? Everyone is saying it, but is it?  Just because someone says something, doesn't mean it’s correct.  I love in 1 John 1:4 or 4:1 can’t remember exactly.... how it says to test the spirits....  we need to find that testimony for ourselves.  Never knew how to do that before. Maybe because I failed to listen how, but I now know.  When you have never read the New Testament all the way through, how would you even know what Christ is all about?  How would you even know what he did? Then comes to the Book of Mormon.  If you've never "studied" it, how do you know it to be true?  Just because we say it’s true isn't good enough.  Studying on your own and SEARCHING for yourself, praying and practicing what you learn, is how you gain that testimony.  Don’t be that guy or that girl who listen to what others say and go along with it.  You need to make your own path and find it for yourself.  You'll see that religion has a whole new meaning, and that it’s something you choose to do, and not a bunch of rules and regulations you abide by.  Our religion is a choice.  We choose to follow and obey.  That’s the great blessing to the Plan of Salvation.  I hope we all can say we have our own testimonies.  Don’t lie to yourself and say you do then continue on not studying the scriptures or ever praying sincerely about what you read and understand.  I can’t express how important this is.  I love the Gospel and know it to be true.  It’s simple, and don’t make it more complicated than it is.  I love you all and hope you have a great week!  Thanks for the support!

Love Elder Zaugg

Bike Adventures and Pics

Hopefully you guys get the photos of M’s baptism!  He's an awesome guy!  To watch him make the necessary changes in his life to be baptized has been sweet.  There's nothing like it.  Seeing someone change because of Gospel truths is something else.  It reminds me of the scriptures that talk about people being compelled to be humble, and those who choose to be humble.  He chose to be humble and changed his life with no stubbornness.  The guys awesome.

                    

 Another incident that happened this week was on our bikes.  We had just left a house, and were going the back way to see someone.  Elder Eppich is slightly behind me, and we're cruisin along.  Up ahead I notice this man standing in the middle of the road with a cig in his mouth.  Not unusual, but it caught my attention.  He looked either drunk, or psychotic.  We got closer, and that’s when he made things interesting.  All of a sudden he tries stepping in front of my bike shouting something in a language.  Because of the speed, he kind of took a step back, but still attempted to stop me.  Thought it'd be fun to mess around with him a little.  So, I sped up and told him to race me!  I looked over and he just smiled.  I took off peddling thinking I was ahead of him, then I turn around and home boys on my tail almost grabbing me. I definitely picked up the pace!  Elder Eppich said it looked like he was trying to burn me with his cig.  Whatever it was, He can run!!!!!

Not a lot happened this week.  We are down in Ho for Zone Training tomorrow, so should be a good spiritual experience.  You never stop learning.  I love that about mission.  Thanks for all the support and emails!  Have a great week!

Love Elder Zaugg

Testimony

I was pondering what I should write about and I felt Like I should write about our testimonies. What's so important about one after all? I go to church every week, pray, isn't that good enough? What good does it do if the church you're attending isn't Christ's church? For instance, we have investigators who've been attending the same church for 20 years and not once have prayed to have the spirit confirm to them if that's where they need to be. You're blindly doing things hoping it's doing something good. This is not what God wants for us. 

He wants ALL of us to KNOW! If you don't KNOW it's true, then get on your knees and find out. Without a sincere desire to know, it won't come though...Have the desire in your heart to do whatever it takes to know for yourself. 

You may see others who have a firm testimony and they don't waiver....You can have that too! It's not something hard to do! The Gospel is simple! God doesn't want it to be hard for us. If you study scriptures, pray to know if they are true, then LIVE what they teach, then you will come to a knowledge of the truth. 

If you struggle to know if one of the commandments is true or not, then I invite you to live that commandment for a month perfectly, and see what changes it brings into your life. We no longer can go through life without a testimony! We'll get tossed around by the world! If you read my mission scripture Helaman 5:12, it talks about building your foundation on Christ, and then you can not fall. GET THAT FOUNDATION! If you believe the Book of Mormon to be true, thats good. It's a step. Now, go know for yourself and pray about it. Do what Alma says in chapter 32:28 to the end. 

It's sad to see people not knowing the truth. We see it everyday here, and it makes you think of how much work there is left to do.  Before one of our Zone Conferences we were given a talk by Elder Boyd K. Packer called "The Candle of the Lord." If you can find and read that talk, it gives you great understanding about the spirit and how it works. Something I love that he says is how you can't force spiritual things. "A testimony is not thrust upon you; a testimony grows... we hardly know it happens because it comes by growth."  He continues on and says, "You can no more force the spirit to respond than you can force a bean to sprout, or an egg to hatch before it's time. You can create a climate to foster growth, nourish, and protect; but you can not force or compel; you must await the growth."  He talks about if you try to force it, you can be misled. 

One more thing I want to share from his talk is this..."How can I bear testimony until I get one? How can I testify that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, and that the gospel is true? If I do not have such a testimony, would that not be dishonest? This was his response:  "If I could teach you this one principle... A testimony is to be found in the Bearing of it!"  The rest of the talk tells you to take a leap of faith by testifying of what you hope to be true. Then, the spirit will confirm in your bosom that what you have testified is true. Ether 12:6. "To speak out is the test of you faith."

I have a personal testimony of what he said. Before I left, I only had a belief/hope in what I had been taught. As I bore my testimony to the many people we taught, I would have the spirit confirm to me that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God, who atoned for the world's sins. I can boldly tell you I know that Joseph Smith restored the church back to the earth and that he is a Prophet of God who held the Priesthood. I know with my whole heart this church is true. I only pray that each of you know as well.  I love each of you so much! Thank you for the support. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 
Love Elder Zaugg

PICTURES

This was when we went to the monkey sanctuary 2 weeks ago.  Ebola free...don't worry. 

First Baptisms in HoHoe

There was a question asked about how we conduct our meetings.  Well, Elder Eppich and I switch off teaching the Gospel Principles class since we only have a two hour church service.  We give out topics to people Wednesday on what they will be speaking on at church Sunday, so the members are pretty good at helping out.  It was only this gone Sunday where we used it as missionary Sunday since none of them answered their phones.  Going on about that, we prepared our talks Sunday morning and were able to take up the necessary time needed. We looked for a few scriptures than relied on the Spirit. Its amazing at how things just flow when you understand the gospel and you listen to the Spirit.  It'll direct you into enough topics to accomplish whatever you need!  Love it.  I hope that on my homecoming talk it goes that easy. :) haha

The place we were doing the baptism was at the river.  There was a woman who owned a house right above where we wanted to do it, so we went and talked with her a week ago.  She was fine with it.  On Saturday night we went back and she was telling us that we shouldn't do it because of the rain.  NAh, it'll be okay!  We kept telling eveyone that, and inside we were praying our hardest that it'd be fine.  Well, when we got there on Sunday and surveyed the area, we found that we no longer could see the roots of the trees like we did a week ago.  Part of the trunk had been covered as well.  I had taken photos of it when we first went there, so I looked at them to see how high it had rose.  It had rose 4-5 feet.  The original place we found to do the baptism was now too deep.  We ended up having to do it where the trail to get into the water used to be.  So crazy!!  It wasn't even a big storm that came through!  We were thankful that these baptisms were able to go through.  Interesting thing, J.  the mysterious phone call man, was baptized on his birthday!  How cool is that? Being reborn on the day you were born. Sweet! Rewinding the story a little to Saturday night, when we went to the house to talk with the woman.  We ran into the daughter who we began talking to.  She knew the church from Accra and we asked if she had ever visited before.  Her response,"I don't like visiting your church!"  Uh.... not the response we were looking for... "Why?"  "Because, whenever someone visits one time, you snatch them!  They always go back! You guys have great strategies!"  Elder Eppich and I smiled.  In response to what she said,"Its because the Spirit is there."  She wasn't believing us. So we invited her to come.  yeah, that didn't happen.  We pray she'll have a desire to visit one day. 

At the baptism, Brother G. was able to baptize his wife H. It was his first time doing a baptism so things were a little choppy. Kind of awkward for everyone, but we got through it!  A part I want to point out, was when he was struggling with the prayer.  He was missing the word "and" when he'd say it, so we corrected him.  It happened a few more times.  The next time he did it, I was listening intently to be sure I was hearing him correctly.  When he would get to the And parts, I would hear this voice next to me,"And"  Then the next one would come,"And!"  I looked over, and there I see Good ole J. slightly bent, leaning over the water whispering "And" to G. so he'd say it right.  J. never heard that prayer before, but he had it memorized after just those few times G. redid the baptism.  J. is awesome!  He really is a future Branch president.

Once Again, another week gone.  Have a safe fun week, and we'll talk next week!  Love ya!

Elder Zaugg

Miracles Continue to Happen

This upcoming week we'll be having some baptisms.  The first of HoHoe!  It’s the mysterious phone call man, J.  and a member’s wife named H.  Both of them are AWESOME!  H. feeds us EVERY time we go to her house.  She's been the one that’s helped me get use to the food. J  She's quiet but when you get in a lesson with her, she'll ask some inspired questions.  She wants to know the truth, along with J.
J. is the type of investigator that you don’t know how you get a hold of.  Almost like another Frank S. David.  God has prepared him! He has given us his children as referrals to teach along with their husbands. When we were filling out his baptism record, it was fun. Why?  He has 11 children and he was struggling to remember them all. J I was like, "way to fulfill the, 'multiply and REPLENISH the earth' commandment."  I love the guy!  He lives in a place called kukurantumi which is about 20 minutes out of Hohoe.  We only go to his place once a week.  So, next Monday you'll hear more about it.  By the way, he was a chief over that community too, or some kind of boss man.  Let’s just say, he's well known.  Great
way for more referrals!

We took a short cut to an investigators place, and when coming back, a woman shouted to us, "can I have a minute?"   "We'll give you two." Clever response, right? (;  she started telling us how she came in contact with missionaries from our church a few days ago and wanted to know more. They told her they'd send her information to us in Hohoe, but they didn't.  So, we gave her a pamphlet and invited her to church.  She didn't come, but we're planning on seeing her this week. It was another experience where we could see the Lords hand in the work.  He will bring everyone to the knowledge of the gospel one way or another. Miracles continue to happen!

Alma 5:26-32  I was thinking about how I could better prepare myself for that day.  Take a step back and check yourself.  Think you're ready?

Have a great week!  Thanks for the package ahead of time!  Maybe I'll get it this week when they come to do some interviews. Love you!

Love Elder Zaugg

18 Months in Mission

18 months is the mark!  Can't believe it.  This was something I wished would come quick, but now its a little weird.  Still excited for home, but there's a part of me that doesn't want to go.    I'm glad you liked that phone call. :)  It was right after our mid week service and D. asked me,"Elder Zaugg!  I got 5 min of free calling to the U.S. right now.  Anyone you want to call??"  I told him how we don't call except on those two days, Christmas and Mother's Day.  Then I thought......  "Do you want to talk to my mom?"  :) He wasn't hesitant at all!  I love the guy!  He absolutely loved talking with you.  D. is his name, and he is the strongest member here in HoHoe.  He also was the first person that we met when we got to HoHoe.  If you met him, you'd love him!  Mom, Elder Wardell, a missionary in my last district, just told me that you and his girlfriend met at DB this last week.  Small world.   

This Sunday was one of the best that we've had.  All of our members bore their testimonies and then we even had 4 of our investigators do it as well!  2 of them was their first time and they were sharing how comfortable and loved they felt in the church.  Even how they've had friends or others that have talked about the church small and led them here.  The one was a daughter to the mysterious phone call man, J.  We had met with J. earlier in the week and he loved it so much that he gave us his daughters numbers to go teach them.  Saturday we met with the one that came to church, and she's married with 2 kids.  When she came Sunday, she brought both kids and was really pleased with what she heard and saw.  Her father J. now has attended twice, was the first of the investigators to bare his testimony.  This being his second time attending, he stood up and bore his testimony on how important the priesthood is in baptism.  That part of the church has hit home to him and the Spirit has testified to him how important the Priesthood is.  He's preparing for his baptism on the 21st of this month.  He doesn't forget that day either, its great! 

Love you all so much.  kind of short email, but know its filled with love!

Love Elder Zaugg

God Knows Who We Are

The time is running and we have bad internet connection.  I did see Elder Jones this last week at a mission conference.  It was a great reunion!  We had a good talk and it was really good to see a familiar face from back home.  

Elder Jones and Elder Zaugg are from the same ward in the U.S.A.  When Elder Zaugg was reassigned from Liberia to Ghana Accra, it was the same mission as Elder Jones. Today, they got to see each other for the first time.  What a small world it really is!

This was a great email I got from President Kirkham this week: 
" I received an email from Brother Sayon today.  He said, he has been released as 1st counselor in the Bushrod Island District presidency and called as second counselor/special assistant to President David L Heid, president of the Ghana Accra mission, who is now also having oversight responsibilities for Liberia Monrovia Mission.  Brother Sayon also said they had baptism and confirmation in Harbel just last weekend with four members of one family becoming recent members of the church.  The Area Presidency is putting in place some welfare assistance for members mostly in need and many who can’t afford basic items in these troubling times. West Point and Dolo’s town was in quarantine for ten days and the quarantine was lifted just this Saturday."

These people in Harbel was J's mother and her two kids along with another part member
family.  One of the happiest emails I could have received!  I've been worried about what was going to happen to them, but now I know!  So grateful!

sorry for the quick email....  here's some miracles that happened to us this week.

We were at a members place teaching him more about his duties as an Aaronic priesthood holder, and what he would be doing on Sunday. After the lesson, he offered to drop off one of the members who was working with us, at our next appointment because we were on bikes and
she didn’t have one.  So, we waited for them on the road.  They were headed our direction when we noticed they stopped.  She got off the bike and he went back to the house.  She came running over and said that he went for a helmet.   Well, we waited for about 5 minutes and
he still wasn’t coming.  We gave him 3 more minutes than we were going to leave.  Right after we had made that decision, a man came from behind and stood in front of our bikes.  He asked probing questions like, “how long have you been here? Where are you located? Where are
you living?”  We were puzzled and asked if he was a member.  He replied, “Yes.” Sweet!  We asked if he was a Melchizedek priesthood holder and he again said, “Yes.” Then, we asked if he was endowed and that’s when he proceeded to lift up his shirt small.  :) We told him it was okay, we understand.  It was a miracle that our one member who was trying to help us out that never came, because we would never have found this endowed member walking the street at night.  The Lord is truly helping us out!

Now to the story I was telling you about up there -^. J. is the man’s name that I’ll talk about. We were awaiting the arrival of members and investigators, when we noticed an old man who walked in. Neither of us knew him so we were excited!  It Means word is spreading
that the truth is in town! (;  He came in, sat down, and was welcomed by our loving members.  He was very interested throughout investigator class while we were speaking on baptism and the importance of Gods authority when being baptized.  What we decided to do, was to sit with
him after church.  We pulled him to the side after and asked if we could have a small lesson with him and he was more than willing. D.O. helped us out.  By the way, he bore an amazing testimony in this lesson!  D.O. is a great member!  Anyway, as we were talking with him, he expressed his sincere desire on wanting to know the truth.  He’s currently attending SDA, and his main concern was, “I want to know that if I worship on Sunday, it won’t be detrimental to
my salvation.” We helped him resolve it and even answered a few more questions.  As the discussion went on, we ask how he came to know about the church.  His response, “I knew about it from Accra, but I didn’t know it was here in HoHoe until I received a phone call this
last week.  The person on the phone invited me to the church, and gave specific direction on how to get here.”  (he was thinking it was us who called him.  But we never did.)  He said that he can’t find the number that called him to see if we could call it back.   None of the members knew him either….  We still don’t know who it was, but as we talked with him, I could see that God had prepared a way for this man to come in contact with us.  He is everything the Lord needs.  Humble, willing to follow The Lord, and wanting to be in the correct church. My testimony has been strengthened that God knows who we are, and will eventually lead us back on the correct path.

Hopefully I have more time next week!  Love you all!

Elder Zaugg