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