August 22, 2016

Hey everyone!! How are you doing? I hope that your week went well. Our week went pretty good. We were very excited because we had the baptism of Joshua, so that was very nice. We had it at the new building here in Suhum and it went really well. We also had the All Africa Service Project (its like Mormon Helping Hands in the US) on the same day as the baptism. Here in Suhum the missionaries and members went to the hospital and trimmed some trees and just cleaned up in general. 

This week we are preparing for the open house of the new church building here in Suhum, so there is a lot to do before this coming Saturday. Overall things are going pretty well here. We are still working with Bro. Adam and Bro. Andrew. Its slow going, but we are hoping that they will be able to be baptized soon. We had a big rainstorm here yesterday, but its kind of hilly here in Suhum so it didn't flood or anything. 

I can't believe come September it will already have been 3 months since I got here! It really is a nice place. Also 9 MONTHS BABY!!!! We are movin right along! It is so weird because it doesn't feel that long and I see so many of my friends turning a year already. The time really does fly! I love my mission so much. I love the gospel and know it is true! I love all of you!

Love,

-- 

Elder Travis J. Roberts

Ghana Accra Mission

This is a picture from my last zone conference, one of the other missionaries put it together.

Aug 15, 2016

Hey everyone!

How was your week? I hope that it went well for you all. Our week went good. We had some decent success this week.We were able to see most of our investigators. The real exciting news is that we will be having a baptism on Saturday! It is Joshua, the boy I mentioned last week. He is 15 and is related to the branch president. He has been coming to church for a while now and said that he wanted to get baptized, so we were not going to hesitate on that! That was the real highlight of the week. 

We had some fun today as a zone. We met together and played some soccer and b-ball. It was a really fun activity, I was able to see a lot of my friends. Next Saturday all the missionaries will be doing service projects. The zone leaders decide what we will be doing, I will tell you next week what we end up doing for our area. I really am so thankful to be serving a mission. It has really blessed my life and I have seen blessings in other peoples lives as well. If you are thinking about going on a mission, do it! You will not regret it. It is the best experience ever. I love you all so much. Have a great week! Below are some pics from today by my bud, Elder Koronikalu.

-- 

Elder Travis J. Roberts

Ghana Accra Mission

Aug 1 & 8, 2016

Hey there everyone!!

I hope that you all have had a good 2 weeks! Sorry this is late, but I had a lot going on! The last couple weeks have gone good! We have really just been getting our investigators ready for baptism and helping them understand the doctrine. 

I have been really happy here in Suhum. I do have an idea as to when I will leave though, so I am sad about that even though its a while from now (probably December or January). I love the work up here. Saturday went well, even though Bro. Adam and Bro. Andrew didn't get baptized. Fortunately there was someone from the other area that got baptized and we were able to enjoy seeing that. We have been able to extend a baptismal date to Joshua, a 15 year old boy who has been coming to church for a while. A lot of the people we wanted to set baptismal dates for weren't around so we didnt get to do that, but all is good. We will hopefully do it this week. We have been helping a lot getting the new church building here in Suhum ready to go. Its a really nice building and I know the members will be blessed by having it here. Today for P-day we had meat pies (basically empanadas) and Fanice (ice cream) for our meal here in Kof town, it was really good.

I had an interesting experience this past week. For about a week and a half I had been looking for my razor cord. I had misplaced it and couldn't find it. I never had any time to look for it until a few days ago. Then as I really started searching for it I became more and more upset and frustrated that I could not find it. After looking everywhere I got upset and felt angry and defeated. I gave a tap to my bed frame and sat down on the floor in defeat. All of a sudden a voice in my head said "check the drawer you are sitting next to". I was going to say no, but then I thought, sure, why not. I've got nothing to lose. To my complete suprise as I pulled the drawer out I saw the cord. I was stunned and then went very silent and still for a while. I knew at that point what the Lord had just done, I had been humbled. I was so determined that I could find it by MYSELF that I didn't think I needed the Lord's help. I was once again reminded that even in the small things we need the Lord's help. We should never forget to call on His name. Even when we don't think we need to. I am so thankful for this experience because it reinforced to me that I need to always remember the Lord no matter what. I give this same charge to all of you as well. Never forget the Lord and His almighty power. It is a real thing. I love you all and hope that you have a good week.

Sincerely,

--

Elder Travis J. Roberts

Ghana Accra Mission

July 26, 2016

Hey everyone!!

How was your week?! I hope that it went well. Sorry to everyone that was waiting for the email yesterday, we were busy so I didn't get to do it. Today is a different story. Our week went well. We moved the baptisms of Bro. Adam and Bro. Andrew to this Saturday, so we will have the baptisms in the new building! We are really excited about that! We also had a huge multi-zone conference yesterday in Kpong. It was a really fun one because we had 4 zones together. I saw almost all of my tc's (traveling companions) and a whole bunch of my friends. We had instruction from Pres. Heid, Sis. Heid and a few other people. We also heard the testimonies of missionaries going home. Several of them are some of my friends so it was a little hard to see them go. Then all the districts there performed skits that they had prepared.  Our district did our skit on the difference between serious and not serious missionaries. I got to be the investigator, so it was really fun. You really could feel the spirit with all of us there aND ithe really recharged my batteries. It really was a fun day. I hope that you all have a great week!

Love,

--

Elder Travis J. Roberts

Ghana Accra Mission

July 18, 2016

Hey everyone!! How are you all doing? I hope that your week went well. Ours went pretty good. I'm still getting used to my new area, but it feels like home, so that is nice. We had some good numbers. The big challenge is still trying to get investigators to church. Everything is still on track for this weeks baptisms, so that is exciting! One small problem is the branch president wants to wait until the 30th when the new building will be done. We would prefer the 23rd, but we will just have to play it by ear. 

I spoke in church a couple weeks ago on "missionary" Sunday. That is where the missionaries are in charge of all the meetings, we do it once a month. I am grateful for the chance to teach others about the gospel and for the opportunity to share my testimony. I know that I am growing and learning because of these missionary experiences; missions are so awesome!

Even though it was kind of a quiet week, the work is still moving along. I am absolutely loving the area! It really is a great area. The people are wonderful. My grandma Arnson will be thrilled to know I still haven't seen any monkeys. I hope to see some wildlife while I'm in Suhum, but nothing so far. I dont have much else to report, but all is going well. The mission is losing another ten Elders next transfer with no replacements, so it's pretty crazy but it's all good.

I have gotten the chance to practice my cooking skills here in Ghana. We usually eat eggs and rice for breakfast. We have a fridge and I actually got to have some real milk, something I didn't think I would be able to enjoy until I got back home. Elder Kallon and I are going to get pizza after I finish emailing, so that will be nice. I know the church is true and I absolutely love it. Missionary work is real. I am so thankful to serve a mission. I love you all!

Love,

--

Elder Travis J. Roberts

Ghana Accra Mission

July 11, 2016

Hey everyone!!

I hope that your week was good! Our week was pretty good, but not as great as last week. Unfortunately, we didn't have anyone come to church this week. Everyone we are working with was out of town for funerals, so we didn't make as much progress as we would have liked. I'm enjoying being a senior companion, partly because my companion, Elder Kallon, is self-motivated and makes the work go smoothly. We are enjoying working together. Unlike the spoiled missionaries in the states, we don't eat often at members homes ;-). We cook things like rice, stew, noodles, etc. for each other, so its all good.  

Suhum is really awesome! The people treat us well and are very welcoming and willing to listen. I really couldn't have come to a better place to serve. Everybody speaks English and Twi here. I have only picked up a few words and phrases in Twi, mainly because everybody speaks English. I would like to learn more, but we have been instructed by Pres. Heid not to spend time learning the different dialects, so that it doesn't take away time we could spend teaching. Our investigators are great, they are really receptive to the message. Things are still looking good for our baptisms on the 23rd, so that is exciting! 

It is hard to think that I have been out for 8 months already. 8 months...that is crazy! It really is incredible how fast the time flies. I can't believe that this transfer is half way over (there are 6 weeks in a transfer period)! Missionary work is real. A mission really does change you. I have seen the change in peoples lives and in my own.  I hope that you all have a great week.

Love,

--

Elder Travis J. Roberts

Ghana Accra Mission

July 4, 2016

Happy 4th of July!!!

I hope that your week was good. Our week was great! This was one of the best weeks I have had over here. The work is really amazing in Suhum. I hope that I stay here for a while. The members are wonderful and the people are wonderful. It is a much smaller congregation than in Ashaley Botwe, so I even get to play the piano for some of the meetings. I am doing well and my companion, Elder Kallon is doing well.I am still getting used to the area, but I am really liking it. We don't have any hot water for showers, but with the heat here in Ghana its not that big of a deal.

It is weird to be the senior companion and to be in charge of all the decisions for our companionship. It really is a big learning experience. I need to learn fast though, because I think I will be made district leader this next transfer. I am not really sure, but it might happen. We lose a lot of guys next month so it is highly likely that will happen. It really is always amazing to hear conversion stories. I don't have any for ya, I just like them a lot :-). It is cool to see investigators become converted though. I can see it in some of the investigators that we have. I hope it turns into something. We have some baptisms booked for July 23rd, hopefully our investigators will follow through. I am so thankful for a mission and for what it does to you. I can't believe that my role model (my cousin DJ Arnson) only has 5 weeks left. I can't wait to see him and all of you late next year. Have a great week!

Love,

--

Elder Travis J. Roberts

Ghana Accra Mission