Very Happy in Asikuma!

Last Week's Baptisms

They gave this guy a machete!!

 

Dear Mom, 

 

Another great week! Some pretty cool highlights this week. 

First, on Tuesday, our Relief Society President, who we call "Aunty B" invited us to go to her cocoa farm to harvest cocoa. It was hard, but fulfilling work and we pulled off a good harvest. We consider Aunty B our mother away from home, which she loves very much.  We love her.

On St. Patricks day, we wore green, went to a members house, and I made them corned beef and cabbage. It was a taste of home. I tried to talk in an Irish accent all day, but I failed.

Finally, on Sunday, we had a Relief Society anniversary celebration.  Aunty B made a cake for the whole branch.  And to add to the excitement, our branch president is taking our recent converts to the temple on Saturday.

All in all, It was an awesome week!

 

I love you guys so much!

 

Love Elder Seanshine Keddington

 

 

He says his Twi is OK.  He knows the basics, but isn't very fluent.  However, for a kid who had NO desire to learn a language, I'm impressed.  He says he even wants to learn another language when he gets home.  Always glad to hear from him and find him doing well!!  

 

 

More from Asikuma

 

A Busy Week!

I held off posting his letter this week because he promised some pictures from Elder Burt, but I haven't received them yet.  I'll add them when they come.


Hi Mom!

So, some big surprise news!  We had 2 baptisms on Saturday!  We decided that we could baptize 2 of our investigators last week, so that's what we did. It was a really busy week!

First, we had an exchange with the ZLs on Wednesday, then we stayed the night with them.  The next day we had zone training. Then we got news that we would have interviews with President on Saturday at 2:00.  Our baptism was scheduled for 4:00, so we had to rush like madmen to make it work. We had a nice interview with President and got back to Asikuma just in time. We had a very nice service, and then on Sunday they were confirmed. It was worth all the hustle. 

That's pretty much how our week went. I am so happy we got so much done. I love you guys so much!

Love, 

 

Elder Seanshine Keddington

 

I truly look forward to him coming home and finding out if all these new members actually have names and a few things about them.  Never a stickler for the details. ;)  Couldn't be more proud of him, though!

Settled in to Asikuma

Hi Mom! 

 

Greetings from Asikuma! This area is amazing.  It looks a lot like Kwabeng. The members are incredible!  They were all welcoming and hospitable.  We have one member, we call her Aunty B, she is such a sweet woman.  She love the missionaries and makes them food a lot. She is one of the best members I have met in Ghana.  The chapel is a rented school that is literally right next to the apartment.   It is really a sweet area. 

 

Elder Burt is a really sweet guy.  Like I said, he was my traveling companion. He is a really good missionary, I am excited to work with him. He is also the District leader. 

 

Today we went and played basketball at the neighboring area's chapel, It was an 8ft hoop and really strong, so I had a blast playing dunkball.  

 

I cant wait to begin work in the area. I will let you know all about it! 

 

I love you guys so much!

 

Love Elder Seanshine Keddington

He sounds great!  No pictures this week (he said the signal was weak), but I'm hoping for some soon!  A little over 5 months til he comes home!!

Feeling Better and Moving On

His flat mates

They've been a great group!

Dear Mom, 

 

I got transferred!  I'm headed to the deepest bush in our mission.  I'm going to Asikuma in the Winneba zone. Its like Kwabeng levels of far away. I have to admit, I was sad to get the news. Even now I feel kinda sad, but I know that the Lord needs me somewhere else, so I will give it everything I've got. My new companion is Elder Burt, my traveling companion!  It will be so cool to work with him as we both near the end. More than likely, this will be my last area.  

 

Yesterday, when I bore my testimony to Bawjiase, I was a little emotional. I will miss this wonderful branch and all the members. They have a bright future. We had 5 investigators at church yesterday. 

 

I will let you know all the new details next week! I love you guys so very much!

Love,
Elder Seanshine Keddington

I got a couple of messages this past week letting me know that he had talked to the doctor. The doctor thought that he may have had a virus, but wanted to do some blood work on him, just to be sure.  Yesterday I got a quick message that said the blood work came back normal and that he was feeling much better!  I am so very grateful!  And I am glad that he reached out to the doctor before heading to the very edge of his mission - several hours from Accra.  I can breathe a little easier now.

He has done wonderful things in the Kasoa area.  That little branch is starting to flourish.  I know he will have a soft place in his heart for it always.  We are so grateful for these wonderful experiences he has to dedicate all his time and energy to the temporal and spiritual welfare of others. On to Asikuma!

 

Still not feeling great

This is Moda.  She is 3 and darling!

 

Dear Mom, 

 

Another pretty good week! We are doing well in the work right now. Elder Ngwenya and I taught the members how to teach the gospel to people.  We also established a ward mission with ward missionaries. Tomorrow we are going to see a member's referrals, so it is already paying off! All is well on the work front. 

 

My aches and fatigue are still happening.  I am working through it, though on Saturday I was woken up in the middle of the night with stomach cramps.  We stayed in that day. I am hoping it passes soon. I will take care of myself. I believe it is just that my body is weary. I will be ok :)

I love you guys so very much. I will work my hardest. 

 

Love, Elder Seanshine Keddington

Trying to get a 20-year-old guy to listen to his mom is tough.  I told him that he HAD to get checked out to make sure all is well.  Hopefully the next time I hear from him, he will have answers.  Sounds like the work is moving forward and he is doing well.  Transfers are Saturday and he is really hoping he gets to stay, but we'll see.  We're so proud of his dedication.  He is becoming quite a man!

They had quite the little photo shoot! ;)

 

6 Months to go

He loved snuggling with this sweet 2-week-old boy!

 

 Dear Mom,

 

Another pretty good week.  Lately my body has been aching like crazy.  It might just be that I am tired, but I will keep going.  I will keep getting stronger.  We should be having a baptism soon, so we are excited for another fruit of the labour to come forth.

I am so happy we got a dog! She is so cute. when I go to college I plan on getting a German shepherd or something. I am so glad we have one now.

I will continue to serve the lord with all my heart! I love you guys so very much!

Love Elder Seanshine Keddington

 

A man of very few words this week.  He has been instructed to check with the mission nurse concerning his aching body since he has now complained about being tired and hurting for a couple weeks now.  Hoping all is well!  

 

After years of asking on the part of our children, we did get a dog.  We got a sweet Westie named Maia.  He is really excited to meet her.

 

I look forward to hearing from him and hoping the word is good on his health.  We are sure proud of him!  6 months to go!

 

He made dinner for the apartment

On the day of the big Jazz vs. Clippers game

 

A couple slow weeks

A carved ebony Elephant Head.  Quite a souvenir!

From last week:
 
Dear Mom, 

Another great week! Some new changes have taken place. The church announced that we will have just 4 key indicators to measure our work. It will be baptisms and confirmations, new investigators, investigators at church, and baptismal dates. Its a pretty big change, Also, they are changing our schedule so we have more sleep - keeping us healthy. 

Also, I met with President this week.  He said he is very happy with our work in Bawjiase and says to keep up the good work! We will do just that!

 

Besides that, not much else to report on. I am excited to see how these change will affect the mission.

I love you guys so much!

 

Love Elder Seanshine Keddington 

 

 

From today:

Dear Mom, 

 

Another pretty good week. Not a lot to report. We are contacting like crazy to try and get our teaching pool full again. I had a bit of frustration yesterday. We had all of our contacts and some who are less active say they were coming to church, but none of them did. I had to remind myself that it takes time. I'm good now.

Boo, the Patriots won. Oh well. the Jazz are doing really good I hear.

All is well out here and I am doing good!  I love you so very much!

Love Elder Seanshine Keddington

 

He said in his FB message to me last week that he was just tired.  He was kind of glad to have not much going on because he feels like he has been so busy lately.  Busy is good, but I'm glad he can recognize when it's time to step back just a bit and recover.  He sounds great!  6 months 8 days until he comes home!  

 

I keep bugging him about sending me pictures!  Seriously - I hope he is at least taking them!