Transfer 8:2 Ghana Keep on Keep'n on

Hello there!

It has been another week of work and sunshine here in Makindye! A lot of lessons learned and lessons taught this week. Elder Bimpeh is a really cool guy and I'm learning much from him each day. The rest of the district is also great! Elder Crankson is teaching me their language (Twi, Chwee) and sign language! So that's pretty cool. 

This past week we had interviews with the mission president and it was amazing! He truly is inspired and his counsel is helping me to become a better leader each day. We also had chocolate chip cookies, which I haven't had in almost a year, so that's always a plus! 

Another cool thing that happened is that we had an opportunity to give a lady we are teaching a priesthood blessing when we went to check up on her. She has been suffering a lot of pains lately and was grateful that we came when we did. Now, for some background on this experience. 1) we had just been discussing with President Collings after interviews about when and where we should give blessings, and he had helped us to understand that if we feel that it is right and we are getting promptings to do it, we should. 2) Sister Teddy, the lady we are teaching, does not know much English. However, she understood almost everything we said before, during, and after the blessing! Miracles really do still take place! Even if they are small in nature. 

Aside from that we had a pretty normal week of teaching, finding, and being turned away from those who don't want to learn. Which is okay! Thankfully, most people here are polite in telling us that they aren't interested in learning about our beliefs. It has actually been cool for me to see how just being kind and human with people about the gospel, or anything really, allows for them to be the same towards us. People are cool. 

Now for a funny and weird experience that I had, to close this email. Elder Bimpeh and I were buying some food for dinner one night when a drunk man came up to us and started talking to me in Luganda. Aside from him saying Mzungu a lot, I had absolutely no idea what he was saying to the shop keeper. I did what I usually do and played along and smiled and laughed with him. Then the shopkeeper, someone else we are teaching and that we are good friends with, gave us free crackers with what we bought. As we turned away and wished them all a good night, Elder Bimpeh and I thought that we should share the crackers with the man since we could tell that he was asking for food since he had no money. This was where it got interesting. As soon as he saw what we were doing, his eyes got huge as he grabbed the treats, and began praising God. Then, he fell to his knees and grabbed both of my arms and started praying for me by making the cross with the crackers we had just given him over my chest. He then did the same to my companion and said "I don't know, no problem" and then got back up as if nothing had happened. Just goes to show the many different things you get to see in the world I suppose! 

I love you all and I hope that all is well!

-Elder O'Hagan

[Photos below courtesy of Sister Collings] 

Transfer 8:1 Ghana be a great transfer!

Hello all! 

As always I hope that you are doing swell and that there is a smile on your face! For us here in Makindye things keep on getting better! I have a new companion as I mentioned last week. His name is Elder Bimpeh and he is from Kumasi, Ghana. He is a really cool guy and I cannot wait to see what we accomplish this transfer. The rest of my district is also from Ghana, and so that has made things a lot of fun for me to learn more about their culture and language. 

This past week was filled mostly with helping the new elders adjust to their new area as they white-wash. I had the opportunity to get to know Elder Crankson pretty well as we were on exchanges for a couple of days so I could help him find new people to teach and members to visit as well. He is a cool guy!

Aside, from that not much else happened. But, since this is a pretty short email, I'll add something cool that I have learned this past week. 

One thing that I have continued to learn through serving as a missionary is how easily we can break down the "walls" that we build up in our lives through our attitude. There are plenty of times in our life where those around us do things or make decisions that push our buttons enough to build up resentment or judgement. I know that while these things may seem impossible to get around, we can truly make the difference ourselves as we reach out with hope and look inward. When we look at our own actions with correct judgement, we can truly receive a great light of wisdom and knowledge that will not only help us to see others as they truly are and love them for who they can be. We can also gain a greater sense of confidence in ourselves as we know that we are doing the things that even the Savior did, to forgive seventy times seven. 

I love you all very much and I am grateful to have the support of those who have helped me to become who I am today and who help me to become even more so daily. 

-Elder O'Hagan

Transfer 7:6 Blessings in the nick of time

Hello!

This week was a very busy one for us! That being said, we have seen a lot of great things happen in the midst of it all! 

Some highlights from this week are that we have been meeting with a man named Godfrey who was being taught in Minnesota before moving back to Uganda. He is a very humble man and his family is wonderful. This past Friday was our first time meeting with him in his home, and it was a great lesson! As we taught about the plan of salvation, he couldn't believe that after years of studying the Bible intently that he had never before heard of Christ ministering to the dead as it is mention in 1 Peter 3&4! This strengthened his testimony a lot, and he said that this means so much to him that he now knows that he can be with his family forever! 

Another miracle that took place was the Baptism of  Kennedy Savio. We have been teaching him for a very long time, since I arrived in Uganda come to think of it. we found him as we were leaving our apartment one day and we greeted our neighbors. He is probably one of the humblest people that I have met, and he has had a great deal of faith when it comes to learning about and following the Savior. When we first met him he was without a job and he felt a bit lost. As we visited with him, we promised him that if he took what we invited him to do to heart and if he would study and apply the teachings of the Book of Mormon into his life, he would see his life change for the better. In fulfillment of that promise, he now has a steady job, a closer relationship with family and friends, and always has a smile on his face! Unfortunately, there were unforeseen circumstances that postponed his baptism, but through his faith and patience he was able to be prepared for the day when it finally came! I love watching how peoples' lives are changed through the things we teach! I know without a doubt that it has changed mine, and that even though I am not a perfect person, I have it as my support no matter what comes my way. 

A lot of good things are on the horizon here in Makindye! I'm excited to tell you about it as it all unfolds! 

Oh! transfers are this week! Sadly, elder Tryon is going to Kabowa and Elder Wailagala is going to the MTC to officially start his mission. However, my new companion seems to be a really cool guy and he is from Ghana! His name is Elder Bimpeh. The rest of my district will also be Ghanaian with Elders Crankson and Boglo. So I will be the only Mzungu now. That being said, I know that that will be super fun and I look forward to working with them!!

I love all of you and I am ever grateful for your love and support. Know that I send it right back to you as well! 

Also, I know it has been some time since I've sent photos! Below is one of my friends who has been elusive until we finally got pics yesterday, and the other is of Ken's baptism. It goes: Elder Wailagala, Me, Brother Laurence, Kennedy, and then Elder Tryon.

Love,

Elder O'Hagan

Transfer 7:4 All in the Lord's Timing

Hello Everyone!

Sorry about last weeks email being super short, but this week should make the difference!

As always I hope you are well and that you are enjoying life! 

Here in Makindye things have been moving really fast. I was on exchanges twice this past week and we also had Zone Conference! Even though the week seemed to fly by, there are a lot of cool things that happened and that I learned. 

Perhaps to start we taught a man from Somalia on Tuesday. His name is Mukhton and he is a great guy. He had decided to leave his country to become Christian, and last Sunday he felt prompted to walk into our Elders Quorum meeting and has decided since then to learn more and even wants to join one day. The thing which is difficult in teaching him, however, is that he doesn't speak much English and he doesn't know any other language aside from his local language. That being said, he has already taken steps to learn by getting a dictionary to translate the books we give him as well as to understand the Book of Mormon! It is also really nice because the way he speaks English is similar to how the people in Rwanda speak it, so I am able to understand him pretty well when we meet with him. The Lord qualifies in interesting ways.

One exchange that I went on during the week was with Elder Mukaro, who is my Zone Leader once again! It was a great time and we both got to see how we have changed in the way we teach since we have returned from Rwanda. We were able to focus more on teaching by the Spirit, and this lead to some fantastic lessons which were able to strengthen the testimonies and faith of a mother who wants to follow her children's example of following the Savior as well as someone who felt that they weren't getting answers to prayer. It was a powerful day to be sure. 

The thing which stood out to me most this week was a scripture that I read as part of a week-long study on patience. The scripture is Doctrine and Covenants 31:9, "Be patient in afflictions, revile not against those that revile. Govern your house in meekness, and be steadfast." 

What impressed me most about this verse, along with the rest of my study on the topic, was how patience is a key attribute which Jesus Christ has. As He suffered through the Atonement both physically and spiritually He patiently awaited the Father's will that it might be done. He endured everlasting pain in the Garden of Gethsemane which has become a means for us to overcome our emotional and spiritual pains each and every day (Alma 7:11-13, Mosiah 4:6-7). His patience in this moment is beyond what I can imagine myself ever having. Yet, we can obtain this level of long-suffering as we read the scriptures and gain understanding of them through fasting and prayer. Even after one week of studying every reference to Patience in the Old Testament, New Testament, The Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants; I have come to a better knowledge of how the Savior is able to enable us through His Atonement, as well as how I can become a more patient individual that has a greater sense of hope in this world and in the promises of the Lord found in His word. 

While no one is perfect, we all can become perfected as we patiently wait for those around us as we serve them and keep ourselves strong and steadfast in the gospel of Christ. As we take time to examine ourselves and begin to diligently and sincerely change the quality of our own life through the light which we have in ourselves, we can see the Savior's grace empower us to do more and become more than we could ever imagine. 

I know that each of you are full of this light and that each of you are powerful beyond measure! 

I love each of you and I pray that you may continue to light the world.

-Elder O'Hagan