Hello once again. It is great to hear from only two people again about Preach My Gospel. Maybe next week. I am going to keep pushing you. My Friends, family, and people on the other side of the world that are reading this. Study Preach My Gospel. Please do it.
This week was an ok week. We didn't get as much success as we wanted but we did do pretty well. We do plan this week to do better. Just one of those weeks. It happens, so we are not too worried. We will do all we can to accomplish more this week. Contacting, teaching, etc. Walking is a killer but I much prefer to walk then to bike. Biking you can't really contact as well as you can walking. When biking you tend to get into a race with your companion to appointments then forget to contact along the way. When walking people can stop you easier and you can be more in tune to the spirit. Especially these past 3 weeks, my contacting skills I felt have improved.
Well, 16 months have come and gone. That is too crazy! Can any of you believe that I have been doing this for 16 months? Well, I can't. Honestly it is amazing that the time has flown by this fast. It is amazing what you learn in these few months. I love missionary work. Yes sometimes it is hard, but the memories that you gain from it you cannot pay for or get anywhere else.
I hope that you are all doing well. Samson received the Holy Ghost yesterday and was super happy to be a member. He is doing very well. Sadly we didn't have any investigators at Church yesterday but we will go back to them this week and continue to help them work out any issues or challenges that they might be having.
We have a new missionary in our District, Elder Sebit from South Sudan. It will be interesting to see how these next six weeks pass by. I am super excited to go out and work. I Love You all. I cannot wait to hear from you all next week.
Love,
Elder Bowden
-----------------------------------------Elder Ty M. Bowden, Ghana Accra West Mission-------------------------------------------- This blog is written by Elder Bowden and his family. When we receive a letter, picture or an update, it will be posted on here so all of his friends and family can see.
Monday, July 28, 2014
Monday, July 21, 2014
Transfer news! Pictures.
Hello Everyone: We are doing better. We are now at TWO people emailing me about the PMG lessons! Small increase from my mom, but I welcome the second one warmly. I will welcome more if they come. It's not to hard.
So you are probably wondering what is happening with transfers. Well. Nothing. My companion and I are staying together!!! YAY!!!! I AM SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THAT. We kinda figured that that was what was happening because we have been working super well together and have been having so much fun together as well. Elder Tullis will be getting Elder Sebit from South Sudan. That will be sweet, I have only met one other person from South Sudan ever and my trainer trained him. So that is cool.
This week we had a baptism. That was awesome. Here is a picture.
So you are probably wondering what is happening with transfers. Well. Nothing. My companion and I are staying together!!! YAY!!!! I AM SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THAT. We kinda figured that that was what was happening because we have been working super well together and have been having so much fun together as well. Elder Tullis will be getting Elder Sebit from South Sudan. That will be sweet, I have only met one other person from South Sudan ever and my trainer trained him. So that is cool.
This week we had a baptism. That was awesome. Here is a picture.
Forgive me. This post is going to be short (like my mother) because if you go to the photo page. . . . you're welcome. Enjoy some pictures today. This is a special. Sorry again this is short. But it took some time to do.
I LOVE YOU ALL A LOT!!!!!!!
LOVE,
Elder Bowden
Monday, July 14, 2014
A day to remember
Hello, well, you need to repent. All of you. It is still my mom, and only my mom who is following up on the PMG challenge from Elder Ballard. If you need my e mail address you can get it from my mother.
This week we died! Physically (not literally, no one is dead. . .yet. . .) we just drained ourselves, we walk, we pounded, and destroyed the ground below us. I am still super tired. I don't know how we did that. We were just doing what we always do, but we died doing it. I was super happy about it, but this morning I didn't wanna get up. Thats one reason this is coming super late (we'll get to that in a minute).
Sadly this week is the last week of the transfers. WOW! These past six weeks have just flown by. This has been such a fun transfer. I really hope nothing changes and that I stay in my area with Elder Shangase, but who knows but God. I will find out on Saturday and I will let you know next week. It's sad, because I don't wanna leave such an amazing Ward and area.
Church yesterday was really good. We were blessed to have two investigators come to church. Comfort and Samson.
Samson is a 50 year old man who only speaks Twi. He is fun though. This past week we were unable to see him because his phone was spoiled and his fellowshipper couldn't get a hold of him for us. He is planning on being baptized this Sunday, which will be awesome because he loves the church and is learning to speak English small small.
Comfort is a mechanic (well she is going to school to be a mechanic), and supper stubborn. She is you could say a less active Jehovah Witness. It all started with me asking her who is God. She said Jehovah is God, and you can guess what happened next. Some few odd minutes battle about how Jesus Christ is Jehovah, she was pretty satisfied, but then asked well if Jehovah is Christ, who is God?' Then we answered, 'Elohim'. She froze. She stated that she knew that name and that she knew that was God's name. AND. . . .she's now Golden. Adam and Eve was another battle, but we settled that one. Got to baptisms for the dead and spirit world, showed her 1 Corinthians 15:29, she was like "What" and were like 'ya'. Showed her the scripture in 2 Corinthians about the 3rd heaven, how can there be a 3rd heaven if there isn't a 1st or 2nd, then back to 1 Corinthians 15 about the degrees of glory. She's great.
We have another, Abigail, who will also be baptized this Sunday. She missed yesterday because she was sick. But she loves the teachings and she enjoys the church so much. She has a small baby that members help take care of during church so she can focus on learning. That I appreciate so much.
So today we had a zone activity that was suppose to start at 10 and started at 11 something and ended at 4! Suppose to end at 12. Ya, so sorry that this is coming super late today. My computer is being glitchy and I was just barely able to get onto the computer and see that my mom has emailed wondering where I am, so, ya. . . not the best day. . .
Well, things are going well. When I say well, I mean gas prices have jumped, Germany won the world cup, transfers are next week, and I am out of candy. . . :( What could be worse. LOL. So I hope we all have a wonderful week and I will talk to you next time.
Love,
Elder Bowden
This week we died! Physically (not literally, no one is dead. . .yet. . .) we just drained ourselves, we walk, we pounded, and destroyed the ground below us. I am still super tired. I don't know how we did that. We were just doing what we always do, but we died doing it. I was super happy about it, but this morning I didn't wanna get up. Thats one reason this is coming super late (we'll get to that in a minute).
Sadly this week is the last week of the transfers. WOW! These past six weeks have just flown by. This has been such a fun transfer. I really hope nothing changes and that I stay in my area with Elder Shangase, but who knows but God. I will find out on Saturday and I will let you know next week. It's sad, because I don't wanna leave such an amazing Ward and area.
Church yesterday was really good. We were blessed to have two investigators come to church. Comfort and Samson.
Samson is a 50 year old man who only speaks Twi. He is fun though. This past week we were unable to see him because his phone was spoiled and his fellowshipper couldn't get a hold of him for us. He is planning on being baptized this Sunday, which will be awesome because he loves the church and is learning to speak English small small.
Comfort is a mechanic (well she is going to school to be a mechanic), and supper stubborn. She is you could say a less active Jehovah Witness. It all started with me asking her who is God. She said Jehovah is God, and you can guess what happened next. Some few odd minutes battle about how Jesus Christ is Jehovah, she was pretty satisfied, but then asked well if Jehovah is Christ, who is God?' Then we answered, 'Elohim'. She froze. She stated that she knew that name and that she knew that was God's name. AND. . . .she's now Golden. Adam and Eve was another battle, but we settled that one. Got to baptisms for the dead and spirit world, showed her 1 Corinthians 15:29, she was like "What" and were like 'ya'. Showed her the scripture in 2 Corinthians about the 3rd heaven, how can there be a 3rd heaven if there isn't a 1st or 2nd, then back to 1 Corinthians 15 about the degrees of glory. She's great.
We have another, Abigail, who will also be baptized this Sunday. She missed yesterday because she was sick. But she loves the teachings and she enjoys the church so much. She has a small baby that members help take care of during church so she can focus on learning. That I appreciate so much.
So today we had a zone activity that was suppose to start at 10 and started at 11 something and ended at 4! Suppose to end at 12. Ya, so sorry that this is coming super late today. My computer is being glitchy and I was just barely able to get onto the computer and see that my mom has emailed wondering where I am, so, ya. . . not the best day. . .
Well, things are going well. When I say well, I mean gas prices have jumped, Germany won the world cup, transfers are next week, and I am out of candy. . . :( What could be worse. LOL. So I hope we all have a wonderful week and I will talk to you next time.
Love,
Elder Bowden
Monday, July 7, 2014
Hello!
Hi everyone! What a crazy week. Kind of a lame one with not much happening, but I will try and keep it interesting. First off I want to say that I am a little disappointed with the response from the Preach My Gospel. Only one person emailed me about it (not gonna say any names :) so please next week email me one simple paragraph about it. Not too hard.
This week was a very interesting week to say the least. We had a good week planned, but then other people and rain decided to change it. Starting with Tuesday, we were going to have a nice meaningful District Council Meeting, until the Assistants to the President came and decided to take control of the meeting. A meaningful one hour meeting (like we've been asked to do) turned into an hour and half long meeting. Talking forever and ever!
Wednesday - It rained all day. Like seriously it rained and rained and rained. It did stop so we did go out. 15 minutes into walking it picked right back up again. With rain and more rain and some more rain we went back home. We played some ping pong, studied, listened to CES talks, and then went to sleep around 8 (that was a nice part).
Thursday - everyone is busy trying to recover from Wednesdays rain storm so we only saw one person. :(
Friday - I got a phone call on Wednesday night that Elder Clark (the DL from Kaneshie) will be going on an exchange with me in my area. All day Friday I am on an exchange with Elder Clark which is pretty cool. Elder Clark is from my MTC group and super fun. We actually had a good day on Friday.
Saturday - We go and clean the chapel. That was fun and then we go out and see people. Had a very good day on Saturday. 5 lessons. Not too bad.
Sunday - We had 4 investigators at church. Awesome!! That made me so happy when I saw all of them arrive at church. YAY!!!
That was my week. Sorry this isn't longer, but that is all that really was interesting this week. Love you all a lot and see ya next week.
Love,
Elder Bowden
This week was a very interesting week to say the least. We had a good week planned, but then other people and rain decided to change it. Starting with Tuesday, we were going to have a nice meaningful District Council Meeting, until the Assistants to the President came and decided to take control of the meeting. A meaningful one hour meeting (like we've been asked to do) turned into an hour and half long meeting. Talking forever and ever!
Wednesday - It rained all day. Like seriously it rained and rained and rained. It did stop so we did go out. 15 minutes into walking it picked right back up again. With rain and more rain and some more rain we went back home. We played some ping pong, studied, listened to CES talks, and then went to sleep around 8 (that was a nice part).
Thursday - everyone is busy trying to recover from Wednesdays rain storm so we only saw one person. :(
Friday - I got a phone call on Wednesday night that Elder Clark (the DL from Kaneshie) will be going on an exchange with me in my area. All day Friday I am on an exchange with Elder Clark which is pretty cool. Elder Clark is from my MTC group and super fun. We actually had a good day on Friday.
Saturday - We go and clean the chapel. That was fun and then we go out and see people. Had a very good day on Saturday. 5 lessons. Not too bad.
Sunday - We had 4 investigators at church. Awesome!! That made me so happy when I saw all of them arrive at church. YAY!!!
That was my week. Sorry this isn't longer, but that is all that really was interesting this week. Love you all a lot and see ya next week.
Love,
Elder Bowden
Monday, June 30, 2014
Follow Up
It has been a very good week. A lot of good has happened and it is awesome. We had two wonderful investigators show up to church. YAY! That was super awesome. One, named Samson, will be baptized hopefully this upcoming Sunday. He can only speak Twi so we can only teach him with a member, which is what we have been doing for the past 2 plus months now. The other woman is named Abigale. She is sweet. It was her first Sunday coming to church, to any church for that matter, in a few months. She wasn't sure what to think just because her other church is one that does the dancing and singing and clapping hands and what not. So she was a little out of her comfort zone. Hopefully she will come back next week. We will continue to work with her this week and she how she is progressing. She has a member to bring her so that will be awesome. It is a recent convert that is helping us out with her so that makes it even better. Not only do we get help from a member, but it will help strengthen that members testimony of the gospel.
So now how many of us this week have repented and opened up and gotten into Preach My Gospel? Not very many of us, because no one, and I mean no one, replied to me about what they are studying in PMG. If you don't reply to me that you are studying PMG . . . do you have a testimony of "Following Up" (see Elder Ballard's general conference talk). If they tell you to study something, that isn't just a fun catch phrase they use these days. You heard an Apostle of the Lord say to all of us to get a copy of PMG and to study it and to share what they are learning with the full time missionaries. Are you ready to share? I'm ready to hear. So next week I expect a full page, single spaced email about what you have learned that week in your studies of PMG. :)
The rain has been a pest! Some days we are stuck inside until 2 because the rain keeps falling. Nevertheless we are doing well. We will continue to work as hard as we can to bring the world His truth. I love all of you so very much and look forward to hearing from you next week.
Love,
Elder Bowden
So now how many of us this week have repented and opened up and gotten into Preach My Gospel? Not very many of us, because no one, and I mean no one, replied to me about what they are studying in PMG. If you don't reply to me that you are studying PMG . . . do you have a testimony of "Following Up" (see Elder Ballard's general conference talk). If they tell you to study something, that isn't just a fun catch phrase they use these days. You heard an Apostle of the Lord say to all of us to get a copy of PMG and to study it and to share what they are learning with the full time missionaries. Are you ready to share? I'm ready to hear. So next week I expect a full page, single spaced email about what you have learned that week in your studies of PMG. :)
The rain has been a pest! Some days we are stuck inside until 2 because the rain keeps falling. Nevertheless we are doing well. We will continue to work as hard as we can to bring the world His truth. I love all of you so very much and look forward to hearing from you next week.
Love,
Elder Bowden
Monday, June 23, 2014
15 Months out of a Lifetime
Where does the time fly? Wow, can you believe that 15 months ago yesterday I arrived in the Ghana Accra MTC. It truly is an amazing thing. A mission is one of the greatest things that you can ever do. To the men and to the women of the Church wherever you may be, serve a mission. It is the greatest thing that you can ever do for yourself. I love it here in Ghana. The lessons and the experiences you cannot and will not get in college. So serve a mission.
Yesterday was an amazing day. Not only because it was my month mark, but also because we had a baptism!!! YAY!!!! FRED was baptized into the Church yesterday. It was such an amazing experience. On Saturday when we were reviewing the questions prior to the Zone Leaders coming to interviewing him, I asked him question six, and the answer he gave me was stunning. If you want to know what question six is go to Preach My Gospel and find it for yourself.
Speaking of Preach My Gospel (PMG): MEMBERS...have you obeyed Elder Ballard and gone and collected your own personal copy of PMG? If you haven't, I encourage all of you to REPENT. Alma 34, do not delay. IF you haven't read it, REPENT, D&C 88:118, seek ye out the best books. So stop reading Harry Potter and the Hunger Games and get serious. Come on people, he didn't ask a hard thing. For all of you with Tablets and I-pads and smart phones (so all of you) download PMG (it's free!) and get serious. This is life eternal! It isn't that hard to obtain a copy. It is one of the best books you could ever read.
I am doing the 5th Sunday next week and it is all about this talk. I am going to give them HEAT! So I am practicing on you. This is a manual for everyone. Who can't say they need to work on their Christlike Attributes? Didn't think so. Who can't say they need to work on managing time? You see now... Chapter 8 can help you with that. Also don't forget about Chapter 10, Who here is a Sunday School Teacher? 3rd hour teacher? Teacher in General? Won't this help you? That's what I thought? People please, you have heard President Monson! NOW!!!! (NOT TOMORROW) is the time for MEMBERS and MISSIONARIES to work together!!!!! If missionaries are studying PMG, then the members should study PMG.
I can testify to you through from just my personal experiences here in Ghana. Fred, he was a referral from a member who has only been a member for 4 months. We shared with her parts of Lesson 3 and then she shared them with Fred. Also Samson, who we plan to baptize this upcoming week. He is also a referral from a return missionary of over 30 years. One of the 1st sister missionaries to serve for Ghana. She hasn't stopped being a missionary. She is in fact still a missionary. Every member is a Missionary.
Yesterday we talked with Bishop about missionary work and the challenges and struggles. The desire in the members who didn't serve but are waiting to serve Senior Couple Missions is amazing. One is the Sunday School President. Back before the freeze he was going to serve a mission, but he then he was married and had a child, so he couldn't. The church told him if he had all of his children serve, then it was equal to him serving his mission. Now, 2014, his daughter just came home two weeks ago from Nigeria. Two children down, two more to go. Not to mention he plans to serve with his wife after they are all out of the house. How about them apples?
Brothers and Sisters, no matter how old or young you are, whether you've been on mission or not, whether you are serving or not, it isn't a call to serve for two years that makes you a missionary, but it's the desire to serve. Just because I have a tag and you don't, doesn't mean that you don't have a friend who could be blessed by this great message. Whether you are 20 years old, 50 years old or 15 months on mission, its a lifetime call, not a two year call. You agreed to be a witness of Christ at all times and in all places, not just for two years. I am at 15 months out of a lifetime of service. It's time to make the most out of it.
Alright people. That is all the time I have today. I hope that you all have a wonderful week and get yourself a copy of PMG. I will follow up next week. I love you all and hope that you have an amazing week.
Love
Elder Ty M. Bowden
Yesterday was an amazing day. Not only because it was my month mark, but also because we had a baptism!!! YAY!!!! FRED was baptized into the Church yesterday. It was such an amazing experience. On Saturday when we were reviewing the questions prior to the Zone Leaders coming to interviewing him, I asked him question six, and the answer he gave me was stunning. If you want to know what question six is go to Preach My Gospel and find it for yourself.
Speaking of Preach My Gospel (PMG): MEMBERS...have you obeyed Elder Ballard and gone and collected your own personal copy of PMG? If you haven't, I encourage all of you to REPENT. Alma 34, do not delay. IF you haven't read it, REPENT, D&C 88:118, seek ye out the best books. So stop reading Harry Potter and the Hunger Games and get serious. Come on people, he didn't ask a hard thing. For all of you with Tablets and I-pads and smart phones (so all of you) download PMG (it's free!) and get serious. This is life eternal! It isn't that hard to obtain a copy. It is one of the best books you could ever read.
I am doing the 5th Sunday next week and it is all about this talk. I am going to give them HEAT! So I am practicing on you. This is a manual for everyone. Who can't say they need to work on their Christlike Attributes? Didn't think so. Who can't say they need to work on managing time? You see now... Chapter 8 can help you with that. Also don't forget about Chapter 10, Who here is a Sunday School Teacher? 3rd hour teacher? Teacher in General? Won't this help you? That's what I thought? People please, you have heard President Monson! NOW!!!! (NOT TOMORROW) is the time for MEMBERS and MISSIONARIES to work together!!!!! If missionaries are studying PMG, then the members should study PMG.
I can testify to you through from just my personal experiences here in Ghana. Fred, he was a referral from a member who has only been a member for 4 months. We shared with her parts of Lesson 3 and then she shared them with Fred. Also Samson, who we plan to baptize this upcoming week. He is also a referral from a return missionary of over 30 years. One of the 1st sister missionaries to serve for Ghana. She hasn't stopped being a missionary. She is in fact still a missionary. Every member is a Missionary.
Yesterday we talked with Bishop about missionary work and the challenges and struggles. The desire in the members who didn't serve but are waiting to serve Senior Couple Missions is amazing. One is the Sunday School President. Back before the freeze he was going to serve a mission, but he then he was married and had a child, so he couldn't. The church told him if he had all of his children serve, then it was equal to him serving his mission. Now, 2014, his daughter just came home two weeks ago from Nigeria. Two children down, two more to go. Not to mention he plans to serve with his wife after they are all out of the house. How about them apples?
Brothers and Sisters, no matter how old or young you are, whether you've been on mission or not, whether you are serving or not, it isn't a call to serve for two years that makes you a missionary, but it's the desire to serve. Just because I have a tag and you don't, doesn't mean that you don't have a friend who could be blessed by this great message. Whether you are 20 years old, 50 years old or 15 months on mission, its a lifetime call, not a two year call. You agreed to be a witness of Christ at all times and in all places, not just for two years. I am at 15 months out of a lifetime of service. It's time to make the most out of it.
Alright people. That is all the time I have today. I hope that you all have a wonderful week and get yourself a copy of PMG. I will follow up next week. I love you all and hope that you have an amazing week.
Love
Elder Ty M. Bowden
Monday, June 16, 2014
FIFA 2014
Hello once again all of you wonderful people around the world. Well things are great here. Everyone is preparing for the big game tonight. If you live in a shell and have no idea what I am talking about, tonight is the USA vs. Ghana in the FIFA world cup. Ya it is kinda a big deal here in Ghana. Way more important to them then it is to us over in America. Do we even care about Soccer. . .? Not really? And if you wanna say we do, your lying to yourself. Everyone here is predicting a 2-1 win for Ghana. I think it will be 3-2 for USA. We shall wait and see. Germany is playing Portugal right now and is winning 2-0. So FIFA is alive and well here in Ghana (For now).
This week was full of adventures. For one. . .I have a new companion. His name is Elder Shangase. He is from South Africa (Durban) where the new Temple is being built. He is super chill. He is just three months on mission, I am his 2nd companion.
So Elder Tullis, he was assigned to train. However, his companion is from Congo, and is currently in the Provo MTC learning English (he only knows French). So Elder Tullis is with a ward missionary that is super sweet. It is pretty funny though that Elder Tullis new companion is in America. . .enjoying. . .LOL. He Will be sweet once he finally gets here. There are four in Provo learning English at the moment. So in two weeks i Think they will arrive.
Ok, So I guess I gotta go. BYE BYE. LOVE YOU ALL!!!!
LOVE
ELDER BOWDEN
This week was full of adventures. For one. . .I have a new companion. His name is Elder Shangase. He is from South Africa (Durban) where the new Temple is being built. He is super chill. He is just three months on mission, I am his 2nd companion.
Germany just scored again. 3-0
We are working on our area. We have some really good investigators who are progressing.
Red Card (against Portugal)
One hopefully will be baptized this Sunday. The other either in 2 or 3 weeks.
Half Time
Ya a referral from one of our recent converts is progressing super fast and we are super excited to help him come into the church. His name is Fred. He has come now 5 times. He has so many amazing questions. We can only see him on weekends and that is really hard, because we want to teach him and only one day in a week is hard. However this past week we saw him both on Saturday and Sunday.So Elder Tullis, he was assigned to train. However, his companion is from Congo, and is currently in the Provo MTC learning English (he only knows French). So Elder Tullis is with a ward missionary that is super sweet. It is pretty funny though that Elder Tullis new companion is in America. . .enjoying. . .LOL. He Will be sweet once he finally gets here. There are four in Provo learning English at the moment. So in two weeks i Think they will arrive.
Half Time is over
Yup, adventure continues. We will continue to work to finding more and more people and helping them come unto the restored gospel. It is a truly amazing thing to see people come into the faith. Some areas are harder then others. But you know, I like having to work for the Investigators that Heavenly Father wants me to receive. When I have to work hard for them and then find that one, boy it is the best feeling in the world.Ok, So I guess I gotta go. BYE BYE. LOVE YOU ALL!!!!
LOVE
ELDER BOWDEN
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