Gird and Go

John 21: 7

“Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him,... and did cast himself into the sea.”

My Abusia,

I got transferred this week. After 8 months of working in Agbogba, I've been transferred to Asutsuare. Agbogba is in the city and is a very industrious area and has one of the biggest markets in Accra. My new Area is the exact opposite. Asutsuare is labeled a "bush" Area. It is called bush because every direction you look you see bushes and trees and rivers and bugs! It's an agricultural community and most homes are spread far apart. The main produce in the Area is bananas and Talapia. This village is located right on the Volta River here in Ghana, so there is a lot of fresh fish, Talapia, and they even have Talapia farms to make them really big before they send them to Accra Market. The bananas here are amazing. What you would pay for 5 cedis of bananas in Accra you can buy the same amount for 1 cedi out here in the bush. It is a lot of fun. When you think of what a typical African village might look like, then you can look at Asutsuare. I am excited to see how the work will go. Right now I know that the people here are very humble and are looking for a foundation to rely on. As we teach them of Christ and how we can truly follow Him, they can find that foundation for themselves. What a blessing it is to serve these wonderful people. Life is hard here for Ghanaians, but they trust God and rely on Him for strength. 

This week I had to say goodbye to my family in Agbogba. We went to go see a sister in a far township called Boi. She is 9 months pregnant and a week over her due date. Her name is Sister Attipoe and she has her two young kids, Junior and Andra. We showed up to her home and she told us to sit down and that she was going to prepare us some food. Her stomach is HUGE but she just slowly swayed her way around the front yard picking some vegetables and fish to make Akpilay and Peppe. She wouldn't allow us to cook with her so we grabbed a football and started up a game with her kids. The food was finished, we ate, and then washed the dishes. As we were talking I told her that I was being transferred. She just stood up suddenly, eyes wide, holding her stomach. She looked at us and said, "You almost just made me give birth!" We were laughing with her for long time about that. She wasn't happy I was leaving and apparently the baby wasn't happy either. :P It is difficult to say goodbye. You develop a love for these faithful members and investigator friends. I love and will miss them.

I read this week of a story of Peter and Jesus Christ. After Christ was resurrected, He visited His apostles. He shared with them many truths and confirmed their testimonies of Him. But as He left, the apostles decided that they would go back to what they knew how to do, they went fishing. They were in the boat fishing when our Lord again came to them. When they recognized Him as Christ, it says that Peter "girt his fisher's coat unto him,.. and did cast himself into the sea." He saw Christ and he couldn't wait. He didn't wait for the boat to take him back to the Master, He chose to gird up his coat and go to Christ then. As Christ comes into our lives we will have a desire to come closer to Him. Don't wait. Go to Him now. Gird up your lions and Go to Christ.

I love you all and ask for your prayers as I move on to a new adventure in my mission.  

PRREPARE IT

Mi Kwaba,

Elder Bergeson