Week 34 - Good Things Happening

Dear Family,

I have had so many thoughts and tender feelings this week and as a result my heart has been filled with greater love for Heavenly Father and His Son. Being a mother/grandmother is my favorite calling in the whole world and from a distance, Elder Lambert and I have experienced the joy of seeing our children move forward in their lives. Each of them has made us happy as they share the way they are teaching their children, building their marriages, and making wonderful family memories. The hard part is that we cannot be there to share these experiences and this week as a sweet little boy joined the Bleazard family, I experienced feelings of homesick. I am grateful that mom and baby are doing well, but I sure wish I was there to hold that little boy and help my Sarah. The whole experience reminded me that our heavenly parents have gone through the same thing with us as we left their presence. "We have taught you all we can. It is time for you to move forward. You can do this. It's the best way for you to grow. We are only a prayer away. We love you..."  President Hunter expressed it as "There is within each of us a giant struggling with celestial homesickness."  So yes, I'm feeling a little homesick. But with that said, good things are happening...

First good thing: Christiana is thrilled that we can teach her reading. She became very serious as we began working on her letter sounds, and reading some simple phrases. She showed her appreciation by feeding us rice for lunch!

#2 Our overnight trip to Takoradi resulted in meeting 12 Pathway students in their first semester of the program. We taught a lesson on how our perceptions shape our world through experiences, upbringing, and culture. However, some of those perceptions may not be in line with how God sees things. To fully accomplish our purpose in life it is important to see things as they really are; to see things as God sees them. Someone said, "If any of us have imperfections it is our duty to pray for the gift that will correct them. If I am an angry man it is my duty to pray for patience and kindness. Am I an envious man? It is my duty to seek for charity which envieth not." The closer we come to seeing all things as God sees them the happier we will be, and the more successful we will be in all that really matters. We concluded with a game which taught self reliance principles in a fun interactive way. It was a good evening.

#3 Good things were accomplished by President and Sister Snow these last 6 months. They are homeward bound and a new Mission President will take the reigns at Accra West. It's kind of unusual to have three Mission Presidents!

#4 Lartebiokorshie stake invited us to make an educational presentation at their youth conference. It was super fun to spend time with the youth. In a few months they are going to walk to the Temple, I'm not sure on the distance, maybe 8 miles. Hoping we get an invite to join that event too!

#5 Good things happened for Stephen and Emmanuella from New Gbawe. They got married on Saturday and  invited us to the ceremony. Third wedding invite!

#6 Darkumen Ward is ready to start self reliance classes. We will teach the doctrine next Sunday and hold a  devotional the following week. We are excited for the good things happening in this ward, it just took a little patience......

#7 Baby Bleazard is well-loved. His big brothers know how to hold him just right. He listened with open eyes as his African grandparents said hello and inspected his perfect little body. 

Yes, good things are happening!

Feeling blessed,

Elder and Sister Lambert

Pathway students

The wedding

Young women from Darkumen