MISSION... yup its still pretty cool to be on His side and PICS

Hey there family and friends!

Ghana is sweet. The weather is nice and I see the months just passing by like the tro tros on the road (vans/buses). Mission life is sweet!

I am doing fine and am learning so much. I am studying Jesus the Christ still along with the New Testament trying to really figure out about the life of Jesus and his apostles. Still the students are not back in the university yet, even though they should have been back 3 weeks ago, because of the ebola stuff. Most of the students are from other countries so they have to make sure that none of them bring ebola here or else that means Elder Cornelius and about 300 other missionaries are coming back to the US to finish our missions. So we are still with a ward that is only half full since most of the members are students. My companion Elder Agbeko and I are just enjoying each other’s company since we are MTs and I am the senior companion, meaning that we do the work and still have fun at the same time. Mission has taught me a lot. I cannot wait to go back home and be able to lead others by my example. These 2 years are flying by way too fast. Every day I take time to look around and try to take as much of this time in as I can because I know someday I will be wishing I was back here in Africa teaching these people the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am treasuring every moment that I have during this time, whether they be tough or sweet, all of them will be a memory that I will miss in the future.

I love every moment of having this opportunity to be in a place where the Lord needs Bobby Cornelius to preach His gospel to His children. Sometimes it is not easy doing this work but it is nice knowing that I can have peace. “In the world ye (me) shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." John 16:33. Jesus has already suffered these things therefore there is no need for me to fear or worry. After all I am on His side :)

I love each one of you in different ways and I pray for you guys every day. I hope you are all doing fine and are making Him proud of what you are doing... if not, then change it and do something worthwhile. Use your time wisely because time is not waiting for any one. Make the best out of every moment and remember that the best cure for anything is smiling and laughing. GO and make someone’s day through your smile or through your humor :)

God bless you,

Elder Cornelius

P-day again!

Like always time is not on my side. It never seems to be on my side on mission. Time is not waiting for anyone especially me during these 2 years. I don’t know how to express how fast these days and weeks are flying by, but let’s just say that I am now counting transfers instead of months. It might be because I am engulfed with this work that consumes all of your might mind and strength. I have little to no time to reflect on my life and back home, due to me getting caught up in the work.

This last week was nothing to brag about or anything that is too special. It was just another normal week as a missionary. Our investigator pool is not serious at all right now, so it looks like I will be doing a lot of finding and teaching these next few days.

I received some packages in the mail yesterday.... and oh my oh my are we enjoying ourselves. I can only thank those who sent them with all my heart and just know it will be gone soon :)

Love all of you and talk to you soon,

Elder Cornelius

 An Aston Martin in Ghana! I accidentally made a weird face but whatevs... its still an Aston Martin. What is this car doing driving on these crazy dirt roads??

  

Week One of the 6th Transfer

Hey there!

I would like to thank all of you for sending so many emails this week and keeping me up to date even though I am not the best at doing the same for you.

It looks like all the missionaries out in the MTC or in the mission field right now are starting to realize how powerful the spirit of the Lord is and how essential it is in our lives. I love to see how others are starting to see the impact of the gospel on people’s lives.

This last week was pretty interesting mentally, spiritually and physically. I saw my last companion, Elder Noble, leave the mission.  He received his last words of advice from the mission president and then drove with the assistants to the airport to head home.  This was an elder who served a little over 2 years and did it honorably. He really did teach me a lot about myself and how I can improve. I hope that I can apply those attributes into my missionary work and into my life so that I can shape myself to be a better man. It definitely was a weird feeling when you say good-bye for the last time in someone's life. It made me a little homesick, but you know me . . . that lasted for just a minute. So, I sent Elder Noble off in a taxi to the assistants after the mission home last Monday, after that I was in a threesome with other missionaries until Wednesday when I was able to receive my new companion Elder Agbeko. Elder Agbeko is from Boise, Idaho.  His dad was born in Ghana and then moved to the US.  His mom is from the US.  So he is a half cast and also half Ghanian. He is also one of the missionaries that entered the MTC the same day I did. So that is pretty cool that we already have something in common and know each other a little.

NEW PICS . . . FINALLY

Oh my gosh! This computer will never give me a break. I was just typing my long email to everyone and it just got erased!!!!! It had a bunch of pics as well. Ghana is really not easy right now!

 I am doing fine though and I will write more next week. I will also include some baptism pictures. Last week I had 3! So, things are going fine.   Some of the Sierra Leone and Liberian missionaries are coming to Ghana because of the ebola. Their missions were shut down for now.  As for me, I am still preaching the gospel and being Bobby!  haha

My Mom and Gary are in the MTC - Washington D.C. Temple Visitors' Center Bound

These are my friends that were in the MTC the same time they were:

Will Okazaki - friend from my old ward in Denver.  Headed to Japan!

Levi Rasmussen now works at the MTC, but he served his mission in Denver and was in our ward for part of the time.  

Jennifer Skaggs - friend from BYU-I - headed to Salt Lake Temple Square

Just another day in Kumasi . . .but it is a special day for me!

Hey Everyone!

This week was my third week in Kumasi and I am just loving it. The people are really great and most of them speak great English. This week went by super quick and we had a lot of success as a companionship. At church we had 4 of our investigators come and they even conducted the entire sacrament meeting in English. It seems like usually they conduct everything in Twi so you can imagine that it gets pretty tough for us missionaries since we cannot speak the language. Oh and to mention that the missionaries have been teaching these 4 investigators for over a year and have not been to church in over 6 months or so, now to see them come to church and meet the members and make friends there, I think it is pretty cool. 

My companion is trying to stay more focused on the work because his mind can get focused on going home in 2 weeks. I don't blame him though. It is good that he still cares for these people and wants to see them baptized.

I love you all very much and continue to thank those who email me. I am about to go and enjoy my p-day and celebrate a very special day for myself!!! Maybe not an American Ice-cream cake or any candles but I can celebrate with some sweet fufu or a little enjoyment by going to a fine Ghanaian restaurant ahaha. Well I hope that everyone back in the USA or those who are serving the Lord around the world are doing great and they are enjoying life. To those missionaries receiving this message.... stay strong and continue to ponder your purpose and then strive to fulfill it. The prophet said one cool quote that can apply to us all and it goes like this....

"Get on your knees and pray then get on your feet and work!"

If we give it our all in life, we can expect Heavenly Father to give his all as well and help us when we are in need.

Love ya guys and talk to you next week.
Elder Cornelius

Another week in Kumasi

Hey there Family and Friends,

I want to thank everyone who sent me an email this past week. I am not too sure what to say in this emai,l but I want to talk about the area a little and about how I’m doing I guess...

So, first I will talk about the area and how everything in Kumasi is doing. Let me just say that Kumasi IS the land of Milk and Honey.  The only downside is that everything is somewhat expensive here, but no wahala. My area is opposite to this huge university called UST (University of Science and Technology). In my area I have all kinds of religions.  I have a ton of Jehovah Witnesses in my area along with Buddhists, Methodist, atheists, and many more.  Looks like I will be crackin the books open and studying much harder than before due to the greater challenge ahead. My area is much bigger than it was in Tamale so now we are walking more than ever and sometimes we have to take tro tros around our area because it is too big.

Quick update on the Investigators:

I have been teaching someone who is muslim - he told me that he wants to switch to being a Christian and leave his entire past behind him. The only problem is that he fears his family and friends a ton. If he switches to being a Christian, his family will sack him of everything and his friends will never speak or look at him again. Also if he dies, his family would refuse to even look at the body and they would refuse to bury it somewhere. The other night when we were teaching him about the plan of salvation, I bore a powerful testimony to him.  I also invited him to come and play with us missionaries for our p-day activity, which was futbol and surprisingly he showed up. After we played and were about to leave, M told me that he was willing to forget about everyone and everything to join whatever he finds to be the truth! I gave him a baptismal date for the 27th of this month and he told me that he is eager to work for that day!