Togo Togo‏

So a lot of people have been asking me where the heck am I in Togo. Well I am in the Capital city called Lomé! The church has been here for about 6-8 years and you can tell! A lot of the old members of the church were converted in France or England, and then came here and started the church. There is two branches, the Lomé and the Topkoin. I am in the Topkoin branch. This branch will split here pretty soon. So there will be three branches and talks of making a stake and building a chapel! So the church is so strong here compared to Benin, missionary work is pretty easy, go to church, take rendez-vous, talk with members, get referrals, and go out and work! It pretty cool but sometimes I think it is too easy, I dunno. There are 10 missionaries here and a couple too, they dont speak much french but I really like the couple! Elder and Sister Gillis from Canada, he really makes me laugh, for example one day, he came up to me and was saying Elder Lee, I want to show you something, so he leaves out to the car and comes back with a COWBOY hat! He is this little short man, kind of resembles an elf, wearing this african style cowboy hat! He was so proud and his grin was so funny cause he knew I was the cowboy type! See, here our mission president lets us wear hats, some missionaries wear a hat that makes them look like Temoins, or Jehovah Witness in English, so ridiculous, so Elder Gillis thought it was a good idea found a hat that kinda resembles a cowboy hat! It made my day!

We had an interesting experience the other day too, we were teaching the Plan of Salvation about the spirit world, and Elder Carter was teaching about it, and so he was explaining about Paradise and he used the example of one member there that he will go to Paradise if he guards the commandments, then after explaining the wicked and evil people will go to Spirit Prison, he said people for example like you! He told our investigators she was wicked and a sinner and was going to spirit prison! I about fell of my chair, then Elder Carter realized what he said, and so just out of pure pity he started apologizing and saying that it was him that was evil and going to spirit prison! I was laughing so hard i couldnt take it, it was just one of those things that you just had to be there for!

So I had a really cool experience that taught me a lot, we were out tracking and contacting, there was this group of people and I felt that we should go talk to them, the second I did I realized that they were all muslims. I have talked to a lot of muslims and so I know the story, so usually when we tell them that we are christian they dismiss us. This time somehow they invited us to talk, and at first they told me that they believed in the bible, everything, except that Christ is the Son of God, they wanted me to show them, usually I dont like to but I did, showed them that Christ was literally the Son of God, and that he IS the Savior of the World, everything I showed them proved them wrong, they were literally running in circles not knowing what to say, until one of them said Muhammad. They went of on me about why I couldnt believe muhammad as a prophet. My companion was saying anything during this conversation, so finally they asked me why I don't believe in Muhammad, and then it happened! I just bore testimony as Joseph Smith as a prophet of God, they were about 15 people in this group about half were in this conversation and the others were just talking about something else, but the second I started to bear my testimony of Joseph Smith, and Christ as the only means of Salvation, and the restorted church, they were silent, absolutely slient, because of the Spirit! I kinda felt like Nephi for a moment when he silenced his brothers and told them of their sins! Everyone was completely silent and listening, and I know they felt something after that cause afterwards, they couldnt argue with us, something touched them I think and they didnt say another word. After that I got up to leave and they invited us to eat with them! So we stayed and ate like African Kings with them! Incredible experience! I know know the power of a personal testimony. The power of a personal conviction of the truthfulness, no one can argue with the truth, especially when you KNOW that it! I love being able to bear testimony, I love hearing other people testimony, the best are the short, sweet, heartfelt, and sincere ones! I am going to miss that the most of the mission, I got to savour every one moment that I can, there is nothing better! I got to say that if you haven't had the occasion to share your testimony lately go do it! If you have one and you want it to grow or not shrink, share it, whenever you can! At baptism, we make a covenant to always remember Christ and take his name upon us, are we really keeping that covnant if we are not sharing His name and what glorious blessings he has given us? I dont think so! Please, this week find someone who needs to hear you testimony, including yourself! Remind yourself that you do have one! Its true! Joseph Smith IS a prophet of god! Christ is the son of god and savior of the world. He loves us and KNOWS us so personally, the power of prayer is real, the communication between us and heavenly father is open while we are on our knees! The gospel of Christ has been restored and there is a living prophet today. I express this with all the energy of my soul, and I hope you know and feel of my love for you and my god. I render this humble testimony in the name of our savior, even Jesus Chirst, amen! Have a good week and remember who you are!

Elder Lee