I Had A Dream

Another week down people! This week was a nice one. This email will be a little different than my other ones because I really just want to share an experience a new member told us he had. A really strong guy with lots of faith. But before I talk about that...

Yesterday we went to Shai Hills! Was a really cool reserve with baboons and zebras and other animals. We also did like this four hour hike and was very sweaty but a fun time nonethless. 

We also had an exchange this week with some good Elders. Nothing to much out side of that this week though. 

Now for the experience. (Note-> I was not here for this experience but I was told it by him directly) 

This guys name is Emmanual. We taught him more about temple work this week and he shared his conversion story with us. 

Emmanuel had a cousin who died 10 years ago. His cousin, he says, "was a wicked wicked person." He said if you had ever offended him he would be very cruel in punishing you. He was so mean that when his cousin died, the family didn't even want to do a big funeral or anything special for the burial, which is the contrary to the customs of a Ghanaian funeral. The burial was to be so simple, Emmanuel had to buy a nice coat and trousers for his cousin to be buried in so that his cousin wasn't buried naked. With the death of his cousin and his limited knowledge of the after life, he wondered, as everyone else affirmed, if his cousin's soul truly was in Hell. Pondering this question, Emmanuel dreamt one night. He dreamt that he was in, and I quote him directly, "a prison." He saw many people in this prison. He noticed he was with a man and the man took him to see his cousin. His cousin was very sad. His cousin was crying and Emmanuel wanted to try and help. Turning to the man he was with, Emmanuel asked if there was anything he could do for his cousins soul. The man told him there was, but that he would not tell him at that time. The man said that someone will come to him and tell him that message. He woke up and 10 years later met the missionaries. He told the Elders his dream and they taught him about baptisms for the dead. When the missionaries asked him to pray about the truth of the message, he did. His answer was the confirmation from the spirit that this was the answer he had been waiting for all those years.The messengers sent from the man were the Elders of the church. I've learned that the process of conversion happens long before the missionaries ever show up. 

Time goes by, and Emmanuel finishes the traditional marriage to be fully married to his wife so they could be baptised. After he was baptised, Emmanuel went on a group temple trip and prepared the name of his father for baptisms for the dead. This was months ago but every now and then he still brings it up because of how great an experience it was to him. He told us the story of the night after the trip, where he was baptised for his father. Yes, you saw it coming, he had another dream. He said ever since his father died he has never dreamt of him, but that night his father came to him. He saw his dad and he kept telling us how happy his father was. He had noticed something different about his dad which seemed odd. His dad was soaked in water. His father being so happy to see him told him how he has been the only member of the family to remember him. He has been the only kid in the family to even visit his father's grave. Emmanuel was a little confused because His father was wet so he asked him why. His father said "the water you were baptised with in the temple, has covered me." Emmanuel learned that baptisms for the dead truly are in behalf of our ancestors. The dream shifted and he then saw himself in the temple being baptised for his father, as if he was watching a tv screen. Emmanuel kept saying how happy his father was the whole time he told us his story. The fathers family recently called the family to gather in their hometown. When he went, he said all his father's siblings told him something they never have his whole life. They all said how much he looks like his father and they can now see his father in him. He believes its because of he did his father's temple work. He wants nothing more than to be sealed to his family, so he's preparing for that day. 

My whole mission I've never seen anyone progress as far as Emmanuel. Very faithful man. 

Now you don't have to agree with everything in this dream that Emmanual had or even agree with some of the things he has said. The point I want to make is God still speaks to us today. And he speaks to us how we will understand. In Ghana, people truly believe God will speak to them in dreams, and as you see we find experiences like this one. Was so cool to hear about. My challenge to all of you is to find out how you Hear Him. What would that look like? How would He answer you? How would He comfort you? I don't know guys figure it out  for yoursleves :). 

Alright love you all! Stay cool. Write me if you'd like. 

If you want more pictures of Shai Hills ask my mom. Oh and Happy Birthday Mom! Your the best and I love you so much!

Much Love,

Elder Busschau.