The Foreordained Christ

Hey guys! We've had some great things going on so this email will be a little different but was a good week.

Elder Loving and I had a great experience again this week. One evening this week we were biking back to our apartment from a lesson and we got a prompting to go down this certain road. It was a still small prompting but we both felt it and said we should probably go down. As we went down we saw a friend we are teaching that we haven't seen in a while. We talked with her for a little bit and then kept on going thinking that was probably the reason for the prompting. As we neared the end of the road we saw two people moving their hands around. Yes. You guessed it. We saw two more deaf people and we stopped and they almost immediately came up to us and started signing. Word must be going around haha. The second I saw them I felt the spirit tell me "That's why. Now listen to me more (haha)" One is a Christian named Bright and the other is a Muslim named Muhammad. Super cool guys and grateful to meet them. As I was signing to Bright, he told me that when he saw us he felt so happy and was so happy to meet us (he is also saying all of this with a huge smile on his face). I just felt so much love for these brothers. Good guys. They showed me where they stay so hopefully I'll meet them again someday. Really just taught me that God is mindful of all his children. Even in the smallest of cases and the most unique. So don't worry, he is watching you and holding you in His arms. He has a plan for you. 

I also just really want to talk about something I've been learning recently that I really like. I will also give credit to Brad Wilcox for the ideas and Elder Loving for writing some of this and then my own words. But all is true for me. Ghana is full of religions. On my mission, I have not only grown in my own faith but have also learned many beliefs and doctrines from a variety of others as well. Whether Islamic, orthodox, or pagan I've become familiar with many beliefs from around the world. I've had long discusions with people of these faiths and have read some of their materials for the sake of understanding what sets our faiths apart. After all I've learned, including respect for people of faith, I have strengthened my testimony immensely, specifically in the Book of mormon, the prophet Joseph Smith, the true Church of Jesus Christ, and the role of my Savior. 

I had a thought and have been reading this week about the importance of the Savior and this message touched my heart. I love the Plan of Salvation for so many reasons and teaching it as a missionary is very eye opening and peaceful. As we all know Jesus Christ is the center of that plan. Many of these faiths I have learned about either don't understand or don't believe in the mission of our Savior Jesus Christ because of their misunderstanding of the Fall. While almost all of Christianity believes the fall of Adam and Eve was not apart of God's plan, they indirectly conclude that the provided Savior, Jesus Christ, was God's back up plan for humanity. In Elder Lovings words with that belief, it was God's "Oh Shoot" plan. However, we in the church of Jesus Christ understand the restored truth that Christ wasn't the result of the fall, but that the fall was the result of the foreordained Christ. (Don't mix up the order of those 2). Because of a Chosen Savior, we would be redeemed when we fell. We know that Christ wasn't sent in hope to undo a failed plan, but that he was fulfilling His Father's plan. Because he was going to Atone for our sins so we can grow and be forgiven, we needed to fall so we could start or as Brad wilcox puts it, (To fall forward with His plan). This truth alone sets us apart from all of the faiths in the world. It is a truth that strengthens my love for my Savior. In short, Christ's Atonement was not the back up plan. He has always been the plan. Just some of my missionary thoughts.

I loved this general conference we just had. I will be giving a training to some of the missionaries this week about love for others. I think President Russel M. Nelsons talk sums it up perfectly. You have the choice to be a Peacemaker. So learn to be one through prayer and intentional action. I love you guys though. Hope you had a great week. Ponder what is in store for you this new month. And Happy Easter! So much I could talk about, but I think I'll leave it there. I love you, but Jesus Loves you more.

The plan is clear. 

Much Love, 

Elder Busschau.

Pictures:

The food one is some plant stew with octopus in it. We had it with fermented corn dough... pretty good haha.

The other one is Ghanaian popcorn. Corn mixed with hot sand.