June 29, 2015

No Longer The Only Elder Verdoni!

So Wednesday was a crazy day for me as well. Brandon left on his mission that day, but I couldnt celebrate till like 6pm that day since I'm half a world away and 7 hours ahead, but I am beyond proud of my brother in serving a mission. (They both wore their Avenger watches that day)

Anywho, this week was a little tough, to be honest, but regardless, I loved it, learned a lot:
So I have read from Exodus to 1 Samuel (I'm halfway done) in about 2 weeks! I've been studying the O.T and it's sweet! (besides the endless chapters of how and what to sacrifice, those were tough to endure) Actually learning a lot and it's fun, so that's good.

Our apartment has bikes now! Well two, so we share them, but they're mostly used to go get food or exercise, we're used to walking. We've gone 3 days now without power, our power box on the side of our house exploded the other day and we're waiting to get it fixed. Consequently, I have moved my mattress and slept outside the past two days, the onslaught of mosquitoes is worth the risk if it's nicer outside than inside. 

My new mission president comes in this week! I'm super excited to see how he will progress the mission, but I am sad to see President and Sister Holmes go, I'll miss them.

We had a baptism this week! both companionships had one! It should have been a total of 5, but one or two things got in the way, they'll be baptized in the next coming weeks. My investigator was Adwoa (add-jew-ahh) a nine year old relative of my recent convert, S***.  She is super smart.
That was my week though, I just love being a missionary, and its challenges, trials, joys and blessings it brings.
Hope all is well with you all
Love, Elder Verdoni

From Elder Bush - (He shares apartment)  

Wed 24

Hey am so happy to write you lately, my name is KELVIN JOSEPH BUSH,(ELDER BUSH), from Nigeria, and am serving in Ghana Kumasi mission, for twenty months now, at these short period of time, have come to be in the same apartment with your son ELDER VERDONI, I really love him so much, and have really learn alot from him even though am older on mission than him, but av come to learn and experience much from him, and one of the most powerful experience is when ever he share with me the love and support he usually have from you guys, he really make me feel like I could be part of ur family if possible, I have seen the pictures and with that I can see that he has a great and God fearing family, here in Ghana, he is my only brother, his words of encouraging, loving stories, testimonies, love and care, and etc....

I really want to thank you guys for having such a son like Micheal, he is so special, and he really change my believe. I will always miss him, I love him, and I want to meet with him again....and am happy that your son, Brandon Verdoni is leaving on mission today.......so happy wow.....I will love to see you guys soon.......am serving my coins hahahahhahhhah for my flight.

Mon 29

Hey mom, I know how you feel for letting go of your 2 great sons, (ELDER MICHEAL VERDONI, ELDER BRANDON VERDONI), hey mom, trust me you have lots of blessing for your great support for your kids, your son here in Ghana Kumasi mission is doing great, people love him, because of how he associate we the people here, he really take people as his own brother and sisters, for me I see these to be picture of how is home looks like.

So as for your kid ELDER BRANDON VERDONI, with his look I know he is a powerful guy who is willing to serve His Heavenly Father with all his heart, might, mind and strength, and mom I want you to know that his service there in Cincinnati(OHIO), will be of great blessing to the family, all what he needs is prayer, mails, packages and etc.

Verdoni is missing you guys, but I will miss him more than you guys. hahahahahaha, never mind am just kidding ,but I love this guy, even last week went to KFC, mom it was so awesome, and we are planing of going there again, so mom, take good care of yourself, as for verdoni, he is doing well, ELDER BUSH

 

 

WE CAUGHT SNAIL AND COOKED EM AND VERDONI ENJOYED IT...LOLZ

Elder Bush

Not sure what this is?

NOTE ELDER BUSH'S CAMERA DATE VS ELDER VERDONI? 

BUSH=  DAY/MONTH/YEAR - VERDONI=  MONTH/DAY/YEAR

Jun 22, 2015

IT WASN'T THAT HIGH!

Well the subject is in reference to whatever I wrote last week, I need to clarify it.
I was watching the replies come and everyone is freaking out like "wow that high and you lived?!" and so on. I was like "what? it wasn't that bad" then I realized I wrote like 107.8 or something. I don't know what the heck I was writing but I meant 103.7. so, yeah, not deadly. Okay great!:)

This week was really fast, I really don't remember too much of it, or rather none of it was really like super exciting, but I can mention a few things:

I had an observational exchange with the Zone Leaders this week, basically it's when one of the Zone Leaders goes with my companion and I and observes haha. It was fun, he was with us for about 7 hours. At the end we discussed how it was and what can be improved. I thought I was good missionary, and I'm sure I am, I suppose, but I love when the Zone Leaders come because they just help you get back on track (NOTE: I'm just talking about the way I teach, always room to improve).

I loved his counsel and I am trying real hard to make the necessary adjustments, but it's good. I can be better, so I will become better. There's always room to improve and sometimes only someone from the outside can really see what you can improve on most. I love it. I love knowing that I can become the missionary the Lord needs me to be.

The work is moving well in Bibiani, We are expecting some baptisms this Sunday, I love seeing people change their lives for something they know is true. The blessings they've experienced and will experience is a good enough blessing for me. I love the work.

Also, My brother Brandon (or Elder) Verdoni leaves on his mission this week! what the what? it just hurts my brain, how is he going on a mission? time flies so fast, life is a crazy thing.

My mission president leaves in a week, back to South Africa. I am gonna miss him a lot, I wrote him for the last time today and It's actually really sad, I'm gonna miss him but I am excited for the new Mission president to come, he's from Utah. He will really help the mission grow.

That was my week though, or well what I wanted to talk about!

Till next week, when I'm no longer the only Elder Verdoxni!
Elder Verdoni (the one in Africa)

Letter to Family

I agree this week was really, really fast. Sorry this is so early, (4:30am my time) but were doing a lot of things today so we needed to email first.
Wow, thats a long day for a hike!(Fossil Springs 5 mile one way took me forever like 12hrs) at least it was fun, even if it was difficult. Love the temple story, I am so happy for B (it's what the kids call Brandon)  and for you mom, that's great. I love this Church. 

And I love Pete's, wow I miss Pete's. (Pete's Fish & Chips)

Brandon has always done a great job at giving talks, (Amazing Farewell talk) I have improved greatly since I have been here, which is good since I give a talk in church about every three months - Missionary Sunday. I love you guys so much. I miss you all tons but this family is great.We're the coolest family ever and I am so lucky to be related to you all, I feel honored.
can't believe B  is a missionary and I'm almost halfway through. Life is weird and so is time.
love you all.
Your big bro/son
Elder Michael Verdoni

June 16, 2015

A Day Late!

Hey everyone! Well I'm little late, by a day, but I'll explain. Also, I worked on a farm and later almost died! I'll also explain.

So first off, I'm in Kumasi for Zone meeting and had no chance to email yesterday, so this is my day to do it! Zone meeting was great, it is just so nice to meet with all the other missionaries in my zone.

Last Tuesday us four Elders went to an investigators cocoa farm to help clear some weeds, WITH A MACHETE! yeah, it was awesome! The farm is like straight in the jungle "bush." We walked three miles to it and it's in the middle of nowhere, super cool. Loved it. Plucked and ate ripe cocoa and coconut. Also super cool.

We finally got a fridge this week! It's been some time without it, although all we put in it is water so it's cold, but wow, cold drinking water makes life so much better.

So in terms of me almost dying, I really didn't almost die, but I felt like it. I got pretty sick. It wasn't malaria. We're not sure what it was but it knocked me down for three days. I woke up in the middle of the night to huge body pains and never being so cold in my life, I was literally shivering and my teeth were chattering, so I checked my temp and it was a good ole 107.8  wow. I was miserable. I couldn't sleep again I just hurt, so I told myself, "If I live till morning, I'll call Sister Barney (mission nurse)" well I did, I fell asleep eventually to wake up an hour later being so so so hot! but with a temp of 103. and that was my life for three days, but I'm cool now :)

That's my week! lots of great rain and weather, so life is boko (cool)
Me Do munyinaa (I didn't spell it right, but yeah, love you all)
Elder Verdoni

June 8,2015

Rainy season has begun!

Well, this week was pretty good! The weather has changed a bit and we got hit real hard with rain!

I believe it's been some time since I really talked about my investigators, so I'll do that. 

We are teaching a man named SN*, his uncle is a member, and he is about 23 years old. I love his enthusiasm, he is progressing so well! He reads the Book of Mormon consistently and has been coming to church. My favorite thing though is the Spirit you can feel when we have lessons with him. He is just so attentive and spiritually in tune. The lessons always leave me edified and uplifted. He is planning on being baptized this Sunday! so I'll let you know.

Rainy season has struck Ghana (if you've heard about Accra, how sad), and in Bibiani it has been showing its stuff! One day we were literally rained out, It rained, heavily from 7am to 8pm. non stop. Wow! Our apartment is on a big hill and so we get some good wind and when the clouds are low enough we get engulfed in them, it's really cool. Speaking of cool, this week has been unusually cool in terms of the weather here, it's been great, I love rainy season.

I've discovered how to make my Ramen noodles in a way where they taste like chow mein noodles from Panda express! (I doubt they do, but I tell myself that)
That's really all I have though, my Twi is improving day by day, I love it! and above all life is just great. Being a missionary is great.
Love you all
Elder Verdoni

June 1, 2015

Life in Bibiani

This week was a pretty good week, transfers came and Elder Essel left, so we have another Elder here, Elder Mkandla from Zimbabwe. He's cool!

So yes like I said Elder Mkandla is a great guy, he is our District Leader, and he came from Tamale (the north). He has been out for about 6 months now, crazy to think I have been out for 9.  But there is still great unity with him here and we're all working really hard.

You know who else is working real hard? MOSQUITOES. Wow they can eat someone alive here. like me. I counted the bites on my feet and it was 23. 23! haha Just on my feet, so I decided not to keep counting on the rest of my body. I am very surprised that I haven't contracted malaria yet but I don't want it so I'm fine with that.

And so usually every two weeks we pull 135 Ghana Cedis to live off of, but today we were only allowed to pull 70 (roughly 15 USD lol) so that needs to last us, quite the challenge but were up to it! We will be okay, we bought enough food to last us a while today.

But really that's my week, teaching lots of people, which is probably something I should write about as well, maybe I could work on that haha, but thanks for all the love, you guys are great. Keep on keeping on.

Elder Verdoni

Waiting for an investigator selfie

and

 -Laundry day

Free meal!