Hello Everyone,

This week it was a really good week. It was a little different then a regular week just because of meetings and all that stuff. But i felt like it was great and full of the Spirit. Elder Ferguson finally got better on tuesday. We stayed in half of the day and it finally went away for the most part. Tuesday night we brought a member with us Arylisia, she actually served a mission in Temple Square, so it was cool taking a exmissionary with us. But the lessons went really well and again the spirit i thought was great with the lessons especailly when we taught Aleina. She actually was paying more attention and showed her desire to follow the example of Chirst.

Then wedsday we had our Misson conference. Lets just say it was an amazing day!!! Elder Kevin S. Hamilton of the Seventy was here. I loved it you can totally tell he is surely called of God to do this great work! The training was super good, Presidente Merrill he spoke of many things from being obediente and showing that we are surely called of God. I love one thing that he said as you walk by everyone, Have them think, THERE GOES A MAN OF GOD!!! I love that a ton!! Sister Hamilton spoke about the importance of unity within the companionship. Then Elder Hamilton he spoke of many things. He started off just asking the thing we need and what we could need help with in becoming better missionaries. Then he just applied it to us and spoke of multiple things. From marriage of investigators to working with member, all of it was taught amazingly and the spirit was felt. I loved it, it was an amazing day. One ill remember for ever.

Elder Ferguson and I had a really great experience Thursday. One that i will not forget. We went and taught a new investigator her name is Yolanda. She actually received a pamphlet a year before that then some other missionaries ran into her last week. So we passed by and spoke with her. We got to know her then taught her the first lesson. And as we were teaching the first vision and about the Church getting restored, after we asked if she had a question. And then she got emotional. It was crazy though because the first thing that popped in my head was a story out of Preach My Gospel that i had read that morning that spoke about the same thing the missionaries were teaching and the lady started crazy and she said she had recieved a answer and she knows its true. It didnt really happen like that with us but i could just see the spirit working through her and she felt something especial. she kind of acted like nothing happened but we could see it. She said she has the desire to know what the truth is so i guess we will see. I think she has great potential!

The rest of the week was pretty good though Sunday Everyone canceled on us! But the lord guided us to Adãos house where there he took us to a friends house. ANd this older lady she was great she asked 2 of the greatest question. I want to know what the real church is. How can i know? and what happens after we die! it was great! i could see the lords hand in the work this week. Sadly this was my last week in Viana i will be transfered to a differnet area( Benfica). I don't know much about the area its just by the ocean.  It is still in Luanda. And ill be serving with Elder Montgomery, who only has 3 transfers left. OUr mission still didnt receive anyone! and Elder Chandler, Hobbs, will be going home and Elder Fransciso will be going to the MTC in the United states so he can finally start his mission in Guanna. Pretty crazy but hopefully the next transfer we will recieve a ton of missionaries. Visas are being difficult.

Well that was my week hope everyone is well and the week goes well. I love you all!

Love Elder Banta

Thanksgiving in Angola 2013

Hello Todas!!!

Well this week was a pretty good week though. It was the best with the work alot of our investigators and people canceled on us but it ended up being pretty well. Weds My birthday it was a good day! 20th birthday in Africa i dont think it can get better than that right or i guess just any birthday in general! But it was a good day. We had Zone Meeting that day. Everyone before the meeting they sung Happy Bday to me so it was just like my family doing it ha! But the meeting went really well i enjoyed it also. It was a training on recognizing the characters of God and Jesus. And also making sure those we teach they understand who God is and the role He and Jesus Christ can play in our lives. I really enjoyed it, because it is so true without knowing that God is our Heavenly Father and because of him we are here then honestly whatever we teach, there is no point. It starts with him!! After the meeting though we all went to lunch it was good. That almost took up most of the day by the time we got back to Viana. We tried to teach some other people but they canceled or they didn't have time. But that night we had dinner at one of our investigators house, she pretty much is a member just needs to be married she has been investigating the church for 3 years her son is a member actually the Deacon quorums presidente. It was fun though and ate some good food some type of casserole! Then we taught one more lesson and that was the day It was a great day!

Next day the 14th hit my year mark. wow talk about time flying by!!  It really doesn't feel like it has been that long. But it was a pretty normal day. Everyone though we tried to sit with they would just say noo elder im busy ha! okay thank you. But we got to sit with Durval and his brother Antonio they are super legit! Antonio speaks English he studied in the US and Canada for 3 years.  But wow only have one year left super weird. I still  feel like i have so much to learn and do! but i still have a year for that. So this last year im going to do that learn learn learn. But by Helping this great people of Angola also!

          love you all!!!             Elder Banta

                   

New Church Building

   

Elder Banta, Elder Ferguson , Elder Dunkley, Elder Domingos, and Elder Dredge

Ciara was baptized

Hello Everyone!!

This week it was a pretty good week. First thing great that happened during this week is on Tuesday IT RAINED!! During the day it was all fine we actually left our house to go teach early in the day. We taught a girl named Alaina Campos she actually was really cool just had some beleifs of a Jehovas Witness so she didnt except everything we said but we still got to speak more with her. Then sat with Adão. He is still doing amazing and is progressing really well. He knows for a fact he will be baptised at the end of this month the 30th im really excited for that! Then we taught one more person then Elder Kearney who went home this week was in Viana and we had to go take him to some old Members houses which they werent there. So that took more of the day so we ended up not getting home till later than expected to eat lunch. It was actually dinner by the time we ate ha! but luckly we went home because it started Pooring rain! But we had some other lessons to be taught so put our rain jackets on and went outt! yeahhh we were walking though water up to our ankles and we were just getting soaked(Ruined my dailey planner). All of the lessons canceled but great experience!:)

The rest of week went well also. One thing i forgot to say in last weeks letter is that we have one more person in our house. Elder Francisco he is just from another branch here and is waiting for his visa to the United States to learn english he will serve in Ganna. But he is with Elder Dredge and Elder Dunkley he is fun. But went on a division with him and Elder Dredge it was fun and a good day. Friday we set another baptsimal date with São for the 14th of December she is 15 and already has a baby but her dad is a member and she is progressing well also! That was pretty much my week i enjoyed it and it went super fast!

I hope all your weeks went well also and this week is great too! i pray that the lord is with you all during the week, I know he loves you all, and i surely love you all! Have a great one!

Love you Elder Banta