From May 9, 2011: Monday we were at the cafe and found out that Bin Laden was killed so that was very interesting news to receive. I saw some pictures of people celebrating the death. It was a much needed boost of the United States. One thing I realized is that we delighted in the shedding of blood - a bad sign that is highlighted in the scriptures. Regardless of that I was quite excited after hearing the news. Before the cafe the apartment went into Accra. Elder Nielsen will be going home this Wednesday so he was taking this Monday to buy stuff. It was fun to be in the culture of Ghana.
Tuesday Elder Nielsen came with me on a split to interview four people that were baptized on Saturday. On the split we stopped at a place that makes soft serve ice cream which was quite refreshing and topped off the pizza we had earlier that day. The Western food is hard to find and very expensive, but it was a nice treat. When Elder Nielsen was interviewing our investigators for baptism I sold pure water on my head making some money for the shop woman. The people always notice a white person selling things so it's a fun situation.
On Wednesday we were given our phone card to all home. Last call we were given 6GHC, but were given 5 GHC this time and because I had made up my mind to only use the given amount like we are supposed to. I was a bit bitter for the reduced time, but oh well. The call was a bit of a hassle at first, but we only call home twice a year so a call is a call. -I wanted to take this time to give credit to the Oldspice deodorant I have been using I had previously been using speed stick and it just wasn't cutting it because half way through the day the effectiveness would fade and be replaced with the stench of Africa. The Oldspice is great because the smell of greatness lasts all day repelling the smell of Africa all day.
Thursday Elder Gagnon and I went to the Anno's house to visit with the grandfather and work in the Gospel in the visit. We found out that he has never read the Book Of Mormon so we committed him to do so. Elder Bills also came over for a split sending Elder Nielsen to Odorkor for the day. He mentioned that I have lost weight from the time I went on a split in his area last transfer so I was happy about that. I found some resistance bands yesterday so I used them today. I figure the little exercise I can do here will eventually add up to something.
I was informed on Friday by our mission president that he needs me to switch areas with another Elder that day, four days before the scheduled transfer day. I am now in an area called Alajo closer to central Accra. My new companion's name is Elder Elder Bradford Chambers. He is from Columbus Ohio and is the eldest of eight children. In the apartment there is another companionship. Their names are Elder Hunsaker from Utah and Elder Titus from Nigeria. Elder Chambers is my fourth companion and my fourth American.
Saturday was my first full day in Alajo. most of the roads are paved and the cars are more aware of us on bikes. I feel that the area will be good. The transition will take a few days, but so far it's very good.
Sunday was fast and testimony Sunday as well as Mother's day so as mentioned before we missionaries called home so that was nice.
Monday, July 18, 2011
From May 2, 2011: The Worst Smell of my Entire Life; Naked vs Partially Naked; Fathers; Ghana's Government; Conference
From May 2, 2011: Wednesday started off great! Elder Gagnon and I started our day by going out to our investigator, Michael Sarpong and on the way to pick a tro tro we passed a sewer waste collection truck. It was working on extracting rotting feces from a place we pass everyday accompanied with it's usual foul smell. On this occasion the removal of such things created the worst smell I have ever come in contact with in my entire life. I resorted to only breathing though my mouth, but was still able to smell it. We went to the main road, looking for a car, we passed a fully naked man sitting on the side of the road making the number of fully naked adults 2. (There are too many partially naked people here to count.) Shortly after we saw a man wearing a BYU shirt and a tro tro that had a decal "Bobastic" on the windshield making it a great morning.
Thursday we visited The Aboagye family. Brother Aboagye ended up talking to us for an hour on how the eldest son doesn't want to listen to the advice the father gives him because he wants to make money in life and father is very poor. It was an interesting conversation and I likened it to my family. My father has always gave us financial and personal advice, but because of our pride with judging how is life is currently we shun his attempts to connect with us and develop a better bond. Looking back I have a lot of empathy towards my father who is single, and trying to make his way in life, but like Jonathan Aboagye my siblings and I don't acknowledge his hand reaching out to us. We all have challenges in life so we can never compare another life to ours. When I go home I hope that I will be able to rebuild my relationship with my father. Looking back all of my knowledge of him is a little before my parents were married, during the time when they were and some portions here and there after they divorced. I figure the best way for that to happen is to start to learn more about each other and develop true friend relationship.
Saturday Elder Gagnon and I went to visit this wealthy family in our ward named the Annors. The compound is owned by the grandparents. The grandfather, who is one of the few members of the family who is not a member, used to be an assistant Governor in some place in Ghana and worked for the Bank Of England and the Bank Of Ghana. The compound itself was made up of three large houses with around five cars. They also had a lawn mower. The grandchildren who live in the place are quite unaware how great they have it in Ghana. There are a few people in the country that are this wealthy, but for the majority of people here there living situation here can't compare to people back in the states. They are a great family and it was a great opportunity to visit with them. Before we left they served us warm banana bread so that was great. When we left the house we went down to a woman we have been teaching that sells coal where she served us beans and plantain making it a tasty meal and bringing us back into real Ghana. Later that night we were collecting Abigail Yenfo's information for baptism when we were trying to spell her name. She proceeds to get three Official documents of Ghana where the spelling was different for each one. I felt like the experience summed up the functionality of Ghana's government. It takes forever to get something done in the public sector and when there is something planned the government official in sectors such as the post office, the electric, water and other various offices request a bribe before the item is processed.
Sunday was a good day as well. The ward had their recorded viewing of General Conference so we traveled to another larger church building to bring the wards in one place. it was a pleasant surprise to have seven investigators at church because of the extended travel time and cost to get to the other building. The conference here is watched as a recording and the presiding athority determines what blocks of conference to watch. As result we watched the Saturday afternoon two hour block and the Sunday morning block back to back making church four hours. For the Saturday block we watch the BYU-Idaho choir sing getting me excited to return and go back to school. I think I saw a guy I worked with in the choir as well. There were other missionaries there from the surrounding areas as well so I was able to meet up with my trainer, Elder Orchard. It was fun to talk to him about life and such.
Thursday we visited The Aboagye family. Brother Aboagye ended up talking to us for an hour on how the eldest son doesn't want to listen to the advice the father gives him because he wants to make money in life and father is very poor. It was an interesting conversation and I likened it to my family. My father has always gave us financial and personal advice, but because of our pride with judging how is life is currently we shun his attempts to connect with us and develop a better bond. Looking back I have a lot of empathy towards my father who is single, and trying to make his way in life, but like Jonathan Aboagye my siblings and I don't acknowledge his hand reaching out to us. We all have challenges in life so we can never compare another life to ours. When I go home I hope that I will be able to rebuild my relationship with my father. Looking back all of my knowledge of him is a little before my parents were married, during the time when they were and some portions here and there after they divorced. I figure the best way for that to happen is to start to learn more about each other and develop true friend relationship.
Saturday Elder Gagnon and I went to visit this wealthy family in our ward named the Annors. The compound is owned by the grandparents. The grandfather, who is one of the few members of the family who is not a member, used to be an assistant Governor in some place in Ghana and worked for the Bank Of England and the Bank Of Ghana. The compound itself was made up of three large houses with around five cars. They also had a lawn mower. The grandchildren who live in the place are quite unaware how great they have it in Ghana. There are a few people in the country that are this wealthy, but for the majority of people here there living situation here can't compare to people back in the states. They are a great family and it was a great opportunity to visit with them. Before we left they served us warm banana bread so that was great. When we left the house we went down to a woman we have been teaching that sells coal where she served us beans and plantain making it a tasty meal and bringing us back into real Ghana. Later that night we were collecting Abigail Yenfo's information for baptism when we were trying to spell her name. She proceeds to get three Official documents of Ghana where the spelling was different for each one. I felt like the experience summed up the functionality of Ghana's government. It takes forever to get something done in the public sector and when there is something planned the government official in sectors such as the post office, the electric, water and other various offices request a bribe before the item is processed.
Sunday was a good day as well. The ward had their recorded viewing of General Conference so we traveled to another larger church building to bring the wards in one place. it was a pleasant surprise to have seven investigators at church because of the extended travel time and cost to get to the other building. The conference here is watched as a recording and the presiding athority determines what blocks of conference to watch. As result we watched the Saturday afternoon two hour block and the Sunday morning block back to back making church four hours. For the Saturday block we watch the BYU-Idaho choir sing getting me excited to return and go back to school. I think I saw a guy I worked with in the choir as well. There were other missionaries there from the surrounding areas as well so I was able to meet up with my trainer, Elder Orchard. It was fun to talk to him about life and such.
From April 25, 2011: Lots of Investigators; Bonku
From April 25, 2011: On Monday we went to visit a man named Michael Sarpong. He has family in the states and Europe. He is a smart guy and it had been great to meet with him. He may be moving to Dubai for several months long work thing, but if not we will be able to baptize him in a few weeks.
Tuesday was fine, nothing much happened. Richard Quarshie was able to meet with us and we were talking about the church. He said he knows the church is true, but won't visit because he doesn't know how he will leave his old church without the pastor getting upset. Later in the day we were also able to teach a cluster of guys, one happening to be an assistaint pastor. He is in the Apostolic Church and while we didn't know how he would take our message he was interested and was open to us meeting him. We ended up giving him a Book Of Mormon too. I had a lot of respect for him because we were able to have a friendly gospel disscusion where he wasn't trying to be contentous.
Wednesday we were able to meet with our investigator, Nero. Nero was working at his barber shop and he was watching Mama Mia! . He said he had watched it several times before when he was at his shop. In Ghana there are Ghanaian movies which highight tribal Africa and black majic. There are also Nigerian movies which focus on armed robbers, guns and girls. Lastly the people really enjoy American movies. Most of the ones here are focousing on white girls doing what white girls do or action genre movies.
Thursday Elder Gagnon and I ment with a Nigerian, Morris Brown. The Nigerians here are looked down upon by the Ghanians for their stereotypical personality to be internet frauders. The normal Nigerian without and actual job has to struggle to survive because people are not as willing to give them jobs and such. Morris a painter is experiencing this problem. He lives in a one or two room house with six other Nigerians trying to scrape by. I think at the end of the day he may go back to Nigeria. Anyway, on this occasion with Morris he apparently hadn't eaten for almost 24 hours and he asked us for some money. I ended up having to give him 1GHC (a Cedi can last one or two meals here). He also had us pay for his tro tro fare because he didn't have money. Elder Gagnon and I wont be giving him anymore money so we will have to talk about that with him. We are hoping he can get work soon. I have been confused with the whole situation though because he apparently spends all day looking for work, but he hasn't been compelled to sell snacks or water to people on the roads (they are called traders and are basically a walking vendor) which is what many people do here to earn some sort of money.
Well on Friday Elder Gagnon and I ended up getting lost and ended up deep in another missionary companions area. I received an Easter themed package with some Twi books as well so thank you mother for that. The candy and jerkey was great. Don't worry I shared the food with the other missionaries in the apartment.
On Saturday we taught a man who is friends with Rastafarians by a river under some mago trees. It was an interesting experience. Later in the night it started raining, but we were able to get to our investigators Comfort and Emmanuela's not getting too wet. They served us some Bonku with some really oily stew with fish, Willie ( sections of fatty pork skin) and some intestine. At the end of the meal they served us home made icecream. Ice cream is very expensive here so it was quite a suprise.
Sunday was Easter and we had 8 investigators at church with three others coming for the first time.
For Easter in Ghana there is an influx of "all night worship services" lasting for as the title says all night. For the ward there wasn't a single talk or lesson I heard about Easter itself. The opening talk was a girl reading word for word the Law Of Chastity forn in the Gospel Principle Book. The best talk was from the high counselor about the traditions of Ghana that shouldn't be practiced, namely Bride Price (think of Johnny Lingo)
Tuesday was fine, nothing much happened. Richard Quarshie was able to meet with us and we were talking about the church. He said he knows the church is true, but won't visit because he doesn't know how he will leave his old church without the pastor getting upset. Later in the day we were also able to teach a cluster of guys, one happening to be an assistaint pastor. He is in the Apostolic Church and while we didn't know how he would take our message he was interested and was open to us meeting him. We ended up giving him a Book Of Mormon too. I had a lot of respect for him because we were able to have a friendly gospel disscusion where he wasn't trying to be contentous.
Wednesday we were able to meet with our investigator, Nero. Nero was working at his barber shop and he was watching Mama Mia! . He said he had watched it several times before when he was at his shop. In Ghana there are Ghanaian movies which highight tribal Africa and black majic. There are also Nigerian movies which focus on armed robbers, guns and girls. Lastly the people really enjoy American movies. Most of the ones here are focousing on white girls doing what white girls do or action genre movies.
Thursday Elder Gagnon and I ment with a Nigerian, Morris Brown. The Nigerians here are looked down upon by the Ghanians for their stereotypical personality to be internet frauders. The normal Nigerian without and actual job has to struggle to survive because people are not as willing to give them jobs and such. Morris a painter is experiencing this problem. He lives in a one or two room house with six other Nigerians trying to scrape by. I think at the end of the day he may go back to Nigeria. Anyway, on this occasion with Morris he apparently hadn't eaten for almost 24 hours and he asked us for some money. I ended up having to give him 1GHC (a Cedi can last one or two meals here). He also had us pay for his tro tro fare because he didn't have money. Elder Gagnon and I wont be giving him anymore money so we will have to talk about that with him. We are hoping he can get work soon. I have been confused with the whole situation though because he apparently spends all day looking for work, but he hasn't been compelled to sell snacks or water to people on the roads (they are called traders and are basically a walking vendor) which is what many people do here to earn some sort of money.
Well on Friday Elder Gagnon and I ended up getting lost and ended up deep in another missionary companions area. I received an Easter themed package with some Twi books as well so thank you mother for that. The candy and jerkey was great. Don't worry I shared the food with the other missionaries in the apartment.
On Saturday we taught a man who is friends with Rastafarians by a river under some mago trees. It was an interesting experience. Later in the night it started raining, but we were able to get to our investigators Comfort and Emmanuela's not getting too wet. They served us some Bonku with some really oily stew with fish, Willie ( sections of fatty pork skin) and some intestine. At the end of the meal they served us home made icecream. Ice cream is very expensive here so it was quite a suprise.
Sunday was Easter and we had 8 investigators at church with three others coming for the first time.
For Easter in Ghana there is an influx of "all night worship services" lasting for as the title says all night. For the ward there wasn't a single talk or lesson I heard about Easter itself. The opening talk was a girl reading word for word the Law Of Chastity forn in the Gospel Principle Book. The best talk was from the high counselor about the traditions of Ghana that shouldn't be practiced, namely Bride Price (think of Johnny Lingo)
Sunday, June 12, 2011
From April 18, 2011: Missionaries released from prison!; Power outages; Michael seeks out the church
From April 18, 2011: On Monday the apartment went to the Art Market. The market consists of what a person thinks of when they think Africa culture. I bought some bamboo bracelets and necklaces as well as a mask and a panting. The shop keepers drive up the prices. Thankfully we have been living in the African environment so we know what the prices should actually be and then negotiate down. There were some other white people there from Holland and some students and professors from Utah State and I'm sure they got ripped off. In the mind of a person still used to the cost of living in a first world country the prices at the market still sound like an okay deal, but because the standard of living is much lower here so are the cost of things so when we come across an item sold in the states with the inflated "American Quality" price, it gets expensive (25GHC for a bottle of face wash).
On Tuesday the McCarthy Zone (A Zone is comprised of a number of districts which is comprised of several areas each worked b attended the Temple so that was a refreshing experience. As a mission we used to go every three months, but now it has been changed to every six which is too bad.
On Wednesday Elder Gagnon and I visited some members, the Mensahs. They are an educated family with a son on a mission. I enjoy socializing with the members because we get more of the culture and it earns their trust which we need as missionaries.
Thursday we were notified that Elder Keeng and Elder Omale were released from prison after the judge of the retrial acknowledged that the original judge was biased and bribed to rule in favor of the prosecution.
Friday Elder Gagnon and I were visiting our investigator, Mercy. Mercy told us a dream she wanted us to interpret: she was in a field containing onions as far as she could see-- that's it. Elder Gagnon and I were expecting a bit more ourselves and were suprised that it was the end of the dream. In Ghana there is a lot of emphasis on dreams and what they mean.
On Saturday we met a man named Michael that called us wanting to meet with us. We found his house and he told us that he had met with missionaries from the church over a year ago and had some of the books we give out. He had been reading them frequently and decided it was time to get in contact again. It was a highlight to the week because it had gone downhill after the temple. From the experience I learned that while we won't baptize many of the people we teach here, there will be many people in their own time like Michael that will be more ready after they have let the message sit and develop over the course of their life. We extended a date to Michael and he came to church the next day where he said he felt at home.
On Sunday the power was still out from the previous night making the night hot and uncomfortable. It was a bit discouraging for us because we had rain last week and power outage this. The reason for this is when there is rain the people don't go out and if there is no light and something like church the attendance is lower because they are unable to iron their clothes and don't like to go to church with wrinkles. However the light was only out in our area so our investigators still came to church. After church we visited our investigators, Comfort and Emmanuela who were watching The Legend Of The Seeker. For some reason the people here really love the show, all of the movies here are pirated from China with 16 different movies on a single disk. Comfort and Emmaluela fed us before a short lesson. When we returned home the light came on, but went out again because of a big rain storm that brought a nice cool front in. The light came back on before we went to bed which was nice.
On Tuesday the McCarthy Zone (A Zone is comprised of a number of districts which is comprised of several areas each worked b attended the Temple so that was a refreshing experience. As a mission we used to go every three months, but now it has been changed to every six which is too bad.
On Wednesday Elder Gagnon and I visited some members, the Mensahs. They are an educated family with a son on a mission. I enjoy socializing with the members because we get more of the culture and it earns their trust which we need as missionaries.
Thursday we were notified that Elder Keeng and Elder Omale were released from prison after the judge of the retrial acknowledged that the original judge was biased and bribed to rule in favor of the prosecution.
Friday Elder Gagnon and I were visiting our investigator, Mercy. Mercy told us a dream she wanted us to interpret: she was in a field containing onions as far as she could see-- that's it. Elder Gagnon and I were expecting a bit more ourselves and were suprised that it was the end of the dream. In Ghana there is a lot of emphasis on dreams and what they mean.
On Saturday we met a man named Michael that called us wanting to meet with us. We found his house and he told us that he had met with missionaries from the church over a year ago and had some of the books we give out. He had been reading them frequently and decided it was time to get in contact again. It was a highlight to the week because it had gone downhill after the temple. From the experience I learned that while we won't baptize many of the people we teach here, there will be many people in their own time like Michael that will be more ready after they have let the message sit and develop over the course of their life. We extended a date to Michael and he came to church the next day where he said he felt at home.
On Sunday the power was still out from the previous night making the night hot and uncomfortable. It was a bit discouraging for us because we had rain last week and power outage this. The reason for this is when there is rain the people don't go out and if there is no light and something like church the attendance is lower because they are unable to iron their clothes and don't like to go to church with wrinkles. However the light was only out in our area so our investigators still came to church. After church we visited our investigators, Comfort and Emmanuela who were watching The Legend Of The Seeker. For some reason the people here really love the show, all of the movies here are pirated from China with 16 different movies on a single disk. Comfort and Emmaluela fed us before a short lesson. When we returned home the light came on, but went out again because of a big rain storm that brought a nice cool front in. The light came back on before we went to bed which was nice.
From April 11, 2011: Getting hotter; cooking skills
From April 11, 2011: Well on Monday I checked my emails at night due to several power outages. Elder Gagnon and I spent time talking to the owner of the cafe, George. George is a fat middle 20s Ghanaian who has lived in several places in the states for periods of time. George gave us some snacks and we had fun talking to each other because he has a Western personality. On another note I got some exercise equipment from another missionary so it has motivated me to work out again. My goal is to be able to identify that I have lost some weight by the end of the month. I figure it will take a lot of effort and time, but I do have a year and a half left.
On Tuesday we met with the member, Isaac Ahenie and his muslim wife trying to convert to the church, Furella. Because of the Muslim culture to stay in the religion or face reproductions from the family such a separation, physical abuse, severance of body parts, or death we don't teach a Muslim unless there won't be problems. For the three months I have known Isaac I thought his Christian faith was known to his wife's parents. However he told us on Tuesday that when his wife's parents come to visit he goes to the Mosque pretending to be Muslim to keep his Christianity as a secret. It was eye opening to see Isaac go great lengths to protect his secret.
Wednesday was when I made a stew of some sort to eat with my Indomie (top ramen). The first apartment I was in didn't cook so I was use to eating out more. While I have been in the McCarthy Hills area I am working on developing more cooking skills. I figure it will pay off.
On Thursday it was really hot. It has been getting progressively hotter which hasn't been much fun. I felt the sun developed an agitated state that day so I wrote down in the journal how the locals treat us. The majority of people are friendly to us asking us various "white man questions" and speak Twi to us for them to get a response from us. There are some instances though where we are served last in a line or charged more for what is sold in a shop because we are white. It is an interesting form of racism I guess.
On Friday, like Thursday it was really hot. The only notable thing I wrote down is that Elder Gagnon and I passed a woman peeing in the road.
Saturday was Elder Gagnon's year mark in Ghana. We had a baptism for Samuel Aboagye (14) who is a member of the Aboagye family baptized earlier. After the baptism we went to Shoprite to buy some food to celebrate his year mark.
Sunday it rained before church so none of our investigators came to church. The Ghanaian people don't go outside when it rains so there was a significant lower number of people at the church. The bishop gave some inspiring remarks at the send of the service about how he compared the foundation of a bridge being build nearby to the church being build upon the apostles and revelation from Jesus Christ. He also talked about how the roof of the church protected us from the rain just like the priciples of the Gospel, but only if we use them.
On Tuesday we met with the member, Isaac Ahenie and his muslim wife trying to convert to the church, Furella. Because of the Muslim culture to stay in the religion or face reproductions from the family such a separation, physical abuse, severance of body parts, or death we don't teach a Muslim unless there won't be problems. For the three months I have known Isaac I thought his Christian faith was known to his wife's parents. However he told us on Tuesday that when his wife's parents come to visit he goes to the Mosque pretending to be Muslim to keep his Christianity as a secret. It was eye opening to see Isaac go great lengths to protect his secret.
Wednesday was when I made a stew of some sort to eat with my Indomie (top ramen). The first apartment I was in didn't cook so I was use to eating out more. While I have been in the McCarthy Hills area I am working on developing more cooking skills. I figure it will pay off.
On Thursday it was really hot. It has been getting progressively hotter which hasn't been much fun. I felt the sun developed an agitated state that day so I wrote down in the journal how the locals treat us. The majority of people are friendly to us asking us various "white man questions" and speak Twi to us for them to get a response from us. There are some instances though where we are served last in a line or charged more for what is sold in a shop because we are white. It is an interesting form of racism I guess.
On Friday, like Thursday it was really hot. The only notable thing I wrote down is that Elder Gagnon and I passed a woman peeing in the road.
Saturday was Elder Gagnon's year mark in Ghana. We had a baptism for Samuel Aboagye (14) who is a member of the Aboagye family baptized earlier. After the baptism we went to Shoprite to buy some food to celebrate his year mark.
Sunday it rained before church so none of our investigators came to church. The Ghanaian people don't go outside when it rains so there was a significant lower number of people at the church. The bishop gave some inspiring remarks at the send of the service about how he compared the foundation of a bridge being build nearby to the church being build upon the apostles and revelation from Jesus Christ. He also talked about how the roof of the church protected us from the rain just like the priciples of the Gospel, but only if we use them.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
From April 4, 2011: Elder Jones to the Bush and Elder Gagnon to McCarthy Hills
From April 4, 2011: On Monday Elder Jones and I spent the day resting and going to cafe. At the cafe there was a thirteen year old boy looking at blue film (porn), in response I asked him if he would be doing that if his mother was here. He got off the webpage. I had a lot of fun with the whole experience.
On Tuesday we were informed that Elder Jones would be leaving McCarthy Hills for a bush area called Ho to be companions with Elder Cosper, a missionary that I came to Ghana with. To replace Elder Jones, Elder Bandon Gagnon from Price City, Utah would come to be my companion. Elder Gagnon has been in Ghana for a year and he is my third American companion. I like how open and bold he is with the message we are here to share. It is something I'm learning from him.
On Wednesday I dropped off Elder Jones and got Elder Gagnon from the mission home. I talked to other missionary friends so that was nice. One thing I like about Elder Gagnon is his obedience. It give me motivation to keep being obedient and to find ways to get better.
On Friday our most notable lesson was with a man named Nana. In our lesson we figured out that his family has a hard life while his aunt and her family prosper. He decided to talk to some pastors and they told him that his family's suffering was linked to his grandaunt being a witch and cursing her sister having the affects land on him as well. This is a normal train of thought here in Ghana, but what really grabbed our attention was that he prayed to God asking him to kill the witch relative. It was amazing how he thought God would kill someone for him. It doesn't make sense to us Western cultured people that God would do that.
On Sunday it was fast Sunday so I fasted and I was able to make it the full 24 hours. It was a nice mental experience knowing that I had made progress and that it was a stepping stone for mental discipline and self control.
On Tuesday we were informed that Elder Jones would be leaving McCarthy Hills for a bush area called Ho to be companions with Elder Cosper, a missionary that I came to Ghana with. To replace Elder Jones, Elder Bandon Gagnon from Price City, Utah would come to be my companion. Elder Gagnon has been in Ghana for a year and he is my third American companion. I like how open and bold he is with the message we are here to share. It is something I'm learning from him.
On Wednesday I dropped off Elder Jones and got Elder Gagnon from the mission home. I talked to other missionary friends so that was nice. One thing I like about Elder Gagnon is his obedience. It give me motivation to keep being obedient and to find ways to get better.
On Friday our most notable lesson was with a man named Nana. In our lesson we figured out that his family has a hard life while his aunt and her family prosper. He decided to talk to some pastors and they told him that his family's suffering was linked to his grandaunt being a witch and cursing her sister having the affects land on him as well. This is a normal train of thought here in Ghana, but what really grabbed our attention was that he prayed to God asking him to kill the witch relative. It was amazing how he thought God would kill someone for him. It doesn't make sense to us Western cultured people that God would do that.
On Sunday it was fast Sunday so I fasted and I was able to make it the full 24 hours. It was a nice mental experience knowing that I had made progress and that it was a stepping stone for mental discipline and self control.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
From March 28, 2011: Six Month Mark; Kojo's Barbershop; Faith Proceeds the Miracle
From March 28, 2011: I feel that the past week was a bit uneventful, On Wednesday I got some letters so that made my day. We also had our bikes fixed so Elder Jones and I have been biking around to our appointments. As result we have been able to see our investigators in less amount of time. We have been working on finding more people to teach with our new-found time. I'm also hoping that the biking will help me loose some of the weight I have gained here too.
On Thursday I started a 24 hour split, switching Elder Jones for Elder Bills in his area caller Odorkor. Elder Bills is from Utah and has been here about a year longer than me. I also hit my sixth month mark in Ghana. The original hype of being in Ghana for 1/4 of the time came a few weeks before and ended before the actual day itself. I feel that the buildup of an event is much greater than the event itself here.
On Friday, I ended my split with Elder Bills and went to the barber shop owned by Kojo. We were able to meet and talk to him about The Book Of Mormon. Kojo's shop has AC and a TV so there are always people just sitting in his shop. The People frequently watch movies made in Nigeria there as well. These movies mostly consist of juju, armed robbers, women, and money. I find it very interesting how silly they are.
All that happened on Saturday was Elder Withers getting sick, Elder Jones and I trying to pay our electric bill, but never ended up succeeding in doing so, and going to the church for a meeting. Because the day consisted of errands we didn't have the most productive day.
Sunday. Well Sunday Elder Jones and I baptized Godfred Mensah (45), Patrick Ofori (67) Elizabeth Aboagye (43) Daniel Aboagye (16) and Joseph Aboagye (9). The Aboagye father, Samuel baptized as well. Samuel has been a great recent convert and did very well in the baptism. As missionaries we could of baptised the people, but we try to get the fathers or recent converts to do the baptisms for the experience. We also had several other investigators at church, with a member bringing two more. A good story of the day is our investigator Mercy coming to church. She told us she was sitting at home when she started to experience heavy chest pains. She decided to place the Book Of Mormon we recently gave her on her chest. She said that the pains went away and she decided that she needed to visit the church. It was a crazy story to hear, but it is remarkable how much faith she has. Faith proceeds the miracle.
On Thursday I started a 24 hour split, switching Elder Jones for Elder Bills in his area caller Odorkor. Elder Bills is from Utah and has been here about a year longer than me. I also hit my sixth month mark in Ghana. The original hype of being in Ghana for 1/4 of the time came a few weeks before and ended before the actual day itself. I feel that the buildup of an event is much greater than the event itself here.
On Friday, I ended my split with Elder Bills and went to the barber shop owned by Kojo. We were able to meet and talk to him about The Book Of Mormon. Kojo's shop has AC and a TV so there are always people just sitting in his shop. The People frequently watch movies made in Nigeria there as well. These movies mostly consist of juju, armed robbers, women, and money. I find it very interesting how silly they are.
All that happened on Saturday was Elder Withers getting sick, Elder Jones and I trying to pay our electric bill, but never ended up succeeding in doing so, and going to the church for a meeting. Because the day consisted of errands we didn't have the most productive day.
Sunday. Well Sunday Elder Jones and I baptized Godfred Mensah (45), Patrick Ofori (67) Elizabeth Aboagye (43) Daniel Aboagye (16) and Joseph Aboagye (9). The Aboagye father, Samuel baptized as well. Samuel has been a great recent convert and did very well in the baptism. As missionaries we could of baptised the people, but we try to get the fathers or recent converts to do the baptisms for the experience. We also had several other investigators at church, with a member bringing two more. A good story of the day is our investigator Mercy coming to church. She told us she was sitting at home when she started to experience heavy chest pains. She decided to place the Book Of Mormon we recently gave her on her chest. She said that the pains went away and she decided that she needed to visit the church. It was a crazy story to hear, but it is remarkable how much faith she has. Faith proceeds the miracle.
From March 21, 2011: Way Too Hot in Ghana, Poop Hits the Fan.....But Life is Good!!!
From March 21, 2011: Well, On Monday we went to a member's house for family home evening. We brought our investigator named Tei along and met a few other members at the house. Tei had a good time and it was nice to see a member practicing FHE.
Tuesday we had our district meeting. Our district has now moved up to eight missionaries, one of them being Elder Berry. Elder Berry came to Ghana at the same time so it is fun talking to him about where we are after 5.5 months here. later in the day we met our investigator at his friend's barber shop that has AC. We sat in there for a bit teaching them and eating some rice they fed us. We also went out to visit our investigators Abigail Yenfo and Godfrd Mensah. We talked to them about what they have learned, but we mostly just spent the time developing a relationship with them. Abigail has been going to literacy class at the church so we had a lot of fun teaching her Head shoulders Knees and Toes. She got a kick out of it too.
Wednesday was the day Elder Jones and I decided that it is way too hot in Ghana. The first several hours out in the day (we leave the apartment at 10) we can feel the suns rays cook our skin. I know that I have gotten used to the climate here, but it's way too hot. I checked the weather right now and it says it feels like 97F, oh well life goes on. The best lesson we had was with Victor Sosu. We have been meeting with him for a few weeks. Victor said while he was on a tro tro he was reading our book as a way to pass time when he finally took it seriously and felt it was true. He also said he had a dream with two angels telling him our message was true. However he didn't come to church on Sunday like he said he had to so we will see what he says this time.
Thursday I started my 24 hour split with Elder Stuart Withers from Idaho Falls, Idaho. We started at 5pm and were in his area until 8.
Up to 5pm on Friday I was with Elder Withers. After the split ended we took our investigator Michael Addo to a young single adult activity. There was music, food, and dirty filthy dancing for a church activity. Michael had a fun time socializing with the guys and flirting with the girls. He told the other investigators and the barber shop with AC the fun he had. For some reason though none of them came to church like they said.
Well the highlight on Saturday was our recent convert Philomena telling Elder Jones that she wanted to visit him at our apartment alone, in his pajamas, with the bedroom clean. We had a lot of fun trying to tell her how we can't have visitors over. We eventually got the situation figured out. When we talk to Philomena we use our Ghanaian English, but switch to our regular English when we talk to each other, usually about Philomena so she doesn't understand what we are saying. On Sunday I remembered that she worked at hotels in Holland for nine years. We then talked to her in our American English to find out that she can understand every word we say leading us to to believe that when we talk to each other at her shop she can actually understand what we are saying. Philomena was sent to the Aboagyes by the ward to fellowship the Aboagye family after they didn't come to church this Sunday because the father had stomach pains. We joke about Philomena, but in reality we couldn't be more impressed with her and her progress in the church.
Sunday was when the poop hit the fan. Normally the poop always covers the fan, but on Sunday we felt that there was an abnormal amount. We started off the day by walking with some investigators that decided not to come to church with us. As we parted ways and kept walking to the church our investigator Tei pulls up in his fathers car offering to give us a ride to the tro tro station. Tei said he had to change, but he would be coming with his friends, Sulo Tabor and Richard Acqua to Church. For some reason that we haven't identified none of them came to church. It got better though when a former investigator we met on the tro tro paid our fair to the church. I think it is a combination of us being white and being missionaries that brings out the hospitality from others here. We got to church and were greeted by President and Sister Smith. President Smith did an abortion interview for our investigator and Sister Smith gave me some medicine to take because I woke up at midnight to throw up some rice an investigator fed us. I was feeling 100% better when I woke up today so that's good. At the end of the day we were expecting around 25 people at church and would of been happy with 15, but in the end only 4 came. Oh well, life goes on and we will work to have better results next week. Life is good.
Tuesday we had our district meeting. Our district has now moved up to eight missionaries, one of them being Elder Berry. Elder Berry came to Ghana at the same time so it is fun talking to him about where we are after 5.5 months here. later in the day we met our investigator at his friend's barber shop that has AC. We sat in there for a bit teaching them and eating some rice they fed us. We also went out to visit our investigators Abigail Yenfo and Godfrd Mensah. We talked to them about what they have learned, but we mostly just spent the time developing a relationship with them. Abigail has been going to literacy class at the church so we had a lot of fun teaching her Head shoulders Knees and Toes. She got a kick out of it too.
Wednesday was the day Elder Jones and I decided that it is way too hot in Ghana. The first several hours out in the day (we leave the apartment at 10) we can feel the suns rays cook our skin. I know that I have gotten used to the climate here, but it's way too hot. I checked the weather right now and it says it feels like 97F, oh well life goes on. The best lesson we had was with Victor Sosu. We have been meeting with him for a few weeks. Victor said while he was on a tro tro he was reading our book as a way to pass time when he finally took it seriously and felt it was true. He also said he had a dream with two angels telling him our message was true. However he didn't come to church on Sunday like he said he had to so we will see what he says this time.
Thursday I started my 24 hour split with Elder Stuart Withers from Idaho Falls, Idaho. We started at 5pm and were in his area until 8.
Up to 5pm on Friday I was with Elder Withers. After the split ended we took our investigator Michael Addo to a young single adult activity. There was music, food, and dirty filthy dancing for a church activity. Michael had a fun time socializing with the guys and flirting with the girls. He told the other investigators and the barber shop with AC the fun he had. For some reason though none of them came to church like they said.
Well the highlight on Saturday was our recent convert Philomena telling Elder Jones that she wanted to visit him at our apartment alone, in his pajamas, with the bedroom clean. We had a lot of fun trying to tell her how we can't have visitors over. We eventually got the situation figured out. When we talk to Philomena we use our Ghanaian English, but switch to our regular English when we talk to each other, usually about Philomena so she doesn't understand what we are saying. On Sunday I remembered that she worked at hotels in Holland for nine years. We then talked to her in our American English to find out that she can understand every word we say leading us to to believe that when we talk to each other at her shop she can actually understand what we are saying. Philomena was sent to the Aboagyes by the ward to fellowship the Aboagye family after they didn't come to church this Sunday because the father had stomach pains. We joke about Philomena, but in reality we couldn't be more impressed with her and her progress in the church.
Sunday was when the poop hit the fan. Normally the poop always covers the fan, but on Sunday we felt that there was an abnormal amount. We started off the day by walking with some investigators that decided not to come to church with us. As we parted ways and kept walking to the church our investigator Tei pulls up in his fathers car offering to give us a ride to the tro tro station. Tei said he had to change, but he would be coming with his friends, Sulo Tabor and Richard Acqua to Church. For some reason that we haven't identified none of them came to church. It got better though when a former investigator we met on the tro tro paid our fair to the church. I think it is a combination of us being white and being missionaries that brings out the hospitality from others here. We got to church and were greeted by President and Sister Smith. President Smith did an abortion interview for our investigator and Sister Smith gave me some medicine to take because I woke up at midnight to throw up some rice an investigator fed us. I was feeling 100% better when I woke up today so that's good. At the end of the day we were expecting around 25 people at church and would of been happy with 15, but in the end only 4 came. Oh well, life goes on and we will work to have better results next week. Life is good.
From March 14, 2011: Civil War in Ivory Coast Brings Missionaries to Ghana
From March 14, 2011: Monday Elder Jones and I went to another town called Mateheko to visit some other missionaries as well as another area called Odorkor to clean a hospital that had flooding with our zone. For the hospital we cleared some dirt that settled from the water and bucketed water from a basement after we removed the water damaged things. One of the family members who own the hospital, who are also members of the church, gave Elder Jones and I some Peanut M&Ms and Twix. Though they were the fun sized they were delight-some to eat. It was fun to get together as misionaries to help the hospital, but we were all wondering why we were there when they had paid staff, oh well.
Tuesday we were able to visit Tei and Sulo and teach them about eternal marriage and the temple. They are smart guys so it is fun to teach them. We also went to visit Alice Walice's husband Godfred Mensah and her friend Abigail Yenfo. We found out that Abigail has two daughters and a son. We didn't think we were going to be able to baptize Abigail for a long time because she was going to literacy class to learn how to read (one of the baptismal requirements is that the person can read so they can read the scriptures and progress in the gospel). Abigail has been going to the literacy class the church offers on Sundays and because her children can read the scriptures to her she can be baptized sooner.
On Wednesday we had our zone conference so we were able to gather and visit with other missionaries. There has been a civil war in Ivory Coast and because it has heated up the missionaries from that country have been transported to various other African countries including ours. Our zone has two of those missionaries while there have been more that have been brought in to the mission as a whole. Though there are a lot of hostilities around Ghana recently we are not in any threat. I know there was some uprising last presidential elections so we will see what happens with that when elections roll around next year. One of the things talked about during the zone meeting was companionship unity and I can say Elder Jones and I are having a lot of fun working hard and being companions. After the meeting we met with a woman named Alberta who lives in Canada half of the year and in Ghana for the rest. We ended up talking about all the fast food places she misses in Canada and she ended up feeding us as well. We had a lot of fun talking to her about familiar culture.
On Friday we found out that the recent convert Philomena would be going to the temple for the first time. it was surprising to us to hear she was going. We talked to her on Sunday and she told us that she had a great time which is good news. I feel that if we can get the members to the temple they will become much more solid members. Philomena seems clueless sometimes, but it is always great to see when she grasps something in the gospel. We also visited Jonathan Aboagye (18) and he told us that he doesn't want to come to church anymore because his father, Samuel, a recent convert cursed him to suffer the rest of his life because he isn't making some good choices. Jonathan doesn't think a new member of the church should be cursing their sons. We tried to resolve the issue with the son and father, but in the end Jonathan didn't come to church with the rest of the family. We talked to a few members on Sunday and they are planning to visit with the family so hopefully make up where we are lacking. There was a speaker at church who said, that the same mouth can't utter a blessing and a curse. We just hope that this situation will be resolved sooner than later.
Well on Saturday, to sum up the event, Elder Jones and I were meeting a family for the first time. Their son had taken us to them and it was around 6pm. The boy's friends had also followed us to the house because we were playing soccer with them right before and because the parents don't really watch their children here and we are white men, they followed us. In the middle of the lesson one of the children's mother came into the house and started yelling at us for taking her son, along with the other boys, to this house at dusk. She said that even though she likes what we do as missionaries she was upset that (this is the idea she had) we had wanted the children to follow us because there may be other people down the road that say they are missionaries to the children to kidnap them. The woman wouldn't let us explain our selves and the family who owned the house didn't stand up for us either, so that was frustrating as well. She had a point that the kids shouldn't of been with us, but because no one watches them anyway we didn't think the mother would care and didn't think to send the children home who followed us. Oh well.
On Sunday we had eight investigators at church so it was a good Sunday.
Tuesday we were able to visit Tei and Sulo and teach them about eternal marriage and the temple. They are smart guys so it is fun to teach them. We also went to visit Alice Walice's husband Godfred Mensah and her friend Abigail Yenfo. We found out that Abigail has two daughters and a son. We didn't think we were going to be able to baptize Abigail for a long time because she was going to literacy class to learn how to read (one of the baptismal requirements is that the person can read so they can read the scriptures and progress in the gospel). Abigail has been going to the literacy class the church offers on Sundays and because her children can read the scriptures to her she can be baptized sooner.
On Wednesday we had our zone conference so we were able to gather and visit with other missionaries. There has been a civil war in Ivory Coast and because it has heated up the missionaries from that country have been transported to various other African countries including ours. Our zone has two of those missionaries while there have been more that have been brought in to the mission as a whole. Though there are a lot of hostilities around Ghana recently we are not in any threat. I know there was some uprising last presidential elections so we will see what happens with that when elections roll around next year. One of the things talked about during the zone meeting was companionship unity and I can say Elder Jones and I are having a lot of fun working hard and being companions. After the meeting we met with a woman named Alberta who lives in Canada half of the year and in Ghana for the rest. We ended up talking about all the fast food places she misses in Canada and she ended up feeding us as well. We had a lot of fun talking to her about familiar culture.
On Friday we found out that the recent convert Philomena would be going to the temple for the first time. it was surprising to us to hear she was going. We talked to her on Sunday and she told us that she had a great time which is good news. I feel that if we can get the members to the temple they will become much more solid members. Philomena seems clueless sometimes, but it is always great to see when she grasps something in the gospel. We also visited Jonathan Aboagye (18) and he told us that he doesn't want to come to church anymore because his father, Samuel, a recent convert cursed him to suffer the rest of his life because he isn't making some good choices. Jonathan doesn't think a new member of the church should be cursing their sons. We tried to resolve the issue with the son and father, but in the end Jonathan didn't come to church with the rest of the family. We talked to a few members on Sunday and they are planning to visit with the family so hopefully make up where we are lacking. There was a speaker at church who said, that the same mouth can't utter a blessing and a curse. We just hope that this situation will be resolved sooner than later.
Well on Saturday, to sum up the event, Elder Jones and I were meeting a family for the first time. Their son had taken us to them and it was around 6pm. The boy's friends had also followed us to the house because we were playing soccer with them right before and because the parents don't really watch their children here and we are white men, they followed us. In the middle of the lesson one of the children's mother came into the house and started yelling at us for taking her son, along with the other boys, to this house at dusk. She said that even though she likes what we do as missionaries she was upset that (this is the idea she had) we had wanted the children to follow us because there may be other people down the road that say they are missionaries to the children to kidnap them. The woman wouldn't let us explain our selves and the family who owned the house didn't stand up for us either, so that was frustrating as well. She had a point that the kids shouldn't of been with us, but because no one watches them anyway we didn't think the mother would care and didn't think to send the children home who followed us. Oh well.
On Sunday we had eight investigators at church so it was a good Sunday.
From March 7, 2011: Blessing the Sick
From March 7, 2011: Tuesday: Well our investigator named Tei was very depressed a few days last week. Elder Jones and I eventually took him to get French Toast from the woman we taught. He enjoyed it and saved some for his friends. Tei and his friend Sulo came to church this Sunday by themselves as well. We were going to have him interviewed for baptism, but after meeting with the father he said that Tei could come to the church, but not be baptized. We are going to teach the father the restoration of the Gospel this week.
Wednesday: Elder Jones and I went to see the member Alice Walice to teach her husband and a friend. Before the lesson she asked us to give a blessing to her son who was sick. It was a testimny builder seeing her faith. We also found out that Alice Walice is married to her cousin, Godfred, our investigator. She said it is a tradition in the family.
Saturday: Well like any other day here, it was hot and I keep getting sunburnt, creating a larger tan line.
Sunday: Our friend Mary Asarie has a bakery where one of her students was graduating so she invited us for the party. When we arrived we realized the party was more of a makeshift church service and because it was in Twi, we were talking and trying not to laugh for what we got ourselves into while the prayer was going on. We stayed for 30 minutes and left. The typical Ghanaian service is filled with Amens, In the name of Jesus phrases, cover ourselves in the blood of Jesus, and other interesting words and phrases that are yelled into the microphone. I do not feel the spirit when I walk by one of them.
Wednesday: Elder Jones and I went to see the member Alice Walice to teach her husband and a friend. Before the lesson she asked us to give a blessing to her son who was sick. It was a testimny builder seeing her faith. We also found out that Alice Walice is married to her cousin, Godfred, our investigator. She said it is a tradition in the family.
Saturday: Well like any other day here, it was hot and I keep getting sunburnt, creating a larger tan line.
Sunday: Our friend Mary Asarie has a bakery where one of her students was graduating so she invited us for the party. When we arrived we realized the party was more of a makeshift church service and because it was in Twi, we were talking and trying not to laugh for what we got ourselves into while the prayer was going on. We stayed for 30 minutes and left. The typical Ghanaian service is filled with Amens, In the name of Jesus phrases, cover ourselves in the blood of Jesus, and other interesting words and phrases that are yelled into the microphone. I do not feel the spirit when I walk by one of them.
From February 28, 2011: Elder Oaks Visits the Mission
From February 28, 2011: On Tuesday Elder Oaks from the quorum of the twelve apostles came to talk to the missionaries while he spent two weeks in Ghana and Nigeria looking on the progress of the church here, giving a few firesides for the members and breaking ground on more church buildings. For the missionaries he met and talked to us about missionary work and the concept of a commitment in relation to us being blessed for our service here. The high point of his message was when he said a prayer for two two Elders illegally/ falsely imprisoned from a Ghanaian family trying to get money from the church. It was a good experience, building my testimony of prayer. Aside from that I spent some time talking to fellow missionaries after the talk.
It was Elder Nielsen's 21st birthday on Wednesday so Elder Jones and I went to a Shoprite in our area to buy him a cake. Inside the store is like any normal grocery store in the states so it was a weird experience walking through the aisles.
Thursday was when I hit my five month mark in Ghana. I know I have a long time, but if feels like time is adding up. I'm sure the feeling will pass and reality will set in. Elder Jones and I had an unmotivational day, we think because of seeing the mission yesterday and the day being very hot. We had fun as a companionship making ourselves laugh and such which helped the day progress.
Friday was another very hot day and will continue to be until rainy season comes in a few months. There has been some rain recently creating a cooler climate, but resulting in a very hot day after. The highlight of the day was taking Elder Jones' cinnamon and syrup, teaching a woman we buy Bread and Egg from French Toast. It was delightsome and we made some more after church on Sunday. We gave some to the woman as we ate, confirming that they were tasty.
Saturday was when Samuel Oboagye was baptized. We picked him up at his house with his wife and children who also came to church on Sunday. Elder Nielsen and Elder Withers (from Idaho Falls, Idaho) also baptized two others. We had our recent convert Jonathan Addo baptize, doing a great job. We will now focus on teaching the five others in the family that can be baptized. After the baptism we were walking on the side of the road and passed two white girls in a tro tro. We talked to them for a minute finding out that they are Canadians here going to college. I figure it's a study abroad program. One of the girls knew that we were missionaries from the church.
On Sunday, in addition to the Oboagye family at church we had Tei Allotei (22), Phillip Antwi (18), Stanley the Ivorian, and Wilfred. We found out that the fellowshipper that first brought Wilfred to the church told him to lie to us so he could come to our ward even though he lives next to another branch building. We talked to the bishop about the situation and we think he can still be baptized here because he is looking for a place in our area to live. He is a great guy.
All is well.
It was Elder Nielsen's 21st birthday on Wednesday so Elder Jones and I went to a Shoprite in our area to buy him a cake. Inside the store is like any normal grocery store in the states so it was a weird experience walking through the aisles.
Thursday was when I hit my five month mark in Ghana. I know I have a long time, but if feels like time is adding up. I'm sure the feeling will pass and reality will set in. Elder Jones and I had an unmotivational day, we think because of seeing the mission yesterday and the day being very hot. We had fun as a companionship making ourselves laugh and such which helped the day progress.
Friday was another very hot day and will continue to be until rainy season comes in a few months. There has been some rain recently creating a cooler climate, but resulting in a very hot day after. The highlight of the day was taking Elder Jones' cinnamon and syrup, teaching a woman we buy Bread and Egg from French Toast. It was delightsome and we made some more after church on Sunday. We gave some to the woman as we ate, confirming that they were tasty.
Saturday was when Samuel Oboagye was baptized. We picked him up at his house with his wife and children who also came to church on Sunday. Elder Nielsen and Elder Withers (from Idaho Falls, Idaho) also baptized two others. We had our recent convert Jonathan Addo baptize, doing a great job. We will now focus on teaching the five others in the family that can be baptized. After the baptism we were walking on the side of the road and passed two white girls in a tro tro. We talked to them for a minute finding out that they are Canadians here going to college. I figure it's a study abroad program. One of the girls knew that we were missionaries from the church.
On Sunday, in addition to the Oboagye family at church we had Tei Allotei (22), Phillip Antwi (18), Stanley the Ivorian, and Wilfred. We found out that the fellowshipper that first brought Wilfred to the church told him to lie to us so he could come to our ward even though he lives next to another branch building. We talked to the bishop about the situation and we think he can still be baptized here because he is looking for a place in our area to live. He is a great guy.
All is well.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
From February 21, 2011: Meeting Others from the States
From February 21, 2011: Well Tuesday we found out that Elder Cobbinah will be leaving McCarthy Hills for Tantra Hills the following day. In return Elder Nielsen will be companions with a guy named Elder Withers.
Wednesday is when we picked Elder Withers up from transfers. He is a nice guy.
Thursday was more eventful. We were teaching a man named Patrick Ofori when we saw a white girl walk past us with some other Ghanaians. We paused the lesson, got her attention and started talking to her. It turns out that Katie, from Texas was the same girl I saw in Teshie with Elder Orchard. She is on some kind of a mission trip for Royal House Chapel International. I don't really know what kind of mission work they do, but I think it has something to do with the schools here. I ended up talking to her while Elder Jones talked to the Ghanaians for about 5 minuets. Apparently Katie has been here for a while, her trip will last 10 months. This is her second time back in Ghana. Elder Jones and I found it interesting how we could hear her Texan accent and that she didn't know much of the language compared to us who have been here a smaller amount of time with our voices able to speak Ghanaian English and so on.
Friday we Taught Oko, Tei, and friends with The Testiments. It was a good experience with them and we could all feel the spirit. Later in the week we taught the Plan of Salvation using the rooms in their house to represent the different stages in the plan. While they are all of 22 or 23 we all really enjoyed how the lesson was conveyed answering the questions of where did we come from, why are we here , and where we go after death.
Saturday We waked past this place to eat called Jambos Fast Food. Apparently the man who owns the place lives in the states 6 months out of the year and went to school in Wisconsin. I found it interesting that he knows the city I live in and the surrounding area. We talked for a while and he gave us a free meal which contained fried rice, fried chicken and some pear flavored drink. He is getting hamburgers and pizza soon and taking the recepies from the states making the fried chicken the best I have had here. That sums up the highlights. On Saturday night we were informed that Elder Oaks from the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will be visiting the mission on Tuesday.
Wednesday is when we picked Elder Withers up from transfers. He is a nice guy.
Thursday was more eventful. We were teaching a man named Patrick Ofori when we saw a white girl walk past us with some other Ghanaians. We paused the lesson, got her attention and started talking to her. It turns out that Katie, from Texas was the same girl I saw in Teshie with Elder Orchard. She is on some kind of a mission trip for Royal House Chapel International. I don't really know what kind of mission work they do, but I think it has something to do with the schools here. I ended up talking to her while Elder Jones talked to the Ghanaians for about 5 minuets. Apparently Katie has been here for a while, her trip will last 10 months. This is her second time back in Ghana. Elder Jones and I found it interesting how we could hear her Texan accent and that she didn't know much of the language compared to us who have been here a smaller amount of time with our voices able to speak Ghanaian English and so on.
Friday we Taught Oko, Tei, and friends with The Testiments. It was a good experience with them and we could all feel the spirit. Later in the week we taught the Plan of Salvation using the rooms in their house to represent the different stages in the plan. While they are all of 22 or 23 we all really enjoyed how the lesson was conveyed answering the questions of where did we come from, why are we here , and where we go after death.
Saturday We waked past this place to eat called Jambos Fast Food. Apparently the man who owns the place lives in the states 6 months out of the year and went to school in Wisconsin. I found it interesting that he knows the city I live in and the surrounding area. We talked for a while and he gave us a free meal which contained fried rice, fried chicken and some pear flavored drink. He is getting hamburgers and pizza soon and taking the recepies from the states making the fried chicken the best I have had here. That sums up the highlights. On Saturday night we were informed that Elder Oaks from the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will be visiting the mission on Tuesday.
From February 14, 2011: Rain, Baptism by Flashlight, Bus Full of Girls
From February 14, 2011: -On Tuesday Elder Jones took a tro tro to a more distant part of our area. We taught a few lessons and extended a few dates for baptism too. After one lesson we were given a large bag of yams which I proceeded to carry on my head for a few hours until we went back to the more familiar parts of our area. We see all sorts of things carried on peoples' heads here and while it does seem interesting it is much easier to carry a heavy object on the head than with my arms. People go around selling things off their heads all day. It has become a skill I have worked on because it is is so useful yet so ridiculous.
-On Thursday it started raining around midday and continued for several hours. Elder Jones and I saw the clouds coming so we started heading for the apartment. We ended up standing under a covering for a few minuets rapping our things in bags and running through the rain. A small truck drove by and we got in the bed with a few other people. The rain was hitting us hard being on the truck, but it was a fun experience. We eventually made it home to have the power out for a while. We took a nap, finding the rain had died down and Elder Cobbinah and Elder Nielsen returned. We had nothing to do so Elder Jones and I went back out to teach a few lessons walking through some flooded roads and falling in some gutters. After the rain the gutters were flushed and the roads smelled like poop.
-Friday was really humid from the rain the day before. The most notable lessons taught were with some ~22 year old twins named Oko and Tai. We watched some church movies and have been fellowshiped by a barber around the same age named Nii who brought them to church on Sunday too.
-Saturday: Well we baptized Jonathan Addo a 24 year old. At the service the power was out at the church so we were using flashlight. It was really cool feeling of joy. Elder Nielsen and Elder Cobbinah Also had a man baptized as well. Earlier in the day we met with our recent convert Philomena to answer any of her questions. Philomena is a funny woman that likes to weasel us into buying some of her snacks that she sells. Elder Jones and I always encourage her humorous nagging to the other. On this occation she was keeping us entertained by wanting to pop our pimples. She was finishing up with my face when she kissed me twice. Now this in itself is not note worthy, but I thought I would take this opportunity to share the list so far. One kiss by a fellow missionary when we parted ways (hand holding and greeting kisses are more acceptable with the same gender in public, it's the display of affection towards a date or wife which is grounded upon). One kiss on the wrist by a drunk man trying to prove that he will come to church, and two from Philomena.
-By far my favorite day of this week was Sunday. It started by having an investigators father drive us to church at 85mpg. At church we had Samuel Obagye with his daughter at church as well as Nii Quaie bringing Oko and Tai. We had a few other investigators as well, one of them giving me an "African" bracelet so I was happy about that. At church the Executive secretary for the ward took us to his house for dinner. It's a good thing he has a car because he lives 20 minuets away and taking a tro tro wouldn't be fun. Before we ate the rice and stew he cut up some coconuts from some of his trees and served them to us. We proceeded to eat them and feed some of them to his pet monkey. The monkey is around 3 feet tall and has been kept in its cage for a few years because the owner, Brother Entwi doesn't want him to run away or get stolen. Mr. Entwi lived 25 years in Italy, joined the church there as well, and still speaks fluent Italian. On the way home in the car, stuck in traffic, we ended up next to a bus of white people, mostly girls, around our age. We figured that they were on a tour of Ghana of some sort. Like any white missionary here we decided to take some pictures of them haha. They found it interesting to see other white people, but we were much more excited because none of us have seen so many non missionaries in one spot our entire time here. Life is good.
-On Thursday it started raining around midday and continued for several hours. Elder Jones and I saw the clouds coming so we started heading for the apartment. We ended up standing under a covering for a few minuets rapping our things in bags and running through the rain. A small truck drove by and we got in the bed with a few other people. The rain was hitting us hard being on the truck, but it was a fun experience. We eventually made it home to have the power out for a while. We took a nap, finding the rain had died down and Elder Cobbinah and Elder Nielsen returned. We had nothing to do so Elder Jones and I went back out to teach a few lessons walking through some flooded roads and falling in some gutters. After the rain the gutters were flushed and the roads smelled like poop.
-Friday was really humid from the rain the day before. The most notable lessons taught were with some ~22 year old twins named Oko and Tai. We watched some church movies and have been fellowshiped by a barber around the same age named Nii who brought them to church on Sunday too.
-Saturday: Well we baptized Jonathan Addo a 24 year old. At the service the power was out at the church so we were using flashlight. It was really cool feeling of joy. Elder Nielsen and Elder Cobbinah Also had a man baptized as well. Earlier in the day we met with our recent convert Philomena to answer any of her questions. Philomena is a funny woman that likes to weasel us into buying some of her snacks that she sells. Elder Jones and I always encourage her humorous nagging to the other. On this occation she was keeping us entertained by wanting to pop our pimples. She was finishing up with my face when she kissed me twice. Now this in itself is not note worthy, but I thought I would take this opportunity to share the list so far. One kiss by a fellow missionary when we parted ways (hand holding and greeting kisses are more acceptable with the same gender in public, it's the display of affection towards a date or wife which is grounded upon). One kiss on the wrist by a drunk man trying to prove that he will come to church, and two from Philomena.
-By far my favorite day of this week was Sunday. It started by having an investigators father drive us to church at 85mpg. At church we had Samuel Obagye with his daughter at church as well as Nii Quaie bringing Oko and Tai. We had a few other investigators as well, one of them giving me an "African" bracelet so I was happy about that. At church the Executive secretary for the ward took us to his house for dinner. It's a good thing he has a car because he lives 20 minuets away and taking a tro tro wouldn't be fun. Before we ate the rice and stew he cut up some coconuts from some of his trees and served them to us. We proceeded to eat them and feed some of them to his pet monkey. The monkey is around 3 feet tall and has been kept in its cage for a few years because the owner, Brother Entwi doesn't want him to run away or get stolen. Mr. Entwi lived 25 years in Italy, joined the church there as well, and still speaks fluent Italian. On the way home in the car, stuck in traffic, we ended up next to a bus of white people, mostly girls, around our age. We figured that they were on a tour of Ghana of some sort. Like any white missionary here we decided to take some pictures of them haha. They found it interesting to see other white people, but we were much more excited because none of us have seen so many non missionaries in one spot our entire time here. Life is good.
From February 7, 2011: Four Months in Ghana!
From February 7, 2011: Monday was a normal day in Africa. It was also the day I hit four months here.
On Tuesday Elder Jones and I went to a farther place in our area to see a man named Jonathon. There were many African like places here so I was able to take some good pictures. On our way back Elder Jones signaled what he thought was a trotro, but as the car pulled over we realized it was a school bus for kindergarten age children. The driver said he would give us a ride to wherever we needed to go to because he was going to the same area. We proceeded to get in the van and take some pictures of the kids in the car. The driver picking us up was a good example of the goodness in the world. People say that there is so much evil in the world. The reason it grabs attention is that it's out of the ordinary. There are more people in the world doing random acts of kindness for each other, we just have to notice them. The Sacksteder family sent me a copy of This I Believe and some of the personal philosophies talk about the goodness in the world passed around by unrecognized persons keeping charity alive.
Wednesday was a fantastical day because the member who was sewing some traditional Muslim robes finished the work today. I have no idea where I will wear a long sleeve dress with a hood, but I will make sure I find a place.
Thursday was even more of a mind blowing day. So I was talking to a man with Elder Jones when another man walked by wearing a familiar shirt. We went to talk to the man after and took a picture of him. The shirt the man was wearing was a staff shirt of the gym I used to go to in Illinois (Courts Plus in Elmhurst). I figure that it was donated to a place that ships clothes to Africa and he bought it off the street. I found it a wonderful coincidence.
Friday was when our zone (collection of districts which is a collection of areas) had our every three month interviews with the mission president. Things went well and the desire to work continues. After the interview Elder Jones and I met with the Obagye family where they accepted a baptism date. The father is an educated farmer with six children and a wife. It has been great teaching them because they understand the importance of families.
For Saturday Elder Jones and I went over to visit an investigator named Margret. She is a retired teacher who has children in London so they have sent her an oven, toaster, and a washing machine. She is in her mid 70s so she said she needed help around the house dusting and sweeping. While we were there some Jehovah's Witnesses started talking to Margret's grandchild. Her house is on the third floor so we smiled and waved to them in a festive manner. After the cleaning was done she said she would feed us so we made ourselves some fried rice giving her some for dinner. We have no idea how the rice turned out so well, but she said it was good and it was.
For Sunday we went to church and after I read Teachings of the Prophets: Joseph Smith. It was a long book, over 500 pages, but it was a quick read and I loved it. It was nice learning more about him and his life through the eyes of his words and other people. It satisfies me to say that at the end of the book I had my testimony of the truthfulness of his life and the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I was also thinking about how to the world I used to live in, I don't exist. I stay alive through the thoughts of others and my words such as this, but because I am just a single aspect of peoples lives, being gone has wiped me off the face of the Earth and when I do return people will remember me to some degree or another depending on the person, but for the most part I will be a new face. I have loved to see the growth I have made in all areas because of my time here in Ghana. I am so used to my current way of life it will be interesting to see how I am and where I will be in life compared to others around me when I return.
On Tuesday Elder Jones and I went to a farther place in our area to see a man named Jonathon. There were many African like places here so I was able to take some good pictures. On our way back Elder Jones signaled what he thought was a trotro, but as the car pulled over we realized it was a school bus for kindergarten age children. The driver said he would give us a ride to wherever we needed to go to because he was going to the same area. We proceeded to get in the van and take some pictures of the kids in the car. The driver picking us up was a good example of the goodness in the world. People say that there is so much evil in the world. The reason it grabs attention is that it's out of the ordinary. There are more people in the world doing random acts of kindness for each other, we just have to notice them. The Sacksteder family sent me a copy of This I Believe and some of the personal philosophies talk about the goodness in the world passed around by unrecognized persons keeping charity alive.
Wednesday was a fantastical day because the member who was sewing some traditional Muslim robes finished the work today. I have no idea where I will wear a long sleeve dress with a hood, but I will make sure I find a place.
Thursday was even more of a mind blowing day. So I was talking to a man with Elder Jones when another man walked by wearing a familiar shirt. We went to talk to the man after and took a picture of him. The shirt the man was wearing was a staff shirt of the gym I used to go to in Illinois (Courts Plus in Elmhurst). I figure that it was donated to a place that ships clothes to Africa and he bought it off the street. I found it a wonderful coincidence.
Friday was when our zone (collection of districts which is a collection of areas) had our every three month interviews with the mission president. Things went well and the desire to work continues. After the interview Elder Jones and I met with the Obagye family where they accepted a baptism date. The father is an educated farmer with six children and a wife. It has been great teaching them because they understand the importance of families.
For Saturday Elder Jones and I went over to visit an investigator named Margret. She is a retired teacher who has children in London so they have sent her an oven, toaster, and a washing machine. She is in her mid 70s so she said she needed help around the house dusting and sweeping. While we were there some Jehovah's Witnesses started talking to Margret's grandchild. Her house is on the third floor so we smiled and waved to them in a festive manner. After the cleaning was done she said she would feed us so we made ourselves some fried rice giving her some for dinner. We have no idea how the rice turned out so well, but she said it was good and it was.
For Sunday we went to church and after I read Teachings of the Prophets: Joseph Smith. It was a long book, over 500 pages, but it was a quick read and I loved it. It was nice learning more about him and his life through the eyes of his words and other people. It satisfies me to say that at the end of the book I had my testimony of the truthfulness of his life and the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I was also thinking about how to the world I used to live in, I don't exist. I stay alive through the thoughts of others and my words such as this, but because I am just a single aspect of peoples lives, being gone has wiped me off the face of the Earth and when I do return people will remember me to some degree or another depending on the person, but for the most part I will be a new face. I have loved to see the growth I have made in all areas because of my time here in Ghana. I am so used to my current way of life it will be interesting to see how I am and where I will be in life compared to others around me when I return.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
From January 24, 2011: Kenishie Market, Marriage, Illness
From January 24, 2011: On Monday Elder Jones went to the Kenishie market to buy fabric for some Muslim robes that will be sewn for us by a church member. You ask why? Well they are basically dresses with long sleeves and a hood. If this doesn't compel you then perhaps you should hear that I will wear it to such events that require a change of clothes underneath like the gym. The market itself is a huge three story building. The first floor is the food that is shipped in from farms. Once Elder Jones and I made it through the smell of exposed meat that had been there for at least a full day and asended the stairs where we were located in the part of the market where there were other kinds of food aside from the stuff below. We bought a few things and continued to the third floor. The third floor is where everything in the world imaginable can be found. We bought our fabric and left. The fun fact about this market is that this is one of the places filmed on the Amazing Race. I can not imagine how those people handled that market not adapting to the culture.
We later met up with Elder Cobbinah, Nielsen, and other missionaries from a place called Mateheko, one of them being Elder Beck. We met for a hamburger at a restaurant where we encountered a white man. I talked to him with Elder Beck and we figured out that he is a gold trader from Greece and he welcomed us to teach our message. Elder Beck (Elder Beck and his companion is over the area where the man, Emanuel lives) has called informing me that he will be getting baptized so that is good to hear.
Well Tuesday was another fantastical day. Josephine, a recent convert in Teshie is moving to Chicago in August to get married. It will be a plan of mine to see her when I return to the states. The only way to top this is that a mother in the ward was talking to her daughters if they would want to marry a white man. They like every African said yes. The mother gave her consent on the daughters (in their twenties) - consent for Porsche to marry me and Natasha to marry Elder Nielsen. In Ghana the tribal marraige is complete when the parents of the daughter recognize the couple and married. Long story short I am now married traditionally in Ghana.
On Wednesday the President Satati, a regional authority for the church in West Africa, came to talk to the missionaries. It was fun and inspirational. On the way to the event our taxi died in the freeway so avoiding traffic we were able to move to the side of the road and get another car.
We came home on Thursday to hear a lot of arguing in the compound. Elder Cobbinah being Ghanaian tried to listen to what was going on as multiple people were arguing in Twi. He concluded that there was someone in the compound being accused of rape. Thursday was also when I developed a fever, chills and a headache.
When Friday came I called the mission and somehow I developed a variation of urinary tract infection. I'm just going to let your mind do the rest. The rest of the story is that I had to drink 10L of water, a mango and pineapple every day for several days and take some medicine that worked. I'm fine now, but I did stay in the apartment for the day on Friday. Midday Elder Jones and I ran into the landlord who told us about a thief that stole a bedspread the previous night and how he had been reported to the police. It was this sheet that was held up the night before and when Elder Cobbinah was listening in his native language what was going on, he came to the conclusion that the sheet was representing a rape and not that it was stolen and then found. So no rape after all.
I couldn't recall anything from Saturday aside from being tired from being sick the previous day and doing a full day of missionary work. On Sunday it was a normal lazy Sunday that we would of woken up in the late afternoon, but because church is at 8 am we woke up early. Before church started I was talking to a man named George who plays the hymns for the sacrament meeting. I proceeded to pretend to play a duet with him as he warmed up with the hymns. It has been fun to let go of my dignity and have fun with the people.
We later met up with Elder Cobbinah, Nielsen, and other missionaries from a place called Mateheko, one of them being Elder Beck. We met for a hamburger at a restaurant where we encountered a white man. I talked to him with Elder Beck and we figured out that he is a gold trader from Greece and he welcomed us to teach our message. Elder Beck (Elder Beck and his companion is over the area where the man, Emanuel lives) has called informing me that he will be getting baptized so that is good to hear.
Well Tuesday was another fantastical day. Josephine, a recent convert in Teshie is moving to Chicago in August to get married. It will be a plan of mine to see her when I return to the states. The only way to top this is that a mother in the ward was talking to her daughters if they would want to marry a white man. They like every African said yes. The mother gave her consent on the daughters (in their twenties) - consent for Porsche to marry me and Natasha to marry Elder Nielsen. In Ghana the tribal marraige is complete when the parents of the daughter recognize the couple and married. Long story short I am now married traditionally in Ghana.
On Wednesday the President Satati, a regional authority for the church in West Africa, came to talk to the missionaries. It was fun and inspirational. On the way to the event our taxi died in the freeway so avoiding traffic we were able to move to the side of the road and get another car.
We came home on Thursday to hear a lot of arguing in the compound. Elder Cobbinah being Ghanaian tried to listen to what was going on as multiple people were arguing in Twi. He concluded that there was someone in the compound being accused of rape. Thursday was also when I developed a fever, chills and a headache.
When Friday came I called the mission and somehow I developed a variation of urinary tract infection. I'm just going to let your mind do the rest. The rest of the story is that I had to drink 10L of water, a mango and pineapple every day for several days and take some medicine that worked. I'm fine now, but I did stay in the apartment for the day on Friday. Midday Elder Jones and I ran into the landlord who told us about a thief that stole a bedspread the previous night and how he had been reported to the police. It was this sheet that was held up the night before and when Elder Cobbinah was listening in his native language what was going on, he came to the conclusion that the sheet was representing a rape and not that it was stolen and then found. So no rape after all.
I couldn't recall anything from Saturday aside from being tired from being sick the previous day and doing a full day of missionary work. On Sunday it was a normal lazy Sunday that we would of woken up in the late afternoon, but because church is at 8 am we woke up early. Before church started I was talking to a man named George who plays the hymns for the sacrament meeting. I proceeded to pretend to play a duet with him as he warmed up with the hymns. It has been fun to let go of my dignity and have fun with the people.
From January 17, 2011: LDS Missionaries and Jehovah Witness Missionaries
From January 17, 2011: Well on Monday I bought some soccer jerseys so I must say that is was a productive day to say the least.
Tuesday was also much fun. I can't recall anything really aside that Elder Jones and I worked hard and we continue to have a lot of laughs through the day.
Wednesday was noteworthy in the sense that we encountered an undercover Jehovah Witness. I say undercover because they normally wear straw hats as an unofficial way to identify them. Elder Jones and I were talking to an investigator when this woman came up to talk to us asking questions. She started to argue with us and when she used the word Jehova God we realized who she was. We exchanged pamphlets and parted ways.
The next day (Thursday) we encountered the same woman at the place we met her the day before teaching our investigator. I in my chipper like demeanor talked to her and made some humorous comments about the weather which caused her to laugh and we parted ways. Though we don't agree on the same doctrine I had no issue expressing to her that I respected her willingness to share a message (like myself) that she believes to be true. Though we are not the best of friends by the nature of both of our purposes, I'm sure that we will encounter her again where we will continue being friendly towards each other which is something that I think is very important to do.
On Friday the missionaries that are the mission president's assistants (the assistants to the president/ APs) came to spend a few hours with Elder Jones and I. One of them served with Elder Orchard so that was something in common that I found amusing. The day was good learning from him and picking up some new ideas for teaching.
On Saturday a woman named Philomina Mensah was baptized. She may not know as much as other people about the gospel, but she has a testimony of the truthfulness of it.
Sunday was noteworthy because our ward had two graduates from BYU that came to visit Ghana for a business idea involving fish farms in third world countries. It was fun talking to them and I found it interesting how I have blended into the culture so far as I compare them to myself. After church the McCarthy Hills elders, Elder Nielsen, Cobbinah, Jones and myself, dressed up in some football jerseys and played finger football. We made a field from cardboard and put a little rubber cleat on our finger to kick the ball with.
Tuesday was also much fun. I can't recall anything really aside that Elder Jones and I worked hard and we continue to have a lot of laughs through the day.
Wednesday was noteworthy in the sense that we encountered an undercover Jehovah Witness. I say undercover because they normally wear straw hats as an unofficial way to identify them. Elder Jones and I were talking to an investigator when this woman came up to talk to us asking questions. She started to argue with us and when she used the word Jehova God we realized who she was. We exchanged pamphlets and parted ways.
The next day (Thursday) we encountered the same woman at the place we met her the day before teaching our investigator. I in my chipper like demeanor talked to her and made some humorous comments about the weather which caused her to laugh and we parted ways. Though we don't agree on the same doctrine I had no issue expressing to her that I respected her willingness to share a message (like myself) that she believes to be true. Though we are not the best of friends by the nature of both of our purposes, I'm sure that we will encounter her again where we will continue being friendly towards each other which is something that I think is very important to do.
On Friday the missionaries that are the mission president's assistants (the assistants to the president/ APs) came to spend a few hours with Elder Jones and I. One of them served with Elder Orchard so that was something in common that I found amusing. The day was good learning from him and picking up some new ideas for teaching.
On Saturday a woman named Philomina Mensah was baptized. She may not know as much as other people about the gospel, but she has a testimony of the truthfulness of it.
Sunday was noteworthy because our ward had two graduates from BYU that came to visit Ghana for a business idea involving fish farms in third world countries. It was fun talking to them and I found it interesting how I have blended into the culture so far as I compare them to myself. After church the McCarthy Hills elders, Elder Nielsen, Cobbinah, Jones and myself, dressed up in some football jerseys and played finger football. We made a field from cardboard and put a little rubber cleat on our finger to kick the ball with.
From January 10, 2011: First Transfer from Teshie to McCarthy Hills
From January 10, 2011: On Monday after emailing home I studied the scriptures along the subjects of God, who he is, the Godhead, and the plan of salvation. It's nice to increase my understanding of these subjects and be able to discuss them with others if needs be.
On Tuesday I was told that I would be transferred from Teshie and be serving in a place called McCarthy Hills. Compared to Teshie, McCarthy Hills is more of a wealthy community though once we make our way into the valley from the hill which we live on, it tends to becomes more rundown. My new area is much larger so we tend to travel a lot in it. One of the places that is really cool in McCarthy Hills is looking out from the balcony from out apartment which is on the second level and quite nice for a mission apartment. When the sun sets I can see thousands of lights from the view. It's an interesting feeling because it seems like it could be a city in the states. For the area itself I live with three other missionaries Elder Jones my companion who is from Utah and has been out for 6 months, Elder Nielsen from Utah 20 months, and his Ghanaian companion Elder Cobbinah ho has been out for 6 months. For Elder Cobbinah he is from a wealthy family in Ghana whose uncle is our wards bishop. Anyway, he has a washer and dryer, and mostly eats American food at home. He doesn't speak any tribal language, and doesn't like to eat the traditional food either.
Hearing that I was leaving Teshie was sad at first because I had fun with Elder Orchard, but I knew that it was just another step forward and I'm now closer to the final destination. I have solidified a good work ethic from Elder Orchard so it has been fun working with elder Jones being really laid back and willing to work. Leaving Teshie and saying goodbye to some of the people there gave me a taste for what it will feel like to leave Ghana after two years.
Going back to McCarthy Hills it is much more quiet and there is more foliage which gives the place more of an "African" feel. There isn't a place to buy any "African" items so that will help me save money though there is a nice soccer jersey stand here and I figure while some of the stuff I buy here will be nice, but I won't have a use for them while I would put them to use so I think I will buy a few. Oh another thing about elder Jones is that we lived at the same place at BYU-I and worked one shift difference at the same job there. I think I saw him, I know some of his friends, but he has dropped 50lbs or so here so he looks really different now. He is a funny guy and while we have different backgrounds and type of friends our personalities mesh really well.
One of my first days here I saw some boys playing football (soccer) and when I took a closer look I saw that one boy only had one leg and was using a crutch. I filmed him playing so I will send it in an email home, but he was running, passing, shooting, and defending being one of the more talented kids playing. Watching the boy play was evident of the human persona to overcome. There are many people here with disabilities or handicaps that have to overcome to survive here and excel in overcoming while I get the feeling that if people had the same trials in the states many of the people wouldn't have the desire to overcome and seek pity from others. I know that it's a general statement, but I feel they overcome inpart because one can't really give them the aid they would receive in the states. I'm going to email some pictures and a video later in the day when we come back to cafe.
On Friday Elder Cobinah crashed on his bike so Elder Nielsen and I helped bandage him up and he is doing fine now. Eder Jones and I came to the conclusion that we have bed bugs so we sprayed our room and beds so we are able to get a full night sleep now without waking up and itching all over.
On Tuesday I was told that I would be transferred from Teshie and be serving in a place called McCarthy Hills. Compared to Teshie, McCarthy Hills is more of a wealthy community though once we make our way into the valley from the hill which we live on, it tends to becomes more rundown. My new area is much larger so we tend to travel a lot in it. One of the places that is really cool in McCarthy Hills is looking out from the balcony from out apartment which is on the second level and quite nice for a mission apartment. When the sun sets I can see thousands of lights from the view. It's an interesting feeling because it seems like it could be a city in the states. For the area itself I live with three other missionaries Elder Jones my companion who is from Utah and has been out for 6 months, Elder Nielsen from Utah 20 months, and his Ghanaian companion Elder Cobbinah ho has been out for 6 months. For Elder Cobbinah he is from a wealthy family in Ghana whose uncle is our wards bishop. Anyway, he has a washer and dryer, and mostly eats American food at home. He doesn't speak any tribal language, and doesn't like to eat the traditional food either.
Hearing that I was leaving Teshie was sad at first because I had fun with Elder Orchard, but I knew that it was just another step forward and I'm now closer to the final destination. I have solidified a good work ethic from Elder Orchard so it has been fun working with elder Jones being really laid back and willing to work. Leaving Teshie and saying goodbye to some of the people there gave me a taste for what it will feel like to leave Ghana after two years.
Going back to McCarthy Hills it is much more quiet and there is more foliage which gives the place more of an "African" feel. There isn't a place to buy any "African" items so that will help me save money though there is a nice soccer jersey stand here and I figure while some of the stuff I buy here will be nice, but I won't have a use for them while I would put them to use so I think I will buy a few. Oh another thing about elder Jones is that we lived at the same place at BYU-I and worked one shift difference at the same job there. I think I saw him, I know some of his friends, but he has dropped 50lbs or so here so he looks really different now. He is a funny guy and while we have different backgrounds and type of friends our personalities mesh really well.
One of my first days here I saw some boys playing football (soccer) and when I took a closer look I saw that one boy only had one leg and was using a crutch. I filmed him playing so I will send it in an email home, but he was running, passing, shooting, and defending being one of the more talented kids playing. Watching the boy play was evident of the human persona to overcome. There are many people here with disabilities or handicaps that have to overcome to survive here and excel in overcoming while I get the feeling that if people had the same trials in the states many of the people wouldn't have the desire to overcome and seek pity from others. I know that it's a general statement, but I feel they overcome inpart because one can't really give them the aid they would receive in the states. I'm going to email some pictures and a video later in the day when we come back to cafe.
On Friday Elder Cobinah crashed on his bike so Elder Nielsen and I helped bandage him up and he is doing fine now. Eder Jones and I came to the conclusion that we have bed bugs so we sprayed our room and beds so we are able to get a full night sleep now without waking up and itching all over.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
From January 3, 2011: Food Poisoning and Hospital Visit; Pictures!
From January 3, 2011: Well on Monday I woke up at 3am to go vomit so that was enjoyable. I continued to throw up and experience all other side effects of my body giving up and dying on me. A few hours later I called the mission president's wife to give her my condition. She concluded that I had developed food poisoning from our meal that was fed to us the day before. It wasn't malaria because I didn't have a headache so that was good news. Sister Smith told me to go and buy some medicine to try and get better. As Elder Orchard and I traveled around thirty minuets to pick up our three weeks subsistence and then the medicine I threw up several more times. I wasn't able to keep the medication down either so we were told to go to the hospital. We got there after throwing up a few more times - telling the nurses what was wrong, them talking to me in Twi while I felt like dying. I was eventually connected to an IV drip, and I eventually got better making the total vomit count at 19.
On Tuesday I was feeling much better, which was a little sad because I invited the nurses to my "call to glory" (funeral). Sister Smith brought some scrambled eggs, toast, jam, and apple juice. The eggs had peppers, onions, and cheese. It was my first time seeing cheese while I have been here because the cost is outrageous and it is only sold in certain places. I was waiting to leave by 10am, but we had to wait for the doctor to tell us we could leave. We were told around 2pm that he was roaming the halls to pass time. We eventually left by 5 and were on our way back to Teshie where we taught one lesson, but I was really drained so we just emailed home to make up for the absence on Monday and went back to the apartment. It's weird now that after I am done being sick, I don't really care as much on getting sick again. I know it wasn't fun and I felt like dying, but the moment just came and went and I know I can survive it so there is no point obsessing over it.
On Wednesday I forgot to write in my journal, but I remember that I was still really drained from being sick, but when we started working and teaching I had energy which I am giving credit to the spirit for while I preached the gospel to the best of my ability.
On Thursday we baptized a man named Christopher Nartey. He was very happy and was confirmed a member of the church and given the gift of the Holy Ghost on Sunday.
On Friday New Years Eve, the Teshie ward had a party. Elder Orchard and I brought our investigators and they were able to have a good time meeting people that are members. The party was full of food, dancing and watching a pirated version on Air Force One. In other churches there was a lot of loud vocal prayers and fun stuff like that. I will try and send an audio clip of what they sound like next week.
On Sunday we went to church, felt the spirit, and gave a baptismal date to a girl named Helen. We also went over to our bishop's house for dinner because Sister Oduro will be returning home from her mission on Wednesday. It was fun to spend some time with the bishop and his family and after when I helped wash dishes.
On Tuesday I was feeling much better, which was a little sad because I invited the nurses to my "call to glory" (funeral). Sister Smith brought some scrambled eggs, toast, jam, and apple juice. The eggs had peppers, onions, and cheese. It was my first time seeing cheese while I have been here because the cost is outrageous and it is only sold in certain places. I was waiting to leave by 10am, but we had to wait for the doctor to tell us we could leave. We were told around 2pm that he was roaming the halls to pass time. We eventually left by 5 and were on our way back to Teshie where we taught one lesson, but I was really drained so we just emailed home to make up for the absence on Monday and went back to the apartment. It's weird now that after I am done being sick, I don't really care as much on getting sick again. I know it wasn't fun and I felt like dying, but the moment just came and went and I know I can survive it so there is no point obsessing over it.
On Wednesday I forgot to write in my journal, but I remember that I was still really drained from being sick, but when we started working and teaching I had energy which I am giving credit to the spirit for while I preached the gospel to the best of my ability.
On Thursday we baptized a man named Christopher Nartey. He was very happy and was confirmed a member of the church and given the gift of the Holy Ghost on Sunday.
On Friday New Years Eve, the Teshie ward had a party. Elder Orchard and I brought our investigators and they were able to have a good time meeting people that are members. The party was full of food, dancing and watching a pirated version on Air Force One. In other churches there was a lot of loud vocal prayers and fun stuff like that. I will try and send an audio clip of what they sound like next week.
On Sunday we went to church, felt the spirit, and gave a baptismal date to a girl named Helen. We also went over to our bishop's house for dinner because Sister Oduro will be returning home from her mission on Wednesday. It was fun to spend some time with the bishop and his family and after when I helped wash dishes.
From December 28, 2010: First Christmas in Ghana
From December 28, 2010: This post is vague for time and events that will be explained in the next post.
On Tuesday I went on a split with the zone leader Elder Larson in his area. It was fun getting to talk to him and learning more about him. He has been here for 18 months so it was cool to see how much Twi he knows. After the split we met up at the church in Teshie where Elder Orchard received a package from his family for Christmas. After he opened it up we went to talk to Christopher before his baptism and all was well. On Thursday we were planning on baptizing him, but he didn't want to. After spending time figuring out what was wrong he told us that he unknowingly took a drink of alcohol at a work party and didn't feel worthy for baptism. We talked it over and he will be baptized this week. I spent some time thinking about life and where the people my age group are in life compared to me. When I recall an unhappy memory or when things aren't super fun, it's a thought that I like to think about - being able to say that I have lived in Africa for two years and grown in so many ways.
On Wednesday I heard that Elder Lemmeh from Ethiopia was sent home for leaving his companion for three hours and other things. He came to Ghana the same time as me so his departure leaves four other missionaries that arrived in Ghana at the same time. Elder Orchard and I spent our lunch and dinner reading the scriptures. Reading them seems to re-energize us so we can continue the day working hard. I finished the Book of Mormon and will reread it, in addition to working my way through the Bible. I don't know how long it will take me to read it, but I figure I have plenty of time here.
On Christmas Eve I called my father for 40 minutes and my family afterward. It was good talking to them and just letting the conversation flow.
On Christmas all of the missionaries met together at a members home to eat and socialize. It was good talking to the other missionaries at the party and to eat nice food. I spent a lot of time with Elder Orchard, Boyd, Farnes, and Elder Rich. I was also able to pick up some packages and letters that were sent to me. Later I called my family again for a while.
On Sunday the apartment went to a member's house to eat rice, stew, and chicken.
On Tuesday I went on a split with the zone leader Elder Larson in his area. It was fun getting to talk to him and learning more about him. He has been here for 18 months so it was cool to see how much Twi he knows. After the split we met up at the church in Teshie where Elder Orchard received a package from his family for Christmas. After he opened it up we went to talk to Christopher before his baptism and all was well. On Thursday we were planning on baptizing him, but he didn't want to. After spending time figuring out what was wrong he told us that he unknowingly took a drink of alcohol at a work party and didn't feel worthy for baptism. We talked it over and he will be baptized this week. I spent some time thinking about life and where the people my age group are in life compared to me. When I recall an unhappy memory or when things aren't super fun, it's a thought that I like to think about - being able to say that I have lived in Africa for two years and grown in so many ways.
On Wednesday I heard that Elder Lemmeh from Ethiopia was sent home for leaving his companion for three hours and other things. He came to Ghana the same time as me so his departure leaves four other missionaries that arrived in Ghana at the same time. Elder Orchard and I spent our lunch and dinner reading the scriptures. Reading them seems to re-energize us so we can continue the day working hard. I finished the Book of Mormon and will reread it, in addition to working my way through the Bible. I don't know how long it will take me to read it, but I figure I have plenty of time here.
On Christmas Eve I called my father for 40 minutes and my family afterward. It was good talking to them and just letting the conversation flow.
On Christmas all of the missionaries met together at a members home to eat and socialize. It was good talking to the other missionaries at the party and to eat nice food. I spent a lot of time with Elder Orchard, Boyd, Farnes, and Elder Rich. I was also able to pick up some packages and letters that were sent to me. Later I called my family again for a while.
On Sunday the apartment went to a member's house to eat rice, stew, and chicken.
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