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.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
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.
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