Monday Elder Moses and I started off the day by going to the gym. When we got home I washed and did a serious cleaning job in the apartment. The highlight of the day was when we went to the cafe. I was pleasantly surprised to see a white girl. I sat next to her and started a conversation. I came to learn that the girl who was around my age was from Germany and is on an internship here for 6 weeks with a small traditional African clothing company. From our conversation it seemed like she was not totally in love with Acrra, Ghana, but she had only been here for a small time. Our relationship that was formed at the cafe was topped off with her offering me a cookie.
On Tuesday I made some food from ground maize and Elder Moses and I talked about how I can improve myself as a missionary with leadership and teaching. It was a good conversation and it gave me a new mental outlook and confidence to take the next step in improving myself.
Wednesday about half of the mission came together to hear from a member in the first quorum of the seventy. All I can remember from the meeting was socializing with friends and having the lights go out when we got back to the apartment at night.
On Thursday I had a split with Elder Rich. Elder Rich is from Utah and has been in Ghana for a year now being 6 weeks ahead of me. Elder Rich is a nice guy.
Friday our zone had interviews with President Judd. It was a lot of fun talking to him. He is a very warm and happy person one can't help but to be around. When he talk to me or any other individual it seems like they are his best friend and treats everyone that way. He has a psychology degree so that may have something to do with it too.
Saturday I talked to Elder Moses about his life at home, more specifically the time when his country had its civil war in 1998. Elder Moses was 14 when he was captured by the rebels and sent to a camp. He was somehow able to escape where he ran for his life for if he was recaught he would be shot. Elder Moses also mentioned how he saw a rebel come up to a woman where he sent her away because he didn't want to shoot her at close range. The woman was relieved and continued her path. It was only after the woman was farther away that the rebel shot her. I felt like that our conversations help us relate more to each other and when I think of problems in my life I recall some of Elder Moses' stories and my problems go away.
Sunday I was asked to teach primary because the teacher didn't come to church.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
From August 8, 2011; Power Outages; Porch Time
On Monday we received notice that Elder Afu was the new AP. Elder Afu is 6 weeks ahead of me on his mission.
Tuesday we received notice that The Alajo1 area would be closed sending Elder Acquah and Elder Mutuku to various other areas. Elder Moses and I will continue to be companions and have the apartment to ourselves. Aside from that I bought the Football Club Barcelona new visitor jersey for the season and I was happy with that.
On Wednesday morning we awoke to have the power out and then had Elder Acquah and Elder Mutuku leave for transfers. The night was ended by visiting a member named Valentine(21). Valentine and his family had moved from Togo, a French speaking country bordering Ghana to the right. Being colonized by the French, the Togoise had adopted some of the food namely some very tasty spaghetti which they fed us when we visited.
Thursday continued the trend of no light which went into Friday as well. We had cooked some things and were afraid that they would spoil before the light came back on. We bought some ice blocks during midday, but we were relieved when we arrived back at the apartment at night to find that the power had come back.
Saturday we met with a girl named Magdalene(17) and her two sisters who are apparently inactive members though I'm always second guessing when we are in the lessons because of their knowledge of our message. It shows me that I need to put my full effort into what I teach people so such a situation won't happen because of me.
Sunday Elder Moses and I had something that I call porch time. It entails sitting outside talking as the sun sets. Yes, I know it's a great bonding move. As the night went on we sat outside our compound with the member who sells pay as you go credit. All is well.
Tuesday we received notice that The Alajo1 area would be closed sending Elder Acquah and Elder Mutuku to various other areas. Elder Moses and I will continue to be companions and have the apartment to ourselves. Aside from that I bought the Football Club Barcelona new visitor jersey for the season and I was happy with that.
On Wednesday morning we awoke to have the power out and then had Elder Acquah and Elder Mutuku leave for transfers. The night was ended by visiting a member named Valentine(21). Valentine and his family had moved from Togo, a French speaking country bordering Ghana to the right. Being colonized by the French, the Togoise had adopted some of the food namely some very tasty spaghetti which they fed us when we visited.
Thursday continued the trend of no light which went into Friday as well. We had cooked some things and were afraid that they would spoil before the light came back on. We bought some ice blocks during midday, but we were relieved when we arrived back at the apartment at night to find that the power had come back.
Saturday we met with a girl named Magdalene(17) and her two sisters who are apparently inactive members though I'm always second guessing when we are in the lessons because of their knowledge of our message. It shows me that I need to put my full effort into what I teach people so such a situation won't happen because of me.
Sunday Elder Moses and I had something that I call porch time. It entails sitting outside talking as the sun sets. Yes, I know it's a great bonding move. As the night went on we sat outside our compound with the member who sells pay as you go credit. All is well.
From August 1, 2011; Beware of Open Sewers
On Tuesday Elder Moses and I went into Accra to deliver some things. Though I don't know all of the Accra Central it's fun just walking around trying to find where we need to go.
Wednesday Elder Moses and I were visiting a member that sells boiled and roasted corn on the cob. As we were conversing there was a group of kids pushing a cart with popcorn machines powered by a generator and accessorized with some music and neon lights. We see this company of sorts quite freqently as we go through our day and the daughter of the member took it upon herself to buy us some popcorn from them. As we went to buy there was a young boy who walked up, but wasn't aware of the gutter and fell in. He started crying and his friends pulled him out. The boy was was fine just startled and covered with the contents of an open sewer. I felt bad for the boy. No one wants to be covered in poop even more so before buying popcorn.
Well on Thursday we were prepping our investigator, Hannah Nyarko for a baptismal interview, but when we arrived and reminded her she told us she would do the interview, but not the baptism for some one or two reasons. As a result she wasn't baptized on Saturday, but I have faith that she will be one day.
Saturday FCBarcalona played Manchester United for a friendly pre season match in Washington DC for a stadium of 80,000 people, mostly Manchester fans, but apparently Kobe Bryant was there doing some press for FCBarcalona. President Obama is also a FCB fan which is good. Barcalona lost, but it was fun to think about the team I have come to support here play in the United States.
For Sunday the district was talking about rumors about the Alajo 1 area being closed next transfer leaving Elder Moses and I in the apartment by ourselves.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
From July 25, 2011: Thursday Sick and Runny; Exercising at the Gym; 10 Month Mark;
From July 25, 2011:
In response to one of Mom's question -Ya it's hot here all the time. I tend to drink up to ten liters a day. The weather is cooler in general as of late, but when the heat does come it kills. It will put you in a cranky mood if one isn't careful.
Well for a weekly recap, on Wednesday I interviewed two people for baptism for Saturday. It was fun to talk to them and develop a relationship with them.
Thursday I awoke from my slumber sick. I assume it was some food we ate the previous day for dinner because Elder Moses was running. I felt nauseated, had a slight fever and was also runny. As a result I stayed in the apartment all day spending most of the time lying on the bed. I took the time to start my new journal having filled the first with just under ten months of memories. It was fun to open up the new one and I'm excited to see how it will develop it's own personality from the memories contained within.
Friday was characterized by sitting at an investigator's place and when I brought up that she will be interviewed for baptism on Sunday, her husband who previously gave his consent, became angered with the comment resulting in a feeling of contention and a retraction of the woman being baptized. I felt bad because whatever resulted after we left was from my comment.
Saturday the gym we go to has a group running session on Saturday mornings and because Elder Mutuku and I are the only ones in the apartment with proper running footwear, we were sent to represent the group. The running was fun even though Elder Mutuku fell and cut his knee. I would like to continue going on Saturdays, but Elder Mutuku has retracted his interest on doing so. We have been going to this gym for around three weeks now and it's fun to exercise again. After the running, Elder Moses and I had a baptism for a granddaughter of a member named Ofeibea Thompson (11).
Sunday I hit my 10th month mark in Ghana.
In response to one of Mom's question -Ya it's hot here all the time. I tend to drink up to ten liters a day. The weather is cooler in general as of late, but when the heat does come it kills. It will put you in a cranky mood if one isn't careful.
Well for a weekly recap, on Wednesday I interviewed two people for baptism for Saturday. It was fun to talk to them and develop a relationship with them.
Thursday I awoke from my slumber sick. I assume it was some food we ate the previous day for dinner because Elder Moses was running. I felt nauseated, had a slight fever and was also runny. As a result I stayed in the apartment all day spending most of the time lying on the bed. I took the time to start my new journal having filled the first with just under ten months of memories. It was fun to open up the new one and I'm excited to see how it will develop it's own personality from the memories contained within.
Friday was characterized by sitting at an investigator's place and when I brought up that she will be interviewed for baptism on Sunday, her husband who previously gave his consent, became angered with the comment resulting in a feeling of contention and a retraction of the woman being baptized. I felt bad because whatever resulted after we left was from my comment.
Saturday the gym we go to has a group running session on Saturday mornings and because Elder Mutuku and I are the only ones in the apartment with proper running footwear, we were sent to represent the group. The running was fun even though Elder Mutuku fell and cut his knee. I would like to continue going on Saturdays, but Elder Mutuku has retracted his interest on doing so. We have been going to this gym for around three weeks now and it's fun to exercise again. After the running, Elder Moses and I had a baptism for a granddaughter of a member named Ofeibea Thompson (11).
Sunday I hit my 10th month mark in Ghana.
From July 18, 2011: Propane; Rainy Season Continues.....Ahhhh; Boiling Water.....Nasty
From July 18, 2011:
Tuesday I woke up to find that our propane tank had been used up. In Ghana the two most common sources of cooking fuel is coal and propane. The only issue with propane is finding a filling station when the tank runs out. Elder Acquah and Elder Mutuku went searching for a place, but returned to inform us that the two places they checked didn't have any gas apparently due to a national gas shortage. Our distress was cut short thankfully, by being able to find a filling station with gas allowing us to continue cooking the next day. Aside from no gas the only thing to mention is that recently at night I have been feeling the colder weather due to the rainy season. It's quite nice and even though in comparison to the temperature back home it would still be considered hot.
Thursday we were riding when Elder Moses spotted a father of some members so we stopped to say hello. Even from a distance it was apparent he had undergone some physical problems by the pink skin color indicating a new layer of skin. From talking to the man we found out that the former wife had tricked him to coming over to her house so she could throw boiling water at him. The water burned his chest and arms thankfully missing his face. He was still in pain from the incident over a week ago and it was definitely a memorable coversation. The woman was taken by the police, but was currently out of jail by bribing the police with 200GHC ($150) to ignore the case.
Friday my zone met the new mission president and his wife, President and Sister Judd. The two were clearly excited about being in Ghana and were wanting to pick up the culture. President Judd and his wife are from Utah. before coming to Ghana he was a professor or ancient scripture at BYU-Idaho and then BYU (Provo). His previous church calling was a counselor in the General Sunday School Presidency. The two have very warm personalities, making jokes and possessing personalities that one can't help but love.
Saturday and Sunday were characterized by the unusual occurrence of naked people peeing into the gutter.
Tuesday I woke up to find that our propane tank had been used up. In Ghana the two most common sources of cooking fuel is coal and propane. The only issue with propane is finding a filling station when the tank runs out. Elder Acquah and Elder Mutuku went searching for a place, but returned to inform us that the two places they checked didn't have any gas apparently due to a national gas shortage. Our distress was cut short thankfully, by being able to find a filling station with gas allowing us to continue cooking the next day. Aside from no gas the only thing to mention is that recently at night I have been feeling the colder weather due to the rainy season. It's quite nice and even though in comparison to the temperature back home it would still be considered hot.
Thursday we were riding when Elder Moses spotted a father of some members so we stopped to say hello. Even from a distance it was apparent he had undergone some physical problems by the pink skin color indicating a new layer of skin. From talking to the man we found out that the former wife had tricked him to coming over to her house so she could throw boiling water at him. The water burned his chest and arms thankfully missing his face. He was still in pain from the incident over a week ago and it was definitely a memorable coversation. The woman was taken by the police, but was currently out of jail by bribing the police with 200GHC ($150) to ignore the case.
Friday my zone met the new mission president and his wife, President and Sister Judd. The two were clearly excited about being in Ghana and were wanting to pick up the culture. President Judd and his wife are from Utah. before coming to Ghana he was a professor or ancient scripture at BYU-Idaho and then BYU (Provo). His previous church calling was a counselor in the General Sunday School Presidency. The two have very warm personalities, making jokes and possessing personalities that one can't help but love.
Saturday and Sunday were characterized by the unusual occurrence of naked people peeing into the gutter.
From July 11, 2011: Traditionally Low Profile Birthday Boy; Walking as Bike Gets Fixed; Dinner with the Ward Mission Leader
From July, 11, 2011:
Well for a weekly recap, my bike had some problems and was being fixed Monday through Saturday resulting in Elder Moses and I doing a lot of walking. The positive about walking is the ability to talk to Elder Moses more. Aside from that walking isn't much fun, it's more hot to walk around than it is to bike and we don't get the chance to be as productive as we would be on bike.
On Tuesday I turned 20. it was an interesting feeling being here on my birthday. I spent some time thinking what it would be like to be at home for it. It was a good day.
Friday when we were walking a crazy man came up and walked beside us for several minutes mumbling. There seems to be certain defects common here such as lazy eye, bow legs, and mad people. I don't know if it is hereditary or some other answer.
Saturday as I mentioned before we picked up my bike from being repaired. in the evening the ward mission leader, Abraham had told us (Elder Acquah, Mutuku, Moses, and I) about a dinner he would be feeding us with the help of a few other members. When we arrived there were just the three people helping cook, but after some small time we were joined by other members eating rice balls, ebba (ground casava in a sticky ball form when combined with water) and some ground nut (peanut butter) soup complimented with fish. we enjoyed the meal, ate fruit, and socialized with the other people there creating a feeling of just being at a party socializing with each other.
Sunday it rained and the apartment enjoyed its usual nightly conversations.
Well for a weekly recap, my bike had some problems and was being fixed Monday through Saturday resulting in Elder Moses and I doing a lot of walking. The positive about walking is the ability to talk to Elder Moses more. Aside from that walking isn't much fun, it's more hot to walk around than it is to bike and we don't get the chance to be as productive as we would be on bike.
On Tuesday I turned 20. it was an interesting feeling being here on my birthday. I spent some time thinking what it would be like to be at home for it. It was a good day.
Friday when we were walking a crazy man came up and walked beside us for several minutes mumbling. There seems to be certain defects common here such as lazy eye, bow legs, and mad people. I don't know if it is hereditary or some other answer.
Saturday as I mentioned before we picked up my bike from being repaired. in the evening the ward mission leader, Abraham had told us (Elder Acquah, Mutuku, Moses, and I) about a dinner he would be feeding us with the help of a few other members. When we arrived there were just the three people helping cook, but after some small time we were joined by other members eating rice balls, ebba (ground casava in a sticky ball form when combined with water) and some ground nut (peanut butter) soup complimented with fish. we enjoyed the meal, ate fruit, and socialized with the other people there creating a feeling of just being at a party socializing with each other.
Sunday it rained and the apartment enjoyed its usual nightly conversations.
From July 4, 2011: Now Sharing Apartment with 3 Africans; President Smith Leaves and President Judd Arrives; Cement Weights
From July 4, 2011:
On Tuesday the apartment spent time talking about the mission and the subject came up on how the African missionaries feel that the white missionaries are favored. It was an interesting subject to listen to as the three other missionares in the apartment, who are Africans, share their feelings on the subject which I could tell there were some bitter feelings. I have never noticed the situation much before (I figure it is because I'm apparently the favored of the two groups and it wouldn't stand out to me). After the conversation ended Elder Moses and I later in the week had our own version of it and I'm starting to see some of what they are talking about. I guess it's just one of the things with living in an all African apartment. Aside from this conversation the only other thing for note was that a drunk, shirtless man stopped Elder Moses and I on the road and proceeded to give me a hug because I was a missionary. Unlike any other person, I proceeded to also give the man a hug, smelling his wafting body odor.
Wednesday President Smith left Ghana to be replaced by the new mission president and his wife, President and Sister Judd. There have been several missionaries around my area that have met him and they speak of him as a hero and all of the good changes he is making to the mission so we will see what happens. President Judd seems like a good pick for the mission. He has a PhD in psychology and used to teach some scriptural history class at BYU.
Thursday Elder Moses and I picked up some weights I bought made from cement. We have continued to use them and it's a nice refreshing feeling to lift weights.
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