No longer a teen!

Elmina Castle

Monday, we went to Elmina for a spur-of-the-moment Zone activity. We went to the castle and had a tour. It was pretty sweet, but the Cape castle is better.

Elmina Castle

After we ate food and the sisters soaked us.... because they could.... We bounced to cape and did our usuals. But we got home late because of the activity which ruined our plans...

Elmina Castle

Tuesday morning we went to Alice Gate and threw the disc and did some sprints, it was nice. Elder Andreasen gave a good instruction on conversion as well. He did well. :) After, we chopped fufu. Kojo and Felicia were the only ones that we were able to see. Martin has Malaria and all our other people didn't have time for us. We did spend the evening with Gladys, though, and had a good gospel conversation with her. When we got to the house we killed a mouse. :) They are plenty in the house. Then cut Elder Owens' hair.

Reunions!
I left her 3 weeks into her training,
and now I'm back!

The Germans invited us over for breakfast in honor of Michael and Dorcus' birthdays. It was nice. They even made me my own cake thing because they remembered that I'm allergic to peanuts. Caring neighbors. :)

Breakfast with the Germans

We saw a few non-serious people and then taught Phillo. I love teaching Phillo, she's such a sweet gal. The Germans invited us over for dinner as well and I had a super deep and intimate gospel conversation with Christopher. He feels like he's missing something in life and wants to know what.... That's why we're here. ;) We'll begin the lessons soon.

Sister Sarah,
I LOVE her smile. :)

Thursday, about half of our appointments bounced. Mami Esi fed us some rice and cartilage.... It took me about 10 minutes to chew and my companion 15.... Love it. Taught Emmanuella and then Georgina. I love teaching both her and Phillo. The spirit is always so powerful and they are always so engaged.

The average spider size

Friday started out with Felica and Kojo. Taught them about where we came from before we were born. They respond wonderfully to our message. Had a so so lesson with Josephine and then a wonderful lesson with Martin. We are definitely here to find those that are ready, because some aren't. Had a long visit with Stephanie. She's curious which leads to nice conversations about the gospel. From her we went to finish the night with Phillo. She's so intelligent. :)

Happy birthday to me! I'm so happy! :) I don't feel any different, though. Felicia and Kojo had us over for my birthday and fed us some wonderful Geoloff and chicken. Man it was so nice. Most of our people were busy or not home, so we didn't really do much all day. We visited Stephanie and then Phillo again. We love spending time with them.

I don't know why Ghanaians
have struggles at looking at the camera...

Sunday, Mothers Day! We tried to get everything ready to go for the call but couldn't due to technology having attitudes. So we went to church and found Felicia and Kojo there. I'm so excited for them to progress in the gospel and draw closer to God. :) After church I tried getting the computer to work but it wouldn't go. So we used Michael's phone and I was able to skype for an hour but then the battery died and I wasn't able to continue due to complications and stuff. But it was so nice to see my family and even part of my family to be! Life is good and I'm so happy. :)

Old Women deserve Windows

Football, Frisbee, and Rugby

Monday morning we all woke up early to go to the training college field to go and play sports as a district. We're only 6 so we tried to invite some members but only one came. It was still super sweet though.

When we went to Cape, the cafe was filled with children wasting their lives away, so I bribed one 2 cedis to go home. He did and I was able to email on time. It was so nice. On our way home the skies just started to pour. I was in the back seat corner. There are supposed to be 2 slider windows but there was only one..... there was an old woman in front of me, so I gave her the one slider and got soaked, but only half of me. Only my right side was soaked. I'll get soaked for an old woman. :)

Right side soaked!

Tuesday was awesome. We talked with everyone. We saw Dorcus and she wanted me to hold her baby. In 6 minutes her baby was out. I am too good at putting babies to sleep. :) Went and taught Emmanuela and then worked our way over to Martin. In the evening Gladys had us over for food. Plus it was Elder Manyayi's birthday!

Wednesday morning I made a double batch of Japatis (I'm going to make them when I come home.) Making them in Ghana, though, makes you sweat so bad. Man, I was just soaked and dripping. "By the sweat of your brow ye shall eat bread" is no joke here. We went and had a wonderful discussion with Felicia and Kojo. They are such wonderful people. Went and taught Martin and then just wandered visiting with people. We finished our evening with Phillomina and Georgina and visited with their grandmothers. I love that whole family. :)

6 and done :)

Thursday, Happy Birthday Rach! :) The day started out terribly. I woke up just after midnight with a terrible ear ache that wouldn't quit. It finally subsided enough for me to sleep around 4. We had Zone Conference. So I was just wrecked for it. I wish I could have been more alert. We got home late ish but we were able to see Emmanuela and Mary Asma since they're close the the house.

Friday morning we went running. We went to the top of the training college and saw a wonderful view of the beach and coastline. Beautiful. Then we gapped it home. It felt so nice to be huffin and puffin small. :) We went to see Felicia and Kojo. I love them and we have good discussions, but they can talk. Too much. We often spend a lot more time there than we would hope. We saw Martin and he gave us a Sweet Apple (some big green ridged fruit with a white meat) and some mangos. Sooo nice. :)

Elimina Zone
(I'm looking almost brown....
The sun is too much)

Saturday morning we all went and helped Mami Esi with her farm. She didn't plan very well so a lot of us stood around a lot. She didn't plan for 6 elders, but it's all good. Mary Asma fed us 4 fufu and light soup afterward. They were having an engagement so they invited us to come and eat. Man she can feed. We were all full. We went and taught Elizabeth and Hannah, new investigators. And then went and saw Dorcus along with all the neighborhood kids. We finished our evening with Phillo and Georgina. They are such wonderful young ladies and I feel like both will progress. :) Life is soooo sweet. :)

DCA school,
where we worship :)

Brother Kojo came to church and he came early! It was fast Sunday and he even bore his testimony. This man has never gone to church in his life. He wanted nothing to do with religion. And now here he is: first time coming to church, bearing testimony about the message we've been sharing with him. He contributes in class and then shares it with and invites all of his family members. Powerful guy. :) I love him. Mary Asma fed us the same thing again. Man, she's spoiling us. :) Went and taught Matilda and Grace (New investigators). Then we spent the rest of the evening with strangers and finding new people. :)

I don't do round 2....

Round 2 crew

Monday morning was super productive. We did everything and then went to Cape. We got there pretty early so that we could beat the rush of emailing. After, we stopped by the castle, and it was awesome because my main guy that I always bought from remembered me and didn't even have to look at my name. It's nice making good relationships. Went to the market and then went home, relaxed small, and then had a great lesson with Martin.

Tuesday we went to Kissi for district meeting and this time we had no visitors. ;) After we went to Felicia's and Kojo's for Fufu. They didn't prepare much, so the pounding was easy. From there, we went and taught Helina. I love that woman! She's in her thirties and is just a delight to visit with. I just hope that she'll keep the commitments that we give her. Then we ended the night with Martin again. Man, I just love teaching him. He ends the night on such a wonderful note.

Grinding the Ghanaian way

Wednesday we went farming for a woman named Grace. Man, did she work us. Eish. When I stop, I'm done. I'll go until it's done, but if you stop me... uh... Nope. I'm not doing round two. Well, she had us do round two. We were all so wrecked. I was getting hand cramps from the cutlace. We worked from 8-2:30.... wrecked.

Thursday was a little ish. The whole morning and weekly planning was great. I even made an awesome curry, but Elder Owens had roasted his feet yesterday in the sun since apparently it's better to farm in sandles.... Mistake... His feet had swollen from the burn and so I stayed with him and played nurse while the other two went out to see people. Since we had some and they had some that needed to be seen, we split so that we could get them all. Next time, wear shoes. :) It helps I promise. ;)

Pounding with
Eder Manyayi

First thing Friday, we saw Felicia and Kojo. They always praise our teaching, which is so refreshing. Then we went and talked to everyone! We met tons of awesome people. 2 families. Fausty and Dorcus plus a big family with all the women named Mami Ama. Hopefully something will come from that. Had our standard powerful lesson with Martin and then went to see Gladys. Her and her husband are so sweet. I love spending time with them.

Saturday was super busy. We went to a celebration thing for the Germans since they invited us. They teach students some technical skills like filming, IT stuff, photo, just all of that kind of stuff. And they release a magazine, so we went and spent a little time there. Who knows, maybe they'll look for the missionaries in Germany when they go home. From there we went and visited Agnes and then Felicia and Kojo. We visited with some girls named Phillomina and Georgina and met an awesome guy named C. Martin gave us a referral. His name is John. And he too seems way interested. Investigators that give referrals are so wonderful because those referrals will almost always be serious. :) I love it. :)

Our very own Light Soup

Sunday was awesome! Felicia came to church. And President Stevenson split us from Kissi and made Komenda it's own branch. Members don't really support the number we would like but we'll work towards making it a full branch. :) I'm stoked. At 3 we went to Agnes' house and she taught us all how to make Light Soup, so now, when I come home the 2nd time, then I'll make you all some nice things. :) We spent the rest of the evening trying to seal appointments for Tuesday. I absolutely love this area. :)

Find and go Seek

Coconut Plantation

Monday was super busy. We did our nessesities and ate pancakes. Then we picked some people to come with us to go to the Branch/Group activity for Easter. We played volleyball and football. I love football. I was position 5. Defending is the way to go. We played and just had a good time. The sun is always too much though. :)

Church Children

We finished and got cleaned up, then went to Cape. Emailing was also just terrible. So we went to the market and got there just in the nick of time. It was closing so we barely got everything that we needed. It takes like an hour drive to get from Komenda to Cape. Came home and cooked up a nice curry.

Bro Martin :)

We had a visitor for District meeting. Erica (Branch President's daughter. She's 2.) She was good for most of it, then she started disturbing. Gotta love stubborn little children. :)

After, all 6 of us went to a chopbar and enjoyed. Then Elder Manyayi and I went to Elmina to email but couldn't because power was out..... What is up with emailing.... We called our branch president and he told us we could come and email small at his work place. Such a blessing. So it was a bum day. We weren't able to really do anything. Everyone was busy.

photo from Mission President

Wednesday was Elder Andreasen's and my first full day together. We managed to see one woman named Mami Efua. She's 77. Just meeting a ton of people. We have plenty of promising people. I'm so stoked. :) There are some Germans that live pretty close to our apartment and they invited us over for a visit in the evening. They are some pretty sweet people. They are 6 in total doing volunteer work by teaching children some technical skills. Maxim, Michael, Christofer, Suni, and Julie. (one was missing)

photo from Mission President

Thursday's weekly planning went a little better. We didn't have any lessons but we did meet a ton of more nice people. We went to PEC but after waiting for a while they cancelled it due to the President being super busy with stuff.

Friday was poop. I woke up feeling fine, but then I got super nauseous and sick. So I stayed in the house for most of the day. Just tried to get feeling better. Elder Owens went with my companion to teach a few people, and then in the evening I was feeling a little bit better. So we went out and taught Martin who is the most promising investigator I have ever had. He asks all the right questions and thinks everything through. He's a powerful dude of 24. I'm stoked for him. :)

photo from Mission President

Saturday we started the day by teaching a non-serious pastor named Kofi. Then we met a wonderful woman from Accra. I bet you she'll join the church. So I sent her information to the Assistants to send it to the Accra mission.

We saw Mami Ekua and met a girl named Sarah who just so happens to have the exact same birthday as me?!?!?! Crazy! Day month and year! We closed the day with a phenomenal lesson with Martin. :)

photo from Mission President

My first busy Sunday in a long time. Martin came to Church which was awesome. After church we went to Kissi and I helped conduct a baptism for the other Elders. It went great. :) Came back and taught Felicia and Kojo. Then went to Mami Esi and she gave us small Fufu and then we went to another Mami Esi and she fed us some rice. We were running from place to place. A solid first full week in Komenda. :)

Whitewashing Komenda!

Rail Road

My last Monday in Takoradi. The morning was normal. We went to town and played volleyball with a mix of missionaries from Mpintsin and Takoradi. We tried to email but couldn't. :/ So we went home and just did things around the house. Cleaned, packed, and gymed. And my shoes dried out! Which was a miracle.

Intifuls

Tuesday we went to MLC report. It was good. Then we started my goodbyes. First we went to the Asares and then Alfred, made our way to Gloria and then to the Intifuls. The Intifuls fed us some nice fufu since I was leaving. Then we went to Charity and she fed us a monster plate of rice. I'll miss Charity. Then we visited the Owus and then Terresa. I'll miss everyone, but really it's just my favorite people.

Paa Kwesi and Mami Esi

Wednesday was way sweet. I was all ready to go bright and early. We got a cab and got to town on time, which means that no one else showed for another 40 minutes. Ghanaian standard time.... We got in the Tro and I talked with Elders Green and Andreasen the whole way to Pedu. Got to Pedu and had some nice reunions with people. Found out that I was going to Komenda and that I would be whitewashing with Elder Andreasen! What the freak! We were in the same district and now we're companions!?!

Elder Andreasen

Elders Manyayi and Owens are in our apartment. Elder Manyayi is from Zimbabwe and is super sweet. I love the guy, and Elder Owens was the minor case of me. He also had issues with his toes because he went to DIS like me.... mistakes. The area is way sweet and the people are wonderful. We have the beach in our area and there is a constant breeze. :)

Farming! :)

Thursday we couldn't really plan since we're whitewashing. So we just got super motivated and pumped up on life. It was raining so we cleaned the house and put everything in order since it was kind of a mess. We went to PEC at 4 and had to wait for some time for the Kissi branch president. Komenda is a group. Very very very few members come to church. While we waited we had a sling shot competition with Elder Lopez. Good stuff. :)

Beach!

Friday was a bum day. We tried to go out but the rain just poured. So we were only able to go out in the evening and Gladis had us come. She fed us Banku and Okra soup. From there we helped them teach one lesson to a woman named Miracle. She has a sweet family.

(photo from Mission President)

Saturday morning we went to Kissi to help the Elders farm for one of their investigators. I love farming. Got home and got cleaned up. We've been going on splits with the other elders so that we can learn more of the area. We went to Dutch Komenda which is located on the beach. I love this area. :) Saw a ton of sweet people. I'm so stoked to just dive in and do the work.

(photo from Mission President)

I've missed worshipping in a school. Church begins at 9 and closes 11. There aren't enough members to split for a third hour. Miracle and her sister Blessing came. I love those women. Mami Esi told us to come for Fufu at 1. So we did, but it was ready at 5:30.... Eish. So that killed most of our day. We visited Miracle and closed our day. :)

(photo from Mission President)

I'm super stoked to probably finish my mission here. The area is wonderful and the people are just delightful. Plus my companion is super awesome. He's from Wyoming. I'm just stoked for everything. :)

It's been long! Finally a Baptism! :)

Packing wood. :)

I'm so sorry for not being able to email the past 2 weeks! The cafes either have no power or no network. So just to let you all know, I'm still alive and happy. :)

Pickin Palm nuts

The past few weeks have gone by super fast and have been pretty normal plus some farming (see pictures).

Daddi Asare :)

This week has also just flown by. Monday was pretty normal, we did a major deep clean of the house. Swept and mopped and dusted everything! I love living in a clean house. :) We went to town and did our normal things, only emailing didn't work out so we shopped and went home. In the evening I gymed and read through some past conference talks.

Wood packing crew!

Tuesday was great! My studies were nice since I'm now on a conference binge. We went out and taught Alfred the law of Tithing. Man I love teaching that man. Then we went and tried to teach Abigail, key word: tried. She's a sweet little thing but doesn't understand a thing....

In the Bush!

The Intifuls fed us Fufu. I ate mine plus half of my companion's and half of Elder Swartbooi's. I love Fufu.:) In the evening we had a wonderful Baptism. I'm so glad that Charity has finally made that wonderful step in her life and she wanted me to do the ordinance. :)

Home base

We went to Takoradi but still we couldn't email. I was barely even able to send one. We came back and ate at the chop bar by Zongo and then visited Charity and asked her about the Baptism. She said that she loved it and had all the feelings that go with it. :) We went and saw Gloria and then taught a small girl named Sheila/Mabbina. She's been coming to church all by herself. In the evening we made Japatis. I'll make those when I go home.

Farming with Members

Thursday we planned. We taught Alfred several things and then picked Charity to help us go teach Abigail and Daniel (a new investigator) who just decided to come to church at LDS even though he's never gone to church. The spirit is real. :) In the evening we went for WCM but due to some people spraying the building we couldn't enter.

Sister Gloria

Friday morning we suffered due to power being out, yet no one went and checked the meter. We were out of pre-paid. The suffering could have been avoided! We saw Alfred and taught him a few more miscellaneous things all relating about the Priesthood. Every other person bounced.... So we spent the day visiting with a few members.

Egubi

In the morning we went and cleaned the chapel with only 2 other members. NO ONE was home. So we had no lessons. In the evening we went to Eshiem and supported their baptism. Transfer news came. And I'm going! But President is trying something new to cut down on gossip and it's by just telling us the station that we're reporting to. Nothing more. So I'll be going to Pedu Station, which means that I'll either go to Elmina or Praso. :)

 Egubi and Love Joy :)

Sunday was great. Charity came and was confirmed. I'm so happy that she now has the Holy Ghost. After church we went to an FM in a school bus. Ate good food and then came back. We went to Terresa's and also ate, but on the way home the skies just dumped. Like literally dumped. No warning and super trenchal. Man. My shoes were filled with water and the wind just wrecked everything! So much damage. A cab finally picked us and took us home. Lots of water was everywhere. But it was nice to get out of the rain.

Elder Iumalo :)

This week was great. I loved it and I'm just thrilled with life. :)

A Serious Investigator from a GC "For the first time in forever!"

Interviews

We did our morning usuals. Washing and gyming and cleaning. When we went to email we had to wait for Narnia and a half since Ghanaians don't know how a line works. Eish. But when we got to email, it was good. After We went and walked around town, I bought some fabric for my future wife. ;) shopped for our food and then in the evening we went to President Adjaes house (1st counselor to President Stevenson) for FHE. He invited a lot of the missionaries and we had a great time.

District meeting was good. Elder Rugundana gave a nice instruction regarding less actives and how we can better involve members and how to strengthen our converts. We saw Gloria and Charity and had good lessons with both of them. We're preparing both of them for baptism, but mainly Charity. In the evening we went to mid week and there the ward had a discussion on Optimism which came from the teachings of President Gordon B. Hinckley. I love talking about Optimism. :)

Engagement

Wednesday we had interviews with President at 1:30. We watched a training that was delivered for the Mission Presidents and Elder Oaks wanted the missionaries to also watch it. During, President pulled us out one by one. I renewed my temple recommend and got some questions answered. I love interviews. :) After we went with Elder Swartbooi to go teach a man named Bro. Mensah, that guy is messed up up top. The way he twists scriptures to get what he wants and turns you on yourself. So stubborn and hardheaded. He'll need the missionaries in the next life....

Man, spiders are everywhere. It seems like I kill one or two a day. As I was removing the barracade from the door in the morning, the fetching thing starts gapping it up my arm! Shook it off and gooshed it real good as it was trying to evade through the shoes. Sleep. Hate spiders.

Sister Christiana after church

We saw Dina today. I love her children, especially her little boy. He's kind of an adrenaline junkie though. He loves thrills. We saw Charity and Gloria, but Gloria and her daughter were a little sick.

We honestly have no one to teach. Our first appointment as at 5 and we leave the house at 11..... What are we supposed to do for 6 hours?!?!?! So we went and did some GCing in Twabewu. Found some people but we'll see if they're serious. One was named Elikem (Alfred) and the other was Abigail. Missionary work is so much more sweet when you have people to see. We saw Mary Fynn but that was a bum lesson, she wasn't focused. In the evening the whole apartment gymed. All 6. That was a first. Only 2 of us are regulars, so the other 4 were a surprise.

Bread Oven (and goats).
[photo by Mission President]

Saturday was actually good. We went to an Engagement in the morning for a member and investigator who will soon be a member. We saw Alfred when we got back and he seems like a sweet guy, he calls himself a Roaming Ambassador since he has no church. :) Then we saw Dina and she gave us some Geoloff. We saw Gloria but she was a little frustrating. We don't know why she doesn't want to come to church. She's stopped her church and has said our church is true, but then she doesn't come. I just don't know.

Mpintsin District

Sunday was great! We had 3 investigators come to church. Charity, Christiana, and Abigail! I was shocked to see Abigail! She was the GC and we invited her to church and she came! She fit in very well and the young women pulled her in immediately. The youth of the church are good. :) Christiana will get baptized next transfer. We went home for lunch and then went and visited with Gloria and Dina to see why they didn't come, and both said that they had no reason...... Garbage. I'm just confused because we've tried everything and they're giving us mixed signals. Sister Teressa fed us all Fufu with Light Soup. I love light soup from members, they make it soooooo nice. We went to an activity at the church in the evening and Abigail came to that too! I have wonderfully high hopes for her. :)