Transferred to the jungle, Asamankesse, in the Ghana Eastern Region.

Hello my family!

Man grandma Patsy combined with mom = missionary finder squadron special ops airborne satellite intelligence rogue team.

I can't believe that you found me and my town so fast. Yeah the Cranney's came and inspected our apartment and they said that they know Sis West and have been emailing each other. They really like grandma.

Well I'll tell you some things about my area you don't know. President first called me and said that he was going to transfer me this transfer but "you haven't done anything like this in your mission yet."

So he transferred me to Asamankesse, in the eastern region, as district leader. This place is hmm "a freaking jungle" as stated in my journal.

There are loads of trees, no city at all. Not like Accra. This place is more quiet, less noise, less cars. The forest is interesting because it is all farmland that is owned by someone. It is not like 'farmland' at home with the fences and plow and stuff. It is big bushy jungle with neat rows of plantain, orange trees etc. It is hard to explain. Here is the tricky and 'haven't done anything like this' yet part. My companion and I are in charge of 3 branches, Asamankese 1, Asmankesse 2 and Kade (pronounced cuh-day) branch.

I have never been in a branch before, ever, in my life. It is kinda the same but only around 40-60 people come to sacrament meeting. Also Kade is an hour tro tro ride away so we go proselyte in Asamankese 3 days a week and Kade for 2 and switch off on Saturdays for baptism and church on Sundays. The whole thing is a logistical nightmare haha.

Luckily I have a great companion Elder Afu. He is a Polynesian from South Sandy. Coolest guy in the world. He looks like 'the rock' from the WWF wrestling. He even can do the eyebrow. He just finished up being trained by Elder Nielson, the Elder Nielson from our Dansoman/Mataheko days,and is a great help to me. He cleans up after himself, keeps the rules willingly and hmm I am being pulled by him.

The only thing we had to work on was updating the area book haha. I am so excited to work with him! He is an answer to my prayers.

He played football for Alta High as a running back and just finished his first year at Stanford on an academic scholarship, not playing football anymore. He is really easy to get along with and they were doing a great job. He is leading me around and I'm getting to know the places and new names and faces.

Just to show you how good we are getting along, we gave a bunch of baptismal dates this week. Currently we have 13 with a date for December and 13 came to church last Sunday. IT IS GOING TO BE CRAZY!!!

I also am keeping an eye on the Oda missionaries who stay about 1-2 hours away. It is tricky because we live so far away and keeping tabs on people is going to be complicated.

Just to show you how complicated things are, to find out which investigators come to church we first sat through 2 church services for Asamankesse 1 and 2 then we had to call the branch mission leader in Kade and get the stats from him on who came to the branch there and then add up the people and stuff.

Luckily we have some great great great recent converts in Kade who come teaching with us. We planned this week to "recruit for the Kade branch army" so we can keep tabs on our investigators over there while we are here in Asamankese. We have 2 recent converts who are going to read with our investigators out there and help them answer the questions in the pamphlets. This way our little Kade army will be teaching our people the basics while we are away. Then when we are there we can get specific and help them with their commandment problems and get personal with them etc.

We are trying to find some army people for Asamankese but only really have 1 who is going on a mission next month. The Asamankese branch is mostly old people with some youth sprinkled in there. So let the recruiting begin!

Here is some stuff from my journal

26th Nov 2010
I got transferred 2 days ago. I was reading the Book of Mormon and moments before President Smith called I read a verse in Alma 22 that caught my eye. "... Behold, the Spirit of the Lord has called him another way; he has gone to the land of Ishmael, to teach the people of Lamoni."

President Smith then called and told me that he was transferring me.

27th Nov 2010
Today quite a lot actually happened. The day started off with a great baptism. Sis Rahmat and Sis Irene were baptized. Sis Rahmat is the daughter of a long time member, however the mom doesn't speak English. It was back then. Irene is the niece of the 2nd branch president. This was a tricky baptism to pull off, not because of the teaching but because of the logistics of the font! MAN! More font problems!!!

We went to fill the font yesterday around 3ish. They just installed a new spiket in the font so it would fill nicely. It would take around 2 and half hours to fill. we came back a couple hours later and

President Iyeh turned off the water because it was pumping out mud instead of water. The font looked terrible. It was full of brown caca looking water. We drained the water and swept up the dirt inside. This was the 2nd time that we were sweeping out the font that day. We cleaned it prior to the first filling because it was gross and I couldn't bring myself to baptize someone in the yucky font. So we cleaned it.

We then filled it with the normal garden hose routine. We started filling it at 9pm and fell asleep at church on top of some make shift beds of folding up chairs. WORST SLEEP EVER! We stayed there until 12:30 until the font finished filling. Luckily we live 2 min away from the church so no problem getting home. WHY GHANA FONTS, WHY!!!

Anywho they were baptized. YAHOO! The Lord provides away, even if the way involves staying at the church on top of a bed of chairs until the font filled for the baptism the next morning. Luckily we found the problem in time or else there would have been some big problems 8 am at the baptism, I could only imagine how sucky that would have been.

Thank goodness we filled it the night before!

Well after the baptism, bro Giddyglow (best member ever, he is ewe - pronouced A-way) was getting his marriage done civilly at the church. OF COURSE WE WENT! Anything for a Ghanaian performing a legally binding, temple worthy, as binding as the laws of the land can make it wedding. It was a great great thing. It was like a normal marriage ceremony however the crowd got pretty rowdy during the "I do" part and the kiss the bride part. It was a great thing to see though. He is a great man, his wife is a great woman. She got herself all dolled up for the occasion and had a nice dress with matching bag etc. They were so happy.

We went over to Kade today. We met with a man named Kofi. We met his family and we gave them all a date. Kofi is a great dude, he can read good enough. He disproved the Mammon vs. Mormon myth (they pronounce both of them the same here) because he noticed they were spelled differently and meant different things. Sweet!

He took us to his house and he really loves the gospel. They should be baptized on the 18th of December.

I am somehow petrified with all the responsibility I have here. I'm in charge of a large land mass and a lot of dates. AAAH! I feel small but the Lord will strengthen me and make me strong enough to face the challenge.

I'm tired. Good night!

Nov 26 continued.
So I turned 21 on the 7th. Mom sent me an 'offical Carrie Underwood fanclub' t-shirt and membership card. She also sent me an apron for cooking that said "guac on." My favorite part was we went over to the Dadzies and she made me banku with mackerel and tomato stew. WE ate the rice krispy treat cake mom sent and vacuume sealed closed. It was still pretty soft. She cares for me a lot, I love her. SO I spent my 21st birthday in Ghana. While a lot of the world spends their 21st birthday buying alcohol legally for the 1st time, inappropriate movies, being crazy and just being appropriate; I spent my 21st birthday preaching the gospel, knocking on doors, teaching in small small English to my African brothers and sisters. I couldn't have spent it a better way.

End of journal entries.

Everyone likes to speak twi at church. It is going to be an uphill battle with the language problem. The church is only to speak English here because for many reasons. For one reason is that some tribes don't speak the other tribes language; for example most of the ewe people can't speak twi. Also it is very rare to find someone who can read twi or ewe or any tribal language. The gospel requires literacy.

There are also plenty of other immigrants coming to church, for example there is a Nigerian member wife here who only speaks English.

In spite of all of this, they still are putting up a fight to speak twi. I'm going to make friends with the branch leadership and then try to bring this up later. My twi is really improving though haha.

Again I am really excited to be here. I am afraid that a t-rex or some raptors are going to pop out of the jungle and swallow our tro tro when going to Kade. Besides that the area is safer than Accra. Not as many psychos.

Sorry no pictures today. This cafe don't got a usb slot. I'll figure out how to get you pictures soon.

I have to say this about companions and preparing for a mission.

Playing sports before mission = Good. It takes the ninny out of ya.

I am feeling the Spirit a whole lot more being out here because we are getting along really well and are doing what is right. It is just really great.

On the way up here the Terry couple, from Las Vegas, drove us up. This is their 3rd mission to Africa. They love it here. They said that we are doing Silent Night for our Christmas conference and that Elder Terry said, "No! there will be no piano playing! We want guitar!"

Last night Elder Afu and I stayed up and arranged a 3 part harmony cowboy style version how to do it. Elder Afu played the piano in his Tongan ward so he has good ears. It was fun.

As far as the other transfers went, Elder Zadi is in Ashaiman with Elder Yahaya as his district leader again. Elder Cobbinah is companions with Elder Nielson (we just traded places), Elder Collings stayed there and is now companions with Elder Jones from Utah.

McCarthy Hills was supposed to baptise Nathaniel but didn't for some reason. I will nag them until they do! Also Edwina's sister Gertrude turns 9 on Dec 2nd so they need to baptize her. I'll let you know how it goes.

Well Elder Farnbach is now my zone leader up here. He is in charge of 5 branches and is in a new area every day. STRESSFUL. I think President took all the missionaries out of the bush and put them in Accra. The area presidency told him to put some small amount back. I think that is why we are running around all over the place. It is crazy but fun as crap.

So it is fun being up here. The couple missionaries are kinda watching over us rather than presdient smith so much. Elder and Sister Terry do most of our baptismal interviews because they have a car and the zl's can't travel all the time because of their crazy 5 branch schedule. Oh Elder Holt is just a couple towns over, about 1-2 hours away. He likes it up here, I think I will too.

Once I get this place down I'll be able to tell you more.

This place is not as hot. BONUS! Everyone keeps feeding us here so I'll gain back some weight.

Well how the poop did byu botch a field goal? I'm not mad i'm just frustamragated. Oh well. Your thanksgiving party sounded like loads of fun. I should get your package for thanksgiving very soon. Elder Afu
(pronounced ah-foo) and I will enjoy. See enjoyment!

Speaking of tasty package goodies, when they called and transferred me to the bush I quickly called the other missionaries, Elder Zadi and Elder Collings, and had them pick me up 10 mt. Dews. Last dew time for a long while!

I'm very proud of your mimi's thanksgiving dinner. I laughed at your guys football faces. Sorry-o.

Well I am off. Love you guys so much. I'll send ya some pictures soon.

Picture really green and lots of trees and neat forest. Not a lot of animals because it is farm land. Farm land meets jungle minus the lots of animals part. They still got those mega big termite mounds I'll snap a picture for ya.

Gotta run!

p.s. Wow look at all of that snow. I'm now transformed into the hot and wet weathered person. Looking at the snow kinda freaks me out a bit.

Hello my family!

So this week was not as eventful as last weeks bat experience, but still a good week.

My companion became a true missionary this week. Elder Jones from Odorkor ward found a pizza joint in his area, so we all bought pizza after our Zone training. Oh how nice it was. It was like a really disappointing 5 buck pizza with poopy crust and not enough cheese or pepperoni sauce etc. HOWEVER IT STILL ROCKED! My stomach was happy and not upset like it usually was. I gorged myself upon almost a whole large pizza! YES! A couple days later Elder Cobbinah and the cheese sandwhiches i have been making for breakfast and the pizza didn't go well with his cheeseless system and bam true missionary. I was glad I was there with him when it happened. I even snapped a photo of him and immediately texted the zone leaders for them to spread the news haha.

My companion moments after he became a 'true missionary.' We biked home afterwards. Ah it made my day. I of course texted the zone leaders about this and they spread the news haha!

This week we had stake conference at Kaneshi 1st Light. This means that we got to trek down to my old area and see some old familiar faces; which is always fun. I ran into the Aboagye family and the Odooms, my first ward mission leader. Great guy. I asked him about the Levee family to see if they are still coming. He said that they were! Right after our session of Stake Conference was over, they showed up to have their session. They were all really smiley and happy. One member has stopped coming I guess, she has been going back to the Catholic church (smacks head), I hope she comes back. I asked Elder Riding to write her an email to see whats up and to see if he can help her and giver her some words of encouragement. It was still really good to see them there.

Well the Stake Conference was a broadcast thing mixed with the ward business at the front. They released people, sustained people etc. Then they played a broadcast from Salt Lake that had President Golden from the 70, Elder Oaks, Sister Dibb and President Packer. It was addressed to all of West Africa and Southern Africa. They said it was broadcast to 14 different countries. The broadcast was really great. Elder Oaks taught about how the bride price needs to stop, how people need to get a legal/civil marriage, how families need to live together and not live separately for work or school etc. I enjoyed that part a lot. Sister Dibb then held up an exit sign thingie. The exit signs here are different than at home. The ones here show a picture of a guy running, then an arrow, then a door. I think we don't have it because it conveys a sort of panic, that could cause problems in case of a fire etc. Well she had an Africa one and instead of a door at the end, she had a temple at the end. It was great.

During the conference Sister Dibb talked about a girl LC Boateng, who is our ward. She was unable to attend all of her church meetings because of going to boarding school as a young girl but instead she did her seminary course at school through the manuals etc. She then had her mom and dad pick them up and then have the seminary teacher check it and return it back to her at school. She always read her scriptures at school and didn't participate in the things at her religious school that were against her religion. She was always different from the rest. At the end of the year the principal gave her an award for being an outstanding student etc. Well LC was feeling kinda shy, as we all would if the 2nd counselor for the young womens broadcast would be talking about you across 14 nations haha. I bet you that the dad felt really happy. They also showed a lot of slideshows that had pictures of members of families that I know and have eaten with. It was cool to see your 'home town' in their talks.

At stake conference we were supposed to get Nathaniel, Samuels son, interviewed for baptism. Well Samuel couldn't come because of an injury but Nathaniel was still coming. Samuel said that Nathaniel didn't know the 1st light chapel but would call us when he was close. Well we freaked out because it can be tricky to find and 1st light is an interesting and somehow scary place with all the freaking psycho cars, loads of people selling random stuff, druggies, crazy loons, business people, whole slew of confusion going on right there. So we found an empty room and said a prayer that he would get there safe. During conference my phone rang and it was Nathaniel. He said he was at the bus stop at 1st light. I told him to stay put and my companion and I immediately ran out to find him. The whole thing was very touching in a way. We were running out to find a lost kid out in a load of scary world at 1st light in Kaneshi. Well we found him 'staying put' at the bus stop. We saw him and he was really happy to see us. Well we got him interviewed and he will be baptized on Saturday. I am so glad that Heavenly Father answers our prayers. He really is listening and loves us. We will have his father baptize him. Samuel says that his wife is coming down from Kumasi to live with them so we should teach his wife as well. YAY for family!

They also had a young single adult activity this week. We had Brother Asanti, our awesome ward clerk, take our investigator Steven to it. Brother Asanti and Steven are really good friends. We gave Steven a baptismal date for December. He is still unsure about some things but we are working with him to be ready for that date.

The activity was a forum/discussion about dating, jobs and how to do those things as a member of the church. Our stake president and bishop were there and I guess it was a good lesson. We steered clear of the whole 'dating discussion' and helped sis Dadzi set up the food and stuff. There was a massive load of food! Sis Dadzi spent a lot of time getting all the food ready.

Sis Dadzie cooked and made a whole buncha crap for the young single adults activity. She is a caterer for her job. Her son was the 8 year old baptized last week.

Well after the lesson thingie they had a dance and everyone had a good time. We got a lot of referalls there and taught a man who came early. Everyone was really happy.

We were helping set up the food and serve it and stuff. Those are little meat pocket thingies, I don't like them, but she made those waffle like things and brought syrup! They were great!



While people were dancing we went to the relief society room and started learning those songs you sent. We practiced the 'Gethsemane' song. I re arranged it and made it less like Enya and Bed Bath and Beyond and made it more appropriate with cowboy harmony and less funky chords. Think Simon and Garfunkle meets that 'dream big' song by those Utah dudes. I got Elder Jones to sing the high harmony part and Elder Zadi to sing the lower part. I got Elder Zadi to play the piano sparsely. This was tricky and new to him, to play something that was not on the paper but he can do it. I had to write out the harmony for everyone because they were all piano players instead of just doing it (smacks head). I know I had to sit there and write it out when I was first doing it too haha. Well it should work out, however transfers are tomorrow and who knows where everybody is going. I forgot that people need a lot of practice to do stuff...Oh well it'll work out.

Sis Smith asked me to play guitar for the Christmas conference. I know that if I do something pretty that they will all go crazy and not be able to handle it and chat it up the whole time. Last year it was like a cultural thingie, which I think it'll be again this year so I might play 'God Blessed Texas' or 'Taking Care of Business' or 'I Wanna Rock and Roll' by Kiss medley of American songs haha. I think that is more of the audience, however I will see if the 'Gethsemane' song would work as well so it will be a spiritually uplifting thing and Elder Jones and Elder Zadi would have fun as well. I'll just prepare all of them and depending on how it goes I'll just play accordingly muahahaha!

Well thanks for those tunes mom. Those are cool. I haven't really heard any Ghana music because it is as you said, more of a Celine Dion and Ghana rap type of place. The Ghana rap is like really bad Akon with somebody talking really fast in Twi, kinda like Busta Rhymes.

Well today I am going to run to Shoprite and buy us our celebratory goal making apple pie. YAHOO!!! We baptized 8 this month so far and will exceed by one this Saturday making 9. This means we have 2 months of 9 in a row. Elder Farnbach our zone leader called and asked us how we did it. I think the answer is 'sweat.' I also have a policy of 'no naps' at the apartment. This missionary work is tricky, sometimes you have success and other times you don't for no apparent reason. Just keep on working hard the whole time and try to be smart.

I have been doing something that dad sent me. He quoted Joseph Smith when he said something along the lines of, 'pray short prayers, preach short sermons.' I think this is the key. 1 short principle and a prayer, then come back tomorrow. Really people's brains can't hold much so just do one specific thing, let them think about it or read something then discuss it the next day. Thanks dad, it really is working.

Well I gotta be heading out. Gotta go and buy that pie.

Man I feel bad that I have not wrote grandma and grandpa Bob specifically yet. Really there is no time! I barely have time enough to write these emails. Just tell them that I love them so much and that we will catch up on all my mission stuff and other things over some nice hot honey butter biscuits and a country fried steak at the texas roadhouse, lunch special of course. We will bring back some rhubarb pie for grandma too.

I know that Grandma and Grandpa dad are hip up on the email stuff and get to read this. Live long and prosper grandma and grandpa haha. Thanks for your birthday card! I like how you maintained the awesomeness in a new and traveling flat version.

Well good stinkin job Britt. Your plays look like a success. You are very blessed to have Dave as your husband, to have mom and dad as your support crew and to have a school that is well functioning. Keep up your young and coolness. Your students' lives will be blessed forever because of your hard work. Keep up your fun activities with the principal and keep your sets colorful and use sets! No interpretative lighting with no sets, boo! More sets! Great job Britt! Keep it up! NEEEEEEEEEE!

Well gotta run and go baptize some more of my brothers and sisters!

I'll keep track more of my week in my journal this week so my next email will rock.

Thanks mom for all of your hard work. I love you!

Gotta run!

Elder Bills

Young single adults dancing and stuff. We stayed far clear from the dancing. We got some new investigators there and taught a lesson, gave a baptismal date and had members bring some of our investigators. The stake president, bishop and stake womens leaders something gave some talks and discussions about jobs, dating and other things before the schindig. They all had a good time.


 
 

There is always one of these style of dancer guys at each dance. The stiff bodied funky guy.


 
 

I was watching the door while Nathaniel was getting interviewed, so nobody just tramps on in and destroys the Spirit, and these little girls were roaming the hallways. I snapped them because the little girl had a cute little outfit, with matching bracelet and purse. Britt would approve.


 
 

I found the chocolate flavored Obama biscuit. Not to be confused by the normal biscuits. They taste terrible. It is like a crappy cardboard graham cracker with dust.


 
 

This is the Odonko family. They are pals. Bro Odonko is the 1st counselor to the stake president in McCarthy Hills stake. There was a picture some of them in Sis Dibbs talk.

Elder Holt's video of Elder Takon on his last p-day. See Elder Berry in background. (for Elder Berry's family.)

Video of last p-day for Elder Takon. I think I see Elder Berry in the background.

Nov. 15, 2010 - Great week of baptisms, and a bat poo'd on my face.

Hello my family!

I officially hate the power here. I got a big email ready for you and then the power went off. I use gmail so it saves automatically but for some reason it didn't save it this time!!! BAAAAAH!

Well anywho "always look on the bright side of life" (wee hoo, wee hoo wee hoo wee hoo)

Here is my tribute to midterms, in the form of a bubble test question however I will just write a statement in the style of a bubble test question rather than an actual question.

This week was not less busy than 2 weeks prior to next week. This week being a busy week is not false. Truly the statement 'last week was busier than this week', would surely be false.

English translation, this week was really busy unlike last week.

We had to run around like crazy doing baptismal interview after interview and tracking everybody down. I went to the mission home 3 times and had plenty of tro tro transfers, taxi rides, bike rides and walking. I'm tired!

We had 2 baptismal services this week, not just 1 but 2!!! We have the coolest bishop ever! We baptized 7 converts and 1 child of record. ALL OF THEM SHOWED UP ON TIME TO BE CONFIRMED!!! It was a great week!

It first started off by going to the temple and mission home on Tuesday. We had interviews with President Smith, in the which President Smith kept slugging me and hugging me haha. He really is a good guy and likes to tease. Sis Smith brought out your little Christmas Tree calendar load of creativity glitter glue thingie you made for me. She cherishes that thing. She took it from me last January and brought it to the mission home where it would be safe. I said that you kinda just sneeze out that stuff all the time and she was amazed.
We got these nifty doo water bottles that you can but non filtered water in and then when you suck the water out it moves the water through a 3 filter system thingie. Still I'm putting my pure water inside it still, no tap water for me. I still don't trust the thing (shifty eyes).

Well Elder Collings wears black ties too so we gave our companions black ties to wear. We all showed up at Zone Interviews wearing black ties and black trousers. We looked nice. Dr. Suzuki would be proud haha.

The temple really is a great place. It is the only place in Accra that is quiet. No speakers with too many tweeters playing at every other house, no generators making noise (like the one that is powering my internet right now). It is a great place to be. I love it there.

On Wednesday we went to the temple sight and mission home again with Beatrice. We did an interview and then took her to see the temple. When I was on splits a couple weeks ago, somebody taught her about baptisms for the dead and she freaked out because she took it literally, instead of getting baptised in behalf of people who have died.  We taught her about it correctly and showed her a picture of the temples in the new Liahona etc. She understood it and we took her there to see it. She kept wanting to go inside. When we got there the sister missionaries ran up to her and greeted her. Beatrice was happy to see them as she has never seen any sister missionaries before. They were a great comfort to her. Her little stinker kid Kwabena was there and was happy. Little guy can't walk without holding onto something yet and he kept running around the place haha. He's cute.

Good story for you. Here is Thursday. We were teaching Nathaniel, Samuel's E,'s son, in his house. Their house is an unfinished building, as 50% of the houses are. There are bats that kinda fly around inside and treat it like a cave, going in and out etc. Their room is bat free but they fly around the unfinished parts of the houses. Well we were teaching in the unfinished part, it was dark so we used our flashlight and I felt something wet hit my face. Yes, indeed. A bat crapped on my face. It was only about a penny size and nobody else saw. Luckily I had a hanky and wiped it off secretly and Elder Cobbinah was teaching. Definitely a new experience.

Well this brings Friday. We took Elder Zadi and Elder Collings candidate Sandra to the mission home and temple sight as well for interviews. She is the daughter of their recent convert Bro. W. She is great. She was working on Sunday and needed some time before she could be baptized but she called us up on Sunday morning at 6 AM and told us that she talked to her boss and no longer works on Sundays! She rushed over to the baptism at 8 AM. It was crazy! She made it! Talk about taking the slum out of peoples lives. She truly showed by her works that she was ready. Her dad was really happy.

I read this scripture on Friday as well, "And again, how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those that are still publishing peace!" I thought it fit well with the McCarthy Hills District so I wrote it up on the whiteboard.

Well on Saturday we baptized 5 people. Bro. Anderson, Beatrice A, Samuel, Maxwell and Emmanuel. It was great. The AP's came to the baptism and enjoyed it. It was full of pacing because people were running late etc but it got done. No font problems! YAHOO!
Bro Seth and Sis Selina came to support and to give a talk. They are next door neighbors to Beatrice. Elisabeth came and supported her friend Edward. Samuel's son Nathaniel will be baptized in 2 weeks. It was great. Beatrice twin sister Bernice came to see it. She also came to church and said that she will be coming next week too. At first she told Elder Cobbinah that she was not interested in the church at all and etc etc. I kinda talked to her small and she made a joke about being baptized in proxy for her sister who was running late. I ran with it and showed her the questions for baptism. We shared with her a commandment that is necessary to keep before baptism and she was touched. I hope she will be baptised one day!

I have a good story. A while ago some woman told me that she didn't need the message we share because she is a 'stout Christian.' I was so tempted to say "well you actually look quite thin to me" but held it in. Can't remember if i shared that with you yet. Grandpa Bob would be proud. I had to tell you in order not to say it.

Well on Sunday we had yet another baptism at 8 AM. One of the investigators had a school test for his masters degree on Saturday and couldn't attend but luckily a child of record, Pappa was being baptized on his 8th birthday so Bishop said we could join them. Sandra also joined in on that day. Then all of our candidates and friends showed up and were confirmed. The confirmations took almost all of sacrament meeting. We confirmed 8 people. I was a blubbering mess by the end of it, picture dad during sacrament well that is how I was. Couldn't help it. Brother Asante then gave a talk because he is leaving on his mission, he was a blubbering mess too. It is cool to be a blubber-er because Bro Asante was and he is awesome haha.

Well the work will continue! This week was busy. I bought a can, an actual can of coke with real nice bubbles inside to celebrate.

Keep on doing all your hard work mom. You have been called to be the 'here I come to save the day!" person but discretely. Behind everybodies success, there is someone like you. Keep it up. The world depends on you.
I will find where your secret chocolate stash is and your cables and adapters so help me!!!

You guys are going to help with giving a goats eh? I have a lukewarm feeling about goats, for obvious reasons. I hate them but the world needs them. I just wake up to the freaking sound of bleeting every morning. I do like it when they sneeze, hilarious.

Well I gotta get going. Elder Cobbinah lost his debit card so we gotta run and stand in a major big line (smacks head!)

Hope you enjoy the pictures. I'll send you some more, a lot are on Elder collings card and he is slow putting them online. i'll try to get them from him, however he uses proprietary stuff (smacks head!!!)


The Church is true!
Gotta run!
Thanks for the gobbler stuff soon to come. I'll enjoy it. Thanks for your smarty pants comments mom. I cherish them.

Hey britt butt, hows the monkey island going?
Hey dad, I'm wearing your glasses as I broke my other ones. You'd be proud.

gotta go!
Love you all a lot!

Elder Bills

Elder Holt is about to go home in about 1 month. This will probably be the last time we will meet before he goes home. He is doing very very well. His legs actually make that position naturally from all the bull riding he did.

The McCarthy Hills District at the temple. We all wore black ties and trousers for the occasion.

We took Beatrice to the mission home and then to the temple sight. We met the sister missionaries there and she was excited as she had never seen any before. They were really nice to her and she was happy.

Beatrice and her little smoof Kwabena. He can't walk without holding someones hand yet, but he loves to run around.

Nants ingonyama bagithi Baba!!!

There is Sheldon, bro Seth and sis Selina's boy. They came to the baptism to support Beatrice.

Beatrice, Kwabena and the Elephant (elephant sound!) at the mission home.

We have a beautiful temple here. It is wonderful! ONLY PLACE IN ACCRA that is quiet.

We took Sandra, bro Wellingtons (recent convert) daughter to the mission home and temple as well. She was excited and liked how nice it was.
Her head wrap is cool, it has like string sewn into it so it looks like hair but it ain't hair! It is cool. It is something that Prince would wear.

I forgot to tell you that we live really close to the beach. I have proselyted about 2 miles from the beach my whole mission. I feel spoiled haha.

Sis Selina, Beatrice, Kwabena and Bernice (Beatrice twin sister). Bernice came to watch the baptism and then to church. She said that she is coming next week too!

We had a baptism on Sunday morning as well, right before church. Jeffery baptized his little brother Pappa (child of record) on his 8th birthday. Sis Dadzie was really excited. Sandra, bro W's daughter, was baptized along with Patrick. Patrick is a friend of sis Esther. Great week full of baptisms.

The baptism on Saturday! Brother Anderson was baptized along with sis Beatrice and brother Samuel. Elder Zadi and Elder Collings also baptized brother Emmanuel and Maxwell. Brother Asante and brother Albert, our ward mission leader were there to help support.

McCarthy Hills towards the beach.

Does that bag look familiar mom? Yes it is the same one you have. Things straps are tanks. I managed to break all the bags that I bought, then I saw this one and remembered you haul around a wheelbarrow load of stuff around in your bag and it keeps up. So what if it is a womans bag hahah.

My companion Elder Cobbinah. That lake in the back is in the area called Kasoa. Kasoa is growing really fast.

Time to bust out your Christmas calendar. Sis Smith adored it and took it to the mission home so I wouldn't destroy it. She gave it back to me at Zone Interviews and we I hung it up in the apartment. There aren't holidays here really besides Christmas so it is kinda a big deal.

I dunno but I really like this tree. It is very shire-esque.

Nov. 8 2010, Watched 2 General Conference Sessions and I am Thankful for...

Hello family!

So nothing much really happened this week. Just a whole lotta sweat! (Led Zeppelin reference)

We got to watch 2 sessions of General Conference this Sunday and a Priesthood Session on Saturday night. It was cool to go to. I miss it. We were somehow late because we had to run and grab Daniel, we are like his daddy, and another one of our investigators so we missed the first talk.

It was still really a good session. I really like the Priesthood sessions. President Monson really is God's prophet. Everything that he says seems to have personal relevance for what is going on in the world today. He rocks. Also President Dieter F. Uchtdorf's talk on pride was very good. I cant wait until the magazines come out. THANKS FOR THE CONFERENCE MP3's. We listened to them the moment I opened them.

I also liked President Monson's talk on gratitude. I am very grateful for all that I have. Coming from a place with hmm plenty and coming to a different place has helped me recognize how much I am blessed. After talking with the other missionaries, I am probably one of the most blessed people in this world, it seems. For example most people can't say this:

I have married parents and grandparents and a sister who are sealed in the temple.
My parents worked and put me through school.
I can read and write.
I have all my appendages and they work correctly.
We have a washing machine.
We have lights so we can read after 6 pm.
I was able to get a scholarship and go to a university.
I have a musical instrument and can play it.
My parents support and love me. I was raised in my own home.
We have home teachers, visiting teachers.
Our public transport allows for easy visitation of family, church members friends.
I have friends who are members of the church.

Hopefully I will find it hard to complain about much when I get home. The talk about how the family during Thanksgiving was complaining about how they didn't have a nice dinner and forgot about how it was to live without lights. The father then turned the lights off and just lit a candle and then they realized how much they were blessed. If I ever complain when I get home, just smack me across the head.

Well we have a fun little story about conference.
The church rented some power generators for conference because the lights always go out and everything goes tatsup (throws salt over shoulder and spits). So we watched the Priesthood session and all was well, the power went out and the generators saved the day. Gasoline powered Priesthood Session. We watched it on a small tv.

On Sunday we got to church for the other sessions and they brought a projector and DVD player. NO SPEAKERS however. We helped them recognize the problem and then they frantically called somebody with a laptop that had speakers so we could hold up the mic to the dinky laptop speakers. (Man it was like scratching a cat backwards, it would have been conference from a tin can sound). They brought the laptop but the dvd drive was not working. They then brought in the church computer and it didn't have the correct codecs, or software to play DVD's. So finally Elder Collings was able to step in and carried in the TV and routed the DVD to the projector and then used the TV for speakers and then we were able to mic the TV speakers to the church PA and still use the cord for the projector. It was big, nice and loud. Yahoo for the technologically smart people. (Star Trek Sign here. Salutes with fist touching chest, you know how they do)

I wanted to snap a photo of the chaos and pile of technology and gear for the conference showing but I didn't bring my camera. Oh well. It was funny.
I would have just used a headphone jack into an XLR cable, but good luck finding that around here...We improvised and it worked out.

We got 3 of our candidates interviewed this week for baptism on Saturday. It should be really sweet.

We will baptize a man named Edward Anderson. THATS RIGHT! I will baptize an Anderson on my mission hahaha. Also the man Samuel E. and a woman named Beatrice A.

I had to go on splits the other day and somebody said the whole baptism for the dead thing slip out too soon and it scared Beatrice to death. She took it literally instead of being baptised in behalf of someone who has died. I had to come and explain the whole thing simply and use the scriptures to help out and get members to teach her how it works and that we don't dig up dead bodies and that Spirits don't follow you home or any mumbo jumbo juju or anything like that. Just then the temple Liahona came out and we showed her the pictures of the temple and then read the little kid section with her. We later watched a movie about the temple called "Between Heaven and Earth." The brofo, english, is big so we had to keep pausing and explain what was going on. After we were done she said, "so when can I go?" It was a great day!

Sorry o my time is short today. We gotta run and do all of this stuff. Elder Zadi's candidates didn't come to get interviewed yesterday so I gotta run and do all of that stuff. The AP's and Zone Leaders keep calling every 5 min and are frantic. I gotta go track down their people and interview them asap.

oh one last thing.
We took Elizabeth A. to teach a lesson with us and she was such a pro! She bore her testimony and offered to walk with the person to church etc. She taught the man how the Holy Ghost testifies to our heart and mind in a whisper and shared how she came to know that the church was true. Man it was sweet. It was a great day. I was so proud of her! I'm going to go buy the primary song cd's for them tomorrow so her little daughters can learn them. I also have the primary songs little book you sent me I might give to them. YAY for active recent converts.

Well I love you guys. I'll send more pictures next week. I'll send a nice big email next week.

Oh thanks for the birthday rice krispie cake. We all enjoyed it and it was awesome!
you guys rock.

Well I'll talk to you later my family.
Love you!

Elder Bills

Nov. 1 2010, A Great Week, Conversion Stories from Journal Entries, Birthday Packages, Smores!

HELLO MY FAMILY!

So this week I think that I'll start of with some transcriptions of my journal. Cool?
We are teaching a man and his son and gave them a baptismal date, they are Samuel and Nathaniel.

Oct 27, 2010 (or 27 Oct. 2010 as they do here)
Today we asked Samuel and his son Nathaniel if they prayed about the Book of Mormon, if it was true or not. They both said that they had read and prayed.
Nathaniel said, excitedly with a raised hand like a school boy who knows the answer and is dying to share it, that he received an answer. I inquired. He said that he had a dream about it. Usually with dreams I am hesitant because I have heard some really weird dreams that are kinda hmm not inspired by the Holy Ghost but rather inspired by something else. I inquired about his dream. He said that he saw a man dressed in a white robe who came up to him and told him that the Book of Mormon is true. He then said that the man was having a beard and white hair that was long in the back. I then showed him the painting of Jesus visiting the Nephites. He said that the man looked like Him except that the man was having white hair. After all of these types of experiences I now know what Moroni was talking about, if you read ponder and pray then you will know by the power of the Holy Ghost that the Book of Mormon is true. If we become like a little child then all will be well.
His Father Samuel said that a small voice told him, as he was pondering about what he read in 2 Nephi 31, that he needs to repent and be baptized. He knows it is true as well. What a great and sincere experience. These are 2 great people.

Oct 31, 2010
Well this week was pretty great, we had a great baptism. We baptized Elizabeth and her daughter Kristy. This indeed was a great and long awaited day. We started teaching Elizabeth a long time ago, in fact Elder Yahaya and Elder Moa contacted her way back in May. We tried baptizing her before but she was not ready then, her family was going through some things and she was feeling some persecution because of joining the church that she was not yet strong enough to face. If we baptized her then, we might not have been able to bring her daughter into the gospel. Elizabeth had come to the church before only to have enough courage to walk up to the front gates, not come inside. She came twice and stood at the gates and waiting to come inside but unable to because of her fears. If only I would have been there or known I would have sprinted out there and stretched out a welcoming hand and smile, a hand and smile that dispels fear, doubt and insignificance, and guided her inside, however I wasn't there yet. I wonder how many times in life someone has needed a welcoming hand and I didn't recognize or wasn't watching out for those people. How many times I have been too busy worrying about ME, MYSELF, MY problems and left people afraid and standing at the gates? I pray that I and we all will watch out for those people and lend that hand and smile and guide them into where they need and long to be.
I contacted Elizabeth in passing again and invited her to church. She accepted to my surprise, I had invited her multiple times after we stopped teaching her and she always declined. She came with her daughters this time. At the baptism Sunday, Elizabeth was baptized first. I got a sister to call her out of the dressing room quickly before she even dried off so she could witness her daughter being baptized. There is no ledge really to watch so i escorted her onto the steps so she could watch from there. It was a great moment she will never forget, seeing her young 8 year old daughter being baptized, a daughter who is following your righteous example. It couldn't have been any better.
The next day Elizabeth and her daughters showed up wearing matching red and black. They were looking so happy and hmm different. They looked very heaven-like and joyful. Holy would be a good word. The Holy Ghost whispered to me that if I continue to teach Elizabeth and her daughter all of the lessons again and about the temple, then they would not fall away. It was a great day.

Also a man named Adams W. was baptized on Saturday. He is Elder Zadi and Elder Collings candidate. I went on splits to teach him and he really didn't seem too serious. He was asking weird, unimportant and unnecessary questions. I was focusing on teaching his friend who was sitting next to him who seemed more likely to progress to me. We challenged them to read the Book of Mormon. Bro Adams W. read up to something crazy like the 17th chapter of Nephi in 2 days. He then said that he would come to church to see if it was okay before he would bring his family. He came and he thought it was the best thing ever. He somehow obtained a gospel principles manual, I have no idea how, and 'feasted upon it' as the scriptures would say. He is proof of receiving revelation through the Book of Mormon and receiving revelation through church attendance. He then brought his daughters to church and is working on the rest of his family.
Bro Adams W. is a tailor and doesn't have much money. He came to church all sweaty, in his red checkered shirt he wears every week, and I didn't think much of it. I am always sweaty. However it turns out that he lives all the way in Djanman, miles away, and he walks 2 hours to church because he doesn't have enough to pay for a tro-tro. Not once has he complained about transportation problems, not one word. He has great faith. While interviewing him I noticed what I can only describe as a broken heart and contrite spirit. He qualified for baptism.
At the baptism he brought his wife and youngest daughter to watch. His wife is hesitant of joining the church because of the English, but we will keep trying. After Adams was baptized, I went into the room where we keep the towels and Adams was in there tying his shoes. He stood up and said, "Elder Bills. Now I am finally free. I am free! I am free!" with tears rolling down his face. He truly understood the importance of the baptismal ordinance and what had just happened.
The following day, (today), I was called by the bishop to confirm him a member of the church. He was very honored to be a member of the church and looked proud, in a humble and good way. You know that good proud, well he was that. The confirmation and blessing felt right. It stated that he would be a shining example to his family and many people would join the church because of that example. It also stated that not only would he be blessed by the decision he had made but also his family, his current grandchildren and also his grandchildren that had not yet come to earth would also be eternally grateful because of his decision to be baptized and be a member of Christ's true church.
Bro Adams has already started sharing the gospel with the people in his area. He was calling us his 'brothers in Christ' and the church 'his church' before he was even a member. He now has the Aaronic priesthood.
I am so glad to know this great man. It was a great week.

Well that is it for the journal writings. I sent you guys some cool pictures you can look at.
HOLY PACKAGES BATMAN!!! Thanks guys so much for all of that. We already started listening to the conference mp3's and are loving it. We get to watch some of conference on Sunday. It'll be cool...if the power does not go out like it usually does. Your mp3's though will do the trick. Indeed I am the first person in Ghana to have the mp3's of conference. You rock mom. I don't know how you have the strength to do what you do. You are creative as poo! I understand your humor, so does Elder Collings who worked for SAS computer support at BYU. He thoroughly enjoyed your CEO little diddle. He laughed for about an hour about your joke about Linux passwords. He doesn't understand all your little weirdy jokes though. Well I hope that you are all doing good. Thanks for the bike gloves and dad glasses, you buncha stinkers. I especially loved the Carrie Underwood T-shirt. How did you get that? Musta been a process. Thanks for doing all that you do. You are the best buncha roadies ever. Go team go!

Well good job at the BYU dance, the kids look like they are having fun and they are liking dad. Mom is the helper off in the shadows. See elder Hollands talk about helpers from last conference. Mom is that helper. Keep it up.
Dad is looking great and happy. Keep up the good work team.
I gotta go, enjoy the pictures. Love you.

Oh I'll 'enjoy' the rice krispie cake you guys sent (again you rock) this Sunday. Thanks for being my family.
I loved grandma's card. Ooooh so "Canterbury Heights" is now doing a mail-able flat card to prevent from being destroyed in the mail. Thanks grandma. You rock! Best family ever.

Elder Bills

I found some marhsmellows made by Kraft... Yes the same Kraft that makes mac & cheese and used to support cigarettes...broad company. They were tropically flavored, some were kiwi, orange etc. Anywho we toasted up these babies and shoved them on these Asian biscuit cookies of chocolate fudgie goodness.

Nummers! These be bettear than me mum's taters. We took a wee break at night time to enjoy some treats, after this we headed back to the shire. (see frodo baggins ear)

Elder Cobbinah, my companion, cooking up his first roasted marshmallows.

Elder Zadi enjoying his first smore. He really dug it.

Elder Collings got some goodies from home for his halloween package. Mega package. He was really happy, especially about the pop tarts.

HOLy PACKAGES BATMAN!
Both 2 of the halloween packages and the 2 birthday packages hit at one time.

I was, am, really really happy. I can't believe you guys got me into the Carrie Underwood fanclub. Coolest shirt ever. I agree with the photoshopped font little accent vine deelies. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

Thanks for the dad glasses. I'll wear them in his honor, not around much because those are a little too cool and USA! for proselyting. I'll wear them with him biking around in matching spandex yellow bike gear at home if my Donny transfiguration continues haha.

Elder Collings and my halloween stash. I did some trick or treating with him. I exchanged 2 bags of m&m's for a poptart. Everyone in the apartment is enjoying the goodies, thanks a lot!

The toilet bowl perfume containers saved the day. The font was filling too slow and wouldn't be ready in time. So I said a prayer and asked for help and asked what I should do and then we found these bad boys. I knew my prayer was answered. We filled the baptismal font using these containers.

The moment I saw this bright red container and read "disinfectant toilet perfume" I knew my prayer was answered haha. 1 Nephi 3:7. His ways are not always our ways but He does provide a way, sometimes He is humorous about it.

Here is (from left the right), Elder Cobbinah, Priscilla (bro Adams wife), his little girl Rose, Elizabeth, her little daughters Jennifer and Christiana AKA Kristy, then there is me. It was a sweet baptism.
Funny that I am the tallest one there at 5 foot 9, I felt at home.

This is our ward clerk Bro Asante. He is a great help to us. Great ward clerk. There is a special place in heaven for ward clerks and the hard work that they do. He is the first one there at church and the last to leave. He is going on his mission to Nigeria this month. Many will join the church because he is just so nice and cool.

Here is little Christiana, Elizabeths daughter, being goofy. She thinks I am a psychopath I'm pretty sure. She was hiding behind the curtain thingie and I finally got a picture of her. She is great.

Loved the "Guac On" apron, made by mom. Best thing ever! I laughed so hard. I knew the moment I saw it that mom did it. Nobody respects the avocado as much as we do haha. Hah and yes that is a picture of Hermione Granger from Harry Potter on my wall, it says "endure to the end" There are still 2 Harry Potter movies that I will need to watch when I get home dontcha know? Expecto patronum!