I chopped proper

Merry Christmas all!
Hey Dad, glad you had a good trip. I'm jealous of the food you got to eat. I now have a passion for sea food too. I ate whole crab, shell, eyeballs, and all, squid, various shrimps, and all kinds of fish. They have a mini swordfish that is common here. Really good stuff. In fact at the Christmas Zone conference we had a huge buffet with all kinds of food, rice, kabobs, breads, finger foods and more, even pizza. I skipped everything else and went straight for the fufu and fish. The fish was huge! Bigger than my head. I ate well, or as we say in Ghana. I chopped proper.

The Christmas Zone Conference was cool. We all got matching mission kente ties. It's the tie I'll be wearing on the way home. Sister missionaries got purses. President and Sister Sabey shared some words, and we took a photograph as a group.

For Christmas itself we're going to host a Dinner for a couple of our faithful ward Missionaries. We have to get to foodstuffs today from the market. We also have a Branch Christmas party in our new chapel on the 31st. More good news is that we will move into the new location sooner than expected. This Sunday.

Yesterday we had to run around Nkanfoa, and do 8 interviews for our upcoming baptism! All the candidates are prepared. The baptism will be the 26th. First, we had to help solve a grudge between the mother of Eugine before she would let him be baptized. She wouldn't let him sleep in the house, and said he's so more her son. (Over a small money matter) Anyway, he's been sleeping in a makeshift bathhouse for who knows how long. Poor kid. In front of his family he got on his knees and begged him mom for forgiveness. It's a tradition in Ghana that when a child offends the parent that they must kneel. One Neighbor Lady was taunting him, and trying to beat him as he tried to apologize. Even Elder Osei the one translating got on his knees. She forgave him, and signed the baptism record. Gosh, well I can't really describe the situation. Just imagine a really bad soap opera with an African twist.

Also, one of the guys Issac has been a little unsteady about keeping commitments, although he always comes to church. It puts him in a difficult situation because all his 4 friends that come with him are going to be baptized, but we decided Issac needs to prove to us that he's not going to flake out after baptism. He still insisted on having an interview so we let him do one. I just want him to be baptized for the right reason. Although I admit, it's tempting just to let him join the baptism on Saturday making it 9 people, but it's not about numbers, just about the people. Issac being in my stewardship, I felt strongly that he's not ready to make a covenant with God, so I took a stand, and refused him to do so, until he "witnesses to the church that he has repented"(D&C) The following will be baptized on the 26th: Salome, Kofi, Emanuel.W, Eugine, Emanuel.A, Vida, Daniel, and Joshua.(We're also planning to baptize about 3 or so on the 9th of Januaray.)

We got permission to attend a single adult activity here in Cape Coast for like 4 stakes or districts combined. Soccer, basketball, volly, and food. It was fun. The crazy coincidence is that I ran into the guy (Zaggin) that was my 1st baptism in Takoradi. It's been a year since I've seen him. I just gave the guy a big hug. We were very surprised to run into each other. The best part is he told me he's almost done with his mission papers. My jaw dropped..."Whaat! You're going' on a mission"... !!! HECK YES! "That's what I'm talkin' about." I then danced around him like a crazy man, and he probably didn't fully understand my excitement. That's the icing on the cake.

I Hope this Christmas you'll serve the Savior by serving others, and hope we can all try, and comprehend the love our Heavenly Father which is so perfect as to render his firstborn lamb for the slaughter causing the very heavens to shake on his behalf. Consider him who is without sin; abandoning his status of God to be born in a lowly manger to live among men, and to sink below it all that he may rise above it all. In humble awe, may we all show gratitude, and reverence for him who was slain, and in our hearts, and deeds rejoicing for him who rose again, vanquishing the onslaught, and the engulfing chains of death and hell. He is Jesus Christ our brother, our advocate, our friend, our savior, our everything, the first and last, Amen. Merry Christmas!

Love, your son Ty

New companion

Hi,

This week I've been helping the new Elders in my apartment to get adjusted. Elder Hoffman my companion is from Utah, and is really smart. He attends BYU. I like to just listen to his stories. He's cool. Elder Kwapong is fresh from the MTC. He's from Koforidua, Ghana. It's in the Accra Mission boundaries. He can't hear English too well, but he's nice, and innocent. Elder Matia is old on the mission. He can't really walk cause of a boil right now. He was a Muslim convert, and is from Sierra Leone. I lived with him when we were in Kumasi. He's funny.
I had to show them their investigators, so we spent a whole day just walking to all the people they were teaching.


We're probably postponing our baptism till Jannuary, and also moving into our new place to worship. This week has been kind of uneventful. I ate a few coconuts, and ate yams, and fufu as usual. We saved a little goat from the gutter. It had sewage in its eyes and nose, and was blind, and struggling to stay alive. We lifted 70 pound flour bags that fell off a truck in the middle of town. We've had Robert, a less active come to church twice in a row now. We're going to work with his wife for baptism. They have a small baby.

love ya

Some little kid threw rocks at us

Hey family!
Glad you had a good thanksgiving. I got the Christmas package. Thanks a ton everyone. ;) Sorry I had trouble with the internet last week as usual.

Today I get Transfer info, I do know I'm getting a new companion. Probably training again. In other news this last week I had another new companion. He is Elder Lacanivalu from Fiji. Only the coolest companion ever! He's about 6 and a half or 7 feet tall, and a semi pro Rugby player. The guy is good at every sport, and has a heart to match his big size. His only hobby is eating. He only eats 10 eggs, and a whole loaf of bread every morning! You should see his dinners. Just amazing. My last companion Elder Kpanakau was just called to be an assistant to President.

I've just kinda been antsy to get a companion that I'll be with longer than 3 weeks. I've gone through 4 companions this transfer, and I get my new one tomorrow. I guess I'm hard on my companions. haha

We had stake conference. The new temple president and his wife came and spoke about temples. President and Sister Sabey also spoke.

Last week some little kid through rocks at us, and the villagers in Edukrom were arguing about our proselyting in their little village, and the chief had to break up a big argument. They wanted to kick us out of Edukrom for good. Saying that we were causing big problems, and being bothersome. They went to the chief, and complained. Luckily we've been teaching the chief, and made good friends with him. He's a devout Roman but he stood up for us, and said that they shouldn't mind us.

O, scratch that. I just got transfer info. I'm paring with Elder Hoffman.Man... He's a cool cat from what I could tell! Looks like Elder Lacanivalu is going up to Kumasi. I get to stay in Nkanfoa. wohoo! I'm looking forward to the December Baptism. I'm glad I won't miss it.

Seth, Ofori, Kojo, and John were all ordained as Elders on Sunday! (my recent converts) One of the other men in the Branch was supposed to also be ordained but he came to conference drunk. Poor guy. Can't tell you how he passed 2 interviews; I've never seen him sober. He's the guy who we did a service project for. Cleaning up his dirty dirty house, and washed his filthy clothes.
Today we played volleyball. We had a good time. O.k I better get going'. Love you all.

Rope Bridges

Hey Family,
I'm Sorry I don't have much time to email this week. We have to leave early for our trip to Kakum National Forrest. The one with the rope bridges. Finally I get to go. I'm just in the office for a couple minutes this morning.
Our baptism fell through. Kofi didn't show up again. That's his second baptism that he missed! 3rd time's a charm. We have another baptism scheduled next month for several people. I'll let you know about the candidates!
I'm really excited. 5 of the men I baptized while in the office are going to be ordained as Elders next week. We've almost ready to move into the new schoolhouse to worship. It's bigger and quieter. No Pentecost church banging drums and chanting next door. lol
I'm just working hard as ever, and enjoying life. Happy Birthday Trev, and Dad. Hope you guys enjoy Thanksgiving.
Did I mention I love you?

jellyfish, squid, octopus

Dear Everybody,

I started typing this mail, and we went to the beach again for our
pday. They were bringing in the fishing nets. There were big fish, small fish, jellyfish, eels,
squid, octopus, and many more cool fishy fish.

We're baptizing Kofi Botchway on the 14th of November. l8terz!

We have been doing a lot of service, and completed the mission goal. I
shoveled dirt, gravel, weeded, mixed cement, swept and more. Fun
stuff! Love ya! Ty

I just got back from a fufu party

Hey guys!

I'm District Leader, and part time office Elder until
the Saunders are ready! I get to stay in my area full time now! I'm
really excited to stay. I love it here!

I'm going to be training Elder Beswick from California!
I'm really excited though. I'm way bummed to leave Elder
Mason though. He's shipping off to be a Zone Leader in Kumasi.

I just got back from a fufu party at the Zone Leaders'
apartment. soo good. It was a fun p-day activity.

We're leaving bright and early to do our Accra
expedition again going to the MTC, and the temple with the departing
missionaries. Elder Simmonds my trainer got a small 2 week extension,
and I think I told you his dad is coming to Ghana tomorrow to pick
him up. I can't believe he's going home. When I came he was under a
year on mission. Time is going going going.

Elder Mason's family was very kind and sent him 2 big packages. One for
him, and one for his companion.... me! ;) I enjoyed the Halloween
candies and nature valley bars stuff, and pistachios. The healthy stuff
tasted the best. lol probably cause my diet is terrible lately. It's
hard to get variety. I gave out most of my candy to little kids at
church. It made them hyper, and I got in trouble from their parents.

I'm very jealous that Dad got to go to Kirtland, Ohio last week! Whaat?! I've always wanted to go to Kirtland and New York to see some of the Church Historical sights. Especially
the Sacred Grove. I'll go there someday!

This transfer I hit 16 months! I'll be home in no time. Mission
life is amazing.

I'll share with you at least one spiritual thing. This week we had
a good long talk with Seth (our recent convert). Mom, Dad, I wish you
could meet him. He is going to stay in the church for good. He is
solid! He's a young hip and popular guy. We call his Oloo. He opened
up, and bore a powerful testimony about how he hadn't been to church
in over 4 years. He was going through a Joseph Smith kinda thing. He
didn't believe or like any of the churches. He knows God lives, but he
also knew those churches were a joke. He told us about how he felt
when he came up out of the water from baptism. He knew that he was
clean, and he was beaming with a big smile. He expressed about how he
noticed a big change after receiving the gift of the holy ghost. He
said he clearly knows right from wrong, and that it's so great. Like a
voice telling him what to do. We then expressed our love, and told him
how proud and amazed we are with his progress in the gospel. He's even
giving a talk next week! I am too. ;) He's going to the temple this
week! To top it off he's going to be ordained as an Elder next month,
and receive the Melchizedek priesthood, and is seriously planning on
going on a mission! I just feel a close connection with him. He's
going to be a powerful asset to the church. We also have a couple on
the way for baptism next month.

Well, I'm just going to balance like a circus clown all my new
responsibilities, but I'm kind of excited about this whole training,
and being out there full time again. I'll still stop by the office on
occasion.

Sister Sabey is preparing a nice dinner tonight for all the departing
missionaries, and us. We set the table. I'll see if I can eat after
all that fufu I had for lunch! lol o.k byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
Love, Ty

I'm happy to be out of the air conditioning, and back into action

Sent 5 Oct 2009

Glad you liked the pictures! We had such a great time at the
temple! Actually, I witnessed a sealing last year, but I had kind of
forgotten what was said. It was cool, 1 year later and wiser to again
take part in that. I can't wait to go back!

I just came back from Takoradi for soccer. I was super bummed
that I couldn't play this time case of my ankle, but that's o.k. I had
some good chatting time with the other Elders on the side lines. I
probably talk peoples heads off sometimes!

The baptism was so great. They were all so happy, and even bore
their testimonies after their confirmations on Sunday. All 3 that were
baptized revived the Aaronic Priesthood, plus another man from the
branch. What a blessing to have more males in the church who can
preform priesthood duties, and leadership responsibilities. We are in
desperate need of males to hold callings. Our little schoolhouse
branch is growing! I'll send you a photo later this week of the
baptism hopefully!

The Saunders should be arriving within a couple hours! We're
very excited to meet them! We'll start training soon I'm sure. I'm
happy to be out of the air conditioning, and back into action. It's so
much better out there. ;) I did really enjoy my office time though.
Where ever the Lord wants me I'll go!

I helped pay for one of our recent converts (John Essel) temple
trip I told him that a member helped pay his way. I didn't want to
give the idea that the white missionary is handing out money. I just
thought that some things are important. I couldn't think of a better
way to spend about 6 U.s. Dollars. My companion didn't like the idea
of me doing that. I paid half, but if it wasn't for that he wouldn't
have been able to go. The temple trip is in 2 weeks for our branch. I
wish I could go along!

We are doing many service projects as part of our "get close to
the members mission goal" When we are out and about this transfer we
focus all on the members! We do service, get to know them, and refuse
to take meals from them. It's so great!

We cleaned up an old drunkard's house ( I told you about that) We built a cement block wall,and we are coming to clean the yard of a young pregnant woman in our
branch. She was so grateful for our offer to serve her this Saturday.
The husband is less active, so I hope it yields good fruit.

So get this, Sunday this guy stood up in church. It was
his second time there, anyway he was giving his testimony, when
randomly he broke out into loud song! lol He sang 4 long verses of
some weird, weird song, with a terrible voice, and sat down
straight. Everyone was looking down in embarrassment. Awkward lol! Man,
I would totally do an impression of him if I could. He kinda sounded
like the lion off Wizard of Oz. Funny stuff!

Ya Mom, I think I'll stay in Cape Coast. I love it here. It's a
blessing to be be around the Sabeys. I wish you could see what great
people they are. On the bright side when I do get transferred. I will
probably know where I'm going. ;)

Thanks for sending a package! haha I had to buy a new towel
today. Mine was immodest. It had holes torn all over it. lol. And it
stinks worse than a locker room. Probably cause I've only washed it 3
or 4 times in a year.

I have much more to write, but I'm out of time. I had to write
Tiara too, and Ryan. Glad you enjoyed Gen. conf. Love you guys so
much! The church is true, let others know...