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...

Ankle Update

Sent 23 Sep 2009

Well, we went to several "hospitals" and finally found a place with x-ray equipment. I got it x-rayed, but didn't see a doctor. Good news is that it's not broken. It's super swollen though. Luckily Sister Sabey had some crutches. I asked if I could call, but they just said I could e-mail. I have it in an ace bandage, and the color and motion is getting more normal. I still can't walk. President has to take us in the truck to get to our apartment in the mornings and nights.

It's a blessing it didn't break. I'll be office bound for a little while longer it looks like. That's o.k. Proselyting is out of the question for now. I'm just praying for a fast recovery. People are counting on us out there! ;) Well o.k . miss you!
Love Ty

Ankle Trouble

Sent 21 Sep 2009

Hey again Mom & Dad,

I'm back from the soccer match... 5 Mins into the game I collided with a Polynesian missionary, and I think I broke my ankle. The Sabeys will be here in a few hours to have a look at it. It's incredibly swollen. I just have to chill here in the office until then. I got ice on it, elevated it, and got some crutches from the mission home. I can't walk without em. Elder Griffin was nice enough to pick me up, and carry me to the car. I'm hoping it's just a sprain or something minor. I'll keep you posted. I attached a picture of me at one of the forts in Elmina. Love you

The goats live in better conditions

Sent Sep 21 2009

First of all,
I'm doing o.k Mom. Ya, the internet has issues sometimes. Sorry 'bout that. Elder McKay is very very sick with Malaria. He's been bedridden since we got here. His companion is Elder Kalinja from Ghana. We went to see him with the Zone Leaders a couple nights ago. He's doing better now. Sister Sabey brought him chicken noodle soup. He has a good attitude about it. His area is called Yammoransah, it's in Cape Coast here.

I actually e-mailed last week, but it must have not made it to you. bummer. I guess last week I talked about our trip to Elmina Castle, and all that good stuff. I'll send pictures soon. My camera cable went missing. It was the smaller size. I found a way to conserve on memory card space, so I don't need any more memory sticks thanks.

We have a new mission Goal. It's just for this transfer. It's to prepare the way for the next goal. It is that every missionary will have 5 service projects for members, 15 member lessons, and learn 80% the the members' names in the ward or branch. I'm excited about this goal. We're focusing on members members members. So They can help us in turn, and gain respect for the missionaries. We're going to start with a service project of cleaning this one drunk man's house. It's disgusting. He comes to church every week, but the goats live in better conditions. It's a sad sight. It will take all day to clean his garbage heap mud hut. Also we're going to build a cement wall this week.

The next goal is to reactivate a less active member, and then to get a referral from them, and baptize that referral. This will be a difficult goal. That's why we'll need the members' help.

This week we had 9 investigators at church, and 2 from the other elders making 11 at our small branch. We also have 5 now in the oven for baptism on October 3rd. Kofi, Kojo, Seth, Ofori, and Salame. Ofori is the one with elephantiasis. I'm very excited.

Well. I might email more later today, but for now I have to go. love you guys so much much much. remember who you are.

Getting all the new apartments ready for the new Elders

Sent: 7 Sep 2009


Hey Guys!
I don't have internet at the office so I have to type this at the internet cafe. So sorry If I have to keep it short!

That's so great you can pass the sacrament Tanner. In our branch we don't have any deacons, teachers, or priests. Just a couple young Elders that are preparing for missions who usually pass.

Well Mum, We're actually going to the temple tomorrow. This trip is to pick up all the new Elders, and to say goodbye to some old ones too. We had a good time in Accra on Friday, but we didn't go to the temple. We spent time getting to know the roads, and stuff, and we went to the mall there. OH MY GOSH! The mall was nicer than most that I've seen in the states, including the legit grocery store. I did not feel like I was in Ghana anymore! I'll send pictures as soon as we get internet at the office again. I'm really excited for the temple. Driving in Accra is like Big city driving with a dangerous, and busy African Twist.

Thanks for the encouragement Mom, love you so so much. I can't wait to give you a big hug. ;) Have a great week.

Agya (Dad) Glad you liked the photos. It really was a cool baptism. The new Elders in our apartment are Elder Fairbanks for US, and Elder Kpanakau from Sierra Leone. I think that's how you spell it. Anyway, we've been cleaning the apartment like mad, trying to get ready for them.

This week we've just been burning through money buying apartment supplies, and getting all the new apartments ready for the new Elders. I am really excited about them coming if you can't tell. Things around here are going to change. On the subject of good news. Elder Strong is going to be the new Zone Leader here in Cape Coast! That means all of my MTC mates will be here in Cape Coast! Elder Keller just flew in today. He is my MTC mate that went home in the MTC, and a year later is now coming back!.

We got Ofori, and his friend Seth to accept a Baptismal date for the first week of Oct. If that one goes through that will put me close to 30 baptisms so far. P.s. our mission hit an all time record for this mission baptizing 150 people this August. The work is going on strong. O.k well, I've been typing so fast I think I'm going to have Carpel Tunnel. lol. p.p.s Could you send a Shaving Razor and some replacement blades in your next parcel to Africa? Thanks! Love you guys so much. Remember to pray, read scriptures, fast, and make time for the Lord, he always has time for you!