We were chased by two dogs this week. Man it was crazy. One day as we were getting ready to leave the apartment one of the craziest storms hit Elmina. You would not believe the wind and rain. We went out on our porch and watched the rain, then went out to work and got really muddy.

We had another amazing week with our investigator, Randy, and will have our first baptisms this Friday. Hannah Burns 28, Phillip Condour 22, Coffee Bordou 8, and Isaac Bordou 12. Two were great member referrals, and two were from a part member family.

I'm learning the language, Krra ka Krra with rolled Rs like Spanish. This has really helped me to get in homes especially because I am an Obronie. The food has an acquired taste and I have grown to love it with all the many local spices. If Mom saw the markets where we shopped she would probably croak. I like the rice, spaghetti, eggs, FuFu, Bonku, bean stew, and many other things.

For about two weeks now my companion and I have been looking for a lady by the name of Anti-Bedoo (age 60) who was a referral from one of our young sisters. We were directed to a place, but they said they didn't know her and sent us somewhere else. It went like that for almost two weeks. At the end of the first week, I woke up at 4 in the morning after having a dream that we had found Anti-Bedoo and had begun teaching her. I didn't know where she lived, even what she looked like. I just knew that I had spoken with her. We continued to look for her, but near the end of the second week I was losing hope. I began to think my dream was nothing and that we were never going to find her. This past Sunday, we were on our way home and my companion... (what a man! what a trainer! what a blessing! and what a friend!) Said "hey, let's try to find Anti-Bedoo one more time." We found some people who knew someone by that name. We went straight there, walked in, and...found Anti-Bedoo. As we spoke with her and her two other sisters, I had a warm feeling inside as if I had already spoken to this women. I was so thankful that Heavenly Father had answered my prayer. That is just one of the amazing examples of how the Lord has blessed me. As the lesson went on, a very funny thing happened. One of the other sisters who had been asking me questions said, "You are a great boy, I can see that you love your God and that you are doing his work. When you return home, you can take one of my daughters with you." I just laughed!

Love,

Elder Ihwi

Hair's the latest . . .(highlights from Spencer's most recent letter home)

The weather in Elmina is hot, and I've already noticed that I've lost some weight! I have enjoyed the little time that I put in each morning and night doing situps and pushups. I will be a lean, mean, fighting machine when I get home. I've been told the apartment that Elder Leko and I have is one of the few that's completely sealed with screens, and that it's OK to sleep without a net. I do see lots of mosquitoes!!! One I saw the other day was the size of a quarter.

While walking up "Java Hill" to an appointment, we saw an investigator that was pounding Fufu, so we stopped and asked if she needed any help. She said no, but I went up to her cement hut she calls home and grabbed the pistil which is a 4 foot long, 5 inch wide log, and started to pound Fufu for about 20 min. Elder Leko took several pictures while I was pounding. There were lots of kids and parents that had gathered around to watch. I heard them all yelling Obronie and other words in Fante. When I was done, I was tired, but tried hard not to show it! Her mother said, "Eh, an Obronie that can pound, and better than any I've seen in a while---you will now eat." They brought out the food in a bowl for my comp and I to share. There was the Fufu, light soup which is the spiciest thing I have ever had, and two cooked fish with the eye balls taken out. It looked nasty, but tasted quite good. We ate it all and moved on with the day. I woke up in the morning and started feeling bad. I went into the bathroom and. . .(we'll spare everyone Spencer's detailed description of what happened next).

I love the work and service we can do for others, and I know we will be blessed for it. We went out that day even though I still wasn't feeling too well. As we left the apartment, I realized that my back bike tire was spoiled, so we had to walk to get that fixed. The guy that fixed it was probably 25 or so. He asked us lots of questions about why we were in Ghana. After we talked I pulled out my money to pay him but he said... No, you are missionaries, for you it's free.

Our ward covers a pretty large area. Some of our members have to walk or catch a Tro Tro about 45 min from the chapel. We have about 30 primary children who are all very dear to my heart. We have been teaching a guy named Randy. He's 25 and one of the most amazing people I have ever met. Please keep him in your prayers. After we taught him the first lesson, we asked him to read the first 3 pages of the Restoration pamphlet. He read the whole pamphlet through twice. What a man! He then came to Church this week and was more active in the conversations during Priesthood and the investigator class then anyone. He's a very smart guy.

I love the Ghanaian people. They are not afraid to speak their minds, and the local leaders are great.

Love you all!!!

Elder Ihwi

Hair's the latest . . .

Our investigators are really great. We have been teaching 21 - 25 lessons each week and have been able to contact and meet so many people. They are very receptive to learning anything that deals with Jesus Christ. The hard part is catching them at a time when they are not cooking, cleaning, working, or out of town. We have been helping out in any way we can, and I may be building a reputation in Elmina as the best American Fufu pounder in Ghana.

The policemen here will stop our taxis for no reason, and the only way for the driver to get out of it is to bribe them with money. Our taxi driver today saw that he was going to get pulled over and got some money ready to pay the policeman who then let us go. I could not believe what I was watching.

My companion, Elder Leko, just hit his year mark and has been an amazing companion.

Because I am paying to send an email, and I don't have long, it is hard to respond, but dearelder.com is the best way for anyone to send me an email.

Our ultimate goal is eternal life and that is what I want with all of our family.

Love you all,

Elder Ihwi

Dear Family,

We did not get to watch general conference. We’ll have to wait until the mission sends us the CD and conference issue. Our ward has about 120 attending and the members are great. We had six investigators yesterday at Church, and man it was good to see all of them there. We have a baptismal date planned for all 6 and I would really appreciate it if you would keep them in your prayers.

This week we contacted some guys that are 20 and 21 and set up an appointment to visit them. They took us up the highest hill in Elmina where their apartment was. When we walked in, man was I scared. It was dark and they had just one mattress on the floor and a TV that had a music video playing. As we began teaching them, the atmosphere changed. They answered questions and it turned out to be an amazing experience. We went back at the end of the week and taught them again. This time it went even better. They asked lots of questions and we’ve developed a good friendship. I have never been shown so many cool handshakes in my life.

I am in an area where I have a bike that the mission supplies. My comp is a convert from a part member family. He is very well educated and wants to study architecture and build homes.

P-day was great. I shop at the local markets and have been making cabbage or bean stew with chicken that we buy from a member and put that on rice or noodles. The stew usually lasts about a week or so.

This past week, a sister from our ward printed my name in Fante "Ihwi" on the back of my Ghana soccer jersey.

Amanda, that’s so exciting about your cross country races!! I hope your battle wounds aren’t too bad. I’m glad you are having the “time of your life.” When introducing myself, I've had a fun time talking about my brothers and little sister.

I have to pay each time we come to use the internet, so I don’t have a long time to write. I love you all very much!