Seems Like Yesterday

It seems just like yesterday I was giving my talk in Sacrament Meeting in the Shiloh Ward. Ghana is an amazing place full of religion. I am grateful to serve in such a receptive and beautiful land. This past week we taught a man who moved here three years ago from Atlanta. He was born and raised in the United States, and is here managing a colon cleansing/massage therapy/vegetarian restaurant and resort. As we began teaching him about the Gospel, we learned that he does not believe in religion, but only in a "way of life." By the end of the first lesson, he told us he actually does believe in the Bible, but doesn't feel like he is a Christian. He later said he believes in Christ but does not see him as the Messiah. We ended our first lesson asking him if we could close with a prayer. He very quickly, but politely said; I don't believe in prayer. My companion and I left that lesson asking each other, how can we help someone that doesn't believe in prayer? How could we teach someone that doesn't believe in Christ as the
Savior of this world? As we continued to ponder and pray to know what we could teach him, our minds kept coming back to the keystone of our religion that would be the only thing we thought he would accept. Not only accept, but also read and pray about. As we taught him a second time, he seemed to really listened. We shared two of the "Mormon Messages" from the Church website. The first discussed the Restoration and the second was called, The Book With a Promise. We then shared a brief description of the Book of Mormon and did our best to answer any of his questions. We felt the spirit there as we closed with our testimony. Afterward, my companion and I talked about how much more comfortable we felt on the second visit, and how we hoped and prayed that he put our challenge to the test to read 3 Nephi 11-26.

Our work here is not easy, but as I knelt to pray that night, I truly thanked the Lord for sending me to a place that is generally so receptive to the basic teachings of the Bible, Jesus Christ, and our Heavenly Father. The weather, many different dialects, and conditions are very different, but this is still the best mission in the WORLD!!! The people are amazing. The Lord has blessed me in so many ways. It is incredible how many challenges we face each and every day with our missionary work, but this week as we submitted our mission numbers to the Africa West Area Office, I saw what our 168 valiant elders and sisters can do in this field, already to harvest. In the month of November, 164 people were baptized, with 1430 progressing investigators, and 835 new investigators. Ghana is ready, and the missionaries and members are striving to be obedient to the Lord's command through his living prophets.

As a missionary, we have the opportunity to bear testimony many times each day. I know this Church is true and am very grateful to serve. Elder Bruce R. McConkie's talk, "The Purifying Power of Gethsemane," describes the divinity of the Christ and His infinite Atonement. As we celebrate the birth and life of the Savior, our hearts are filled as we think of the wonderful acts that he performed. May we all come to know Him more perfectly as we follow his every footstep.

Thank you for your prayers and example.

E. Hair

Amazing! Crazy! Busy!

Family,

The work is amazing, yet very crazy. Last Wednesday we left for Kumasi, and just got back about an hour ago. 6 days on the road, and we have been really busy with so many things.
Mom, I am sorry I didn't get a chance to answer all of your questions. Elder Adams and I are the only ones in our apt. It is a small one in the same compound as the mission home and mission office. There are 2 missionaries to each of the 1st and 2nd Cape Coast Wards and for now, we all meet in the same building. The family history center has about 6 computers and the people here are doing well, but the attitude of going to the temple is probably the same as back home. There are some that just don't see their temple attendance as a priority. I have come to learn that if someone wants to make time to go to the temple, there is not one single excuse, other than physical health, that they can not go. There are some amazingly faithful members here that don't have money to even travel to the temple, let alone eat, yet they are ordinance workers and go every week, some putting off work for two days due to travel. Bro Entwi was just recently called to be a sealer. As he was explaining it to us when we were there getting my license which I did get after a 250 cedis bribe to the DLV Chairman because my replacement license didn't have a picture on it. (haha funny story) Anyway, Bro Entwi told us that President Monson called the Accra temple president and told him that on this date, at this time, between 8 and 8:15, I give you my consent to give Bro Entwi the sealing power. It was amazing how he explained it and I almost broke into tears as I realized what this man has to sacrifice just to be able to save enough money to go to the temple and have food for his family as well. The Church is true and the temple is necessary for our salvation.

These past few weeks, we have been traveling to each of the districts with Pres Shulz to help and support the reminder of the rules that we as GCCM Missionaries keep. He quoted from a talk by Bruce R. McConkie entitled "The Probationary State of Mortality," that he gave at a seminar for the institute instructors and students at University of Utah. It has really helped me understand how truly important the message is that we share with these good people each and every day. The bold statement that Elder McConkie made to all of us in this article was that if we enter into the gate of repentance and baptism, by the proper authority, and then stay in the "mainstream" of the Church (a worthy temple recommend holder) and endure to the end, when we die...we will go to the spirit paradise and await exaltation. How profound a statement made by an apostle and how important a message given by Joseph, a small boy to the world. May we all go on in so great a cause.

There are so many things I want to write. I got to go up to my old area of Sunyani yesterday for Church. We arrived early and sat down to wait, hoping to see former investigators, recent converts, and friends walk in. Afia and her three grandkids Kwasi, Charlott, and Catherin were the first ones to walk in. It was like coming home! I couldn't stop Afia from giving me a hug, but I had to pretend to not hug back because pres and his wife were standing right there. It was great to see them again. Then Samuel, the man that asked Elder Omini and I to speak at his wedding walked in. When I left, he was not yet baptized, and this Sunday, Pres Shulz interviewed him for the Melchizedek Priesthood. Man, did I see the fruits of our missionary labors this week. I almost cried as they all just continued to come in. The sacrament was blessed by the local priesthood, talks were given by powerful members, and Sunday school taught and done in their native language.

On Saturday evening, we participated with the Zolls, and one set of Zone Leaders in a Book of Mormon like story...
...where 30 people were baptized in a sweet river location. After more then 3 years of waiting for some of these people, and to have the Area and First Presidency authorize the Priesthood to baptize these good people in the most faithful tithe paying group in all of West Africa, we were able to participate in an extremely momentous occasion. Elder Adams and I were the witnesses and video men/record keepers. We had more then 100 people there on the banks of small river in the middle of the bush, just a short walk from the roadside in a small village called Bibiani. Immediately after they were baptized and had changed back into their dry clothing, we split up into five groups of six because of time, and one of the priesthood brethren, laid hands on each one of the candidates and gave them the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Man it was powerful!!! Oh, and to top it all off, the Chief and Queen Mother, not members yet, were in attendance and gave their thoughtful and kind words to some of the most faithful members in the world. How blessed I truly am for being in this mission!

This past week, we received a letter from Elder Holland, saying that due to the cost of phone calls on Christmas and Mother's Day from so many missionaries, they are now allowing missionaries to skype if they want to.

Thanks for everything. I look forward to hearing from you all next week.

Elder Hair

31 New Missionaries

Dear Family,

This has been the fastest week of my entire mission. On Monday, Elder Adams and Elder Tadeo (who left for home on Wed) drove to Kumasi to pick me up, along with 4 other Elders who also went home on Wed. We drove for almost 4 hours straight to the mission home and spent the night there. In the morning, we traveled 3 1/2 hrs to the temple in Accra, arriving just in time for the 1230 session. I have missed the temple so much. Then we rushed two different groups to the airport, helping them check in for their flights home. When we finished, we drove to the MTC an hour away, making it just as 31 new missionaries were singing the opening song. We spent the night at the MTC. Wow, did that bring back some great memories! Early the next morning, Elder Adams and I drove 8 new Elders up to Kumasi in the van. The rest, boarded a bus for their new assignments in the southern part of the mission.


After a very scenic 5 hr ride north of Accra, including a beautiful place called Koforidua, we pulled into Kumasi where we had a small lunch for the new missionaries before handing them off to their trainers. Remembering my missionary interview with my Stake President, Pres Eyring at BYUI, I thought a lot about his advice to be willing to be a trainer of new missionaries. Some say obedience is not easy, but in all reality, I believe it's just like any other good habit that we all need to form in our lives. We then took one Elder 4 hrs back to the mission home to meet up with three others who we drove to Obuasi, which is a new area being opened.

The next morning, we traveled 3 hrs with two of the best missionaries and their two "sons" straight from the MTC, to a small, but very nice mining town. We helped them get settled and stayed the night there. The following day, we met new investigators and introduced them to some great members in the area before driving back to the mission home. By the time we got back to our apartment, Elder Adams and I were dead!!!

We live behind the mission home, inside the same compound. It is so exciting to be back in Cape Coast, and I am thrilled to work with the locals here. We attend a small branch called Bakano. The Church meetings were great yesterday. We meet in the nicest building I have served in. The Cape Coast 1st and 2nd Wards also meet here. Finally, after Church, Elder Adams and I were able to teach lessons again, and like best friends, we felt very comfortable teaching together. I will truly cherish my time with him. We are going to work hard and have a lot of fun.

I am overwhelmed but excited to be able to work with such great people. I will always be grateful for Chris, Tyler, and Chandler for their example to me. I hope and pray that I can serve as they did and be the missionary that my Heavenly Father intended for me to be.

Love

Elder Hair

New Assignment

A very short note this week.

Spence received a phone call from President Shulz asking him to serve as his assistant. Tomorrow morning, he and his new companion, Elder Adams, will take those missionaries who are returning home, to the Accra Temple one last time. They will then drive to the MTC to pick up new missionaries assigned to the GCCM.

Temple and Family History

Two quick stories about the temple and family history work . . .

A recent convert from Elmina, Brother Kwame, works at the Cape Coast Castle mortuary and has been a member of the Church for almost 7 months. Elder Leko and I had been working with him to get him ready to go to the temple. Three weeks before he went, we had a Temple Training meeting with the Pres and his wife. They taught us how to simply get on the Family History website, set up an account for our investigators, and help them write down all of their information. It was amazing how much Bro Kwame remembered about his own family and his wife's family. As we sat down at the computer, we worked with him and showed him how to do it. When he returned from the temple, he shared with us his feelings that when members do work for someone that they truly loved and cherished, it is wonderful. That man is now a counselor in the elders quorum and goes to the temple as often as time and money permit.

While in Sunyani, you remember we baptized Sis Affia. Well, you may also remember that two weeks after her baptism she went to the temple. She had planned to travel to the temple on June 17th, which was a Thursday. On the way home from a long P-day to Kumasi, she called to tell us that she couldn't wait until Thursday, and that she was going that very evening on the night bus to Accra which would arrive at the temple at 6am the following morning. We had also planned to go with her on Wed to the cafe to help her print some records to take with her to the temple. She instead went with "blind eyes" all by herself as a 62 year old women to a place 8 hours away from home. She was able to help over 80 people receive the ordinances of baptism and confirmation. That to me is a true disciple and follower of Christ.

I hope all of us will put the things of God before the things of the world. I have missed going to the temple more than hamburgers or movies! haha We're taught as missionaries to encourage our investigators to make simple promises to read and pray, and come to Church. I have promised myself that when I get home, I WILL go to the temple at least once a week, unless I am on my sick bed or in a place where I cannot go!

God help us all to do what we know is right. Time is the coin of life and only you can determine how it will be spent. I love this gospel more than life itself and will try to do all I can to obey. I will have fun, BUT I will always try to be centered on those things that are most important.

I love you all!

Elder Hair

The Spirit Testifies

Hey All,

That is exciting about both Kenny and Joseph. If you see them or any of their family please let them know how much this experience will strengthen their testimony, their character, and their whole life overall. If all new missionaries will listen to their trainers and be obedient, it would be much easier. I have noticed so many things just by simply watching the missionaries around me.

This week we broke through a barrier that I thought would not happen for a long time. Do you remember me writing about Jenna and Erica, the two sisters who were recently baptized? Well, their mother has heard a lot of negative things about the Church and has been avoiding us when it comes to teaching her. She loves us as people, even cooks for us sometimes. Well... this past week we were able to just simply answer questions from her as they came. I shared a brief outline of our basic beliefs---The Book of Mormon, the name of the Church, Joseph Smith and the Restoration, and then I closed with my testimony that families can be together forever. When we invited her to Church, she told us with her heart of gold that we should just give her time. We'll give her two more lessons and another invite before the Spirit kicks in so much that it will no longer be us teaching, but Him.

As I finished Mark and began Luke in my personal study time, I recognized again through my prayers that the scriptures teach us truth. I'm very grateful for the New Testament, and the fullness of the everlasting gospel found in the Book of Mormon!

Well, I loved the picture and I hope that you enjoyed the ones that I sent. Mom, you look great! Amanda, you're almost as tall as Mom!

Time is not my side today and the internet is really slow. I love you all and think about you often.

Love Elder Hair

A Sure Foundation

Dear Family,

As I sat waiting for the Mission Tour Zone Conference to begin, surrounded by great missionaries who are truly ready to work, I didn't know what was about to happen. Elder Gavarret of the Seventy was presiding. We opened the meeting with hymn 5, then had an amazing spiritual thought from one of the sisters in my district, Sis Nkenyane from South Africa. A very intelligent and well read sister. Immediately following that spiritual thought, Elder Adams got up to continue the conference, but Pres cut him off and said he would like to take a few minutes. Pres Shulz proceeded to talk very small about how important Preach My Gospel has become, then said, "I would like to ask Elder Hair, Sis Nagasou, and Elder Brown (Nigeria) to come up and tell us by using the scriptures, how important the Preach My Gospel manual is in the work, and what you have learned from it. Having no idea what I was going to say in front of 60 missionaries, Pres and Sis Shulz, and Elder and Sis Gavarret, I grabbed my scriptures and went up to the front. I don't remember exactly what I said, but I used Helaman 5:12 and shared my testimony of PMG, the foundation of our best teaching. I expressed gratitude for being able to focus on PMG along with my other studies. I know I can learn a lot more from it.

As I listened to Elder Adams in the Zone Conference speak of the love he feels for the people, I too recognized how much I love the Ghanaians as well. I remember my Temple Recommend interview in Rexburg with Pres Henry J. Eyring. He sat me down, and we conversed small, talking about each other's families and where I would be serving, and then he jumped right into the interview which went fast. Then he asked if I had any questions for him. I said, "Pres Eyring, I know you served a mission in Japan and as a mission president there as well. Is there something that you really wanted all of your missionaries to know?" He told me that as a young missionary he was very obedient, sometimes waking up early to study more etc.. However, the one thing that he said he regretted, was not loving the people enough. Surprised by his response, I asked him what he thought I should do in order to love the people enough. He simply responded, "Pray as though everything depended on the Lord, work as though everything depended on you." As I evaluate myself every day, I continue to find flaws and try to work on them. Improving in all areas of life is not an easy task, but it is made easier as you work at it each and every day.

We have been trying to get our investigators to attend church and keep their commitments. I remember counsel we received asking us to make the Book of Mormon more of a focus in our efforts. As I thought about all of our investigators, I realized that none of them had a firm enough testimony in my mind, of the Book of Mormon. They love the New Testament as I do, but as they gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon, their love and knowledge of the Bible will only grow stronger.

The family is the smallest unit in the church and the most important. You can not build a house without a foundation and we as a family are that foundation. I would like to make a small request. This week, can everyone in the family re read their Patriarchal Blessings and share their testimonies and inputs as to how we as a family are doing on making our family unit what it needs to be.

I love you all very much. Amanda, I almost broke down in tears as I saw you in a beautiful African dress. I love you all!

Elder Hair

All Good in Ghana

Well Dad, another son leaves the nest. Chandler and Devrey look great! With tears in my eyes I look at them and realize that things for the "Hair Boys," continue to change and will never be the same. I remember the good old days of two-on-two futbol and roller hockey in Spain. Although times together will now be few, I know with all of my heart that after this life it will be forever. I love you Dad, and when I get home we are going to be doing a lot together. Thank you for your continued prayers.

Amanda, I am happy that you got the fabric! I really thought hard about that dress. It is one of the favorite styles the girls wear here. The fabric itself takes a long time to make and if they mess up, it gets spoiled. I'm told you should wash it by hand. Maybe you will have to look on line to see how Ghanaians wash by hand. HAHAHA! I love you, Amanda! Your new school picture looks superb!!! I keep it in my white handbook and show it to everyone!!!

Mom, I love the Ghanaian people very much and can't wait to be able to tell you stories, and cook you foods that you will think came from heaven. I love you and can't believe how you and Amanda are getting more and more beautiful every day.

We took a trotro the other day that had a rusted out hole the size of a CD right below my feet. The typical trotro, is a far cry from the buses back home. Another time, I was sitting in the back seat when they had piled loads of plantain and cassava (fufu ingredients) onto the back of the tro. The rope broke as they were weaving in and out of traffic, and all of the stuff fell out including us almost. As we continued on the incline our seat, not securely bolted, almost went with it. We held on tight and managed to stay inside the tro. Sometimes there can be up to 15 people as well as children on their mother's laps as they travel to and from school. It makes my day when the kids rub my face or the hair on my arm. Most of the time the mate will try to charge us too much because they think we do not know the rates. Once, a mate tried to charge me extra and I told him he was "o-bwa" (not being straight with me) and one of the ladies asked me in Twi how much he was charging me. When I told her, she started yelling at the mate, then others joined in. The woman gave him a few slaps on the back of the head, meanwhile the driver was laughing at the whole thing. We have seen that same guy in his tro again and we just share laughs at how the Obroni knows the rates.

Life is all good in Ghana. We have been going over the former investigator section in PMG to get ideas and inspiration to contact former investigators that were previously not ready to accept the Gospel. We just got another large group of Elders this transfer, many from the US. It is amazing how fast the mission is going. I love the work and each and every day that goes by I look back and ask myself, "Did Elder Hair do everything he could this day to serve the Lord with all of his heart?" More than a year on my mission and I have never regretted a day of service. That doesn't mean I've been perfect, but I don't have any regrets and have learned so much. I love learning new things from my scripture study each and every day. There are so many things I wish I could just write down and talk about. My journal writing has been going well. I haven't missed a day. I know that I will really be grateful for that later in life. I love you all and know this work is divine.

Elder Hair

Patriarch Bondah

Please thank Dale for sharing that story about Emmanuel Bondah. It was big news in our mission when Assin Foso became a stake, and the story of Patriarch Bondah tells you just how great these people are. It must have been very exciting for him to meet and sing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

We held our baptismal service this past Saturday, and on Sunday they were all confirmed. It rained hard for an hour before the baptisms, yet Doris Osie Agyemang, Erica Gyasi, Juliana Frimpong, and Evans Agyemang were all able to make it, though they were soaking wet even before they were baptized! haha They all are wonderful and I am so happy for each of them. They were all at Church looking fresh for their confirmations and a brother named Richmond and I performed the ordinance, while E. Saili the day before did the baptisms. Since it was fast and testimony Sunday they all got to get up and bear their testimonies with a little help from the counselor conducting. It was truly powerful. A little primary girl named Whitney, that I really love, got up and bore her testimony and out of character for her, she began to cry and ended her testimony kind of quickly. I didn't catch it all because she was speaking Twi, but I knew she was talking about her father. I later found out she was saying she knew that one day her father would become a member of the Church and get married to her mother so that they could live as a happy family.

Erica, a recent convert told us after her baptism interview, her "miracle story" of how she knew the Church was true. About two weeks ago, we taught her the Plan of Salvation. After we taught pre-earth life, fall, and creation, she felt confused so we tried to help her understand, but still we didn't feel as if she understood it well enough. We then told her that if she believed that all of the things we had taught her so far were true, then it should be easy for her to accept the message of the Gospel and the Plan of Salvation. We testified of the truthfulness of our message, and asked her to pray again to know for herself. She said she would. Three days later, she was in her bedroom that she shares with her sister Jenna. She was just about to pray before going to bed when the power went out. She got down on her knees and began to pray. As she prayed, she asked Heavenly Father, to help her to know if the Church is true. She told us she then felt something that she had never felt before, and so she prayed, "Heavenly Father, if The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true, please let the power come back on. Not more than 2 minutes after she finished praying, the lights came back on and Erica began to cry.

I am very happy for Chandler and Devrey, and will be thinking about them next Friday!

I love you all!

Elder Hair

A Little Boy in Ghana

The hearts and minds of the West African people were prepared for the day when missionaries would be sent to their lands. Several Protestant ministers in Ghana and Nigeria obtained copies of the Book of Mormon. When they read it, the Spirit witnessed to them that it truly was the word of God. They began preaching to their congregations from the Book of Mormon and seeking more information from Church headquarters in Salt Lake. They knew that the Lord had restored His Church to the earth and they wanted to be part of it. During the 1950’s and 1960’s, Church headquarters received more letters requesting information about the Church from Ghana and Nigeria than from all of the rest of the world combined. Those letters were sent to President Faust, who was then the President of the International Mission. He reported that he would take to his regular meetings with the First Presidency large stacks of those letters that pleaded for missionaries to be sent.

One day, President Faust received a letter from Emmanuel Bondah, a little boy in Ghana, who said that his greatest hope and dream was to hear the great organ and listen to the Tabernacle Choir sing. When he went to his next meeting with the First Presidency, President Faust put that letter on top of his usual stack of letters. At the meeting, President Kimball asked him if he would like to read one of his letters from West Africa. President Faust took Emmanuel’s letter off the top of the stack and read it. When he finished, he looked up and saw a tear trickle down President Romney’s cheek. He later reported, “I knew then that we were going to Africa.” The earnest desires of those faithful people caused President Kimball to spend many hours in the Temple, pleading on their behalf. Eventually, after the Priesthood revelation was received, missionaries were sent to West Africa. Entire congregations, already calling themselves The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, were eager for baptism. Among those baptized was Emmanuel Bondah.

Emmanuel was a faithful member of the Church. He eventually became the District President of the Assin Foso (pronounced “uh-sin fo-sue”) District in the Ghana Cape Coast Mission. Under his steady and inspired leadership, the District grew and progressed. In the spring of last year, the District he had led for ten years became a Stake and Emmanuel Bondah was called as the first Stake Patriarch.

Tonight, the dream decades ago longed for by a little boy in Ghana will be realized. Emmanuel Bondah will hear, for the first time in person, and will sing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir! I suspect that President Faust will be watching … and smiling.

Square Toast Bacon Burger

Hello all,

The power was out in Kumasi this week. I am very grateful for your email. I love you and am thankful for your thoughts and prayers on my behalf. We are teaching a mother right now who reminds me a lot of you, Mom. We have baptized one of her girls and are now working with the other, then the boy and hopefully her. She makes me laugh when she tries to speak English and we all laugh along with her. It reminds me of how you would try to use the slang that I would use in High School like the word "poser." I love you, Mom and hope that you will not change.

What I would do for a cherry limeade right now with the special ice and a square toast bacon burger. I guess I can wait though. haha
I am so excited for Chan and Dev. Can I call her that, or is that one reserved for Chandler only. I would love to get their picture.

Amanda, I am very proud of you and know you will do great in the play. About 20 primary kids come to Church, and about 8 youth between 12-17 that I teach every week. This week we talked about the Millennium and they really loved it. The questions they asked were amazing. There are things the youth will ask that the adults won't even think of. I think it is important to learn from them. Jesus Christ taught us to become like little children. Keep working hard and enjoy your school play.

Two of the people that we had planned to baptize have decided they want to go to Church a little more so that they can truly know that this is what they need to do. On Oct 1st, we hope to have Erica, Dorris, Emmanuel, Mommy Frema, Vera, Julie, Evans, Acose, and Elizabeth, take that necessary step toward the Lord's Kingdom by entering the waters of baptism.

Before I began studying the Old Testament, I read the Book of Mormon again focusing on the number of times it mentions or talks about the Savior. It was amazing how much I was able to learn. I marked all of the places that talked about Christ, and the words remember, and repent. While E. Omini and I served together for 8 months, we noticed how often people would use scriptures from the Old Testament, so I have not been just reading it, but really trying to understand it. We felt that our knowledge of the New Testament and the Book of Mormon, along with our testimony, led us to the success we had in Fiapre. This Sat, our old unit will be made into a branch! Since leaving Fiapre, I have been able to read, study, cross-reference, and gain understanding how Jesus truly was the God of the Old Testament. I have gained a greater knowledge of the standard works as I have studied the Old Testament. The BOM and NT are the most important, and they are what we should be using. When we teach, we mainly use the NT, but there are times we refer to the OT as well. Sometimes we have to use it to help them first understand who Jehovah is, about tithes, and about the fall before someone has gained a true testimony of the BOM. I have been using what I study every day. Proverbs has become one of my favorite books of the OT along with Isaiah 40-45. I will be done with the OT in like 2 weeks and then it will be on to the NT again.
~ ~ ~

A senior couple working with Spencer sent us a short email:

. . ."we attended district meeting he conducted last week and your elder gave the most inspiring instruction and testimony on the atonement, using brother mckonkie as his support, that I have ever heard. Not a dry eye in the audience and the spirit was powerful. You can be proud of this young elder serving faithfully under some very tough conditions. He is doing great and growing in every way. We will hate to lose him back to America.

God bless you and your family while you have sacrificed for the cause we all believe in.

"Fruit That Will Remain"

I remember well Sept 11. I remember sitting in my 5th grade class when all of a sudden, the teacher yells at us to keep it down. She turned on the TV and some kids got excited thinking we were going to watch a sweet action movie. But as we all came to the realization of what exactly happened, we couldn't believe it, and it was the talk around school for a long time.

One of our recent converts spent the last 4 days doing indexing, and is on her way with the neighboring ward to the Temple for the first time. She has been a member for only three weeks and has done more for the Church then most members do in a year. God bless her and her family. We will be baptizing her younger sister and about 10 others on Oct 1.

Dad, you wrote of a missionary who is struggling. I don't know how long he has been out, but the best advice I can give him is to work more with the members. They can help him a lot by introducing him to friends who will listen to our message.

I remember when we watched a video clip in the MTC from Elder Holland about the irresponsibility of some return missionaries. He wanted to ask them why they would waste 2 years, only to return home and quickly forget what they had just taught others. After gaining a testimony of something that you can't get anywhere else, some returned missionaries are throwing it all away. Maybe they were lazy on their mission and really didn't even want to be there. Some don't want to keep the rules, they hate the culture and food, and haven't tried to
learn Christlike attributes. I am grateful for this mission and the amazing experiences that I am having, learning not only how to be a missionary but how the Church needs to be run and how the Church gets started in places where it hasn't been before and so on; however, Pres Hinckley was right when he talked about how members should work hard to give the missionaries people to teach, and the missionaries should teach. No one wants to go to Church with people that they don't know. Maybe you could tell any discouraged missionary that if he really wants to enjoy his mission, I honestly believe he should work with his companion and work with the ward mission leader and members to get people to teach. If they have to lower their teaching numbers to get "fruits that will remain," it is better then wasting time walking around trying to find people that don't want to hear the Gospel. Don't get me wrong. Spirit led contacting can be very effective as we discovered in Sunyani. Anyway, it would be great if members worked more with the missionaries and weren't so worried about what their friends will say when they ask them to hear more about the Church. Blessings follow hard, EFFECTIVE work.

"Companions should prayerfully counsel together, understanding they are accountable to God for their decisions." Tonight when I have time I will pause and think more about that as well.

I am happy that everyone is doing well. Thank you for everything! Please tell Chris, Tyler and Chandler that without the example of my older brothers, I would not be the person I am today.

Love Elder Hair

What a week!!!

We have been so busy, it really didn't seem like my 1 year mark mattered. We enjoyed some fried rice which has become the "lobster dish" of GCC missionaries.

A member killed a chicken and cleaned it, then I showed Elder Saili how I've learned to cook it. I cut it into pieces and boiled it, adding some of my own mean spices. I'll kill a chicken and make the same dish for you when I get home. haha

We have too many people to visit and not enough time to visit them. I don't remember if I said that last week, but it is not easy. Elder Saili and I had some pretty powerful lessons this week. I don't know how to explain it, but we've reached a point where we feel at ease with investigators and they seem to feel the same with us. It doesn't matter the age, gender, or religion. We still
have a lot to learn, but like the feeling of confidence that comes when we're teaching.

We had a sweet lesson with Jenna's younger brother and sister. Their mother, however, is the one I want to tell you about. She was a devout Presbyterian for 20 years. She paid offerings and did more for her church then most other members. She fell very sick and couldn't go to church for 3-4 weeks. The pastor came by but didn't believe she was truly sick so he kind of chastised her and left. She was not very happy but just let it roll off her shoulders. She is now learning about the Church small small, and this week we are going to have some of the Relief Society visiting teachers visit Jenna and try to include her mom in the lesson. I gave her mom a For The Strength of Youth Pamphlet this week, and she loved it!

We've also been teaching an 18 year old boy named Emmanuel, who has been sneaking out of the house to take the lessons and come to Church. His parents did not want him to have anything to do with us because people were saying that we worship the devil and "call upon" saints. You would be surprised what people say about the Church. We had about 15 mins to explain and answer questions about the Church to his mom after she found out he was sneaking out. We have taught her the first two lessons and invited her to be baptized on Sep 24th along with Emmanuel and his 11 year old sister, Vera. We were so excited when she came to Church and was warmly welcomed by the members. It was testimony Sunday, and with my broken Twi I bore my testimony and saw her laughing. That was a good sign!

I have grown very close to the people here as I have continued to learn more of the language small. The Lord has blessed us in our time of need. I love the Gospel and Church very much. My testimony of the temple grows more and more every day. I always get emotional when we teach the temple to our investigators. I love this area just as I have all of my areas. I have grown spiritually and physically. I'm getting taller!

Love Elder Hair

Sweet

Fam,

This week has been pretty sweet. Now that there are only two of us in this new area, we have a lot of people we are teaching and not enough time to teach all of them. At first I was kinda stressed but then I realized that I need to be counting my blessings. I love being able to make an impact on someone.

As I look back at the last year, I can't help but notice how fast it has gone. Even though I have been out for a year I still feel that same hit-the-ground running zeal that I had the day I entered Elmina.... In fact I would even say that I have more. I am so excited to see what the rest of the mission will bring, and what I will do to give back to it.

We met with a guy this week named James who told us that he had been in the Ghanaian Military for 20 years. Right away we felt a connection with James, and at the end of the lesson/answering questions about what the other missionaries had taught, he said, "That was a powerful lesson." We walked away with a feeling of gratitude for the Lord allowing us to teach James. We left feeling good about what we had just said as representatives of our loving Savior. I am going to continue to work on that for all of my lessons to come.

Elder Saili had his first legit FM (free meal) on Sat with our recent convert Jenna. We had boiled yams with a powerful stew that we all helped prepare. He and I are really enjoying ourselves and look forward to each new day. With the new program for trainers, you train for two transfers, then your trainee will immediately train the next two transfers. I really like the idea because it will give someone that has just been trained the opportunity to grow even more by training another.

I met the new missionary from St Louis today and he seems like a sweet guy. He is being trained by E. Halimarian from Liberia who is the sweetest missionary in the mission. I love that guy!

I was asked to teach the youth class this Sunday. It makes me happy when the kids go home and talk with their parents about what they learn in class. It was sweet being able to teach them and I am excited to be able to continue.

There are these two sisters that we are teaching, Grace and Nana Akwia. They really like the message, but say they are too involved in their church and unable to leave. Each time we leave, we feel good about the lesson, but they need to come to church and earnestly pray so they will know the truth.

I love you so much and am more grateful each and every day for the things that you did to raise me. Say hi to everyone in O'Fallon.

Love,

E. Hair

Happy Birthday, Mom!

I sent a small birthday present with Elder Fairbanks. He will drop it off at Grandpa Al and Grandma Junes house. Mom, I want you to use some of what I am sending, and can give the rest to Amanda. OHHHH ENJOY!!!

As I write this, I'm wearing a sweaty jersey with my name in Twi on the back. We just finished some promising missionary work with a baptist pastor from the US. He and his wife are here for some time and he invited us to play football (soccer) with his team. We had a blast and have a lesson scheduled with him to talk about the Church.

Elder Fairbanks just went home so his comp got transferred just down the road. Elder Saili and I are going to enjoy all of the new investigators that they left with us. We have already met many of them and are very excited to teach them. Prayer has become the backbone of our teaching. With the new training program that is going on, I will probably only be with Elder Saili for one or two transfers and then he will begin training the next missionaries that are coming in. Elder Saili and I are amazed how the Lord has has helped us with creative and fun ways to help/teach with confidence. Elder Saili knows a lot and his straightforward testimony is powerful. It makes me happy to see him progress as a new missionary each and every day.

Dad, I'm glad you got a chance to talk to Stanford. He is a good guy and I knew he would make a great missionary. Is he in Illinois or Missouri?

I will be going with a few of my MTC mates golfing. Ya, golfing in Ghana, I know!! Sweet right. haha There is a well inside our compound that's not very deep. We have some kids that always come and play and collect water for their baths and cooking etc. I got inside the well as they were coming for water and as the kids opened it to fetch some, I scared them so bad. Everyone was laughing so hard.

When will you leave for Utah and Chandler and Devrey's wedding? Please send me pics and all that jazz. I love you all and will continue to be the missionary in the GCCM that you know I should be. Obedience is much easier then disobedience. It is amazing at how missionaries that figure that out become the best in the mission. Man, I love this mission. I really love my study of the New Testament. I feel good about what is going on right now and there are many things that I get excited about. I continue to get motivational letters weekly through Dear Elder and am very grateful for the thoughts and prayers for me. OK, I got to go.

I love you all and love hearing from you.

Elder Hair

Few FMs

Hello Family,

We had some really powerful lessons this week. It feels good to have become familiar enough with the lessons we teach, that I am able to have some fun with our investigators. I believe God has a sense of humor and helps us quickly build close relationships with our investigators. It's fun to laugh and joke with them while also having some serious discussions and powerful learning experiences. Ghanaians love the word of God, but for many, it has become just for show. I suppose it's like that for people all over the world today, so it's always fun to try and find out who is serious and who is not.

My love for God grows every day. Jenna, one of our recent baptisms, continues to progress very quickly. She truly loves the Church and the message of the Gospel. In the last lesson, we shared with her some information about the Relief Society and how she is an amazing LDS woman already. It has been really fun teaching her. She gets us excited about the message we share, and is planning her first trip to the Temple. I wish they were all like her. It is powerful to hear about her life's story and how she has learned so much in so little time.

Mom, we do eat with the members but don't solicit FMs (Free Meals). I have had a lot of the same types of food for a year now and some of it gets kind of old. Don't get me wrong, I love the food and enjoy the challenge, but the word 'variety' does not seem to exist in Ghana. haha We are able to find filtered water to drink and cook with.

Dad, did you get a chance to meet my buddy? Do you know when that guy from the North Stake is coming to the Accra MTC?

In PMG, Brigham Young said something like, "If you go on a mission to preach the gospel with lightness and frivolity in your hearts, and not have your minds riveted on Christ, you will go and return in vain. Let your minds be centered on your mission and labor earnestly to bring souls to Christ." E. Saili has only been out on his mission for 5 weeks, but we both want to serve the Lord with all of our heart, might, mind and strength.

I love you all!

Elder Hair

My Brother, Saili

Fam,

My new area is great. We have about 50 members in our unit. We just completed our assigned project to gather GPS coordinates for the boundaries to make us a branch soon. A 16 year old boy named Kojo, comes with us most of the time to help translate and man does that open up our teaching pool.

I have enjoyed these past few weeks with Elder Saili. I feel as if my own brother has come to serve with me. He is a great guy who is learning a lot about the gospel and how to teach others about it. His simple, powerful testimony is motivating and brings joy to those who hear him share it. He and I have found that to bring the spirit into the homes of those we teach, we have to be prepared spiritually for every lesson, and try to ask inspired questions.

People want to go to Church with someone they know, so we are teaching around member's houses so those we teach will have friends to come to Church with. It's working! Our new investigators feel more comfortable going to Church with a neighbor.

We just baptized a woman named Jenna who was supposed to be baptized 10 months ago, but the missionaries that came into the area, didn't look at the Area Book of the previous set of missionaries so they completely missed the opportunity to continue teaching her. Our Mission President has always emphasized the importance of using the area book. It's actually one of our mission rules. If every missionary obeyed all of the mission rules in the white handbook and those given by the mission president, we would have so much more success. We are now preparing Jenna to be able to go to the temple. Had she been baptized 10 months ago, she might have been preparing now to receive her endowments and bless the lives of thousands.

Well, I think I'm putting on too much weight, and it's hard to find the time to work out. I need to schedule it in my planner and just do it. I have a weird feeling about these next two transfers. We'll see how things go. I love you all. The gospel is true and you are a great family. Thank you for your support!

Spence