New Photos!

Hi everyone,

Thank you for your email and letters of encouragement. Time goes by so fast!

A mission is not easy at all but it brings many blessings and great joy. This week was amazing. The local university has started a new semester and we're getting a lot of people to teach. We had 9 people at Church today.

I can't wait to see the rains that are supposed to come. When it rains here it comes down hard but usually doesn't last that long, and then the next day it is really hot.

I have been really enjoying my personal study and all that I have been able to learn.

Helping the neighbors make their daily Fufu

Spencer's first companion, Elder Leko from Uganda

They served in Elmina together (near Cape Coast)

Pumping iron at the neighborhood gym

Dodging gators

Sharing the Gospel

Harmattan Winds

Hey everyone,

Things are going great. We are super busy. How fast time flies when you are having fun. Please tell everyone I'm grateful for their prayers and support. We have truly seen the power of prayer in our work. Elder Omini and I are out at 9:30 every morning and we don't come back until about 8 at night. Many families here in Sunyani don't have lights, and even if they do, they go to bed early, and most get up very early.

We usually don't take time for lunch. I am eating well though, and figured out how to make a rice dish that tastes almost like Mom's paella. You will see one of my masterpieces on my CD of pics I'm sending home.

Our apartment is so nice, I don't have to sleep with a net, but I do still need the fan. It's in the low 90s every day. The Harmattan winds this time of year are very dry, dusty, and hot! I'm going through shirts unlike ever before.
Amanda, that was the best email I've received from you. Thank you, and please keep sending them. I love you, and good luck with the musical. Mom, thank you for sending the package. I should get it at our next Zone Conference.

Please tell Grandma I love her and to stay healthy. Please thank them for the wonderful letter that they sent me as well.

This past week we had two investigators at Church, both males. When you think of all that needs to be done at Church to run Sacrament meeting and Sunday School, that's on us until this little group grows into a branch. This week we taught a newly married couple. We were talking with them about the importance of families and the wife, Evalin said something I'll remember, "marriage prevents many sins." We were grateful for her comment and are anxious to visit with them again.

I love you all. Have a good week.

Elder Kwasi Ihwi

The Dawn of a New Day

Thank you so much for your letters of encouragement. Dad, that story touched my heart as some of the same words come to mind when I get discouraged or homesick. This week however, has been the dawn of a new day in Fiapre. We had two investigators and a member come to Church today along with the senior couple in our district. Man it felt good to actually be speaking to someone and getting feedback.

A woman we met about 4 days ago was one who came to Church. Doris was receptive from the first time we met, throwing questions at us left and right. We met her at a "cold store" where we have been teaching a man and his wife. We set up a time to meet with Doris on Friday evening and she accepted. We answered many questions, then went through the promise pattern, explaining how making and keeping small promises can help her come closer to her Heavenly Father. We then invited her to Church, and she said she would come.

One of the most common phrases in all of Ghana is, "you're invited," which can be used in many different ways. When someone is eating and they say "you're invited," they really don't want you to eat any of their food, they're just being polite. And so it goes when we as missionaries "invite" them to do something, they tend to just take it the same way. Instead of using the word invite, we use the word "promise" which means a whole lot more to them. So we asked her and she said yes just like almost everyone. To our surprise, she showed up. It was amazing. The Spirit was strong and I truly feel meaningful now that we have people coming to Church.

Later that evening, she called us on the phone and asked why we “did not do offerings?” I laughed small small (Spence has picked up from the Ghanaians who say “small” or “small small” to mean “a little”) and explained to her small about tithing and fast offerings, and how we would talk to her about that when we meet with her on Wednesday. She said OK, and we ended our conversation. Most Ghanaians believe they have to have money every time they want to come to church.

I bear my humble testimony that the people in Sunyani, and more specifically Fiapre, are prepared for the true Church, and once they let us teach them and they come to Church, they will be swarming in before you know it!

Love,

Elder Hair

A Sunyani New Year

Thank you for your letters. We taught a lesson this week to a man we thought understood English, but soon found out he understood very little. Elder Omini continued to teach him and it was pretty funny. At one point, we asked if he would turn down his music, but he thought we asked him to turn it up, so while teaching him the promise pattern, Bob Marley was blaring in the background; "Buffalo Soldier, in the heart of America."

As Christmas ended and the New Year began, Elder Omini and I discussed how quiet Sunyani was around the new year. As we were walking to another lesson, we saw a small girl sitting with her friend in front of her home. They were playing with her new Christmas present. As we got a closer look at the doll she had in her hand, I noticed that it was new but did not have the right amount of hair and was missing a finger. How grateful I was at that time for my many blessings. The Ghanaian government is getting a bad rap as gas prices rise and taxis and chrochros are more expensive. Very few have cars and it is hard for people to afford the taxi fare.

Mom, something pretty funny happened this week as I was cutting up a bunch of onions. My eyes began to hurt and tears came down as I cut three or four. I don't know if you remember when we watched together the movie, Julie and Juliet, but I remember laughing right next to you as the camera panned into the kitchen where she was cutting those onions. I really enjoyed those times I got to spend with my mother who loves some of the same things that I do.

We met a man in the street that told us he was "the best dancer in the whole world" and started to do a dance where he hung down like an orangutan and sang Adu Adua Adu Adua Kinka Dinka Dink Kingka Dinka Dink, as he strutted down the street. He was fun to watch.

We traveled two hours to Kumasi for P day this week, and man it was a lot of fun to be able to go around the city and see how huge it is, not at all like my first area near Cape Coast.

It is truly incredible how much you have to put your trust in the Lord when you think you are all alone. I can't believe it is already 2011. Lets set goals this year that we know we can achieve! May the Spirit of the Lord remain in our family stronger then ever as we reach these last days which are so near. I love you all and hope you enjoy this new year.

Love,

Elder Hair