Service

Dear Fam,

This week has gone by very quickly, but some good things happened. We only had 11 people at Church, so we hit a low that we don't like, but we did have our first whole family attend. A Sister Anginlia and her husband and two small girls, one is only 4 weeks old. It was an amazing act of faith and courage that they took the time, especially in the condition that they are in with the new baby.

I was very happy about the topic of the Sunday School lesson because it depicts our main focus as missionaries in Fiapre--SERVICE!!! Ironically, we did a pretty extensive service project for this lady not 3 weeks ago. We have been teaching her more and she has grown in her testimony so much. When she surprised us and came to Church, Elder Omini and I felt it was truly the Lord that had her come this day. Her husband liked the meetings but it was not the big church with hundreds of members that he had seen in other places. That is the hardest thing about being here in this new area. We literally have to do everything at Church, and after 7 and 1/2 months in this area, I have felt myself at times get really tired. But as I see people get closer to their Savior and come to Church and progress, it boosts me up like a package from home. Thank you so much for the birthday card and the pictures. The candy will be gone soon, but I will love it while it lasts.

I love you all!

Farewell to Pres and Sis Sabey

YESSSSS!!!! You got my package. I was nervous about it getting there before Fathers Day.

We had our goodbye Zone Conference with Pres and Sis Sabey yesterday, and a tri zone football (soccer) match. Pres Sabey was our referee. It has been a long time since I've played a full pitch football match, and I'm losing my ball touch.

The missionary work is going amazing. It was really hard to listen to the goodbye words of both Pres and Sis Sabey. I felt as if I was losing a mother and father, but they assured us that the new mission president and his wife will fill their shoes with room to spare for a little more/extra love. Pres Shulz served as a CES Coordinator about 10 years ago in Kumasi, so he already knows Ghana, and he and Sis Shulz served as a missionary couple in Armenia. I have a good feeling about them and in two weeks you will be able to hear all about Pres and Sis Shulz. The First Presidency told Pres Sabey that he could have 2 hrs with the new mission pres and then they should be on their way to the temple and then to the airport. TWO hrs!!!! That truly shows you how much the Lord is in this work and that without Him, it would not be possible.

Elder Omini and I were surprised with a phone call last night as we made our way home in a crammed Tro-Tro. It was Sis Afia who we've been helping prepare to travel to the temple on Thurs of this week. Luckily we had stopped for a second cause one of the passengers had to "ease" himself. I felt the phone vibrate in my pocket and saw that it was Sis Afia. She spoke her broken English mixed with Twi and told us that she couldn't wait, that she was leaving on a night bus to Accra. We learned later that she arrived at the temple around 6am today and then went to the temple with a missionary that just got off his mission and now lives in Accra. They came out 3 hrs later, and he helped her to get a bus back to Sunyani. She will be home at about 9 tonight. When I got a call early this morning saying she had just arrived at the temple I about exploded in tears. Afia is 62 years old and a former leader of another religion (20+ years). She has now entered the Lord's House and witnessed all that she can up to this point. I can only imagine how she is feeling right now. This is what makes the work so rewarding. Afia is one of the reasons I was sent to Sunyani, Fiapre. I know that now more than ever. The Lord is in this work only if we allow Him to be. That is just what Elder Omini and I have strived to do, and to let the Holy Spirit guide. May the Lord richly bless those that have the incredible desire of Afia Ofosuah. She is my African Mom, hands down!!!!

Love

Elder Hair

P Day Ingenuity

Sunset at the house/church

Preparation for the Temple

Dear Family,

I want you to know that I love you with all of my heart, along with the rest of our family.

This week we have continued to prepare Afia for the temple at the end of the month. We have begun teaching Afia's grandchildren, and soon the whole family will be members of the Church.

I got a very wonderful letter again from Grandpa Al and I am thankful for his continued efforts to keep Grandma strong, and to keep his promise to have her there when I return.

I taught this week in Sunday School about sacrifice and I was very happy with the spirit that we felt in the meeting. I have grown to love teaching the gospel and am continuing to learn new teaching ideas every day.

We love Pres and Sis Sabey who leave in just 3 weeks, then Pres Shulz arrives.

Amanda you are my shining star! Keep becoming more amazing every day. I love you all and hope for the best for all of you.

Elder Hair

Fiapre Sunday School

Cutting the lawn

Dreaming of a green riding lawnmower

Preparing a chicken for dinner

A Week To Remember

Hey Fam,

This will probably be a week that will remain at the top of the list for a long time. We baptized Afia, Morris, and Dennis. Thursday before the baptism, Nancy called her father back home to tell him about her baptism. Her father was not angry, but he wanted her to have more time to find out if this was exactly what she wants to do. As sad as that was, we gave Nancy a set of her own
scriptures to read this summer, and feel very strongly that when she returns from the 3 month school break, she will be baptized.

Last week's baptism was an extra special one because Elder Joseph W. Sitati of the Seventy, second counselor in charge of all Africa west, and Sister Sitati, as well as Pres and Sis Sabey attended.

~~~

To top it all off, a camera crew doing a documentary on us missionaries in Sunyani, came and took pictures as I baptized Afia, Morris, and Dennis. After the baptism, we were interviewed about how we felt about the whole thing and how they felt about us as missionaries. That same camera crew took more pictures several other times during the week as we were about our normal missionary work. It was crazy and I'm happy they have left so we can focus on the most important part of missionary work, which is to help bless the lives of others with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I got really sick last Monday and threw up all night. I was really weak and tired the next day so we had to stay in the house, then on Wed we just did a half day of proselyting. I'm doing better now and I never want to be stuck in the apartment again. Elder Alba is training a new boy. It really makes me see how fast my mission is going and how I DONT HAVE ANY TIME TO WASTE.

This past transfer, Sunyani was made into a Zone and so we are slowly progressing into what we want it to look like. We are getting close to choosing a unit leader and then before you know it, we will be applying to be a branch. I am so excited.

I sent a package with more pictures and a little something for each one of you. I hope you like it. It should be there in like a week to two. Can't wait to see what ya'll think of what I sent. I love you very much and can't wait to hear from you again.

Love

Elder Hair