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