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