MTC for Life

 Wow,

Thank you for your inspirational email! I enjoy the opportunity to learn from the prophets and apostles.

Dad's stories from his mission have motivated all of us to serve. Chris, Tyler, and Chandler all served very well and continue to be great examples for me. We will be eternally grateful for the decision to serve a mission.

I was very excited to hear about Janelle and Chris. As I read the email, I almost broke into tears. I got down on my knees and thanked the Lord for his mindful eye on the Hair family. I am grateful for my three amazing sisters-in-law, Amanda, and Mom!

That was a great picture of you, Dad with Elder Nash.  I was excited to hear of his mission call to St Louis. He was a great influence on me at BYUI.

I really enjoy teaching more than ever now.  I feel so comfortable talking with people and not just sputtering out lessons. It is quite an amazing feeling. Elder Alba and I are teaching two sisters who we invited to pray about being baptized.  We're anxious to visit them again.

This week as we plan for yet another large transfer in preparation for the mission split/formation of the new Kumasi Mission, I feel a sense of peace that everything is going to work out just fine and that Heavenly Father, through the mission president, will work out any kinks.

We had a combined Zone p-day where we played football (soccer) and Pres and Sis Shulz even came to watch. It was a lot of fun to see all of the missionaries there, but it was weird being the one of the oldest. The game was going along great. Suddenly, Elder Hair takes off down the left side of the field dreaming he was back on his High School team... The ball was crossed to him where he dribbled past two defenders to find himself half way down the left-hand side edge of the 18 yard box, where he wound up and took a blow. With a curving shot, the ball entered the netless goal and the crowd went wild!!!!! YES!!! Actually that is how the goal was scored, but it probably wasn't as exciting as I wrote it. haha 

Well, the rest of the week consisted with Zone Council on Wednesday and then off to Kumasi to go on splits with some of the Elders up there. We had a great day of splits and a baptismal interview.

The Lord has really helping me to learn many different lessons on my mission that I will use now and in the future. These two years are the "MTC" for the rest of my life.  I love you very much and am grateful for your example to me.

I love you all!  Have a good week.

The Azonto

Our week has gone really well. We went on splits with both the Assin Fosu and the Swedru Zones. It's sweet to pair up with another companionship for a day. Friday was an amazing day. Let me tell ya a little about it.

First, I had the opportunity to interview a man by the name of Eli who was about 25. I began by just getting to know him and talk about what he was studying in the local university. He was very open, and expressed his love for the missionaries and how the lessons had truly helped him with his schooling. He was also very concerned about the welfare of his future family. We continued with the interview questions and his very heart felt answers. He closed with a wonderful prayer asking for guidance and help as he embarks on this new journey. He was an incredible example to me.

Later, we went to see a family the missionaries had been teaching, but could not find them, so we decided to knock next door. A girl opened the door, and without hesitation, invited us in. This family was prepared at that very moment to hear the word of the Lord and his restored gospel. We began chatting small and learned that the daughter was a graduate student and her father was a professor at the University. She has been a teachers aid and is planning to further her education in the US. We had a great first visit, set up a return appointment, and left with a prayer.

Next, we went to visit the non-member boyfriend of a girl from the ZLs branch. They had been trying unsuccessfully to get together, but kept missing him. We walked to where he lives and near where she works, in a food provisions store in the same hostel (apt complex). We got there, but the place was deserted. We were kinda bummed, but hoped to be led by the spirit to find someone right in that hostel. So, right then and there, the three of us circled up, and Elder Nzuki from Kenya offered a sincere prayer asking for help. As the prayer finished, music began to play, and we decided to follow that music. We climbed the stairs until we reached the fourth floor. When followed the music to an open door, where we saw two guys. Out of the blue, Elder Bunker said to them, "Hey, Elder Hair needs a toilet, fast!" and the guys said, "Oh come on in, you can use ours." After seeing the condition of that place, the last thing I wanted to do was use their bathroom. It didn't even have a T-Roll!!! We asked the guys if we could teach them something small, and ended up having a great discussion. They were both very eager to learn. Just as we were about to finish the lesson, another guy walked in and we invited him to join us. His name was Josh, and turned out to be the boyfriend the ZLs had been searching for. We hit it off and they all really seemed to like us and see us as normal guys just like them, the only difference was that we had an extraordinary message to share with them. Before we left, Josh, who works as a DJ, wanted to show us a dance move called . . .The following day, back in our own area, we were trying our darnedest to get all of the less-actives, recent converts, and investigators to come to church. One lady by the name of Veronica was sitting on her chair listening to her Fante Gospel Music bobbin her head up and down and side to side. She took one glance at us and got that, "not again, why don't they give up already", look on her face. We told her that we had been thinking about her and that we just wanted her to know that we had not forgotten her. We told her that we loved her very much. She stopped the music and look up at us. I knew then that she felt something and that we had her attention. We told her about learning to dance the Azonto, and promised her that if she came to church, we'd dance for her. She started to laugh and said, "can you really dance the Azonto?" She promised us she would come to church if we danced it right then and there. We discovered that two other families outside their houses right next to hers had been listening. She turned up the music and the moves were busted out.

She kept her promise and came to church. That day my heart went out to that woman and ALL of the people that we visited who also kept their promises and came to church. What a glorious work this is. Even though we often face disappointment, this day made up for it all. This day was one of those days to never forget. I love this work, and I love my companion. We are working so well together to help this mission and the future Kumasi Mission to be the best in the world. It just takes one step at a time. I love you all and hope all is well.

Elder Hair

Steadfast African Pioneer

Hey Family,

What a week we have had. We traveled to Accra with President and Sister Shulz to pick up a loner car while their car is in the shop. It was quite an adventure. We went with them to the Area Office, then to get a drivers license for Elder Alba. It went really well, and we were able to get all of that done in time to make it back to Cape Coast before dark.

It was sweet to see a couple in Church that we've been working with. We have really tried to rely on the spirit as we teach them. They both look forward to the temple, and I hope and pray that before too long, they will be married in the Accra Temple.

The following day we traveled to a village about an hour away and teamed up with two different companionships. It went really well. One of the Elders has been struggling with the fact that he cannot listen to music from home. Although he has a good trainer and has not listened to anything apart from MOTAB, he still finds himself feeling as if he is missing something. I have
seen a positive change in his attitude. It was amazing to see how his trainer handled the situation and how he is helping him to deal with mission life.

We taught a really cool man by the name of Amoah. He told us, "Man's greatest enemy is himself. If we allow ourselves to be overcome by adversity, then our bodies and minds are weak and we need to work to make them stronger." Well, I have learned to do that with food.
When a member gives us a GIANT ball of Fufu in a big bowl with very spicy soup and goat skin or cow skin (hair still on it), I need to think about the aftermath of this overwhelming meal. One or two things could happen. If we don't eat it fast enough then the soup gets cold and it's not too tasty. When we finish it all, and don't exercise every day like we are suppose to, then we get the Fufu belly. I'm jumping rope right after I write this! haha That was a bad example of a great quote from Amoah.

One more amazing, once in a lifetime, yet sad experience. Brother Billy Johnson who was the first African to be baptized died this past week.

His wife and mother live in our Branch. The day after his death, we went with our branch mission leader who is their grandson to pay our repects. We talked for small time and offered our assistance. She said that at the moment, she didn't have anything, but she would just like us to keep her in our prayers. We said that we would and then as we got ready to leave, she asked Elder Alba and I if we would return the next day and give her a blessing. We agreed and she began to cry. It was awkward at first and then as we shook her hand and left, I felt a rush of peace and joy pass through me. Elder Alba and I prepared our minds and hearts for that Priesthood blessing. The next day we picked up our branch mission leader again and took him with us. I performed the blessing for Bro Johnson's wife, and Elder Alba did the same for his mother. It was an experience that I will never forget. As we all think back to what Billy Johnson did. How faithful he was to the commandments. He was not baptized yet, but lived the higher law. He knew little about the church, yet he studied the Book of Mormon and words of the prophets eagerly. I admire this family. Many have been blessed because of their example. Jessie, the grandson, is one of the most humble and forgiving men I have ever met. He is poor, yet he finds the time and money to come to church every week and fullfils his calling with the utmost respect for the meaning of a calling. We love him and pray for him and his family often.

Steadfast African Pioneer - http://www.lds.org/ensign/1999/12/steadfast-african-pioneer?lang=eng

Tonight, Pres and Sis Shulz, and Elder Alba and I, have a sweet family home evening planned with a couple that we have enjoyed teaching and learning from. Our lesson is going to be on the Atonement and Easter, and pray we'll have the spirit with us to help them understand. We then plan to just talk with them and play some small games.

I love you guys and hope you have a good week.

Elder Hair