First Email Home!

Aquava!!! How are you.

Thank you (Madasi) so much for your letters of encouragement. Dad, I was able to go to the Accra Temple twice and I loved it. My first area is Elmina, which is an old fishing village right on the coast. My apartment is 2 min walking distance from the coast and if I climb to the top floor I can see the ocean and palm trees not far off in the distance. My trainer is Elder Leko from Uganda. He is one of the most powerful men that I have ever met. We are in an apartment with another set of missionaries. One of them, Elder Jeppsen is from Idaho and knows a lot of the same people that I do from school.

This week has been amazing. I have truly been able to see why I have been called to this specific area as my first area. Once engulfed in the work, things go by so quickly. This week, after an appointment, my comp and I were walking to a member's shop where we left our bikes. Downtown Elmina can be hilly in some areas and so while we were walking down a stony hill, we saw lots of kids dancing under a tent. Lots of parents were sitting along the side watching and bobbing their heads to the music. As we walked by, all of the kids yelled "Obrunie," which means "white boy." I started to dance along with them and man you would not believe there eyes. The parents stood up and danced as well while the kids kept yelling "Obrunie." They followed my comp and I until we went around the corner and could not hear the music anymore. That was Saturday, and I just had a feeling that everything was going to be OK, and that it was going to be easy for me to love these good people.

Two of our investigators, Regina and Diana came to Church for the first time. We had only taught them the first lesson, but they contributed more then most of the members. I am so excited to continue to teach them.

Mom, do you remember that Ghanaian that was in my ward at school and lived in the dorms? His name is Alphe, and his house here in Ghana is in the same apartment complex as ours. I saw him here the first Sunday that I arrived. His Dad invited us over for dinner. He's a very knowlegable man with a strong testimony. Alphe will head back to the States in the middle of November to put in his mission papers. Man it was so good to see a familiar face.

I am eating lots of oatmeal for breakfast (I know, I love oatmeal now), and rice with a chicken tomato and vegetable stew that I made. I had Fufu for the first time today at our Fufu party for the Zone at the Sisters apartment. The AP's and the Mission President and his wife came. It was very good. I pounded Fufu for the first time and all of the Elders got mad at me because I did not mess it up. Must be that Hair family athleticism! I am so excited to be in this Zone and to get to know everyone better. We are going to Tacaratie next week to play that Zone in a football (soccer) match. On Tuesday, we traveled out to a small village where the Patriarch and many of the members live. It took us about 45 minutes to ride there on our bikes. We passed several different villages along the way. There were many hills so it was fun. We got to our appointment but the lady was very busy cooking and could not visit with us. We left her with a short message and rode back to town. It rained all the way. It felt like a little slice of heaven.

In my first letter to President Sabey today I expressed to him how I am excited to come up with ways to build the trust of the people. I want to learn some greetings so they will listen to me because I am an Obrunie that is trying to understand their culture. Church was amazing and I could not believe how powerful the members sang the Church hymns. Back home we don't even come close. I am beginning to see why it is important to put your whole heart and soul and most importantly your TRUST in our Heavenly Father. I have never prayed harder in my life and I have never felt the ups and downs that I have felt on the mission. Nothing could have prepared me for the culture shock of an African mission. I am so grateful for the classes that I took and the studying that I did beforehand. Mom and Dad, thank you so much for the constant love and encouragement to prepare me for my mission. I love Ghana. I love the people, and most importantly I love my Savior.

Love,

Elder Hair