New Photos!

Hi everyone,

Thank you for your email and letters of encouragement. Time goes by so fast!

A mission is not easy at all but it brings many blessings and great joy. This week was amazing. The local university has started a new semester and we're getting a lot of people to teach. We had 9 people at Church today.

I can't wait to see the rains that are supposed to come. When it rains here it comes down hard but usually doesn't last that long, and then the next day it is really hot.

I have been really enjoying my personal study and all that I have been able to learn.

Helping the neighbors make their daily Fufu

Spencer's first companion, Elder Leko from Uganda

They served in Elmina together (near Cape Coast)

Pumping iron at the neighborhood gym

Dodging gators

Sharing the Gospel

Harmattan Winds

Hey everyone,

Things are going great. We are super busy. How fast time flies when you are having fun. Please tell everyone I'm grateful for their prayers and support. We have truly seen the power of prayer in our work. Elder Omini and I are out at 9:30 every morning and we don't come back until about 8 at night. Many families here in Sunyani don't have lights, and even if they do, they go to bed early, and most get up very early.

We usually don't take time for lunch. I am eating well though, and figured out how to make a rice dish that tastes almost like Mom's paella. You will see one of my masterpieces on my CD of pics I'm sending home.

Our apartment is so nice, I don't have to sleep with a net, but I do still need the fan. It's in the low 90s every day. The Harmattan winds this time of year are very dry, dusty, and hot! I'm going through shirts unlike ever before.
Amanda, that was the best email I've received from you. Thank you, and please keep sending them. I love you, and good luck with the musical. Mom, thank you for sending the package. I should get it at our next Zone Conference.

Please tell Grandma I love her and to stay healthy. Please thank them for the wonderful letter that they sent me as well.

This past week we had two investigators at Church, both males. When you think of all that needs to be done at Church to run Sacrament meeting and Sunday School, that's on us until this little group grows into a branch. This week we taught a newly married couple. We were talking with them about the importance of families and the wife, Evalin said something I'll remember, "marriage prevents many sins." We were grateful for her comment and are anxious to visit with them again.

I love you all. Have a good week.

Elder Kwasi Ihwi

The Dawn of a New Day

Thank you so much for your letters of encouragement. Dad, that story touched my heart as some of the same words come to mind when I get discouraged or homesick. This week however, has been the dawn of a new day in Fiapre. We had two investigators and a member come to Church today along with the senior couple in our district. Man it felt good to actually be speaking to someone and getting feedback.

A woman we met about 4 days ago was one who came to Church. Doris was receptive from the first time we met, throwing questions at us left and right. We met her at a "cold store" where we have been teaching a man and his wife. We set up a time to meet with Doris on Friday evening and she accepted. We answered many questions, then went through the promise pattern, explaining how making and keeping small promises can help her come closer to her Heavenly Father. We then invited her to Church, and she said she would come.

One of the most common phrases in all of Ghana is, "you're invited," which can be used in many different ways. When someone is eating and they say "you're invited," they really don't want you to eat any of their food, they're just being polite. And so it goes when we as missionaries "invite" them to do something, they tend to just take it the same way. Instead of using the word invite, we use the word "promise" which means a whole lot more to them. So we asked her and she said yes just like almost everyone. To our surprise, she showed up. It was amazing. The Spirit was strong and I truly feel meaningful now that we have people coming to Church.

Later that evening, she called us on the phone and asked why we “did not do offerings?” I laughed small small (Spence has picked up from the Ghanaians who say “small” or “small small” to mean “a little”) and explained to her small about tithing and fast offerings, and how we would talk to her about that when we meet with her on Wednesday. She said OK, and we ended our conversation. Most Ghanaians believe they have to have money every time they want to come to church.

I bear my humble testimony that the people in Sunyani, and more specifically Fiapre, are prepared for the true Church, and once they let us teach them and they come to Church, they will be swarming in before you know it!

Love,

Elder Hair

A Sunyani New Year

Thank you for your letters. We taught a lesson this week to a man we thought understood English, but soon found out he understood very little. Elder Omini continued to teach him and it was pretty funny. At one point, we asked if he would turn down his music, but he thought we asked him to turn it up, so while teaching him the promise pattern, Bob Marley was blaring in the background; "Buffalo Soldier, in the heart of America."

As Christmas ended and the New Year began, Elder Omini and I discussed how quiet Sunyani was around the new year. As we were walking to another lesson, we saw a small girl sitting with her friend in front of her home. They were playing with her new Christmas present. As we got a closer look at the doll she had in her hand, I noticed that it was new but did not have the right amount of hair and was missing a finger. How grateful I was at that time for my many blessings. The Ghanaian government is getting a bad rap as gas prices rise and taxis and chrochros are more expensive. Very few have cars and it is hard for people to afford the taxi fare.

Mom, something pretty funny happened this week as I was cutting up a bunch of onions. My eyes began to hurt and tears came down as I cut three or four. I don't know if you remember when we watched together the movie, Julie and Juliet, but I remember laughing right next to you as the camera panned into the kitchen where she was cutting those onions. I really enjoyed those times I got to spend with my mother who loves some of the same things that I do.

We met a man in the street that told us he was "the best dancer in the whole world" and started to do a dance where he hung down like an orangutan and sang Adu Adua Adu Adua Kinka Dinka Dink Kingka Dinka Dink, as he strutted down the street. He was fun to watch.

We traveled two hours to Kumasi for P day this week, and man it was a lot of fun to be able to go around the city and see how huge it is, not at all like my first area near Cape Coast.

It is truly incredible how much you have to put your trust in the Lord when you think you are all alone. I can't believe it is already 2011. Lets set goals this year that we know we can achieve! May the Spirit of the Lord remain in our family stronger then ever as we reach these last days which are so near. I love you all and hope you enjoy this new year.

Love,

Elder Hair

Phone Call from the Mission President

Elder Omini (from Nigeria) and I have been assigned to open one of the new areas in Sunyani. I could not believe it when President Sabey called to talk to me. He told me we will be opening a new branch and holding Sacrament Meeting in our apartment. We will be contacting and working with the few members already in our new branch boundaries. Since we can't give out callings, we will just be giving out small assignments like washing the Sacrament cloth, passing out the hymn books, and greeting at the door. I am excited for the unknown, but I am scared at the same time. I know that this is a serious and amazing calling from the Lord and that He will be with us every step of the way. It will take me approximately 7 hours to get to Sunyani. We will be the farthest missionaries north in the mission, and there will be just the two of us in the apartment.

Last week, we gave an investigator the assignment to read 1 Nephi and told him we would come back this week to go over it with him. When we started the lesson, he opened a notebook to a page and a half of notes he had taken about his reading assignment. Our faces got really excited as he proceeded, without us asking him, to read through his notes of how he understood what he had read. Those are the experiences that get me excited about the work.

Many of the people here do not mind praying even on the first visit. Though not members of the Church, they were taught how to pray. During their prayers, they often say, "let us not be just the hearers of the word but also the doers." It blows my mind how prepared the people of Ghana are to hear our message.

Amanda, tears came to my eyes as I read what Steven sent. I hope that he will one day be a member of this true Church. Please tell him that I love him, and am thinking about him as I teach "his people" here in Africa...haha.

On Wednesday, we had apartment checks by the Mission President and his wife. During the checks, President Sabey did something that apparently he has never done before. He checked our area books. When he finished, he looked at us and said, "these two books are the best that I have seen. Keep up the good work Elders." Obedience leads to more blessings than you will have room enough to receive.

President Uchtdorf's talk on Pride in the Priesthood session is my favorite talk so far. Please read it again. In fact, all of Priesthood session was probably the best I have heard. (Even though as a YM I was asleep for many of the Priesthood talks, hahaha)

This week we had a funeral for one of our recent converts who died at age 70. Bart Plange was baptized only 3 months ago. We were asked to help set up tents and chairs for the funeral. The family was very grateful. They even offered us some very "expensive" alcohol to drink after we were done. We laughed and told them that we did not drink. A traditional funeral begins on Friday when they have the wake, Saturday where they have the burial, and Sunday where people come and give food/drinks/money and so on and pay their respects. On Thursday however, they bring the body and lay it on a mat in the house with a cloth over the face and private parts to "sleep" one last night in the family house. Elder Jepson and I were asked to go inside to grab some things. When we walked in, there he was laying on the floor... a dead man...the first dead person I've seen. Wow, was that an experience. We went back that night, and the body was dressed up like a king, sitting in a chair next to a bed, with white powder on his face. It was one of the strangest things I have ever been a part of.

The Lord continues to bless me! Keep up the good work Mom and Dad. You are still young and have a lot to do.

Love,

Elder Hair

P.S. Elder Leko is going to Cape Coast to be a Zone Leader

Excerpts from Spencer's latest email . .

Life is great! I had fun describing Thanksgiving this week to the two Africans in our apartment. There are 4 of us, Elder Leko (Uganda), Elder Jeppsen (Sugar City), and Elder Elephonia (Nigeria).

Sacrament Meeting will be held in the living room of the missionaries' apartments in several newly opened areas until they can get a suitable place to build a chapel. In the beginning, the missionaries will be conducting the meetings.

This week, we met a man named Michael at a mineral store (soda pop store). He wants us to continue teaching him, and plans to come to church next Sunday.

One of our favorite members is a single mom with one little boy. She just lost her job and is now selling her shoes and extra clothing, which she carries around on her head, until she is able to find another job. Most of the Ghanaians we teach don't even have electricity.

I think I was a little naive before I came on my mission thinking that every missionary would be ready to follow all of the rules. Being an obedient missionary is a lot easier than a disobedient one, so it puzzles me sometimes why those things happen when we are serving the Lord in any calling in the Church. In this mission, there are about 20 different cultures that sometimes clash. That is our struggle. There are people to teach, baptisms every month, but what we really need is exact obedience from the missionaries. I know that's a bold statement, but it's how I feel.

This week while walking by the Catholic Cathedral in Elmina, there must have been 200 kids, between the ages of 6 and 9, that just got out of school. Many of them started yelling "obronie" when they saw me. Man was it funny. As we continued to walk, I had 2 kids on every finger of my hand and a swarm of others that couldn't find a space. I love the little children here.

This past Sunday, our ward had its Primary program. It was probably the most entertaining thing I have seen in a very long time. The kids had their parts memorized, and when they sang, they sang loud. Most of the scriptures they quoted were not easy or short. These kids are dedicated and these members are incredible. The theme was Latter-Day Prophets, and they taught us about each one. They spoke clearly and in English so we could all understand. The whole ward laughed at the funny parts and those kids who were shy stole the show. I love my ward and I love my area. I love this work and I love the people that we teach. Without the Gospel in my life, I would be nothing. The Lord lives and is guiding this Church today through President Monson. “O Come All Ye Faithful” is my phrase for this month that I will share with our investigators, but especially our recent converts. All of the three that were baptized were confirmed last week and man was that a sight to see.

I love you all,

Elder Hair

Love it when it rains!

Things are great!!

We had another sweet rainstorm this week. You would have loved it and some of the sunsets that I see. It’s amazing the things that we take for granted.

Randy Darko's baptism is on the 19th. He is prepared and has already become a missionary. He has a friend from work named Karim whose Dad is Muslim and Mom is Christian. Karim has been trying to decide which faith to believe. Before we even met with Karim, Randy talked to him about the Church. He gave him the Plan of Salvation Pamphlet and the Book of Mormon based on the questions he had. That night he read the whole pamphlet and all of the introduction and testimonies of the Book of Mormon. Now remember, this is still before we even met him. Karim then prayed about what he read asking whether or not it was all true. That night he had a dream about the war in heaven, and how Satan and Jesus presented their two plans and God chose Christ to come to the earth. Karim has been attending the Muslim church and does not yet know much about Christianity. You can only imagine how we felt when we first met Karim and heard of his experience.

This week we incorporated something new to our list of creative ways to build trust with the people we encounter. Each day we see kids playing---chasing a small torn up ball, or just playing other games. I decided no matter how dirty or sweaty I get, I was going to play with them. It has been one of the most amazing weeks. Many of the smaller children are scared of white men, so it's fun when their Moms bring them to us just to try and scare them. But soon they warm up to us. On Sunday, I was asked to teach the 14-15 year old kids. The topic was obedience. I ended up using a soccer analogy because that is what all Africans enjoy.

I love you all very much and my love for the Gospel and the Savior grows stronger each day I teach about them.

Elder Ihwi