Christmas week.

(Merry Christmas ~ snow-in-a-can on our Apt. door)

Just Alex...

Well hello family. What a crazy week it has been. It was so good to hear all of you. Sounds like everything is going just smoothly, which is always good. Well all is wonderful and I’m so happy I got to talk to everyone. It was just a really cool pick-me-up. I’m glad you got to ask all your questions. I just like chatting with you all.

Let me start with Sunday. Church was packed with all the holiday churchgoers (C&E Christians). Well we had a missionary Sunday. All the elders did everything. We taught all the different classes and our ward missionary leader spoke as did I. For a few weeks I had planned out what I was going to talk about, but as I was waiting to speak I was 'told' to change everything, so I rewrote in my mind a talk. That was fun. I got up and spoke on the Book of Mormon. I just tried to make it as simple as possible and still keep it powerful. It all went just great.

It's always fun to stand up and say... "Mema mo ache' agema ya hinuah" (good morning then declare my tribe and say I’m from a royal family) and then getting the whole room to praise me with "YA HINUAH!!" that’s always fun. hahah. You know I would enjoy that. hahahhah. Oh man.

But all went well on Sun. We went over to meet with Marsha and Rex who have been sooo busy with their work and she’s like 5 months prego. We were planning on meeting with them and setting a date for Marsha to be baptized but it was Rex's b-day and it turned into a huge party with a full 3-course meal that was quite delicious. (She is a caterer so she has GREAT food) as we were walking out her husband told me he wants her to be baptized. She has been coming to church the past 3 months but they are just so busy all the time. So he is planning on making time now that the holiday season is passing. So I think it will be sometime in January. She’s awesome and they will be a powerful family in the church. So I’m excited about that.

So as for this past week, pres. gave us each an extra 5 cedis ($3.50). He wanted us to all take someone out to get food. 5 cedis can serve about 1 person each IF you go to a good chop bar. If I just gave the 5 cedis to a family it could feed them all. So on Christmas Eve we went to BU and took Joseph, Patrick, BabyDoe and Peter (his older brother) out to a chop bar and enjoyed. It was really cool. They were very thankful which is always nice. Saw and met some members in BU and had a great night out and about.

(Joseph, Patrick, Elder Darrow, Peter, Baby Doe - Christmas Eve)

Christmas day was a day I will never forget. I figured missionary or not Christmas day is all about fun. Well I found that you could still have fun out and about and not just sitting in the apt. eating loads of food. After waking up and opening the small Christmas gifts, I had pancakes for breakfast. It was the last mix I had and so glorious. Then we went out and contacted for a bit. We haven’t done a lot of that on mission yet. So we went around and talked to random people. Nothing crazy sweet came out of it but I’m sure if Christ were around he wouldn’t just sit around on his birthday, he would be out and about. Of course he would come back and have cake cuz who doesn’t love cake?? But he would work.

Then after we took Meshaq to a nice chop bar and we got jollof and chicken (jollof is like fried rice mixed with some type of tomato stew, almost like the classical Mexican rice) and popped down 2 minerals. It was really cool to be out and having fun with a person I love so much. We were originally planning on going with Joseph and King David but they had some meeting at the stake center and said they wouldn’t know when they would be back but they would call. Well right as we were walking out King David called and said they were home and that we could meet. Sigh... we just put down a huge meal and if we go there I was going to have to do that again. But let's be honest. It’s not like Alex to turn down food (if its good food).

So we went to Joseph's compound. What’s always sweet about that is I get to hang and wrestle around with Pah Pah. Always a joy. I taught him how to play with a yo-yo and then taught Joseph how to play with one. We met up with e. Thompson and e Yapo and the people they were taking out and we ate again, and enjoyed ourselves, again. But it was really cool to go out and actually be a missionary on Christmas day and spend time with people I have got so close with over the past 9 months. I know that I’m ready to leave this area but I will truly miss them so much and will hate to say goodbye.

Then it was back home for the Christmas call. (And after the 2 lunches and contacting it was like 3ish) so that was basically Christmas here in Ghana.

Thanks again for all that you do. Thanks for being so awesome and so uplifting and so supportive. Thanks for being all that I could ask for and more. Thanks for all the prayers and for just being so extremely helpful. Love you guys big time.

xoxo
elder darrow

p.s. I did miss the snow.

Ivory Coast Missionaries transferred

by dad

Last month Ivory Coast had presidential elections, in which two candidates declared themselves the winner (which has made things there a little exciting). Political instability, clashes and the threat of military intervention following the disputed elections, have prompted the Church to move its non-African missionaries serving in the Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) Abidjan Mission, to the french speaking countries of Togo and Benin. These countries are both to the east of Ghana (see map in the right column).

No missionaries from Ghana have been relocated. Alex says Ghana continues to be a very safe place for the missionaries.

On a lighter note, Alex recently spent time in Takoradi at the market. He says it can get pretty exciting there.

I still have a Washer.

just Alex...

I will start with the fact that for the next 6 weeks I still have a washer. Yup, 6 more weeks in Sekondi. The area got a bit dry, so we will have to do work to get it back to where it should be. Lucky for me Ghanians are incredible and it won’t be too hard. We are going to just do crazy work and I still may be transferred and not get to see the fruits of anything. So at the end of this transfer I will be here 10 1/2 months. How crazy is that? (I’m getting old). I guess we will see how things go. sooo. Don’t worry about me. All is going well.

On Thur night the Lambs were so kind as to bring our apt over for my b-day feast. The Lambs are just the sweetest people you can ever find. I love them so much. As always we enjoyed big time.

We had apartment checks from the Sabey’s on Sat morn. I was able to have a small interview meeting, just pres. and me. Man was that a sweet experience. The interview ended with a powerful blessing and a hug. I honestly felt like I was hugging P-Doe (dad) and it’s really all that I needed. He could have just showed up and gave me a hug and left and all would have been well.

Thanks so much for all that you do. Love you guys so so very much.

So crazy that Christmas is coming. Gonna be weird to hear you all again.

Wow... just got excited.

xoxo

elder darrow

Happy 20th!

by dad

There is something universal about little boys and muscles. For a boy, there isn’t just one event or sign that you’re getting older, but the ‘muscle flex’ seems to be the best indicator that you are growing up. Alex celebrated his 20th birthday last week. I have missed watching him get older this year, but I have enjoyed watching him grow.

Alex writes…

My birthday; THANK YOU a million times. The Zone Leaders had a meeting on Weds. in Cape Coast and came back with 2 packages for me. That was so sweet. The packages were amazing. Thank you so so much.

The pants fit perfect. The length is a tiny bit long. It’s sweet to wear pants that fit again. As for the shirts, the neck is right but they are a titch baggy.

Here is how my birthday went. Woke up and had pancakes with syrup. Yes... it was glorious. I made a plate and as an apt we downed them in 30 sec. Later I had a bowl of the (Capt. Crunch) cereal you sent me. I used some crappy milk but it was perfect (cuz you need small just to make is wet). It was awesome.

Later we went to restaurant and I got myself a cheeseburger. Costs $12 cedes ($8us) but it was so flippin awesome. I thank you! At night we did have the Hostess Ding-Dongs and ice cream. And yes I used the candles. Thank you so much for sending all that stuff. My birthday was as sweet as I could ever have with my current condition, so I thank you so much. You guys rock.

As for updates with Mike Allen, e MacKay got a hold of him. He stays far away so they are going to try and see him some time. He did tell us that he is planning on coming back after the holidays so lets hope. He’s so sweet.

All week I have been jumping rope. e Thompson has done it the past 6 months and e Matheson has never jumped rope. I spent 3-4 hours teaching him how to jump over a rope. He still doesn’t have it down exactly, but if you could have seen where he started and what he can do now. He can do like 7-10 jumps without hitting. It’s like a fresh cut lawn. I just look and stare... (tear...) so proud. e Matheson really is a nice guy. Very loving. He has a friend in me. We have gotten a lot closer this week.

Missionary life: It’s not easy. .... "but if it was easy everyone would do it”. (shout out to mom!)

Next p-day Aubra (zone) comes to play and then its transfer news. I’m kinda up in the air. I would like to go, but staying wouldn’t be so bad. e Thompson is a sweet guy so it’s cool to have him here. It’s crazy how fast this transfer has gone by. It would be hard to change right before Christmas and not know anyone, but it’s not like I have a problem making friends! Haha.

I saw in e. Proctors mission pics (Korea) that he was wearing a Ghana - Kente tie. BALLER. Man did that make me happy. Haha.

Mom no there isn’t a lot of anything put up for Christmas here. You would love it.

Sorry I don’t have more time. Love you guys big time!

Thanks again for everything and thanks for all the b-day wishes.

LOVES

Elder Darrow

Wait for me. I’m coming. I’m coming.

just Alex

Tuesday was Patrick’s baptism. It was a day to remember for sure. We showed up to the chapel a few hours early to make sure all is in order and sure enough the font has only 2-3 inches of water in it, and water isn’t flowing. Sigh… Well, you would be surprised how much work you can get done with a few phone calls and a large group of LDS Africans fetching water from a well a few hundred yards away for about an hour. Was a cool experience to be apart of really. Just very humbling.

(Isaac Dadzi - ward mission leader, Emanualla, Patrick Ofosu, e. Darrow)

The baptism went very, very well. Patrick was late cuz he got in a car that broke down on the way so he had to walk a fair majority of the way. He showed up real sweaty and stressed out. I got numberless phone calls of him begging... "Elder Darrow, wait for me. I’m coming. I’m coming" he really is such a stud.

As for updates with Mike Allen, well he is a frickin stud. This week was EPIC with him and his progression. On Friday we taught him all about Christ’s doctrine (faith, repentance, baptism, enduring to the end.) We ask him how he feels about what he read, NOT how he understood it but how he feels. He said that he has responsibilities and a purpose. (Me) "What responsibilities?” He said “Well, to do Christ’s doctrine.” (Me) And how are you to do that? He says “Well... I need to be baptized." :))!!! It was so cool to let the spirit direct and teach him and let him see all that on his own. We asked, 'Okay. Why don’t we set a date in the future so we can prepare for it so you can be ready" and then he interrupts me and says: "Shouldn’t I be baptized as soon as possible? What if Christ comes next week?” :-) We were very happy he sees the importance. We explain how he should fully understand what it is that he’s doing and make sure he understands the church well enough so he is fully ready. We set the date for Dec 21. (A week after transfers...) he was very very happy about all of this, as were we. He’s such a sweet guy.

Well when we show up Sat morning, his mom said that he’s not around and that we are to call him. So we do and he says that he is on his way up to Kumasi. Sigh..... His brother called him and needed him to come up. He wasn’t sure why and doesn’t even know how long. Sigh… We talked to him again on Sun. and he still isn’t sure. But he did say he very much wanted to continue the lessons up there. So I called elder MacKay, and told him all about him. I’m not exactly sure what is going to happen with him but I will keep you updated for sure. He is such a powerful investigator and I will miss him so much. After a lot of heartbreak and confusion Sat/Sun, I got to understand that there is a bigger picture. This guy changed and has been showed the light and the way. Maybe he will come back down or maybe I will be transferred to him.

This week was quite crazy with the whole elder MacKay / Thompson switch. I was very sad to see e MacKay go, but e Thompson is sweet. I enjoy him in the apt.

(Sekondi Apartment - Elders Thompson, Mathesen, Darrow & Yapo)

As for Thanksgiving. Well... nothing like it should of been. But i’m in Africa. To be honest, if I showed pictures to the people here of how much I would eat on this day, in one sitting they would cry. So I guess it’s good I didn’t. We all just got fried rice and minerals and enjoyed back at the apt.

As for my birthday that is coming up around the corner. No big plans really. I’m sure i’ll do something worthwhile and memorable. It will be hard to be away from the fam and friends and mostly my big bro. but (sniff sniff), i’ll get over it. All will be well.

Thanks for everything that you do. You guys really do rock the place. I am so so grateful for all that you do. I couldn’t do it without you.

BIG LOVES

elder darrow

by dad

While Salt Lake City is getting dumped on with snow, this sunny picture from Ghana, with Elder Darrow's 'awesome hair part', seems surreal.

(elder Sintim and elder Darrow)

Thankful for a washing machine.

by mom

Since Alex arrived in Ghana he has had to wash his clothes by hand in buckets of cold water. It’s time consuming and causes lots of sore knuckles. The missionaries usually spend about 4 hours of their p-day washing clothes. Alex’s new companion, Elder Matheson, was able to get a washing machine when he came to Africa. This past week it arrived from his previous area and he is graciously sharing it with Alex. During this Thanksgiving, Alex is thankful for his new companion and for his washing machine.

Now he has a little more free time on wash day.

Matching Ties. Really?

by dad

(Elder Darrow & Elder Mathesen)

I have emailed Alex the past few weeks and suggested that he grow his hair out, just a little, if for no other reason than for posterity. His response…

“Dad, ya I’m growing my hair out for you so I can get a thick awesome part, get a few pics, and then I will buzz it! It’s Too Hot here!"

This is the first of ‘a few pics’ with a little bit of hair. This picture is also his way of promoting companionship unity.

Last week, through an effort to work hard and promote “Exactness In Obedience”, they met Mike Allen. He recently graduated from University and contacted the missionaries to see if they had a book to read. They gave him a Book of Mormon. He has spent almost every day with the elders since then.

This week we taught Mike everyday but Tue. Mike is such a stud. He is so smart, sincere and such a caring person. He asks questions with real concern and just wants to know more about God. He is willing to do what he needs to find out and get answers. We had a very powerful lesson about the restoration. He says he has never felt so close to God. He has also gained a similar testimony of the BOM. He still has a small problem completely trusting God and His will, but he does know that God does and can answer prayers. The last lesson we had we talked all about prayer. He is so sincere and is willing to do what it takes and is working very hard at getting answers.

Every single lesson we let him pray. I break down when I hear him pour out his heart to Heavenly Father and thank him for us, …for me, for my strength and my desire to come and teach him every day. It’s heart melting. I have a tough time pulling my self together. Thanks mom!

On to other news. Patrick will be getting baptized tomorrow. He is such a stud. I haven’t talked a ton about him but he really is just a solid guy. He’s so smart and he is so ready for his baptism. We have run into some complications with Issac. He has caused me a lot of heartache this week.

I did get to help a lady this week make Kakro. It’s a mix of plantains, flour, salt and other spices. It’s like sugarless, fried banana that you eat with beans. Her’s are as close to refried as you can get in Ghana. I flippen love the stuff.

So that’s basically it for today. Thanks again for all that you do. Love you guys big time. Thanks for the prayers. I feel and see the blessings daily.

Xoxox

elder darrow

Pah Pah, acted like a KING

by dad

Alex wrote his sister a letter this week with this story.

I will tell you a quick story about a kid I love so much. We were on exchanges and were headed to Joseph Mann’s compound. That’s where Pah Pah stays. I love all the kids there but that kid is one of my fav! So I was telling E. Mackay about this kid, telling him how sweet he is, how he’s crazy and fun. Mostly how he and the other kids love to play with my hair. He loves it when i pick him up and put him on my shoulders. He just loves chillen up there. It’s actually quite hard to get him down because he holds on to me for dear life. He also likes how he feels when all the other kids see him up there.

So as I was telling Mackay all of this, we round the corner and have a 60 yard walk up this hill. As soon as we turn the corner, Pah Pah sees me and starts screaming “Obruni” and runs full speed down the hill to me, all the while yelling. Well, it’s Saturday morning so all the kids are out of school so it was very public.

I wish you could understand how happy I was, when I saw he was that happy to see me. As soon as he got to me, I threw him in the air and within seconds he climbed up to my shoulders and acted like a KING as I walked the rest of the way to Joseph’s house.

Man do I love the kids. Man do I love Ghana. It’s so awesome here.

loves

Alex

Another month in Sekondi.

Just Alex...

Hello Elder Matheson.

I’ve got my new companion. He’s about 5’5, he is from West Jordan, Ut. and is very, very intelligent. He reads A LOT. He is a very obedient missionary and knows how to work so I’m very excited to serve with him. He has spent the last 14 months in Kumasi so this is his first time to the coast. We should do good work.

It was weird to see Elder Sintim

leave.He didn’t want to go and I miss him a lot. He’s a stud. I did love this week going around and sitting with investigators and letting elder Matheson talk to them and ask questions and hear them bear testimony of things I have been teaching them. That was cool. I will say it makes you feel real old in your area or old on mission when you show another elder around your area and intro him to everyone and that was my second time. I’m excited to see how these next few weeks go. So once he knows his way around im excited to get off and running. I’m also very happy that elder MacKay is still around in the apt.

This Sunday we got to go and watch 2 sessions of con. Sat afternoon and Sun morning. Man it’s so much more powerful listening to them and look into their eyes as they talk. No sweet lessons or anything like that this week. Just a new companion and showing him around.

I did enjoy when we went to meet Meshaq (who is the most loveable and caring guy you can meet and one of the people I will miss the most around here). He shook his hand, then kissed his hand and then told him he loves him and just stared into his eyes for a while. It’s so Meshaq but he doesn’t know him yet.

Sorry my email is so boring this week. Once again thank you for all that you do. I don’t know how a missionary could go out without the support that I have at home. Thank you a million times!!

I’m out of here.

Big, big, big loves,

elder darrow

(the Sekondi Zone November 2010)

Issac and the end of rain season.

by dad

After the October General Conference I mailed copies of the talks. In his email he proceeded to give a detailed account of each speaker and his thoughts and reviews on 16 talks he read. I’m not sure if he wanted us to know he read them OR wanted to make sure we read them. Either way, he "loved, loved, loved the conference talks.” A few of my favorites… Holland - Rocking the mic! I realized I could be so much more grateful for things. Kearon - "When obedience becomes our goal, it is no longer an irritation; instead of a stumbling block it becomes a building block." Sick! Andersen - "Never leave Him. Choose not to be offended and ashamed." Word up!

He did send a little information about Ghana too.

I’m here and I come with news. My new comp is e. Matheson. He is from e Mackays mtc group and he has served in two areas in Kumasi his entire mission. He from utah. Right now, all I care about is that I’m going to be here in Sekondi. e Sintim is going to Kumasi along with e Dadegnon, same apt as e Holmes. I am going to miss them a ton.

(Issac Mah and Elder Darrow)

As for Isaac Mah, I don’t want to tell the story cuz it’s too deep, but let’s just say Isaac was the reason I came to Sekondi. I have no doubt about it. He continues to teach me things that have changed who I am. I love that man more then you could understand. He is so solid. He is making incredible sacrifices to join the church. He is a story I’m gonna keep close to my heart. He is a refugee from Liberia and has nothing. I will tell all you about him on the Christmas call. It’s just too personal to share his story. You just won’t understand till you hear it full. His baptism will be at the end of the month.

As for Patrick. Also a stud. Things are going just dandy with him and he has been ready for baptism for some time. I’m excited for that day.

We also got to sit with Mashal for the first time. She is a wife (just married this month) of a member. She has been coming to church the past month but is just too busy to sit with us. We got to sit with her Sunday night and had a very, very, very powerful lesson. One of those where the spirit teaches and you say things that you shouldn’t say the first lesson and didn’t plan on saying at all. When we started talking about how she can be sealed to her husband forever and that any kids she has (she’s prego) are hers FOREVER. And that in this church we know that families are forever etc. After all that she just looks at us and asked in a very, very sincere way. "How do I do that??” You can only imagine how strong the spirit was. We were very excited for her.

All three of those peeps were at church this Sunday. I love Sekondi.

Sekondi, Ghana is located just north of the equator. It has two seasons; hot and rain. The rain season has come to an end and now it is just hot. It will be hot until the Harmattan winds blow in the first part of the year. That bring back the rains. Until then, it’s just hot. Hot, dusty and dry. Here’s few picture from the last down pour. The brown water is what most of the dirt the roads look like when it rains.

On Saturday I went on exchange with elder MacKay. I always love those. We did that only cuz e Yapo didn’t feel well and we both had people to see so it was our best option. We did work. It was a hot, hot day and we were all over the place. Sekondi to Esicadu to Injecia to BU. We had some powerful lessons. I really enjoy teaching with elder MacKay. Was a cool day.

As for my birthday and Christmas, in all honesty there isn’t anything that I want or need, maybe some deodorant. I feel like you do so much. Don’t worry about me. Seriously though anything that you want to send is welcomed with open and loving arms. But you do WAY too much as it is already. I can’t thank you enough for all you do.

big, big loves,

elder darrow

Sunday with the Axim branch

just Alex

Okay what up what up beloved family. Missed you guys this week. Crazy how fast time is flying by? Happy flipping b-day p-doe. Sorry I’m not around. I’m busy elsewhere.

Today for p-day we went to the beach and Cape Coast came as well. So it was Sekondi, Takoradi, and Cape Coast zone. We played football on the beach. It was a lot of fun. It’s always cool to see the other elders. I met elder Bunker for the first time and when I greeted him he said… ‘Huh elder Darrow. I’m supposed to say hello from like your aunt or neighbor or mom or someone.' Went on to tell me that he ran into someone at the Draper temple. He’s from Pleasant Grove and long story short, someone out there who knows me said hello. Thanks.

On to other news. We have an official date on the calendar for Isaac Mahh and Patrick. They will be baptized on the 23rd of November. Who knows what will happen with transfers but I know that it was better for them to wait a bit more. They are so sweet. (Cool things are always happening with them but I can’t tell you EVERYTHING right?) Just know things are sweet with them. Thanks for the prayers. I know they are helping.

This week I got to experience something new. I got to go up to a branch with elder and sister Lamb. They have been taking the Takoradi ZLs there but they needed us at church to teach some people. It was an hour and a half drive from Sekondi. I’m sure that most branches are like this all around Ghana but I have been blessed to be ‘born' in the area with the nicest chapel in Ghana.

Well they met in a schoolhouse for children. So everyone was sitting in benches. Remember the benches are for children, so you can imagine how this Ogre felt. Haha. Real fun. The branch Pres was new. The first councilor is blind and the second councilor couldn’t read or write. They have such great faith and it was very humbling to worship with them. They had elder Sintim give a testimony and asked me to fill the rest of the time. I spoke for like 20 min and just winged it. There were some big distractions as I talked but I pushed thru. One thing that they just don’t understand is reverence. They have no problem answering a phone call or the bishop/branch president calling someone from the stand up and just having a small meeting during it all. It’s just different from home.

(Schoolhouse/Chapel in Axim, Ghana)

As they were blessing and passing the sacrament I looked around the room and felt so lucky. To be where I am. To have come where I came from and have all that I do. It’s eye opening when you see stuff like that. It took me back to home and thinking that all of you would be going to church in a nice chapel with carpet and a/c or heater with nice big cushions benches later that day. It was very humbling and as I sat there with a deep prayer of thanks in my heart. After sacrament we broke out into different classes. They all go to various classrooms or just areas of the school. There are 3 other churches that meet in the school compound as well so for the last hour of church all you hear is the different churches singing and shouting and praying in tongues. A bit distracting yes but we endured. We (I) taught investigators class. There was a class of 16 people who will be ready for baptism within the next few weeks or so. They don’t have full time missionaries there and they just pray for it. Seeing how the branch ran and how everything worked out it really made me gain a strong testimony of how true this church is. Whether you’re in America or Korea (shout out to E Proctor) or Ghana, it’s all the same.

(Elder Darrow & the Lambs at the beach in Axim, Ghana)

After that the lambs drove us by the Axim beach. Axim is sweet.

That’s all for today. Love you guys real big. Thanks for everything!

Obruni bye-bye... !! (waving) I hear that about 20 times a day

elder darrow

Where in the World?

by dad

Where is Alex?

What is it like there?

How do they get around?

Is it safe there?

These seem to be regular questions asked about Alex. So I thought I’d post a few answers. Sekondi, is a coastal city, just north of the equator in Ghana, West Africa. The population of Ghana is estimated at 22 million. The western region has roughly 2 million people, with the majority living in the capital of the region, Sekondi-Takoradi, which has approximately 350,000 - 400,000 residents. Sekondi has a population of 175,000.

The downtown area streets are paved, with stores, shops and an open market. The streets always seem to active with people, especially children. Alex wrote home recently and said…

"There aren’t enough words to describe or pictures to send home to explain the complete AWESOMENESS of this place."

They walk everywhere they go, 6-8 miles a day, sometimes more, sometimes less. A few of the missionaries have bikes, mostly the Zone Leaders. Sometimes they will ride a small bus (tro-tro) to get somewhere faster or if it’s just too far to walk. Sometimes they are in populated areas with apartments.

Sometimes the walk to more remote villages.

Sometimes they use safe bridges and sometimes bridges a little less safe.

Sometimes they walk the rails as the trains pass by.

And sometimes they just walk on trails.

But they are always safe…

Momma - I want you to know that I’m safe. I really am. I thought it was going to to a scary place, but Ghana is a safe place and religious men are well protected. Don’t you worry at all. All is well with me. I love this work so much and I feel so blessed to be in such an amazing place. Thanks again for all that you do. I couldn’t do it without you.

Big Hug

Elder “Buster Baby-boy” Darrow

That's thier justice.

by dad

This weeks' email had the latest news on his health (he had a boil), his diet (fruits and veggies are expensive and "fried plantains and beans are cheap and fill him to the rim”) and his recent craving for lasagna and a frosty.

As for investigators:Agyemang and Patricia loved church and the lesson was powerful, but they wouldn’t promise to come this week, which is good cuz at least they understand the meaning of a promise. Pray for them. It’s a fine line to mess with a father and his kids so there isn’t much we can do.

Patrick and Isaac Mahh, both were at church this week and all is going well. We really are focusing on "fruit that will remain” and after lots of studying, fasting and praying, I know that the right thing to do for is to wait. We want them to really understand the importance of baptism and the covenants they are making. We want them to be ready and I want them to be powerful members. Both of them are 2 people that I really want to be a part of their baptism and help them along the way, but I know what God wants, is for them to understand what they are doing. Just pray for them. And pray for me to stay with them. They both mean so much to me, especially Isaac. Has such an amazing story and was ready for this gospel. He’s a person I will never forget.

Now on to more sobering African news…I saw something this week that I will never forget. Something that reminded me where I am and how different life is here. I saw something that I have only heard stories about. Walking in the streets of Sekondi ,right in the heart by the market, we saw a huge crowd yelling and shouting and freaking out about something. As we walked up, we quickly found out what was going on. A thief had been caught. :( Now here in Ghana they go by a different policy. Because everyone has a mother or a wife or friend etc. who owns a shop, they go by the people system. Everybody governs everybody. Yes there are police and it’s an understatement to say you would be lucky if they were the ones who caught you. I witnessed a crowd take this man who was caught stealing and just about beat him to death. They all surround him and just all get their own punches in till the police come. And if they don’t come then mostly likely they kill you or almost kill you. And that’s one thing they see as perfectly normal. That’s their justice. I stood there and watched this horrible scene, and there was nothing I could do. I didn’t want to watch but I couldn’t look away. It was so sad. Now, I’m not saying that the thief is right, but I was quickly reminded what the real world is like and how different life is outside of my pampered life back home. It was something that is burned into my memory. It was a sad, sad day. Just another reason and visual of how fortunate I am.

I really am so grateful for all that I have. I can’t thank you enough for everything.

Elder Alexander Charles Darrow

I draw it out in the dirt for a visual.

just Alex

Well hello, hello family. So... I shall first reply to any emails that I read. In response to The Amazing Race and kids running around with an old bike tire and stick. Well, that’s real here. They will use just about anything as a soccer ball. I get the biggest kick out of seeing them turn empty cans into cars. They put a string on it and run around with them. You forget how 3rd world it is after a while. You ask 'how you do it day in and day out?' Well, you have such a love for the people and its home. It’s like all I know. Just imagine big elder Darrow hopping in with a random game off football when they are using an empty plastic bottle for a ball. I love it. I love them. I love it here. It’s sad to think that one-day i'm going to leave here. Wow. It’s just not real. I really do love it here.

(kids in the neighborhood)

Okay enough with elder Africa. As for what went down this week... our lesson with Isaac was very cool. We taught about repentance. It just made me so grateful for the atonement. Was a cool lesson and he is just about ready for baptism. So is Patrick. The lesson with him went really well.

It’s been a bit since we sat with Agyemang and Patricia. With their school starting it’s just been hard to meet. Well we went by and only Patricia was around. We really talked about why she didn’t come to church. She gave us a promise that this time no matter what she would come. No matter what. (As a missionary you hear a lot off empty promises). I have been teaching Agyemang for over 4 months and Patricia for close to 4 months. It's hard working so hard and not seeing results. We had a cool lesson with her about 1 NE 8. (it's Lehi's vision of the Tree of Life. I LOVE that chapter.) Well it was sweet. And i'll tell you I never get sick of teaching that as I draw it out in the dirt below us for a visual to help them learn. We left knowing that we would just come next week and talk about why they didn’t come. Sigh... Nothing new.

On Sat. I went on exchange with elder MacKay. He really is so sweet. I love elder MacKay. I know that part of the reason he was sent here was for me. Elder MacKay is a stud. It’s so sweet to have him to talk to and I have learned A LOT from him. Well exchange was sweet. We did WORK. We were in Sekondi in the morning and Injacia (sp?) in the afternoon. It was a hot day so it made the work feel that much sweeter. haha. Had some powerful lessons and I love teaching with him.

(Elder Darrow & Elder MacKay)

That night we stopped by the Lambs. I Love the lambs. Such a blessing to us. They also told us a ton about what’s going on up in Sunyani. I'm sure elder Bahme is just loving life up there. Talked about how crazy fast this mission is growing. Ghana is ready for the gospel.

Sunday was also sweet. We got to church small early. I went around the room and greeted everyone. I love the ward. After greeting everyone I walked back to the door and waited. As I was waiting there, I saw Patrick walk in looking sharp with shirt and tie. Made me happy after our thick Sabbath day lesson.Then I looked passed them and there stood Agyemang and Patricia, looking better then ever . :))) ... I almost cried. hahah. (Thanks mom... : l) Man was I happy. A guy in our ward was getting married so we had a lot of visitors, so our investigators class was full. That was cool. Had maybe 30+ people in class.

After class, I noticed that the 13-15 yrs didn’t have a teacher. Sigh... They were just sitting there and screwing off. I ended up teaching that class. No biggy.

(kids in the ward)

Isaac didn’t show up to church and I'm not sure why. I'll keep you updated when I know. We were invited to the Lambs after for dinner. It was e Yapos b-day. I ate enough spaghetti and brownies and ice cream for 10 small children. I always go home sick. Every time I say I wont do that again but every time I do. What can you do? I miss food. So that basically sums up the week.

Love you guys big big. Thanks for all you do cant tell you enough!

BIG LOVES

elder Darrow

Still a believer!

by dad

Ushering in the 2010 -2011 season, in his own way and in his words…

“ R E P R E S E N T "

Sekondi Zone

Just Alex...

Well hello, hello...k so how awesome was Gen. Conf. Right??? Blah. I didn’t get to enjoy. Thanks again for all of the emails. So awesome to have family who cares.

This week had a lot going on. I’ll try and update you as much as I can. Before I go on, I think everyone but Ryan emailed about The Amazing Race. I felt like I watched it. Weird to think that I’m in a place they show as that crazy African 3rd world country. I hope it didn’t make it look too ghetto. This place really is amazing. I’m sure they did. Don’t you worry. This place is the bomb. But yes.. very 3rd world. hahah. I forget sometimes.

(the Sekondi Zone Sept. 2010)

So as for updates for the week. We found out that the temple trip was canceled. The area office doesn’t want people going outside mission boundaries. But... I am serving a mission for the living not for the dead. I can do that stuff later.

Interviews were on Weds. They were very, very powerful. Had a really cool chat with Pres Sabey. Love that guy. He truly is inspired.

I have been reading the BOM a lot and just really getting into it. I’m in the end of Alma. I love that book. Every time I read from it, I learn something. And a shout out to momma. I just read about the 2000 momma’s babies and I wept like a small girl. They are just awesome and had mothers who prepared them. I could relate. So, thank you.

This week was elders Sintim’s one-year mark and that was a lot of fun. Today at the stake center we played Aubra in football. I was the keeper and decided to really play. I was surprised how much of it all came back. I was ready to get dirty, sliding all over the place. We ended up winning in a shootout. (I know mom loved those so much.) Soo many people told me how surprised they were that I was agile and could do the stuff I did. I should have told them I can do a cartwheel too... hahaha but enough about that. After we got to have cake and Fanta soda cuz all the people hitting the one year wanted to party. That was fun.

On Friday night we got to sit with Isaac Mahh. I feel lucky just to be able to teach someone like him. He was prepared for this message. We started our lesson with the intro of the BOM. He talked for about 10 min about it. He was just loving it and bore a bold testimony of the book and we haven’t even really got into it with him. This is all before we even started the lesson. Maybe the best opening to a lesson I have ever had. I would imagine it would be like if I went to go watch a MJ concert and Jack Johnson opened for him.

We had one of the most powerful lessons I have been part of. We talked about the plan of salvation. And he was so happy that the BOM told us more about that subject. . After reading with him and explaining how this life is the time to prepare to meet God he broke the silence with ‘wow! That’s serious.’ As we taught him I could see the message pierce his heart and see his eyes open up to our message. The entire lesson as I got to witness this. I had a silent prayer in my heart for being so lucky to be apart of it all.

He says over and over again that he loves the new understanding that we bring when we come. At the end of the lesson he asked us... "Before one is baptized, how far must he progress?" :) :) :) I love it. We explained how we want to teach him everything and let him gain a testimony of it all and that his baptism will come soon. He’s so sweet.

(Baby Do, Joseph, Elder D, Patrick, Raymond, Agyemang)

Lessons still go really well with Patrick. Sometimes is hard to teach him cuz he has so much to say, and when ever we teach him, anything we say takes us to some random verse in the bible that leads to another random thing that goes somewhere else. He reads the dictionary and reads a lot of stuff online. He knows the origin of every word and all types of random information that you’re just like “What???" . hahahah. Things go well with him. He is very intelligent but lessons take forever. He loves this gospel and has a testimony so that’s all that matters.

On Sunday when we got to church Isaac was there waiting. Man that’s a sweet lesson. Patrick isn’t always a regular at church and that’s something we got to fix. Also Justice and Kathryn were there. (the two people who just need to get married and then baptism but culture is getting in the way of their salvation.) too bad.

Thank you, thank you, thank you again for everything. I love you guys big time.

What it do baby, it’s the ice man.

elder D