It Was Thick!

From Alex...

Alright, what up what up?

We are having a lot of random new training meetings cuz of the changes world wide on missions. Well Assin Foso (zone) came to play us in football today. We had 3 zones here and Pres wanted to have a meeting before we started. What we thought was a training meeting this morning to all the missionaries, quickly turned into a chastisement by Pres BIG time. Ha-ha. He just flipping ripped into us in the nicest and most loving way he could. He talked about alot of things, but was still intense. Pres Sabey is very big on... “You can’t be exactly obedient to an inexact rule.” It was THICK.

All the things he said were good, and this mission needed it. We have a very, very good reputation for Africa but I’m sure for the world we are not so hot. He talked on rules of; 1) music/movies/tv/radio (big problem with that), 2) Phone usage (because of so many Ghanaians and Africans calling their friends and family. I bet the states missions have this problem but they can police it better with phone calls to different area codes. Here don’t have things like that.), 3) internet use… ALOT of people use other emails and use Facebook and, 4) relationship with opposite sex, like letters/ phone calls/ talking.

So he came out with some rules and he is very, very serious about them. Movies and music were the biggest problem here. He told us just last night he sent a missionary home cuz of constant movie problems. He had 3 weeks left on mission and was sent home.

The good thing is that I got to have one of those ‘see how you act in heated moments’ experiences. I wasn’t upset cuz I knew that if Pres said it “it’s the law.” Well I guess all of the mission didn’t really feel that way. Ha-ha. Soo many were so upset. But I wouldn’t mind if this weeded out a few people. Was quite intense. But all will be well.

This week when we sat with Meekel. She said she wants to be baptized. We aren’t sure of the date yet cuz there is some stuff we have to work out. Also, Grace Bonson’s b-day is sometime in the end of Sept and she would like to be baptized on that day. That would be cool. We also have 2 others; Ben Kojo (a 11 year old who has been coming to church for 2 months alone in Kojokrom and we just found out that he lives in our area. His family is interested so we are teaching them.) We are also teaching a friend of Joseph Manns’. We have taught him and he comes to church on and off. We just haven’t taught him enough. He’s busy. So sometime with in the next 2 transfers’ Grace, Meekel, and Paa Kwesi (a different Paa Kwesi) should be baptized. We will see how Ben and his family does.

Also we have been going to meet with Agymang and he is still doing sweet. We go and read the Book of Mormon with him and he loves it so much and he is so smart. We just can’t force his dad to let him come to church and be baptized. So I guess we will see how that all works out. We also have a new guy Patrick who is super smart and lessons are going really really well with him. Give it time.

So much stuff is going on and I really hope I get to see all those thru. But I don’t know how long I will be here so I guess I will see.

Went to Dabuasi with e Sintim. That was cool. Mostly because the day ended with spaghetti and brownies and ice-cream at the Lambs. Was a great day. But I did realize that I DO NOT want to serve in a village. Sigh... So hard…no one speaks English.



Found out that on the 14th of Sept Elder Sitati is coming to have a conf with us. Should be sweet. He’s the new guy in the Africa West Presidency and I hear he’s sweet. Also got news that our temple trip will be the first week of Oct. Don’t have an exact day yet but were going. Woop woop!!

Hope you all enjoyed my letters. I’m a real hoot right? That’s just about it.

I love hearing from you guys so much. Miss you guys a ton. Thanks again for everything. Love you guys so much

elder D-row

This week was Flippin Sweet

by dad

It would be difficult to shorten the email we received this week without taking away from the joy that Elder DarROW is experiencing. In short, he is working hard, sharing in conversions, and serving. The week in his words...

Alright I'm gonna start off by saying this week was flippin sweet. One of my best. Here’s why...

We were to have the baptism Tues. night if we could figure out the font problem and if all the people would show. We couldn’t get a hold of Ebenezer and he lives so far away. All we could really do is hope. He was ready to be baptized, just it's hard with how far away they live. Elder Sintim and I got out early and headed to the church to somehow figure out what was wrong with the font. We were ready to fill it with buckets. On the way we ran into Isaac Dazi, an RM who is our ward mission leader. He is a work horse. Well he stopped and chatted and we told him we were going to the chapel etc... He says 'Oh, I was there early this morning and fixed it. The font is filling and I'll go by later to turn it off.' ... Wow! It’s like when you wake up Saturday morning after a snow storm and your driveway has already been cleared. It was flippin sweet.

So we went on about our day. Had to go to Paa Kwesi's house and get some info from him mom for the records. There was no doubt whether he was going to come. He’s a stud. So all day we did our best calling every number of anyone who is related to Ebenezer. His only member help is his sister. His dad is friendly and doesn’t mind but doesn’t help at all. Well we had to be at the church early just in case anyone was early and just make sure things were where they needed to be. It was to start at 6 and we got there 4:45ish and just waited. Man was I praying. Just hoping he would understand how important this was to him and see if he really cared about it. He wasn’t at church so we didn’t get to talk to him for over a week. Just hoped and prayed. I will tell you I doubted. I knew that Paa Kwesi would show and there was another child of record Sarah who just needed to be baptized and I thought it would have just been those two.

A few min after 5:00 a man comes walking in with a puzzled look. Not knowing who he was at first, I quickly realized it was Ebenezer’s father. :) We chatted for a bit and said he was on his way home from work and wanted to check things out (i'm guessing for approval of the place). I showed him around the church and the font. After he was satisfied he said he was going to go back and get Ebenezer. :) I honestly think if I wasn’t there early he would have walked to a locked church and not wanted it all to happen and just gone home.

Well I still doubted. I don’t know why but it just didn’t seem realistic for him to go and make it back in time. They live so far away. So the others showed up and we were setting up chairs in the room and I look down the hall and there stands tiny Ebenezer. I was so stressed and busy with setting things up and getting ready didn’t really focus on if he was coming cuz I just figured he wouldn’t show. Right then I knew that someone or people were praying for not only me but for my investigators and for those missionary moments. And I want to say thank you. I could feel the blessings being poured out.

All 3 candidates were there. I was still stressed and running around getting everything to work. If it wasn’t for elder MacKay who controlled the whole program, it wouldn’t have happened. As soon as we were all sitting there and he welcomed us all the baptism... peace... just a calm feeling and I was pumped for what was about to happen. All went well. Thank you again for all of you who are praying for not just me but for the missionaries in general and for the investigators. I saw the power of prayer that day.

Wow!

(The new members - Ebenezer, Paa Kwesi, and Sarah)

Weds I went on exchange with elder MacKay to his area so elder Yapo could see our area. We went to Deboase (a village that has a branch like 45 min outside of Sekondi) in the afternoon with the Lambs. Man, did we work! One of those days where you feel like you couldn’t have worked any harder. There is no better feeling then coming home from a day like that. And what was sweet is the day ended with dinner at the Lambs. French toast and fruit. (real syrup and it was amazing).

Thurs we had zone conf. and after we got mail. boo ya. Got the big package from you guys, letters from home and one from grandma. Went home and opened it all up and loved every bit of it. Thank you thank you thank you. The frosting was sweet. Was the first thing I ate. So, so good.

On Saturday we had a service project with our ward and Kwekuma ward. We cleaned and weeded a hospital. Two things happened. First, really made me miss the assorted juice and donuts you would get back home, cuz after they served banku kenke and fish and all types of things that make me want to gag. Second, guess who came? My 2 favorite; Joseph and King David. They are solid members. Members who show up to hard service projects early on a Saturday. And at one point King David told me that after school is over (he has 8 months left) he is planning on serving a mission. Man was I pumped to hear that. Joseph also said he wants to serve, but I’m not sure if he is as serious as King David. Either way, so happy. That was cool.

(Elders Yapo, Sintim, MacKay and Darrow)

Sunday- we had so many people at church. It was so sweet to have good attendance. After we had a lesson with Grace Bonson, who is a wife to a man in our ward that is very powerful. All their kids came to church and she has been attending for a bit. She told us on Sunday that she wants to be baptized. Having the gospel in a family is so powerful and it’s was cool to be apart of that. We didn’t set the date yet cuz we are still working with it. I hope i’m around long enough to see it happen. So awesome. Really was just a sweet week.

Felt very blessed and I’m so thankful. I love you guys like crazy.

Thanks for all you do.

Elder DarROW

He, loves the children...

by dad

Alex seemed to have one of those weeks that challenge you as a missionary. A frustrating, stressful, investigators don't show-up, hard to get stuff done week, when even the baptismal font is having issues. Add to that a 'little bit of a power glitch', so he had to re write most of his weekly email. It's stretching him and he says he's really working on patience and understanding. He found comfort in evening apartment discussions and the scriptures, D&C 122:7... "All things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good"

As for the highlight of the week. Today at Baby-Do’s area I got the pleasure to fall in love with another little girl. Her name is Mame Effwuah (ehf-wuah like ROY our fav hockey goalie... ROY!!!) Well I know this girl and see her a lot. Usually when I’m there she stays close to me and will sit on my lap during lessons. (Nothing new cuz a lot of kids do that to me.) Well this time she came up to me and wanted to be picked up. When I did she grabbed my tie with her tiny little hand and dug her head into my shoulder and was fast asleep within minutes. My heart melted. I have never wanted to be a father more in my life then holding that little girl. Needless to say I held her for about an hour.

I love the kids here. When things get stressful all you need to do is stop and talk to the kids and they always cheer me up. I love them so much. I wish I could tell you all about what happens each day, but I just can't put it to words. I love it here.

Don’t have any big lists of wants. Just those pics I sent, I would love if prints got back to me.

Love you all so much. Thanks again for everything.

elder Darrow!

Still in Sekondi

by dad

This week was transfer week. They came and went without any changes in his zone. Alex has been serving in Sekondi for the past 4 1/2 months and loves it there. He is now serving with his 2nd companion Elder Sintim from Eastern Ghana. He loves the 4 Elders in his Apartment and loves the work. He says he'll stay there as long as the pres. wants him there. He says it's his turn to watch over Sekondi.

(Elder Darrow - Sekondi)

Alright. So here are the highlights of this week.

We have a baptism date for Pau Quasey and Ebenezer. (The two 9-10 year olds) Eb is Agnes’s little bro. She is the one that has to walk so far to church. We still have to talk to Ebenezer’s parents and make sure its cool for sure but I know it will be. Things have been going well with them. Teaching younger kids is a bit different from normal people. So you have to change it up and really make sure they understand. Don’t want to baptize future less actives, but they have fam in the church so they shouldn’t stray. They are two cool little dudes. It’s always a joy to teach them on Sundays. Ebenezer speaks no English so we have to have a ward missionary help us with everything. It’s all good though. They also complete the goal for us. (Football finding) The baptism is set for Aug. 17th. If we have any prob with the parents, we might move it back a bit. But that’s the plan as of now.

We had a lesson this week with Meekel that was one of those "all worth it" lessons. We talked about the BOM and talked about what the book is about, using the pics in the front as normal and really went in depth about it cuz she’s smart and after explaining Moroni she said, ‘Wait... if he hid them and he’s the only one who knew where the plates were then how did we get them back?’ :)) Booya! Right into Joseph smith. Then showed the pic of the angel by his bed and said this is angel Moroni etc... She was confused for a bit and we don’t ever explain right away that it’s the same Moroni cuz if they get it for them selves it really shows they get it. So after a min or so the light just clicked in her head and said ‘Ohhhhhh. Okay. That’s the same guy who hid them. The only one who knows where they were.’ :)) It’s just cool to teach people who really understand and get into the lesson. And it’s so sweet when you can actually feel the spirit working. Then to see it hit her heart is so sweet. After finishing and answering questions, (We always ask lots of questions and make sure they understands it all before we close) and after she got her last question answered she said, Okay... I want to close. I am soo happy right now I would like to pray.’ :))!! It's times like that where you know it wasn’t you teaching. It makes it all worth it. And it really is life changing to see that and be apart of it. Two days later we had a similar lesson about the plan of salv. She’s sweet. I think this transfer will be her baptism.

Also as for the older Ebenezer, (that one story I told you) we have met with him a few times and the lessons are always sweet but he is soo busy and doesn’t have a phone of his own so we can never get a hold of him and make it work. So not much I can do. I’m sure one day it will work though.

As for the stuff that’s going on in Ghana, Accra mission. I heard one elder got 10 years and another got 7. (I also hear that in Ghana 1 year in prison is actually 6 months.) So I’m sure rules are going to get a bit more intense with stuff like that. It’s too bad for them.

I sent off SO many letters this week. Should be getting them soon. You will love them. I'm a hoot when I write. Haha. The Cape Coast zone came today to play in football. Got to see Halling for the last time. He’s cool and will be missed. Also saw elder Bahme. He really is a cool guy. Spent 10 min just catching up and so on. He’s doing well.

(Ping-Pong in BU)

As for our apartment, it's sweet. E Yapo really is a cool guy and I love elder MacKay. We talk a lot. (The two Africans like to be alone and chat about who knows what, so we get to chill a lot). Also as for e Sintim. We are getting along great, except he likes to use my stuff. It’s just in their culture. They expect it. It's weird. He has his patriarchal blessing this Weds so I get to go with him and I hope they let me listen to it. That should be fun.

Also this week I decided to go on a health kick. Problem is, I just love food and need to get on a better trend of eating only when I’m actually hungry. With that and the new Kanye work out plan I’ll be the envy of all my friends.

Didn’t get any mail today and no package so far. Maybe some when the Lambs come back from Accra. Got some last Tue. Letter from Pdoe. I enjoyed that a lot. And one from grandma. Don’t remember if that was this week or last week. Either the weeks are going by too fast or it’s been a while sense I got mail. Either way I don’t like it. Haha

I think I said all I had to say. Love you guys so much. Thanks for all you do. Can’t say that enough.

Elder D-row

It was quite a day.

by dad

Elder Darrow says the work is going well. This week he decided to tell us about his first Evangelical encounter on a bus. "And from deep inside, a new hidden testimony shot out of him."

Elder Hallings got picked by his parents this week so we have a new elder in the apartment. His name is elder Yapo (yah-poe) from the Ivory Coast, which borders Ghana to the west. I got to meet elder Hallings parents this week. That was fun. His mom is super nice and he is just like his dad.

(Elders Yapo, Mackay, Sintim & Darrow)

Wow this week was a different week from normal. This Saturday was a big wedding of a guy we know in our area so Saturday morning we got ready and headed out on a tro-tro. The wedding was VERY African. They had all the missionaries, current and returned, go up in front of everyone and sing ‘Called To Serve’. It was very weird, but fun. We had no idea we were going to do that so it was a shock, but I did well. There were only 6 elders there and I was the only white one. So I was outnumbered, but they love me so it went well.

On the way to the wedding, while we on the tro-tro, we were welcomed by this white man wearing a Ghanian shirt (which to the trained eye means he is married to a Ghanian, because the white biz men don’t wear the cloths). We get in and he is one row behind us so we/(i) had to do the awkward ‘turn to listen and talk’ in a packed tro-tro. I was looking more like Shrek in a Mini Cooper. He asked if e Sintim was a Ghanian. Then he hands us this small New Testament. E. Sintim and I shared glances then both realized what was about to happen. Something that has yet to happen to me and something I was SO not in the mood for.

I was very polite and just let him share his opinion and answer questions. He got going and started throwing all types of things at us (in a THICK Australian accent, so it was all that more fun). He said some crazy stuff. Well, after a 10-15 min tro-tro ride listening to him, we got off of the tro-tro and he stood with us. He wanted to talk some more. At one point he grabbed our arms and started praying right there asking Jesus to cast out the devils in our hearts and so on. I didn’t really get into him at all until…he said to me, “Well Darrow, I think you need to dig deeper and realize what path you are on and where you’re going and find the truth behind all these lies.”

This is where this new hidden testimony shot out of me and there was no controlling it. And remember, I listened to this guy VERY politely for 30 min. It was enough. I told him "you don’t think I have dug deep enough? Why do you think I came all the way to Ghana? I know that what I am teaching is true. I know that. That’s why I’m here." I told him that "US mormons don’t judge and bag on other religions as you have done to us. We just tell people what we believe. We would NEVER grab someone and start praying and ask Jesus to cast out the evil in there hearts. We don’t do that."

It was quite intense. It all just came out without me knowing. It was weird. Really showed me what my own opinions were when times got heated. It was a different experience and one I don’t want to have alot but I somehow enjoyed it. It was quite a day.

Wow that was a long story.

Love you guys. Thanks for all your support.

elder darrow

(a view from the top, Sekondi Ghana)

(click to make it bigger. notice the rocks and bricks used to hold down the tin roofs)