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