Kumasi, Ghana - Tro-Tro Bus Station

Kumasi, Ghana - Tro-Tro Bus Station

Sekondi, Ghana

Sekondi, Ghana

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

When life gets too hard to stand, kneel.

just Alex...
(Asuoyeboa apartment - Elders Adu-Gyamfi, Baron, Holmes, and Darrow)

Hello, hello there family!

So I’m sure you’re super busy with Weston, life and all so I’ll keep this brief. Thank you so much for the pictures of him. He’s freaking sweet. He’s a great man baby. Thanks so much for all the emails as well. So awesome to have family who cares so much about my mission and me.

So this Sat. I got the 1-year package from you guys and it was over and beyond. Thank you so much. It was so cool to get cards from everyone. Plz be sure to tell them all that I am so very grateful for them. Tell Nick I got his gift too. It all meant so much. Thank you! Thanks for making all those dad. Ha. You’re too funny. Loved Ryan’s and Lance’s. ahhahahah. Too funny. Thank you!

So before I go on, last week when my mind was all over the place, I totally forgot to tell you about the baptism on Sat. Was a cool ending to my 1-year. Sis Joyce and her daughter doris. Always awesome to be apart of those.

(Sister Joyce)

(Doris)
This week we did have splits with the zone leaders. We got to go with e Adams and we enjoyed that very much. e Adams is a baller and really reminded me of what a missionary should be like. Was a cool day.

We had specialized training on Sat with both the zones and Pres talked to us. In a nutshell the Pres. wants us to focus on the promises and doctrine of Christ. Still teaching when guided by the spirit is always the best way, but it’s usually good to have a game plan and know where you’re going. The spirit doesn’t always give you word for word

So that’s about it on the week. Crazy that March is just about over. Weird. Love you and miss you guys so much! Hope you are all reading your scripts and saying your prayers.

I know God listens and loves us. He does want us to be happy. And I know this amazing gospel brings happiness.

"When life gets too hard to stand, kneel”
-Pres Gordon B Hinckley

xoxo

elder darrow

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Home Sweet Home - Asuoyeboa

by dad

Alex said there wasn’t to much to talk about this week. The work is going well and he doesn’t have any “sweet stories” to tell. They had to drop a lot of investigators this week. They have been instructed by the mission president that they need to teach those who are serious about hearing their message.

He said he had a “little pizza party" for his one year celebration and is still looking forward to mail being delivered to his area. It seems to get there only a few times a month.


He did send home a memory card this week with photos of his new area. He said his apartment is very similar to the apartment in Sekondi, just one less bathroom.

(the apartment compound)

(the front door and hallway)

(main area and laundry room)

(the kitchen)

(the STILL COLD shower and bathroom)

(sleeping area - complete with fan and mosquito net)

Oh, and his sign-off…

love you guys big time
xoxo

uncle x2 darrow

Friday, March 25, 2011

Friday Foto - The kids



Monday, March 21, 2011

Weston Michael Darrow

by dad/grandpa

(Weston Michael Darrow 3/20/11)

On Sunday night at 11:34 pm,
Weston Michael Darrow was born. He tipped the scales at 9 lbs 13 oz and 21 1/2 inches long. Alex commented in the weekly email…

Mangos eaton since mango season began: 12

Woman seen today
breastfeeding: 6

Nieces and Nephews born that
I haven’t met: 2

Blessing of serving a mission: numberless

He now has a 10 month old niece Morgan, and a newborn nephew Weston.

Ryan (his older brother), Leah and baby are all doing great!

Friday, March 18, 2011

Friday Foto

I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

It’s 1/2 over?

just Alex...

(elder Darrow -Kumasi, Ghana)

Wow I’m about to hit a year. Crazy right. In all honesty it feels like I have been out here FOREVER but yet I still have a ton left. Maybe its because I have yet had an elder who is younger then me in my apartment. I don’t know. Nonetheless I’m excited that I still have so much time left. Weird to think that it’s 1/2 over? Yuk. Gotta buckle down.

As for celebration… (as only Alex could describe it)

Well, I feel as if the heavens opened up and shined down on me and my life and was blessed with the utmost privileged a man of the world could ask for. Golfing was spectacular... nay, monumental, or may I even say spectacular or even prodigious!? (Yes mom and Leah... even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while.) We went with e Adams and e Smith and it was a blast. Such a sweet course. It’s actually owned by the Asante King and it was legit. I used Titleist dci clubs, a Taylor made burner and for a putter, we had a Scotty Cameron. I can’t really explain the confusion that brought to me, but none the less it was awesome. I shot a 50. (just threw up in my mouth a little) but it was SO much fun. Thanks dad.

It was a sweet 1 year celebration and a 21st b-day for e Holmes

(elders Adams, Smith, Holmes, and Darrow)

As for people here, Gabriel’s phone has been off all week and we can’t get a hold of him. Julia was confirmed on Sunday and that was awesome. She was very excited to take the sacrament. She’s really just so awesome in general. I talked to e Matheson in Sekondi this week and found out a few updates. Meshaq, my good bud, got his appendix taken out. I guess he’s up and walking around. Also found out that Patrick got the priesthood last week. So sweet.
All my new converts are still solid so all is well. Really do miss good ole Sekondi.

Not much else is going on here. Just a solid week. I’m still happy and healthy. Still enjoying big time with my comp. He’s a stud. At the end of this transfer he will be 9 months and I’m sure he will go, BUT that’s along way away.

(elders Holmes and Darrow caught in a rain storm)

Also FYI. The next time someone comes up from Cape Coast (a.k.a. mail) is next week Wed or Thur. for leader ship training. No mail in some time now. We really are so far away.

Love you guys so very, very much! Pray for the missionaries. We need your help. Come Saturday I’m over the hump.... crazy talk.

elder darrow

Friday, March 11, 2011

Friday Foto - When in Rome...


Monday, March 7, 2011

How blessed am I?

by dad

Alex’s weekly email was surprisingly lengthy. He shared his feelings about the civil unrest that is happening in the Ivory Coast. Most foreigners have been ‘chased out’ of the country. The Ivory Coast Mission is directly west of the Ghana, Cape Coast Mission. In the country of Ivory Coast, all of the non Ivory Coast missionaries have been transferred to other missions. Some have been sent to Ghana. Over the past year Alex has been serving with missionaries from the Ivory Coast. In his words he has ‘formed a bond of friendship that I can’t even describe’.

He wrote...

I often get caught up in the work, the people, the environment and such and I often forget where I really am. I forget what life is really like and forget that for me it’s just 2 years. For the people here (in Africa) it’s their life. For me it’s a story I will tell years from now to my kids or in some Sunday School class. To you back home it’s story, something you watch on CNN or maybe even some show on HBO. I’m here and for the people around me it’s reality.

He shared a story of a missionary from the Ivory Coast that will be returning home soon. He just got word from home that soldiers have raided his city and the neighboring city. Everything is shut down and anyone who stays in the city has a short life expectancy. All banks are on lock down. No one is working. Buildings are being burned and normal everyday people are being killed. His family is scattered. No one is in school or working or doing anything for that matter.

How blessed am I? How blessed are we. No, I didn’t write this to scare you. Ghana is the safest country in Africa by far. Everything is cool here. I guess I’m saying all this because I have caught a glimpse of what life is like outside the bubble that I lived in back home. I will never really know what it’s like. I have seen it first hand, how it effects people who are so close to me, but I won’t personally go thru that. How blessed am I?

The real world is scary. There are bad guys who do bad things. There isn’t always a happy ending. I see things like this all the time but I guess when I focus so hard on how loving the people are or how amazing the kids are I look past those parts. I guess I just got a very realistic view this week of what life is like. I’m not sitting here freaking out, I guess I just had to get all that stuff out.

And now missionary news...

Another week gone. I’m safe so no need to worry. Transfers - e Mackay is the new assistant. (no shock to me). No change for our apt. I’m happy with my current situation and I will stay as long as allowed. 
Very excited to stay with Holmes. Just soaking in this awesomeness while I can. Thanks for all the awesome emails

Julia’s wedding was on Saturday and it was a big hit. She was so happy.
What’s funny is that she wasn’t happy about the wedding she was happy about the baptism the next day. She kept saying tomorrow is the real day. Haha. How awesome right? And sure enough Sunday came and she was baptized. She has been waiting for it so long and you could see the look in her eye. The look that tells you she is as close to God as she has ever been. 
“So fresh and so clean…” I just love being apart of it all.

I got to see Mike (McAllen) this week. Man
was that cool. It was hard to find time to go see him. But we got it done. He is still powerful. He is still in his conversion stage but he has a testimony of what’s important and the rest will fall into place. I love that man.

A a quick update on Gabriel. He’s sweet. We went and met up with him this week and I got my Book of Mormon back and gave him his own. He loves the book very much. He tells us with all of his own stress and problems going on, that whenever he sits down to read from it he is at peace. We answered a lot of his questions. Each time we leave we can see the peace that he has from our message. It’s really all so sweet and it’s hard to explain.
(McAllen and Elder Darrow)

I feel like you all got a lot of what’s going on in my mind. I usually don’t just sit down and pour out stuff like that, mostly because I don’t want to worry mom. You know how she gets. Hahah. Hope that was enough info for you.

Love you guys so very, very much. All is well here.

Alex

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

We completed the Goal!

just Alex...

Pricilla was baptized on Tuesday. I got to talk on the phone with her and that was so sweet. Really so cool to hear how happy people are after baptism. It’s no lie when we say “they will be clean”. e Matheson and I were the last 2 elders to complete the baptism part of the goal (close call). I also found out from e math that 2 people we were teaching, Mike and Richard Ainoo, are being baptized on the 15th. e Maths and his greenie are having some sweet baptisms. But then again, all the people here are so sweet. It doesn’t matter where you are, the people are incredible.

So let me tell you a little about a man named Gabriel. Last Monday when we were at the post office this guy walked up to e Holmes and said that he was interested in hearing about our church. He didn’t really seem serious at all but we asked where he lived and he said Tanaso (that’s at the edge of our area close to Abuakwa). We got his number and figured that was lucky that this guy happened to live in our area. Weird? I think not.

So we called him and met with him on Thursday. - Side note - We are really tying to focus on teaching people, not lessons. In doing so, we teach by the spirit, not by a pattern or for that matter in any certain order. Now of course you can’t jump right into the Word of Wisdom before someone even knows who Joseph Smith is, but we are trying to teach what people need and not just get in there door and start with who God is. So...

In the meeting with Gabriel, elder Holmes and I decided to do just that. I will tell you that I have never been guided by the spirit more in my life. What’s sweet is elder Holmes and I are so unified, that teaching goes so smooth. Can’t really explain that lesson with you but I will tell you this. He told us that since he met us he has been writing down questions. He has gone from church to church for years and years trying to find the truth. He had about 15 or so ready to ask.
In the first meeting we talked about; The Godhead, Jesus Christ, the Atonement, resurrection, and the purpose of life (which was one of his biggest concerns. "Why am I here? What is our objective?" Yes!!! Let us tell you!). We talked about exaltation, faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost, enduring to the end, tithing, prayer, and how to pray and how we receiving answers to prayer. BOOM> sounds crazy right? Ya it was. Absolutely insane.

It was so crazy that I left there giving him my own personal Book of Mormon. We didn’t have an extra one and the reoccurring prompting wouldn’t let me leave without giving it to him. That was a first for me. That thing is like gold to me and just like that, I left it with a stranger. It actually had my funeral slip from g-ma. It’s always been in there and you would think that I would be worried about it. It’s kinda important to me. I didn’t even worry about it cuz I knew it was the right thing and that that book was going to do something special, as it has for so many other people.

We got a call from him Fri. night and he was more then excited. He kept saying how "marvelous" the book was and that he found many facts in there and he has wrote them down.

Sweet right?!?

Ya we were quickly humbled when Sunday he was a no show. We called alot but his phone was off and we had no idea what was up? I’m still without my Book of Mormon but not too worried. We were quickly humbled and again realized what missionary work is, not always a walk in the park

We did call him just a few hours ago and he was very apologetic. He said that he had some problem at the worksite and had to travel to central region. He still seemed solid. He even wanted us to come over tonight but can’t make it. So we will be going to see him on Wed. along with Steven.

Sister Juliana (Kingsford's mom) is still planned on being baptized on the 6th. It’s a big week. 5th is her wedding. 6th is the baptism and 7th is transfer news and stephs b-day. And the 8th. Well the 8th is a sweet day :-)

Crazy to think that the transfer is just about over. Time really has flown by here. I always heard that going from area to area makes time fly. I don’t know if it’s that or if I’m just absolutely loving every second of my time with elder Holmes? hmmm. Maybe both.

Thanks. Really you guys are just too awesome. You do so much for me and I wish you could understand how grateful I am. I’m out here working hard and enjoying life.

Ghana really is so awesome.

Too sweet.

loves!!

Alex

and his thoughts on the Utah Jazz news...

As far as the whole D-Will situation. I don’t even want to talk about it. I may or may not have put my head on the keyboard and laid there and held back tears for a minute or two. I may
or may not have...

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Meet Kingsford.

just Alex…


This little guy is adorable. This week at church as he was chilling with me in the back, he was pretending to be like me. So a little at a time he started taking my things and using them the same way I would. It started with the pen that was hidden behind my tie. Then he saw I was chewing gum and he stole that right out of my mouth. Then he took my nametag, my watch, my ring and my white-hand-book. I fell in love with him. Then he stood back and told me to take a picture. Hahaha. Maybe one of my favorite pics I have taken here! I love Ghana!

(elder Kingsford)

Monday, February 21, 2011

Focusing on Families

just Alex…

Hello family! All right so once again, as always, I thank you for the emails. You’re too sweet to do that. To get straight to the point, I got 2 packages from ma and pa, and one from g-ma. Mom, the pants fit perfect. Thank you so very much. The journal is awesome. But really the whole package was all about the calendar. That thing was incredible.

(Elders Mackay, Darrow, Holmes and Christensen)

As for this week, before I get onto the intense zone conf we had, I will first talk small about Steven. He is this guy that came to church with his friend 2 weeks ago. He is a student in what you know as college. He is studying business. He seems really sweet and we had our first lesson with him this last week. He’s very busy going to lectures and stuff so its not easy to find time to meet him but our first lesson went really well and I’m excited to continue with him. When we first showed up I saw on his laptop the Steven Coveys 7 habits you sent me. Mine is up on my wall and I quickly related to him. So that was cool. He’s smart and teaching people who understand English is so very awesome.

We also found out this week that Sister Julie will be married on the 5th of March. Which is so sweet. She wants her baptism as soon as possible so I think as of now its planned for the 6th of March. Really so cool. She comes to church every Sunday and has been taught by so many elders. She has just been waiting patiently for the marriage thing to work out and now it’s finally here. So many missionaries have investigators who are in the same boat (Justice and Cathryn down in Sekondi). e Holmes is more then happy he gets to be here for the baptism. We will find out transfer news on the 7th (happy flippin b-day to Stephanie)

Marsha (in Sekondi) was baptized this week. I called her and got to chat with her. That was sweet. She was very, very happy and mostly happy that she waited so I couldn’t see it. She was basically waiting just to show her hubby she wore the pants. Sigh. It happens.

(Elder Darrow, Marsha and Rex)

Also Pricilla wasn’t baptized on Sat. She had something happen in school and couldn’t go. So they pushed it to Tuesday. They say she still wants to so I’m sure it will work out. We can only pray right?

(Elder Darrow and Pricilla Jackson)

As for zone conf this week, it was very, very sweet. Pres gave some powerful instruction. He explained how right now we are probably the oldest mission in the world right now. Because of the 2 huge mtc groups. In Aug 09 we got 24 then 15 then like 10. In 3 transfer our mission was doubled. Now it’s getting to the point where those elders are getting close to their way out. Then he really gave it to us about how we should be doing great things because of our experience and really pushed us to sprint to the end. In doing all that he announced the new goal. It’s his last goal as pres. It’s the 9th one and every other one he has completed. (If we complete the current one we are on)

The new goal of the Ghana Cape Coast Mission:
1. By Sunday, June 26, 2011, every missionary in the mission will baptize someone who has a family member in the church.
2. By Sunday, June 26, 2011, every missionary in the mission will help one family to be sealed in the Temple.
-A living couple goes to the Temple and is sealed.
-A widow(er) is sealed to a deceased spouse.
-A living child is sealed to parents.
-A deceased child is sealed to living parents.

He is really focusing on families. That’s all we ever do. It’s so important. When a whole family joins they are so strong. So we will be doing a lot of work with the members who are ready and haven’t been sealed. Really just trying to make that family forever. So awesome. Im excited to get going on that one. He also had a deep doctrinal discussion with us about the atonement and grace and works. It was powerful. Pres is such a stud. Really came out of that place ready to work.

He also changed our daily schedule. Before we were basically out 30 min earlier than most of the missions, because when Pres first came to Ghana, a lot of places didn’t have lights so you couldn’t really teach after 630pm or so. But now he has seen otherwise. So we are back to out the door at 10. He really has just pushed for being out for 9 hours. No matter how you get it done, just being out there for 9. Things are going sweet.

I'm very much enjoying my time with e Holmes. We laugh so much. I love laughing.

(matching tie companions - Elder Darrow & Elder Holmes)

Thanks again for all that you guys do and for the support you give.

Once again the calendar was amazing. You did very, very well. Thank you.

BIG LOVES

elder darrow

Friday, February 18, 2011

Called to Serve

by dad

Pictures from the last few months.
Pounding plantains and cassavas to make Fu-Fu.

Helping the sisters in the ward cook.

Making Kakra from plantains


Alex says they are always looking for opportunities to serve. Here they are helping to make bricks. The process involves filling a single brick mold with a concrete, sand, and water mix. Then they carrying the filled mold to an area where they can tip it over so the brick can harden. Once they harden, they are stacked and ready to use for building.

Filling the mold.


The drying process and the finished stack of bricks.

Monday, February 14, 2011

They caught the tater.

by dad

This week Elder Darrow expressed gratitude for emails, bemoaned the news of the Utah coach Jerry Sloan retiring and lamented about how long it takes for mail to reach his new area in Kumasi. The Harmattan Winds, Sahara winds that blow sand the first couple of months each year, have come and created a haze in the sky and makes the air quality a little less than desirable.


Here is what went down this week. This week we went with the zone leaders. It was really cool to be out and about with e MacKay again. He’s such a stud. Didn’t think I would get that ever again but SURPRISE... I did…

As for the highlight of the week. e Holmes and I walked around roaming and looking for service. A lot of the time when you serve, they feed you. Which is a bonus, but sometimes, all it really does is make for one great story, and here goes...

We went to a family who isn’t even really investigating the church they are just good friends to the missionaries. (Seed has been planted... in time). Well we got the chance to help them fetch water. Really such a humbling experience. I always forget how much of a luxury it is to turn on the faucet and boom! Water. Well they were filling all of their empty gallon jugs. I would guess they were 5 gallons. We took them all to the closest working well and one-by-one filled them. Then we loaded them up on our noggins and carried them back to their house. Soaking our shirts and making a mess. It’s not easy. I have so much respect for the women here. They do WORK. They are so strong.

So after helping them we came back to their place and they had a little table and stools set up for us to eat. What’s weird is that they had the table set up in the front of their house so all could watch. Usually when you’re fed your put in a back corner somewhere so no one can see you. Well they come out with our food, a big bowl of okra stew (research okra) and 2 big fat balls of Banku. Banku is made with cooked FERMENTED corn dough and cassava dough. They put that in a big pot and heat it up and mix it with water. It turns into this sticky ball of warm nasty stuff. Some missionaries learn to love it, but as for this guy... I DONT THINK SO. e Holmes also does
not like it so when she put down 2 huge balls of this stuff we got REAL worried. 1 ball is a little bit bigger than the size of softball. I have tasted it once before but hated it, so I would go out of my way to avoid this stuff. And I did very well. Went 11 months without being forced to put this stuff down and at a last. They got me. (They caught the tater)!

I take the first bite and just about lost it. It’s not like when you’re first learning to eat fufu where it just slides down your throat. This stuff sticks and doesn’t go down so easy. Each bite got harder and harder for me to swallow. It seemed like this was a never-ending ball of Banku. The problem was I was out in front of the whole family and kids so; A) I couldn’t just take a baggie and put it in my backpack cuz they can see me, and B) they are watching so I can’t really make nasty faces as I eat it. I have to show a poker face the whole time. Being totally honest with you, mentally it was the hardest thing I have ever done. Bite after bite I struggled to swallow then I had to use all my strength just to keep it down. NOT EASY. There isn’t a single one of you back home who could have stomached this. It was a full-blown miracle that I ate it (cuz leaving any left is not an option). Honestly it was. The blind can see. The deaf can hear. And I ate Banku. All the same in my eyes.

To make the whole thing awesome is on the way home I puked it all up. Very Sad. It’s like "hey elders... come and do some hard labor for us and then sit down and eat some food only we like!” Sweet?

That small warm fuzzy feeling I had from doing all the service was thrown up with the banku.

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

LOVES & SNICKER-DOODLES

Elder Darrow

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Loving my time here.


Just elder darrow...

(Elder Holmes and Elder Darrow - Kumasi, Ghana)

As for things here in Kumasi, I'm loving my time with e. Holmes. He is so very close with members, which is so important, so we have been seeing a lot of them. I’m doing my best to get close to them. It takes time though. We don’t have a ton of investigators. Mostly cuz every time we have someone who speaks Twi the other companionship takes them cuz e. Adu-Gymfi speaks Twi. So it’s just easier. So don’t have a ton of people to teach but I’m sure we will soon.

We do have a solid family we are teaching. Sister Julie (who isn’t a member) is trying to get married to her husband who is a member. They are planning on getting married the beginning of March so hopefully that will come thru. Their son is Kingsford. He is the little boy who I met at church last week. He is a stud and each time there I get closer with him. I love the kids. But no surprise!

One thing that I have noticed here in Kumasi is that the wards are a bit dysfunctional, but they have incredible faith and put in the work.


(Bantama - Kumasi Zone Jan 2011)


As for updates from Sekondi... I received a phone call from e. Matheson. He told me Marsha is being baptized on the 15th of this month and Pricilla has been pushed back to the 19th. So things are going just great back in the home town.

Also so you know, every single p-day I have long talks with e. Dadegon. He is so, so grateful for you guys. Every single letter he trips out. Thank you so much for doing that.

Not a whole lot more to say. Sorry we don’t have a ton of time.

Love you guys big time. And thanks again for all that you do.

elder darrow

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Asuoyeboa - Kumasi, Ghana

just Alex. . .

Okay so this has been one crazy, crazy week. I don’t really know how to sum it all up and I don’t know if I really can, so I figured I will answer every question you asked me. I hope that will make you happy.

Secondi - Yes saying goodbye was sad. It was very hard cuz there were so many people I loved there but lucky for me I somehow knew it was coming and it wasn’t a huge surprise to all the people when I said I was going. It wasn’t easy by any means. Was very hard to say goodbye to the Lambs. I love them so much. Don’t worry momma. She took care of me. Sent me off with food for the road. She rocks.

Wednesday - Transfer day was crazy. To make a long story short our bus broke down near Assin Fosu so we had to wait for a new bus from Takoradi. So we spent 3 hours playing football on the side of the road with little kids. Was a long day. Left our apt around 9 a.m. and got to my new one around 11 p.m.

To give you an idea of the ease of travel in Western Ghana (or lack there of), Kumasi is about 120 miles due north of Sekondi. That’s about the same distance from Provo, Utah to Logan, Utah. That drive would take about 2 and 1/2 hours. Transfer day took 11 hours (not counting the 3 hours of soccer).

New apartment - it’s really cool. It’s a bit bigger then my old one. Doesn’t have as much of a main room as sekondi so we eat in our rooms but it’s a sweet place. No complaints. Wait… one! only one bathroom but it’s cool. I still have a working fridge and e. baron has a washing machine so it will be coming up next few weeks. :-)

Reliable power? Well... T.I.A (This Is Africa). Reliable power is a hit and miss but it’s all good. I brought my old net for sleeping so no need to worry there. Do I get hot water? Yes I do! What I do is I take a pot and if I put it on the stove I can boil water. But that’s usually for cooking. If your talking about the showers... still freezing

Walking? - Yes. Our area has no bikes. We have a huge area and as soon as we step out our apt we are there. Basically to explain our area, we are a 10 min normal car ride from Kumasi on the road that leads to Sunyani. But because the traffic is INSANE up here it takes about 30-45 min just to get into town. Kumasi is nuts. I went to central market and its crazy. So many people. I love it though. I love the city. Basically there is one main road and our area is all around it. Our church is about a 15 min walk from our apt and it’s in the middle of our area.


Shopping and Internet?- well in the city of Kumasi there is tons. Lots of great shopping. I can’t find too much stuff that isn’t in Takoradi. Basically there is a just lots lot more. As for Internet there is a nice Vodafone cafe in town that we will use some times but there is one right by our place that we will usually go to.

How's the companion and the rest of the apartment?- e. Holmes is awesome. We get along so well and he is a great teacher, he knows how to work and we laugh all day long. I forgot how much I love laughing. He is just a solid guy and I really hope I get to be with him for a while. BUT he has been in the area for 6 months. So a change this transfer wouldn’t be out of the question. So I’m just trying to soak in the awesomeness while I can. As for the apt. e. Baron is a really cool guy. His comp Adu-Gymfi is a Ghanaian. He has 2 transfers left. He’s really cool. So we have a lot of fun.

In church on Sunday I had "the whole new kid at school" butterflies and was real nervous about fitting in and making friends and was worried about it. Well 20 min into sac meeting a little boy (Kingsford) saw me and came over to investigate who I was he’s maybe 4. Well he ended doing a full-on Hook / Peter Pan face examination and I guess he saw it fit to be my friend and we chilled all meeting. I guess he knew I was looking for a friend and wanted one too. The people here really are so awesome

So that’s about it for now. I think I have said it all. I will talk a lot more about the area and the people but it’s only been a few days and I don’t know much yet. I’m still getting settled in. just know that I’m happy and healthy and that all is going well. Thank you so much for all that you do. Love you guys big time.

xoxox

your baby boy

elder darrow

Monday, January 31, 2011

Sekondi photos

My Big Friends

My Little Friends

Sharing a Soda