News IS Good News

By dad

Here's a big surprise - Alex is making all sorts of friends in the MTC and it is really hot in Ghana. His first letters were filled with stories of how nice and friendly the people are to him.

He says...

They love to stare at me but because they love me they smile when I catch them staring. They call me Elder Obruni (Elder white man).

His companion is Elder Mbithi from Kenya. He said there are 39 missionaries in the Ghana MTC. The Ghana MTC is surrounded by a concrete wall. The missionaries there are from Utah, California, Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Fuji, Ethipoia, Kenya, Uganda, Madagascar, Congo, Ivory Coast and France.

Only 3 white Elders in all. He said that some of the Missionary's accents are pretty difficult to understand and he understands about 75% of what they say. The missionaries will serve in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, the Congo and Madagascar. About a fourth of the missionaries are french speaking. He loves the French speaking missionaries and they love him. He said...

Today all the French missionaries were around and I had them sing 'Called to Serve' in French. I didn’t understand but I know the song and it is crazy how you feel the spirit in any language. I wish you guys could experience this. It’s so awesome.

He said the food is average.

I just eat and don’t ask. Finish my plate, no seconds. Trying to get in a habit. Don’t ask, eat. About the food, I made good friends with the ladies who serve us so when they serve something native (nasty) they can tell I don’t like it so they try and help me and give me something more normal. Also, I seriously don’t think you get how hot it is and how much I sweat.

He said that the days are long and overwhelming but he pushes through. He is learning how to translate and working on his sharing his testimony in Fante. He sent this short video of some of the elders in the MTC; Elder Mbithi, Elder Meinzer, and Elder Sanft.

No News is Good News.

by dad

I've always been a firm believer that no news is good news, but in this case a little bit of news would be good too. I can hardly believe how quickly the time is flying by. No, really. Before you know it, I'll be counting-down his return with double digit weeks. In the mean time, I've discovered the following information which has occupied my mind.

The MTC is located in Tema, Ghana, a few miles east of Accra, the capital city. It was opened in 2002 and is used mostly for the West African missions. The classrooms are spacious, as are the sleeping quarters, each having three bunk beds, study desks and storage closets. The restrooms with showers and other facilities are among the nicest in Ghana. Since the kitchen is modern with stainless steel fixtures, it took some time for the cooks, who are used to preparing food in a large pot over an open fire, to learn to work in such a facility.

The MTC also has a new President and wife. They arrived in January of 2010 and appears to have been doused with the same culture shock as the new arriving missionaries. This is a blurb from the wife of the MTC president after the first group arrived. . .

These missionaries are from Liberia, Nigeria, South Africa, Ethiopia, Ghana, Tonga and Salt Lake. It really is interesting to try and understand them, let alone pronounce their names. Several have no parents, one is from a polygamous family, several live with random people. I have to give pregnancy tests to the sisters before we give them medicine. Some have never slept on a bed before and have no idea what a mattress cover is or for that matter a pillow case. There are instructions in the bathrooms that tell them how to use a toilet. But there are some great moments to remember - a missionary from Liberia who was in tears when he came, trying to comfort the Elder from Tonga who was also missing his family after his two day flight here, and hearing their conversion stories.

As Sister Froerer mentions above, here is an actual picture of the instructions above the toilets. It is a sobering reminder that the rest of the world is not America.

Elder Darrow will be in 4th group of missionaries that they train. The day before Alex arrived Sister Froerer posted this comment...

We receive 39 missionaries (15 French) tomorrow that come from 15 different countries. What an amazing experience!

ALEX goes to Ghana

by dad

After months of waiting, Elder Darrow left today for the MTC in Tema, Gahan. His last day at home was spent with Mom and Dad at the Salt Lake City Temple, followed-up with eggs benedict at Market Street Grill. Needless to say, Alex won't be having eggs benedict anytime soon. He spent the afternoon packing and saying good-bye to Haley. He was set apart as a missionary that evening. That night, Molly and Stephanie flew to New York for a Nat'l Drill team competion traveling on a non-refundable trip paid for in October of last year. I won't even go into how painful those good-byes went. UGH!

In the morning, we took Alex to the airport for his 8:35 flight.

He was very excited to get to the airport. We had to talk him

out of being there 3 hours early like it requested on the travel documents. Two 50lbs suit cases, a duffle bag and a briefcase will hold his life for the next two years. The check-in at the airport went far to quickly and then we found ourselves at the top of the escalator looking sadly at the security screening area. We shared hugs and tears and laughs and more hugs and more tears. I tryed

to get him to hang-out with us a little bit longer but he said, 'Nope. I'm ready to go.' He walked off and said ' Hey, take a picture of me leaving.' After he got through security and before the screening he reached over the railing and gave me final good-bye hugs.

I got a phone call from a Utah cell phone around 1:00pm. A man sitting next to Alex on the plane, gave him his phone to call home and let us know he made it to New York. I sent a thank you text to the phone number that he called me from, and quickly got a response that said, 'No, problem. You should be proud of your son. I am traveling with my sister who is very anti and I think your son made a good impression. He is already becoming a missionary.' Within the next hour I got another cell phone call from a 301 area code. Alex borrowed another cell to call from the plane headed to Ghana. He said he was very comfortable on the hot plane, in his middle aisle seat, ready for the 10 1/2 hour trip to Accra, Ghana.

The next morning I was awakened by a call from Alex reporting he had arrived at the MTC in Tema, Ghana. He was one of 3 missionaries from the states that was reporting in. 37 missionaries from Africa were still coming that day. He was all settled in his room, waiting for his companion, Elder Mbithi from Kenya. He said Ghana was Busy, Crazy and Hot. He said he has showered and changed and his shirt is already soaked. He said the MTC is GREAT. He told me to tell everyone how much he loves them and thanks for all the prayers for him. He will not get e-mail until he reports to the Cape Coast mission in 3 weeks.

It's Official

by mom


Alex was set apart as a missionary on March 17th at 6:30 pm by Pres,Wade Williams, 2nd counselor in the stake presidency. It seems like he's actually really going to go.

This calls for an Elder Darrow ice cream cake. After his setting apart, Jessica and Nick got Elder Darrow and ice cream cake to cap-off the night.

Alex's "Farewell"

by mom

Alex spoke in the Sego Lily Ward on March 14th. It was a beautiful meeting especially since we had a beautiful musical number from Nate Manning and then the Monson Men did the best version of Called to Serve ever done. And now for the unbiased opinion of the mom: Alex gave a beautiful talk about wanting to go on a mission and his testimony of Joseph Smith. He spoke from his heart and we couldn't have been prouder. Since we just recently became a part of Sego Lily Ward we were lucky to have a huge contingent from Ashley Park Ward also. These are the ward family who did everything from teaching him the gospel to braving many a scout camp with him. APW is the village that helped raise Alex. We couldn't have done it without you.

Many of Alex's good friends were their to lend their support and love and I can tell you he was truly touched by them being either at the meeting or at our home. As parents we are gratetful for those same friends because they have been an example and big part of Alex's life. We were also so glad to see several of Alex's coaches there. Alex has great love and respect for those men and also recognizes their influence.

Of course, family can always be counted on and we really appreciate everyone who helped just because they are amazing like that. It was a beautiful perfect day. I managed to keep it barely together except when I saw my friends and with one look you know that their hearts are just aching for you. What would we do without each other and without family? While I am aware that it is frowned upon to make a big deal out of this day, I will tell you that this will be a precious memory and strength for Alex on days when he is not feeling the love.

Thank you everyone for being there.

Alex Loves to see the Temples

by dad

St George

Manti

Timpanogos

Oquirrh Hills

Mission Ready Hair

by mom-

Alex swears to us that his hair, under no circumstances, will part. The whole family gets in on the action to prove him wrong. Yes, he too, can
have missionary hair.

The original Darrow kids and 1st grandchild (not pictured until May 3rd).The whole gang.