Monday, May 26, 2014

5 Months

Howdy!

It is that time of the week again where I am updated of the things back home and also where I get to update you ka kra ka kra (small small). Hopefully this is somehow interesting and assures you that I am still alive and doing well.

Can you believe that the time is flying by like this? I still remember saying goodbye to people in Rexburg, Idaho and packing my bags and saying goodbye to the land of the free like it was yesterday.  I have been in Ghana for 5 months now . . . feels unreal! In these 5 months I have learned so much, seen so much, and have become a completely different person. This last week was nothing special but helped me understand my purpose better, along with me aligning my will with God's will.

This last week started out with a fun p-day activity.  The entire zone got together and played some fun missionary games.  Then we ate a powerful dinner. We had two new sister missionaries who just arrived to Tamale so it was nice to meet them and see some new faces.  It is kind of weird though being senior to someone.  Then on Wednesday, we planned this powerful day to teach these new investigators, but as we were leaving the apartment we received a call from the Mission President saying that we were having an emergency meeting at one of the chapels. Nobody knew about it until he called!  The meeting went for 3 hours and we talked about the needs of Tamale.  We talked about so much, but it resulted in the Mission President coming up with plans to fix problems and help with some of our needs. It was nice of him to drive 7 hours to this zone just to discuss the needs of the missionaries.

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Sunday, May 12th - Mother's Day Call!!!

1:00 p.m. Chicago time (Mom and Gary were visiting Gary's daughter Rachael and her family)
6:00 p.m. Tamale time

No Skype capability:(








Monday, April 28, 2014

Email #18 (Tamale) Zone Conference in Techiman

So David was baptized...

The weather is nice... not rainy season yet. That will be in June.
Not much that is new..
I put a lot of photos on Dropbox and 1 video of someone pounding FUFU. 
Sorry for the short email, but there is just not much to talk about this week.  Sorry.

I love you and I am very proud of you in your decision to serve a mission. Dad was a little jealous that you were able to speak to me on the phone, but he understands the reason why. Keep up the studies because you will be using PMG everyday.

I'm about to enjoy our zone activity.  We are going to eat fried rice and a lot of chicken and beans and a bunch of juice..... that is what we call enjoyment here.

Love you very much,
Elder Cornelius

anyame teaseni nye e kɔpem yɛ nhyiamu biom
Just some small twi for you..
It means God be with you til we meet again.


This is Techiman.

These are the Elders and Sister who happened to wear purple at Zone Conference.  

My African exploration found me an alligator!

This is me with my father and brother!  The Nigerian is Ekpo, my trainer.  He also trained the other white guy making us family, so to speak.





Monday, April 21, 2014

Email #17 (Tamale) Easter

Dear Everybody,

As far as ME goes, I am doing okay. Not great and not toooo bad but just managing. The sun is finally decreasing and we have encountered some small rain but nothing too big yet. The humidity is starting to pick up but the weather overall is not too bad.

Monday, April 14, 2014

Email #16 (Tamale) Personal Family Letters

Gary,

Thank you for the email.
I could not be more proud of you being the leader in our home and especially for taking my mother on this wonder journey that will completely change her life. Help her along in the scriptures and the gospel and she will help you along with the love for everyone. I know that you guys will be great and that everyone there in D.C. will love you guys especially since you will probably be the youngest senior couple missionaries. Go and convert those to the truth but don't force. Show them the light and let them walk towards it. This is something that my mission president has been telling us missionaries here and may be able to apply to you as well.
Congrats!!

Elder Cornelius


Mom,

Mom, I am so proud of you! You do not realize completely what a mission means but soon you will. It means that you will be serving our master and savior Jesus Christ and his Father/Our Father. It means that you will be putting the old Sherry Lynn White in the trash and be creating a complete new person. It means that you will know and love this doctrine and gospel. That reminds me, what is the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Do you know? Please tell me what the "Gospel" is. It also means that you will no longer be the one in class asking the questions that are very simple. You will now be the one answering the questions and expounding the doctrine to others so that they can realize and have their eyes opened. It means that you will be receiving blessings you did not know existed.

Monday, April 7, 2014