"All Kinds of Fun"-- 3/22/2011

To Start with I guess that I just say congrats to all with special
events in the next few weeks and call it good at that. I hope that all
goes well and just remember that you are in my prayers. For Natalie I
have a suggestion for names. Here in Ghana they have a male and female
version of the same name for each day of the week. Each name simply
means "born on ....." . My name is Kofi, because I am a male born on
Friday. If I was a female I would be Effia. Other names include Yaw
and Yaa, Kwaku and Abbina, and all kinds of fun stuff like that. You
could simply tell me the day that he is born and Ill just let you know
what his name is. There is no need to fuss and all the work and worry
is taken care of in the system of Ghanaian naming.
This week has been a really good one. We had what we called a
lumberjack party for St. Patrick's day this last week. We were talking
about what we should do to celebrate the holiday at district meeting
and I suggested that we get together and buy some flour to make
pancakes and put food coloring in it make them green. One of the
Elders said that that would be great if we were lumberjacks and so we
instead of calling it a St. Patrick's day party called it a lumberjack
party.  I guess that to you guys that sounds kinda weird, but  after
about 18 months of not having pancakes they tasted delicious and I was
able to buy some flour and have been making them myself for breakfast.
They are not real pancakes, because we have no milk, and we are
missing some other ingredients and we have no syrup for them, but they
are pretty good. The Bennett's (the senior couple) were able to get
some maple stuff in Accra or else they brought it with them from U.S.,
and we were able to have syrup for the party, and it made me really
sick for the rest of the day because it had so much sugar. This last
week we also started to do a march madness here in Sunyani. Some of
the Elders are really into basketball, and so every Monday they have
their families e-mail them the results and statistics and stuff like
that. So far Im in second place, and I hope that I do better. The
thing is that none of the missionaries know anything, and are just
guessing, because they cannot get online to do any research. I chose
Ohio St to win it all and from what Ive heard I think I have a good
shot. I think that the winner gets a soda or something like that.
On Saturday we were able to baptize Bro Owusu. It was really cool and
he seems to be really happy. We are also planning to call one of the
members to be the unit leader and are hoping that Bro Owusu will be
called to be his counselor this next week. In preparation for the
temple trip in a few weeks, Sis Agartha the one who had the leg
problem and was healed in time to be baptized has given us five names
and we got to go onto the computer and help her to enter them and
submit them to the temple. Ive been able to do that a few times since
Ive been here and every time it makes me feel really good that not
only am I able to help to convert the people here in Ghana, but I also
get to help those that are serving in the Spirit World to do their
work also. If those numbers count we had six baptisms here this last
week. I cant wait to get home so that I can do a little more family
history work and help out some more. I know that most of it has been
done, but I just want to get to know them a little bit better and
learn some of their amazing stories. I also cant wait to go to the
temple again and hope to be able to spend quite some time there for at
least the first few weekends that Im home. We are having the unit
conference this next Sunday and Pres. Sabey is coming up and all of
the units will come together and have a conference. I have been asked
to conduct for one of the sessions and also come up with the basic
schedule. that is always a lot of fun and kinda stressful. Well, I
guess that Im out of time. I love you all and hope that everything is
fine for all of you guys. Love you lots, Ty