June 21, 2010

This week was mas y menos, or in other words, so-so. Interviews, baptism: 16-year-old named Joseph, and the rest of the time sitting in the house swapping off of sickness between Elder Mekonen or Elder Newbold.

Today we played football (soccer). My shoes exploded (my adidas), so hopefully I can round up some new ones. I will take some photos of those suckers. It is sweet.

That is awesome to hear that the reunion was a good one! Glad you guys had some fun, you needed it.

I have just given up on keeping track of months. We just hit our 10-month mark today though, so that is cool. Just plugging along and keeping a smile on.

I am just making the most of personal study. Hopefully it will pay off tomorrow when I instruct about gold mining in a physical and spiritual aspect.

I never imagined I would sit at home for two months of my mission off and on, going out-type stuff, but you make do. We just keep praying that the crazy stuff goes away and everyone comes back to full health.

It is nuts how crazy people are about the football. You know if Ghana lost, tied, or won just by the noise being made outside. You see TVs everywhere with the games, the streets are less filled from people watching, speakers blazing with the games, and kids all over juggling little balls. Hopefully no one is disappointed. I will look around for some Ghana jerseys and see what I can do, Jerseys are hard to find sometimes.

Love,

Elder Thacker

P.S. Could I possibly get a recipe for some salsa? Crepes?

P.S.S. Could you also ask Grandma how much yeast I am suppose to put in scones, and how much oil you need to fill the pan with to cook the scones? Maybe for a spaghetti sauce basic recipe? Sorry, things are needing a change in food eaten here.

Love you like a fat boy loves cake and ice cream!

Photos from the Field, March 2010

March 22, 2010

Things have definitely been busy, this week we started teaching the Police Commander of Ghana. He is a really nice guy, seems pretty humble so far. I had an investigator's mom chew me out for having a wife somehow this week, that was interesting. She says that she sees my companions and my wives at a cloth selling place all the time, it kind of makes me interested to know who my wife is and how she knows her before I do?

One of our investigators, Evon, who is 9, saw a photo of Baptism and is being baptized next month but thought we beat the Holy Ghost into people due to us holding our right hand to the square.

We had Mission Tour this week with President Dixon, he is a really cool guy and had some wonderful things to share with us on obedience and paying close attention to President Sabey on how to shadow our lives.

That is great that you guys are finally having a taste of Spring, hopefully no crazy storms blow in like Utah loves to have : ] haha

Eating the same thing everyday for a long time starts to make the thing plain. Chinese food would be awesome, I am just hoping to concoct something awesome soon.

Well, another week passed. I hope your health is fit and things are going on wonderfully.

Love,
Elder Thacker

March 1, 2010

Things are going amazing, this week was awesome! We were only able to teach for three days since Elder Fairbanks was sick again, with Typhoid this time. I have not been sick at all yet thank the Lord.

We had Mission Conference this past week! Wow it was great, President Jeffrey R. Holland, President Snow (of the presidency of the Seventy), and President Cardin (of the Seventy) were there. President Holland is a funny guy that gave us some amazing advice! I will send a copy of my notes home in a letter soon with more details on it.

On Friday we taught seven awesome lessons, then Saturday we were invited to a Tailoring graduation for all of Winneba (our Branch President is the Chairman of Tailoring for a lot of Ghana) and we had some investigators there. It was pretty tight since they had a modeling show afterwards where the graduates showed all the clothing that they made. First time seeing a modeling thing and it was pretty sweet surprisingly. Then Sunday we had Church until one and then taught six lessons in five hours which were so great, we were so blessed this past week.

Things are starting to cool off now actually, thank goodness since we went from Utah summer right into Ghana summer which lasted from October until February. Now it is turning to rainy season in April so there is more wind and clouds.

It is crazy! Some lady that has a shop next to our Chapel just bought some Reese's somehow! So we have been buying her out of them since we can't find any candy, period, until then.

Have an amazing week, it was great to hear that all is well and that you are happy!

Love,
Elder Thacker

New Week, January 18, 2010

This week went by very fast, it was an interesting week to say the least...

First crazy thing was on Friday we had a huge rain storm come out of no where and soaked Elder Fairbanks and I, so that was great until we made it home. Out of habit I went to turn on the light to the house where it wasn't raining but before I could even touch the switch, bam! I was electrocuted, it sure took me by surprise.

Second crazy thing... This morning there was a false prophet that came on the radio and said that Ghana was going to have an earthquake so everyone woke up at 3 am and went outside of their homes to be safe. And our neighbors banged on our gate until we woke up and told us an earthquake was coming so we waited outside until the Assistants called and said it was not true.

Yet I still had a great day, we had Cape Coast Zone and Swedru Zone playing soccer today. It was a tie but a great time.

As for work wise it was hot this week. We found 13 more investigators and did a commitment pattern with a lot of our old investigators to save us the sadness involved in them not progressing.

For breakfast I have been having Porridge with Choco, and for lunch a packet of biscuits, and for dinner Gurry with Indomie and Plantain chips. Not too shabby : ]

I will try and send some photos from time to time if the internet permits. No bad photos but some crazy ones.

Well love you much, have an awesome week!
Elder Thacker

Less than a week...

Dear Pops-

I know, less than a week until Christmas! Crazy huh, we had a little bash last week at Cape Coast. President Sabey and the Mission Couples chipped in for all the missionaries to have a mission tie and a nice plate of food for Christmas. It was pretty great, saw a lot of my MTC mates. They are doing well, most of them have had Malaria or Typhoid at least once. I, knock on wood, haven't had as much as a sore throat or runny nose.

We are having a Christmas dinner at "Grandma Nana's." She is a 74 year old woman that would be eating alone but we decided to join her. We will chop tortillas, beans, rice, and fresh pineapple, bananas, and popo. We should be having three baptisms this Sunday. It is small in numbers but very powerful and all thanks to the Lord! Two of three have been taught for over a year by missionaries and finally we started having them come to Church and they are progressing, no complaints at all!

Aw, I was somewhat hoping you guys would be going with Erin to Grandma and Grandpa's to spend Christmas. Hopefully the neighbors are doing well, tell them Christmas greetings and extend my love.

This week we hit up some new houses and have ten new investigators, we will see how they progress. The weather is pretty much the same now, we have been really blessed to have a little more clouds as of late. The haze is some how hard to pick up due to the winds of Windy Bay or Winneba.

That is great to hear that the heart is ticking well! It better stay that way for a long time.

Well hopefully your health continues to go well and that you don't become sick. I kind of miss the cold. It is odd to go from summer into summer. Make the most of Christmas and just remember that it is in remembrance of Jesus Christ. A fun story for you guys if you haven't read it is called "The Fourth Wise Man."

Travel safe, have fun, and most importantly give Kenzie a hug for me : ] Thank you much for everything, I hope that I can live up to be the most of your expectations. I look at my life and am very grateful to have had you and Kenzie and realize how ungrateful I am and was. I love you guys and hope all truly goes magnanimously!

Merry Christmas, sincerely with love,
Elder Thacker

Photos from the Field