Post 27

Hello Everyone,

          Well this past week was good. We have been very busy doing our duty. We were able to have a baptism yesterday. It was a guy that lives very far from Asouyeboah. He says it costs him 18 cedis round trip to come to church.  He lives in Tepa where there are no missionaries.  He loves the church and everything about it. 

          We have been working really hard, and not too much down time at all. I have noticed that when you really focus on your work, the days and weeks go by faster. It really makes you feel good to be tired enough to lay down at night and fall asleep.  Also me and my companion are doing good, we are always joking and laughing around.

           I really like my new area.  It has a lot of really great people, and people that are prepared for the restored gospel. So the area we teach in has the really rich people all the way down to the dirt poor. We have a few people we teach that have mansions and 3-4 outfits. The one was a truck driver in America, and has been all over the United States. He says he has stayed the night in the Salina Truck Stop. I asked him why he would come back?  He said it was too much work for him!!  Haha... Yeah, so there are many powerful people here in Asuoyeboah. We have a bunch of people to be baptized on the 16 of November. So the people that we are teaching are many. I will tell u about a few.  So we have Maybell.  She is about 23 or so and has been taught everything, we are now reading the Book of Mormon with her. She really wants to be baptized, but she needs to get married first. (she has small child) She even says she wants to go to the temple!  Also there’s Gladys.  She lives in Apatrapa, which is part of our area. We were passing by one day and we stopped.  So we started teaching her.   She says she has met with the missionaries before, a few years ago.  I could see the tears come to here eyes when we started talking about Joseph Smith and the First Vision.  She could remember just about everything. So other that that not much has happened.

          I have grown to love the people over here and admire them for who they are.  I have also this past week mastered my tolerance.  I have realized that not much of anything that happens or people I am around can bother me.  Also I have acquired a lot of patience with my new companion. So just the other day I was thinking about everything and all the happenings back home; and then the hymn “All is Well” popped into my head. So I know that all is well back home with everyone. I can’t wait until Christmas to be able to call home, and get an ear full of everything! This week I will take pictures of a lot of different things. It sounds like everyone is doing good.  I can’t believe Gr. Dick is turning 70, wow!. Well I better go. So take care! May God Bless! Till next week!  Love Elder Ty Blackurn

POST 26

Well Hello Everyone,
          Well Monday is here once again. Like I said last week, I was going to be transferred to Asuoyeboah, which is a part of Kumasi.  I have really been liking this place. The apartment is OK, they say its very old, buts it’s nice for Africa I guess. Yeah, so having 4 instead of 8 is much better.  It’s a lot more quiet, and peaceful. The chapel is nice. It’s just like the ones we have back home. At church on Sunday I really felt welcome and at home.
          You will never believe what happened. Well OK, so on Wednesday was transfer day. We went to Metro Mass in Obuasi. (me and Cockrum). We waited there for about almost 2 hours. We decided to take tro tro. So we went into town and a bunch of people tried to take my bags, and wanted me to pay them to carry them. I was so fed up with them I was about to blow and just pop one in the mouth!  So we finally left Obuasi, so right when we got about to Kumasi we had the police stop us, and ask what is in the bags on top. So I just told them clothes. So anyway, we got to Kumasi Metro Mass and the APs took me and my new companion who’s name is Elder Ugbah, from Nigeria to the mission home. I was able to meet a few incoming Elders and talk for a while.  That was fun.
           Ok, so there are two Nigerians in the apartment. (my companion Elder Ugbah and Elder Roberts) Elder Roberts is training a little guy from the Phillipines. His name is Elder Acera and is always speaking Tagolog!! Haha.. He is a funny guy to be around.  He was soppose to come when I came, but due to Visa problems, he came later. He is one of the 18 years olds. My companion Elder Ugbah is a hard worker, but he does not know the difference between working hard and working smart; he just finished his training but he’s learning. haha...
So probably the top three things I have learned so far within the six short months I have been here are

1- Learning how to recognize the spirit.
2- Having faith in all things.
3- Learning how to work with others.

          So I was not able to burn a tie. We were so busy on Saturday that I pretty much forgot; but I plan on doing it sometime this week. OK this cafe is really crappy and is very slow, so sorry for the short letter. I hope all is well with everyone. It sounds like the gather went well, and you are getting them home a little at a time. So I better go. So take care. I love you all. Till next week!!
            Love Elder Blackburn

POST 25

Hello Everyone,
          Here it is Monday again and one more week down. So Saturday, I got news from our District Leader Elder Gakaka that I was going to be transferred. He told me about five or so different things, where I was going and who I was going to be with. So I didn’t believe him. Well, when I got back to the apartment I started asking him, and he finally told me the truth; after all day pulling my leg. I felt like ringing his neck! So I’m going to be transferred from Obuasi! I’m going to Asuoyeboah, which is in Kumasi. I’m going to be in a four man apartment, and my companion is a Nigerian who just finished his training, so it wont be so bad. I’m sure that there are many people out there that are ready for the gospel.  I leave Obuasi on Wednesday. I have to be at the Metro Mass in Kumasi at ten thirty.  My new area isn’t far from there, maybe 10-15 min in a tro tro I guess.  Elder Kgabaga is my zone leader, and is close by.  He said he is there for me.  He was the one that was in Obuasi when I first came, (Elder Sonpons trainer).   Cockrum is staying and going to be with Elder Stentzel or something like that. He’s another missionary from Utah that I came with. Also Elder Nielson is coming to Obuasi to train.  There will be TEN missionaries in Obuasi now; and all under the same Roof for the time being. They are looking for another apartment, but who knows when.  All I know is I’m going. I was kind of sad at first.  I was hoping to stay at least one more transfer, and to be able to open the doors on the new chapel. O well, maybe someday I will be able to do that in another area. But I hope to come back before I go home and see how everybody is.
          Yesterday I had to talk in church. Our branch President called and asked if one of the missionaries would give a talk.  I said I would. I talked on Missionary Work and Member Missionaries. I had about an hour or so notice before church. It was totally by the spirit! I talked for like 15 min with hardly no preparation.  I guess it was my retiring address.  haha…
          So about my shoes. The pair of Rockports are about bald on the bottom, and are not too safe to wear when its muddy. The Eccos are pretty much just like new.  They have worn off small on the bottoms, but are just like new. I think they should finish me. Yeah I rotate them, but now I’m starting to wear the Eccos more. If I do need shoes eventually, I’ll just go to the market and buy a pair for dirt cheap with my bargaining skills. Haha…
           So about Linda, she is 18 years old. She was a referral from one of the members.  She has known about the church for quite some time, but her mom really never wanted her to come to church. She says that her mom is ok with it now. She has a baptismal date for the 3rd if November. She works for Tigo, (its a phone company). Cockrum says he might come back to marry her! Hahaha... Yeah, so ill try to take more pictures of little shops and things.  Everywhere you look, you can pretty much find anything you want.  You just have to know where to find it. There is no order or anything like that here.  It’s all pretty much a giant cluster.
          I'm actually glad I’m getting a new start at things; new people to see, new scenery, four man apartment.  Well that is all good to hear all is well at home.  I wish I could just get a breeze or smell of the fall weather. It is getting hotter here in the day time and colder at nights. They call it Ramatan or something like that; it means dry season. I have started to have small head aches, its probably cuz I don’t drink enough water.  The drink mixes help with dealing with the water.  It sounds like dad had good luck on the Mt. and Gr. Becky said that Branson got so cold that they had to stop and make a fire for him. Haha... Won’t be long. I cant even imagine what it is like to actually feel cold! haha… Well I love you all.  Tell dad that I’m thinking of him, and to keep up the good work. Sounds like it’s that time of year; snow flying and almost Halloween. What is everybody going to be?? Take care!  Till next week.
    Love Ty

Me under the sign board next to the chapel

Me with a member and his family.

A typical white mans food in Africa.
IndoMie (Ramen noodles) mixed in with fried eggs, then salad cream. haha.. 

(its actually not bad at all)

Post 24

Hey All,

          Well this past week was good. We went to Kumasi on Tuesday for a Zone Conference. It was good.  I learned a lot and took a lot away from it to apply to me as a missionary. After the Conference, Cockrum and I went to his old area, Atafoa, which is still in Kumasi.   We spent the night there.  We saw some of his people and then we went to the Bantama Chapel for a foreigner registry, then we came back to Obuasi. 

          So the road between Obuasi and Kumasi is horrible half of the way. There are pot holes 8-10 inches deep and a few feet across all over the place. Yeah, the ride gets old, especially when its blazing hot, and I’m sweating bullets.   I would have to say that I have suffered this past week from the heat.  Haha… This past week it rained a lot too. It was also very hot when it didn’t. That is how it is; blazing hot when it’s not raining or cloudy, and when there is clouds, it’s a sign to take cover, cuz its coming soon!! haha…

          So our area is progressing alright! We got a referral.  Her name is Linda and she wants to be baptized, so probably the first of next month. Also, today me and Cockrum went to Kumasi to meet up with his trainer, Elder Miller and Elder Nielson, (Stetson). I also saw Elder May, and a few other of the missionaries I came with. It was pretty fun. I can’t believe it’s been six months! You know on the 19 will be my BUMP day, yeeh!! Haha.. Yeah, I’m fixin to burn a tie!!! .It still feels like I should be in training. haha…

          Yah, I think they are looking for another apartment for me, Cockrum, Anderson, and Sonpon. Something that will be closer to our area. We will be moving to a new and closer chapel for our area too. It will be a lot better for our investigators to come to church. They will be able to walk and not have to pay for transportation. All together for our branch I think that 3 people have cars and the rest take a taxi or tro-tro. So it makes it hard for pretty much anyone to really come to church; knowing that it’s up a very steep and long road.

          So last week, you asked if the church leaders ran the branch correctly? Yeah, for the most part.  In Sunday School and the after classes they like to speak twi, so we can't really understand. But when they speak English, we have to correct them on a few things. So for the most part; yes, they are doing good. There’s always room for improvement though.

          I  hope all goes well this weekend with the gather, and you have good weather. I remember last year, the first day was perfect, but the second day was Winter for sure. I do get homesick thinking of all of that.  I have been trying to stay busy doing something all the time; trying to keep my mind focused, and not think about home too much.  Well other than that, not much else has happened over here in the sun.  Thanks for everything!! Take Care!

    Love Elder Blackburn