POST 102

Well Hello there,
          Hahahahaha… I’m freaking going home!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can’t believe it’s come! I was sad to leave Offinso this morning. I feel like I came to do something, and I know that I did my best. Especially in Offinso.  Elder Ilunga is staying in Offinso though, and his new companion is a South African, Elder Shobede.
          We had a little crowd of people at our place last night that wanted me to stay, and for themselves they didn’t want to leave. Haha… And at the end, they got me with water! It was alright. There were mostly some converts and members. I am sad to leave this dang place!! Which I never thought I would say that, but its true. I really hope to return some day in the future years and to see my people here.
          I thank you all for your love, support, and strength you have shown and given to me upon these past two years on my journey here in Ghana.  I can’t wait to see you all on Wednesday.  Anyway, I’ll save the rest for when I see you.
          But yeah, any place to eat sounds good to me. I’ll just pig out and be in aww from not just eating rice every dang meal. Haha..
                             Take care,
                          Love ya all, Elder Blackburn

 Here's a bunch of pic's (sorry for the overload)

All packed up and ready to go.

Burning my old things last night.

Offinso family

Enjoying Fufu with other Offinso missionaries.

Cute kids








                             

Another cute family.

My Offinso family.

POST 101

Hi Everyone,
          Well I guess this is the last email! Haha.. My journey as a missionary is coming to an end, and is pretty much finished. Only with one week left!!  I, like you all, feel the same way; that me coming home just came and faced me like that! I sometimes feel like I should just continue to do my part as a missionary, and just to stay in Ghana. But life goes on, and yes, I think I’ll shed a tear or two when I leave this place. Yesterday, I gave my last testimony in the Offinso chapel. It went well. I held out good, but Elder Ilunga got a little teary eyed. It’s really is something to look back and see people that are at where God wants them to be, and you are a part of all of it.
          It really is relieving that we have a Savior and Redeemer, knowing that he has paid the price. All we need to do is come unto him with a broken heart and contrite spirit. Christ is the doorway to eternal life, but having faith in him is the key.
          So my next weeks plans are.. I will go to the Mission Home next Monday evening. I’ll stay the night there, Tuesday morning go to Buokrom to the airport, fly to Accra, visit the temple, have lunch, and that evening departure. I get butterflies when I think about taking off and seeing you guys again.
          We went to Bonwire today, it is the Kente village. I bought some more Kente and a few pairs of sandals. I have bought some really cool things and have got all I wanted to buy. I am just thinking now that I have a lot of stuff and memorabilia from Ghana, but I’ll be fine with getting it into my bags.  I’ve already got most of it packed. I’ll see. Anyway, I’ll try and email small next week.
          Take care! See ya all next week! Better go! Thanks for everything!
                                 Love, Elder Ty Blackburn
                                     

Esther's baptism day

Baptism

Offinso missionaries

New baptismal font at the Offinso chapel

POST 100

Hi,
          Well I don’t have much time today.  We went to Lake Bosomtwe, and had a pretty good time. We are now in Kumasi at the cafe, and many people are waiting for a computer. We need to get back before it gets too late.
          So anyway, the week was good. We had 8 investigators come to church and we were actually able to have the baptism yesterday for Felicia. We had it at Offinso at the chapel in the new font. As Felicia came out of the water she said she saw a light and was very happy to be baptized.
          Yeah, it will be a bit strange to see all white people when I get home. Sometimes I feel like I’m too white, but once I get back I’ll probably be like I’m too dark. Haha...
          Thanks for the travel plans. I’ll be traveling for 24 hours from the time I leave Ghana to when I get to SLC.  But yeah, it would be great if we went out to eat somewhere; but I’m not too sure of my stomach will agree.
           Well that’s about it. Next week my letter will be better. Thanks for everything! See you very soon.                                
                                      Love ya,
                                 Elder Blackburn

Felicia's baptism 

Zone Activity at Lake Bosomtwe

Zone at Lake Bosomtwe

POST 99

Hello Everyone,
          Well the past week has been good. Only three weeks till departure. Bye bye Ghana! But yeah, yesterday we confirmed Janet and her mom Rebecca. It was great!  Offinso is well! Things are going just dandy! Also yesterday we had a correlation meeting. We talked to the Group Leader and I told him what was on my mind.  All of the loose nuts and bolts were tighted by the end of the meeting. He admitted to not doing his best and not doing his part 100%. But anyway it was good.
          Elder Nielson called me last night and said he heard E. Montgomery from Arizona got his plans from his mom. So he's going to Amsterdam, then to Washington, to Phoenix. I’m sure that it’s the same for Nielson except for Phoenix.   Is it the same for me? I would imagine. Cockrum said his is the same somehow.
          Anyway, it has been raining quite a bit. Things are starting to green up and recover from the dry season. They have closed the road in front of our place from the main junction. They are starting in on the rain gutters up the street. So now we have to go up to the station to get a tro to Kumasi now.
          I’m getting tired of mad (crazy), drunkards coming up to me and wanting money and what not. Also on weekends we usually have 5-6 big funerals in our area, which is really quite the site to see. Big speakers, red, black, chairs and canopies all around with pictures of the person on a table. There’s dancing, listening to music and mourning. Ilunga and I have decided it seems like a party and an excuse to get out of the house to go and eat, and reminisce. Haha.. I don’t want to go farther into that one.
          But yeah, that is about it for the week. I'll see you in three dang weeks! I can't believe it! It feels like a dream!  Take care!
                                                      Love,  E. Ty Blackburn

Me with my new African attire

Enjoying p day.

POST 98

Hello,
          Well I’m sorry about Monday. I didn’t get time to email. Elder Ilunga and I went to Nkawkaw early Monday morning and got back late that evening. Everyone we saw were doing fine. Some of my converts were home and are doing well and are still strong in the church and their conversion. The last stop was at Eugina’s house. They fed us yam and cabbage stew. It was really good. After, we headed back for Kumasi and Offinso.
          So yesterday I had my last Zone meeting at Bantama. Bantama was my first zone, first zone meeting, acitivity, conference and so forth, and I’ll have my last of those things there as well. I’m really going to miss that place. I have many memories there.
          I want to get 5 more baptisms before I go home.  It’s possible!  They are all coming to church and progressing, and they want to be baptized. We have one investigator named Esther. When we met her for the first time we taught her L1 and gave her a baptism date. Between that day to the second visit, she said she pondered and thought about it a lot and asked us if she could be baptized. The thing is, she is in a wheel chair. Her left leg doesn’t work. She used to walk, but the past year she hasn’t been able to. So we said, “Yes its’ possible, we can do it”. So on Sunday Ilunga and I went and fetched her and wheeled her to church. She is only 26. She says she will be going to a surgery soon so that she can walk.
          So things are good and cool here.It sounds like everyone is doing fine and things are fine back home. I better go. Take care. Love you all!
                                            Elder Ty Blackburn

POST 97

Hi Everyone,
         It was a great week.  Offinso is progressing!  E. Ilunga and I had 13 investigators come to church yesterday, and last week we had 14.  The total at church yesterday was I think 60, so it was great.  The only thing is our group leader likes teaching about tithes/offerings toooo much. He wants to make our group a branch real quick,  so he can get released. We had a nice talk about all the things that are not favorable, and it seemed to sink in small. But I don’t think he quite gets it.
          But anyway the weather is the usual, just hot and scorching!!  The power situation is the same and even worse. The landlord has not payed the power bill, so they have disconnected the line. Last night I had had it, so I went down and connected it. This morning I went down and disconnected it. I can’t be getting hand cuffed now. Haha…
          Oh, a woman we have been teaching for a long time but have never seemed to have dropped, finally came to church yesterday.  Next week she said she wants to bring her husband. That makes us real happy.
          So I’m not sure really how to remember and to know how it will be to be back home.  With most of things I think it’ll be easy to adapt to once again, but for a few things it will be jaw dropping. haha. I have had many experiences and events that have happened the past 23 months in Ghana that have for the most part helped me and shaped me into the person I think I’m suppose to be. It’s not easy to stay and think positive when you are walking home in the dark, hungry, knowing that you will not have power and possibly have no water.  Ha… I know that Ilunga has helped me to stay positive here in this village. But I’m happy to be here and to be a part of this. Haha… Enough preaching!!
          Something I think is kind of funny: People over here when they think of farming, they think of a man, a few acres, and a big cutless (machetey). They can’t wrap their head around hundreds of acres and big machines. They get blown away when you try and explain it. Most of them think that we eat Fufu and what not in U.S. too.  Haha…
          Well that’s about all for the past week. Today we are going to Piri Piri.  It’s Ilunga and Gibson’s six month mark. It’s also Elder Amakye's first p day so they wanted to celebrate. I may as well too, I only have 4 p days left!  But thanks for everything.  Your dresses look awesome!
                                  Take care!
                             Love ya, E. Ty Blackburn

Eto 

(Yams cooked then mashed, with eggs and palm oil)

POST 96

Hi Everyone,
          Well for the most part everything is great. There’s only six weeks left, so its getting close.  So yeah, I’ll be staying in Offinso with my same companion for the remainder of my mission.   Elder Ilunga and I are going on 7 and a half months together.  We still get along great.
          So yesterday at church we had 75 people there.  Every room in the church was full.  The little sacrament hall is way too small. They have built a canopy/ roof over building to have sacrament in. It is exciting to see people come like that, and to see the smile on their faces when they are there. The only thing is we need a more serious group leader. President Holmes said once we become a branch, they will be sure and get someone that is more serious.
          Owasu John was baptized yesterday.  It was a great day. He has already read the Book of Mormon and he gave a powerful testimony about the Tree of Life in 1 Nephi. Wow! He’s the most powerful convert so far! It really made me happy and full of joy to see that.
          Ok, so you asked which has been my favorite area in Ghana. I would have to say it's here at Offinso.  We started from nothing, and now today we are almost to become a branch. I have a lot of good memories/experiences here.  It feels nice to be the oldest missionary on mission and are preparing for departure. I’m happy to stay in Offinso and to finish what I have started here.
          Today I am in Kumasi and we went the culture center. I hit up my guy Tijani and made a few more purchases.  I got a bunch of other cool stuff.  You will just have to wait to see it all.  I did buy some African wear, top and bottom which is pretty cool.
          That is about it for the past week. I’m just trying to stay alive and to endure. Haha.  Best go! Take care and have a nice week. Love ya all!
                                     Love, Elder Ty Blackburn

Owasu Johns' baptism

My last planner on mission.  haha….

(6 weeks to go)