Hi Everyone,
Today is good. We came to Kumasi and accomplished a few moves this morning. Yes, last week I sent the snake skin from the Kumasi Post Office. It’s in a big brown padded envelope. I hope it gets there. It cost me 50 cedis to send it, which is like 20 dollars.
Anyway, things are fine here in Offinso. We had 6 investigators come to church yesterday. We were planning on baptizing Owusu John, but we didn’t get all the lessons in; so this next week are planning on it. He also is very happy to become a member of the church. We are also planning on having a few more in March; maybe 5 solid people.
So yeah, every week the chapel is full. Every Sunday I give my seat to someone and go and stand out in the little over flow thing. The chapel is real close to our apartment, like maybe a 10 min walk. It’s just across the ridge. I usually get the chance to share my testimony every fast and testimony Sunday. I always thank them for their hospitality and kindness to us. It always seems to make them light up and smile. It will be a little strange going from people that possess nothing to going back to people that possess everything in their day to day lives. Haha… It will be quite the change! It may be a bit bigger than me actually coming to Ghana. Well enough of that!!
So I got the email of the dress measurements. I’ll give them to her tonight or tomorrow. She is really good. It will be cool to have them.
It sounds like the fast went well, and the blessings are starting to come. We know that as we always try to remember him, he will surely remember us. Well best go. Take care!
Love ya, Ty
Monday, February 23, 2015
Monday, February 16, 2015
POST 94
Hi Everyone,
Yeah you said it.. Hot!!! Everyday it looks like it will rain, but by 10 or so the sun is blazing and scorching. We just walk down the dirt roads and I can hardly open my eyes to look ahead. My squinting is beyond squinting. All of the sun glasses I have bought have been crap, so I have stopped buying. I’m just going to hold out and get burnt. Other than that, things are fine.
We didn’t have too many of our investigators come to church yesterday, only 5. But the thing that is good is that all of our people we have baptized are there every Sunday, and they are helping the branch grow. The one gave a talk last week which was powerful. She asked us to help her a little on her talk; it turned out really good.
Yesterday, we went to Bantama to have the baptisms, since there was no water in Suame. We went to the Stake Center. My companion and I had three baptisms. Two of them were Joyce's daughters who are 10 and 12. We are working on making Joyce's family all members. The other guys are teaching her parents and siblings. She was the first person we contacted our first day in Offinso, and now is one of the strongest members. The other baptism was a guy named Kelvin. He’s a teacher and is really smart. I think we will start to have him teach the investigators class. I forgot my camera the day of the baptisms, but E. Gibson took a picture. The computer won’t read it so maybe next week. Also, next week we are planning on baptizing Owusu John.
I really can’t believe that my departure is at hand. I received my flight itinerary today from Sister Preator who is the mission secretary. She asked me what airport I wanted to alight at. Salt Lake is what I said. I think they will also be on the same flight. They are getting released with us as well. But as I look back it seems somehow of a big flash. From the beginnning till today it feels like a long time, but really it is not. I am humbled and comforted as I look back upon my journey here in Ghana. I know that I did my best and gave it my all to help and bless others. Even to be an instrument in the Lords hands to bring his children to the full knowledge of him, and all the blessings that are attached as they partake of his gospel.
As for the zoo visit last week. It wasn’t anything like Hogle, but it was cool. All African animals of course. As for the monkeys, they are something else! One male wanted to fight us. He was throwing fruit at us, and about ripped Elder Richmonds hand off. There was a little baby doing tricks and showing off for us. I have a video I’ll have to show you all when I return.
So as for the dresses you can mix and match color or design to what ever you want. I will need your choice by next Monday, so she can start for the three of you, if that is what you guys want.
Well next week is transfer news. I’m pretty certain I’ll be staying to die in Offinso. Maybe with Ilunga, that would be correct revelations. But that is about all. Take care, till next week.
Love, Elder Ty Blackburn
Yeah you said it.. Hot!!! Everyday it looks like it will rain, but by 10 or so the sun is blazing and scorching. We just walk down the dirt roads and I can hardly open my eyes to look ahead. My squinting is beyond squinting. All of the sun glasses I have bought have been crap, so I have stopped buying. I’m just going to hold out and get burnt. Other than that, things are fine.
We didn’t have too many of our investigators come to church yesterday, only 5. But the thing that is good is that all of our people we have baptized are there every Sunday, and they are helping the branch grow. The one gave a talk last week which was powerful. She asked us to help her a little on her talk; it turned out really good.
Yesterday, we went to Bantama to have the baptisms, since there was no water in Suame. We went to the Stake Center. My companion and I had three baptisms. Two of them were Joyce's daughters who are 10 and 12. We are working on making Joyce's family all members. The other guys are teaching her parents and siblings. She was the first person we contacted our first day in Offinso, and now is one of the strongest members. The other baptism was a guy named Kelvin. He’s a teacher and is really smart. I think we will start to have him teach the investigators class. I forgot my camera the day of the baptisms, but E. Gibson took a picture. The computer won’t read it so maybe next week. Also, next week we are planning on baptizing Owusu John.
I really can’t believe that my departure is at hand. I received my flight itinerary today from Sister Preator who is the mission secretary. She asked me what airport I wanted to alight at. Salt Lake is what I said. I think they will also be on the same flight. They are getting released with us as well. But as I look back it seems somehow of a big flash. From the beginnning till today it feels like a long time, but really it is not. I am humbled and comforted as I look back upon my journey here in Ghana. I know that I did my best and gave it my all to help and bless others. Even to be an instrument in the Lords hands to bring his children to the full knowledge of him, and all the blessings that are attached as they partake of his gospel.
As for the zoo visit last week. It wasn’t anything like Hogle, but it was cool. All African animals of course. As for the monkeys, they are something else! One male wanted to fight us. He was throwing fruit at us, and about ripped Elder Richmonds hand off. There was a little baby doing tricks and showing off for us. I have a video I’ll have to show you all when I return.
So as for the dresses you can mix and match color or design to what ever you want. I will need your choice by next Monday, so she can start for the three of you, if that is what you guys want.
Well next week is transfer news. I’m pretty certain I’ll be staying to die in Offinso. Maybe with Ilunga, that would be correct revelations. But that is about all. Take care, till next week.
Love, Elder Ty Blackburn
Monday, February 9, 2015
POST 93
Hi Everyone,
Well I guess things are fine here. Still no lights, it’s the same thing every week. I think that it is starting to effect me mentally. I am starting to have hallucinations about going home. Haha…… It’s way tooooo hot! We are always buying water everywhere we pretty much go everyday. But we still somehow seem to pull through from day to day.
We had 9 of our people come to church, which was good. We are planning for 3 baptisms this Sunday, and then hopefully 2 the next Sunday. We have found people that have really been prepared to receive us. It’s not easy to get someone enthused about the gospel or church. It seems like it usually takes a person a few visits to really make trust, and then we can start to be friends. One of our investigators is Owusu John. He is a powerful guy. On the second visit he explained the first five chapters of 1nephi better than I would of. We didn’t even ask him to read it, but he did anyway. Everyone else is good. There’s still quite a bit of persecutions, anti-doctrine, about the church, the gospel, Book of Mormon, and such. Haha.. Some of their ideas are flat out hilarious to even say and think. We just laugh when they say such things!
Today we went to the Kumasi zoo. We had some monkeys try to run us off by throwing bananas and oranges. I got a front row seat with a little elephant and also a camel!
So Mom, would you, Belle and Bryler want a dress or something from here. I could send a picture chart next week of one you want. The woman said all I need is a picture of the person and she can have the measurements. Haha… Anyway, I hope all is well back home. Take care till next week.
Love ya, E.Blackburn
Well I guess things are fine here. Still no lights, it’s the same thing every week. I think that it is starting to effect me mentally. I am starting to have hallucinations about going home. Haha…… It’s way tooooo hot! We are always buying water everywhere we pretty much go everyday. But we still somehow seem to pull through from day to day.
We had 9 of our people come to church, which was good. We are planning for 3 baptisms this Sunday, and then hopefully 2 the next Sunday. We have found people that have really been prepared to receive us. It’s not easy to get someone enthused about the gospel or church. It seems like it usually takes a person a few visits to really make trust, and then we can start to be friends. One of our investigators is Owusu John. He is a powerful guy. On the second visit he explained the first five chapters of 1nephi better than I would of. We didn’t even ask him to read it, but he did anyway. Everyone else is good. There’s still quite a bit of persecutions, anti-doctrine, about the church, the gospel, Book of Mormon, and such. Haha.. Some of their ideas are flat out hilarious to even say and think. We just laugh when they say such things!
Today we went to the Kumasi zoo. We had some monkeys try to run us off by throwing bananas and oranges. I got a front row seat with a little elephant and also a camel!
So Mom, would you, Belle and Bryler want a dress or something from here. I could send a picture chart next week of one you want. The woman said all I need is a picture of the person and she can have the measurements. Haha… Anyway, I hope all is well back home. Take care till next week.
Love ya, E.Blackburn
The Kumasi zoo.
(It's nothing like the one's we have back home)
Saying "Hello" to the little elephant.
Sleeping Lions
Monday, February 2, 2015
POST 92
Hi Everyone,
We came to town today to email again. We come most every Monday now, just because there is no power hardly ever in Offinso. To get here we take a tro tro. They are Dodge Sprinters. They usually fit like 22 people inside. We also went to Boukrom today and saw a few people. It was nice.
So the past week has been pretty good and we were able to have some success. We have been trying our best to seek out and find the ones that are truly prepared for us. It seems to have worked so far. Out of the 13 or so new investigators we have had in the past two weeks, there are 4 or 5 that say they have received an answer to the Book of Mormon, and know that it is true. Once they know that it is true, then the rest just falls into place. Ha ha..
Anyway, everything else is OK. We had 7 investigators come to church yesterday, which was not as good as last week, but we achieved our goals. There were still a lot that did not come. We went and saw some of them after church and they said this next week they will be there. haha… Me and my companion call it the “Ghanian Act.” On Saturday almost all of the ones we scheduled for the day had their phones switched off, so we went to their house and they were there. Haha.. They blame it on the lights being out, but it’s not a good enough excuse. But we are doing our best, and our testimony about the work is growing and becoming more firm.
This is probably the toughest area I have been in. The persuctions, people not keeping time, etc; but we are doing fine other than that. The power situation is still the same, it’s just the norm nowadays.
So I think I’ll send the skin through the mail. I’ll send it from the big Post Office here in town. I’ll probably keep it and have a pair of boots and a belt made out of it, or I could sell it. We’ll see..
Well I better go. Extend my greetings to everyone. Thanks for everything and have a good week.
Love, Elder Ty Blackburn
We came to town today to email again. We come most every Monday now, just because there is no power hardly ever in Offinso. To get here we take a tro tro. They are Dodge Sprinters. They usually fit like 22 people inside. We also went to Boukrom today and saw a few people. It was nice.
So the past week has been pretty good and we were able to have some success. We have been trying our best to seek out and find the ones that are truly prepared for us. It seems to have worked so far. Out of the 13 or so new investigators we have had in the past two weeks, there are 4 or 5 that say they have received an answer to the Book of Mormon, and know that it is true. Once they know that it is true, then the rest just falls into place. Ha ha..
Anyway, everything else is OK. We had 7 investigators come to church yesterday, which was not as good as last week, but we achieved our goals. There were still a lot that did not come. We went and saw some of them after church and they said this next week they will be there. haha… Me and my companion call it the “Ghanian Act.” On Saturday almost all of the ones we scheduled for the day had their phones switched off, so we went to their house and they were there. Haha.. They blame it on the lights being out, but it’s not a good enough excuse. But we are doing our best, and our testimony about the work is growing and becoming more firm.
This is probably the toughest area I have been in. The persuctions, people not keeping time, etc; but we are doing fine other than that. The power situation is still the same, it’s just the norm nowadays.
So I think I’ll send the skin through the mail. I’ll send it from the big Post Office here in town. I’ll probably keep it and have a pair of boots and a belt made out of it, or I could sell it. We’ll see..
Well I better go. Extend my greetings to everyone. Thanks for everything and have a good week.
Love, Elder Ty Blackburn
Here's a few pictures of some baptisms we had in January.
Monday, January 26, 2015
POST 91
Hello Family,
Well today we came to town (Kumasi) and went to the cultural center and bought a few things like hand weaved baskets and smocks. Ha.. And now I’m finally able to send a few pics.
So church yesterday was great! We had 12 investigators come, but still a bunch that wanted to didn't make it. We are hoping for maybe 3 possible baptisms this next month.
It finally rained for the first time in 2 months. Just enough to clean the roofs off and keep the dust down, but now its starting to pick back up. It’s been pretty over cast, so it holds the heat down and the humidity. But for the most part things are OK. We haven’t had power hardly at all. Maybe each day we get if for a few hours, just enough to charge our phones and cool our water in the fridge. It’s a good thing we don’t store much food in the fridge or we would be out of luck.
We have been able to make progress with our people. Owusu John is a man who came to church on his own last Sunday. We were able to meet him on Saturday. He is a guy that is really prepared and ready to receive the gospel. We actually contacted his house a while ago with the help of the Spirit, but we did not meet him, and some time down the road he found us.
The snake skin I bought a few weeks ago was 200 cedis, which was a pretty good buy. The man started at 350 and I got him down because I bought other stuff from him, so now I’m his customer. So the snake skin rolls up. They say they have regulations on importing fruits and animals from other countries into the USA; so I’m not sure how to get him home, or should I send it through the mail?
Sounds like things are going good back home and you are all doing fine and enjoying life. It’s going to be a shock for me to get back and actually have lights for more than a few hours a day. Haha… Well better go! Take Care! May God Bless!
Love, E. Blackburn
Well today we came to town (Kumasi) and went to the cultural center and bought a few things like hand weaved baskets and smocks. Ha.. And now I’m finally able to send a few pics.
So church yesterday was great! We had 12 investigators come, but still a bunch that wanted to didn't make it. We are hoping for maybe 3 possible baptisms this next month.
It finally rained for the first time in 2 months. Just enough to clean the roofs off and keep the dust down, but now its starting to pick back up. It’s been pretty over cast, so it holds the heat down and the humidity. But for the most part things are OK. We haven’t had power hardly at all. Maybe each day we get if for a few hours, just enough to charge our phones and cool our water in the fridge. It’s a good thing we don’t store much food in the fridge or we would be out of luck.
We have been able to make progress with our people. Owusu John is a man who came to church on his own last Sunday. We were able to meet him on Saturday. He is a guy that is really prepared and ready to receive the gospel. We actually contacted his house a while ago with the help of the Spirit, but we did not meet him, and some time down the road he found us.
The snake skin I bought a few weeks ago was 200 cedis, which was a pretty good buy. The man started at 350 and I got him down because I bought other stuff from him, so now I’m his customer. So the snake skin rolls up. They say they have regulations on importing fruits and animals from other countries into the USA; so I’m not sure how to get him home, or should I send it through the mail?
Sounds like things are going good back home and you are all doing fine and enjoying life. It’s going to be a shock for me to get back and actually have lights for more than a few hours a day. Haha… Well better go! Take Care! May God Bless!
Love, E. Blackburn
Cleaning up the official church building in Offinso.
Inside the new building.
Companion (Elder Ilunga) with my "purchase of a lifetime."
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
POST 90
Hello Everyone,
Well yeah, everything is OK. Last week I was at a crappy cafe and waited and waited for your email to send, but I guess it didn’t?? I apologize. But on the bright side, we moved into our new chapel building yesterday. It went very well. We filled the sacrament hall with…. I think there was 50 or 60 chairs. and they were all full with a few people out side on chairs. The thing that was cool was there were lots of little kids in the primary room. It was completely full!! Also, we had 3 baptisms which was also great. We spent Saturday morning cleaning the yard and building for Sunday. We burned weeds and leaves, and such. We even saw a snake. It was a yellow mamba! It made a quick escape! We weren’t fast enough to kill it.
So the power has been really crappy the past week and a half. There’s outages everyday. It comes and goes like flies. We get it for maybe 6-12 hours a day, so its not easy to get much done. It just seems like the norm around here now. Just as long as we have water I can put up with it.
Transfer news was Friday. President Holmes released me as DL and said I’ll be staying in Offinso for another transfer with my companion. He said he is real happy and pleased with the work in Offinso. As a district so far for the month of January we have had 7 baptisms, and still have two more Saturdays to go. Now that we have the new chapel, things are going to go a lot smoother. It will be great once they get the font erected.
The investigators are doing fine. We have 5 or 6 pretty solid progressing ones. They for the most part just have small farms. They raise, yam, plantain, casava and corn. They seem to do pretty well and can survive on eating and selling a few acres of produce.
I’ve been unable to send pictures from these small little crappy café’s. They all have virus’s so when I try to send pictures they will never download. Next week we are going to go to Kumasi and start to buy some things.
It sure sounds like everything is running smoothly and doing well back home. Spring is somehow around the corner. Haha… When I left it was snow and cold, and when I come home it will probably be the same. I’ll probably freeze to death!!
Well I better go. I need to find something to eat. There isn’t much to find on the streets of Offinso that a guy can be satisfied with and not get sick. Fried rice is pretty hard to come by, its only around at nights. But anyway I have made the purchase of a life time last week. I bought an 11 foot python skin that’s about 2 feet wide. I got it for a steal of a deal!! The only problem is getting it home and past airport security.
Till next week. Love you all.
Love E.Blackburn
Well yeah, everything is OK. Last week I was at a crappy cafe and waited and waited for your email to send, but I guess it didn’t?? I apologize. But on the bright side, we moved into our new chapel building yesterday. It went very well. We filled the sacrament hall with…. I think there was 50 or 60 chairs. and they were all full with a few people out side on chairs. The thing that was cool was there were lots of little kids in the primary room. It was completely full!! Also, we had 3 baptisms which was also great. We spent Saturday morning cleaning the yard and building for Sunday. We burned weeds and leaves, and such. We even saw a snake. It was a yellow mamba! It made a quick escape! We weren’t fast enough to kill it.
So the power has been really crappy the past week and a half. There’s outages everyday. It comes and goes like flies. We get it for maybe 6-12 hours a day, so its not easy to get much done. It just seems like the norm around here now. Just as long as we have water I can put up with it.
Transfer news was Friday. President Holmes released me as DL and said I’ll be staying in Offinso for another transfer with my companion. He said he is real happy and pleased with the work in Offinso. As a district so far for the month of January we have had 7 baptisms, and still have two more Saturdays to go. Now that we have the new chapel, things are going to go a lot smoother. It will be great once they get the font erected.
The investigators are doing fine. We have 5 or 6 pretty solid progressing ones. They for the most part just have small farms. They raise, yam, plantain, casava and corn. They seem to do pretty well and can survive on eating and selling a few acres of produce.
I’ve been unable to send pictures from these small little crappy café’s. They all have virus’s so when I try to send pictures they will never download. Next week we are going to go to Kumasi and start to buy some things.
It sure sounds like everything is running smoothly and doing well back home. Spring is somehow around the corner. Haha… When I left it was snow and cold, and when I come home it will probably be the same. I’ll probably freeze to death!!
Well I better go. I need to find something to eat. There isn’t much to find on the streets of Offinso that a guy can be satisfied with and not get sick. Fried rice is pretty hard to come by, its only around at nights. But anyway I have made the purchase of a life time last week. I bought an 11 foot python skin that’s about 2 feet wide. I got it for a steal of a deal!! The only problem is getting it home and past airport security.
Till next week. Love you all.
Love E.Blackburn
Monday, January 5, 2015
POST 89
Hi Everyone,
The New Year was good. That is good to hear that people are still thinking about me over here. Mostly everyone probably feels like I have just disappeared off the face of the earth. Haha… Well yeah, it’s true, I have. Haha.. We didn’t end up going to Suame for New Years. We will go there on Tuesday night because on Wednesday we are having a Zone Conference at Bantama, with the Bantama and Obuasi Zones. Suame is a part of Kumasi when you are coming from Offinso. The Elder's names are Richman and Rindlisbacher, they are both from Utah. So for us on Wednesday (New Years) we stayed up. Well just me, Gibson and Helgesen. Elder Ilunga went to sleep. I watched Gibson and Helgesen play chess, and I made one of the brownie mixes. That is pretty much all that happened.
We are planning on moving into the chapel the next Sunday after this one. It will be great. We could have probably an easy 15 people come when we are in the new building.
So another blessing that I have received while being on my mission is being able to see how the gospel can bless others, and how they can prosper while living the commandments.
That is good to hear about the calving. It sounds like it has turned to Winter. Over here it is just getting warmed up. It’s starting into the dry season. This morning it was quite windy and dusty. They have graded the dirt road in front of our house which was a mistake. It’s just all powder and the tro tro’s just fly down it. All the roofs are just caked with at least a half an inch of dust. We have to keep our windows closed always now.
That is about it for the news here. It sounds like everyone had a good time for New Years. Well I better go! Thanks for all you do.
Love, Elder Ty Blackburn
The New Year was good. That is good to hear that people are still thinking about me over here. Mostly everyone probably feels like I have just disappeared off the face of the earth. Haha… Well yeah, it’s true, I have. Haha.. We didn’t end up going to Suame for New Years. We will go there on Tuesday night because on Wednesday we are having a Zone Conference at Bantama, with the Bantama and Obuasi Zones. Suame is a part of Kumasi when you are coming from Offinso. The Elder's names are Richman and Rindlisbacher, they are both from Utah. So for us on Wednesday (New Years) we stayed up. Well just me, Gibson and Helgesen. Elder Ilunga went to sleep. I watched Gibson and Helgesen play chess, and I made one of the brownie mixes. That is pretty much all that happened.
We are planning on moving into the chapel the next Sunday after this one. It will be great. We could have probably an easy 15 people come when we are in the new building.
So another blessing that I have received while being on my mission is being able to see how the gospel can bless others, and how they can prosper while living the commandments.
That is good to hear about the calving. It sounds like it has turned to Winter. Over here it is just getting warmed up. It’s starting into the dry season. This morning it was quite windy and dusty. They have graded the dirt road in front of our house which was a mistake. It’s just all powder and the tro tro’s just fly down it. All the roofs are just caked with at least a half an inch of dust. We have to keep our windows closed always now.
That is about it for the news here. It sounds like everyone had a good time for New Years. Well I better go! Thanks for all you do.
Love, Elder Ty Blackburn
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