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)

POST 95

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

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

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

The Kumasi zoo.  

(It's nothing like the one's we have back home)

Saying "Hello" to the little elephant.

Sleeping Lions

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

Here's a few pictures of some baptisms we had in January.