kung fu fighting, vampires and two prizes at the claw machine...

6-22-15

Hey fam, It's been another week and another opportunity to tell you all about it sooooo, here goes! This week was alright. We did some contacting and found some more investigators. We found a man named Joshua. He is very intelligent and asked some of the most interesting questions I've heard from an investigator. We also met a teacher named Samuel who did the same thing. Abigail is still progressing towards baptism after some rough times she has had lately. Life is never easy is it? Life has a way of suddenly changing too. The new mission president, the Cosgraves, have arrived and I expect to be meeting them soon. The Holmes will be leaving very soon and the mission home is all packed up. I don't know what kind of changes this will bring to the mission, but we're all a little nervous. It is burning outside right now, but the skies are pretty cloudy lately. I have an MT (someone who was in the MTC with me) named Elder Fiu. He grew up in Australia, but his family is Samoan. Big guy. He's trying to lose fat. Speaking of that I'm also attempting the stomach loss competition. I had fufu again today after a very hesitant period following the indigestion incident. I feel fine and I think I'm back on the fufu train. I just rest a bit after eating and make sure to drink water. I had a dream tonight where I was home talking with Mom after my mission. She was asking me about food and I said "oh Mom, all I ever ate was bread!" It's not really that dramatic, but it made me think about food from home ha. I then proceeded to dream about kung fu fighting, turning into a vampire and getting 2 prizes at the claw machine... I'm positive there's no interpretation to be had there. For a couple of months now I've been having pretty vivid dreams. Not sure what contributes to that. I hope that Dad enjoyed his day to rule and that many decrees were made, banquets held and bad jokes cracked (just kidding Dad I still love your jokes. ;) As for our branch we have great news! We have just been organized into a district! There are four branches in the district and the two counselors to our branch presidency have been called as the counselors to the district presidency. I'm not sure who will be called to replace them. Transfer news will come next week Saturday and I'm thinking I might be transferred. With a new mission president though, I doubt that many will be moved this transfer.   It looks like I've spent a good time writing so I'll leave it at that. I'll bring my journal to share an experience or two and maybe a few corny jokes next week. As always I love you and wish you all a sweet week! 

-Elder Silva

"A missionary is never late. Nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to!"

Hey everyone! 

Just one thing. Remember that I'm not home, so if you tell me news I need more details... Your emails are greatly appreciated!  Mom’s still sounds like Mom. Reminded me of how all of us like to steal Dad's bacon. I still love being a goofball every now and then. The mission is too hard to take too seriously. By the way, I've eaten worse than goat hoof. I'll save those stories for later. I love my investigators and feeling like I'm able to help the Lord make a difference makes it all worth it. I have such a positive feeling when I remember Obuasi. I know I'll have the same when I leave Effiduasi. Elder Asada (my companion) is a workout fanatic and he has me trying it out as well. We'll see what happens. I miss those best Saturdays were Mom or Dad made pancakes, bacon, and that wonderful sausage.  I forgot the 4th of July was coming. Sorry founding fathers. There's not really anything I can do here. I have my American flag bandana I like to wear sometimes around the apartment. (again showing you I'm not too serious yet haha). Well I appreciate all the prayers. I can't include every trial I come upon in these e-mails, nor would I want to. 

I'll have more to say next week! 

-Elder Silva

 Taking the kiddies to church.  Happy Sunday everyone!

 Ghanaian countryside

 Recent flooding on the road

 Giant tree in the distance. One of our areas has a big forest in the middle of it. 

 My investigator told me I was late. "A missionary is never late. Nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to!"

 This is what will happen if you forget about the lawn dad.

 More of the flooding

Nice view off the side of Kumasi road.

Goat hoof soup.

June 8, 2015

So I promised to talk more about the work so I'll try to begin my e-mails that way. This week we contacted two new areas. That means alot of contacting. We went deep into the far reaches of the area and saw things no ordinary mortal could ever behold. You know they say that when you reach the edge of the map... there be monsters there! Not that I mean to call anyone a monster, I try to love all of the people here. There was one woman named Dorcas who we have started teaching. The rain has been fierce here sometimes and during one storm we took refuge in a random woman's compound. She even fed us. That's one thing that Ghanians do. They cook extra so if people come they will feed them. Anyways we ended up teaching her and she seems pretty promising! I did pour some water she offered us into a cup and saw bugs and other "floaties" in the drink. We poured some into both of our glasses halfway so it looked like we drank some. Talk about quick thinking eh? We had a rather dissapointing Sunday. We have 4 investigators progressing well and none of them came to church, as well as most of our recent converts. ...Just one of those Sundays. Truly sometimes I can testify to Dad's feelings about branches. It seems as if sometimes they're just hanging on the edge of a cliff, but also with all seriousness watching a branch grow is one of the most special experiences I've had on the mission. These people are true pioneers. Alright that covers my week now on to the questions. Yes we actually eat the goat's hoof. As best we can at least. I've also eaten many other strange things I'll tell you about when I get home. Physically I'm well. My legs are slightly sore from a P90X leg workout we did Saturday night. I'm trying to keep up a schedule of doing those workouts weekly. I was teaching the youth this week and pointed out how Satan's plans always are portrayed as the "easy way out". The truth is that easy way outs don't provide any growth. Progression halts and that's a scary thought in both a temporal and eternal perspective. The weather in Ghana has been very rainy as of late. You will see gray clouds on all sides. They will slowly come together and then suddenly..... BAM! The rain comes. I also wish I could tell you I was enjoying some fruit drinks, but juice is very expensive.... although I did finally break down and bought some cranberry juice today, haha. I ate an orange this morning, and cleaned dishes with a little water coming from the tap outside. Also I had a dream I was a pirate captain with cats as my crew mates...... see, the mission life not so boring is it? Well fam, I think that's it for this week. If you ever want to know more I still keep an entry for every day on my mission. Name a date in the next e-mail and I'll tell you all about what happened that day. Should be fun! 

As always I love you all so much. Have a great week guys. 

-Elder Silva


June 1, 2015

Hey fam! This was the transfer week and my new companion and I are getting along pretty well. He's a good teacher and it's always good for our investigators to get new teachers every now and then. I'm already beginning to see a difference in the receptiveness of some of our investigators. I know I told you I would share more spiritual experiences, so I'll try to talk more about the work. As monotonous as it sometimes gets for me, I'm sure you'd still like to hear about it. One thing that happened was a very spiritual lesson with Sister Abigale. We have been teaching her for a long time with Elder Ejodamen. She has come to church once, but her family's beliefs have been holding her back. She enjoys the lessons and is well educated. She is a good friend of ours. Me and Elder Asada came to visit her and I wasn't all that sure what to teach. As we began to ask questions I felt impressed to ask more specifically about her feelings in regard to the Holy Ghost. She seemed a bit confused and we ended up teaching her all about recognizing promptings and having the courage to act upon them. The whole room was practically flooded with the spirit by the time we left. On another previous occasion with Elder Ejodamen, we had just finished a lesson and Ejodamen was conversing with the rest of the family. I turned to Abigale and asked her a prompted question, "Sister Abby? Do you know that God loves you?" That led to a very good discussion that day. That's all I really have time for  today, but it gives you someone to mention in the family prayers. As for me I'm just chugging along.  I haven't posted pictures in a long time so there are too many to post. I'll just post the best ones. As for the temporal aspect, I'm really enjoying those lemonade packets you sent. My new companion Asada has some of the P90X workouts on dvd. Super hard to incorporate those on mission, but I've been working on Ab Ripper X (scary name right?) to distance my figure from that of Santa Clause. I heard about Elder Perry from a member. News travels fast.  I just realized that another school year has gone by. No way that's so weird. I think the fun part of typing is that you don't get to make fun of my accent (ha.) Or does it show in the text??

Branches are a definite struggle. I can't imagine just going to church and enjoying the classes. I've been teaching the youth since the beginning of my mission and I even helped out with the primary this week. I was rewarded with a cup of juice to dull the headache haha.

One of the hardest things to do on for me is to proselyte on Sunday. I've always done it, but church is very stressful, then you walk home in the sun, get back and eat whatever you have, and if you end up falling asleep, you're too soon woken up to go out and work. Just the end of the week blues, haha. Well I hope you're all enjoying the summer. Have a great week everyone. 

Love you. 

-Elder Silva

Most importantly... Benedictel's baptism! ...Note- I am wearing Grandmas tie she sent.

One of my best friends. Lordina! Younger Sister of the Abigale mentioned in the e-mail. 

Goat hoof soup!

Some of the vegetation in Ghana, note the banana trees.

Something lurking outside my window...

Some of the pepper they use. It's hot, but I feel like the American ones are much more flavorful. 

When the Spirit floods the room...

June 1, 2015

Hey fam! This was the transfer week and my new companion and I are getting along pretty well. He's a good teacher and it's always good for our investigators to get new teachers every now and then. I'm already beginning to see a difference in the receptiveness of some of our investigators. I know I told you I would share more spiritual experiences, so I'll try to talk more about the work. As monotonous as it sometimes gets for me, I'm sure you'd still like to hear about it. One thing that happened was a very spiritual lesson with Sister Abigale. We have been teaching her for a long time with Elder Ejodamen. She has come to church once, but her family's beliefs have been holding her back. She enjoys the lessons and is well educated. She is a good friend of ours. Me and Elder Asada came to visit her and I wasn't all that sure what to teach. As we began to ask questions I felt impressed to ask more specifically about her feelings in regard to the Holy Ghost. She seemed a bit confused and we ended up teaching her all about recognizing promptings and having the courage to act upon them. The whole room was practically flooded with the spirit by the time we left. On another previous occasion with Elder Ejodamen, we had just finished a lesson and Ejodamen was conversing with the rest of the family. I turned to Abigale and asked her a prompted question, "Sister Abby? Do you know that God loves you?". That led to a very good discussion that day. That's all I really have time for for today, but it gives you someone to mention in the family prayers. As for me I'm just chugging along. I haven't posted pictures in a long time so there are too many to post. I'll just post the best ones. As for the temporal aspect, I'm really enjoying those lemonade packets. My new companion Asada has some of the P90X workouts on dvd. Super hard to incorporate those on the mission, but I've been working on Ab Ripper X (scary name right?) to distance my figure from that of Santa Clause. I heard about Elder Perry from a member. News travels fast. I just realized that another school year has gone by. No way that's so weird. I think the fun part of typing is that you don't get to make fun of my accent ha. Or does it show in the text?? ;) Branches are a definite struggle. I can't imagine just going to church and enjoying classes. I've been teaching the youth since the beginning of my mission and I even helped out with the primary this week. I was rewarded with a cup of juice to dull the headache haha. One of the hardest things to do on for me is to proselyte on Sunday. I've always done it, but church is very stressful, then you walk home in the sun, get back and eat whatever you have, and then need to find the energy to get back out again.  But it’s all good.  Well I hope you're all enjoying the summer. Have a great week everyone. Love you. 

-Elder Silva

Transfer News and Updates

5-30-15

Hey fam. I know it's a Wednesday but there hasn't been any internet connections in Effiduasi for awhile. I do have appointments to get to, but don't worry I'm a fast typer........ except when I forget what I am going to say... ...Well It was very, very good to hear from all of you on Sunday! I got all of the packages and I loved them very much! I shared and my companion is very thankful. I know I haven't shared a whole lot of spiritual experiences and I'll repent of that... next week. I don't have the time to write them out in detail, but I discovered that the white handbook tells us that we need to do that... Funny I never noticed that. I wish I could respond to everything you wrote but I'm running late. I love you all and wish you a wonderful week. 

Love you all! 

-Elder Silva

5-25-15

Ah man, guys I really can't say how much I love hearing from you. I can't imagine what a mission with only letters would have been like. It's great to hear news from the ward. Our stake is the only one I've ever know to do sacrament last. Actually I preferred it that way, but I guess Salt Lake has their reasons. Mepaakyew etesen? That's how are you in Twi for Brooke. By the way, transfer news came! I'm staying in my current area but my companion, Ejodamen, is leaving. My new companion is Elder Asada from Nigeria. Elder Hoffman from Wisconsin has been in our apartment for awhile and he is the one who trained Asada. Cool for him. Also my trainer, Batutsi, is coming to be my zone leader in Kumasi. It'll be nice to see him again. I think I left some questions unanswered last letter. I'll look at it in a bit. I don't know if I ever mentioned but there's a KFC in Kumasi now. It's a bit spendy for our standards but it is oh so good. Really nice building too. Sounds like Grandma and Grandpa Silva are busy with their missionary work at the base. I'm glad to hear it though. The heat is still here as will it ever be, but I'm fully adjusted. The packages are . . well... finished. Haha, I couldn't help myself. Plus I did some sharing. I would really like some more acetaminophen (I know it's spelled wrong) though. I'm running low and those are so nice to have. Well that's all I have time for. My companion and I are busy today. 

Just know that I love you all (and Duke) a lot! 

-Elder Silva