Hallelujah, the internet is working, my pictures are flowing and the hot sun is shining! :)
Here comes a massive email. :)
First off, I got my package last week which was wayyyyy sweet! I wore my new beard shirt from mom to our soccer game!
(Mom: The shirt just says "Ask me about my beard" on the front...which is funny because he had to shave it off for the mission. LOL) Some people liked it and it has a beard on the inside of the shirt too! We had a zone activity where our missionaries and those in UST Zone played against each other! We won 3-0, and man, I am out of shape! :) It was really fun, but I need to run more because my lungs somehow cannot pump as much air as they used too.... yikes... :)
We killed 2 mice this week in our apartment and there is still one on the loose somewhere which will be killed eventually. The first was bad and I was the one to kill it which made me sad, but oh well. Brittan, please forgive me for that... :) The second, Elder Mutasi killed with boiling water which split the skin of the mouse, so you'll see some interesting pictures for sure! :) This is the 3rd mouse we have killed in this transfer so we are becoming experienced! Not to mention our neighbor's cats are enjoying the snacks. :)
We were riding in this tro this week when the door just fell off.... Luckily it was hanging from the bottom slide of the door, but it was hilarious!!! Everybody in the tro was laughing, and I got a picture of the mate and driver when they tied the door on with a bandana! :) My goodness it was hysterical! The mate is the guy who takes your money and manages the $$ and door and such to assist the driver.
My favorite things you send in care packages are dry potato mixes, EZ-cheese, and printed pictures. :) The drink mixes are sweet. You can send the single bottled water sized ones too. :)
The Palace store changes as well, so it is hit and miss what stuff they have from America or the UK. If you find 'Muffin Top' cereal, I want some in a bag for sure! :) I NEED THAT CEREAL TOO!!! LOL! Elder Davis and I found a Malt O' Meal cereal in Palace, so we split the cost and enjoyed :)
Elder Simpson and Elder Davis have got me hooked on the word "fetch" since they both use it! :) It is now a part of my vocabulary somehow, but we use it all the time! Interesting to see what I pick up just subconsciously from my companions! :)
I saw this sad puppy the other day who was cowering outside someone's gate, and it looked like the family had locked it out, or it was just cold. Ahh, I was so sad to see, and it was tough not to just take it home. :( But we walked it to another person's house and let it run inside the gate, so I hope for the best. :'(
We have some pictures from zone council with Elder Botha who goes home in a couple weeks and he is really awesome! He is from South Africa and we get along really well. I wish I got to know him better. :)
Elder Simpson and I got matching kente ties and F.C. Barcelona bandanas. I have been adopted into the Barcelona fan group, as my companion and Sister Amilia are big fans!! Here, you are either Real Madrid or Barcelona, so I have been somehow adopted, but I am learning small small about the players so I am not defenseless against real Madrid supporters...
(Mom: I asked Gabe more about what "small-small" means because he uses that phrase a lot). It means like "little bit" or "gradually". :)
(Mom: I asked what his favorite thing about his companion, Elder Simpson, was). Man, like everything! We get along, we laugh a whole lot, he is really hysterical! He is great with the scriptures and answers all the weird questions we get asked in a way that helps them to know more about the church. He is just really great. :)
We finally baptized Sister Faustina this week, and her son was the one who baptized her. It was a really sweet experience for them. :) It was tough to help her prepare for baptism, but as she prayed and read from the Book of Mormon, the Spirit helped her the rest of the way!
We went to Big Daddy's on the 4th of July and had "burgers" which weren't half bad! :)
We went to Bekwai again this week and it is still one of my favorite places in Ghana because it is so fresh and green! :)
Again this week, I really pondered about how short life is and how fast time goes. It seems like last week I left the MTC and met with Elder Vuakatagane for training! And now here I am at 4 almost 5 months! Yikes how time is flying!!! Elder Davis and I still are baffled by how time is flying because it feels like he just got here, but transfers are almost over...that will be a sad day if I leave this transfer...
ELDER BEDNAR is coming on the 13th of August!! I AM WAY EXCITED! We will see him on Saturday afternoon and then hopefully again on Sunday if I don't get transferred! :) The mission will get a picture with him so that will be sweet! :)
I am trying to learn Twi, but it is difficult, especially because sometimes I daydream in church because I don't understand.. :) Hahahhaaa!
The school system is really weird here, they have like a month off every couple of months but not really 'summer vacation', so we will have to stop into seminary one time and see if they are at the chapel!
Anyways, life is good in Africa, I am adjusting to the heat, the people, and learning the language little by little. :)
Love you guys,
Elder Wawro
PICTURES:
These are called 'yellow yellows' and they use them for transportation. They are powered by a motorcycle and fit up to 5 plus the driver :)
They have some tall building so I got on the balcony and took the pic because I know you guys like to see the city side of my life. :)
Mom, you asked about the best part of the week... I am not sure, our weeks are pretty sweet here, but they are flying! Probably killing not just one, but 2 mice with the apartment was really funny, especially since Elder Mutasi has a really funny accent! :)
I have made pancakes for the last 2 weeks straight every morning,
and have even tried making some chocolate pancakes which were good, but
stick to the pan more which is difficult. They aren't pretty on the
outside, but they are delicious on the inside! :) Hey mom, can you send me
your cookie recipe and your pancake recipe? :) (Mom: I sent him my chocolate chip cookie recipe and his response was...) "too bad we don't have an oven...we got a propane stove and some pots, but we can make it work!" LOL!
Elder Simpson and I
One of our members fed us a small chocolate cake with fresh mango
smoothies this week which was fetching delicious. Wowowowoww. I didn't
know I could miss chocolate cake so much... :) But it was delicious and I
enjoyed it with my companion!
Map of Ghana
There are banana and plantain trees here
VIDEO:
Video shot by his previous companion, Elder Vuakatagane. Just couldn't get it to upload until now. Great video of him catching small birds that flew into the church, and AWESOME to see the church building where they meet, little kids helping, etc. It's a rented building so it's unique, and it doesn't look anything like traditional church buildings in the U.S. But when he passed the picture of Christ on the wall, it warmed my heart...the same picture we see here in our buildings. :) The church is the same everywhere! Also cool to see the outdoor covered baptismal font, since it's a rented building and there wasn't one inside. It was added outdoors so they can conduct baptisms. :)
(Too big to upload directly, so I put a second 20-minute video on YouTube)
