April 5, 2010

hey there family,
i'm jealous that you guys got to watch conference. i'm sure i'll see some of it, but it'll be within the next few months. as for the ensign, we'll get that probably the same time period of the next few months. it's sad, but its just the way things work around here, so we work with it. so i'd love it if you could send me an ensign, that'd be great, thanks. it was an interesting Easter sunday. not much of a celebration here, sadly, and i'm not sure why. the people here are always so religious, so i was kinda surprised when we didn't have a big Easter sunday type lesson on sunday. it was fast sunday for us here, so there was the testimony meeting, but not too many people bore their testimonies on Christ and His atonement. so maybe next year it'll be different. obviously i wasn't expecting the easter bunny to come and visit us during the night, but it woulda been nice to have some candy to eat haha. i'd buy jelly beans, if they had them here, to hide around the apartment, but everything gets so dusty here just over night, so that wouldn't be a good idea to try.
hopefully Izzy's okay. how'd she get into dan and nick's chocolate? jeez guys you're gonna let her die before i get to see her again haha. oh well, Izzy's eaten pop rock-chocolate before and survived, so i think she'll be okay.
this passed week was kinda hard for me. i had some kinda hernia pain, but it wasn't a hernia. for about 2 or 3 days i didn't go out, but then on friday i told Heavenly Father that i was gonna go out and proselyte, and luckily things were okay that day. i'm really not sure whats the cause of the pain, but i've talked with Sis Sabey, the presidents wife and she's spoken with the mission doctor, so he's having me buy some medicine today to take for a week and see how things go after that. everything will be okay, i'm sure. so don't be worrying, please haha.
on saturday morning i had the chance to go to a traditional engagement for a member. it was really interesting and i didn't really understand everything, partially cause it was all in Twi. the funny part was that they wanted us to bless the ring... us. so we explained to them that it wasn't our job to do that. luckily a member of the branch presidency was there so he was the one that blessed it... that woulda been an interesting experience if i had to bless a ring... haha. maybe next time.
we had a great experience yestday afternoon, to finally have one of our investigators read from the Book of Mormon and keep her promise. we've wanted her to read just the introduction and the page that says The Hand of Mormon. so she kept her promise this time, after about 4 months of not doing it. she could seriously see how happy she was and it was apparent to her that when she reads and keeps her promise, that we can teach her more and she can learn a lot more. before, we would teach her many different things, but she would forget that we taught her certain things. her name is Beatrice and she's the SDA, that i told you guys about a long time ago. i think it was back in Jan. that we got her to come to church. but she usually has to work on sundays and then she'll go to church on satudays. which i don't understand, cause the things we've been teaching her, she knows it's true. but she won't admit it yet. so hopefully things will continue to progress with her.
transfer news will come this afternoon some time, so i'll let you know what happens here with us in Swedru. things might change for us.

yesterday i saw a bearded woman.... for real. she had more facial hair than i've ever been able to grow. so i guess she's got talent or something. i also got chased by a bee that was the size of a humming bird. that was an adventure and i probably looked pretty stupid in front of everyone, but i don't care haha.
well, times going by fast here and i better rap it up. hopefully our dog doesn't die and hopefully this week i won't have any pain while i'm out walking around. i'm not sure what the medicine with do for me, but i need to go and buy it today, so we'll see.
okay well i love you guys so much and once again thanks for your testimonies and prayers and support and love and everything else that you're doing for me. thanks so so much. i'll talk with you all soon! take care.
- Elder Newbold

More March 22, 2010

things here are going well still and i haven't been transferred yet to a new area. i'm still with the same companion that i trained and we've been together for three transfers. today is kinda overcast but still hot and humid like usual. you said you'd like to know about the kids here... haha i'm glad you like kids. if you were to come here where i am, you'd definitely be the center of attention to the children and other people. the children don't ever shut up and they love to talk... too much. where ever you go here, besides church, you'll here little kids yelling Obroni at you, if you're white. so for me, it's not something that i can get used to. the first few weeks that i spent here in Ghana, i thought it was cute, but now it's something that i get very tired of hearing. the kids when they see you will always wanna touch you or ask what your name is and won't leave you alone until you look at them or say something to them. man they're crazy. but it just adds to the experience and adventures here.

More March 22, 2010

hey there loved ones!
 i happy to hear from you guys again and get to picture all the great things you're all doing. this week was a good experience as we got to hear from Elder Dickson, who's the 2nd counselor from the west africa area presidency. he kinda jumped around to many different topics and didn't quite talk on one subject, but it was still good to get some notes. sad thing is that i left those notes back at the apt. so next week i'll be sure to include those in my email. that same day, me and my companion had the chance to go and give one of our investigators a blessing. it was a new experience seeing that i haven't been able to give a blessing since back home. i just haven't been given the opportunity to do it, but it went well. my companion anointed and i sealed the anointing and pronounced the blessing. the thing is, is that my companion couldn't do it in english, so i had him just do it in french. God understands french, right, so nothing to worry about. i was very happy to have the opportunity to help our investigator Gloria. i guess she had gotten sick that day and so she called us to come over. the next day she was doing fine, so i'm happy that God would allow that to happen.


we have interviews this week with our mission president and then transfers will be coming again soon... it's just going by too fast. sometimes it's a good feeling to see how fast the time is going, but seriously it's scary to realize it as well. it definitely helps us, here, see how valuable the time is that we have. the time that the Lord has set apart for us to go out and work hard. this past week we also had the wonderful chance to meet with one of my recent converts who had some questions about certain things pertaining to the church. she had also commented on some of the persecution she's experienced with some people she's been around. they were saying some things about the church that wasn't true, so she had to stand up to the man. i was glad to hear that she has a strong enough testimony to stand up to the man and let him know that what he was saying, wasn't true.


the branch that i'm still serving in has its difficulties and struggles... that's for sure, but it's still good to see them progress slowly towards becoming, if not a ward yet, at least a stronger branch. they have trouble with their relationships between different members, but i know that they can improve and get to doing their home teaching and visiting teaching. they just don't realize right now how important it is to have that included in a branch or ward. so i hope and pray that they'll do better with that.


thanks mom for sending the package and i can't wait to get it. those three items are for 2 elders that asked me to buy those things for them. it's just way too expensive to purchase those kinds of things here in the smaller cities or villages. we'd have to travel out of our mission boundaries to go and purchase those things near the same price, in some bigger city. so thanks again so much and i love ya!

congrats again with the temple work dad and keep up the sellings with your book. best of luck with that. nick, keep working hard in school and whatever other activities you're doing. work hard with scouts and other outdoor adventures. love the mountains while you still can, cause you might go to your mission in some country like this where you don't see mountains, just little hills.


i love you guys so much and i'll be sure to write a longer email next week. thanks for the continued support, love and prayers. i've been so blessed with health and strength to keep going in the work. God's truly been gracious to me while i've been here and i'm eternally indebted to Him. i'm reading the Book of Mormon again and i'm in Alma 35 about. i love reading about Alma, Ammon, Aaron, Omner and Himni. what great examples of missionaries for me to look up to and follow. what happened with them and the Lamanites being converted is truly amazing and it's exciting to think about. the Book of Mormon seriously is true and the teachings in it can help us so much in our lives. share your testimony with everyone you can. i'm not saying just go up to some random person in Walmart and start bearing your testimony, but share it whenever possible. the more you bear your testimony to others, the more it will grow and become stronger. we can learn as members of the true church, that if we're persecuted, it's only because satan knows we're part of God's church. he's jealous of us and we need to make it a point to never let him over come us. he only has power over us if we allow him to. if we pray always and be believing, all things are possible and God will help us in tough situations. when we put ourselves in good environments, the Spirit can lead us and guide us. when we will do what is right, the Lord will bless us, and that's His promise to us. i'm so grateful to be here and thankful to be a part of this family in the gospel. i love you all so much and i owe my life to you. thanks for being such great examples.


- elder newbold

March 15, 2010

hey family!

why are the weeks going by so fast? it's already mid March... where's the time going? things went well this past week and i'm looking forward to this Wednesday, when we're having a mission tour, where one of the Area presidency is coming to speak to us. i'll let you all know the things that he shares with us.

about the things to ship, mom - wait for 2 memory cards and a usb flash drive. i'm surprised the 2 memory cards came already, but be sure to wait for the usb flash drive as well. i wouldn't want you to mail a package off and then something else shows up at the house. just

a heads up. thanks so much by the way, those elders will be happy to have those things. i owe you so much! i'm doing fine here right now and i don't need anything, but i'll let you know within the next few

months if anything comes up. thanks again and love you!

this past week was good and we had a good time here in Swedru. The temperature changes will be cause of the rain. that's the only way it ever gets less hot here haha notice i didn't say colder, cause i'm still never experiencing being cold. it's one of those luxuries that you guys get to experience without me for another little while. So don't take it for granted, please haha. the past few days it's felt great luckily cause it's been rainy, so that makes it easier to walk

around in the sun all day. yesterday at church, we had two new investigators come and visit. we'll start teaching them this week hopefully if they're available. we'll be going on splits with the APs tomorrow afternoon, so we'll be sure to make them walk far instead of using a car with air conditioning... spoiled elders haha. anyway we'll see how that goes.

this past week we also visited and taught one young woman named Gloria. she's a friend of ours and a member referral. for some reason she's afraid of the Book of Mormon haha. we've tried explaining to her about it, but it'll take some time with her before she accepts it. she's been to church at least 4 or 5 times now. she needs to give us more time to teach her though. she's always busy with work, making clothes for people here.

congrats again on all the book signings dad, keep it up and maybe you can buy a new car for me when i get home hahaha.... think about it. No i'm just joking, cause i know that'd never happen. anyway, i'm happy to hear about you guys and i'm jealous that you get to skype with emma and jude. i'm glad you get to do that though, with them living in Seattle and all. that's cool they get to go and see chels' parents in PA. i flew over Lake Erie on my way to Ghana and i thought of her

family there haha. that was almost 7 months ago... once again how time flies. transfers are coming again here in less than 3 weeks and we'll see what happens with me and the other elders in Swedru.

the church continues to be true here and every time i get to bear my testimony to someone here in ghana, i realize again just how true it is. there's so much that i've learned here about life, family and doctrines of the gospel of Jesus Christ. i'm very excited to be

serving here and i'm glad i have the chance to continue to learn more. there's seriously so much to learn about God and His son Jesus Christ. He lives and loves us. Everyone. all the people that insult us here...

haha he still loves them and hopefully i can have that same love for those people. they chose to accept God's plan in the beginning, it's just a matter of reminding them why they're here and what they need to be doing to get back to heaven. it's a wonderful thing.

i love you all and i'll be talking with you soon! keep up all the good work and continue being awesome. thanks for the support and prayers. God bless you all.

- Elder Newbold

March 1, 2010

Hey mom and family!

Dad's not back yet huh? well you'll have to tell me how his work is going with the temples and also his book. It's good to hear from you guys, even though it was only mom who wrote in this past email haha.

This past week was eventful and it was a great experience to hear from Elder Holland. He gave us the opportunity to shake his hand and also the hands of the 3 other general authorities that came with him to speak. He told us, just that little moment he shook our hands, that he interviewed us, as he looked into our eyes for that split second.

It was amazing to hear that, but we also know that he has the Spirit of discernment to judge if we're worthy and clean to be here in the mission. His message was basically on obedience, and how we can all work towards continuing to be obedient. It's the 5th principle of the Gospel and it's one of the most important, cause if we have Faith, if we Repent, be Baptized, receive the Holy Ghost, but afterwards, not be obedient to the commandments, we won't inherit the Celestial Kingdom. We as missionaries and members of the church, have a duty to set a good example to everyone we're around. He left one quote to us missionaries, probably and specifically for those who aren't being exactly obedient. He said, "Be the missionary that the Church and your families think and expect you to be.... You (missionaries) are probably prayed for just as much as the Prophet". He helped us understand just how serious this work is that we're doing. He truly emphasized how we need to be obedient in these troubling times. After he talked with us about that, he started teaching us doctrine on the Fall of Adam. He was teaching us that even though Adam transgressed and that people nowadays think that it's a major mistake that he did partake of the forbidden fruit... we know the truth. Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can experience benefits more than disadvantages, from the effects of the Fall of Adam. Elder Holland showed us, as he drew a diagram on the white board, that the Fall of Adam had to happen. Satan doesn't have a plan, only opposition. We need to follow the plan of our Father in Heaven and stay obedient to the commandments.

He said some other things too, that i can share with you guys another time. It was really a great experience and i'm happy that I could have the opportunity to meet him and hear from him as he told us things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. His testimony is very strong and it's great to feel the Spirit as he was there.

I too will add my testimony to his. The things that i'm teaching every day and the things that he was teaching to us are very true. Each time I bear my testimony whether it be in writing or in words, i once again realize how true the Church is. Jesus Christ truly is at the head, and he is guiding us through a living prophet, Thomas S. Monson.

Pres Monson receives counsel and revelation for the Church and for anyone who has the ears to listen. When we follow the prophet, we draw closer to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We can become more like our Father in Heaven, and I know that when we will be obedient to the commandments of God, we will live with our Heavenly Parents again.

Families are eternal and we can all live together in complete happiness. The Book of Mormon is true, and it can answer any question/problem you have in life. It's pages contain the testimonies of so many great prophets and disciples. I feel so blessed to be a member of the Church and more so to be a missionary for the Lord.

Every day we need to realize our calling as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We are so blessed, and the only way we'll really see that is if we take the time to stop, look around, and then thank our God for everything.

I love you guys so much and i'll see you all soon! Time flies. That's the truth. Yesterday i was on the plane and last week we were moving to Utah... wow. Well, all we can do is live every day the best we can and look forward to the coming of our Savior. There's so many signs and it's hard to believe that there are some people who don't believe in the Second Coming. The Church is true... that is all. Once again I love you guys and i'll talk with you all soon.

- Elder Newbold

February 22, 2010

hey family!

this week went by quickly again, just like all the other ones... sadly. but it's gotta happen. we had some good adventures this week and some new investigators. we were blessed to have 3 of our investigators come to church also, so they can gain a testimony about church. things here are going well and i'm happy all of you back home, who got to celebrate gma's birthday. i can't believe she's still so young :) she's healthier than all of us. i wish i could've been there to celebrate it with all you. we had a fun dinner over at a member's house the other day, and got to have some fufu, which is one of the greatest ghana dishes. i can eat a ton of it. when we saw them at church on sunday they said that after we left, their neighbors were asking why they had invited us over to their house. the neighbors went on to say that we were medicine men and did magic hahaha... so the members explained to the neighbors that we didn't sell medicine, but we were missionaries and we preached the gospel of Jesus Christ. so that was one of the adventures this past week.

i did have another humbling experience, one of the many. but me and Elder Rappleye, (the other missionary that came last transfer who's from Layton, UT) the both of us were together cause we went on exchanges that day. we went to a member's house and we were talking with her about her work. she was saying that she's working/ taking a class on computers and that she wasn't getting paid. she'll have to do this class/ workshop for like 7 months without getting any money. we asked her how she'd stay alive and she said she'd manage... which was hard to believe. i wanted to help, but i figured that if i helped her, i'd end up just giving money to everyone and that would be a little much. so i'm not sure what we can do to help her, but hopefully we can think of something for her.

this past week i also did surgery on my face... hahaha. i had like a really big underground pimple that was bothering me, so i decided to do something about it. so after i had hacked up my face, i had a pretty big mark on my forehead haha. i just laughed about it and one of our investigators asked who had hit me... i told her that no one hit me, but that i was trying to become an indian, cause the mark was basically in the middle of my forehead. so i had fun with it. well i'm happy to hear that everyone is doing well back home. dad's staying busy with work, mom's helping out with my 2nd mother across the street ;) nick is doing great i'm sure, keeping up with school and maybe even building a snowman outside like a good little boy. i miss the snow more than anything right now haha, hard to picture it when i'm here sweating in 90 degree weather. man the sun's hot here... but i gotta live with it for quite a little while more. the people here are great and it's fun to have an american in the apartment with me, who's from the same state and city... what are the chances. so we have quite a good time.

tell dan hi as well and let him know that he's being a good big brother, making sure i follow the rules haha. tell him to email me too, that slacker.

ok well i hope everything continues as normal and things keep going well for the family. God bless everyone for your prayers and obedience. you're all great examples to me, here in Ghana. i can't believe i've already been gone 6 months from you guys. i've had some crazy and great experiences here and i can't wait to get back and share them with you all. i love you guys so much and i'll talk with you soon!

- elder newbold

p.s. - i've only received one package, the one with the mp3 player, thanks! transfer news is tmrw, and also we see Elder Holland too. i'm looking forward to it!

February 1, 2010

hello again,

details for life here ... well, it's hot, dusty and humid. i have to have a fan on me anywhere i go, if possible. as for what i eat. it ranges from fried rice to oranges to plantane to stew and spaghetti. i make a certain bean stew with tuna fish, and i make enough of it to last me about 2 weeks. that's only if i eat it like once a day. i evenly ration everything out. there's some other ghanaian dishes that i'll have every once in a while as well. so i'm beginning to gain more weight. dan said he's lost like 5 pounds, so i might be catching up to him... i doubt it though haha. 

the shower each morning is nice and cold, so i have to get used to it every time i try to get in. my bedroom it barely big enough to have two beds in it, so there's about no walking space. my bed had a net over it so that the mosquitoes don't eat me. luckily i've been safe and haven't had malaria. i'm hoping it stays that way too :).

most of the roads here are dirt, but there are some paved. those that are paved are not paved very well so there'll be holes in the roads, basically everywhere, which makes it difficult for the little taxis to drive around. the roads are not wide at all either, so i really hope that i won't have to ever drive here. it wouldn't be easy.

as for the baptism yesterday, it went okay. it was supposed to start at 9am, but there was a misunderstanding and so the branch president thought it was at 10. so we were calling him and he finally came at about 9:45. but it still turned out well. we had two sisters that were for our branch and then 6 others for another village. that village had to come cause they didn't have running water to fill their font.

alright, well i'll talk with you soon and i love you tons!
- elder newbold