Mail from US

Dear America,
I got to go on exchanges again this week. Elder Antwi is the district leader, so I get to go on exchanges a lot. It's fun to see how different missionaries go about the work. This week I was with Elder Lawson from California. Being with another American is always interesting. I think that two white men are more intimidating than one. Little kids aren't nearly as quick to call us out for being freaks. Haha it's kind of refreshing. 

This week was also the first baptism of my mission. Raymond Sekyere is a young man that was taught almost entirely by the missionaries before us. But I got to baptize him and it was nice. I know I should be sending pictures of stuff like this, so you'll get a whole bunch of pictures when I'm able to go in to Kejetia (hopefully next week).

I got some mail this week from friends and family in the US. It was really fun to read their letters and be reminded of home.

 I didn't hear about Martin's cove until now! But that's neat. (Keith and I got called as Ma and Pa for our Stake Trek in Aug)

I'll answer some more questions now: 

Plantain recipes: Either you fry them (super unhealthy) or you make fufu with cassava. I recommend fufu in the extreme. (I bought plantains and asked for a recipe)  

Vanilla beans? No. No vanilla at all. I get a lot of red pepper, ginger, garlic, groundnuts, red pepper, shrimp bullion stuff, red pepper, and tomato paste. Mostly food is appreciated for its quantity, which I'm totally fine with. (Wondering whether to send him vanilla beans or vanilla extract that he asked for) 

What impact has keeping a journal had on your life? To be honest, as soon as I came on a mission I started seriously keeping a journal every day. I'm doing my best to write about things that really matter and are interesting, but right now it's basically out of blind faith. I'm sure blessings will come eventually. But I'm probably not the best person to ask about the blessings of keeping a journal. Sorry. Although I have to say that it's been a nice stress relief at the end of each day. It's kind of like I have someone to talk to every night.(Sadie is giving a lesson about journals at FHE tonight. She e-mailed Isaac about his journal keeping. See article in New Era "Holy Smoke") 

Best wishes, Elder Nelson 

 I'm going to give credit to Elder Neville and make a correction to my past letters. "Hammer time" is really "Hammatan", but it all sounds the same when the Africans say it. Either way, it sucks. 

Sorry again about the pictures. They're coming. Eventually.