First Letter from Elder Halling 8/10/08

Dear Family,

I'm afraid to tell you but I have not received any letters when I arrived except from Erin using dearelder.com which was good to hear. The food is good and there is plenty of it! For your information, I leave for the mission field on August 27th which is on a Wednesday. I will be sure to email at the first opportunity.

Since I have been here I noticed how much you all mean to me. Not that I am home sick, but I appreciate now what I don't have. My mission president's wife said "what" with an emphasis on the 'h' and I thought of dad and laughed!

The very first thing we did once we arrived at the MTC was to walk around Accra. What an experience!! The people here are so poor in money but rich in life and love. In Ghana, when someone runs out of money while constructing a building, they stop production until they have enough funds. While the building sits there, people make it their home. They have no beds, furniture, air conditioning, or any items normally found in a house, but they are still happy.

It amazes me how uplifting the people are. We began learning Twi which is nothing like English. Menim se asure no ye nokwarre (I know the church is true). My companion is from Cape Coast so he speaks Fante and English. His name is Elder Eshun. I love him already! He has a sweet spirit that you can't help but love. He taught me the Ghanian handshake that everyone does. We even have our own.

I am adjusting to the time zone. While I was able to take a nap, I think my fasting helped more. If you pray, pray that I can adjust. The days are long. Of the 16 hours that we are awake, 10 1/2 are spent in class! I am learning a lot. This Thursday we are going to the temple. It is not as close as I thought it would be. Still, everything here is going great. The first two days were slow, but this third went fast. I hope to hear from you again soon. I love to read the letters! Take care. I am thinking of you always!

Love, Elder Halling

PS It is really hot and humid.

PPPS. I'm serious. REALLY HOT AND HUMID!!

Elder Halling Arrived Thursday in Ghana!

Elder Halling has arrived safely in Ghana and we have heard from his Mission President, "They have played football, (known as soccer back home) and have been on a walk into the neighborhood. They are great young men." Presdient Harmon also told us that he will not be able to email us until after he gets out of the MTC which is in a couple of weeks and the mail will probably will not get here for at least 2 to 3 weeks.

President Harmon went on to say, "He is doing very well. He and his companion, Elder Eshun from Ghana are doing very well. They love and serve one another. They are a very impressive companionship.
We'll try to get a district photo to you by email during the next week. We are going to the Ghana Temple on Thursday and will be there from 2:30-6:30 a.m. your time."

If you would like to send him a letter, please send it to the following address:

Elder Halling

Ghana Cape Coast Mission

PO Box 30150

SLC, UT 84130-01510

(all you need is a .42 stamp. Make sure you write on one side of one page and fold it in three with two small pieces of tape (no enclosures).

If you want to send something enclosed, use US mail and send it to:

Ghana Accura Mission

PMB 1385

Cape Coast, Ghana

(a tip I received if you send anything small, put it in a sock)

Nathan at LAX just before he left us to get on the plane!

He looked and felt a little nervous!

See dad, this is how it is at the Temple!

Nathan and mom at the
Temple