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!!