and with a case of the Ghanas: May 2009

(This is an email update I recieved from Gentry's Mom)

Motherhood and Mothers Day has been great and exciting for me but this Mothers Day was extra special as I got to talk to Gentry!! I was so excited and because Gentry does not always explain things in detail, he had sent me an email stating that he would call me at 3:30 our time in the US and 7:30his time as Ghana is 4 hours ahead of us. I got up at 2:30 in the am and went to pick up my Mother and Sister so that they could come to the house and talk to Gentry. He told me that he only had 40 minutes so I go out to about 5 different Mexican stores (of course at the last minute) on Sat. with the help of Sister Rodrigquez to find calling cards to call for the 40 minutes he told me he had to talk. I ended up getting all of these cards with 8 minutes at a time to talk. OH MY GOODNESS!!!! I knew that this would be difficult as you know me and my family.... we can talk!!! I knew the 8 minutes would go by fast and then when it was time to try to use the next one and make the connection that far away could sometimes be difficult. The next time I WILL go to an African store with the help of my Ghanain friend Addison and get the proper calling cards as the cost from a land line is CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!

Well, we are at the house and it's about 4:00 and no call from Gentry. All of a sudden I got this feeling that he may have meant in the afternoon US time but remember he did not specify this in the email that he sent saying what time he would call. I used one of the calling cards and called anyway. Gentry answers the phone and apologized for not telling me that it was 3:30pm that I was to call. Can you imagine how CRAZY I felt and besides, I had used some of the 40 minutes of one of the calling cards!!!!!!?????? OH NO!!!!! I took my Mama and sister home and went back to bed!!!!!!

Of course 3:30 could not come soon enough!!!!! I had alot of family to come over to the house and so did Elder Nelson and Elder Andrews ( they never have met Gentry but talked to and encouraged him). It was SO CRAZY to try to have all of these people talk to Gentry on this crazy calling card stuff and with so few minutes. Gentry was happy to hear from all that was present but at one point said that he just wanted me to be alone and he wanted to talk. At first, I thought something was wrong and as I type this, I get teary but he said he just wanted to talk to me!!!!! WOW!!!!!!! I know how much he loves his family but it just reinforced how much more he loves and misses me!

I went upstairs to my bedroom as family visited downstairs and entertained the Elders.... Oh my goodness, those poor Elders!!!!! LOL!!!!!!! No, my family are GREAT people and love the Elders and the Church. Gentry and I talked for a long while as he used his calling card when mine "ran out." My how he has grown in his testimony of the Church and of Jesus Christ. Gentry has struggled with the companion that he has had sent leaving the MTC in Ghana. It has been such a trial for Gentry that he has spoken to President Smith, the Mission President about it and received counsel and a blessing. Gentry hopes to get another companion at next transfers. Gentry feels disappointed that he has not had the leadership in his companion , he is not truthful and has lost sight at times of the work that he has been called to do. What Gentry is trying to do is to love his companion and not become bitter towards him. It has not been easy for him but I know Gentry and he will work through it all. I have counseled my son to REMEMBER who he is, to do the work he has been called to do, to seek God in ALL things and know that he is a White and to RETURN WITH HONOR!!! He is such an amazing young man and reads his Pat. Blessing often and gains inspiration and hope from that.

Gentry is happy to report that he is studying his scriptures more and even has amazed himself with the progress and understanding he has. See what sitting still at times and serving a mission can do for a young man!!!!! Gentry's reading his scriptures!!!!!! LOL!!!!!!!!! I KNOW that Gentry will be blessed for his serving and for the person that he is. He feels that though it has only been 3 months since being on his mission, the time is going pretty fast. He still says that things are difficult in the inconviences of life in Ghana (e.g. washing clothes on his hands, cooking, eletricity going out, people being late all of the time, the culture and the HOT sun with no a/c) but it is not so hard that he wants to come home. Now you know this can ONLY make me, his mother proud as well as Heavenly Father proud!!!!!!!!

Hey, do you all remember Jane the lady that had the broken glasses when Gentry went to teach her and then was given new ones by Brother Catchatoorian when he went to Ghana? She asked about being baptized but Gentry wanted to teach her more... well guess what, she was baptized by Gentry on Mothers Day along with another lady named Emma that Gentry and his companion were teaching. Janes's daughter was to be baptized this same day but did not as she said she was sick. Check out the pictures he sent!!!!! Is that not GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Gentry and his companion continue to tract and preach the gospel but says at times things still are slow.

Oh yeah, I sent Gentry a package about a week and half ago of some things that he wanted. I guess the cost of the content of the box was about 80.00. I knew it was going to be expensive to send it but I had no idea it would that much!!!!! The other thing is that the package could get stolen, be damaged, not arrive, be smashed and have the contents taken out!!!!! Oh My!!!!! Gentry told me to put pictures of Jesus outside the package in hopes that these things would not happen. When I got to the post office downtown Charlotte and was talking to the clerk and she began putting the postal tape on the package as he weighed it etc. I told her "please don't cover my Jesus pictures" she laughed and said that she prayed that Gentry's package would arrive just as I was sending it!!!! Of course you know I almost lost it with the tears!!!!!!! To my knowledge he still has not gotten it so I will let you know. It was 6-10 days that she said it would take.

I pray for Gentry, his companion and all Missionaries far and near. What these YOUNG men and women have been called to do is not easy but it is worth it. Look at how lives have and can be blessed for their efforts!!! I am so proud that my Gentry is one of those helping to bless others lives with the help of Our Father in Heaven. I know that it is because of Our Heavenly Father that he is the person that he is today and will ONLY be the man that he is to be!!!!! Thank you ALL for helping me too to get Gentry to the place that he is today in life and the place(s) that he will go!!!!!!! I feel that there is so much that I have not said but hopefully it is the most important things.

Please pray for Gentry and know that he is trying and wants to serve our Father in Heaven and His children. Until next time.....

(the baptism pictures of Jane are in the previous post)