Temple and My "Sons"

Here are some [pics] that i just took

One is the Ghana Accra temple. Just months ago this was just a pic on the internet but i took this myself tonight.

SO this last one is of me and my "Sons" I know you'll love it. I love these boys (Mama White tells me that these boys sit with Gentry every Sunday at Church)

Elder White

Friends and Baptism!!

SO here are pics of me and my apartment mates

(from left to right Elder Stout, Anokwah Donkoh, Soloia, and ME)

The other two are from my most recent baptism of two Nigerian men, John and Johnathan. At the baptism and at church the next day.

Oh yea and im going to start sending my pics home on disk so i can keep them safe and you can look at them. =)

YA BOY!

Elder White

First Accident & Mamma Hammonds

Here is a quick update from Momma White.

Let's see... Gentry has been on his mission 5 months now and says that he finally feels like he is getting the hang of this "missionary thing." He says that everyday feels like Sunday when you're on a mission and sometimes forgets the days of the week. He continues to be in the mission office but misses riding his bike as he drives a car while serving there. He wants to get back to riding the bike to maintain some form of exercise and that thinnner body that hehas gotten from all the sweating he does and NOT eating alot of the fine African cuisine. Since being given the opportunity to drive on his mission and learning to drive a "stick shift," Gentry had an accident already. He hit someone's car. He said that the man was nice about it and he did not cost the mission alot of money as it was about 60 cedis (Ghanain dollars) which in US dollars is about $75.00 dollars.

Gentry's 2nd companion, Elder Stout whom he liked got transferred. He has been on his mission for about 10 months. Gentry's new companion he says is the BOMB{dot}COM. He is from South Africa and is 24 years old. I forgot his name and probably none of us can pronouce it anyway! LOL!!!!!! Gentry says that he is really cool. He says it really weird being the Senior companion when this guy is like 5 years older than him. For those of you that get the Ensign or can get it online, the July issue has painting of Ghanain Pioneers. The lady on the front of the issue is a Sister that he knows. She feeds him every Monday. He is still awaiting the camera that we disguised to send to him. He says he will take a picture of him and her and send it. How exciting! I was at work the other day and had gotten a call on my cellphone that I did not recognize so I did not answer it. I wished that I had as there was a brother by the name of Robert Sheckle who was calling to tell me that he was in Ghana and had seen Gentry and that we was doing well and looked healthy. That REALLY made my day! I miss that young man so much!

I can just see his smile, hear his laughter and sometimes I feel his sadness in his emails and I just wish that I could see him but I KNOW that he is and will be fine. I can see amd feel the Spiritual growth in his emails as he focuses on his mission and those that he teaches and those he is preparing to teach. It continues to AMAZE me how these 19 year old "boys" transform into men of God and are able to find out about themselves and help others to do the same as they search for peace and happiness. I am SO proud that Gentry has made the choice to do what he is doing. My son is AMAZING and KNOWS that he is a child of God!

Gentry stays busy since working in the Mission Office so he does not always have alot of time to email or his emails are short. He just wants to say hello and let me know that he is all right. Gentry did say that last week when President Obama was in Ghana last week that the people there were really excited. He did not get to see him though. Gentry has not told me of any new baptisms lately. There is not alot more to say in this entry but until next time, continue to think of, pray for and read the blog of the "happenings of Elder Son.!"

Here is a pic of Gentry with Mamma Hammonds (who was on the cover of this months Ensign) She feeds Gentry every Monday night. Awwwwwe!!! Much love and thanks to Mamma Hammonds!!!! The last pic is Gentry "just happy to be up outta church" bah-hahahaha!!! Some things never change ;)

To Fetch a Pail of Water

Pic of me Getting water from a well ( just like Jack & Jill did!) It was for an investigator whos water shut off. It happens often in Ghana here. There will be random shut offs of water. It never happens to us though! lol President Smith would not allow it! lol

SO the next is me and a GIANT LEAF in my old area Atchimota! Good veggie never hurt nobody! lol

Elder White

Meat Pies and Mineral Water

here are some quick pics Gentch sent me, and followed by an update from his Momma. This is what Elder White says about the pics

"Pics of my last couple days in Atchimota (my first area) with different ppl. ie.church members, neighbors etc...There are always white ppl in my old ward too so of course i got a picture! Its rare! lol This is a picture that i loved of a little black girl with Jesus. You dont see that too much in pictures."

Ok, it has been a while since I have sent an update on Elder Son but here goes... Gentry is now working in the Mission Office as of the end of May. He states that he felt like no one understands him there and he has no one to talk to. His companion, Elder Stout is a lot different than his first companion but then he had to remind himself that he prayed for this. I had to remind him that you have to be careful for what you pray for because "you just might get it." Gentry has felt that some of the missionaries that he has encountered has not had LIFE experiences and this had been difficult for them, as he says that when teaching at times, they are at a loss of what to say or how to respond when trying to relate to others. This is where companionship comes in to play even more so and he is able to guide the conversation with what knowledge he has in that area that may be to help that person or people. Gentry wrote a REALLY long email to me about this subject and his frustrations. I did have to remind Gentry of the story that President Hinkley's father told him when he was serving his mission. I think that his father counseled him to " remove" himself and to do the work. Gentry though, through his frustrations says that despite how he feels, does not want to come home and for me and the family not to worry. He is learning a lot about who he is, others and what he can handle. What an experience this is for him! It is at times, that I wonder who this young man is! Hey, what did they do with my GENTRY!!!!!! LOL!!!!!!

He says that he likes Ghana over all and loves going to the marketplace to meet people and to "bargain" for cheaper prices for himself and his companion as he is not likely to be cheated. He continues to use his "skill," personality and some "twi" language to converse with the locals. He LOVES it! Since he has been transferred to the Mission Office, he says that they do A LOT of office work and do not have a "P-Day." When I was reading his email about his duties I was laughing so hard as he shared with me that he has learned to drive a "stick shift" and did so in about an hour and will soon know Ghana like the back of his hand. He says that Zone Conference is coming up and he had to order 40 meat pies and mineral water (soda/seltzer water) for the event. I immediately got this picture of Gentry in this little truck with smoke coming from the exhaust, meat pies flying out of the back as he turned a corner and this big set of WHITE teeth grinning as he comes to a screeching stop with seltzer water "sloshing' EVERYWHERE!!!!!! What a visual!!!!! I was laughing so hard that I was almost banned from Union County Public Library as this is where I was reading the email!!!!!

Gentry has dropped and broken his camera and is about to lose it!!!! He has ordered another camera and is having it sent to the house to have me skillfully disguise it so that he will not have to pay so much to get it at the post office. He wants me to put it in a cake or candy box. I will let you know how that goes! I just hopes it works!! He did get the package that I sent to him back in May. I did see a picture of some of the contents but he did not say if everything was in there. He continues to grow and is enjoying his experiences! Please keep "Elder Son" (aka Elder White) in your prayers!