Happy Thanksgiving-we thought we would post our weekly letter that we send to our Missionaries. We love you all.

November 26, 2017

Dear Elders and Sisters,

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all.  Thanksgiving Holiday is a time where we give thanks for a fruitful harvest and where we remember the blessings that the Lord has bestowed upon us.  This time on our missions is truly an opportunity where we can reflect on the many blessings of service.  I wanted to briefly list a few of those eternal blessings that we remember this year:

1.  We wish to express gratitude for each of you.  You have enriched our lives eternally. 

2.  We are thankful for our Lord and Savior who paid a very high price to redeem mankind including each one of us.

3.  We are thankful for a wonderful family, children, grandchildren, parents, brothers and sisters, for their love and support while we serve the Lord in Ghana. 

4.  We are thankful for a living prophet and inspired leaders that we can follow. 

5.  We express gratitude for our health and for the opposition that help us appreciate good health. 

6.  We are eternally grateful for our new Ghanaian friends, for their warmth, service, and love.

7.  Believe it or not, we are grateful for the roads in Ghana.  Even though many are very bad, they are good enough. 

8.  We are so very thankful for eternal covenants that bind us to the Savior and seals our family to us forever.

It was one year ago that we were called by President Uchtdorf to serve as a mission president.  He did not tell us where.  He only asked, “Will you serve anywhere?".  Our answer was then and is still, yes.  We had no idea how much the Lord could bless us in just one year.  We have had so many experiences that testify that God lives and loves each of us.  We are truly grateful.

We love you to pieces,

President and Sister Hillam 

Sights, Sounds, Thanksgiving and "Johnny" around the Mission

A football field (soccer)  on the beach behind the Elmina Castle.  The kids love football here!

The historic Elmina Castle.  This is where the slaves of Africa were held before they were shipped all over the world.
The following are pictures by the castle

Everybody wanted their picture taken and these school children were no exception! 

One of our favorite places to visit is Axim.  Here are some pictures of this part of the coastline.  As we travel to areas of the mission and stay over to do interviews we have to stay in hotels and some are very sketchy. This one was nice and the view was amazing.  

At this hotel we met Johnny.  He is a domisticated African Antelope.

His spots and stipes seems like they were painted!  

These school girls loved to shake the hand of President Hillam  and correct his very limited Fante language. 

Our African Bee! 

Happy Thanksgiving.  Our wonderful Missionary Couples! 

It's interview time around the mission. Hopefully you can see some of your loved ones as they serve...

Elders Erthunmwunse and Buckhannon

Sisters Ekpiken and Juru

Sisters Isaac and Akang

Sister Ogbonna and Ekpah-Krakani

Elders Berg and Bayles

Sisters Soda and Agwuoke

Elders Uwaoma, Rugundana, Mbyui, Pahulu, Cossa, Ntow
Shama District

Elders Massaquoi, Singer, Wendel, Bills, Wilhelm, Piutau, Bingham, Jeppson
Tarkwa District

Sisters Nyangoma and Umoren

Sister Mawasha and Ajike

Elders Folau and Mashale

Volleyball for P-day!  

Go Takoradi!

Elders Riding and Assan

Elders Oryek, Oulai, Solia, Noukounon, Laiafi, Kaninesie 

Elders Hamilton, Nielson, Addi, Ofosu
Nkroful District

Elders Lenge and Tovela

Elders Hess and Harris

Elders Kuteka and Such

Sisters Udo and With

Elders Seymore and Ogar

Elders Palaiti and Guillermo

Elders Berry and Tillman

Elders Lavulo and Berry

Catch up Time! Finisher's Wanted

We love to have discussions with our missionaries who will be finishing soon.  Their  insight is amazing and desire to just give it all they have till the end is inspiring.  What is even better is to see them as the weeks go on and they are happy and working on their goals!  Great examples! 

There are 2 groups here.  Our January and March missionaries. 

Sisters Awor, Mathami, and Wah 

Elders Kinzanza, Kabba, and Berry

Elders Apelu, Assan, and Wilhelm

A week around Part of the Mission

This has been a great week and we are not at the mission home or the computer needed to upload pictures.  When we arrive back in on Thursday we will do that.  It is a week of interviews around the mission and we love it!

It is amazing to see the growth in all of our missionaries. We love our missionaries.  In such a short period of time, we see new missionaries arrive and then we get the chance to see them in their areas with great trainers and they are excited, changed and doing great.  We love to hear of the adventures, conversions, and growth of our missionaries who are dedicated to serving and sharing the gospel. 

We want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! May we truly be grateful for the all the blessings we receive daily from our Heavenly Father.  

A Busy Transfer Week!

Our new Missionaries arrived from Accra amidst all the road construction and traffic.   So happy they all made it safe.  We have 21 new missionaries and we love them to pieces!  

Our New Missionaries November 2017

Their first lunch in the mission home.  Chicken Sandwich, plantain chips, apples,  and cookies.  

All 21 ready to move out this morning and meet their companions...a very exciting day for them. 

Here we are at the Ola chapel.  Those being transferred meet here and then head out to their new areas and new companions. 

What a day of emotions!  Here is our group heading home.  Powerful missionaries.  We will miss them so much but we know they are prepared to go forth and continue this great work.  

It is always wonderful to go to the temple.  We are missing  Elder Kazimoto but that is because he is already in the temple helping a new missionary from Komenda go to the temple.  

This weekend was the District Conference for Tarkwa.  The Sisters were able to have a quiet breakfast while the men attended the Priethood meeting in Axim.  We travelled to Axim on Friday, Tarkwa on Saturday and back to Takoradi Saturday also to prepare for the entire District to travel to Takoradi on Sunday for the sunday session of the conference.  It was wonderful to be with Elder and Sister Davies, the Missionary Presidency, the couple missionaries, the Elders and all the saints in the Tarkwa District. 

Our Tarkwa Zone