Greetings from Ghana

Yeah my trainer is a great guy. He is about half a inch shorter then me. Living in the mission home is more permanent I think. I'm not really sure they haven't told us. The Accra temple is bigger than the Snowflake temple, and so are the grounds but still smaller than mesa's. That is sad to hear about Aunt Illene. This week will be really busy. Tomorrow we have the Mission Christmas Conference, then on Christmas day one of the seventies has invited every missionary in the Accra region to come to his house for a big party. Then we have our ward party we are taking investigators to. Then we have a baptism on Saturday since we couldn't baptize this lady on Sunday because the font didn't have any water. We'll see how it all goes. Oh and Accra is a very modern city. I am on a bike which makes traveling nice and easy since it is a lot faster then walking. I'm still getting use to the food since it is so spicy and different but hopefully it won't be too bad in a little bit. The people have a hard time understanding my english but I can mostly understand them. We'll see if you guys notice a difference.

I love how blunt kids are. It has helped alot during lessons I have taught. Since they just spit it out it helps their parents to grasp the whole understanding. The mission home is nice. We have ac and an oven which no one else does. I like that. Lots of stuff we are famaliar with. Being in the city isn't much different then being anywhere in America besides the food, language and yes some traditions. Don't wave or anything with your left hand. I learned the hard way. I guess it has some bad meaning here. Oh and yes everything comes in a plastic OR paper bag. I am really liking it though. Even though I'm sweating like crazy when we ride our bikes.

A happy smile from Travis

A plate of Ghanian fish food.

Elders in the MTC - Travis is on the left

The Accra Ghana temple with Christmas lights

Hungry Elders!

Elders on their bike's - Travis is on the right

12-15-08 Letter

Thank you for the letter. I really enjoyed reading 

it. I got out of the MTC finally. My first area is called

Christianborgs. My area has the temple in it and the

mission home. Which just so happens to be where I'm

staying since they canceled our apartment this

transfer. My companion is an Elder Adams who is from

Ghana. He is like 27 and seems like a really cool guy.

He leaves in April. We work a lot. I probably won't

make it out of the city area since they aren't really

sending too many elders to the bush. I have a bike.

It is pretty insane riding through the city and crusing
by traffic. The food is lots and lots of rice. It is

really spicy too. They have some stuff called banku

that is like milled corn we use to feed the pigs rolled

up and cooked about half way done. It tastes like they

should feed it to pigs too. It sounds like everything

is going good. Thanksgiving sounded really great from

your letter. I bet having only shelly chet and laney

there was pretty chill. If you are going to send me any

packages preferably use fedex and DON'T write how much

the stuff inside costs on the outside. I can't leave

too long of a message since my time on the computer

is a little limited today but I hope everything is going
great. Good luck with everything. Since I am at the

mission home I'll be able to email next week for sure.

Ask questions . . . it'll help me next week since I'll

have more time too!



Love

Elder Gibson





we have two investigators with baptismal dates for

the 21st!

A little about Ghana

Since I haven't heard anything from Travis - other than the MTC President's wife calling mom and dad to confirm he did make it there, I figured a little Ghana information would be interesting.

Here is the Flag of Ghana

• Full name: Republic of Ghana
• Population: 23.5 million (UN, 2007)
• Capital: Accra
• Area: 238,533 sq km (92,098 sq miles)
• Major languages: English, African languages including Akan, Ewe
• Major religions: Christianity, indigenous beliefs, Islam
• Life expectancy: 60 years (men), 60 years (women) (UN)
• Monetary unit: Cedi
• Main exports: Gold, cocoa, timber, tuna, bauxite, aluminium, manganese ore, diamonds

2 of the top TRAVEL TIPS for Ghana!

- Dress code is fairly relaxed, though topless sunbathing on beaches is not recommended. Ghanaians generally are very religious.

- Ghanaians are generally very friendly and English is the official language. Good facilities for children, but sea bathing is dangerous because of very strong currents.

I Hope They Call Me on a Mission!

Elder Travis K. Gibson

Heading down the security line - Travis begins his
adventure!


Travis and the parents at the airport
Which one is happier?


The saddest part of leaving - giving up the phone that has
been attached to him since he got it. The question is can
Dad keep up with the texting??? And how many calls
for Travis is he going to get?


Travis at the airport with all of his luggage!



The last family picture before Travis leaves
(We missed you Ryan & Krissy)

Shelly helping Travis practice avoiding all the kisses from the girls!

All the neices and nephews with Travis - How many
will we add before he gets back???

The adoring crowd of nieces & nephews that already are asking when
Uncle Travis is going to be back and when they get to go visit him.

Celebrating at Austin's wedding!

Travis being wacky with Cadbury! Ghana doesn't know
how lucky they are to be getting Travis for two years!