#1: What a First Week!

What a week to start my journey here in Africa!  Where do I even start, it's been a long week.  When we first landed in Ghana, Elder Killpack and I went to go grab our bags and we find out that my bags were lost somewhere in the world!  I'm just glad I had enough to get through the next day.  But when the third day came around, I had to wear the dirty clothes I flew in.  But by putting my faith in the Lord, I knew it would only be a couple days without them.  I'm very thankful for the staff at the MTC to look very hard for my bags. I guess the only hard thing about loosing the bags is, I was in a new country without anything that I brought, but luckily it was only 3 days without them. Thank you so much for all the prayers in helping me find my bags.  When we first got here, they fed us some kind of food that wasn't good at all and smelt  horrible.  It was any eye opener to what I'll have to learn to love.  The only thing I'm living on is the food dad bought for me before I left home.  Thanks dad.  I pray every night that I will be able to start eating the food, but I can't. I've had stomach aches since I've been here because of the smell of the food. The number one thing I've learned the most from only being here a week is all the things we take for granted in the States; such s running water, showers, hot water, washing machines and food that smells and tastes great.  

I thought that jet lag wasn't bad but let tell you, it's horrible.  The last couple hours of class I fall asleep every time. My companion is no doubt the best- Elder (Hagan).  He's from Accra, only about 10 minutes from the MTC.  Elder Georgewill is the funniest person I know.  The Lord has blessed me with the best companion in the whole MTC and also the best group of guys in my room.  If it weren't for these guys, I would have really been stressing about my bags. (Elders Hagan, Georgewill and Morgan)

One thing I think the church should change, is saying that this is an ENGLISH speaking mission because I can't understand a word these natives are saying!  Elder Morgan (from CA) and I are legit so confused for more than half the time.  

I'm so thankful for the gospel in my life and all the blessings the Lord has offered me.  The classes here are so wonderful and are so uplifting, and I actually look forward to going to class.  The weather here is so crazy hot.  I take back saying I love humidity, because you just walk outside and are already dripping with sweat.  It's another kind of hot.  I challenge each of you to tell your loved ones "I love you" more often because I sure wish I did more. My testimony has grown so much in just a week. I've memorized the First Vision and the Missionary Purpose and D&C 20:37.  Today we are going to go to the temple and I'm so excited to be going.

Love, Elder Fowler

Elder Fowler, and Elder Hagan (his companion) 

(Elder Fowler is having a hard time figuring out how to send pictures so we didn't get any.

So thankful for Elder Morgan's parents for sending us a picture to post here.  

(Finally received a few more pictures from his first week)

 New Missionaries arriving at the MTC in Ghana

 Elder Fowler with his MTC companion-Elder Hagan

(Probably a bit cramped for a guy who's 6'4")

 Courtyard at the MTC

 Elder Morgan from CA and Elder Fowler

(They met each other in the States the weekend before they entered the MTC)

Looking out the bedroom window you can see the church steeple 

and the Angel Moroni on the temple.

(Must be the American food night-I see fries)

Lost Luggage: Trial of Faith

November 22, 2018 (Thursday)
(This is the email that Elder Fowler's mom received at 1:04am from him)

I have made it safely to the Ghana MTC, but my bags were lost so I only have my carry on bag.  I love you so much mom and miss you so much.  Last night here was a hard one because I'm in a different country with nothing I brought.
Love you and talk to you next week,
Elder Fowler

(In his carry on, he does have one extra shirt, one pair of pants, a set of garments, and some toiletries but no soap.  As soon as I read his email, I woke up his dad and we decided to call the Ghana MTC.  A really friendly man answered and asked what our son's name is.  When we told him, he said that he knows who he is and has been in touch with him about the matter.  He said he would follow up with it.)

November 24, 2018 (Friday)
(We felt like we needed to know if there was any update on the lost luggage because if we needed to work on getting him new things, we needed to start working on that.  His dad sent an email to the MTC President about the situation.  He wrote us back with the following:)

"Thanks for your email, Bishop and Sister Fowler. We are very aware of the luggage situation. After a couple of thousand missionaries this year, amazingly, we’ve always been able to find luggage—no permanent losses yet. In the mean time, we are loaning him basics. And he’s been a great sport about it. We’ll stay close to him and the situation. And continue to push. Thanks for sending us such a great young man. If we need anything special we’ll let you know."
President Allen

Elder Morgan's mom was so sweet to pass this picture of the missionaries that arrived at the MTC today. 

She got it from President Allen when they emailed him asking if their son made it there.

(Elder Fowler is the second from the right-tallest in the group, yet they all seem to be tall)

Arriving in AFRICA

November 21, 2018

(Written by Elder Fowler's mom): This day is a day we have both longed for and dreaded. It started off at 7:00am when President Baggett came over and set Brecken apart as a full-time missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The blessing he received was very personal and specific. We ate biscuits and gravy for breakfast, then finished the last of his packing, and he received a father’s blessing before heading to the airport. There were tender mercies while at the airport. the man at the counter happened to be a returned missionary himself. He noticed that the flight plans we had received from Salt Lake had not been updated in their system, so he helped figure that out. He didn’t charge us for the extra 15 pounds in his one bag, and he gave us TWO escort tickets so that both Philip and myself could go up to the gate with him. Before family members started saying goodbye, some therapy dogs that were there came over by us. One happened to be a beagle. Some of you may know that we had a beagle named Rudy and he was loved by all of us, but there was a special bond with he and Brecken. It seemed fitting to see this beagle there today. Krew was so cute when saying goodbye. He said, “Don’t be sad. Jesus is watching over you.” After some goodbyes, Philip and I walked the rest of the way to the gate with Brecken. His total travel time will be nearly 22 hours. 

How can a mom hug her child goodbye for two years and only email them once a week, and talk to them by Skype on Christmas and Mother’s Day? Because I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. My testimony of Heavenly Father’s Plan of Happiness is for all of us, no matter where they live on this earth. I know that families can be together forever, that death does not separate us. So, he will leave his family for a period of time, to teach others about their Savior and help them learn how they too can have an eternal family. 

Will it be hard? Absolutely. But I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ know this boy better than I do, and they can make more of him in these next two years than I could. I look forward to when we can see what he has become. See you in 2 Elder Fowler. 

Day of Departure: Reno, Nevada to the MTC in Accra, Ghana-Aftrica

Our Stake President-President Baggett

Over 22 hours of travel time