Tuesday, October 25, 2016, 2AM: Max called from Amsterdam and talked to his Mom. He was super tired...couldn't sleep on the plane. It was a short ten minute call. He was going to try to sleep a little during his five hour layover prior to his flight to Accra, Ghana.
Tuesday, October 25, 2016, 6AM: Max called from Amsterdam and talked to his Dad ($20 for a ten minute calling card...worth every penny). He had an hour left of his layover. He was so ready to get there. We shared 100 more "I love you's" as we won't have the chance to hear his voice again until Christmas Day (missionaries call home on Mother's Day and Christmas).
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Tuesday, October 25, 2016: He made it! We received the following email from Sister Munro at the Ghana Accra West Mission Office...
Dear Missionary Family
Just to let you know that your favourite missionary has arrived safely! Everyone is in good spirits and understandably, a little tired. We have just fed the missionaries. They are now showering and preparing for bed. It is 11.15pm!
Pictures and more news will follow in the next couple of days. As you would understand we will be very busy helping with visa work and settling in things but will endeavor to get back to you as soon as we can.
Please - don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Kind regards :-)
Sister Munro
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Wednesday, October 26, 2016: Another email came in from the Mission Office. How exciting! This one had a phone with it.
Dear Families
Today was a busy day. Our Elders were up brightly for breakfast. The next few hours were spent doing visa work, having a 'health' presentation with the Area Medical Advisor and his wife - Elder and Sister Anderson and interviews with President Simpson. After lunch our Area Mental Health Advisor and his wife came to the Mission Home to discuss "Adjusting to Missionary Life".
Attached is a picture of Elder and Sister Peine at the Mission Home with the missionaries. Don't you think they are holding up well despite jet lag and a busy day!!!!!!! :-)
More tomorrow or Friday with pictures of their companions and news about their areas.
Thank you for sharing your missionary with us.
:-) Sister Munro
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Friday, October 28, 2016: One more email from the Mission Office with a letter from Max and some more pictures. Happy day!
Hi to the Janda Family
Attached is a letter from your missionary.
Also - enjoy these pictures of …
1. Elder Janda and his companion – Elder Stilson from the USA.
2. Your missionary and his companion with President and Sister Simpson.
They are now in their area – Nsawam in the Ofankor Zone.
Your missionary will email you on Monday.
Please however don’t become alarmed if you don’t hear from him. Sometimes the Internet Cafés work intermittently. He may have to return at another time during the week to email you.
If you are concerned please don’t hesitate to contact me. I can always phone your son to convey a message.
Thank you again for sharing your son with us. We are so very delighted to have him here! J
Sister Munro
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Max's letter was handwritten, scanned and emailed to us. Here is the transcribed version...
Dear Family,
I made it to Ghana! It’s hot and humid as expected ha ha! I love you! I miss all of you! You know when you get out of the shower and the room is all steamy hot? That’s what Ghana feels like ha ha ha ha! The traffic is nuts here! Lanes don’t exist, speed limits are nowhere to be found, and people honk all the time. Except it’s different here, they don’t honk to be rude or angry. They honk to be nice like to say “hi.” Ha ha, it’s so cool!
No one speaks English here. Like I expected people to speak English, but seriously everyone speaks Twi. The [something] isn’t English, nobody talks in English, signs aren’t in English. Looks like I’m definitely gonna have to learn Twi....even their English isn’t English.
Ghana is crazy. I’m stoked to get to my area! I don’t know where I’ going yet or who my companion is yet, but I have a feeling it’s going to be great!
I loved talking to you at the airport. It was so good to hear your voices again. It’ll email more on Monday (P-day). I miss you like crazy and pray for you every night.
The people here are beautiful and so loving. Everyone just comes and talks to you like you’re family (even though I can’t understand them…) They all do this crazy snap handshake thing that I’m starting to get the hang of. So much cool culture here! All of the buses (tro-tros) have bible references on them. All of the billboards in Accra have scriptures written on them and stuff. Everyone here loves God and Jesus Christ. I can’t wait to start teaching them how to grow closer to them. They say that the people actually walk up to you and ask you to teach them! So fun! So fun!
P.S.: Hope you can read this...my handwriting is...bad…
I love you so much and I’ll email you on Monday!
Elder J. Maxwell Janda
Elder Janda with his first companion, Elder Stilson along with the Ghana Accra West Mission President and his wife, President and Sister Simpson (from Australia).
Robert Harry Simpson, 58, and Jinny Atele Beatrice Poutoa Simpson, seven children, Liverpool 1st Ward, Liverpool Australia Stake: Ghana Accra West Mission, succeeding President Norman C. Hill and Sister Raelene B. Hill. Brother Simpson serves as an Area Seventy executive secretary and is a former mission presidency counselor, stake president, stake presidency counselor, bishop, and missionary in the Fiji Suva Mission. Self-employed CPA and registered tax agent. Born in Christchurch, New Zealand, to Herbert John Archibald Simpson and Joan Florence Kittelty Simpson.
Sister Simpson is a former stake and ward Young Women presidency counselor, ward Relief Society and Primary president, seminary teacher, Gospel Doctrine teacher, and nursery leader. Born in Apia, Western Samoa, to Simi Poutoa and Lele Annette Ahmu Poutoa.
Max with his companion, Elder Stilson.
The pictures below are the group of new missionaries and their new companions before they headed out to their assigned areas.
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Max's first area is in Nsawam, a small city north of Accra.
Information from Wikipedia…
Nsawam is a town in south Ghana and is the capital of the Akuapim South Municipal District, a district in the Eastern Region of south Ghana. The main ethnic group is Akan, followed by Ga and then Ewe.[2] Nsawam is controlled by Akuapim South Municipal District (ASMD). As of 2013, Nsawam has a settlement population of 44,522 people.[1] Nsawam is situated on a main railway and highway to Kumasi.[2] It has a major river acting as a border between itself and Adoagyir. Densu River, is the main source of water for both domestic and industrial purposes for people in and around Nsawam.
Pictures of Nsawam from the internet...
What a great adventure is in store for Elder Janda!