Dear Family, Well I'm finally here. Gosh I miss you guys. That was so hard leaving you all. Well after I got to New York, me and four other American Elders went and got something to eat, then boarded the plane, There I got my first taste of being a minority. About 15 whites and the whole rest of the plane was blacks. That plane ride was so long! I fell asleep two times for like 30 minutes. So about an hour sleep in 26 hours! We got to the airport in Accra. (which is said like this: uh-craw) Ghana. We found our luggage really easy thanks to mom's puppy dog bandanna's she put on my bags. I've taken a few pics and I will send them with my next letter. Please send it to my address in Sierra Leone cuz I'm only here at the MTC till 2 weeks from Tuesday. Oh actually 2 weeks from Wednesday. You guys don't understand how humid it is here either. I mean I'm completely drenched in sweat all the time. When we first got here we talked to the mission MTC President, President Froerer and his wife. The African companions came much later in the day though. We played basketball for like half an hour but, none are very good, they haven't ever played. Anyway, of course I had to try and dunk the ball on a fast break and caught my thumb on the rim and ripped it open a little. (Send a pic with my next letter) but, don't worry mom, sister Froerer gave me a band aid and neosporin. There are 6 white and 14 black elders. We are all from western U.S. and they are from all over. We have elders from the following places: Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Uganda, S. Africa, and Kenya. My companion is Elder Sarpong. Hi is from Accra, Ghana. He has been a member for two almost three years and he is 25 years old. He's very upbeat and appreciative about every little thing. He said he usually slept on the ground outside at home. He is the only one in his family who is a member and I can tell he cares about me a lot by the way he treats me, he is a very special guy and I think about how much I have that I take for granted at home. It's crazy how happy these people are. They are so excited about the gospel, It's amazing. There are no air conditioners in our room but, a fan is all. I've had a cockroach and a lizard in my room already, haha! But, anyway, the MTC is good, I wanna just get to Sierra Leone cuz I know it will go much faster. I'm not gonna lie, I was extremely homesick for the first two days, I've never spent more time on my knees praying and asking for help. I can tell you the power of the priesthood is real and that I've used it many times already to put Satan behind me. He is working on me very hard getting me to think negatively and worry about home but, I've had the spirit comfort me like you can't believe, letting me know everything is okay and will work out! John 14:27 read it. I think I've read it 20 times already and it's been four days. I have eaten some pretty weird stuff. I took a picture of one of my breakfasts! So, you will get to see it when the time comes. I'm talking in sacrament meeting next week. Please send letters! I feel so isolated from the world. It would be amazing to hear from you all. I'm getting used to the climate a little bit, really using those hanky's. I'm going to the temple Wednesday and this couple from South Jordan are on a mission here with family history and all our names are pretty much done so I told her about Ryan, our cousin and she's probably gonna email you and confirm it and stuff, because I'm going to the temple this Wednesday and the following Friday and I really wanna do his work! Anyway, I wake up at 6-ish, Shower, personal study 7-8, breakfast 8-8:30, some type of meeting 8:30-9:30, then class from 9:30-12:30, 12:30-1:00 is lunch, then companion study 1:00-2:00, then study 2:00-3:00, then exercise from 3:30-4:20, dinner at 5:00, class from 5:45-9:00m then planning till 9:15, snack at 9:30, write in journal and scripture study till 10:30 and lights out! This is the first day we could write letters so don't be mad it took so long. I wear my sandals all the time too so, that was a good idea. But wow, you can't believe the humidity it's a joke. The 1st two days of my mission were probably the two hardest days of my life. Mainly having to leave all you guys and McCall. Miss ya guys like crazy. I feel like I've already overcome the world and it's my 3rd day. Its crazy cuz at home you get so distracted that you take God's love and the Holy Ghost for granted but, now that I'm out here I have no other choice but to rely on him. The poem "Good Timber" has helped me a ton in reminding me, that the person who never had trials and had to fight and never dealt with anything hard, was the person who never became anything. Yes, I'm struggling these first couple days but, when I think about the kind of person this is going to turn me into, I find challenge and joy in the struggle. Things are awesome. I cant wait to get to Sierra Leone and actually teach. I really hope all is well and tell everyone hi for me. You guys have got to come pick me up in 2 years cuz this place will amaze you. I'm learning lots but, still getting into things. I hope I get your letter mom! Make sure it's okay with grandma Beck if we do Ryan's name. I hope I told you everything about the climate and culture that I know of. Ask me anything you are curious about next letter. It's amazing how the gospel is the same no matter if you live in Ghana or good 'ole P-town. My companion loves all my American candy but, I love sharing with him, he's so grateful, and tells me I'm a very patient person because his English is so hard to understand. I know that this will be the hardest two years of my life but, it also will make me the husband and father I want to be and will lay a foundation for my life. Miss you guys like crazy and keep me in your prayers. Tell Grandma and grandpa Wood and Cavanaugh hi and enjoy your air conditioning and dry air! I'm actually getting used to it! Love you all, write back quick, PLEASE! Love your son,