E-mail from Eric dated 7/21/08

Ah . . the good old days of camping. And by that I mean relaxing. Now imagine if you had to live like that. All the time. it makes me laugh at how much i would complain before. Now what I wouldn't give for them now. Like a washing machine, or a dish washer. Ah its funny. Kalli, that is awesome that you caught a fish. Now do you remember how that fish smelt. That is kinda what this city smells like. But you get used to it after a while, considering fish are everywhere. The way that they are prepared to eat is very different from what you would do. basically just throw it in a pot and let it cook. Then eat the fish right of the bones. Yes, i've done that many times. Have fun at the 24th of july parade. i'm glad that I'll be proselyting that day. ha ha only joking.

This week was a very interesting one for me. It was kind of a roller coaster week but me being a positive guy, I will only focus on the positive things. We went on splits this week. We haven't done them until now because I was still learning my area, but I felt comfortable enough and we had enough work to do so we went ahead and did it. I realized this week that the spirit really does direct me in the work. When the responsibility of being the missionary ( as I was with a branch member, waiting for his mission call) was upon me I could feel the spirit directing me as to what I need to say to be the most effective. With my companion I kind of rely on him more than the spirit. But without him all I could rely on was the spirit. And I realized that the spirit has been directing me the whole time that i've been out here. I kind of had a moment when I looked back as when I first left home and up to this point. I really have learned so much, especially on how to rely on the spirit. It makes a huge difference in missionary work, and I'm guessing that it will make a huge difference in anybody's life - on a mission or not.

We didn't have the baptism last week but it will be held this week. We have 4 to be baptized and none of them are related. a 14 yr old boy, a 20 yr old boy, a man in his 40's and a really really old grandmother. All of these were contacted from member referrals. That is huge because they already have a friend or a family member that will push them to come to church and guide them in the process.

I decided that in order for someone to really understand what this place is like you have to visit it for yourself. Everyday I see or hear something new. I feel that you just really can't describe this place by words or pictures. You have to live it. But I hope you have just a little taste of what its like here, as not everyone can visit here. To answer your questions concerning the wash. oh man, just be grateful for washing machines. If you ever hate doing the laundry, try to do it without the machine. Then you will never complain again. My clothes do get clean, but they don't have that smell like it just came out of the dryer. But at least it doesn't stink anymore. Drying can take a couple of hours if the sun is out or a couple of days if it rains alot. And let me tell you that the heavy part of the rainy season has arrived. I'm told that it will rain everyday from now until august. So far it has held true. Think of the hardest its rained in utah. Now imagine like that for say 3 hours. Then the rain lets up and it kind of mists - like in hawaii. So staying dry, meh, doesn't really exist now. Drying my clothes, well as long as they are not soaking i'll be alright. Its not like they are completely out in the open, they are on our balcony hanging on the line, with a roof over it. Lets just say my shirts get 2 or 3 days out of them before they need to be washed.

Today we had a super p-day. All of our zone and all of the kissy zone met up and played futball (soccer silly). The field was pretty much on a huge rock. like the top of angels landing without the big drop off. Oh and it was raining. It was so much fun. I even scored once. woo! its very different to play on concrete than grass. the ball bounces like crazy. Oh, and for lunch we ate a pig. Like no joke, I watched the Elders from Wellington bring the skinned pig to the apartment and Elder Schwenke from samoa chopped the pig up into little pieces with a huge knife and we threw in on the dutch oven for three hours. where else does that happen.

I hope you guys have great week. Read Elder Bednars talk on Prayer from the last general conference. maybe make it the lesson for family night tonight. It is so good and everyone needs to improve their prayers.

Elder Degen