E-mail dated 1/26/09

My Dearest Fam,

Okay so I guess I have to explain myself last week. After the super p-day I had some serious stomach problems or more commonly known as diarrhea. I seriously could not leave the apartment because I needed the much loved toilet so much that evening. I plugged myself up with some amazing crap-stopping pills that you gave me. Those didn't work but my companion wanted to go to the cafe. I was feeling that I could make it for an hour without my toilet friend. Well I only got to the half hour mark and lets just say with no public restrooms in this country I was holding it in. No one can think straight with that kind of pain. I know you really didnt' want to hear that and its your choice whether you want to post it or not. I think its funny and I hope it made you laugh.

As I briefly mentioned last week I got a new companion. His name is Elder Tuvaifale and he is from Samoa. He goes home in four months. I met him only once before and that is when he was being transferred from Bo to Liberia. Now he is happy to be back in Freetown. He is somewhat of a big guy and I can't walk as fast as I used to because he gets really tired really fast. So far in these past 5 days we have gotten along just fine. I was sad to see Elder Amegayie go so quick but thats how transfers go. So now I'm leading the way showing my new companion everywhere. He is almost done with his mission so he is getting a little bit tired of missionary work but he still has the desire to help others. One of his greatest attributes is his friendlieness. If you have ever met someone from the islands they all have that trait. He is always telling everyone hello and introducing himself to others. Its something I know all missionaries could do a little better on.

The night before Tuvaifale came, our district had a service project at the local school. We volunteered to teach the classes for an hour. I was assigned to teach the jr. high leveled people. The people in this class range from 15-50 yrs of age. I was their math teacher for one hour. I taught them how to round decimal places. It was so hard to teach but by the end I think they understood. My companion was teaching the beginning class the alphabet. It really made me grateful for the education that I recieved back at home and that some volunteers weren't teaching me. I can't really comprehend how it would be like living without going to school. But so many people here don't have the proper education. It makes me wish I could sit down with everyone for a month and teach them all how to read and write and do basic math and science. But the best way to improve this country is to teach them about the gospel. And I enjoy teaching the gospel much more than rounding decimals or the alphabet. It was a good experience. I think we are going to go every week.

Why were you reading a book about the war in Sierra Leone? That story doesn't suprise me at all. Maybe one day I will tell you all I've heard, which actually isn't much. Not that people are afraid to talk about it because the people will talk if you ask, but I don't usually ask. The war in freetown was fought in the eastern part. I've seen the easter part of freetown and yes, the effects of the war are still there. I've only served in the western part of freetown but the missionaries in the eastern part don't have as many supermarkets, cafe's, they don't have power and water as often. Just be grateful for where you live now.

I love you all and I hope you have a great week.

Elder Degen