Hi I'm Elder Degen, Howdy, Howdy, Howdy,

Well, Well, Well, another week gone by. Once again we were very busy throughout the week, teaching like crazy. I don't really know how I do it because my area is one big hill. All the members live on this hill and I really don't know how I get the strength to climb that hill every day. And then get up to do it again. But the Lord truly does bless those who are doing his work. I still haven't lost or gained any of the lbs.

Here is an experience that happened this week. Early Friday morning we got a phone call from a number we didn't recognize. My companion handed me the phone to try and figure out who it was. I honestly couldn't understand anything. I recognized the voice as one of our investigators named Isata Sesay. All I heard was hospital . . . . george . . . not well. George is her small child and I was very confused as she cut the call. (Everything is pre-pay in Africa so we didn't have any units on our phone to call back). We went out to buy units for the phone but when we called back the phone was off. We were already planning on seeing her today so we decided to stick with our schedule. We went to the house to find her just returning from the hospital with her son. She mentioned that it was her that was calling us in the morning and she didn't think we could come fast enough so she took George to the hospital. Now this investigator is illiterate and she has no knowledge as to what a priesthood blessing is, but she felt that we could help with her son. We offered to give George a priesthood blessing and she responded with an emphatic "Yes". We asked if she believed if Jesus Christ could heal her son and once again she answered "yes". I had the opportunity to give this child a blessing and I honestly can't remember anything that I said but I could feel that this blessing was already in effect. On Sunday I asked how George was doing and she responded that George was better that same night that we offered the blessing. I don't know how serious the sickness this child had, for all I know it could have just been a fever. But Isata showed such faith in us and Christ that the blessing worked immediately. The priesthood is real. I'm just humbled that I'm numbered among the very few that God trusts with it.

I recieved the package this week. And thank you very much. All of the candy is being enjoyed by the 4 of us in the apartment and the children in the Hill Station branch. I think I'm good on battries for the rest of my mission now. Thanks again.

So we decided that we need to work with the two sisters that we were planning for baptism this week. We are working towards the 28th of February instead. Thier names are Bintu Tarawallie and Sarah Coker. They are actually sisters. We also have an assignment from President to work with thier husbands and try to start teaching them the gospel. As we know, families are very important so if we can create a support system inside the family then the chances of going less active are less.

Questions now. Is it one-third already? Wow, it feels like I just got here. About the transfers, I have no idea whats going to happen. I think that I'm going to stay with my companion until he goes home, but crazy thing have happened on transfers so we shall see. I'll become a senior companion when the lord thinks I know what I'm doing. My companion learned English in Samoa, in fact everyone in Samoa can speak English, its madatory for them to take in school. I play the piano every sunday in sacrament meeting. Yup, that 3 to 4 hymns a week. I've had to learn a few more songs. I keep track of everything in my journal.

Thanks for the updates on everyone. I'm excited to hear about the mission calls for Scott (brazil is my guess) and Matt (Japan) and Richard (Australia). If they are reading this then I expect to get an email or a letter from them. hint hint.

Have a good one Elder Degen

P.S. I solved the rubiks cube this week