E-mail dated 4/6/09

Whats up,

From what is sounds like you guys had a really awesome vacation. Sounds like a lot of fun. California and Vegas, with Museums, Zoos, and Sea World. Remember the last vacation we went on. I was a little hesitant to go, but it turned out to be an awesome trip and I'm so glad we went on that trip to Florida. It doesn't really matter what we go to or where we are, all that matters is that we are together and if everyone has a positive attitude then vacations are fun.

Just like last time, I didnt' get to watch or listen to anything about conference. Neil Anderson. Wasn't he in the presidency of the seventy? What else happend? What did Holland talk about? Confernce is so much cooler when I'm devoting all my time to the Lord, and now I won't even get to watch much of it. We should get the magazine, but my companion told me that Liberia hasn't gotten any magazines since last September. We told sister Squires so it should be coming. So Mike Neider was released without ever speaking in General Conference?

I would like you thank you for that wonderful package. All of the stuff inside will be put to good use. President and Sister Squires brought it to the apartment on Friday morning. Sister Squires cooked us breakfast (eggs and fried luncheon meat, nothing to flashy) and president Squires interviewed us all. My interviews are always very short and not much was discussed. But, when the first counselor in the area presidency came and visited our mission he mentioned that President Squires is one of the best mission presidents in the world. Pretty neat that a general authority said that my mission president is one of the best in the world.

Thank you for the reminder that it is Easter next sunday. I'm pretty sure the Easter bunny doesn't reach to this part of the world, if he did come they would probably kill him and eat him. As far as I know the only people who know how to truly celebrate easter are latter-day saints who understand the atonement. Everyone else is just bluffing. And since most of the saints here are very young, you could say that nobody here knows how to celebrate easter.

I still sleep with a net over my bed. But now I have bedbugs. I never thought that saying "don't let the bedbugs bite" was true. I'm a believer now. Those darn things bite everywhere. It doesn't help that I'm sleeping in my own sweat. Oh well, what can you do.

When I hear josh's and Cj's emails I'm amazed at the experiences they are having. Josh's emails are very spiritual and his experiences would NEVER happen here. CJ is just funny and thats why I love him. But even him and his experiences and very different from mine. That is why I'm not really sharing anything spiritual lately. Its not because I'm not feeling the spirit, its because the story doesn't have that good ending. We teach alot of powerful lessons and then they don't come to church. As missionaries we are working hard and these amazing stories aren't coming. I guess that is unique for this mission. I'm pretty sure I have the most unique mission in the world. my experiences are very different. Well, I love you all and have a great week.

Read conference and enjoy what you have.

Love from Liberia,

Elder Degen