E-mail dated 10/18/09

Well, I’m typing this email on word because the server is down and I don’t want to waste my browsing time. Hopefully the server comes back up so this can get to you all the way across the world. I was able to read your email before it went down, so I’ll do my best to remember everything.

First thing I have an announcement. I have been called to repentance by President Squires. During his instruction in our zone conference on Thursday we reviewed some of the mission rules in the missionary handbook. The one that I realized that I was not keeping was emialing only family. So please help me be obedient and only family emial me. It is much better to be obedient because obedience equals the companionship of the Spirit, and if I don't have the spirit then what am I doing here. So here is the situation, everyone can either do the hard thing and email me your writing address and write me a letter, or the easy thing and just read my blog. From here on out I will not reply to any emails other than those in whom I'm related to (aunts, cousins, and grandparents are ok).

That is so cool you got to see Elder Seawright and listen to his homecoming!! Tell the Peterson's hello for me, and now you can tell them to write me as well, since I'm no longer going to email them. The next American missionary to come home would be the wires who are returning right after Christmas. The next one will be Elder Mills, whom I lived with in freetown for 3 months, and he will be returning home in march.

I'm finally starting to get comfortable in my new area. Coming back to Krio was no problem but I still would rather teach in English. If they can understand me when I speak English I will speak it everytime, but if they can't I will do my best in Krio. What do we do with all the time in the evening? Well, we usually return about 7:30 or 8, so we have to plan for the next day and then we have to cook because we usually don't eat during the day. Journal and with my new repsonsibilities, I'd say we keep pretty busy.

The only things that I will need for Christmas is some more contact solution. Two more bottles should do me until next summer. Everything else is up to you. But just to let you know, most of the stuff you send me will most likely be left here or given to other missionaries, unless its candy, then I will eat it. Pictures are always good. Nothing else is really needed. My shoes are doing just fine. I might have to resole the other pair but, now that it is dry season it doesn't really matter.

Conratulations Adam and Brooke. Sorry Lisa about your head. If it makes you feel any better I had my leg glued shut about a year ago, but that is another story for another day. I love you all and have a great week.

Elder Degen

Rice is Life