E-mail dated 1/18/10

Hello there friends and family and neighbors and all peoples. This past week went by so fast. On tuesday Elder Lauti was still recovering from his sickness so we just took it easy and spent the afternoon inside the apartment planning for the upcoming events of the transfer. On Wednesday we had District Meeting and we had from noon to seven to proselyte. Almost all of our apointments bounced and we were left scrambling to find people to teach. On Thursdays we had exchanges out in Kenema. I had the opportunity to go on exchanges with Elder Amoa-Ohenakwah from Ghana. He's a funny elder. Our service project was done with the Kenema Elders and we cleared the foundation of a house. This foundation was built at least two years ago and never finished. Some members own it and they now have the money to finish it. We cleared the weeds from the foundation of the house and brushed their property. It was alot of fun. On friday we had a Zone Conference. I got a big surprise when three of my christmas packages came. Woo! Thank you Crooks, Gram, and Grandma and Tammy Degen. Saturday we went on exchanges with the assistants. I went with my good friend Elder Stice. Sunday we went to church and right after the service Elder Lauti and I travelled to Freetown to attend a meeting for Today. Today we had the meeting and now I'm emailing. I guess that about explains my week. Something different every day this week. Thats why it went so fast.

I don't remember if I told you but President Squires has challenged all the missionaries to read the book of mormon before Easter. We are looking and marking 4 things. The references to Christ, His attributes, His words, and the doctrines and principles contained in the book of mormon. Now that I think about it I think I did tell you this last week. Oh, well. I'm still doing it. There are so many things we can learn from the book of mormon. I love it like crazy. The book of mormon really does have all the answers inside. Ok, maybe not all because we still have a need for modern revelation, but it has most of them. Our zone conference was centered on the book of mormon. It was so nice. President Squires gave a nice instruction but that is a different story for another day. I can't really describe what he talked about. It really wouldn't make any sense to you because you aren't here. so ask me later. he he he.

Yesterday in church while our branch was just finishing and the branch after us was just finishing sacrament meeting we saw like 10 americans walk out of the chapel. It scared the crap out of me. I was like what in the world are you doing here. I so used to being around Africans that just there presence intimidated me. Its going to be a funny site to see when americans will be around me all the time. I might pee my pants. I

love you all and enjoy the cold. Don't forget there is opposition in all things so you'll be wanting that cold when august reaches.

Elder Degen Rice is Life

PS Congrats on the baby Brendon and Melissa

PSS HOLY GOODNESS CJ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! thanks for the mail. WHOOO!!