Eric's e-mail dated 8/25/08

Hello,

Another week has come and gone. Man, the weeks really fly by. Something about missionary work is that the days go by slow but the weeks go by fast. It doesn't make much sense but it is completely true. Weeks when we have zone conference make the week go by even faster because they usually take the whole day. I have not yet recieved the package because the post office was on strike because they haven't been paid in like 6 months. But the Petersons told me today that its opened back up and they will personally deliver it when it arrives. Thank you for the letter. Even though it was dated July 17 or something like that it is still good to hear from you and the sports world.

What are sundays like? Well our service starts at 9, so we arrive at the chapel by no later than 8:30. Yesterday after service I set up the appointments for the next couple days and we actually taught one of our investigators about prayer. I then stayed for another 30 minutes teaching a couple members how to play the keyboard. I am not the teacher that grandpa was and people here learn very slow. I don't think they understand that playing the piano takes a long time to learn and its not something I can teach in just one sitting. From then until 4 or so, we go out and visit the members and investigators that did not come to church, or something like unto it. Sundays are not productive days here in Sierra Leone so our day ends at 5. We usually go over to a members house to eat dinner at 4 every sunday. We then have a weekly planning session like we are supposed to in Preach My Gospel. So Sundays for me are nothing like they are in the states. Like I've said before, this mission is very unique in almost all aspects. Everywhere else in the world sundays are prime proselyting times, but not here.

How is my Krio coming? I can understand everyone now and I'm beginning to incorporate the deep Krio words into my speech. It is very hard to express myself (especially my testimony) because the vocabulary is like one-tenth of the English vocabulary. I've learned how to explain extremely complicated things in very simple terms, like the Atonment. Speaking the Krio is fun when the people are excited that you can speak their language, but if they begin to tell my I'm wrong, it just destroys your confidence and you don't feel like speaking it anymore. I can speak it fine, where others can understand me but I'm still a long way from speaking it well.

My companion is convinced that he will be leaving me this transfer, as he has been in this area since the beginning of february. He has never been to the US but he wants to attend BYUI when he gets of his mission. We'll see what really happens as the next few weeks play on.

CJ and I try and communicated through e-mail but it really doesn't work. I got a letter from him about a month ago. But I think we both know that it is going to be hard to keep in touch everyweek. Don't worry, we'll still be the same after we see each other for like 30 seconds.

So on Saturday it literally rained all flipping day long. We even delayed going out as we had hopes that it would soon cease. We were wrong and began walking in the rain. By the end of the day I was so wet. Especially my feet. I don't care if everything on me is wet as long as my feet are dry. But when my feet are wet the day is no fun. We were able to accomplish some things though, so its not like it was a wasted day. Oh sweet Salone. You don't mess with August here. Anywho, have a great week and HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOSH AND GAVIN. I love you all.

Elder Degen

E-mail from Eric dated 8/18/08

Family:

Oh the last week of summer. I remember how that feels. It is your last week of freedom for 9 months! ha ha. Mom, what are you going to do with all your free time?

To explain my pictures now. One was of Grandma Jah, who we baptized on July 26. One was of me being carried by a random man across a river. This river is one that we used to be able to cross but because of the increased rain it has gotten bigger. We usually just wait and act like we are going to cross on our own and someone will usually come to help us. The last picture was that pig, not a dog, that we ate about a month ago. Our samoan Elder chopped it up into small pieces and it roasted in a Dutch Oven for 3 hours. that was not my apartment.

The olympics are talked about here and when power is here, the members usually have it on. We watch for like 3 minutes before teaching. I hope that isn't breaking a rule, but it is hard to resist, not only for us but for the person we are teaching. I haven't seen anything exciting though. That is cool that Micheal Phelps won 8 medals.

Couper is going to Washington. I told him before I left that he was staying in the United States and he had nothing to worry about. November is coming quick. Cj got his call this same week last year and he didn't leave until Christmas. Speaking of Christmas, its coming up soon. (sorry, missionaries don't really have holidays to look forward to here).

Once again happy Birthday to Brittany last Saturday. Good night you got a crap load of stuff. I would be grateful and thats all i'm going to say.

Now to the questions. I have a zone conference this week and I hope to receive that package. Please don't tell me you spent like hundreds of dollars on this package. I did receive dad's letter from last time and it was nice to know that I have two parents. haha just kidding. Joshua I sleep in a bed like at home, but I don't have a matress, rather a big foam pad like grandma uses for sleepovers. Its kinda hard but it feels so good after walking in the sun all day. We cook on a gas stove all the time. Its exactly like the ones we use when we go camping. Although before I came the missionaries were using charcoal and dutch ovens to cook.

Everything is fine here. Just a heads up for next time, send double AA battries ( the ones here last me exactly one picture on my camera, no joke). I just put my last pair in my camera today. My branch has not been split yet, i'm not sure when that will happen. probably sometime next month. Tracting, yeah right. That would be absolutely pointless. Everyone here would listen to us but they would do nothing about it. We only teach member referrals. P-days usually consist of relaxing because honestly there is not much to do. Although I had a fun one today as we went to the beach to play rugby and soccer. I have never been so tempted to go swimming in my life. The water felt so good on my feet. I do my shopping on the street. Deodorant is still have plenty of and I will deal with that problem when it comes. I know they have it but i don't know how much. Things here don't have a set price, and you can talk them down on everything.

This week was my All-American week. I was on splits for pretty much the whole week. I just happened to receive a fellow american companion each time. From tuesday after noon to friday I was with 3 different missionaries. It was really cool to see how each missionary does it differently but if they have the spirit they will be effective no matter what. I was running my area as my companion (who is the district leader) went to the other areas. I enjoyed it very much, but I also realized how much I have bonded with my companion. I love the guy. Have a great week.

Elder Degen

Pictures & E-mail from Eric on 8/11/08

My dearest family

Another monday, another day of rain. It has begun to rain everyday now. I am reminded of that picture of Adam on his mission when he got caught in the rain. That is me everyday. Ah, its fun. This week was pretty normal for me as well. Nothing too exciting happened. But we have picked up a few more investigators, which is awesome. Every member here has someone in there family that is not a member of the church. Like this past week we picked up two husbands that weren't members but the wives were. So most of our new investigators are from part-member families. Its our job as missionaries to pick the best ones to teach because not everyone is ready for this gospel yet. We pick the educated and the ones that best understand our message. I love it here because our investigators find us, and we don't really have to find the investigators. This mission is very unique in that aspect. It is also very unique because we can teach muslims. Sierra leone is very religious tolerant and we are allowed to teach muslims if they wish. We talk with muslims all the time and we invite them to church. We don't begin teaching until we know that they are serious, because everyone here would listen to us.

I have a cool experience that has nothing to do with missionary work. After we visited a members home that lives right next to the bay, we decided to enjoy the view of the ocean. About 4-5 boys about 12 or 13 yrs old walked by us with fishing equipment. They needed to cross the river that flowed into the bay in order to get to thier destination.. To cross was very difficult and required a lot of skill if they didn't want to get soaking wet. The first boy that went (who happened to be dumb, meaning that he couldn't talk) crossed the river after some time. He managed to cross without getting wet and the other boys tossed the equipment to him so they could cross. After he set the equipment down he turned to watch the others. Immediately he noticed that they would struggle and began to get in the water. He was in the water about chest high and he helped the other boys by showing them which foot to use and where to put their hands. He even carried some of the smaller boys across to the spot. I thought nothing of this until my companion mentioned that this boy taught us a great lesson. He did exactly what Christ does for each and every one of us. he shows us the way, which is perfect because he did not get wet. But instead of watching us struggle he was willing to get wet for the others and help them get to the other side. Its so true and it is amazing that this principle was taught to me by a small boy.

Sounds like youth conference was awesome. And the olympics have started, sweet. How did Deron and Booz do? Who do they play next? And not only does China have 20% of the worlds population, Asia has 60% of the worlds population and most of them don't have the gospel. I'm pretty sure the Lord will open that area up when we are ready. I know for a fact that the Kingdom needs to be strengthened in other places first.

I eat just fine. Its not like i'm starving or anything. I get 445,000 Leones a month and most of that is for food. That is about 140 dollars. 3000 leones to the dollar. I eat some bananas but they are kind of expensive. Some missionaries in our apartment came from Bo and the fruit in bo is so much cheaper. they refuse to buy fruit here and it has kind of stuck with us new missionaries. I haven't got sick yet (is that the right answer?) And oh my gosh I drink pop everyday. Before I came here I didn't like drinking pop, now I drink so much. If I come back fat, that is why. If I am thirsty in the day I have 2 choices. Nasty water that has so much bleach in it, or soda. So naturally I drink soda.

Elder Degen

E-mail dated 8/4/08

Hello,

How is the summer going? You know that school starts soon. ha ha. I won't be going to school for the first time since I was like 4. And it feels awesome. Life is so much easier when you are devoting all of your time and attention to the Lord. It sounds like you had a fun week last week. I hope you told Brad and Wendy hello for me. Oh, and Alex. Wow, you guys have gone fishing alot. and you have nothing to show for it this time. Too bad. And what it this not being able to get over the wake on water ski's? Just kidding I don't think I can get up on water skis, but I can get up on the wakeboard, just ask the bishop. Gavin can wear my University of Utah tie if he wants, he has my permission.

Mat my boy, how is the preparing going. You should probably email me or something before you leave because i'm not really sure if we are going to be able to talk much once you become canadian.

So my week was very nice. I guess i'm always going to have a nice week as long as I work. Teaching those investigators went well, as long as stregthening the recent converts. We actually picked up 2 really good investigators from a member referral. These 2 are living with the Saffa family and the family wanted us to come and teach them (Kalli, this family has a pet monkey so I see it very often. but it is scared of me, like i'm white or something). Ahmed and Bintu are thier names and they recieved our message very well. meaning that they kept thier commitments about praying and reading from the book of mormon. They came to church yesterday and both of them bore testimony about thier experience of meeting with us. The girl, Bintu, even had a dream about how she came to know that Joseph Smith is a true prophet. It is even more amazing because they are 16 and 17 yrs old. I've kind of noticed that the youth here are extremely strong. I love the youth in our branch. I know that one day they will be leading this country for the church, and i'm honored to be able to work with them.

We did have a zone conference this week, just like I promised. These zone conferences are held at the mission home and it is actually both zones in freetown. our zone has 10 missionaries and the other zone has 8. If you count the AP's and the 2 couples we have even more. I absolutely love these zone conferences because I learn so much. I have such a strong desire to apply these teachings in daily life just like the people did after hearing King Benjamin (holy crap, I'm comparing everything to the Book of Mormon, I must be a missionary). The Spirit is so strong as we Elders of Isreal gather. And it didn't hurt that I got mail. Yay. I finally got to read about the celtics comeback in game 4. Both of your letters you mailed to Ghana finally caught up with me along with an additional one. Thank you. I enjoyed them all.

My companion did not get transferred, actually our whole zone stayed the same. I didn't expect any change this time. Although the congo Cross branch that I'm assigned to is going to be split soon. I'm not sure what that means for me, but I figure I'll be here awhile.

Now to answer all your other questions. I email for one hour each monday (except the day I sent pictures, it took a little longer). It is usually enough time because I learned how to type fast from you. Really if you just look at mom type you will be inspired to type faster. How we eat now, hmm. Breakfast is prepared by us every morning (rice with a sauce that includes corned beef and beens....yum). Lunch and dinner are up in the air everynight. We hope that someone will feed us. If not then we buy food off the street. I do some of my shopping at what we would call a gas station. But normally I buy off the streets.

Have I seen anymore monkeys? Yes. Not big ones. And I haven't seen any other animals other than dogs, cats, goats, chickens, and lizards. I'm pretty sure I saw more wild animals in Utah than I have here. It rained almost everyday here, but it wasn't to bad and I got the raincoat from my apartment, as it was provided by the mission.I hope you have an enjoyable week.

Elder Degen