Whats up guys?
That for that temperature update now I'll give you mine. It is so hot right now. March is the hottest month in West Africa and it is holding true to its name. It gets hotter back at home (but we have air conditioning) but we sweat eleventy billion times more over here. I have no pity for your weather.
This week went by pretty good. We worked hard and it showed on Sunday. I'm not going to lie, but time just seems to all get muddled into one. I have no clue what I'm going to say this week. hmm. . . maybe I'll just answer your questions and something will come to me.
So Sister Wires emailed you. [She and her husband are assigned to Liberia]. That is cool. I have absolutely zero idea as to where they live, i've never been to there house. They are from Kanab. They have been out over a year now. They are assigned to wherever they want to go. They just help out all the missionaries in Liberia. On Thursday they took us out to dinner to an American Restaurant. That is one thing that Liberia has that Sierra Leone doesn't have, is American Food. The best part was that they paid for us. Whoo.
The teaching this week wasn't to bad. We tried to get referrals from members, but the members didn't pull through this week. They still have the assignment. Once again, we want the members to give us a referral that would be willing to act upon the message. We could honestly teach anyone, but no one would do anything about it. I think most people just want to have white people as thier friends. The people that really are interested are intimidated to talk to us for the very same reason, we are white. Our branch has about 300 members, but our attendance on Sunday was 102 (last week was 77). So we have lots of less actives who know absolutely nothing about the church, so we have to treat them like investigators. The less actives are more stubborn than the investigators and they need constant encouragement. Honestly you should be very grateful for home teaching and visiting teaching because quite honestly no one really does that here. The only ones that visit people are the missionaries. Just another example of how the missionaries are running the church over here. The leadership of the branch is alright. They are friendly and love the missionaries but sometimes I question whether they are doing their job. I've got to much to worry about them. The chapel is about a 5-10 minute walk from the apartment. And yes we are very close to the beach, its in my area.
Wow, I kind of went on a tirade of all the problems that I'm trying to fix. Sorry, if that sounded negative. I honestly love it here, but sometimes I can wonder . . . oh well, they are doing the best they can.
Happy Birthday this week Pops. Everyone enjoy the vacation.
Elder Degen
Monday, March 23, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
E-mail dated 3/16/09
Greetings,
Everything is going well here in the grand ol' West Africa. Once again I'm learning new names and faces, which can be a little frustrating because I can't always remember thier names (especially if there names are Kokuloku Maluba, but I can remember his name). Yesterday in church I actually recognized some of them from teaching in the week. But I still have a long long way to go. Oh well thats just part of missionary work.
So the most exciting thing that happened this week was we had a general authority visit the mission. (ooh). Yeah by General Authority I mean a member of the area presidency. To be specific it was Elder Cardon, first counselor in the Africa West area presidency. We had the opportunity to have a zone conference with him last thursday. That was a cool experience. He instructed us on how to better help our investigators exersize thier faith to lead them to repentance and baptism. He gave some insights on the fall of Adam and Even and bore powerful testimony of the Savior. The Area presidency is full of love towards the people here in west africa and to the missionaries serving here. I learned alot from him.
The story of the week happened last night. Elder Seawright and myself wanted to experiment with making spaghetti from scratch. Holy cow, we are chefs. Don't judge us and say that spaghetti is easy to cook, because I know its easy to cook. But this time it was Olive Garden worthy. We boiled a chicken and put it in the sauce. We made the sauce out of tomato paste and any and all of the herbs and spices we could find on the street. We even made Garlic bread (try doing that without a toaster or an oven). Man it was so good. The Sunday dinner is back. ha ha. I guess I appreciate sunday dinner more, mom.
Question time now. The climate is a little bit hotter than freetown because I think we are closer to the equator. But anyway you look at it its still hot. The teaching pool in Congo Town is not as big, but we are working on that. Differences between Monrovia and Freetown. Well, most of the differences I mentioned last week other than that its very close to the same. Our apartment isn't hooked up to the National Power, so we have to use our generator if we want power. But the rumor is that we might be getting hooked up soon. I don't play the piano in church because they don't have one (even if they did we have no power to hook it up to). So that means back to the crappy versions of the 5 songs Liberians know.
My companions first name is Austin. They are the only Seawrights in Utah, so that family that milt know is his family.
For march madness, UCONN will win it all with the utes making a suprise run to the Elite Eight (with an upset over Louisville). BYU plays A&M Again? Same result as last year. I'm glad to hear that the utes won the tourney. Well have a good week.
Elder Degen
Everything is going well here in the grand ol' West Africa. Once again I'm learning new names and faces, which can be a little frustrating because I can't always remember thier names (especially if there names are Kokuloku Maluba, but I can remember his name). Yesterday in church I actually recognized some of them from teaching in the week. But I still have a long long way to go. Oh well thats just part of missionary work.
So the most exciting thing that happened this week was we had a general authority visit the mission. (ooh). Yeah by General Authority I mean a member of the area presidency. To be specific it was Elder Cardon, first counselor in the Africa West area presidency. We had the opportunity to have a zone conference with him last thursday. That was a cool experience. He instructed us on how to better help our investigators exersize thier faith to lead them to repentance and baptism. He gave some insights on the fall of Adam and Even and bore powerful testimony of the Savior. The Area presidency is full of love towards the people here in west africa and to the missionaries serving here. I learned alot from him.
The story of the week happened last night. Elder Seawright and myself wanted to experiment with making spaghetti from scratch. Holy cow, we are chefs. Don't judge us and say that spaghetti is easy to cook, because I know its easy to cook. But this time it was Olive Garden worthy. We boiled a chicken and put it in the sauce. We made the sauce out of tomato paste and any and all of the herbs and spices we could find on the street. We even made Garlic bread (try doing that without a toaster or an oven). Man it was so good. The Sunday dinner is back. ha ha. I guess I appreciate sunday dinner more, mom.
Question time now. The climate is a little bit hotter than freetown because I think we are closer to the equator. But anyway you look at it its still hot. The teaching pool in Congo Town is not as big, but we are working on that. Differences between Monrovia and Freetown. Well, most of the differences I mentioned last week other than that its very close to the same. Our apartment isn't hooked up to the National Power, so we have to use our generator if we want power. But the rumor is that we might be getting hooked up soon. I don't play the piano in church because they don't have one (even if they did we have no power to hook it up to). So that means back to the crappy versions of the 5 songs Liberians know.
My companions first name is Austin. They are the only Seawrights in Utah, so that family that milt know is his family.
For march madness, UCONN will win it all with the utes making a suprise run to the Elite Eight (with an upset over Louisville). BYU plays A&M Again? Same result as last year. I'm glad to hear that the utes won the tourney. Well have a good week.
Elder Degen
Monday, March 9, 2009
E-mail dated 3/9/09
How you keeping man?
Yes, welcome ladies and Gentlemen we are here in Liberia with plenty of news. This past week went by so fast. I guess thats what happens when you go to a different country. I left on the smallest airplane in the world (or so it seemed) on Thursday. I counted how many people could fit on the plane and it was a whopping nineteen. I in my large stature and all, couldn't even stand up inside the plane. It reminded me of the small island hopping planes in Hawaii. The flight took about an hour (once we finally got on the plane). All of thursday was spent at the Lungi airport waiting for our flight to leave. Like I said last week, my area is named Congo Town. Being in Freetown for a while I see alot of differences from Monrovia and Freetown. If you were to come you wouldn't see any differences at least in culture. Monrovia is flat!!!!! wooo!! absolutely no hills to climb. No more Krio, but I do have the Liberian English to deal with (put 5 marshmellows in your mouth and start talking fast and you have Liberian English).
So far no problems. Am I safe? Well other than the constant threat of malaria I'd say I'm pretty safe. Actually I'd say I'm the safest person in the world with Heavenly Father looking out for me. There are 16 missionaries in Liberia and all of them are in Monrovia. I will get to go back to Freetown for sure (I have to go back to end my mission) but anything can happen. I think I will be in Liberia for a while though. The only other city that I could possibly serve in is Kenema (which is just outside of Bo, and only two missionaries stay there).
My new companion, Elder Seawright, is awesome. He goes home in six months and has been in Liberia for almost a year. I'm sure the Seawrights Nate knows are my companions parents. The boys that Nate brought from Heber during the Summer know my companion ( or I should say my companion knows them) Small world. Elder Seawright also has cousins in South Jordan so if Jeri knows any Seawrights its them because they are the only Seawrights in Utah. Funny thing is that both of us began our missions in Congo Cross in Freetown, both of us have served with Elder Sadare (my trainer), and now both of us are serving in Congo Town in Monrovia. Elder Sadare is in my apartment and is serving with Elder Gifford, who is the missionary that was in my institute class last year. I kind of feel like a new missionary again because I'm almost starting a new mission. But yet I know almost every missionary in liberia. By the end of the week I will have met every missionary in the mission. Crazy huh?
We never have power!! Thankfully we have a generator for the evening. Water is about the same, on and off. There are two missionary couples in Monrovia. I've only met one, The mauldins from Washington state. Still send packages to the mission PO box. The Squires travel to Monrovia about every three weeks and they will bring it to me. Thanks for everything.
Elder Degen
Yes, welcome ladies and Gentlemen we are here in Liberia with plenty of news. This past week went by so fast. I guess thats what happens when you go to a different country. I left on the smallest airplane in the world (or so it seemed) on Thursday. I counted how many people could fit on the plane and it was a whopping nineteen. I in my large stature and all, couldn't even stand up inside the plane. It reminded me of the small island hopping planes in Hawaii. The flight took about an hour (once we finally got on the plane). All of thursday was spent at the Lungi airport waiting for our flight to leave. Like I said last week, my area is named Congo Town. Being in Freetown for a while I see alot of differences from Monrovia and Freetown. If you were to come you wouldn't see any differences at least in culture. Monrovia is flat!!!!! wooo!! absolutely no hills to climb. No more Krio, but I do have the Liberian English to deal with (put 5 marshmellows in your mouth and start talking fast and you have Liberian English).
So far no problems. Am I safe? Well other than the constant threat of malaria I'd say I'm pretty safe. Actually I'd say I'm the safest person in the world with Heavenly Father looking out for me. There are 16 missionaries in Liberia and all of them are in Monrovia. I will get to go back to Freetown for sure (I have to go back to end my mission) but anything can happen. I think I will be in Liberia for a while though. The only other city that I could possibly serve in is Kenema (which is just outside of Bo, and only two missionaries stay there).
My new companion, Elder Seawright, is awesome. He goes home in six months and has been in Liberia for almost a year. I'm sure the Seawrights Nate knows are my companions parents. The boys that Nate brought from Heber during the Summer know my companion ( or I should say my companion knows them) Small world. Elder Seawright also has cousins in South Jordan so if Jeri knows any Seawrights its them because they are the only Seawrights in Utah. Funny thing is that both of us began our missions in Congo Cross in Freetown, both of us have served with Elder Sadare (my trainer), and now both of us are serving in Congo Town in Monrovia. Elder Sadare is in my apartment and is serving with Elder Gifford, who is the missionary that was in my institute class last year. I kind of feel like a new missionary again because I'm almost starting a new mission. But yet I know almost every missionary in liberia. By the end of the week I will have met every missionary in the mission. Crazy huh?
We never have power!! Thankfully we have a generator for the evening. Water is about the same, on and off. There are two missionary couples in Monrovia. I've only met one, The mauldins from Washington state. Still send packages to the mission PO box. The Squires travel to Monrovia about every three weeks and they will bring it to me. Thanks for everything.
Elder Degen
Monday, March 2, 2009
E-mail dated 3/2/09
My Good People,
I will start the email by giving you the surprising news of the week. I'm leaving Sierra Leone and am being transferred to Liberia this week. After only two transfers in Hill Station I'm on my way to Liberia. I'm very surprised and yet kind of bummed and excited at the same time. My new companions name is Elder Seawright who is from Heber (I think). Yes Heber, that city that Milt and nate live in. I've yet to meet him but I'm pretty excited to go and serve with him. I'm sad to leave my branch, but thats how missionary work goes. So that means no more Krio and no more mountains. I will be speaking Liberian English and walking on flat ground. So that is good.
My boil is better. No problem. Boils, Malaria, the sun . . . its all part of life now. You know I pretty used to living like this now. Now it kind of feels like I'm starting a new mission as I'm traveling to a new country.
A typical non-p-day? Well I get up at 6:30 (normally from a puddle of sweat on my bed) and I try and wake myself up (which sometimes isn't easy). From there I write in my journal and then shower. If someone is in the mood to cook breakfast (a scrumptious plate of rice and tomato stew) then we eat, if no one wants to cook I eat random things (bp sandwiches, cereal, and so forth). Personal study followed by companionship study. We leave the apartment by ten everyday. We have appointments every hour from ten in the morning to seven in the evening with no lunch break.( we rely on free meals to sustain us, which don't always happen). Just imagine hiking angels landing every day while teaching people along the way (in a different languange). We get home around 8 or 9 and depending on our hunger we cook and talk with the other Elders in the apartment. Tuesdays we have district meeting from 10 to 12. Sometime during the week I have to get up early and do a mid-week wash (to save my hands from being destroyed on Mondays). Yep so thats pretty much my days. Sounds fun doesn't it?
I see the Peterson's all the time. In fact I'm in their apartment right now emailing you because all the cafes in the area aren't working. They are so wonderful. We have already agreed they are coming to the airport the day I get home. They are so funny. I'm sad I'll be leaving them. They say hello right now.
I had an experience this week that made me grateful for my family. We have been teaching this family for a long time now. They are ready for baptism but the only problem is that they have not been married. The woman wants a traditional marraige with her parents attending (who live in the village) and the man wants a church marraige (with no parents in freetown). We asked them to try and solve the problem and work something out so they can get married. This week they got in a huge fight and we were inspired to go and visit them without any knowledge of the fight. The woman was about to move out of the house and take the only child with her. Luckily we showed up and she told us what happened. How do you respond in a situation like that? Well thankfully we have the spirit and I was promted to share how we can develop charity and we read Moroni 7:45-48 together. Wow, the spirit was so strong and we challenged her to pray for this charity. We went back the next day and they had resolved the problem for now. Missionary work is so much more than teaching from Preach my Gospel. We have to be ready for anything at anytime.
So I love you guys and candy and drink mixes are always welcome. I'm also going to need some journal pages soon.
Elder Degen
I will start the email by giving you the surprising news of the week. I'm leaving Sierra Leone and am being transferred to Liberia this week. After only two transfers in Hill Station I'm on my way to Liberia. I'm very surprised and yet kind of bummed and excited at the same time. My new companions name is Elder Seawright who is from Heber (I think). Yes Heber, that city that Milt and nate live in. I've yet to meet him but I'm pretty excited to go and serve with him. I'm sad to leave my branch, but thats how missionary work goes. So that means no more Krio and no more mountains. I will be speaking Liberian English and walking on flat ground. So that is good.
My boil is better. No problem. Boils, Malaria, the sun . . . its all part of life now. You know I pretty used to living like this now. Now it kind of feels like I'm starting a new mission as I'm traveling to a new country.
A typical non-p-day? Well I get up at 6:30 (normally from a puddle of sweat on my bed) and I try and wake myself up (which sometimes isn't easy). From there I write in my journal and then shower. If someone is in the mood to cook breakfast (a scrumptious plate of rice and tomato stew) then we eat, if no one wants to cook I eat random things (bp sandwiches, cereal, and so forth). Personal study followed by companionship study. We leave the apartment by ten everyday. We have appointments every hour from ten in the morning to seven in the evening with no lunch break.( we rely on free meals to sustain us, which don't always happen). Just imagine hiking angels landing every day while teaching people along the way (in a different languange). We get home around 8 or 9 and depending on our hunger we cook and talk with the other Elders in the apartment. Tuesdays we have district meeting from 10 to 12. Sometime during the week I have to get up early and do a mid-week wash (to save my hands from being destroyed on Mondays). Yep so thats pretty much my days. Sounds fun doesn't it?
I see the Peterson's all the time. In fact I'm in their apartment right now emailing you because all the cafes in the area aren't working. They are so wonderful. We have already agreed they are coming to the airport the day I get home. They are so funny. I'm sad I'll be leaving them. They say hello right now.
I had an experience this week that made me grateful for my family. We have been teaching this family for a long time now. They are ready for baptism but the only problem is that they have not been married. The woman wants a traditional marraige with her parents attending (who live in the village) and the man wants a church marraige (with no parents in freetown). We asked them to try and solve the problem and work something out so they can get married. This week they got in a huge fight and we were inspired to go and visit them without any knowledge of the fight. The woman was about to move out of the house and take the only child with her. Luckily we showed up and she told us what happened. How do you respond in a situation like that? Well thankfully we have the spirit and I was promted to share how we can develop charity and we read Moroni 7:45-48 together. Wow, the spirit was so strong and we challenged her to pray for this charity. We went back the next day and they had resolved the problem for now. Missionary work is so much more than teaching from Preach my Gospel. We have to be ready for anything at anytime.
So I love you guys and candy and drink mixes are always welcome. I'm also going to need some journal pages soon.
Elder Degen
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