E-mail dated 9/8/09

So nice to hear from you. How was the great camping trip? Oh I guess you are still there right now so catch a fish for me. Seriously, catch a fish.

This past week was "full speed ahead." We worked very hard this past week and we were able to see some of the results. Sunday's make or break the week. If we have a good sunday then the week was a success, if not . . . well we won't talk about that. But this week was pretty sweet. We have been blessed with a couple of serious investigators these past few weeks and they are continuing to progress. Three in particular are making quick progress Galima Jallah, George Sesay, and Jodee Santee. The Lord prepared them and just happen to place them in our path. I'm pretty excited for the future of this branch. Oh, speaking of the future of this branch, we are going to be getting a new branch president soon due to the fact that our current branch president moved outside of monrovia. So I'm pretty excited about the change, but it will take a couple of weeks. Which means that I will be keeping the branch afloat until a new president is called. I guess you could say that I'm the acting branch president.

I never realized how much I love the gift of the Holy Ghost until I came to Africa. I don't know what I would do without it. I've always heard people say that but I never knew what they meant until now. I can truly say that the Holy Ghost guides me, testifies through me, and sanctifies me from my sins. It just took me awhile to recognize the spirit. Yesterday at church the spirit was prompting me to bear my testimony of the great gift of the Holy Ghost, so my mind is still pondering the event. (wow that sounded so mature of me, I better say something dumb soon).

I'm very healthy at the moment. Only my right arm is missing as of now, but the giraffes are still on the look out for me. Never trust a chimp. Biscuit.

Elder Degen

Rice is Life