E-mail dated 5/24/10

Ok. So we are here in the great Bushrod Island of Monrovia. We are in about our 3rd internet cafe and we have finally found one that works. It probably looks really funny to the locals that there are two white men carrying there traveling duffel bag on their heads. Oh well, you should never worry about what others think of you anyways.

I'm going to warn you first hand. You might not get an email from me next week. Monday is the day scheduled for us to drive back to Freetown. It will likely take all day for us to do that. Just a heads up.

We just finished a Super P-day here in Monrovia. All the missionaries (22 of us) gathered in Caldwell to play some kickball. Once the rules were explained and an trial inning was played, everyone had a great time. We went to a Ghanaian restaurant afterward and enjoyed some fufu. I really hope somebody can prepare fufu for everyone to try. You all might think I am crazy for eating it, but I love it so much now. I want to have a video camera ready when you try it. I hope I'll be able to find some other african dishes. correction: West African dishes. I don't know what they eat down there in the south. Crazy Southerners.

I don't really care who comes to the airport or not. I'm sure the Petersons are coming and they might round up some return missionaries from this mission to meet us their. Just know that I will probably be really tired. Maybe friends can wait until after I'm released. Maybe the Yardley's and the Lauti's will want to have dinner. meh. Whatever is cool with me. I'm going to enjoy this whilst I can.

Have a great week.

Elder Degen

Rice is Life

E-mail dated 5/17/10

The past couple of weeks have gone really well. I can't really remember what happened during that time period. Time flies when your having fun, I guess. I don't really feel bad not writing detailed emials anymore. So don't be disappointed if this one is not very detailed.

I guess I'll start with our investigators. The Gbabay family is doing great!! I'm so excited for them. The father, Augustine, and the eldest son, Solomon, have been coming to church very consistently for the past three months and from what we can tell have gained atestimony of the restored gospel. This past week we retaught lesson one (because that is the foundation of our faith) and it was amazing. It was like I could see the lights turning on in their minds as we connected all four lessons back to the restoration. Its kind of like an epiphany moment. I could feel light entering into them. The very next lesson we reviewed the baptismal interview questions with thema nd they basically retaught the restoration in their own words and with thier tesimonies of how they know its true. And even better, the rest of the family (the mother, Christiana, Aminata, Pius, Alfred, and Florence) all came to church yesterday. The branch is welcoming them warmly and things are looking good. Augustine and Solomon will be baptized on the 5th of June. Everything else seems to be going good.

I'm staying very busy. We are getting ready to travel again. This time to Liberia for almost two weeks. I'm pretty exctited to attend the District Conference because I'll get to see the Congo Town people again. I hope everyone has a great week. Elder Degen
Rice is Life

I did get the package thank you very much. And I forwarded you somepictures that Sister Jones took of us.

E-mail dated 5/10/10

Well well well. Here I am again communicating with my family late in the evening hours. For that whole phone call I was doing my evening routine preparing myself for bed. We had six Elders in our apartment last night so thats why I may have sounded just a little bit distracted yesterday. Oh well. It was fun to talk for that small amount of time. I don't really have much to say this time, and I don't really have much time to mail. I would like to prepare for bed a little more focused tonight. I love you all and will give you many many more details next week.

Elder Degen
Rice is Life

Ok, So . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . This email is definitely notoing to be as creative as last week. I don't really have much time.I just finished looking at the school emial and I hope that it makes sense. We went to a beach clear out in Goderich for P-day today and we are running a little bit late. The only thing to sacrifice at the moment is our emialing time. Which really isn't a problem for me because I'll be talking with you very very soon. We will be driving back from Bo on Sunday and we won't reach Freetown until about 9:00 in the evening. So whenever we get back I will call you on our phone first (but only long enough for you to get my number) and then if you could please call back. We have an hour to talk this time. 9:00 PM our time is 3:00PM your time (i think). We are just going to have to play it by ear because I don't really know what time we will get back. It would be nice to call while in the car but there is no service inthe middle of the bush. meh.

Sorry buts that all the time I've got for now. I hope you have agreat week and talk to you on Sunday.

Elder Degen
Rice is life

CJ: So you need to let me know when and if you recieved my letter.I really sent one about the day after you sent me a mail or so. Ialso met someone from South Africa this past week. Remember a MusaDitsi from Soweto, Protea Glen ward. Yep, he is now a missionary in the Sierra Leone Freetown mission and we met on Tuesday. He still remembers Elder Hanson and his parents coming to his ward for a Barbeque back in December. He is excited to be here and sends his greetings. We both know someone on the same continent now. WOOT!!