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
Monday, February 23, 2009
E-mail dated 2/23/09
Ow di bodi,
This week went by very fast. It seems like all the weeks are going by so fast these days. I don't know if that means I'm lost in the work or if the world is speeding up and time really is going faster. Or maybe I'm just getting older. We had a great day at church yesterday. We had 12 investigators at church!!! The past couple of weeks we only had like 5 and 6 (I know that sounds like a lot to everyone else on missions) and I was really feeling like a crappy missionary. But this week completely brought me out of that phase. I was so excited to see all of these people there. The three sisters that we are plannin to baptize this saturday were there and all participated in the Invesitgators class (in which I led a great discussion on repentance). I'm so excited to continue serving these wonderful investigators.
So this past week I got something like a staff infection on my foot. I'm pretty sure it was just a crappy boil but walking around in shoes really hurt. After getting some serious antibiotics from the hospital I was on a no shoe order. That meant I was proselyting in flip-flops for a couple of days. I didn't like flip-flops at home and this experience didn't change that. I was hiking up and down mountains in sandals. My feet were completely black (which made me fit in) by the end of the days. No worries now, My foot is completely healed and my affection for sandals is still the same.
We have been giving a lot of priesthood blessings lately. And everyone tells us the next time we see them that not to long after we left they were healed. My companion loves helping others and looking for opportunities to serve others (other than teaching them).
I also met a sierra leonean from Ogden. Yeah, Ogden! That one city in Northern Utah. I was so suprised when he told me where he was from. He actually worshipped in my branch on sunday and is attending a funeral here and will go back in a couple weeks. If I see him again I will give him your number and tell him to call you when he gets back. Cool huh?
I have just finished a book by Neal A. Maxwell titled "All these things shall give thee experience" It is really good and has some really good ways in which we can improve our lives. One chapter talks about how God really does know everything and Wow. We are literally nothing compared to him. He is so smart!!
I can't remember all your questions because I'm replying to the one that mentions Richard's mission call. And what the heck. You think that living next to each other for 19 years would deserve a break from each other. But nope. All I can say is that God's ways are not our ways and I know that both of them need to be where they have been called. If that would have happened with me and CJ . . . . wow, God was smart to separate us.
Elder Degen
This week went by very fast. It seems like all the weeks are going by so fast these days. I don't know if that means I'm lost in the work or if the world is speeding up and time really is going faster. Or maybe I'm just getting older. We had a great day at church yesterday. We had 12 investigators at church!!! The past couple of weeks we only had like 5 and 6 (I know that sounds like a lot to everyone else on missions) and I was really feeling like a crappy missionary. But this week completely brought me out of that phase. I was so excited to see all of these people there. The three sisters that we are plannin to baptize this saturday were there and all participated in the Invesitgators class (in which I led a great discussion on repentance). I'm so excited to continue serving these wonderful investigators.
So this past week I got something like a staff infection on my foot. I'm pretty sure it was just a crappy boil but walking around in shoes really hurt. After getting some serious antibiotics from the hospital I was on a no shoe order. That meant I was proselyting in flip-flops for a couple of days. I didn't like flip-flops at home and this experience didn't change that. I was hiking up and down mountains in sandals. My feet were completely black (which made me fit in) by the end of the days. No worries now, My foot is completely healed and my affection for sandals is still the same.
We have been giving a lot of priesthood blessings lately. And everyone tells us the next time we see them that not to long after we left they were healed. My companion loves helping others and looking for opportunities to serve others (other than teaching them).
I also met a sierra leonean from Ogden. Yeah, Ogden! That one city in Northern Utah. I was so suprised when he told me where he was from. He actually worshipped in my branch on sunday and is attending a funeral here and will go back in a couple weeks. If I see him again I will give him your number and tell him to call you when he gets back. Cool huh?
I have just finished a book by Neal A. Maxwell titled "All these things shall give thee experience" It is really good and has some really good ways in which we can improve our lives. One chapter talks about how God really does know everything and Wow. We are literally nothing compared to him. He is so smart!!
I can't remember all your questions because I'm replying to the one that mentions Richard's mission call. And what the heck. You think that living next to each other for 19 years would deserve a break from each other. But nope. All I can say is that God's ways are not our ways and I know that both of them need to be where they have been called. If that would have happened with me and CJ . . . . wow, God was smart to separate us.
Elder Degen
Monday, February 16, 2009
E-mail dated 2/16/09
Good Morning my good people,
We just got back from an awesome p-day. We went to see this sweet waterfall in the middle of nowhere. Like its on some random dirt road at the end of our area with the bush all around us. We take a small hike it get to it from the road and Holy cow, it was so cool. Even though it is the dry season their was still plenty of water flowing. In the rainy season it would be so huge. I ended up climbing it to the top and it was so beautiful at the top. We also saw some people living up at the top and i was amazed because they have to go to town to get anything (except water, which they have plenty) and town is a good 30 minute drive. I know they don't have a car so I wonder how they survive. I wonder that alot over here. But anyway the waterfall was really cool and i will try and send a picture when i'm done.Everything else this week was wonderful.
We had a powerful zone conference where president squires gave us some much needed instruction. We are still planning to have the baptism in a couple weeks and they seem to be on target. Not really much else to report except that we walked a lot in the hot sun and taught a lot of lessons. No cool priesthood story this week or killing baby mice. sorry.
About the boils . . . I got a really really big one under my arm in November. Yes everything that you described it happened to me except that it was huge. I got a picture on my camera when it just started (at that time i had like 10 small ones all under my arm) but I never took a picture of it when it was big. he he. Boils are very common here because we sweat all the time. They grow in places that are always wet. Now when I fell i'm getting them then I take cloxycyline (or something like that) and they go away. I will never let them get that big again. Josh, sorry I know how they feel.
We do have an equivalent of stake conference. It is DISTRICT CONFERENCE and we have it every six months just like stake conference. The only difference is that the church makes DVD's and sends it to us and we watch the brethren for 2 hours on the specific needs of Africa. I do not speak in Sacrament meeting a lot because i provide the music everyweek. I guess they feel that I do enough everyweek. We have interviews with mission president every six weeks.
Tell Matt and Scott Congratulations for me. That is so sweet. I guess everyone will be speaking spanish when they get back. CJ and I can speak in our cool african tribal languages. Maybe Richard will be joining them in speaking spanish.
The bottom on one of my shoes are falling apart, but I am still wearing them because they are still comfortable. Another Elder has the same shoes and the exact same thing happened to his and he had is mom go and get him some new ones. I will send some pictures home next week of what the bottoms look like and see if you can get me some new ones. But the ones i'm wearing are fine as long as it stays dry, so I think i'm going to wear these out until rainy season and I know my other shoes will last me a very long time. So I don't really think I need new ones. Maybe we should try so I can have some new ones when I get back. ha ha. That is so beating the system. I'll send some pictures next week. But don't worry.
That is all for this week. Enjoy the cold week to come.
Elder Degen
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Hi I'm Elder Degen, Howdy, Howdy, Howdy,
Well, Well, Well, another week gone by. Once again we were very busy throughout the week, teaching like crazy. I don't really know how I do it because my area is one big hill. All the members live on this hill and I really don't know how I get the strength to climb that hill every day. And then get up to do it again. But the Lord truly does bless those who are doing his work. I still haven't lost or gained any of the lbs.
Here is an experience that happened this week. Early Friday morning we got a phone call from a number we didn't recognize. My companion handed me the phone to try and figure out who it was. I honestly couldn't understand anything. I recognized the voice as one of our investigators named Isata Sesay. All I heard was hospital . . . . george . . . not well. George is her small child and I was very confused as she cut the call. (Everything is pre-pay in Africa so we didn't have any units on our phone to call back). We went out to buy units for the phone but when we called back the phone was off. We were already planning on seeing her today so we decided to stick with our schedule. We went to the house to find her just returning from the hospital with her son. She mentioned that it was her that was calling us in the morning and she didn't think we could come fast enough so she took George to the hospital. Now this investigator is illiterate and she has no knowledge as to what a priesthood blessing is, but she felt that we could help with her son. We offered to give George a priesthood blessing and she responded with an emphatic "Yes". We asked if she believed if Jesus Christ could heal her son and once again she answered "yes". I had the opportunity to give this child a blessing and I honestly can't remember anything that I said but I could feel that this blessing was already in effect. On Sunday I asked how George was doing and she responded that George was better that same night that we offered the blessing. I don't know how serious the sickness this child had, for all I know it could have just been a fever. But Isata showed such faith in us and Christ that the blessing worked immediately. The priesthood is real. I'm just humbled that I'm numbered among the very few that God trusts with it.
I recieved the package this week. And thank you very much. All of the candy is being enjoyed by the 4 of us in the apartment and the children in the Hill Station branch. I think I'm good on battries for the rest of my mission now. Thanks again.
So we decided that we need to work with the two sisters that we were planning for baptism this week. We are working towards the 28th of February instead. Thier names are Bintu Tarawallie and Sarah Coker. They are actually sisters. We also have an assignment from President to work with thier husbands and try to start teaching them the gospel. As we know, families are very important so if we can create a support system inside the family then the chances of going less active are less.
Questions now. Is it one-third already? Wow, it feels like I just got here. About the transfers, I have no idea whats going to happen. I think that I'm going to stay with my companion until he goes home, but crazy thing have happened on transfers so we shall see. I'll become a senior companion when the lord thinks I know what I'm doing. My companion learned English in Samoa, in fact everyone in Samoa can speak English, its madatory for them to take in school. I play the piano every sunday in sacrament meeting. Yup, that 3 to 4 hymns a week. I've had to learn a few more songs. I keep track of everything in my journal.
Thanks for the updates on everyone. I'm excited to hear about the mission calls for Scott (brazil is my guess) and Matt (Japan) and Richard (Australia). If they are reading this then I expect to get an email or a letter from them. hint hint.
Have a good one Elder Degen
P.S. I solved the rubiks cube this week
Well, Well, Well, another week gone by. Once again we were very busy throughout the week, teaching like crazy. I don't really know how I do it because my area is one big hill. All the members live on this hill and I really don't know how I get the strength to climb that hill every day. And then get up to do it again. But the Lord truly does bless those who are doing his work. I still haven't lost or gained any of the lbs.
Here is an experience that happened this week. Early Friday morning we got a phone call from a number we didn't recognize. My companion handed me the phone to try and figure out who it was. I honestly couldn't understand anything. I recognized the voice as one of our investigators named Isata Sesay. All I heard was hospital . . . . george . . . not well. George is her small child and I was very confused as she cut the call. (Everything is pre-pay in Africa so we didn't have any units on our phone to call back). We went out to buy units for the phone but when we called back the phone was off. We were already planning on seeing her today so we decided to stick with our schedule. We went to the house to find her just returning from the hospital with her son. She mentioned that it was her that was calling us in the morning and she didn't think we could come fast enough so she took George to the hospital. Now this investigator is illiterate and she has no knowledge as to what a priesthood blessing is, but she felt that we could help with her son. We offered to give George a priesthood blessing and she responded with an emphatic "Yes". We asked if she believed if Jesus Christ could heal her son and once again she answered "yes". I had the opportunity to give this child a blessing and I honestly can't remember anything that I said but I could feel that this blessing was already in effect. On Sunday I asked how George was doing and she responded that George was better that same night that we offered the blessing. I don't know how serious the sickness this child had, for all I know it could have just been a fever. But Isata showed such faith in us and Christ that the blessing worked immediately. The priesthood is real. I'm just humbled that I'm numbered among the very few that God trusts with it.
I recieved the package this week. And thank you very much. All of the candy is being enjoyed by the 4 of us in the apartment and the children in the Hill Station branch. I think I'm good on battries for the rest of my mission now. Thanks again.
So we decided that we need to work with the two sisters that we were planning for baptism this week. We are working towards the 28th of February instead. Thier names are Bintu Tarawallie and Sarah Coker. They are actually sisters. We also have an assignment from President to work with thier husbands and try to start teaching them the gospel. As we know, families are very important so if we can create a support system inside the family then the chances of going less active are less.
Questions now. Is it one-third already? Wow, it feels like I just got here. About the transfers, I have no idea whats going to happen. I think that I'm going to stay with my companion until he goes home, but crazy thing have happened on transfers so we shall see. I'll become a senior companion when the lord thinks I know what I'm doing. My companion learned English in Samoa, in fact everyone in Samoa can speak English, its madatory for them to take in school. I play the piano every sunday in sacrament meeting. Yup, that 3 to 4 hymns a week. I've had to learn a few more songs. I keep track of everything in my journal.
Thanks for the updates on everyone. I'm excited to hear about the mission calls for Scott (brazil is my guess) and Matt (Japan) and Richard (Australia). If they are reading this then I expect to get an email or a letter from them. hint hint.
Have a good one Elder Degen
P.S. I solved the rubiks cube this week
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)