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What's in the mouth?
Monday, April 27, 2009
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E-mail dated 4/27/09
My boy,
So you got the pictures that Sister Wire sent you. Yes that was at zone conference in Paynesville (not my chapel, my chapel is a home remodeled to meet our needs). After the zone conference sister wire asked us if we had a message we wanted to send to our families. Elder Sesay taught us how to dance from his tribal traditions. All I said was "Elder Sesay taught me how to dance". I know we look silly (thats such a funny word to use). The food looks normal becasue it is normal. What you think we want to eat rice for zone conferences when we could have a choice? Sister Wire cooked us Macaroni and Meatloaf. Quite tasty if you ask me. Is the water safe to drink? All the water I drink is filtered or I buy the manufactured water bags on the street. I think i've become immune to the water now so its probably ok for me.
Yes we were able to watch conference. Although it was just one session and it was on a television at the front of our meeting house (meaning it was very hard to see in the midst of over 100 members attending). Thankfully our recent convert, Kokulo, owns a video store and he hooked up a speaker so everyone was able to hear. I watched the Saturday morning session, but I was only able to pay attention for the first hour. The second hour an investigator family showed up and I ended up watching the two year old so the mother and grandmother could watch. Do people understand how the church runs in Salt Lake? That would be a resounding NO. Only the missionaries that served in Ghana or Nigeria know what the church is supposed to be like (and even then, the church is still young there). Conference is hard for the people to understand because they use big words and they all have an American accent. Oh, well. I hope it helped someone other than the missionaries. Yes our church meetings are three hours (except for this last week, which was only two because of conference).
The Wires are from Kanab. My companion is from Ghana. He entered the MTC the same day as me.
President Squires gave some great instruction during zone conference about covenants. He talked specifically about temple covenants and how we can gain power and protection from them. The main difference about our church and other churches is that we are a Covenant Making People. All covenants are possible through the Priesthood that has been restored throught the prophet Joseph Smith. He also mentioned that in Gospel Covenants God sets the terms. We can make personal covenants, but the terms are still gods. The reason we make personal covenants is to bring us to a higher level of obedience to gospel covenants. He used alot of Elder Christoffersons talk from conference. Great discussion.
We are teaching a man named Mator Prompaye. This man has been taught by the missionaries since january. And wow, has he come a long way. This man has truly changed his ways and come closer to Christ. During the middle of teaching him (which would have been right before I came to the area) he beat his wife. Now, he has repented and restituted and the family is back together. Mator has become a better father and husband. Elder Seawright and myself helped him and his wife get back together. We offered service and helped him clean his house and we helped him write a love note to his wife. Now he brings his two daughters to church everyweek. I really hope the Lord can soften the heart of the wife so we can start teaching her. Mators baptism will be at the end of the month. I love all the people that I'm working with right now. I have about 5 other stories just like that one above.
About the phone call home. You tell me what time you would like me to call and I'll do it. President Squires said 40 minutes this time so be prepared.
Elder Degen
So you got the pictures that Sister Wire sent you. Yes that was at zone conference in Paynesville (not my chapel, my chapel is a home remodeled to meet our needs). After the zone conference sister wire asked us if we had a message we wanted to send to our families. Elder Sesay taught us how to dance from his tribal traditions. All I said was "Elder Sesay taught me how to dance". I know we look silly (thats such a funny word to use). The food looks normal becasue it is normal. What you think we want to eat rice for zone conferences when we could have a choice? Sister Wire cooked us Macaroni and Meatloaf. Quite tasty if you ask me. Is the water safe to drink? All the water I drink is filtered or I buy the manufactured water bags on the street. I think i've become immune to the water now so its probably ok for me.
Yes we were able to watch conference. Although it was just one session and it was on a television at the front of our meeting house (meaning it was very hard to see in the midst of over 100 members attending). Thankfully our recent convert, Kokulo, owns a video store and he hooked up a speaker so everyone was able to hear. I watched the Saturday morning session, but I was only able to pay attention for the first hour. The second hour an investigator family showed up and I ended up watching the two year old so the mother and grandmother could watch. Do people understand how the church runs in Salt Lake? That would be a resounding NO. Only the missionaries that served in Ghana or Nigeria know what the church is supposed to be like (and even then, the church is still young there). Conference is hard for the people to understand because they use big words and they all have an American accent. Oh, well. I hope it helped someone other than the missionaries. Yes our church meetings are three hours (except for this last week, which was only two because of conference).
The Wires are from Kanab. My companion is from Ghana. He entered the MTC the same day as me.
President Squires gave some great instruction during zone conference about covenants. He talked specifically about temple covenants and how we can gain power and protection from them. The main difference about our church and other churches is that we are a Covenant Making People. All covenants are possible through the Priesthood that has been restored throught the prophet Joseph Smith. He also mentioned that in Gospel Covenants God sets the terms. We can make personal covenants, but the terms are still gods. The reason we make personal covenants is to bring us to a higher level of obedience to gospel covenants. He used alot of Elder Christoffersons talk from conference. Great discussion.
We are teaching a man named Mator Prompaye. This man has been taught by the missionaries since january. And wow, has he come a long way. This man has truly changed his ways and come closer to Christ. During the middle of teaching him (which would have been right before I came to the area) he beat his wife. Now, he has repented and restituted and the family is back together. Mator has become a better father and husband. Elder Seawright and myself helped him and his wife get back together. We offered service and helped him clean his house and we helped him write a love note to his wife. Now he brings his two daughters to church everyweek. I really hope the Lord can soften the heart of the wife so we can start teaching her. Mators baptism will be at the end of the month. I love all the people that I'm working with right now. I have about 5 other stories just like that one above.
About the phone call home. You tell me what time you would like me to call and I'll do it. President Squires said 40 minutes this time so be prepared.
Elder Degen
Monday, April 20, 2009
E-mail dated 4/20/09
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Dear Family:
Wow, you asked eleventy billion questions. I counted. But I'll do my best to answer them all. First off all the week was wonderful. Transfer weeks always go fast especially if I'm getting a new companion (which has been happening alot lately). Elder Seawright left for Freetown on Thursday and my new companion Elder Doughan came in the evening. We had a pretty successful week. The highlight of the week was the effective PEC we had on Saturday (wow, I don't think I will ever say that at home). The branch is starting to realize that they aren't doing anything and they need to start planning activities and other important things. We picked up a few new investigators this week and generally everything is going pretty normal. The Zone Leaders asked us to fill out a sheet of all the investigators we are working with, and it is up to twenty. Honestly I don't really know how we do it, but the Lord provides a way.
Its a little weird to celebrate a birthday away from the family. Honestly it was just another day for me, walking around in the hot sun, teaching the gospel. Yes Sister Wire did bake me a cake on Thursday, and It was delicious I might add. I forgot how good a birthday cake tasted. I was even pleased to have a great day of proselyting. The birthday pictures were taken at our apartment early in the morning, I knew they were coming so I prepared myself (thats why I'm the only one dressed). The other two Americans are Elder Gifford (who I met at the U before I left) and Elder Stice (who I know from Freetown). The Ghanain you see is my companion.
As for my hair. I told you once that barbers here don't know what scissors are. They only know blades (which don't work on white man hair) and buzzers. Now that I don't have Sister Peterson in the same country as me I have to use the barber on the street and I do it his way. So hence the shortness. I don't really care how I look so why should all of you guys. Maybe I'll shave it bald next time. he he he.
The mothers day phone call home. Well, Elder Seawright told me that its cheaper for me to call from here than it is for you to call me. I can spend 10 dollars and talk for and hour. I haven't been instructed on the time, but we should probably keep it around an hour this time. My church starts at 9 in the morning so no problem there. Well thats about it for this time, forgive me for the lack of spritual stories as those are hard to come by where the church is so young. I love the people of liberia and I've realized that I've grown up alot.
I love you all and have a good one.
Elder Degen
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
E-mail dated 4/14/09
belated family email,
We are sorry for the delay in hearing from your son in Liberia. Thank you for your patience. Well, because yesterday was Easter Monday we were unable to email because president squires told us not to. I don't know why, but we should always obey the man that recieves revelation for us. Well Happy Easter.
This week was pretty normal. I really enjoyed CJ's email from yesterday and honestly that really describes our Saturday as well. The only difference is that we baptized a yound woman in the morning. Her name is Azzie Abu and she has been coming to church for like a year and we finally got permission from President Squires to baptize her, so we did. She will be a strong strong member as she grows in the church. She is only 17 and she comes to church by herself everyweek. She lives in an orphanage, and her adopted parents are members of our branch (although less active). But she is faithful and very obedient to God's commandments (which can be hard to find here). As for the rest of the day read CJ's email. ha ha.
Actually here in Liberia, Good Friday is a huge holiday. Like bigger than Easter itself. I guess they celebrate his death more than his resurrrection. On friday we saw little kids beating the crap out of a dummy. The dummy represented Judas Iscariot. Everywhere in Monrovia little kids were beating the crap out of Judas and chanting "we will bury him tomorrow Judas die tonight" over and over again. I got it on video, so be patient and one day you shall recieve these things. I don't really understand the logic here. Everyone comes to church on the first sunday of the month, thinking that it will be good for that month, but yet we have a lower attendance on Easter Sunday. Liberia is so confused, maybe we should just go back to the law of Moses. I
got to see a small clip from the church website of Elder Hollands talk yesterday. Holy Goodness. That man has a testimony and no one can deny it. I encourage the whole world to view that five minute clip on the church website. Say Powerful, just say it.
That picture that Sister Wire sent you was our distric saying goodbye to my first companion, Elder Sadare (not Elder kpodi, who is a liberian and in no way shape or form will he ever serve in his own city). He has gone back to Nigeria. Oh, my companion Elder Seawright is also leaving on transfer, he is going back to Sierra Leone to be the new Assistant to the President. I'm getting a Ghanaian named Elder Doughan. Yes I know our names sound similar. Elder Doughan and I came together and we should get along pretty well. We are the only two assigned to Congo Town branch. That was the Wire's truck (the day missionaries have trucks in Liberia will be the Second Coming). Missionary work is awesome, I love teaching the people of Liberia. I honestly haven't been happier since I've come to Africa. I love these people so much.
Have a great week and and even greater day.
Elder Degen
We are sorry for the delay in hearing from your son in Liberia. Thank you for your patience. Well, because yesterday was Easter Monday we were unable to email because president squires told us not to. I don't know why, but we should always obey the man that recieves revelation for us. Well Happy Easter.
This week was pretty normal. I really enjoyed CJ's email from yesterday and honestly that really describes our Saturday as well. The only difference is that we baptized a yound woman in the morning. Her name is Azzie Abu and she has been coming to church for like a year and we finally got permission from President Squires to baptize her, so we did. She will be a strong strong member as she grows in the church. She is only 17 and she comes to church by herself everyweek. She lives in an orphanage, and her adopted parents are members of our branch (although less active). But she is faithful and very obedient to God's commandments (which can be hard to find here). As for the rest of the day read CJ's email. ha ha.
Actually here in Liberia, Good Friday is a huge holiday. Like bigger than Easter itself. I guess they celebrate his death more than his resurrrection. On friday we saw little kids beating the crap out of a dummy. The dummy represented Judas Iscariot. Everywhere in Monrovia little kids were beating the crap out of Judas and chanting "we will bury him tomorrow Judas die tonight" over and over again. I got it on video, so be patient and one day you shall recieve these things. I don't really understand the logic here. Everyone comes to church on the first sunday of the month, thinking that it will be good for that month, but yet we have a lower attendance on Easter Sunday. Liberia is so confused, maybe we should just go back to the law of Moses. I
got to see a small clip from the church website of Elder Hollands talk yesterday. Holy Goodness. That man has a testimony and no one can deny it. I encourage the whole world to view that five minute clip on the church website. Say Powerful, just say it.
That picture that Sister Wire sent you was our distric saying goodbye to my first companion, Elder Sadare (not Elder kpodi, who is a liberian and in no way shape or form will he ever serve in his own city). He has gone back to Nigeria. Oh, my companion Elder Seawright is also leaving on transfer, he is going back to Sierra Leone to be the new Assistant to the President. I'm getting a Ghanaian named Elder Doughan. Yes I know our names sound similar. Elder Doughan and I came together and we should get along pretty well. We are the only two assigned to Congo Town branch. That was the Wire's truck (the day missionaries have trucks in Liberia will be the Second Coming). Missionary work is awesome, I love teaching the people of Liberia. I honestly haven't been happier since I've come to Africa. I love these people so much.
Have a great week and and even greater day.
Elder Degen
Monday, April 6, 2009
E-mail dated 4/6/09
Whats up,
From what is sounds like you guys had a really awesome vacation. Sounds like a lot of fun. California and Vegas, with Museums, Zoos, and Sea World. Remember the last vacation we went on. I was a little hesitant to go, but it turned out to be an awesome trip and I'm so glad we went on that trip to Florida. It doesn't really matter what we go to or where we are, all that matters is that we are together and if everyone has a positive attitude then vacations are fun.
Just like last time, I didnt' get to watch or listen to anything about conference. Neil Anderson. Wasn't he in the presidency of the seventy? What else happend? What did Holland talk about? Confernce is so much cooler when I'm devoting all my time to the Lord, and now I won't even get to watch much of it. We should get the magazine, but my companion told me that Liberia hasn't gotten any magazines since last September. We told sister Squires so it should be coming. So Mike Neider was released without ever speaking in General Conference?
I would like you thank you for that wonderful package. All of the stuff inside will be put to good use. President and Sister Squires brought it to the apartment on Friday morning. Sister Squires cooked us breakfast (eggs and fried luncheon meat, nothing to flashy) and president Squires interviewed us all. My interviews are always very short and not much was discussed. But, when the first counselor in the area presidency came and visited our mission he mentioned that President Squires is one of the best mission presidents in the world. Pretty neat that a general authority said that my mission president is one of the best in the world.
Thank you for the reminder that it is Easter next sunday. I'm pretty sure the Easter bunny doesn't reach to this part of the world, if he did come they would probably kill him and eat him. As far as I know the only people who know how to truly celebrate easter are latter-day saints who understand the atonement. Everyone else is just bluffing. And since most of the saints here are very young, you could say that nobody here knows how to celebrate easter.
I still sleep with a net over my bed. But now I have bedbugs. I never thought that saying "don't let the bedbugs bite" was true. I'm a believer now. Those darn things bite everywhere. It doesn't help that I'm sleeping in my own sweat. Oh well, what can you do.
When I hear josh's and Cj's emails I'm amazed at the experiences they are having. Josh's emails are very spiritual and his experiences would NEVER happen here. CJ is just funny and thats why I love him. But even him and his experiences and very different from mine. That is why I'm not really sharing anything spiritual lately. Its not because I'm not feeling the spirit, its because the story doesn't have that good ending. We teach alot of powerful lessons and then they don't come to church. As missionaries we are working hard and these amazing stories aren't coming. I guess that is unique for this mission. I'm pretty sure I have the most unique mission in the world. my experiences are very different. Well, I love you all and have a great week.
Read conference and enjoy what you have.
Love from Liberia,
Elder Degen
From what is sounds like you guys had a really awesome vacation. Sounds like a lot of fun. California and Vegas, with Museums, Zoos, and Sea World. Remember the last vacation we went on. I was a little hesitant to go, but it turned out to be an awesome trip and I'm so glad we went on that trip to Florida. It doesn't really matter what we go to or where we are, all that matters is that we are together and if everyone has a positive attitude then vacations are fun.
Just like last time, I didnt' get to watch or listen to anything about conference. Neil Anderson. Wasn't he in the presidency of the seventy? What else happend? What did Holland talk about? Confernce is so much cooler when I'm devoting all my time to the Lord, and now I won't even get to watch much of it. We should get the magazine, but my companion told me that Liberia hasn't gotten any magazines since last September. We told sister Squires so it should be coming. So Mike Neider was released without ever speaking in General Conference?
I would like you thank you for that wonderful package. All of the stuff inside will be put to good use. President and Sister Squires brought it to the apartment on Friday morning. Sister Squires cooked us breakfast (eggs and fried luncheon meat, nothing to flashy) and president Squires interviewed us all. My interviews are always very short and not much was discussed. But, when the first counselor in the area presidency came and visited our mission he mentioned that President Squires is one of the best mission presidents in the world. Pretty neat that a general authority said that my mission president is one of the best in the world.
Thank you for the reminder that it is Easter next sunday. I'm pretty sure the Easter bunny doesn't reach to this part of the world, if he did come they would probably kill him and eat him. As far as I know the only people who know how to truly celebrate easter are latter-day saints who understand the atonement. Everyone else is just bluffing. And since most of the saints here are very young, you could say that nobody here knows how to celebrate easter.
I still sleep with a net over my bed. But now I have bedbugs. I never thought that saying "don't let the bedbugs bite" was true. I'm a believer now. Those darn things bite everywhere. It doesn't help that I'm sleeping in my own sweat. Oh well, what can you do.
When I hear josh's and Cj's emails I'm amazed at the experiences they are having. Josh's emails are very spiritual and his experiences would NEVER happen here. CJ is just funny and thats why I love him. But even him and his experiences and very different from mine. That is why I'm not really sharing anything spiritual lately. Its not because I'm not feeling the spirit, its because the story doesn't have that good ending. We teach alot of powerful lessons and then they don't come to church. As missionaries we are working hard and these amazing stories aren't coming. I guess that is unique for this mission. I'm pretty sure I have the most unique mission in the world. my experiences are very different. Well, I love you all and have a great week.
Read conference and enjoy what you have.
Love from Liberia,
Elder Degen
E-mail dated 3/30/09
Ey-man,
It sounds like you guys are enjoying in San Diego. I don't think I remember ever going there. Then again I might have been there when I was a small pikin (child, for you non-west africans). The week for me was pretty good. We ended the week with a baptism. Kokuloku Mulbah is the newest member of the Congo Town Branch. He is so awesome. He is a referral from the Branch President and has been coming ever since I've been here. I know he will be a strong member and a great addition to the Branch. We have been having some good lessons as of late.
Now let us all remember that teaching Liberians and Sierra Leoneans is the equivalent of teaching primary children. There is no way we could teach them the whole lesson in one sitting. Principle by principle. Small, Small. We currently have 8 progressing investigators. There names are Annie Brown, Weatta, Cynthia Lincoln, Mator, T-girl, Gracious, Azzie, and Emmanuel. I think I mentioned a couple emails ago (if not then i'm thinking my journal) that on mission I have done many things that I wouldn't think would be missionary work. I have taught lessons where I've been a marraige counselor and a dating doctor, and this week you can add a rehab specialist. I taught a less-active member who has a huge drinking problem. We tried to go and reason with him and get him to stop drinking. That will take a very long time. Every one in Liberia or Seirra Leone has a problem with the Word of Wisdom or the Law of Chastity. I'm pretty good at teaching those boldly.
Today for P-day we went and played the Branch missionaries in Duala. By we I mean all the missionaries in Monrovia played against all the branch missionaries in duala. The full-time missionaries destroyed the branch missionaries 4-1. It was fun. We all enjoyed foo-foo after the game and Sister Wire baked us cake, brownies, and other goodies for us to enjoy. It was a pretty exciting day.
General conference is this weekend? That is news to me. If I get to see it at all it will be at the end of the month. but our branch had its Generator stolen, so if we don't get that replaced we won't be watching anything. I'm sorry if my email seemed a little scattered. I'm really enjoying my time with Elder Seawright and honestly time is flying. I can't remember what happened during the week. We are working very hard and having fun at the same time. I hope you all have a great vacation in San Diego.
Elder Degen
It sounds like you guys are enjoying in San Diego. I don't think I remember ever going there. Then again I might have been there when I was a small pikin (child, for you non-west africans). The week for me was pretty good. We ended the week with a baptism. Kokuloku Mulbah is the newest member of the Congo Town Branch. He is so awesome. He is a referral from the Branch President and has been coming ever since I've been here. I know he will be a strong member and a great addition to the Branch. We have been having some good lessons as of late.
Now let us all remember that teaching Liberians and Sierra Leoneans is the equivalent of teaching primary children. There is no way we could teach them the whole lesson in one sitting. Principle by principle. Small, Small. We currently have 8 progressing investigators. There names are Annie Brown, Weatta, Cynthia Lincoln, Mator, T-girl, Gracious, Azzie, and Emmanuel. I think I mentioned a couple emails ago (if not then i'm thinking my journal) that on mission I have done many things that I wouldn't think would be missionary work. I have taught lessons where I've been a marraige counselor and a dating doctor, and this week you can add a rehab specialist. I taught a less-active member who has a huge drinking problem. We tried to go and reason with him and get him to stop drinking. That will take a very long time. Every one in Liberia or Seirra Leone has a problem with the Word of Wisdom or the Law of Chastity. I'm pretty good at teaching those boldly.
Today for P-day we went and played the Branch missionaries in Duala. By we I mean all the missionaries in Monrovia played against all the branch missionaries in duala. The full-time missionaries destroyed the branch missionaries 4-1. It was fun. We all enjoyed foo-foo after the game and Sister Wire baked us cake, brownies, and other goodies for us to enjoy. It was a pretty exciting day.
General conference is this weekend? That is news to me. If I get to see it at all it will be at the end of the month. but our branch had its Generator stolen, so if we don't get that replaced we won't be watching anything. I'm sorry if my email seemed a little scattered. I'm really enjoying my time with Elder Seawright and honestly time is flying. I can't remember what happened during the week. We are working very hard and having fun at the same time. I hope you all have a great vacation in San Diego.
Elder Degen
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