I Guess Everyone Know!!!!! December 31, 2012

Dear Family and Friends,

Well Im so happy i was able to talk to you this week. I really miss you and its hard to look at our companionship phone the same way now. I feel as though i can call anytime but i know i cant. It was really great to hear everyone's voices. Even Cameron's voice. Its sounds like you are having a wonderful time without me. Dont worry i will just be 8000 miles away doing the lords work no big deal. HAhAHA no seriously im glad that you can be having tons of fun over in America.

So i guess its known to all the world that i HAD malaria. I can give you more information on it now. SOOOOO i started to feel sick on Thursday the 20th and we came back to the apartment earlier than we usually do and i just laid down and slept for probably 3 hours until the other missionaries showed up. Luckily Elder Pentreath is like an English Mother so he nursed me back to health throughout the next week. The first day i was out of the apartment was Monday to Email and then go back to the apartment. Lets just say nothing really stayed in my stomach for too long. But Tuesday/ Christmas day i started to feel better. I was actually able to eat the hamburger at the restaurant. Then i really came home and slept for the rest of the day and then i was able to call you guys. I was so thankful to be able to talk with you for that small amount of time. It brightened my day and helped me understand again why im out here.
To be honest, during President Roggias presentation i was asleep for most of it. But at the End i woke up to hear enough about what they were discussing. He gave me the opportunity to bear my testimony. So i began really feeling nothing, then i stopped and paused and i recognized the spirit. I said this mission is not for me. It is for the people i have met with and talked with and converted to become righteous member of the Church of JESUS CHRIST of latter day saints. At that moment i felt Jesus Christ love for me and i am truly thankful for what he has done for me.

Thursday was the first day i went out to teach. We saw many people who needed to be prepared for baptism. We had a great day with all the people we met. There is also a man named Damo who really has been stubborn. He hasnt wanted to come to church or nothing the only thing he want to do was hear us missionaries come and teach him. He loves what we have to say and he know the Book of Mormon is true just hasnt done anything about it. We really wanted him to church to help him see that the church is true. I missed sunday service last week but plently of our investigators still came to church. We talked to Damo on Thursday and he told us an experience he had with this daughter the sunday we missed. He told some passing members of the church he would come to on that sunday after he ate his breakfast and his daughter over heard. So she really wanted to go. After a while she asked if they could go but by that time church had ended. He said his daughter was really sad the he didnt take her to the church. Damo promised her that he would take her to church next Sunday. He also committed to us that he would go. So Yesterday we looked and looked for him and didn't see him. But at about 9:10 Damo stood in the doorway of the church with his daughter holding his hand looking for a chair. We were so excited and jumped up and ushered him in. During Gospel Principles he stood up and bore his testimony of the church and how it was His new Church now. It was such a wonderful experience to be a part of.

I sometimes feel as though i am the most blessed missionary in the whole world. I know our Heavenly Father loves me and each and everyone of us. Some people say nobody cares about Africa. But i know without a doubt that the lord loves Africa and the field is white already to harvest. He gives us trials and challenges to help us grow in ways we didnt think we could. I love the people of Africa and i will do my best these next two years to serve them in any way i can. Whether i hand wash there clothes or i help improve there living conditions, i know theses things are small but the help the people understand that the God loves them and cares for them and that is why im out here.
My mission isnt for me though i will learn so much from it its not my work im doing but the lords work.
As always I love you very much and miss you like crazy. Please dont worry for me cause im doing great out here.
Love your Son/Brother/Friend
Elder Skouson
(the white African)