March 18, 2013: Hi There

Dear Family,
Ya Hello!!!!!
SO What a Week! This week has been really great here in Doe Community. We are Finding a lot of families to teach this past few weeks. I LOVE MY MISSION!!!!! I truly enjoy it out here. WE have two families scheduled to be baptized on March 30th. They are the Nagbe's and the Toe families. They both are becoming strong families in the church. There children are loving the youth classes and primary. It wonderful how the people are just so willing to sit down and here what message we bring with us. I really do love my area and its no lie going to be really hard to leave this place. Elder Zolo just got transferred from his area and i just don't want to do that yet. I would seriously be totally fine spending my two years just in Doe Community. But i know in the next couple transfers i will be leaving and going on to "bigger and better things". For me i really want to go out into the bush if i went anywhere.
Anyways sorry just had to put my feelings out there. This past week was very interesting. We went to go and eat an FM. We had a really good duck and it was some really nice potato greens. It was really nice to hang out with the district and just have a meal. I also had some ice cream for the first time in a couple months. It was pretty big too like the size of a McDonald Cone. Didn't taste like that but still. After i ate it, it really upset my stomach. I hope that was just a fluke, because when i get back i getting some on the way home from the airport.
I'm really trying hard to refocus myself on my mission, there are definitely things i want myself to become better at. I'm doing well here in Liberia. Keep sending letters and packages... speaking of packages i received two today. I got one from The Stout Family which i thank them very very much. Also i received one from you Mom. I love you soooo much. Thank you very much. BTW they just changed the rules for emails. We Can email friends too. This is so sweet. So if you would like shoot me an email. No lie this is going to be really weird at first.
I don't have too much time though computers turned off.
I love you so so so very much.
Happy Birthday Mikayla,
Love,
Elder SKouson
(the white African)

Sweet Family of Mine

Ohhhh wooo woo Sweet Family of mine,

Sorry you put 'son of mine' and just turned me back to our high school talent show when we lip synced that song.
Anyway you had a question about rainy days/ season, the only reason we stayed in is because my companion ELder Park does not have boot yet. We normally would still go out even if it is raining. Rainy Season begins like the end of April beginning of may. Not gonna lie its going to be really nice when that happens because it drops a good 15 degrees and about 10 in our apartment. SO instead of it being 92 in our apartment it will be about 82.

So since when does my little sister get hurt????? This cannot happen what the heck? I knew she hurt her knee but an ACL tare. This is no good looks like i'm going to have to coach her from here on how to get back on tract in the least amount of time. If you were here i would run her over to the nearest medicine women and have her do some Ju-Ju and she would be fine in no time at all. Just let me know if i can do anything to help. And btw go to SPORTS PHYSICAL THERAPY don't go to the awkward old man that just rubs your fingers for an hour and sends you on your way. I really wish i could be there to help.
Umm so we are in the internet cafe we always go to and there is a lady next to me who is sitting in front of the fan. Lets just say she doesnt smell very good and its all blowing straight at me. Sorry ya.

Congrats to Mikayla on getting that job sounds so sweet. Sounds like the perfect location too you could visit your old job at the flower shop as well. Btw Happy Birthday In a few days crazy to think its your Birthday already. I hope it is a wonderful one. How long until you finish your student teaching? And i haven't seen any pictures of you at the temple so if you wouldn't mind i would love to see some.
Question the name popped up again, Who is Deborah Weed? I have a picture of her in my photo album and still i don't know who she is.

So for me i really don't want to eat monkey meat cause i know how bad it can be for me but its really almost offensive to ask what meat is this. I know i will be blessed as i keep the rules so i will try very hard not to eat the monkey meat.

Well this week Missionary wise was very very good. I think i talked about the man who wasn't married Daniel Toe, i know that our prayers have been answered this week because he was married last week on Tuesday and was able to keep his baptism date of last Saturday. It was a wonderful opportunity for him to enter into the waters of baptisms. He is a wonderful older man and his kids and his wife are going to be baptized on March 30th. We are also teaching The Nagbe Family. Richard Nagbe three weeks ago came to church randomly just wanting to know what the latter day saints were all about. He came to the church and just felt the power of the holy ghost and knew it was true. He has brought his family the last two weeks and they are all just so prepared by our heavenly father. We as missionaries have truly done close to nothing. The just soaked up the church just like a sponge.

Its so wonderful to see and look for the hand of the Lord in our day. I would encourage you to look for it to. I know he is here in Liberia helping the people accept the gospel. He guides us missionaries to the people who are ready and willing to accept the gospel.

This week i had this wonderful idea but i need your help to accomplish this. So i was looking at E. Humpheries Miniture Book of Mormon which i really want by the way. Wink Wink Nudge Nudge. And i thought how cool it would be to have people from home Highlight a few versus from The BOM which really have inspired them or hepled them in anyway and just explain how it has on a posted note. That would be totally cool to do maybe pass it around at church for a few weeks even friends from school or people i know. I would really love that if it could happen. Even in letters you could tell me a spiritual thought you have had throughout the week or just anything.

 Well I don't have very much time but i love you all very much and miss you like crazy. If you are ever thinking of me just shoot me a quick dear Elder or a little Email if you are family. :)

For always and Forever,
Elder Skouson
(the White African)

March 4, 2013 Hello Dere

Dear Family,
Olo oh sorry Hello.
So maybe today is Super P-day and i was able to watch MEGAMIND!!!!!!! Wow i almost had forgotten how good that movie was. Well let me start with this morning we first got up at 630 to go and play basketball!!! Maybe if we continue to play every week for the rest of my mission i might be able to dunk or just make a layup. We then has small personal study on the beach again. I cant describe how cool it is just to sit out and look at the ocean sometimes. Well and after that we went home took showers and went to Duala to the big church to have super P-Day.
Anyways that was just today this last week has been good though. Like i said last week that Young Girl got a little bit of help and went to the clinic to get some treatment and some liquids in her. She came back on i think Thursday and she is able to keep food down. Many prayers have been answered this past week. We really were questioning if she was going to see the next day. I know that the Lord lives and helps people in this day as well as in days of old. She is coming on small small or she is recovering and will soon be back to normal.
You ask how is the branch is doing since Elder Kouao left? And have they received us into the branch?
Interesting question, so the branch is doing really well and we are really focusing on helping the branch become a strong branch. We are helping people magnify there callings. But still i'm no Elder Kouao, i'm trying become a better missionary but we have hit a few speed bumps this week. Two of our brothers we found out yesterday aren't married. This is Really kind of hard on us because we work so hard and they are so good and just cant be baptized because they haven't married there women.
We also had some very good news though, a whole family walked through the church doors yesterday. We went to there house and sat down and taught a small lesson and they all committed to be baptized. Its so wonderful to see how the Lord has prepared the people here.
Elder Park and I are working very hard and hopefully going to reach our goal of 12 baptisms in March. If more people were married we would definitely reach our goal. We will continure to do our best as missionaries and turn the rest over to the Lord. I know i have said this before but Training really teaches me a lot. I have a ton of responsibility placed on my shoulders that if i was back at home and not set apart i think i would crumple under the weight. I know between my companion and the Lord we are all yoked together. Its so nice having a companion who has the same goal as mine. We are really making sure are converts are converted and want to be apart when they become members of the church.

Oh about the egg sandwich i eat every night... yes it is true she actually does chew up some of the herbs and then spits it into the eggs. I think its kind of funny how everybody is grossed out about that. That really is nothing compared to some of the things i eat. Pig and Chicken feet i'm starting to really enjoy. The cow skin is still a little weird and my favorite is Monkey. Don't Tell President. Well its not actually our fault we are eating it. The members sometimes just give it to us and we don't know what it is. We cant exactly stop eating half-way though too. But we found out that a live monkey you can buy for 700 LD which is about 10 US. Have i been tempted???...... Yes very, monkeys are just so sweet.

Well I don't have plenty time left but i have bought and paid for my African suit which is 35 US. Now i'm just waiting for it to be tailored. I will try to sneak a pic or two next week. I know its going to be pretty sweet i'm really excited for it. I don't think i will wear it much here but it will definitely come home with me.

I love you all very very much and cant wait to hear from you next week. Tell everybody i said hi.
Love,
Elder SKouson
(the white African)