Feb 24, 2014

Dear Family and Friends,

Another fantabulous week here in Harbel. We did some exploring in our own backyard this morning for P-day and found some pretty amazing things. We found the Firestone hydro-plant. Its crazy the work they did to create this power plant. They have pretty much diverted all the rivers in two different counties into this one location. No small thing here-o.

But before i get too carried away i want to let you know that my back feels great now i haven't had a problem with it since last week Monday so thank you for the prayers and everything it has truly helped. We have had a great week here.
We have had some amazing lessons with our people this week. Things are really shaping up. We sat down with a girl who has been coming to church for a while now. Her name is Cynthia Cooper. This was our 3 time sitting with her and because Chastity is such a big problem here we try to teach it in the first few lessons. She happened to have a few friends over to her place that we selling dried fish. We asked them to come a join us for the lesson. We found that one of the girls was actually a less active member. Our mission president, because Chastity is such a problem here, asks us to be very specific and almost explicit when we talk so the people will know exactly what is wrong and what needs to be fixed. With all of these 5 women (ages16-20) Cynthia was the only one without at least one or two children. By the end of the lesson though each one commited to Keeping the Law of Chastity and also coming to church. Turns out that only Cynthia came. But its really a good thing that we are doing here. Teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ whether people except and keep commitments or don't helps them at least to see a better way of living then in there natural state. Many people we are just planting seeds for other missionaries to come and harvest which is ok. It happens so many times that we sit down with people who have been taught by the missionaries before but now they are truly ready. This is what i pray for as we see good people who sometimes are just too busy or too caught up in the world at that moment will someday get chance to have the missionaries walk by and the people will call out to them. That is the hard thing about mission is you cant force anyone to know the truth. It is something that is gradual. Many people have a testimony of Jesus Christ but few are converted unto him. 

We also have been teaching our branch president, Pres. Wesseh, cousin, His name is Jefferson Wesseh. Kind of funny but he is in the cafe with us right now. He is quite a business man who really wants to know. He comes to church almost every week now. He brings his two daughters and we are trying to get his wife to come as well. We finally gave him Baptismal Date of March 22. We are really hoping that he will be prepared for that time. We are going to make an effort to see him at least 3 times this week. Sometimes its hard because he can go to work.

 But he is a great man and will bring much strength to the branch here in Harbel.

We had a great service yesterday in church. We are very young as a branch still trying out how to say callings and sustaining and call people up to receive the Holy Ghost. There are a lot of long pauses with someone whispering to them in there ear on how to say it. Its good because they are very willing and want to do it the correct way so that there is no corruption in Harbel Branch.

Things are just going great here in Liberia just know i am doing very well here. 

Love,

Elder Skouson

P.S. i will try to send pictures of the power plant and real Africa.

February 17, 2014

Dear Family,

This week has been once of ups and downs and all arounds. We have been in Monrovia for most of the week for both Mission Council and Zone Conference. Which has been wonderful.

Tuesday morning we had Mission Council with Elder Curtis for about an hour. It was really good to hear what he had to say to us Zone Leaders. I felt like there is some things in our zone that can improve so its good to be reminded to be the best we can be.
Its kind of funny we were sent to go and proselyte with two random missionaries, random to us but not to president. We hadn't eating at all because the Council was so early in the morning. We were also boasting that we could eat any Kobo shop they had. For us we didn't know the area so they took us to an area which was really questionable to eat at, but figure we had both boasted so much that we can eat anywhere, mostly because we were so hungry. So we sat down inside this very dark room and ate fried beans. The soup and rice tasted very good, the woman knew how to cook that was for sure. 

We continued throughout the day working hard to help these missionaries and wonderful people that they are working with. We had a great day and i was trying to ignore that fact that my stomach seemed to boil more then normal, until i got the call from my companion Elder Oni who said that we need to meet them now. like now now. Lets just say in any part of liberia usable bathrooms are just really not available. We soon met up and back to the mission office we went lickity split. He was just begging the car to drive faster. 

Of course in every situation we always learn some things. The thing i learned is that don't always think with your stomach. I would probably have taken the food on the Mediterranean cruise over that any day. Lesson Learned. Check!

Well after becoming friends with every object inside the mission office bathroom we went to Zone Conference. It was a blast. President and Sister Kirkham instructed us on recognizing the spirit more in our lives and acting on the promptings. Really all of Preach my Gospel Chapter 4. and a great talk i encourage you to go and read called, Candle of the Lord by Boyd K. Packer. Very inspiring.

We then heard from Elder and Sister Curtis the Area President of Africa West. What a great couple. He shared with us countless of scriptures talking about what the spirit can do with those who are willing to receive it. He also talked about our prayers and how we can show gratitude for the saviors atonement through our prayers and what we pray about. 

After the Conference went to our apartment again apartment again jiggitty jig racing both The Kirkhams and Curtis who were coming to check out Harbel Branch and meet with us missionaries. I was great. They loved our apartment and how clean it was. And interviewed all of us. He started off commenting on the things i had said during Zone Conference. It kind of shocked me to see and remember exactly what i said.  He showed much love and paid close attention to the things i said which was really great. He also remembered my name from the first time i met him a couple months ago. He focuses very much on the one. I figure if he cares about me that much i just think about how much more the savior cares and knows me.  

Finishing out the week, Thursday my companion was still feeling a lot of effects of the bad beans we ate on Tuesday. So i was a resting day again. Then on Friday morning as I was putting water in my bucket to go and take a bath i pull a muscle in my back which was pretty much made me so i could walk with out feeling a lot of pain. Really just made me upset so i called Sister Kirkham to get permission to take some ibprofen, she gave me some instructions but inside she didn't say i could not proselyte so after about an hour of laying down we went out to our area for the first time since last Sunday. I be honest it wasn't small pain that i was feeling either. Still that pain continued on the morningon Saturday which it was very difficult to get out of bed. But we needed to head up to Kakata to do some baptismal interview once again. 

This morning it didn't take me too long to get out of bed and was feeling pretty good so i decided to just do all my cleaning and washing very quickly so i could lie down again. But now the pain is back but it is getting better. So i was just wondering if you could keep me in your prayers that this back pain will go away. Thank you for all the love you show me and know i am still working hard. I love all of you!!!
Love,
Elder Skouson

Just in the most beautiful place in Liberia out here in the bush.

2/10/14

Dear Family who is probably getting closer and closer to me by the minute on the cruise boat of yours,

This week has really just be "jackalah, jackalah" which means just very scattered. We are actually in the mission office again and have been since last night. So we are enjoying the AP life style. Actually president is just sending us on random assignments, which is cool I guess.

We had only a small time in our area this week but it was still quite effective. We added some more great people to our teaching pool. We are starting to teach our former District Presidents brother who seems to be very good. Also we are starting to teach some people who really could help build the church like crazy here in Harbel.

Our Apartment is off the chains though. Elder Kouao is always willing to give us our bed time story each night before we go to bed about his past life. Needless to say he cant stay in Ivory Coast when he gets back home and wants to move to America. He wants to settle down and work as a farmer. Kind of funny thinking about him being a farmer after all he has been through. He is such a great guy. I would really love to keep in touch after mission.

There is not much else to discuss but I will just show you want I got to eat this past week. Anybody like Grass Hoppers??

I love you all very much.

Mom and Dad make sure to fill me in on the cruise you go on.

Love,

Elder Skouson

2/3/14

Dear Family,

Transfer news came and my dreams came true!! Elder Oni and I will be staying together. He has one more transfer so i think he and i will be together for the rest of his mission till like May. No problem because he is a fantastic missionary and i still can learn a lot from him. And drumroll please. My Father, ELDER KOUAO (Ivory Coast), will be also out here in Harbel. He will be companions with Elder Haas (a South African). He came actually yesterday. He still has all of him crazy cool life stories that he will be constantly talking about. We actually started our P-day eve last night and we played a little bit of Phase 10. Very funny seeing Elder Kouao experiencing new things. So now i am the only white guy in my apartment which is totally sweet. I really always forget that i am white cause i don't see any white people to remind me that i am. I look into the mirror and jump sometimes. Or i wonder why people stare at me an then i remember.

The branch here in Harbel is really progressing and we are excited for the improvements the people are making. Sometimes i wish i could just take everyone to a good Stake somewhere in the world and say look this is how your are suppose to do things. Then they would have no problems because they have seen it. But here we work only by faith. Its like trying to tell someone who is blind to paint the "Mona Lisa". Very difficult if you rely on yourself but thankfully this is Jesus Christ Church not just anybodies Church which makes it much easily because we have handbooks and revelation.

We have had some very spiritual experiences this past week with some of our investigators. We didnt have very many come this week but it will be alright we will help them more to see the importance of Church attendance. One of our investigators sister Kuku Mcgill is really progressing which is wonderful. She now has the full support from her father about getting married to a man inside the church. They are now planning on a day when they can get hitched.She really understands that her goal is do not be living in sin. And when her and her boyfriend get married they wont be again and she can be baptized.  Hopefully its before Anna's and Sydney's so that Elder Oni can see it. The race is on!

One thing i will look forward to when i come back home is Seatbelt laws. Very inspired that we have them in America. Not really for the safety aspect but more the comfortably. Now why do i say that, if you remember i just didn't like seat-belts back at home. But when we drive to do baptismal interviews for people in Kakata we ride in a taxi.
The taxi is usually a Frankenstein car that they managed to put back together and put life into. Cusion on the seats is a luxury, even if it is a dirty shirt or small pillow the car rides are no small ride. But the car has 5 seats one for the driver and you fit 6 others on the remaining 4 seats. if there is a working trunk two with sit outside the car and close the trunk on there legs so they "dont fall off". Hey but i cant really complain what taxi service will drive you for an hour and a half and make you pay less then 2 U.S. (150 Liberian dollars) you just cant get that in America.

Well as you can see we are having a great time here in the bush. We finally will go into town tomorrow after we first visit Kakata to do two more interviews. Only like 5 hours in a taxi. Woohooo.

Thank you for the love and support you so dearly show to me. I love you very much and continue to pray for you.

Love,
Elder Skouson

1/27/14

Dear Everybody,
Well the internet isnt working too well. so we have a very small
amount of time to email today. This week has been great working hard
even though illness. Yes i was sick small just you know the usual
fresh cold. I don't really how you can get a cold when it is so hot
but just one of those things.
We had a very successful baptism this last gone saturday. Shema
Kakarpah was baptized along with 3 others. We would have had 5 in all
but the night before the baptism Francis Howard broke his leg in
football, he snapped it right on the shin bone. He is so converted
though, we went to his house after the baptism just to check out the
situation and give him so comfort. He wanted to be baptized so badly.
He was telling us that he just wants to help out in the church no
matter what he is doing. He said I just want to help pack the hymn
books after service. Notice 3 months ago this was a well know rogue
(thief) inside the community. Don't tell me people cannot change. I
just think about Pres. Monson talking about leopards changing there
spots. Of course with our crutches just one stick he walked and made
his way to church. Talk about a strong man.

Yesterday on our way home we decided to pass by Shema and her mother
Asheba. We arrived and didn't see Shema but we found Asheba just
staring at her church. We walked up and greeted her, "Ya, ole ma
hello." Her church really all it is, is bamboo sticks on the outside
and zinc on the top. The floors are just dirt with a few bamboo
benches. She was looking how she could improve and make it bigger, so
we gave our own suggestions. She had the front facing the street where
everyone gets distracted and we suggested to turn the place around. We
also offered our services to help to rebuild her church. Now i don't
really know if this would be like assisting our enemy or anything but
the offer was taken genuinely. i I think she might even let us help.
Maybe we will take one of the roof pieces off so nobody gets too
attracted to the wonderful church that the missionaries help rebuild.
Luckily it also serves as a nursery school so we will just count it as
the school and not the church.

We this is the last week of our transfer and we are pretty sure my
companion Elder Oni will be leaving the area. I will miss him bad
way-oh because we truly are like brothers from other mothers. Talking
about how much our parents loved us and cared for us it was like i was
talking to my brother. Early curfew, always knew were he was, you know
the protective love that our parents gave to us that now we really
have come to appreciate.
Answer the question how is the zone, and being a zone leader? We are
amoungst the greatest missionaries in Liberia ( since the Liberia
Monrovia Mission is the greatest mission) we work with the best
missionaries in the world. Thankfully we are out of town, way out, so
we are just continually focusing on our purpose. These missionaries
don't get distracted. Monrovia to Harbel is like going from Las Vegas
to Fallon. Not in distance but in busy-ness. Harbel is run by the
monopoly company Firestone. If you have ever wondered were firestone
gets the rubber to make their tires, well it is here in Margibi
County. (I wont go into how bad there pay is but would you be able to
survive an 8 hour shift on only $2 a day not an hour.)
We are just doing well out here is great to hear you are doing some
things for yourselves random trips and cruises. If you count the
number of trips you have been on in the last 14months i think it would
be more than your fingers and toes. But i am glad you are enjoying. I
love you very much and just want to let you know i am enjoying my
mission as well.
Shout out to both of my friends Sydney Trotter and Anna Glover for
getting engaged. Guess you didnt want to wait huh?? No just kidding
Congrats. Enjoy being attacted at the hip with a man the rest of
eternity.... haahaha. at least i dont have to worry about that for
long!!!
I love you all.
Love,
Elder Skouson
(the White African)

1/20/14

Dear Family,

Sorry I have been just as bummed or even more so this past week with not being able to hear from anyone this past week. There is only one internet cafe in all of Harbel the closest one is about 1-1/2 drive in a horrible taxi so we decided to take a rest last week. 

Not going to lie there have been some crazy things that have happened these past two weeks.

Two Saturdays ago we were on our way to our P.E.C. meeting at our chapel. We were riding on a motorbike as usual when another bike came from the other side of the rode and ran into us. During this whole collision thing my companion came off the bike and i stayed on. When we finally stopped i look back and my companion Elder Oni is on the ground just getting up. His whole left side of his face decided to kiss the ground and got road rash close to his eye. Thankfully i was unharmed, just a small bruise on my foot from the contact we made with the other bike. Its been amazing how fast that his face has healed. We tank God-oh.

This week were are having some of our people getting Baptized. One of which is a women named Shema. Now Shema is great in the way she has started to come to the church. Recently we found out that her mother is a pastor of sorts, a pastora i think. Shema has been raised by this woman, Asheba, for all of her life. Yesterday after a great lesson with Shema talking about her baptism coming up, we talked with her mother and invited her to Shema's baptism. This is when we soon found out that Asheba has hated the idea of her daughter getting baptized for a long time and just now expressed it to us. And boy did she express it. She lectured my ear off for about 25 mins. Straight. Tell us that she would disown her daughter if she got baptized. You know i have had the chance to teach many pastors about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints and a few of them have even said themselves that our church is true, but not actually come because if they did they lose the business church that he has brought up. Asheba was one of these people. We taught here about the Restoration about the Priesthood and she knew that what we were saying was true but didnt want to accept it because she would lose the business her church provides. Nevertheless, Shema is totally converted she bore her testimony about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon yesterday to us and we could feel the spirit as she was talking. We hope that through prayer her mother will be able to understand and to humble herself and understand and listen to her own daughters testimony of the Church. 

Sorry just had to vent small. 

We are still teaching some great people who are working towards marriage certificates. This is the big delay here in Liberia, nobody is legally married. But we had a break-through with one girl we are teaching. Her name is Kuku Mcgill. Her boyfriend is a member of the church and we have been teaching her for sometime now. Two weeks ago her and her boyfriend talked about it and they decided that they want to get married, but the problem was about Mr. Mcgill ( Kuku's father). He had heard some things about the church how the church is a devil church and the book of mormon is a devlish book.Crazy rumors about the church in Harbel. This made Mr. Mcgill scared for his daughter so he didnt want her to get married to be baptized into the church. We sat down with Kuku a week ago and she told us this. Thankfully the first counsellor in the Branch Presidency was with us and he took it on himself to go to Mr. Mcgill and talk to him about the church. Two days ago we heard the Mr. Mcgill is letting his daughter get married and is going to talk to the husband about when. Our prayers are really being answered here in Harbel. 

By the way we live in the best apartment in the mission, the only thing that is lacking is water but we are managing. Only one green snake this week. This wasnt no gardner snake either. thankfully it was small, but big enough to eat.... just kidding..... our neighbors ate it.

I love this work so much and cant get enough of it. Thank you for the support you have been giving me throughout my mission. I love you all so much and cant wait to hear from you again next week. We hope the internet will be working next week too.

Love,

Elder Skouson

1/6/14

Dear My Family,
 

Well this has been my first full week in the Beautiful Harbel. Elder Oni and I have been working like mad men to get this area into tippy top shape. President expressed some interest in the branch and some things that they need more of. Harbel is really at the bottom right now, just because it is a young and inexperienced branch. We meet for only two hours on Sunday or Chruch. We finally are getting a Elders Quorum President soon followed by a Relief Society President. The thing that is just so wonderful about having a branch way out in the bush is because the influence of branches in town isn't there so we are able to start from scratch. Hense " Starting from the bottom, now we are here. We are really working towards helping this branch. 

Just like you will read in my email to President we have been praying for families who can read. Heavenly Father is hearing our prayers and leading us to those people. We need to be teaching potential leaders and right now we definitely are. 

We had a great lesson yesterday with one of these young couples. They have been together for 10 years and just are a good example of what i would like me and my future wife to be like. We started off by really getting them to think about each other and really showing them that the best thing that happened to either of them was finding each other. From there we had them hooked. We talked small about how the man is the head and the women is neck of the household. She (Sis. Jeanette) loved that. Later on in the lesson as we invited them both to be baptized we really could see how this was the truth. Sis. Jeanette said yes right away but it took Bro. Thomas a quick glance and a hard stare from his wife to say yes. Really funny to watch. We helped them understand that it was through prayer that they would be able to know if our message was true. 

We are just having a blast teaching wonderful people all day everyday. You know those times in life when you ask yourself is this the "best" thing i could be doing right now, right now i know it is yes. Elder Oni only has a couple of months left and we are trying to finish him off strong. He is such a wonderful example to me and keeps me focused on this work. 

I love being a missionary working with super great people and seeing how Jesus Christ can really help people to feel better and have true happiness in this life. I love you all very much and cant wait to hear from you next week. 

Love,

Elder Skouson

P.S. Happy 2014!!!!

Dear President Kirkham,

My Family is doing very well just like we had talked about during my interview with you. It's great to actually know a thing or two about the gospel, putting it really into practice, and seeing how Jesus Christ can change lives and seeing that with my own family. Before mission i took many things for granted form my parents and just expected so much from them all the time. This soon changed when i became a missionary and started to do things for myself. It was now my decision if i wanted to be good or not. To be obedient to the rules or just let a few slide. My parents did a very great job of being behind me and encouraging me to do what is right but now there is no one to impress besides Heavenly Father. Ever since i realized this, i feel myself growing up; not really in age or statue but in maturity in the gospel.

Its been just a wonderful first full week in the great Harbel. Elder Oni and I are working very hard and seeing so many miracles in focusing our minds on our people. From talking with you President on the way to Harbel we talked about a few things the Branch needs from a missionary point of view. We talked about the need of literate women who would be great leaders. We also talked about the need of strong families who also could read and write. As i came i could see these same needs. As a District in Harbel we have began to pray for these specific people each and everyday, and what miracles we have seen. Every day this week we have sit down teaching potential families who could read very well even gospel literature which can sometimes be hard for even me.

President I really enjoyed Mission Council for the New Year. I came expecting to start this New Year in 2014 off right, and that's exactly what happened. I wanted by the end to have good New Year Resolutions and i fell like i do. It was very inspired to have this year be a Book of Mormon year. I am excited to focus on this particular scripture through the start of this year. 

We have decided to make this a Book of Mormon year not only for us missionaries but also for the people we teach both investigators and recent converts. Already we have see people make there own resolutions to prepare for baptism through gaining a testimony of this wonderful scriptures. Others many others are waiting and working towards getting there Legal Marriages. This is the problem for this year but there are all striving towards there marriages. Many of our investigators are starting to talk to President Wesseh about this marriage. 

Well President i hope this email helps you know how we are doing out here in Harbel and Kakata. We have our Zone Meeting tomorrow and will give feedback on that next week. If there is anything else you would like to know or hear about just let me know and i will do my best.

Love,

Elder Skouson

12/31/13

Dear My Family,

Well i dont do this no writting thing on Monday just because i like to. No there was no lightning involved but Transfers Struck and struck gold if you might say.

I am now in Harbel which is offically BUSH. I have now been assigned as Zone Leader over the Harbel Zone. Seems like Heavenly Father needs me out in the bush which i have no problem with. My new companion is Elder Oni, He is a Nigerian and totally dope! He has been in Harbel for 3 transfers now so he is going to show me the ropes or vines if you know what i mean. Im am totally stoked for this next transfer being out there in Harbel. Sure it is a change from being in the office but its nice to be a proselyting missionary again.

 

Oh ya first day i get to Harbel my companion tells me just to be always looking out for snakes in our area and in our apartment. The very next day we walk outside and see that there was something moving in our yard. After a couple minutes of fearless rock throwing ablilities we finally killed the 8 foot python. Totally heros that day.

 

Well no much else happened this past week since the phone call just enjoying the last day of 2013. nothing big but i go home this next year. Werid time is flying by so quickly i dont like it. Mission is just too sweet.

I love you all very much and pray for you all the time.

Love,

Elder Skouson

 

 

 

Dear President Kirkham,

                Well President I’m going to be honest, transfer news was quite a shock to me to be leaving the office and going to Harbel, but I thank you for your letter that you wrote me it brings much comfort to me and gives me strength to be doing great things. In other words I am doing great out there in Harbel. The only internet café that is in Harbel lost internet connection yesterday for the next couple of days so I am actually emailing from the office, just sorry I wasn’t able to email you yesterday.

                My family is all doing wonderful! I had such a great time talking to them this last week on Christmas Day. You know that both of my parents have gone through surgeries in this past year that has put them out of work and put them through much pain. But I have never heard my parents as happy as I was talking to them. When I have talked to them in the past on mission it has just been asking questions about Africa and missionary life and different standard missionary phone calls home. This one was different though. Heavenly Father has really been blessing my family this last year even though it has been one of the hardest I have seen (well just heard). Our conversation was just talking about all the miracles they have seen through these hard trials and tribulations. It was the most gospel centered talk I have had with my parent and family. My sisters and Brother in law and Nephew are all doing great. Just hearing from them just helps me understand how important this mission has been for them as well as me. Mission truly has been the single best decision of my entire life. Thankfully I haven’t been the only one who has benefitted from this mission.

                Well from my few days that I have spent among the wonderful saints of Harbel everything seems great. Members are really doing well. But just want to fill your well on a few things. This is from other missionaries such as my companion and Elder Christensen, President Wesseh is very bold like you said but it seems that when he talks to people he offends them greatly. I have even heard people say that they don’t want to be coming because they get offended by the way he tells people what to do. Just like I said I have not seen this in the small time that I have been here but Elder Oni talks about it a lot. I was just wondering if this is something that us as missionaries can go to him and talk about or just kind of leave it for Elder Hezseltine? Other than that people are doing very great. It will be interesting what will happen at this “watch night” program they are having for New Years Eve.     

                President it was truly an honor to be your assistant in the office. I have learned so much and really am trying to implement it into my life.  I am so thankful to be in this mission at this time. Please if there is anything you would like me more to be doing out in Harbel just let me know. I will do my very best.

Love,

Elder Skouson

P.s. That snake wasnt actually in Harbel but outside a missionaries apartment in a place called Caldwell New Georgia. So i never actually saw the snake but it is a real one. Elder Zolo my Brother from Ivory Coast killed it. Sorry ya no danger out here in Harbel.

12/23/13

Dear Family,

Yes it is true like 2 day until i have the chance to speak to you.

Some of the questions i have that you should start thinking about the response you will have for me in the phone call home:

What should i be when i grow up??

How should i make money for school?? You know my plan is to be able to work from my computer from any where around the world and come back to liberia and live in a mud house with power for like $15 u.s. a month. I think it can work so that i will just be able to get enough money for college. Know of any jobs i could do when i get back. Has Brenden Horn talked about saving a job for me when i come back??

If anybody has any questions they want to ask they are welcome. Just i want to know everything about everybody in the family. I love you all and just feel like i am only getting the run down version of everyones life story. Especially since some dont write or email. haha oh well.

 I hope you have a lot of questions for me though i am just trying to work hard out here and focus on the work. I didnt have the chance to email president last week so here are the two emails i sent to him. I love youall very much and cant wait to talk to you on Christmas!!!

Love,

Elder Skouson

 

 

 

 

Dear President Kirkham,

This week has been the week I have finally got out of Montserrado County. I was my first time in a year or so. I was really nice to see the other side of Liberia. A much more quiet and clean place were the people are even more humble then here in Monrovia.  I was amazed to see the humble circumstances in Kakata and how in Harbel the place seemed well like a small ghost town with a lot of people living there. It is not a ghost town but, just that’s what it reminded me of.

 Before we went out to Kakata and Harbel we did a lot of things in the office and really didn’t get a chance to proselyte in our area this week. But Heavenly Father is looking after our people because we had a few of them come to church even though we never sat down with them. 

Elder Dlamini and I had a wonderful exchange in Kakata which I learned a lot. I learn also a lot about Elder Dlamini. He knows all 11 official Languages in South Africa.  I thought that was pretty impressive. When we taught together it seemed we had been teaching together for weeks. They have some great investigators. Kakata itself is just a wonderful little village. We, like we had discussed before, worked in Morris Farm village. There is a great deal of strength in this village, many branch leaders are living in this community. There seems to be much strength and will be continually growing due to the wonderful members who are already there.

  As we worked with members we worked with one in particular named Gladys. She was a recent convert and our first lesson of the day. She had many friends that we would be teaching that day and she agreed to come with us to be the member present inside the lessons. We sat down and taught and told her what example she would be setting to her friends and what things she would be teaching her friends through-out the day. I was a great day and she even did the evaluating at the end of some lesson, she ask questions like how did we think the lesson went, it was absolutely great. Elder Dlamini and I had just a wonderful time teaching together.

The next day on Friday we trekked on over to Harbel to have an exchange with the Zone leaders on that side.  We got there, planned small, and set out to teach the wonderful investigating saints of Harbel in a place called Camp 2. This is the community that the branch president lives in and a lot of the members as well. I had the privilege to proselyte with Elder Oni. Elder Oni taught me many things on how to be a better missionary. It was quite interesting that all of these things that he helped me with he didn’t need to say but did it in a way in which it was so great the I just wanted to follow his example in doing it. Needless to say he is very good at leading by example. He teaches in a way that nobody mis-understands the things he teaches. He cares very much for the people out in Harbel.

It was just an awesome experience in which I learned so much about Harbel, the people and how the church is progressing as a whole. We noticed that communication between Elder Oni and Molahasta with Elder Elliott was kind of sparse and we could see there needed to be improvements there so we suggested changes to make the improvements. Elder Elliott sometimes doesn’t feel the need to have a strong influence as a District leader because I believe not many people treat him as one. We talked about this a little bit before on how even the Couple missionaries are surpassing E. Elliott and going to Elder Finau or Dlamini to talk about Kakata things.  We talked to the Zone Leaders how they can truly show him the respect as the district leader and keep in touch with Elder Elliott so that nothing like Zone Meeting, Leadership training, or exchanges will be a surprise.

President I just want to take the time for sitting down with me at the Mission Home to really help me see the roll I need to play as your assistant. Your advice about my presentation will help and I really have been a blessing in preparing this instruction. I have not only learned how important it is to receive instruction but also be the one to give it as well. As you know I have never been comfortable to make someone else feel uncomfortable for their own good. I can see why now that mission is the best time to be doing this. At least if I correct on rules or commandments that need to be followed I will have spiritual strength behind me.  So thank you for giving me this topic to instruct on it is helping me to see the bigger picture of what I need to become. I know Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer that God truly loves us enough to let us pass through trials and tribulations so we can be so much better in the end of it all.

Love,

Elder Skouson

Dear President Kirkham,

                Well this has been a week of much growth. I had to do things that haven’t been the most comfortable but been the right thing for the situation.

                Today was good to see a more business side of you President. It kind of makes me wonder if I do want to do some sort of business after mission. Luckily I have a long time until I have to think about after mission things.  My parents think it would be a good idea for me to go to school in the spring time after I get back but I think I’m going to try to keep with your advice about not thinking about too much after mission life until after mission.  Hopefully this won’t put me behind as I go home though.

                Just like I said President I have learned a lot this last week. I know the presentation that you gave me to present was very inspired.  It not only helps me become more apt to receiving correction but being able to give correction to lift and inspire and help people become better. I feel as though the second time I gave the presentation it was much better than the first. I would like to hear about things I could have done to make it better.  Just like you always say “improvement requires change”. I have recognized the change I need to be making to truly help others to become who they need to be. I pray that I will be able to love people enough to help them improve even though I may not feel comfortable doing it.

                Even though we didn’t get much time to proselyte we still had some great lessons on Sunday. On Saturday before we came to help set up the Christmas Devotional ( which was great by the way),we were passing by a fairly new investigator of ours when a man who looks about 30 years old called us over to talk to him.  His name was Owen and of course all he wanted to know was about the thing we are doing here in Liberia. We briefly explained to him that we are missionaries that have a message that will bring joy and happiness in this life and the life to come.  He then asked a few more questions and we invited him to know more by coming to church the next day with us.  He is a very intelligent man and told us that his cousin was a member.  Funny it turns out that his cousin is Benedictus Freeman, what a small world.  We gave the invite just as usual and hoped that he would come.  The next morning about half-way through sacrament we got a call from Bro. Owen he was outside and didn’t know if he could come in or not.  We quickly ushered him in and sat him down with the congregation.

After church we went to the appointment with him and sat down with two great members as well. One name Charles (who was wearing the salmon colored shirt today that introduced you as the key-note speaker) and another member who Bro. Owen knew from before named Michael Jerry.  We had a great lesson and just before we closed we talked about the young single adult activity that would be happening on Christmas Day. He then said well I should really not be invited to that because I am married…. Let me go get my wife.  Both Elder Pentreath and I just about jumped out of our chairs. So yes he has a wife and 2 kids together and works for a company who maintains public wells.  So yes we are teaching a great Husband and Wife who will be such strength to the Sinkor Branch and the Church in General here in LIB.  We are so excited to be able to sit with them as a family next time we sit down. The only problem is he works a lot through-out the week but says that Sundays with be free for him and his family.

We also had another great lesson with a man and his women William and Satta. His only real concern right now is he is just a tailor and can’t read or write very well if at all. He says he has had shame to sit down with the missionaries before or go to the church because of that. We sat down with him after Bro. Owens lesson and really tried to help him feel the love that God has for him. We mainly focused on How to Begin Teaching by introducing us to him and also the Church. We ended up also teaching him about the Restoration of the Gospel and invited him to pray about that message. They too are very promising and are actually a member referral for Comfort Moore who is now helping us teach them both. We very excited for this area to really progress and prosper.

Thank you President for the opportunities you have given me to be able to serve others and grow myself.

Love,

Elder Skouson

12/17/13

Dear Family,

 

Well i am here to prove science wrong!!!! Not really but we lost our internet connection to the main office in Liberia. So maybe they got struck by lightning.

 

The week has been very sweet got to finally reach to other counties. SO sweet. We went on Exchange in both Kakata and Harbel.( Bush!!!!) I will tell you more about it in my next email.

Well i am preparing my instruction for tomorrow for our christmas Zone Conference. If it is good or not depends on how long this email is. You know i absolutly love you to the end of the world and back but just know this is important for the missionaries here in liberia, and is very important to me.

I love you so much and cant wait to talk to you on Christmas. You know it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas. I would love to talk in the morning time for you all in Las Vegas so just give me a good time probably like around 5-7pmliberian time and i will do my best to call you.

Love,

Elder Skouson

(the White African)

12/9/13

Dear Family,

I am trying to write my weekly letter to you and all I hear in the background is a Big LOUD BAGPIPE. Don’t worry Elder Heszeltine is playing Christmas Carols so that better than the three songs they know in Nauvoo. - Play a Bagpipe, go to jail!!!! It’s really quite amazing actually. In a loud almost obnoxious kind of way. Haha.

Christmas Season is setting in here in the Mission Office. We have been setting up Christmas Decor all over the Office. President put up a poster with all of the title Jesus Christ and it really sets the tone and reason for the Season. President invited us to stay with him and Sister Kirkham overnight on Christmas Eve and Join them for Christmas. How cool is that!!!! I love the both of them so much. They are just absolutely great.

Well I can’t remember if I said in the short email I sent last week but we did get to eat Goat. I was the lucky candidate who ate the Liver which is very rich with Livery-flavor. We truly were fed like Kings. The man who fed us his name is Bro. Bryant. He is all into the whole because we are APs we should be treated like kings. He gave us soft drink after soft drink and plate after plate of food. He is a Loma man, from the Loma Tribe, which means He loves a soup called "To-Bo-Gee" and beans which can most of the time make your stomach run or give runny tummy. I don’t think I have been that full in a long time. Which the after affects are just always so much fun. But it was a great Thanksgiving to be had not on thanksgiving.

We again we privileged to instruct throughout this week. Most of the time gets nervous but starting to get used to it though so that is good. I love to be able to assist president with things to help the mission run smoother. Now the fruits of my labor have turned from recent converts to help others to have more quality converts, if you know what I mean. But this doesn't mean we have totally away from Liberian just not as much time working with investigators. Got to love the missionary work here in Liberia as well as all around the world.

I have been thinking about it lately of how bad a missionary I was back at home before I came on Mission. I was so scared to share the gospel I really wouldn’t just in case they would ask me a question I didn’t know or talked about something that I wasn’t aware of. I kind of kick myself for thinking these things. My mind refers to the title "you know enough".

Now that I have been a missionary for over a year, testifying to people every day that Jesus is the Christ, It’s easy just to tell people what you do know and what you have a testimony of. I know I had a testimony of Jesus Christ and about living day prophets and the Book of Mormon. I think about the people I could have helped if I had just been a little bit bolder about my testimony. I seemed to think a testimony is something in needed to work on by myself and never let it come out, or only come out during church and maybe youth activities, when others had a similar testimony so they would understand. Which no doubt I did need to work on it by myself at times, but the amount I share it needed to be different. I'm not going to dwell too much on regrets though Pres. Utchdorf told me I should avoid negative feelings and thoughts of regrets. So I guess I can take what I have now and share it with others. There are so many reasons for a mission. One big impact I have seen in the last week has been what I am talking about now. Being confident enough to bear my testimony really to any person or place I go.

As we walk down the streets of Monrovia many time people will say under their breath to a friend, " Dat Latter-Day Saints there-oh." Nobody here (unless they are American knows what "Mormons" are. My heart starts to pound small and we ask how do you know us?? They will usually say that they have sat down with missionaries before and it provides a great conversation and most of the people want to have a chance to sit with the missionaries again. This is always one of the small moments were we are able to bear a quick but heart-felt testimony to them and tell them to come to church. Liberians are just so excepting to the Gospel and we love it even more when they accept the Restored Gospel.

Well now I am just talking now I love you very much and tank you plenty-oh for the support you always give me. Oh and thank you so much for sending me those 4 packages!!!!!!! I haven’t opened all of them yet but I have received them all!!!! WOO HOO my family really does love me plenty. Haha. You guys are the absolute best family I could ever ask for. I keep praying that someday your bodies will be back to normal and healthy.

Love, Your son/Brother

Elder Sousing

(The White African)

P.S. Quote of the Week: "Work until your ears ring!" Henry B. Erying’s Father

P.P.S. Here is my letter to President Kirkham.

Dear President Kirkham,
I would first like to thank you for the opportunity to give on instruction on How to Receive and apply Correction. I already have some ideas that I would like to use inside this presentations. I think this will give me an opportunity to understand how I need to receive and apply correction that others give to me.
Well this week was a good one as usual. We didn’t have a whole lot of time in our proselyting area this week but still had a good number of investigators come to church. Of course, baptism and confirmation is a big step in the conversion and the ultimate goal for our investigators is to attend the temple, but I feel as though church attendance is just as important. I guess this kind of goes back to our fundamentals, Revelation through Church Attendance. When investigators come to church it truly is a sign of how willing they are to follow through with commitments and really prepares them for big commitments such as Baptism and Confirmation.
This week as we saw many of our investigators come we were able to see which investigators are really progressing. One in particular Patrick Toe is doing exceptionally well. He recently with the last couple of years has come from Ivory Coast. He speaks manly French but is starting to know English pretty well. This last week we haven’t had the chance to sit down with him due to both his and our busy schedule. Nevertheless he was there about 5 minutes before church began. In talking with him after sacrament meeting we made an appointment with him after church and began to think about who could come with us to teach him. Thankfully we have many men (who just received the Melchizedek Priesthood) who can speak French and fluently. We ask one member named Wilson who came with us and followed up with Patrick about the Plan of Salvation in really a way that we couldn’t do, because our French is so rubbish. We then talked about the Word of Wisdom and The Law of Chastity both of them he has committed to himself that he will turn away from them and repent. We know that these things won’t be a hard thing for him because he has so much Faith in Jesus Christ.
President we have already seen some of the effects on the new emphasize of the Fundamentals. Zone Leaders have begun to train on focusing on a specific fundamental during their exchange with District Leaders. This already has begun to show missionaries that the way we can be successful is going back to the basics. The feedback from people seems very positive. This was very inspired to discuss in our mission council meeting.

It’s wonderful to be just a part of the missionary work here in Liberia and see all these wonderful miracles if we just let ourselves to be molded by the hands of the Lord. I guess that’s really what it is all about. If we are willing to be submissive and flexible with willing attitudes the Lord can truly work through us with no resistance. Not saying I am there yet but I am trying hard to be there.

Love,
Elder Skouson

12/4/13

Dear Family,

First I must beg for your forgiveness as I didn’t write this last Monday. Here at the office throughout Saturday night even until Sunday morning there was a big lighting and thunder storm, which really kept us up through the night because it was very close and loud. As 6:30 rolled around we got up and prayed and headed to the bathroom when all the lights in the building flashed on and it seemed as if outside was just lite up with a super bright light. At the exact same time the roar of thunder cracked in an ear deafening way. After the light had dimed and consciousness came back we realized that the building had been struck with lighting.

This was all a big detriment to us as it had zapped the internet satellite on the top of the building, so needlesstosay we haven’t had internet since Sunday morning. So sorry ya.

I just going to briefly sum up cause I aint got too much time.

This week was good!

Love,

Elder Cowskin

(The white African)

hahah sorry but I really need to go enjoy the letter I wrote to President Kirkham. I love you all and don’t worry I am doing great and I am healthy!! I love you all.

Dear President Kirkham,

I have realized some things in these last couple of days. First off about fasting; making a physical sacrifice in order to receive spiritual blessings. Yesterday as me and my companion joined in the church wide first Sunday of the month fast I asked myself, “Why am I fasting?” What is the real reason why I should take part in this fast? Am I just starving myself because that is what everyone else does or am I fasting with purpose? I had knelt down the night before asking heavenly father while I fast to grant me with the blessings I needed or at that point felt like I was supposed to receive. I realized something through-out my day as my body was tired and hungry, that we can fast for specific reasons but it is still our Heavenly Fathers will on what we receive. Ever since I have come into the office I have been praying that I will be able to retain more information, remember names and faces much easier, and to be able to ask the right questions to get the desired answers. I look back on it now and I have improved on each of these things I just haven’t realized it because it has been maybe a slower process then I first had expected.

Yesterday as we were following up the situation between Elder Conners and Elder Jemba with Elder Zolo and Elder Ngobi I realized I was being very lenient. They hadn’t done anything to resolve the situation even after we had told them to.  I found myself just trying to tell them in a not direct or uncomfortable way. I was just very lenient. After talking to my companion after the conversation he reminded me that Leniency is not Loving. I was trying to be as loving as I could I thought but I realized that I wasn’t truly loving them because I was lenient. My question then I had towards myself was, “Do I love people enough to not be lenient to them?” I have never wanted to be in the situation where I was just too mean or angry at a person to love them but I guess it’s kind of opposite for me. I’m just too nice for some peoples benefit. Makes me think about what Elder Dube said this last week about what a leader does. “A leader is someone who takes a person or a group of people from one place to another.”  Thinking back on the conversations I had with the Caldwell Zone leaders helps me understand what exactly I need to do to truly help people. This is really a change that I need to make. Improvement requires Change. So hopefully I will be able to help people by “Truly” loving them enough to say the things that are needed to be said.

This week my companion and I had many service opportunities. One of them was being able to give priesthood blessings. After Bro. Kessellie turned into Elder Kessellie and was set apart as a full-time missionary he had the chance to give a blessing. Sister Muzambi was not feeling very well and so we traveled to her apartment to give her the blessing. This was his first one so we guided him on what to say when you anoint the person with oil. The blessing that Heavenly Father wanted Sister Muzambi was very direct and clear what things she needed to do not only for her body but also her companionship. This was a sweet time for all of us as we used the Priesthood power to perform this blessing.

President the work is going great!! I love the opportunity I have to be serving with Elder Pentreath. He is a great help to me to learn things that are going to help me in the future as well as now. Thank you as well for giving me this opportunity to be one of your assistants. I hope we will be able to assist you in the best way we can! President thank you again.

Love,

Elder Skouson