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.