March 17, 2014

Dear Family,

This has been another eventful week. I actually dont think i have ever had a boring week at least here in Harbel.

We started off this week with a very strong Zone Meeting. It kind of weird trying to instruct the best missionaries in the mission and world. We were just leading dicussions to get the missionaries talking. Something Elder Kouao (my Father/trainer) talked about was being bold about this being the only true church on the earth. Sometimes i think we can forget or even trying not offend other people by saying this is the only true church on the earth. I began to understand my purpose a little bit more as he was talking. We aren't hear just to make people feel happy about what we are saying. We are crying repentance to the Liberian Nation. Not just speaking flattering words. He also talked about recent converts and sometimes they don't stay as active as you would like. But he said he makes it his responsibility to make sure his converts know exactly what they are doing by not coming to church. So throughout this week i have tried to be more bold and honest with everyone.
After Zone meeting in Harbel I had the great opportunity to go with Elder Marondera from Zimbabwe back up to Kakata to going on an exchange. He is such a funny man and we had a great lesson with one Recently baptised family. There name is the Tarr Family. The mother or father wasnt home but we asked then when was the last time read the book of mormon. Everyone kind of shifted and laughed small trying to make light of the question. Nobody had read since there baptism. After calling them to repentance and bearing testimony of how this helps us fight off temptation they all excepted the challenge to read every day. We read one chapter together and were very bold and it was exactly what they needed. From me and my companions testimony you could see how important the Book of Mormon was to us and how it has truly shaped our lives. I love bearing the testimony that i have read the Book of Mormon from Cover to Cover (or at least till the index) and I know that it is true not because i have read it but because Heavenly Father has revealed it to me that it is true through the holy Ghost.

After a great exchange with Elder Marondera we said our goodbyes and Elder Oni and I left to go back to Harbel. I had a big backpack with a bunch of sleep over things inside but felt the impression that we should go straight to our area instead of the apartment. So we did. And As we were approaching President Wesseh's house we saw a crowd of downhearted people. At first i thought someone had died but then i saw the smoke from what was left of three houses that were almost burnt to the ground. One of our recent converts told us what had happened and showed us his Book of mormon. He said as he ran inside the burning house to see if anyone was inside he noticed all of his books on his table where already on fire except the Book of mormon which he pulled out immediately. Every since Francis Howard had received that book he reads it every day it was very special to him. It was just amazing and a testimony to him about the book of mormon. 

They started to move some of the debris so no child would accidentally get hurt. My companion started to move there belongings to the house across the street and i began tearing down what was left of the house. Great unplanned service project. Kind of felt like i was on extreme home makeover.

We had a great lesson with one of our recent converts who hadn't been coming to church for about 3 weeks. She was our member present in teaching a girl named Cynthia Cooper. Cynthia is a great women who is about 19 or20. She randomly came to a baptismal service that we had and we have been teaching her ever since. Shema our recent convert and Cynthia have similar problems with the Law of Chastity so we talked to them very openly about and its great because now they are going to help each other and be friends. Its really sad that at any age young girls get caught up in selling there bodies for small money. Actually quite depressing. But its wonderful seeing the change in people as they begin to repent.

The relief society had there big party again for the anniversary or the relief society. Lots of dancing and food... they just invited us so we could eat the food though. Crazy party as the sister love to do.

As we were sitting outside planning for the next day we heard,"Chicken rouge". We looked up and saw a hawk fly down and pick a small chicken and carry it away. Kind of cool but the old ma who had the chicken was pretty vexed about it. 

Well hope everyone had a good week and pray that this one will be even better. We tank God-oh.
Love,

Elder Skouson

March 3, 2014

Dear Family,

Just another usual week here in Harbel. No bush hikes today to see the country side.

We had the opportunity to do some service this last week on Thursday. Our neighbor was working on some land behind her house to remove the brush so she could start to have her own garden. We offered our help thinking just brushing and moving some small weeds was just a small task. 

After hours of work and gallons of sweat we finally we cleared most of the brush from off the ground and burnt the rest. She was so thankful to see her yard when she returned home from selling at the market. She cooked us some plantain and put red oil on top. I was very good and makes you full after just a little bit which was great. Now every night since we did the project she has cooked for us. 

To be honest she wasn't too welcoming to us missionaries before. We would always say hello but she just kept her distance. Her heart has really been soften because of this simple act of service that we did.

I had kind of forgotten how you feel after doing a service project. Truly when you are in the service of your fellow beings you are only in the service of your god. Mosiah 2:17. Well of course we felt exhausted but our spirit were full. 

On Saturday we made the trek up to Kakata to do some baptismal interviews again. I had the greatest experience sitting down with a 8 year old boy named Uraus. I sat down with him and talked with him and asked him the questions i am supposed to ask, he was very sincere in answering the questions i asked him. It was just a good time to sit down with this small boy. I asked him if he would pray he said yes and we kneeled down and began to pray. This was the most sincere prayer i have ever heard. He went from each member of his family and tanked god for each and every one of them. Then he asked for forgiveness for saying mean things to his sister. he paused then said, "Sorry". by the end of his prayer i just wanted to give this boy a big hug. Even now when i write about it i feel that spirit i felt when he gave that prayer. 

Truly there was a strong relationship can communication between Uraus and Heavenly Father. Made me really think about how my prayers were if i had the same sincerity when i asked for forgiveness. I learned so much from this 8 year old boy that i will never forget.

I just finished reading two books by David A Bednar called "Increase in Learning" and "Act in Doctrine". These are books i highly recommend that you should read and take the time to study them. They have opened my eyes to not just reading the Book of Mormon but studying it and apply the things i understand. Since i am still going through the Book of Mormon i am seeing about what i can understand about the Atonement and also the Character of Christ. These two go hand in hand which i never really thought about before. But i am just working hard to prepare my self spiritually every day. 

Thank you for the continual love you have show me throughout my mission. Please continue to do so. I live off of it. Remember missionary opportunities aren't very hard to come by but just try by opening your mouth. Heavenly father puts the words that you need to say right in your heart.  

Love,
Elder Skouson.