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

11/18/13

Dear Family,

 

What do you know another busy week!!! Gotta love being here in the office! To answer you question i have no idea how long i am going to be one of Presidents Assistants. Elder Pentreath and I were trying to work it out but it all depends if President keeps Elder Pentreath here for another transfer or if he is going after this one. Either way i will probably be here for 2-4 more transfers or like 3-5 months. Woohoo!!! I love being here in the office with all the great people we get to work with.

Well we have seen some of our own miracles come in and out of here in the office this week. Wednesday our brand new baby missionaries came in from Ghana. Woo. No these Elders werent babies at all. Elder Sanders, Gunnell, and Backman arrived at about 5:00pm and we are in charge of them having a great first night in Liberia. We feed them some great rice and stew with some legit BBQ sauce and tasted amazing. We then talked and planned with them so that they would be able to have some down time and write in their journal.

 Everything in the mission gets better when new missionaries arrive. President sees the wonderful impact new missionaries can have on the mission and so he takes this opportunity and magnifies it. He calls the best trainers to train these new missionaries and puts them in the best apartments. You really can notice a difference in ever part of the work. And these missionaries are totally prepared for the job. Its no small thing to be here on mission especially in Liberia. In this mission because it is so young, you learn to be flexible. Each apartment is lacking reliable resources which really can effect the work. Such as water, power, Natural gas etc. So when you arrive it can be a little bit weird when the first time you try to open the tap and no water comes out ( or its different colors). This is why I love the missionaries here just because they are able to adjust and quick. It is so sweet.

 

Dad to answer your question about am i getting the hang of this whole Assistant thing yet to be honest, After doing another week of training and doing different instructions, no not really but i am getting there. Hopefully someday it will just come when i am able to speak where people just understand me and i can clearly get a message across. I think this is going to take some practice though. haha i think i am too hard on myself sometimes as well. I just need to gain that confidence in what i am saying. But like i said its a work in progress.

 

Interesting thing that i noticed this week. My companion and i were teaching a young man named Wilobah about the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We taught him how Christ had established his church and due to the great apostasy it fell. We then had the wonderful opportunity to explain Joseph Smiths first vision with a picture of the vision.( Its always cool to see every ones reaction to seeing the picture when they see it for the first time." Wow, that Jesus??) When we teach this no matter how many times i have on my mission it always strengthens my testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith. I love to explain about The Book of Mormon. Even now as i am writing it i feel just peace inside my heart. I know these things are true and i love being on this mission to share my beliefs and things i know to be true with absolutly everyone around me. It is very uncommon to meet a stranger and not talk about anything besides the church or the Book of Mormon or what we believe as missionaries.

I met a man from India this past week, we got talking about why he was here and what he believed in. He explained he had come here for business and his wife was back at home and he was Hindu. Very interesting and nice man. I love having something to talk about with everyone. How easy is it just to simply explain something you believe in. Never did i think this back at home. I was always to worried that they would ask me a question that i wouldn't be able to answer. But now thats not the case.

 

Welll as you can see i am just enjoying my mission immensely. I love Liberia and Liberians so much. I know why they call it the best Two Years. I am just glad its not soon finishing there is just much i still need to learn here.

I love you all very much and cant wait to here from you again.

Love,

Elder Skouson

11/11/13

Wing apo, Greeting from Pocahonts

 

Big email here-oh.

 Here in Liberia is really the only mission that actually allows missionaries to ride on motorbikes. Woohooo ya lucky us. But last Tuesday the government decided to take all the motorbikes from the major road in Monrovia and surrounding cities. This means that if we want to travel anywhere we either have to take car which is very difficult because they are always packed or Walk. Just picture our old saturn with about 300,000 miles. That would be what the typical taxi looks like here. You know how there are suppossibly 3 seats in the back and 1 passanger seat up front well those each add one. There are always 4 in the back and 2 up front. Lets just say that it isnt the most comfortable ride especially when you have a bigger body compared to most liberians.

 

Because of this we have walked a lot more then usual. I think i can say i am use to walking now being on mission for a year. I really can walk all day. But we cant teach nearly as many people as we have been privilaged to in the past. President really saw this as a good thing when i first happened cause there would be a lot less accidents with missionaries and motorbikes but it is taking a toll on the proselyting time of all the missionaries with the additional walking. Just means we need to plan a lot better.

 

Well with the week.  Presidents focus with our mission right now is teaching new members the after baptism lessons or what we call the new member lessons. In other parts of the world really the ward or branch usually heads these lessons but this really hasnt been happening here due to such a rapid growth of people coming into the church.  So we have given a couple of instructions on this in the past week or so.

We had the chance to see more recent converts this week which was really good. We dont have much time in our proselyting area so we rieally try to do the most efficent thing while we are in the area being real missionaries. Hehe. We had a great lesson where we went on splits with our Elders Quorum Presidency and taught the Gaye Family. We taught them about the priesthood in action. President Williams told a story of how he was able to pray for someone in his family. Really sweet.

I go back to my first blessing i ever gave. Dad and i went to mountain view hospital for someones father from our ward. I dont remember what i said at the time but i just remeber the peace the man recieved before he went into surgery. I knew that is what Heavenly Father wanted for him at that time. Times with Dad like these i will never forget.

 

Thank you so much for the family history you sent in Dear Elder. Yes i beg would you send more about the skousens as the arrived in America.

Thank you Lynn and Mary Marrott for sending the wonderful cards and ice cream money!!!! I really enjoyed with that!!

 

I hope that you know i am working hard to learn as much as possible. I love being a missionary here in Liberia. The Hand of the lord is really over this wonderful country. I Love the gospel and all it has to offer. I love seeing such change in so many peoples lives. There is nothing i can do about where they live but how they live in the places they do.

I love you all, even if you are enjoying Lake Tahoe without me. Its alright you all need it very much. I will need it sometime next year.

Love,

Elder Skouson

(the White African)