March 31, 2014

Just the usual Spiritual Boost kind of week!

Hey family,

This week has just been a jack-a-la week. We are working very hard to sprint to Elder Oni's finish of his mission. Cant believe that Sister Benfield is already coming home. 

We had a great teaching week as well. We were teaching one man named Jefferson Wesseh. I think i have talked about him before but our focus of the lesson was to help him and his wife to gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. We started with the lesson by answering some questions and helping him to understand what the Book of Mormon is all about. His wife is very smart and wants to go back to school to be a lawyer. She also had quite a few questions. This was while i was on exchange with Elder Finau who is now an assistant to the president. Elder Finau and i still had the companionship unity that we always had so it was just sweet. 

I started to bear my testimony after we had committed them to pray about the book of mormon together. When i said that i Know the Book of Mormon is true. Thats when i hit me. I had so much love for this couple and i just wanted them to know so bad. The spirit hit me as well and i had to hold back the tears in my eyes. Elder Finau knew what was happening and jumped right in so i didn't get too carried away. This was the extra spiritual boost that i have needed. Mission is really no small thing. And sometimes its just great to feel the reassuring burning feeling inside your chest. Heavenly father really does watch out for us missionaries. 

We have some new investigators who have a lot of potential. We had a lesson yesterday with two men both named arthur. Its kind of funny cause i had never met someone else in liberia named arthur and yesterday met two. Anyways they are both doing so great and they are really seeing why the church is different then all others. We had been very bold in our teaching with them and we are really seeing them progress because of it.  They had both committed for a baptismal date and to invite there families to join in our lessons. Things are looking up for these guys.

Not a whole lot else went on this week. Until i was asked to give a talk in Sacrament meeting. I was asked to speak about Work. Now this is something i know so i felt like i truly had some input on this. Heavenly Father really guided me on what to say to this Harbel Branch. Work is something that isn't new to Africans especially Liberians but something that is new is working in callings and teaching and other things that the church requires of us. So my talk was based about in the Church or Serving in the church. I related much of my talk to Missionary Work because, its what i do, haha. But Heavenly Father really helped me to speak clearly and i knew people could understand me by the reactions so it was a good talk because they really understood the message Heavenly Father wanted me to give to them.

I know Heavenly Father truly loves us. That is something that has stood out to me in this past week so much. I have been trying to love him as well. I have taken an evaluation of my prayers and there are things i need to do to improve on. But i know that Heavenly Father sees the big picture and all he wants to do is help us stay on the right path. We sometimes need to do things that aren't too comfortable for us in order to see the path. But he is there ready to greet us when we return back to him. 

Missionary work is the best work we can be doing. I am thankful for each minute and its kind of scary to think that there is life after this mission. 

I love you all and hope you all are doing very well.

Love,
Elder Skouson

March 24, 2014

Dear Family,

This week was kind of one of those work your guts out kind of weeks. 

Elder Oni my companion has about 1 month still in the mission field we both want to has his last transfer be the most memorable.( im still trying to convince him of that though). 

We did work really hard though. Things are starting to pay off because of our hard work. Saturday we had a baptism for a woman named Christiana Gwesiah. She is our Branch President's wifes best friend. Christiana is 21 years old and has really changed throughout the last month or two since we have started to teach her. Funny how we got in contact with her. She actually was running away from the PPD or police/security system that is here in Harbel because she got into a fight with a guy. Its a long story but the hole thing was figured out and we started to teach her. 

Now since that time she left her rotten boyfriend and really has repented and wanted to follow Jesus Christ. 

Its really the best thing about missionary work is just seeing the change people can have. I love the quote from i think President Monson's talk about how leopards cant change there spots, but people change everyday. This is what i have seen time and time again on my mission. This is what brings me the most joy is seeing people truly let Jesus Christ into their lives. Not an apostate "Holy Ghost Fire" but truly letting Jesus Christ be the one you look towards as the one who can heal our grief and give us a peace of conscience.

It was great because her mother came to both her baptism and confirmation which means she came to church. I always love to ask the question about how they felt at church. We get the usual answer of just felt at peace like i could think. Then that's when a member who comes with us to the lesson usually says its a lot better then dancing and sweating and singing our hearts out. 

Her mother name is Gharmen and was very receptive as we sat down and talked about the restoration of the gospel. She also exected a baptismal date of April 26th. Next lesson we will have to find out if she is married to her husband though. So we pray she will be. 

I am doing great out here and trying to work hard so i wont have any regrets when i leave this mission. 

Love,
Elder Skouson

P.s. I made the sweet and sour sauce and nobody really would eat it except for me. Its sad i know. but oh well.

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 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.

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.