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.

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)