How is Africa?

Whats up guys!

I'm glad that baby Miles is ok and that everyone is getting over all of their various diseases. I'm very grateful I haven't gotten too sick or anything but since I said that well see!

Sorry I'm writing you guys so late because today was kinda crazy because we went into the market today and we couldn't really find what we were looking for so that took a long time and also the bus ride back was filled with traffic so it took a little bit of time but its all good!

So today this week went by so quickly and also we didn't have power for 3 days so we were a little forced to sleep on the roof of our apartment because inside was too hot.... sooooo but yeah I slept with my net and I didn't get bit at all so don't worry about it mom! and I've been steadily taking my doxy lately so it was all good! Also we had fish in the freezer and that started to smell absolutely terrible!

Alright so this week we worked like maniacs! We pretty much disregarded any form of a schedule that we have and we taught every single person that was possible! If they gave us a rendezvous we were always there! And it was so tiring! Sunday I was absolutely beat but today I feel like I could do it all over again! Maybe it doesn't sound that smart but it actually worked super well! When I first got here the sector was pretty much dead due to missionaries that worked there before but me and my awesome companion found a bunch of investigators and were able to set 7 baptism dates throughout last week! They should be done in the next 2 or three weeks depending if they're ready and we had 5 investigators show up to church which is actually pretty good here! We really worked hard and it was nice to see that a lot of it payed off. I know that maybe the style of work we put in I couldn't do it for all my mission but it was nice to have one week of just plain work, no meetings, not many delays, or problems just a week of straight works. I guess you could call it working without wisdom but it was pretty fun! It also made the week pass by so quickly its weird to think I'm already in the fourth week of my new transfer!

And to top it all of we had a baptism this Sunday as well! I'm going to try and send some pictures I just hope that you get them! Also I was also able to read a ton of Jesus the Christ today and its very detailed sometimes a little too detailed but I'm really liking it so far so if you have the time make sure to try and read it! Well that's just what happened this week and its been really good! I'm doing good and I hope everyone there is doing good as well! I love all of you guys!

Quiet Week

Hey guys!

Alright so this week the connection is better but I'm not sure Ill be able to send some pictures because I don't even know how long that would take to send them all. I'm glad to hear that mom is over her sickness and I hope that you can figure everything out with Mason's wedding which was really weird to type because I always figured he'd be at the house just until he was thirty ;)

Alright so let me describe where I am so you know its Cococodji and here the place is a ward and its a very big difference between a Branch and a Ward. In Porto-Novo it kinda felt like we were literally starting a branch and there were a lot of things that didn't work very well at all but here it actually works pretty good! Everyone knows there job pretty well and yeah its nothing like churches back home but its a lot more organized than Porto Novo ever dreamed of being so that's a nice change. Also, its a lot easier to find new investigators as members are actually pretty good at presenting new investigators so that's been a change not having to do as much contacting on the street and doing more teaching. HOWEVER, we walk so much and its ridiculous because this sector is huge and we actually have people who are interested and come to church but they're so far away so we get to walk a good amount!

Alright so my apartment is 4 missionaries with one shower by the way, but the missionaries are Raveneau who's a French man and is pretty much what you think a french man would be like. Elder Larson who came with me and he's super cool and actually has similar interests as me so we can talk about stuff back home pretty well which is awesome!  Then my companion Elder Tshileu who is from Congo and very very very kind and peaceful! He doesn't really talk much but really likes learning English and is very cool! Also there is not one single person has a phone!

I cant say that were perfect but were pretty good! Also the French man is going to be leaving the mission after this transfer but the apartment is good!

Also its kinda crazy because when I came here I felt like I learned some good scriptures to teach with but for a kid who just finished his training Elder Tshileu knows so many more than I do and its crazy! I might be the senior companion but its pretty much him that teaches and its really cool! We teach really well together and that's something that was a little difficult with the other 2. Hypote because I couldn't speak French yet and Agbewoley I didn't get much of a chance but its good to be teaching like we should! We also had a baptism when I came here and we've fixed 3 more for this following week and now we just need to finish up the lessons and it will be good! Elder Tshileu really likes working so its been really nice to get out and work like we should be doing and so far its been good! He's really been a good companion and the apartment is also really good and its been a nice change!

There's just one more thing that I want to add, this week really kinda taught me that I should really look for this best in things even when there is really a lot of difficulties. There's a lot of things that can make you discouraged and that kinda happened this week. I was pretty tired all the time and one day we had 7 lessons planned but only ended up teaching 2 also the fact that there's not much working right in this mission makes me sad almost every time I think about it but its really helped to look for the good things those which I've all listed on this email. I'm pretty motivated right now and I'm looking forward to next week!

I hope that you guys are having a good week and that you'll continue to have a good week! Also when is Masons wedding? Maybe you've sent it to me but I've forgotten! Thank you for all of the support that you guys give me and have a good day!

Be My Valentine

Hey, guys!

If possible I'm going to try and send more but for now, if this is all
you get I just want you to know I'm safe in my new area but the
connection at the cyber is terrible! I love you guys so much and I
hope this gets to you! I'll try and send more but well see how it goes!

Super Bowl Weekend

Hey Guys!

Alright so everything is going pretty well and it turns out that I'm headed out of Porto Novo and going to Cococodji with Elder Larson in the same apartment as well as being a senior companion. So hopefully that will be good! My companion is from Congo and I don't know his name really cause its super hard to pronounce and so when they told me it I didn't understand. I'm still in Porto but head out Tomorrow. It's like the complete opposite side of Benin so it's going to be a little bit of a drive but I'm pretty happy with the work that I put in here but I still wished I could do more. It sounds like all the missionaries are pretty cool over there and I'll also be with an actual French person, so hopefully I'll get to speak French pretty well.

Thanks for the package and I look forward to getting to it and I'm glad you all had a pretty good super bowl weekend. it's kinda weird cause I honestly forgot there was a super bowl until you said that. Yeah, I've been taking my medicine more regularly and the mosquito net I'm using a little bit more but not as much as mom may like. It gets kinda hot when you're under it so that's why but I'll do my best to start using it more and more. Oh and I really miss your French Fries, big guy.

So the transfer for me is actually pretty bitter sweet. So Momma Josiane did end up getting baptized and her whole family and they consistently come to church and they're even inviting others to come as well. They just barely got converted and they're helping out the branch more than a lot of people. With her and her family is where I've felt the spirit the most and it's kinda hard to leave because also she is pregnant and wanted me to bless her baby so that is actually pretty saddening. Also, I have to leave Elder Gosse who really became one of my best friends here on the mission. He has a pretty crazy story and he's just a really awesome kid. However, I am super glad for the opportunity that I've had to start out my mission here. I've learned a lot of things and how to try and deal with things that you may not see in any other mission and it's really helped me shape my objective here and how I should live with someone else of a completely different culture. I really feel like the Branch of Porto-Novo was really kinda getting started so it's kinda sad to leave after seeing a whole bunch of progression but that's what the mission is. It's kinda sad to leave a place with a pretty sure knowledge that you probably won't see it again but things are all good! I'm looking forward to the other things that are going to come my way. I'm just really grateful to have served here with a bunch of amazing people I've met but I'm sure I'll continue to have more crazy adventures.

Anyway, that's kind of all I got for this week. I have some pictures that should be with this so I hope that you like them! I love all you guys and hope that you'll have a good week!

Apartment Elders

MTC Buddies

Great Dinner