eh fanbul dem

Dear family,

How are you guys doing on this great day? it is a great day for me because I just received sustenance (money)!!  That means no more suffering for food. Well, ok I mean less suffering for food!! This week for me was pretty good.  Kind of a lot happened for me.  There is so  much success happening here.  It is awesome to be a part of it all.  You will be surprised when I tell you how many people that we have been able to help come to the church. it is amazing the number of people that are joining the church.  People that I met just over one month ago!  It is kind of like people's lives (in my eyes) are on fast forward.  I meet them with their lives kind of in shambles and then they come to church and pray and then see the blessings start to pour in.  We set a mighty high goal for this month on how many people that we wanted to help come to the fold.  We had an idea it was kind of a long shot because we just had met some of those people, but we prayed about it and we decided that it is a good idea to try to push these people a little bit and see what they can do and see if they are really ready.  In doing this, we had to give the people commitments that were maybe harder than usual but would help them to gain a testimony fast.  It's amazing when you do this.  4 weeks is what we are supposed to give for a baptism date.  When you do what you are told to do, the work goes so smooth.  Something that I was reading said that so many missionaries try to work different tactics when teaching people and trying to persuade them one way or the other or convince them to do something.  All we need to do is TEACH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST with the spirit.  IF YOU teach by the spirit people cannot deny the message which you bring to them.   People can deny doctrine ideas or whatever but something that is really hard to deny is a witness that is true from the Holy Ghost.  By bearing testimony, they will know that what you are telling them is the truth.  As a result of those efforts and teaching by the spirit, I believe that we reap the rewards.  I don't reap the rewards, the people that we were able to teach reap the reward.   God never gives you more than you can handle, good or bad.  He will NOT give you more than you can handle. I will testify that by showing him that you can handle more, He will give you more to handle.  This month we had fifteen people come to the gospel of Jesus Christ. I guess that makes up for me ripping my $70 long sleeve shirt!  Yesterday we did most of their confirmations.  I have told you in the past that we are in a really mountainous area.  Well, of course yesterday was a huge rain storm and when that happens hardly anyone comes to church because they cannot get here because of flooding.  Many things in life will test your faith and this was one of those faith testers for our converts. I was stressed in the morning, hoping that they would come and trying to organize 12 confirmations.  I was trying to get elders together and teaching them prayers. I tell you that the best thing to do is pray.  After I decided to say a prayer to myself, I was so comforted and I knew that I had done my part and to just let the Lord do the rest.  I was very happy to take up half of the sacrament meeting with confirmations.   11 people showed up.  One was flooded at his house.  11 people soaking wet came up to me and told me thank you.  I tell you, the tender moments in mission. I can't tell you the joy I felt, to see the smiles on their faces as they received their gift, and their blessing.  Now that we are bringing so many people to the church, we have to work on retention.   Man, now our idea is to have a devotional.  I have a good idea but man it is a lot.  They ask a lot of me, in the PEC meeting, we talked small about it and I think we are ok.   We are getting a new brach pres. and they insist on telling me I am going to be it.  They are crazy!  That will never happen.  I just found out recently that 2 people that I taught and baptized are preparing to turn in their own mission papers.  WHAT!!!  How crazy is it to have someone you baptized going out to be a missionary before I even go home from my mission.  It's so sweet!  This week I had to be like a marriage counselor - man, people and their tiffs.  I tell you that I almost whapped this man for beating his wife. He is lucky I am a missionary and controlled my temper.  I chastised him and I guess things are working out. it is just funny that people seek advice from a boy that is not even married haha.  I do have a girl here that is after me though.  She is 8 and I guess she loves me and wants to marry me. So she was devastated when I told her that I can't marry her, that I already love someone, and want to marry someone else.  She is very persistent.  She told me that she can cook better, clean better and is nicer than Riss (obviously she does not know Riss!)

 

So I guess all is well here, nothing to complain about.  Power and water come occasionally, well power does.  Food is the same.  Keep on keepin' on!  Love you all.

 

Love Elder Kev

S
Hello family,

How are things going over there? I like to ask that every week, I hope that you don't mind.  Things are going good here.  This has been a very long but also surprisingly fast week. It's weird it was both at the same time. Probably because we got so much accomplished this week. Lots of fun things happened as well as some crazy things. So let us begin. We have not had much water lately.   We have been living off the reserve water, so as a result we have to get water trucked to us. And when the truck comes we all go out and bucket brigade. We bring out all of our 5 gallon storage containers as well as our buckets. Well my companion had a dirty bucket and he was going to wash it out, but apparently he touched one of the elders with it. So the elder said if you touch me with that again, I will punch you in the face. Well in my companions infinite wisdom, he touched him again and he got what was promised. Man some people are so childish, on the both sides. And, of course, I had to be in the middle of it. So that was not fun. The good news is we have water

 

So later we went out and had some good lessons, obviously frustration was in the air. We came back at the end of the night and no power.  So they light up the generator and shortly after the lights start going crazy and we smell fire, electrical fire.   We go out and yup the WALL is on fire. I guess you could say it was good we got water that morning. All is well though no worries just some burnt paint and wires and a bad smell in the house. Its funny cause I told them that that would happen if you try to run the whole house off of one plug. Well they believe me now. I just laugh at the way it gets fixed. The old plug just melted so lets just get a new one. Soon we will learn that the same thing will happen but no one listens to me. So to move on with the week. We had some good lessons found out that we need to change some baptism datea forward so we will be having 5 more baptisms on Saturday.  It's so funny people in this world they don't understand that the field is already white.  Why are you waiting to harvest? Get to work stop talking about how ready everyone is and start making something happen.

 

So I love to just jump in and start to help people.  We helping this girl and her family. And this girl needed to carry this oober heavy cooler full of water to the top of mount everest to sell. So you know me, I did it. You know that she called me the most stubborn person she had ever met.  I just thought that was funny. People here don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. You have to show your love for the people by helping them. But let me tell you something that cooler was heavy ha-ha.   I don't know how she was going to do it.

 

So this week we did lots of work at the church for the open house and for Elder Sitati.  We had zone conference this week. Man, I swear if I have to sing at another one of those I am going to be mad. This time did not turn out as well I don't think, considering I found out the new song the day of and also I got to practice a total of one time before singing for a general authority.   Just kind of mad that they threw in a solo for me as well. We sang more holiness give me. It was nice to see everyone, especially elder Jenkins.  Elder Sitati gave a instruction on…. You guessed it eternal marriage.

 

We had 7 baptisms this week and  that was awesome. It was sad to hear of my old branch pres.  I loved that guy.  He died from malaria. That stuff is brutal.  So I am tired of typing, so I think this is it.

 

All is well.  I love you all.  Happy b-day to gpa moss and also B this week.   Love you guys!

 

Love Elder Kev

Hey Family,

How are you doing? I am doing great as usual. If you ever hear me say good or fine that means I am doing great! In Sierra Leone, fine and good is the standard answer when someone asks you how you are so I have kind of got stuck in that rut a little by saying I am fine. But I am doing stupendous. Things here are moving along well, the work seems to go smoothly. It is funny how in the week you can have one lesson that is so spiritually powerful and then just immediately after that lesson you go to someone who will not even give you the time of day. It is frustrating sometimes but its ok.  I am coping with these people that like to just mess around with us. I was thinking about how blessed we are with people that are ready to learn. It is funny how so many people cannot read or even hardly talk English but they will do their best to learn all that they can learn. It's funny cause they say that this is a English speaking mission. But let me be first to tell you that that is a lie. It is not but its ok.  I have found that the Lord will bless you with the gift of tongues when you get here so that you can communicate. I like what President Monson has taught:  "The goal of gospel teaching . . . is not to 'pour information' into the minds of class members. . . . The aim is to inspire the individual to think about, feel about, and then do something about living gospel principles" .  We teach the people that living gospel principles will put a smile on their face forever. I love this gospel.

Sometimes I wish I finished writing this email before I read my emails. Its hard to smile knowing Kobe died but its good too know that he is in a better place plus we still have Shasta and Rex.

So this week Is going to be busy, we have on the schedule a open house with a General Authority coming, Elder Sitati. He is good.  He is coming to have an open house and also to dedicate the building.  Man, have I been doing some work there. They really take advantage of my mechanical mind haha. The branch pres. calls me his boss.  Man, I don't want that responsibility but I guess I have to have it. We also have zone conference Friday, guess who gets to sing again for another general authority. Yup, it's me.  Man, I don't think I am that great of a singer so I just don't understand why I have to sing so much. I think that will make three general authorities now I will sing for. Also we have 3 people that need interviews for baptism and to top it off we have 8 people baptizing Saturday. And I have to preside over that!  This will be a crazy week!

We had zone meeting this last week. I feel like I got spiritually slapped in the face. I feel like I am not doing enough to help the people. I don't want to be these peoples anchor. I need to do more! We will see what I can do. Living is going great, we have had power but not water.   Yesterday I burned the tar out of my hand.  Man that hurt. Steam burn from the rice. Oh well nothing time doesn't heal. We had a baptism last week. It went really well and the spirit was really strong.  I also got to sing there as well.  Who would have guessed that I had that talent. I guess all the la la's I sang around the house helped. Not for dad but for me.

So I found out Elder Lambson is not doing all that well.  I guess he got sick and he is, or did some time in the hospital so keep him in your prayers. It's not always easy here, but it will be worth it.

So as you can see, things are good.  I hope that it is well there.  Oh some fresh new [pics of the fam and riss would be nice.  It has been a long time since I have seen you all. I love all you guys!

Love ya!  Love Elder Kev

Hey Family,

How was the week for all of you over on that side. Things here are great. Mom I think you are right, I am becoming more of myself and I am having less and less to email each week.  Things here are going good. So a little report on the week. First off, my temple tie is destroyed.  No, you don't need to send me another one because it too will get destroyed. I guess that's the price you pay with so many baptisms and conversions. Speaking of which, we had another two this weekend. Juliana Sam and Cecilia Thomas. The baptism went well and they are all confirmed and happy. I have come to the conclusion that I am ready to be a spectator at church. Bishop better not give me a calling right after retuning.  I am getting tired of being a branch President.

So fast Sunday was good but man it is not so easy when you are trekin' through the mountains of Sierra Leone.   But it is so   worth it. It make you feel like you are making more of a sacrifice. How was the fast Sunday for the rest of you all?  It was cool.  I challenged some investigators to really fast with a purpose and come to find out some did. They even decided to bear testimony about the blessings that they were seeing in their lives. So cool when you see the fruits of your labors. I don't think lots of missionaries get that experience.

People have been getting on me cause I love to work hard but for me, it makes mission sweet.  People tell me that I shouldn't labor more than I have strength but I think that they are lazy.  I just love to exert myself.  We had over 150 peeps in our branch on Sunday and some 13 investigators.  My plate is but we are always looking to put more on there.

So we have been doing some service to the church again.  It is cleaning out the sewage basically. I told you the church is at the bottom of the hill so when it rains, all the crap from upstream lands at the church. So we get out there and do some work. If we don't do it it will not happen. I am just getting sick of the racist jokes like "wow, finally a white man working for us". I tell you sometimes people just never grow up. So I am kind of glad I have learned to be the jack of all trades. Today I fixed my companions shoes.  I sewed the sole back on. Speaking of shoes, I am burning through them like crazy.

I don't know what else to say. Uh hmm so I found out that I like my hair medium length not to long or too short just enough to brush it. But now my dilemma is do I part it in the middle or off to the side.  Anyone have any input?

I love all you guys keep the letters coming.

Love Elder Moss

Running Water - Yahoo!!

Dear family,
How are things over there? Things are just great here! Just workin' away. I don't really know what to say today. Nothing much exciting happened this week. Nothing out of the norm. Oh, ok something did happen this week - it was transfer news. With that once again nothing exciting. Literally a total of like 6 people moved. Not one person changed in Liberia and only a few here in Sierra Leone. Which is not too bad for me because I'm getting into this area and getting to know it. So it is ok with me that I did not change. I really don't like changing too much except for the fact that it makes time just whizz on by. I figure that I might hit Christmas in this area or at least Thanksgiving. But I am really coming to love the people here and the branch. I tell that I am getting a little tired and that is not sleepy tired. I am tired of the living conditions, that goes without saying, but I am tired of the branch relying on me to do everything. If there is a problem, they look to me for an answer. I know it is an amazing opportunity to learn but it can be stressful at times. So I guess Pres. got the email about me playing football. We had to go to his office this week to have him do a baptism interview for us. Let me tell you, the travel is another story all in itself. But we got there, he did the interview and it we got the ok for baptism so another baptism this weekend. But after he did the interview he pulled me in and told me he had received the email from mom. So I talked to him for a little bit. He told me that the earliest that he can send me home is 30 days early. So the earliest I could leave is June 3rd. I told him that I will do some more praying and talking to my family. I'm thinking I don't want to lose my scholarship. So I will continue to pray and consult my family, Riss and leaders and make a decision. At this point, I am leaning toward playing football again.

So this week the senior couple's children came to visit the mission. That was quite a different experience. I asked them if I have bad English and they said no but sometimes I use a funny accent when I talk. Also they said that I have good krio because they have no idea  what I'm saying when I talk. It is fun to talk to people from home and share some of the experiences I have had here.  It just seems too early to be sharing my experiences.  It was just weird.

So we have been teaching these people which I call the gang mostly because there are a lot of them, like 8.  They are doing so good.  They will be ready for baptism soon. We are projecting about 13 or more baptisms for us this month. Just for our branch. I am pretty stoked about that.  I am hoping that that is the minimum. We might have more.

So I don’t know if in conference you have heard of something called outreach but it is an awesome program that really helps out the youth. Elder and Sister Neves run it here. I love it and it really helps the youth get closer to the gospel. At our last youth extravaganza there were over 100 youth at the church playing volleyball, soccer and even football. It was a sight to see.

So I don’t really have much else to say except thanks so much for all the love and the prayers. We have had power for like 3 days now and we  have also we had enough water . . . well enough to shower today now. It wasn’t extreme pressure but it came out of the wall and it washed all of the soap out of my hair! Prayer answered.

I wanted to explain to you guys why I am always wet. As I am walking down the street and the rivers of Babylon are falling from the sky I get soaked.  Some people ask me why I don't use an umbrella.  I explained that early in my mission, I came to this house and asked the investigator why they weren't at church and they told me, with a sad look, that they didn't have an umbrella. I thought to myself, who cares if you are soaked. You can come to church soaked, in a t-shirt and shorts.  So I decided that I would no longer use an umbrella or a raincoat myself so that they could see that if I can go to church wet, so can they. That is my story.

Hope all is well take care of the fam and you know who.  Love ya guys!

Love, Elder Kevbo