Christmas in Africa

From Elder and Sister Black's Blog:
Saturday evening, December 20th, was the branch Christmas party. For some time now the Primary and the Youth have been practicing up to present some drama productions and songs for Christmas. It was wonderful. The chapel was filled to overflowing. The primary kids sang songs and presented some readings about Christmas, then the youth took over with drama and more songs and the branch choir also helped out. It was a program that would be a credit to any ward we have at home.

Tuesday, December 23rd, we prepared all day to have the missionaries over for our Christmas Eve dinner and party. Soeur Black had the tables decorated up nicely and we had a wonderful dinner of chicken and rice. I think it was a first for many of the African elders. The elders played the keyboard and sang Christmas carols while we were finishing the dinner. Afterwards we had some little gifts for everyone and played the gift game where you can either open a present or steal one from someone else in which case they get to open another. Everyone including us enjoyed the evening.

Christmas card

This card was hand painted.

Journey is the destination

Elder Phillips, my first companion, talked about a phrase, ''The journey is the destination.'' For example, most of the time when you go backpacking, you don't actually go someplace, you just walk around with a backpack on for a few days. It is the same with a mission, or kind of, it isn't the perfect analogy. But, the idea is that the mission is the destination, and it is important to enjoy the journey. The goal of a mission is not just to finish the two years. The mission is the goal, if that makes sense. The idea was really good, and it was something that I really needed to learn. Sometimes I just feel like the mission is too hard, and like I am just trying to endure until the two years are over. But, the mission is the destination, and it took a long time (19 years) to get here. I need to enjoy it while it lasts. Thanks to my Aunt Rae, who in a letter said something about how after her mission she remembers the good more that the hard, and that it is the hard memories that help make good memories.

Not one, not two, but three

First off, for the church here in Benin, yesterday (Sunday) was an incredibly important day. The news...(drum roll).... the branch here was divided into three separate branches. I don't know if just saying that captures how important that really is. There has been only one branch here for 6 years or so, so this is the first division ever here. There are only around 200 or so members, so the branches will be small, but it is really awesome. Really, it was great, and I'm not really sure what to say to help you understand how important and how awesome it was. (Michael said that the Gbedjromede branch he will be in, has about 150 members. The other two branches (Akpakpa and Menontin) are further out and probably will have 30-50 people. It will be a lot easier for them to get to church having it closer to their home.)

It will be very difficult, especially for the first little while, but will help the church here so much in the long run. So, missionary work will be a little different because of the change, but not too much. This last week, and especially in a training meeting for the new leaders of the branches that the missionaries went to, I have really realized how much we have to build the church here. We do all of the stuff that all missionaries do as well, but here our real goal is to build the church, basically from the ground up. I think that I had realized that before, but it hit me again this last week.

Okay, so something else that I've been thinking about lately is how nice it is to have church buildings. Here, church meets in a house, which has been made into a building we can use for church. It works fine for the most part, but isn't ideal. (see attached picture, it is small, but will give you an idea about what he is talking about) But, we had a Christmas activity this last Saturday, and it would have been really nice to have a gym or something for that. We had it in the room we use as a chapel, and it felt kind of weird to me. The activity went okay, though it started like an hour late. Sometimes things are like that. We had an investigator come, but he had to leave before the activity even started. So, yeah, that was too bad. I could go into more details with this story of the Christmas activity, but I think I'll move onto other things.

I've heard people say that the church is the same everywhere you go. I don't think that is quite true. The gospel is the same. That doesn't change. But, the way that the church works is not exactly the same here. Not in a bad way or anything, or a lot different, just a little bit.

New Companion

We had thought that transfers were done when two missionaries got transfered to Cote d'Ivoire last week. But, 4 more missionaries went there this last week. I think that it was all of the district leaders in Togo and Benin. That is what I heard anyways. So that is a huge change. My new companion is Elder Gondo, from Cote d'Ivoire. So, that is a change. It is so much different with an African companion. The culture is just so much different here. That will take a lot of getting used to. It will be hard, but that is okay.

I will be speaking a lot more French now. In our apartment, I am the only one who speaks English. The last week, I have felt like my French has improved a lot. Both with Elder Phillips and with Elder Gondo. I have had to speak a lot more lately it seems like. But, for the most part I can get by. I need to learn a lot of stuff outside of teaching situations though. Understanding is still sometimes hard when it is fast. And my vocabulary is still small. But, like I said, I can get by for the most part.

Thankful and Testimony

December 1, 2008
"I am grateful for washing machines. I don't think that most people realize what a washing machine does, but I do now, after having done it by hand. Air conditioning is an amazing blessing, though I have learned to live without it. Having a fan is very nice though. I am grateful for power, since this last week the power stopped working a couple different days. It really helps me to be grateful. I remember the talk in conference where someone said that we shouldn't have to lose something to be grateful for it. I think it was Elder Hales in the Priesthood Session. I am grateful for hot water, which is something we don't have. But again, I have actually kind of gotten used to cold showers. Also this last week, when the power stopped working, we didn't have running water for a while. We got filtered water in bags, but no running water. so that was hard, but a good experience.

Above all else, I am grateful for the gospel, and for the love that my Heavenly Father, and my Savior Jesus Christ have for me, and the testimony that I have. It is just amazing to even think about. Sometimes as a missionary you just think that it is so obvious that the gospel is true, that everyone should just believe and get baptized. But, it doesn't work like that. I read the special issue of the Ensign about Jesus Christ the last couple days. It is amazing, and I highly recommend that you read it if you have the chance. I especially liked the article by President Packer about who Jesus Christ is. So, I really have a testimony of the love that God has for us. I see it every single day in my own life, and in the lives of others. I knew this before my mission as well, it just grows even stronger as a missionary. I know that we have the true church of Jesus Christ, and that if we pray and ask good, that we can receive a witness through the power of the Holy Ghost that the Church and Book of Mormon are true. God really does hear and respond to our prayers, it is not just something we do because it is a commandment, or it shouldn't be. We should pray to God because He is our Father, and He loves us with a perfect love. I know that the power of the priesthood is real, which is very humbling. It is God's power, yet He trusts us enough to act in His name to be able to serve His children on the earth. I could go on and on, but those are some of the things that I am grateful for, along with a testimony of some of the things that I know."

Haircut and Happiness

I got a haircut last Monday. Time is a lot different as a missionary. My companion cut it, with some clippers we have in our apartment. So, that was pretty interesting. He did a good job, it's not really that hard to cut my hair, since I don't care that much what it looks like. (I told Michael that he might have to cut his companions hair. I don't think that he believed me before he left)

So, there is a quote in the missionary call letter that says something to the effect that you will find your greatest happiness as a missionary. It really is true. I am not exactly sure how, but I really am happy most of the time. There are times that things are really hard, a lot of those times, but there are other times that are really good. But, it is not really me that is happy, it is more that I am happy to see other people's happiness, if that makes sense. We taught a family home evening the other night with a recent convert and a couple that has been members for a while. So, couple had a temple calender that hadn't even been opened, and they gave it to Matin, the recent convert. After words, just to see how happy he was, it was really awesome. And, to know that the happiness that the gospel brings is the only type of happiness that can last for eternity. So, yeah, the gospel is true, you should all share it with people. And go on missions when or if you have the chance. It is cool. Really hard, especially with learning a language, but really good.

And on December 8th he wrote: "Well, I have a ton of stuff that I have been thinking about lately, and it is really hard to be able to express myself in writing. Or in speaking for that matter. Basically if you could just feel the things I feel, that is the only way to completely understand. Basically right now, I just feel happy. I am not sure exactly why, but things are going good."

Gift of tongues-Magnify calling

The gift of tongues is real, I don't think I really realized that before my mission, I didn' think much of missionaries learning languages. But, it is real, because I have seen it in my life. So, yeah, have faith, and all things are possible.

The people here are mostly new members, so it is really cool to see them magnify their callings. SOme of them don't really know what they are doing, but they try really hard, and do a good job. It makes me wish that I had tried harder at my callings before my mission. Always do your best, even though that is really hard to do.

French

J'ai lu hier une citation de Elder Ballard. Il a dit la chose que il dit les personnes que avoir le désire de savoir de la veracité de notre église. Il les dit que ils doivent passer un jour comme un missionaire. Il a dit que rien ne peux faire ce que les missionaires de notre église faire sans une connaissance de la veracité de l'évangile. Je sais que ça c'est vrai.

Benin Apartment

View from the balcony

Kitchen

Living room (notice the clothes drying in the back left corner)

Bedroom

Today we went grocery shopping, zhich we do every two weeks, since it is kind of far away. Plus, laundry takes forever doing it by hand. I am getting better at it though. I have started wearing shirts and pants more days, since then I don't have to wash as much.

Oh, so our schedule here is much different than the normal missionary schedule. I don't remember if I have written about that before or not. It was also differnt the one week I was in Abidjan. We get up at 6 30 and start study at 8 00, but we only have an hour of stufy in the morning. Then we leave until noon, and eat lunch and have two more hours of study. We leave again, coming back at 20 00 which is 8 00 at night, they use the 24 time here. We plan, eat dinner, and go to bed at 10 30. We have very full days, but that is good. Sometimes I wish we had more time so we could do stuff like wash dishes, and clean, and write longer journal entries, but it works.

We had stake conference this Sunday, and watched a broadcast for a large part of Africa. It might have been all of Africa, I'm not sure. Elder Holland and PResident Uchtdorf and tzo others spoke. It was very good. One of them talked about this I think, and I have just been thinking about it too. Don't every take for granted anything that comes from the tithing money of the church. I know that I do this way too often. Manuals, tables, anything that comes from tithing money. I know my scholarship at college also came in part from tithing money. Really, think of the sacrifices that people are making to pay their tithing, and be grateful for all that the church can provide for free. It is a great blessing.

Baptism

Soon after I got to Benin, Ernest was baptized. I didn't really teach him, but it was cool. He was baptized by another branch member.

About Benin

First Institute Class Held in Benin September 26, 2007 —

Enthusiastic young adults in the West African state of Benin sat in their first institute class earlier this year, nine years after the first citizen of Benin was baptized. "Each of you, this day, has become a part of history," said Leslie Southam, a full-time senior missionary, to those in attendance on that first day. "You will always remember this day as the first day institute was taught in the great country of Benin, and each of you will be remembered as pioneers by others who will come after you." The country of Benin has one branch consisting of 166 members. Nineteen people have been baptized since January 2007, and members say institute has helped the investigators who regularly attend the meetings to learn the doctrines of the Church. Those who teach the institute class are still fairly new in the Church, but they love the gospel and are preparing to serve missions, said Sister Southam. Lionel Missigbeto, who joined the Church a year and a half ago, is one of the teachers. He submitted his mission papers and will become the second missionary from Benin. The pioneer spirit is evident in the French-speaking branch, said Sister Southam. "These people are much like the Church [members] in 1835," Sister Southam said. "The members are young in the Church but willing to learn and grow." The first citizen of Benin to become a member of the Church, Claude P. Toze, was baptized in October 1998. The Church was officially recognized and a branch was organized five years later.

Thoughts

A friend asked me how I was doing. The following is how I responded.

"As a missionary mom, it depends on the day. Some days I do really well. Other days the littlest thing will set me into tears. It is hard because I want to learn about where he is at, but don't want to learn so much that I get scared. I feel better about him being in Benin than Cote d'Ivoire. I thrive on his letters. I got to talk to him right before he boarded his flight in SLC. I didn't think I was going to get to because the time had gotten so late. I just broke down when I didn't think I was going to get to talk to him, but then he called and things were great. When we didn't get a safe arrival e-mail, I got a little sad, but I prayed and had the confirmation that he was ok."

Benin

Michael was assigned to Cotonou, Benin. He flew there on October 23rd. Elder and Sister Black are the senior couple missionaries serving in Benin. They wrote: "Our airport experiences are always interesting. We had word that the elders were to arrive at the airport about 7:00 in the evening so some of us went down to meet them while Soeur Black stayed home and fixed a spaghetti dinner for their arrival. By the time we waited at the airport for a while and started to ask questions, we became aware that there was not even a flight scheduled to arrive from Ivory Coast until almost 9:00. We finally picked them up and got back here by about 10:00 and had a good spaghetti dinner which was welcomed by all the new elders as well as the old. It was a good time to get acquainted and find out about them all."

The Blacks are from Blanding Utah. It is said that wherever you go you will meet someone from Blanding. It has been true for us.

Michael's companion is Elder Phillips. He is from Layton, Utah.

Cote d'Ivoire

First apartment

Bedroom

Kitchen

I am using a French keyboard today, so there will likely be a lot of wierd puncution and spelling. q instead of a, ; instead of . and with q,z,w, and m as well a and m will be the biggest though.

So; I qm here safely, which is good, The last week hqs been by fqr the hqrdest of m,y life, but now things qre going okqy: well, mqybe not ok, but they qre better now: It has been really hqrd q lot of the time: But, it will all work out in the end: So, thqt is good:

So, yeqh, it is pretty crazy here, but good: It is much different thqn what I am used to: Riding in q tqxi at 60 km per hour, on the wrong side of the street, pqssing somebody; quite exciting: especiqlly with onco,ing trqffic: Or; todqy I got to do laundry for the first time, without a wqshing machine : Thqt wqs quite the experience: And then; after finishing, going inside and not hqving air conditioning: Or q warm shower; thqt is probqbly the hqrdest thing:*

Church is amazing here, the highlight of my time so far: even though it is in french, the Spirit is still the same:

Be grqteful for qll thqt you hqve: There is a lot here that is the same as America, but also a lot that we take for granted that is really nice to have: Be grateful: you probably donùt have lizards running around your apartment, or bugs everywhere:

Africa

I got to talk to Michael right before he boarded his flight in SLC. I didn't think I was going to get to because the time had gotten so late. I just broke down when I didn't think I was going to get to talk to him, but then he called about 3:10 and things were great. He boarded his flight about 3:25.

Michael left for Cote d'Ivoire, Africa on October 13th. He flew to France with 6 other missionaries. He then flew on to Cote d'Ivoire by himself. He arrived on October 14th.

His mission president is President Ayekoue. He is a native Cote d'Ivoirian. He was a professor of biology then an educational administrator before going to work for the Church as the Seminary and Institute program supervisor and then was called as mission president.

When I didn't get a safe arrival e-mail, I got a little sad, but I prayed and had the confirmation that he was ok.

Africa

If you want to read something interesting about the pioneers in Africa, go to the following link. Michael is going to have a great mission. http://www.byui.edu/Presentations/Transcripts/Devotionals/2001_04_03_LeBaron.htm

Lance

One of the boys, from our ward, that Michael grew up with, Lance Rhoten ended up living across the hall from him at the MTC. Lance entered the MTC September 17th.

"Hey, so here is a funny little coincedence here. Actually I'm not so sure about the coincedence (okay, I dont' think I spelled that right), but it was funny. So, Elder Lance Rhoten from my ward in Richland lives like two doors away from me. We just saw each other last night. It is kind of weird because the floor I live on has been almost completely French the whole time I have been here. I think it is still mostly French. So, he is speaking Spanish."

Missionaries

Classroom pictures

Temple Pictures

Prayer

Speaking of prayers, thanks so much for your prayers. I really can feel that people are praying for me, sometimes it feels like I even feel exactly when they are praying, though I have no way of knowing whether that is actually true.

Officially a Missionary

Entered MTC

Michael entered the MTC on August 13, 2008. It was a bitter sweet good-bye. You have taught them all there life the things they need to know to be a good missionary. You want them to go. You want them to be worthy to go. But it is hard saying good-bye for two years.

One of themembers of the mission presidency said when it actually comes to saying good-bye, use the band aid approach. Do it fast and it will hurt less. We tried that.


(Right after he got his name tag)