Love and Service

Hello!

MARRIAGE AND BAPTISM - Israel and Josiane Koffi, a couple we have been teaching for the past couple weeks, were married Thursday and baptized this Saturday. 

I was touched to see the sacrifices they made to get married and be baptized. They had to have made these arrangements to be married and baptized because they felt something. Our mission president recently emphasized in a multi-zone conference that missionary work can only be accomplished by relying on the Spirit.

Not by doing things "our way."

DAILY SERVICE - I recently saw a video on churchofjesuschrist.org that really touched me. It showed all the little daily things a certain elderly man did for his wife, who appeared to have suffered from some mental sickness. 

With his arms shaking, he would feed her breakfast. With his hands trembling, he wrote her a note (that she would not be able to read) for her birthday. He wheeled her around town and took her out to dinner and live music that she may not have even fully processed. His wife may not have fully appreciated everything he did in the moment, but he did it all because he loved her. 

I was so struck by how noble these tiny acts of service are. This man had probably lived a very full life, but these tiny acts of love he did every day seemed to me one of his greatest accomplishments.

I have had the thought that, looking back, I will be the most proud of the genuine connections I make here in Cote d'Ivoire and how I serve them. 

Love,

Elder Evans

"The love of fruit is a connection that transcends all languages"

Hello!

Two Tahitian missionaries stayed in our apartment for the last three days of their mission, and they were both so good humored, polite, and they bought and shared a lot of pineapple and watermelon with the other members of our apartment. One of the Elders left his baptismal pants in our apartment, and I attached a picture of me wearing them.

LEARNING ABOUT MY COMPANION

I had several long conversations with my companion where I learned a lot about the completely different culture that he grew up in. While Elder Kanyesa and I have very different personalities, I loved it as we were laughing about stories of what mischief he and his friends did when they were in elementary school.

We discussed the history of Africa, specifically with colonization and religion, and it struck me how the African people have a history that makes them who they are, and it is very different from the history of the United States, that makes Americans how they are. Me, Elder Evans came over to the Ivory Coast, knowing only the way of life of the people of Provo, Utah and Frankfort, Illinois...which is so tiny. A lot of my mission has been learning to respect and even love the quick, heated style of talking, love of their food, relaxed schedule, and other ways of life here.

Anyways, I felt a greater love and respect for my companion as we talked about how he grew up and about African culture.

CRITICISM AND NEGATIVITY

A member of our Stake Presidency recently shared advice that came from an Area Seventy,

"If you want to distance yourself from Satan, avoid two things:

Criticism and Negativity."

Criticism usually feels pretty validating in the moment, but people who make mistakes still deserve our love. Because we are people that make mistakes too. Criticism feels like the opposite of trying to understand someone.

FRUIT

Because I am a loyal and constant customer, I am becoming friends with a woman who sells fruit near our apartment.

"The love of fruit is a connection that transcends all languages."

Love you all,

Elder Evans

QUICK HELLO AND JUICY FRUIT

Hello!

BOOK OF MORMON:

I gave a talk in sacrament recently on the Book of Mormon, and was struck by this point:

Our individual testimonies of the church can be boiled down to a testimony of the Book of Mormon. If we come to know that it is true, by studying it, pondering it, acting upon it's principles, and praying to know if it is true, then we come to know that it is the Word of God, translated by a prophet called of God, and that that same authority leads the Church today. 

It is natural to have questions, and even doubts, but we can always return to the point, "Do I know that the Book of Mormon is true? Has it's teachings brought me joy?"

HOSPITAL:

Elder Kanyesa, my companion, had some medical concerns, so we traveled to the big city, Abidjan, this week. I was frankly a little overwhelmed by all the cars and noise and billboards and traffic lights and stores and American brands that were present there, and it felt like I had woken up from a dream in which I forgot what cities feel like. 

MANUAL LABOR:

Our apartment's water got cut this week, and by yesterday our reserves were running pretty low. A local ward leader offered to fill up our water containers that we have, and this afternoon, he dropped off all 30 of our 5 gallon water containers at the base of the stairs of our apartment complex...so Elder Kanyesa and I hauled them up to our apartment on the 3rd floor! It was not very fun, but it was a good companionship moment as we did long, not very fun, but necessary, manual labor together.

WATERMELON:

The fruit here is sensational. I snack on half sized watermelons that sell for the equivalent of 60 cents each, they are so juicy and so tasty.

Love you all,

Elder Evans

The end of his supply he brought from home

Will, Elder Sorenson, and Elder ??

Will and Elder Kanyesa in a hospital in Abidjan

Apartment in Grand Bassam

Be yourself

BE YOURSELF:

This week, I have found greater joy in missionary work by following advice a local leader gave me, "Be yourself on the mission." In the sense that we all have different strengths and weaknesses. My companion and I have very different styles of interacting with others, and I have found I have felt awkward and unsure as I literally tried to copy every habit and mannerism of his. This week, felt a lot happier connecting with others while being myself.

TRANSPORTATION:

In Cote d'Ivoire, probably 90% of the cars on the road are either taxis, or a sort of bus called a "baka." The drivers on the road are nimble, and they drive really fast, and pass other cars with seriously just inches separating the cars. The way you hail a taxi (and also the way that you get anyone's attention in general) is you really aggressively purse your lips and make a kissing noise. 

The "bakas" are vans which are a little bigger than a minivan, and you efficiently pack 10-16 people inside. One of the sliding doors to the van is usually open as the "apprenti" is hanging out of the van, making the aggressive kissing noise and calling out to people on the side of the road as the van is driving (to obtain customers). Once the baka has been filled to capacity, you drive for about an hour to your destination, shoulder to shoulder with a lot of new people. 

BAPTISMAL SERVICE:

13 converts were baptized this Saturday in our zone's baptismal service. We didn't have enough towels, but what a great problem to have! It was very empowering to see all the converts lined up, waiting their turn, looking over each other's shoulders to see how the ordinance is accomplished.

Love you all, 

Elder Evans