Language flowing, missionary skills growing!

Hello!

NO LONGER A BACKSEAT DRIVER

If the mission is a long road trip, being a trainee felt a little similar to being in the backseat of the car, buckled up in a car seat, being driven around and introduced to everyone. As the junior companion, I have really loved feeling more needed and competent. 

It is interesting too as I look back on my time with my trainer, and think about how I can be a better companion to my current companion. I have consciously decided that I want there to be no doubt in my companion's mind that we are on the same team, and that I have his well-being in mind.

Really, a lot of things are going well. From the beginning, I am trying to create a good relationship with Elder Secinga, and really trying to learn from him. He is a good missionary, and he has this cool, humble, quiet, funny and kind of slightly cynical but not negative sense of humor. I am enjoying our time together. Our apartment is just him and me and it is small, clean, and very new. So it was easy to clean it well this morning.

The language is flowing better, and I felt I was really able to show competency in French as we meet with the leaders in our new branch, Yaou. We were able to walk with the first counselor after church to meet and know the houses of the members.

Know that I am well fed, and I love the solid doctrine of the church.

Love

Elder Evans

I'm being transferred--Yaou

Hello all,

I have finished my training! And am being transferred...

New area: Yaou, which is a little further away from civilization than my current area. I will be the junior companion to Elder Cisinga, from Congo.

NATURAL GROWTH 

When we want others to change some habit, we often think that the fastest way to get them to change is to constantly remind them to change their habit. Hans T. Boom, in the most recent general conference, explained that there is a more natural and result-yielding method to help others to change,

"To me, ministering is exercising divine love. In that way, we create AN ENVIRONMENT where both the giver and receiver obtain a desire to repent...

"For instance, there is no need to constantly tell our spouse or children how they can improve; they know that already. It is in CREATING THIS ENVIRONMENT of love that they will be empowered to make the necessary changes in their lives and become better people."

TITHING AND FAST OFFERINGS

...were the subject of our Stake Conference this weekend in Grand Bassam. A lot of examples from the Book of Mormon where the Nephites and Lamanites became prosperous as they turned outward and served each other as their own basic needs were met. The Stake President made the points, "The Lord doesn't ask for tithing because the Church needs money. He asks for tithing to turn our hearts towards Him." and also, "When we pay tithing, we put ourselves on the side of the Lord."

Our Stake of Grand Bassam has a lot of faith when they pay tithing. I know that the Book of Mormon is the Word of God!

Love,

Elder Evans

It Is Time

Hello all,

YOU WASH MINE, I DRY YOURS

During our preparation day, I had a little extra time in the morning, so after I had finished with the scrubbing portion of washing my clothes, I scrubbed Elder Kanyesa's clothes also. I left to mop our apartment floor, and when I returned, Elder Kanyesa had not only rinsed both of our clothes, but set them out to dry too. 

Even though we both did the same amount of work we would usually do, it was a good, "I've got your back,"

companionship unity moment.

COOL HANDSHAKES

Something funny that happens here is men will often greet each other with multi-step, complicated handshakes, usually including a snap at the end, and as hard as I try, I never really pull it off smoothly. It's a funny moment after I don't get it right, I laugh, the other guy laughs, and he usually responds with something like "Welcome to Cote d'Ivoire" 

THE HOLY GHOST

I recently studied how the Holy Ghost will often teach us line upon line, and oftentimes how much we learn depends upon how willing we are to follow little promptings.

The Church is true, it is the same church with the same organization that Christ established, and I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God.

IT IS TIME 

This week, as I was walking to an investigators house to teach about how the gospel blesses families, I had the thought, "Ugg, I feel that there isn't a lot of new news with this lesson. Everyone knows you need to respect your family." Then, as we were teaching, I had the thought, "Did you enjoy having a father in your home as you were growing up?" That truly is something that I take for granted, and the teachings of the gospel really will help families here, as there are so many children who grow up without the emotional support of a loving father.

I love the advice mom gave me a week or two ago, "It is time for these people to receive the blessings of gospel, the temple, and the priesthood." Those are all things I take for granted, but are huge supports in life.

Love,

Elder Evans

Chicken frying and leaving the nest

Hello!

Here are some pictures from the last couple of weeks. 

The Koffi's wedding lunch

Elder Mensah, draped in the Tahitian flag, to protect himself as he fries chicken in oil for us. He is by far the best cook in our apartment.

Recent baptism

WADING THROUGH LAGOON WATER

A neighborhood in our area, "Quartier Petit Paris," is this mile-by-mile concrete maze, with probably hundreds of seperate homes hidden inside. It is situated next to a lagoon, and the lagoon flooded into the neighborhood this week. So, this Wednesday, to make it to our afternoon lesson in Quartier Petit Paris, Elder Kanyesa and I took off our shoes and socks and waded through the neighborhood to Frere Agoh's home! I felt very cool, and scrubbed my feet really hard with soap that night.

IT'S TIME TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE

I loved reading Alma 42 this week, which talks about the Plan of Salvation. Just like an earthly father who tells his children, "It's time to get out of the house," Heavenly Father lovingly and omnisciently sent us to the earth to learn and grow. 

Parents want their children to grow and become like them, maybe even a little better. Most of all, parents want their children to be happy. Sometimes they cry and complain, but everything parents do for them is for their good. 

I know that Heavenly Father loves us, and that the Book of Mormon is the word of God.

Love,

Elder Evans