I found a white shirt .... for two cents

September 18 2017

We had a great week this week. We received quite a few contacts and found a few. We have Fr Olivier, who has talked with missionaries at Pointe Noire but is now in our sector; he is interesting and I hope we progress well with him. We also have Fr Hervald who stopped us en route. Yeah, we'll have some work this week with all these contacts. Elder Kisimba is doing well. He loves singing so we just sing together sometimes. He is a good worker too, and has a good desire to follow the missionary manual.

We got Debit cards for our mission. It's really awkward because most ATMs are in the open... it's kind of scary. We're going to have to look for other ATM's too. 

I found a white shirt the other day for two cents, I just need to get the sleeves tailored for two bucks. So little by little I'm acquiring new clothes.

I keep learning cool things from the Book of Mormon student manual, like this, "If we follow the commandments of Satan, we will receive answers from Satan. If we follow the commandments of God, we will receive answers from our Heavenly Father" and, "If we do not obey the commandments then we are ungrateful towards our Lord (we are also in rebellion against him)"

I'm also learning more and more how to "Fear no man"

Je vous aime!

Nous ne craignons aucun homme! or Nous ne craignons personne! or Nous ne craignons pas l'homme! So many ways.

Elder Russell

Language thought: In kitouba (a local language) uhn (pronounce eh-uh, put together fast) means "yes"

Elder Kisimba 

you know I love reading!

September 11 2017

I'm glad you are learning about charity, mom. It is a very important virtue (and is very linked with all the others). What you said about an outward mindset reminds me of a talk they had at the MTC called "The Character of Christ" by Elder Bednar. He talked a lot about looking outwards. 

I've been relearning a lot by going through the "First Twelve Weeks" booklet for new missionaries. It helps me see where to improve.

Elder Kisimba is already good at giving lessons. He is really kind and patient.

I've also learned more about prayer, just by reading Enos. It just gives such a great example of a sincere prayer and makes me want to pray more sincerely. Also reading in President Gordon B Hinckley's manual about learning was awesome. I love that when he was retired he would read in his library and then think about what he read while he sat on his stone wall outside. It makes him a bigger role model for me (you know I love reading!).

Fr Vieclaire, Fr Paul, Sr Gracia, and Fr Romich all got baptised this Sunday. I got to baptize them. It was cool but I forgot an extra pair of garments so they were wet afterwards... oh well.

My companion got his shirts tailored today also because they were too big. I didn't find any new shirts, they were all too small. But I'll find some eventually!

Je vous aime tous!

Nous ne craignons aucun homme!

Elder Russell

I was valiant; I am valiant: I will stay valiant.

September 4 2017

So a lot has happened here. First off: transfers. I am training. My trainee is Elder Kisimba from RDC Lumbuumbashi. He is about my age, give or take a few months. He is quiet and gentle and reminds me of me when I arrived in Douala, save it be not as big. I acquired a lot of experience from my time with Elder Cicon and I see that it prepared me for this.

I've also been reading the life and teachings of Jesus. Great book. I just read the part about the Beatitudes and how they help us progress and become like Jesus. I also read a part about the premortal life and how an apostle was wondering what he did, how he reacted, to the council in heaven. I came up with this motto from reading that: I was valiant; I am valiant; I will stay valiant. Yeah.

We will also be meeting with Elder Hamilton this week at the zone conference. Fr Vieclaire is getting baptized the 10th and Fr Ebibas the 24th. I didn't really take anymore pictures this week...

Je vous aime tous!

Nous ne craignons aucun homme (I'm improving with that)!

Elder Russell

sunburnt

August 28 2017

One cool thing this week was that we were talking about talents and I made of list of mine so I could see what I could work on. I still need to make some concrete goals but I'm excited to do it. 

One highlight of the week was that people got baptized! Sr Belvie and Sr Sagesse (for some reason her daughter didn't get baptized). We have some other children we are preparing for baptism in addition to others, they are mostly cousins or siblings of other members. We are planning Fr Ngoyi and Fr Ebibas's baptism for the end of September. So still working hard!

We also went to the beach for a zone activity today. It was cool but after taking pictures you don't do much except get sunburnt.

Je vous aime!

Nous ne craignons aucun homme!

Elder Russell