E-mail dated 10/6/14

Akwaaba!

Wow, another week gone? The time has gone by very quickly for me this week as well. My first transfer in the field is almost done, which means I'm halfway through training. It seems like yesterday I got into the field! The days are long here, but the weeks are short (Eric told me that and it's so true). I'm so sorry again for last week! I spent at least 45 minutes on an email to you and realized near the end of my time that it didn't send. It's okay though, last week wasn't too exciting, I think I only expounded on the questions you asked me.

Anyways, go Utes!! I still love hearing about sports and I'm always happy to hear about my Utes! Their probably going to go to the playoffs this year, only because that's what always happens when Ute fans go on missions! Haha I'm glad to hear it though :) To be honest, I would have much rather watched something else this weekend though. I am so sad I didn't get to hear any of conference. We won't be able to hear it or read it until near the end of November... Don't take conference for granted. To hear the voice of the Prophet and His servants is a privilege that not everyone has. Remember that every word from them is directly from Heavenly Father, do not take it lightly.

Anyways, I have some good news; I had my first baptism on Friday! We had it in Eshiem, the village that is about an hour walk away from our apartment. His name is Evans Otoo, he is 16, and it was an amazing experience being able to witness my first convert baptism. Elder Mocke has been teaching him for a few months, so he was able to do the actual baptism! We held it in the evening on friday, and we had about 10 people there. I wish I could have taken a video of it, but it wouldn't have captured the spirit that was there. It was an amazing baptism.

On saturday, we did a zone service project at a school in our zone. Some black American lady picked us up and we all weeded with our machetes for about 2 hours or so. While I was there, I got to meet my new zone leader for the first time! My first zone leader, Elder Shinasi, went home last monday. The new zone leader's name is Elder Pearmain, he was recently transferred from the Liberia mission. He has been out a year and half and goes home in February. Oh, and he went to Murray! Haha I went to high school with him when I was a sophomore, he graduated with Jordan Erekson and those guys. Eric even talked to him before he left on his mission if you can remember that! Small world. We talked for a long time at the service project, it felt good being able to talk to someone so close to home! I'm sure you will see him when he gets home. That's crazy, huh?

Before I forget, If you ever don't hear from me on Monday, that means that the power is out and that I will email on Tuesday. That will probably happen a couple times, but don't worry! By the way, I recieved your package on Thursday!!! Oh man, you spoiled me. I was the envy of the whole apartment and I know that I can make that candy last for a long time. Thank you so much! You really shouldn't have done that, I couldn't help but look at the price tag...

I got my first haircut in Ghana on wednesday! I asked for an Obroni haircut, but the guy definitely didnt know how... Needless to say, my hair is really short now! I don't care too much though, I have no one to impress here! I'll try and send a picture soon, I haven't taken too many this past week. I think I'm going to buy an SD card here and put pictures and videos on it, and then send it home. It works for other elders and it would be a lot better than emailing all of them! Maybe I'll film a lot of one day to show you what a typical day of mine looks like. 

I almost forgot to answer your questions!!!

1.  Did you receive the package I sent you?  Don't be too shocked when you see the price it cost to send it to you.  I just hope it arrives in one piece.

Yes!! Thank you so much!! it got here in about 2 weeks, which is surprisingly fast!

2.  Someone once told me that when you serve a mission the days can go so slow, but the weeks seem to fly by.  Is this true?  I can't believe you have been gone for 7 weeks, but at the same time I think, I can't believe you have only been gone for 7 weeks.  

It's very true. I can't believe how different time is. I'll wake up in the morning and think of how long of a day I have ahead of me, but then I look back on the week and wonder where the time has gone. It's interesting!

3.  Did the baptism take place that you were hoping to have a few weeks ago but couldn't because the water was too high?

I'm starting to realize I've answered some of these questions before... sorry!

4.  Are there any investigators or new members that you would like us to pray for?

Wow, that's a good question. We have an investigator that Mocke has been teaching for 6 months named brother Samuel. He knows it's true, but won't accept that he's received an answer. We fasted and prayed for him yesterday, and I will let you know next week what happens with him!

5.  How has the rain been this week?  Has it slowed down?

Not too much rain this week, just drizzles every day for about an hour or so. Just enough to make everything muddy for the rest of the day!

6.  What is the strangest (or yummiest) thing you have eaten this week?

We pounded our own fufu in the apartment yesterday! Man, it was really bad. These Fante women make it look so easy, but it's a lot harder than we thought! Fufu is really good though when you get a soft dough and good soup. The candy you sent was definitely the tastiest thing I had this week though. I'm getting very good and creative at cooking ramen noodles though!

Thank you again for everything! I love the work here, and there is no need to worry about me. I really am sorry about last week! Mom, I love you so much. Don't ever forget it. Thank you so much. God be with you all this week!

Love,

Elder Degen

E-mail dated 9/29/14

So, Gavin wrote a long e-mail but it did not make it to me.  He sent this shorter, second e-mail answering the questions I had asked him:

Just in case you didn't get my long email I just sent, I'll send this!

1.  How many investigators are you teaching?  Do you give the lessons in English or Fanti?

9 or 10! We were supposed to have a baptism yesterday but the village didn't have water and the river was too high. My first baptism will be on Friday! We are supposed to teach mainly in English but that can be hard because many people don't understand. We try to teach as much as we can in Fanti and have a translator there whenever possible!

2.  Has President Stevenson been to your area since you have been there?  

No, but I go to the mission home in a week or two when it's halfway through my training! I'm excited!

3.  What are the grocery stores there like?  I  assume they are smaller than the Smith's by our house, but how big are they?

Hahaha. The shops that sell food are about the size of a closet. They sell flour, sugar, and other provisionals. We go to the market (stands about the size of a wheelbarrow) to get our vegetables and fish. There is a place called Garden Mart in Takarodi that is similar to a large gas station back home. They sell American food but it's exremely expensive!

4.  Do you have to be in your apartment before it is dark?  What do you do in the evenings after you get back to your 

apartment?  

It gets dark here around 6 or so. We usually return home at about 9. We proselyte for quite a while in the dark, which can be difficult when there's no power! When we get home we close our day, make dinner, and go to bed. we don't have energy for anything else!

5.  Do the members or your investigators ever feed you meals?

Occasionally! usually once or twice a week. It's always fufu, which is great for me. When I first got here it wasn't my favorite, but it has become delicious to me now!

6.  Did you get Kalli's letter she sent you several weeks ago?  She sent it through the mail.

Yes, I did! a few weeks ago... sorry I didn't tell you earlier! There is a letter for her that I am sending soon.

7.  Any crazy weather yet?

Yup, we had a huge storm on saturday! We were wading through water up to our knees to get to some of our appointments. The railway was underwater. 

Disregard this email if you received my longer one, I just wanted to make sure you heard from me this week! I'm so sorry if you didn't get it. 

I love you!

Love,

Elder Degen

Roasting a pig!

E-mail dated 9/22/14

Mom and family,

Go Utes!! Haha I'm so happy to hear about the game. I don't even think one bit about football on Saturday's but it's nice to see them doing well. Thank you to everyone who emailed me, I love hearing all the different views and details. It sounds like everyone is doing well back home, which is very comforting to hear! I love all of you so much. Please forgive me for my shortcomings on emailing everyone back, trust me, I read every single one. Keep them coming please :)

I am very jealous that everyone got to attend or view the Ogden rededication yesterday. The peace and spirit that I felt in the Accra temple is something that I will never forget. That celestial room is breathtaking and I couldn't help but pray when I got in there. I was in there for at least an hour, I completely lost track of time. I would do anything to go back, but sadly it won't be for another year and 11 months (They take us on the way home). I know that you all appreciate the temple, and I hope that the proximity is not something we all take for granted in Utah! I know I did. If you could, I would go every day on my mission!

Okay, I can't tell you too many things about my week, except that things are going well! The teaching is becoming more natural, the language is coming along (kind of), and the people are even more amazing than last week. I feel like I am adjusted to the culture to an extent and am not overwhelmed as often as I was the first week. It seems so weird that I have so many unnecessary things back home! I can't believe that a month ago I was holding a smartphone in my hand, had dependable running water and the power was always on. The way we live was definitely something to get used to! But I really do love it. It has shown me that it doesn't matter of the material things in life, it's about your relationships with others and Heavenly Father. That's what makes people happy!

The only story that I really want to go in depth to this week is something awesome... I killed and roasted a pig today. Elder Mocke and I were in charge of this combined zone activity today because the guy to buy pigs from lives in our area. We bought the pigs (3 for 130 Cedis) and put them, while they were still alive, into big rice bags. We caught a trotro to the Sofokrom chapel with the pigs on our laps and then waited for a few other elders to show up. Elders Ma'afu and Kano'ngata, because they actually knew what they were doing. We took the pigs down near the sister's apartment in the area and then killed them with a knife. Elder Mocke and I held them down while the Tongan elders... wait, I won't explain too much! I'll skip ahead.. We cleaned the pigs, chopped down some trees to roast them on, and then made our way back to a members yard near the chapel. We made a huge fire, and started the roast. All the other missionaries started showing up when we were roasting, and since the roasting took awhile, we all played football at a nearby field. Ah, it was so fun! I scored twice on the African elders and earned their respect. These elders are so good at soccer, but the Americans were able to keep up! After a few hours of playing, we went back to the chapel to eat our pigs. My goodness, it was the best meal of my life!! I'll send pictures of this crazy day, hopefully you get them this week!

Thank you so much for the package as well! I cannot wait, you have no idea! I want to answer your questions now;

1.  Do you get to spend much time with the other Elders who live in your apartment? Any of them from Utah?

I spend quite a bit of time with them! I love all of them, but only one, Elder Day (my MTC Companion) is from Utah! The other's are from Idaho and two from Nigeria!

2.  Do you know if you will get to view General Conference on conference weekend or will you have to wait?

I have to wait until november sadly... I wish!

3.  How often do you have a zone conference?  

Hmm.. hardly ever! District meeting every tuesday, and occasionally we combine with other zones for activities like Elder Curtis' fireside last week! Sorry for not mentioning that in my last email.

4.  Are you able to sleep well at night?  I am assuming you sleep under a net.  Is that crazy?

I sleep so well!! I'm so tired that it doesn't matter about anything else. The net doesn't bother me one bit, and when we have power I have a fan on me at night. It's very nice!

5.  About how many lessons do you teach a week and do you have to do any proselyting (knocking on doors)?

We teach about 20 lessons or so a week. I laughed when you asked me about knocking on doors... Most don't have doors! Haha we only teach when we have an appointment, but we do Gospel Conversations everyday, which is tracting.

Thank you all for everything you do for me. The influence you all have had and the prayers that I have heard have been incredible from all of you. I hope everyone has a safe and happy week!

Love,

Elder Degen

Gavin with little kids!

Pictures from first area

Gavin with his trainer, Elder Mocke

First area

Railways they walk on