December 17th email from Elmina:

"If I didn't write letters, I could buy SO many plantain chips. They're like potato chips, but not so much salt, and they are soooo good! Deep fried plantain. Digg it."

Dear Family and Friends,
     So I want to share a fun experience from right after email last week. Elder Nwachukwu and I were walking back from Elmina from the good internet cafe and this girl approached us on the street. She was a straight Rasta and was asking Elder N. about some kind of pendant she wanted him to give her. Then she looks at me, smiles, and tries to plant one on me. I was like a magnet: she leaned in and I leaned waaaay back.  Hahaha. She said, "Obruni, kiss me, baby." We were like, oh brother we gotta get out of here. So we start walking about and then she hugs me from behind, saying, "Come back, just one kiss!" Haha I just said, "See your life, see your life!" and we got outta town. "See your life" is just something you say here, it's like saying, "Come on, look at yourself", in a comical way, I guess. Right after that Elder N. told me she was somewhat crazy. Like literally crazy. So that was an experience.
     This week has been fine, as Elder Nwoko and I have been trying harder to be assertive, but also loving. Its' not always easy, but it's always possible. We were able to take Linda and another investigator to one of Elder Nwachukwu and Macaulay's baptisms, so that was a good experience. We had to spend the rest of our money helping them go and return so we haven't had money for half the week. We just had a 'restoration' today though so it's okay.
     Also, I've been focusing on learning more Fante, because I'm sick of not understanding people. Especially when they are talking about me. I can tell when they are, because I'll hear 'obruni' and 'husband' or something like that. One of the members decided she was only going to speak Fante around me so I can learn faster. She also invited us all over to her home for Christmas fufu, so that will be fun. I am actually starting to like the fufu, after about the 5th time it tastes good. With Fante, you have to remember you speak it more from the throat than from the tip of the lips. Most Americans here speak it with their lips and they sound suuuuper American. So I'm still working on the accent. It's not like Spanish or any of the other accents I know.
     Mom, I received the camera card last week and I'll send the full one back today. I hope it doesn't get lost, but from what I hear you don't usually lose letters you send from here, just some that are coming in. It should be fine. There are about 147 pictures on this card. I'll try to take more pictures because I could be taking more. But if I send this, you need to send me some too! (That goes for everyone). The other Elders in my apartment usually get mail. Well Elder Nwoko does, I haven't seen Elder Nwachukwu get any. He said he used to, but he is about 15 months out, so he doesn't get a lot anymore. I hope that doesn't happen to me! :) If anyone writes me, I''ll do my best to write back, granted I have a lot of time at night. It can get kind of expensive though, so I have to pace my letter writing. If I didn't write letters, I could buy SO many plantain chips. They're like potato chips, but not so much salt, and they are soooo good! Deep fried plantain. Digg it.
      Dad, I was surprised to hear Zach actually quoted me from that letter in his talk. I don't even remember what I wrote. I wrote it two months ago, he emailed and told me it took seven weeks.  Haha. Probably because I sent it through pouch. Pouch mail will sit in the mission home for weeks. I'm glad he's getting out in the field with us. Like Matt and Ben said, it helps just to know your friends are out here with you. Keep sending me letters! And cookies! Mom, I love you, those cookies are amazing.
     Love,
Elder Clinton Doggett

December 10, 2012 email:

" So we have a baptism scheduled for December 22, 2012. You know, the day the world is going to end? Ha ha.  I was really excited when we set that date. Because the world will have a whole new meaning for that person when she is baptized."

Dear Family and Friends,

      Things are looking up. Elder Nwoko and I  kind revamped how we are going to work. We are going to work be using the members more. And we have figured out ways to let people know we are serious. So we are still recovering from the last few weeks. One of the things that really helped me was going on splits with our zone leaders. I stayed in our area this time, and Elder Carstens, from Texas was with me for a day and a night. It was seriously such a relief to be with an American, before I felt like a was drowning. So being with him was kind of a security blanket. We talked all day and night (we stayed up until 1:30....oops) about the states, high school, movies, and just everything. We really hit it off, and had a ton in common. We liked all the same stuff, even music, sound mixing, editing movies, all that stuff. But more importantly, Elder Carstens is a former companion of Elder Nwoko's so he gave me some killer advice on how I should approach him and stuff. But the stuff he told me applies to any companion, really. First, you have to establish common ground and become friends. If you're not friends, you will never teach as a team, you will never be unified. Then you branch out from there. It's very hard being in an apartment with three Nigerians, but I've found that if you try hard, you can fit in. You may not be able to talk about the states or movies or whatever is familiar to you, but you can always talk about girls. Ha ha! As soon as I brought up girls, we really connected. I guess that's a universal topic. Even more importantly, the gospel of Jesus Christ is what we all definitely have in common. It's why we are here. It's what we teach. It's what we live. It's what we breathe. So there is always a way.  "...I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the things which he commandeth them." (1 Nephi 3:7)
      Mom and Dad, just a moment ago, when I read your email about praying for me right after reading my last email, I about cried. I can't describe to you how much I have felt your love this week, especially when I got the Christmas package this week .This week, I just felt everything is ok, that it will work out. I know that prayer is one of the most powerful things on this earth, if you pray in faith. And I know you have great, great faith. Dad thanks for sharing your living conditions from your mission, I didn't even know it was like that. I don't even have it that bad. I love you guys so much and I am so thankful to have 'been born of goodly parents'. You are the best.
     So when I cracked open that Christmas package, I about died when I smelled those gingerbread cookies. Thank you thank you thank you! Ha ha! Elder Nwoko was holding a stick ready to attack anything that 'might run out' of the package when I opened it. Thanks for packing it with newspaper, too. I've been going through those and reading them... its a little pathetic, I know. But it really started to feel like Christmas when I opened that package. Thanks for the CDs! I love the Mormon Tab one. I think I've come to love Motab so much since I've been here because it reminds me of home, you know the Utah-Idaho area. I love everything you sent me. I even used the washer this morning, and it cut my time in half. All I had to do was scrub the white shirt collars, then plunge the rest of my clothes. That's what it's like, using a giant plunger on your clothes. I see you spent $97.30 to send it, so thank you! I had to pay 26.70 GHC to receive it, but it's good I had that personal money! That's partly why I got it out in the first place. I was really hoping for some pictures this Christmas, though. I know, you are too Mom, so if you don't send some, I guess we'll call it even. I don't have time to send pictures online, as we only have one hour on Mondays to email. But since you said you are sending me a card and a way to send the other back, I will do it that way and hope it doesn't get lost. I could print and send here, but that may be really expensive for me. So we'll see. I'm telling everyone though, I really wish I brought more pictures from home, they are like GOLD.
     So we have a baptism scheduled for December 22, 2012. You know, the day the world is going to end? Ha ha.  I was really excited when we set that date. Because the world will have a whole new meaning for that person when she is baptized. Her name is Linda, and she is 18. In spite of her lack of English, and our lack of Fante, she is learning very well and hasn't missed church once since we've been here. She is actually the first person we ever contacted in this area. So the first person I EVER contacted in the field. Mom, you said it was going to be a white Christmas... full of baptisms. I hope so!
     What I have learned in this area the most, is that no matter how convicted we are in teaching, how much we want people to accept our message and keep appointments, they still have agency. It's still their choice and it always will be. As missionaries, as long as we are doing our own personal best, we cannot go wrong. One day, I was really depressed because every appointment we set failed, and I was complaining about it. Elder Nwoko simply said, "Is it your fault?" I guess from then I realized it's not my fault. Dad before I left you said on your mission everyone was willing to talk to you, but not everyone was willing to accept your message. It's the same here. And I've realized how it works. This work is divine, so divine it's all that matters, even in the next life. (D&C 138:56)

Love,
Elder Clinton C. Doggett

P.S.  It's not as hard as people think to get stuff down here, at least in this area. I even found Oreos :)

 

Email from December 3, 2012: 

 "I asked Elder Nwachukwu and Macaulay for a priesthood blessing. As they laid their hands on me, I was surprised to hear some of the blessings from my patriarchal blessing re-iterated. It was kind of like a reminder of my true purpose. I was promised that, 'by this time tomorrow, you will see it as a new day, and will feel much better.' I knew it was true." 

Dear Family and Friends,
     I'm sorry I missed the last two weeks of emailing. The first week the internet was down and the second last week the power was out all day Monday.  I'll do my best to catch you up.
     First off, Mom, I got the packages and a TON of letters on Nov 14th, it was awesome! I felt kind of bad because all the mail at our district meeting was for me. But then again, I didn't feel too bad. Except, I swear every time I get letters, as soon as we step in the door of our apartment at night, the power goes out. Haha  It was nice to get the drawings from the kids and all the drink mix! Dad I got your maps on Nov. 20th, and Mom I love the picture of Jesus and the little black child.
     Two weeks ago was the last week of our sub, so almost all the food was gone and nobody had any money left. Except for Elder Doggett because he prepared.  Our water line also broke that week, so it was some week. We went out and bought a ton of water sachets for all our water supply. Try bathing with those, it’s a joy. But they eventually fixed the line and brought us a new fridge! I was excited because the old one was from like 1935, seriously, and it was tiny.
     That Saturday we had the opportunity to dig a grave for one of the members who recently passed. He was a very renowned man, a professor, who studied in Cambridge as a scholar, and all these other colleges over the world. He was the stake patriarch, and he was 74 years old. He passed two days after we arrived in the area. So as an Elder's Quorum, the members went to the house and dug the grave in the side lot. Everyone here buries their loved ones on the family property, and they encase the caskets in really nice stone and cement work. It was a difficult experience though, because, as an American among a bunch of Africans, they think you're lazy, you're weak, and you don't know how to work. Before we even began, they were insinuating that 'Obruni'  didn't know how to use tools. [They] even asked me if I had ever used a shovel. As I got down into the hole to break the ground with the pickaxe, they all freaked out, saying I was swinging too hard, and, "we don't want you to hurt yourself." Then they just laughed and laughed and took the axe from me, having someone else work. But during that escapade, what frequently came back to my mind was the blessing I was given as I was set apart as a missionary. I was blessed that I would be able to quickly forgive those who trespass against me. It takes a lot of patience.
     So the next week was a blast. Elder Nwoko fell sick with some stomach virus on Tuesday and Elder Doggett caught himself a nice, big dose of malaria. We were on splits on Tuesday and I came home to find Elder Nwoko dying on his bed. Then early Wednesday morning, I woke up with severe stomach pain, and visited the toilet most of the night. When morning came, I was seriously rendered utterly useless. I couldn't do a thing, and I had no appetite. I called Sister Shulz and told her I had all the symptoms of malaria, but she just told me to drink more water and take paracetamol (ibuprofen), so Elder Nwachukwu and Macaulay went to get us drugs. As I lay in bed trying to sleep, I couldn’t lay still because my entire body, bones and muscles, were aching. I had extreme pain in my lower back and ribs, and I couldn't breathe straight. I was hyperventilating, so that contributed to my already-existent headache. I had a high fever, and my bowels were going about their own business without my consent, haha. Lying in bed, I was kind of delirious, I remember mumbling some very strange things. It all hit me really, really fast. In my subconscious-strange state, I asked Elder Nwachukwu and Macaulay for a priesthood blessing. As they laid their hands on me, I was surprised to hear some of the blessings from my patriarchal blessing re-iterated. It was kind of like a reminder of my true purpose. I was promised that, "by this time tomorrow, you will see it as a new day, and will feel much better." I knew it was true. So I took some Ibuprofen and retired to my bed, and successfully found sleep. When I woke a few hours later, I felt so much better. Even then, my fever was receding, and I could breathe again. And the next day, I was feeling almost ready to proselyte again, while Elder Nwoko was still suffering his symptoms. I was amazed at how fast I was healed. And that's just it: I didn't get better, I was healed. For the next 4 days, Elder Nwoko couldn't eat, or walk, or do anything, so I just studied. Having the faith that you can be healed through the power of the priesthood is just as important as having faith to heal. I know the priesthood is powerful.

     Getting back on our feet from all that sickness in terms of the work has been very hard. We lost a lot of energy that week, both mental and physical. This area is actually really hard. The people here aren't really all that serious. Nobody answers their phone. And people have a serious problem with keeping their word. They will tell you they'll be somewhere, or where you can meet them at a certain time, and people will over half the time ditch you. Even if you ask them four times, "Are you sure you'll be there?" they'll say yes and then they won't show. And people leave for weeks on end. Some of our promising investigators have been gone for 3 weeks. I don’t know, they just travel, it's like they hate their homes. So everyone left in town are just a bunch of "menti brofo"'s as we call them. It means 'I don't understand English' in Fante. Elder Nwoko and I don't really know Fante, he was in western region until now, which is full of rich, educated people. He's never even served in a village. The work is very slow right now.  All in all, I can only draw strength from prayer and the scriptures. Mosiah 24:15 has helped me a lot. I'm still trying to get my body to adjust to the new environment, but it's really taking some major time.  I don't want to be too negative, but I haven't had a lot of good experiences recently, but I'm still trying. I know this Church is true, and I know that I'm here for a reason. I can do this, I just have to have patience. So far, that's about all the Lord has been teaching me. Patience, patience, patience. The hard part is: it takes patience to learn patience. Haha.

Love,
Elder Clinton Doggett

P.S. People should write me more letters, since I can't understand Ebo or Pigeon (which the elders in my apartment speak), I would love to just write letters at night. And Mom, I could really use some more U.S. stamps. A pocket dictionary would be nice, too. If it's not too much trouble, right now I'm reading Jesus the Christ so it would be handy. And I'm sure I could find occasion for one most of my mission. Thanks!

We have not had an email since November 12 and a letter posted the same day.  Hopefully Elder Doggett will find a working computer by this Monday, or his mom might have to fly over there to check up on him! :-)  Here are a few excerpts from the letter:

"......Physically Africa will tear you down.  The sun is unrelenting this time of year. The hottest part of the day is 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.  In this area on the coast, there is usually a breeze to keep the heat down, though.  Fast Sundays are difficult.....you fall to your knees at the end of the day (in prayer and exhaustion:-)

....I never [before] worried about what I'll eat for 3 meals a day.  [Here], no Walmart.  It's all local markets full of people who speak little English.....and the diet is so, so different.  That has been the hardest adjustment [on my body].  I'm finally starting to get used to it, though.  Mom, you said the hard thing about my mission would be the physical aspects.  Amen to that.  But no matter, "I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13)

Even through all this, the work is glorious.  When your only purpose and goal is to bring souls unto Christ, everything else drifts away and feels so unimportant.  Mom, in one of your letters you sent me Mosiah 24:15, '...the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.'  That [scripture] has helped me so much......I've seen it work in our missionary efforts.  When I am diligently and sincerely working, all my problems seem insignificant.  The Lord sustains his missionaries so the work will move forward.  'Fear thou not; for I am with thee; be not dismayed; for I am thy God.  I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.' (Isaiah 41:10).

I'm grateful for my companion, Elder Nwoko; he's a really easy-going guy.  AND a really fine cook.  We whip something up every night.  He had 6 American companions before me.  We decided he was with Americans [a lot] so he could handle training me!  My mission president...[is] here for a reason, for me.  He is a true man called of God.  He's hilarious, too.  I love him!

Overall, things are going very well,  When I first got here, I prayed that I could forget myself and go to work.  The next morning I found out we were to help build this new branch.  It's nothing but work.  I love it, though.  The members are very powerful. One of the elders in our branch was ordained by David O. McKay.  The only thing he remembers is that his eyes were very blue.....

I miss you tons, and I love you so much.  Kia Kaha!  Forever Strong!

Love, Elder Clinton Doggett

P.S.  Send me pictures!  Tell people to write and send pictures as well!"



   

Email from November 12, 2012:

"The gospel is true. It is the gospel

 of peace, happiness, family and love.

 I can't deny these things. God lives, 

and he directs his servants in how they

 may better the lives of others."

 Dear Mi Familia and Amigos,
     This week was pretty good. The work is slowly moving forward in this new branch. Yesterday was our fast and testimony meeting and it was so powerful. The members in this area are extremely powerful and convicted. Most of them are converts to the church, so they're testimonies have a certain... vociferous energy about them. It's different but I love it. The meeting was so full of the spirit. Since the branch is so small, everyone had a chance to bear their testimony, and some even did twice. Branch President Thompson gave a powerful testimony about small miracles. Last Tuesday, in Takoradi area, a Melcom's building collapsed. Melcom's is like a small grocery outlet. But this building was a huge 6 story building that collapsed in seconds. It was in the morning before any customers were there, but 12 people were killed and 70 survived. Some of the workers there were having a morning devotional before the workday, people from any faith.  And every person who was taking part in that devotional survived, and I believe they were on the bottom floor. So President bore his testimony about showing thanks, that we worship the one true living God. And God does perform miracles for those who observe all things before him. It reminded me of something Lauren wrote in a letter before I left, she said, "Look for miracles, you will see them." How true that is.
     We secured a meetinghouse for Ntranoa! (well, WE didn't, but the leaders did.) It's a little building in the village, that needs to be re-done, and it should be ready by December, at Christmas the latest. A new branch mission leader was called recently and he has already been a huge help. He is a super determined guy, who wants to serve the Lord. HE even called US to see what he could do. That's rare. Speaking with him last night, he was asking how old you could be to serve a mission, because he is interested in serving. But he is 27, so be missed the mark by a few years. But he is still doing all he can to help, which is awesome, he wants to learn. His name is Solomon Mensah.
     So we went to the Elmina Castle last Monday, it was so cool. It was built in like 1482 by the Portuguese and taken by force later by the Dutch in like 1630s. It is amazing that something so old is still standing strong. The Architectural design was amazing, but simple in a way. I took some cool pictures I'll send. Eventually. One of the rooms was full of bats. We were taking pictures, and I made that kissy sound and they all flipped way out. Haha it freaked us out and I accidentally bumped Elder Nwachukwu's camera out of his hands and it broke. So mom, I'll need some money in my account to help him out with that. But anyhow, the castle was a trade for gold and goods, then later for slaves. And that part was very disturbing. As we went down into the dungeons you could still smell the stench of hundreds of people suffering, and being traded, stuffed into rooms like sardines. The place smelled like blood, and you could almost hear the cries of people coming from the dark stains on the walls and floor. It felt so dark, it made me a little sick to my stomach. It was difficult to see, even though it happened so long ago. The natural man is so dark. It's hard to imagine that people can do such things to one another. This is why we need God.
     Funerals here are strange. When someone dies, the people here throw a literal party, with music, dancing, and food. They put up posters everywhere advertising it. At first I thought it was a little disrespectful, but then I thought about it some more. It's an older tradition, and death was very common in the olden days. If they didn't make something happy about it, things would get so depressing. I think it's just the African way of coping with death.
     The other day one of the members gave Elder Nwoko and I some killer waakye. Man, that stuff is so good. Here, they put everything possible in it. Fish, beans, noodles, peppers, sauce, coleslaw, and cooked cow skin (which is actually really good), but the lady gave us SO much of it. And the name of the game here is You Have To Finish Your Food. Haha We sat there, suffering with how full our stomachs were, but my companion kept saying, "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me." It was hilarious. Now Nate, you'll be proud of me here, I taught him the Samoan Stomach Roll that you taught me. It seriously works! We just did that and finished it all. We were dead the rest of the day though.
     We've also taken to rebuking the taxi drivers who try to make us pay more for fares because I'm white. Haha its so so funny. We'll say something like, "Woe unto you driver, for you see the color of my skin, and you immediately raise the price. The price of the Kingdom of Heaven shall be raised for you." Haha then they just laugh and drive away. Anyhow, it works. :)
         Our investigators are progressing, but very slowly. People are actually very busy here, even without all the distractions we have in America.  I was surprised. How do we have time to get anything done back home?  We don't get to see our investigators that often. They don't answer their  phones either. Nobody here does.
     But we taught one of the most powerful, heartfelt lessons the other day. One of the ladies we are teaching met missionaries some time before, and likes the teaching. As we taught her about families, we felt impressed to teach her about temple work and the spirit world. Her father and sister died a few years back within months of each other, so we told her about how she can see them again. I felt impressed to say, "Justina, your father and sister are waiting for you to accept this gospel, so that you can do the work for them, and give them the chance to accept it as well." As we taught, she was very subtly crying. And I gotta tell you, it takes a LOT to make an African cry. People are tougher here and  less emotional because of how they grow up in the culture and stuff. We are babies in the States. So far, they only thing I've seen make any African cry, is the power of the spirit. It is by this power that people come to accept the gospel and know of it's truthfulness for themselves. Without it, out work would do absolutely nothing. As a missionary, you have to realize that as a person comes to learn, it is between them and the Lord. You are only the simple mediator, or the tool the Lord uses. And it's a missionary's duty to strive to have that spirit with him, (or her) so that it may illuminate his path and lead him to those who are ready to hear the true restored gospel.
     The gospel is true. It is the gospel of peace, happiness, family and love. I can't deny these things. God lives, and he directs his servants in how they may better the lives of others.

With Love,
Elder Clinton C. Doggett

Ghana Cape Coast Mission Conference, Oct. 27, 2012 (picture courtesy of that wonderful Sis. Schulz!).  Elder Doggett is on the far right.

Email from Nov. 5, 2012:

Family and Friends,
     Here are some more fun experiences: One of the ladies we are teaching definitely has a crush on me. She is around 30-35 and she asked if I had any children. Haha I said, 'No, I'm a missionary, I'm only 19!' She didn't believe me, she thought I was around 25-30 years old. The breastfeeding lesson was definitely the first of very many, haha. Since then, I can't count how many times it's happened. Hahahaha. Africa, man...!
     The split with Elder Kinikini was really cool, we went to his area to proselyte, and I learned a lot from him. We were also driving a brand new truck from the mission home with A/C. It was nice to talk with an American too, haha a bit of a security blanket to talk about home. I learned a lot from working with him though, he has 7 months left. At lunch, at his apartment, there was a man fixing the A/C and we were watching him. Elder Kinikni took a step back and started sinking into a hole in the ground, haha it freaked him out. I started to use a broom to break away the hole and see what was inside and something huge and brown flew through the hole into another tunnel. I jumped and Elder Kinikini was like, "what man, what is it???" I turned around, and it was hilarious to see a 220 lb. islander linebacker 20 feet away peeking around the corner. He was seriously spooked. Haha he said, "Doggett, this is Ghana man, you gotta be careful. You don't know what could be in there,  a scorpion nest or something. We caught a gator the other day in the mission home." Haha he's right. I can't even describe the spiders here. The size of your head, I kid you not. But we found out if we spray them with permethrin, they just shrivel up and die. Or we can tape them to the wall hahaha. This morning Elder Nwoko was going crazy with the permethrin, spraying every creature in our apartment. It will kill anything. I walked into the washroom to start my wash and he has crouching on the floor, spraying ants and singing, "Carest thou not that we perish?" from the hymn "Master, The Tempest is Raging". Haha we're really beginning to be good friends, despite our differences. The Nigerians in my apartment are cool, I've adjusted fast, we all get along.
     Speaking of wash,I finally got some bruises on my knuckles haha. It's not as bad as everyone says, washing by hand, it just takes forever. But Mom, if you send something to help that we be awesome. And the only Motab CD I have is 'Praise to the Man'. Speaking of music, Elder Nwachukwu and I are writing a Christmas song on my guitar for the Christmas Devotional in December. I've started using the hymnbook dad gave me, but honestly, it's really hard.
     We cut my hair the other day, and to no surprise, we burned up the clippers I brought. Haha it started smoking. We cut it a little too short thought, to a 4, so my head has been getting sunburned this last week. The sun here is nasty hot. It will tear you down if you don't drink at least 1 liter of water a day.
     Another funny thing I saw was while we were proselyting in a village the other day. Some kids came up to me and started showing me a piece of string. Then I heard a buzzing and realized there was this huge black and yellow beetle tied to the end trying to fly away. The kids would just hold on to it like a little kite as it tried to escape hahahaha, it was a riot. Then they would throw it in the air, it would try to fly away and slowly fall to the ground.
     So while we were walking past a chop shop the other day, I saw this lady stirring a HUGE pot of stew, it had to be 10 gallons I swear. You know what  immediately thought of, Uncle Kelly and Uncle Mike? "Where's my companion?" Hahaha. (Clint's uncles teased him before he left for Africa that if he couldn't find his companion at a dinner appointment, he would be IN the dinner pot!)
     I learned yesterday that I should refrigerate steak strips, the ones came with. I busted them out after eating half the bag a while ago and they were all moldy and nasty, haha. I may need some more of those. I've also been using the crystal light packets in my oatmeal, because I really needed some more taste! It's not too bad, but I'm running out fast. And Mom, keep sending mail to the mission home, we get mail through the zone leaders on Tuesdays. That's the easiest way. I haven't gotten your package yet, maybe tomorrow. And Dad, could you send some of those satellite pictures to me? It's a brand new area and we have no map. The villages we are in are called Ntranoa, Koful, Abee, and Emisano (or something like that). And there is the prison on the middle of them.
     So I thought I would miss movies more, since all I did last year was make them and edit them and watch them. But my whole life feels like a movie now, so I really feel no need to watch any. That reminds me, our mission motto is "Forever Strong", from the movie. "I need you to be strong on the field, so you can be strong off the field." The mission really is a LTC, or Life Training Center. I'm really seeing that.
     I love personal study in the mornings. I wish I had studied more back home. I find myself feasting on the words of Christ as I plan lessons for the day that would best help our investigators.
     One morning, before we went out we were talking about how people seem to be apprehensive of us, as the missionaries. So I prayed that people would recognize us as servants of the Lord. After a lesson that day, an old Fante woman approached us, and said she needed a prayer. I think she was suffering from early stages of Parkinson's. We gave a her a blessing, and people were crowding around. She now wants to come to church. She doesn't speak a word of English. But she was able to see that we are representatives of Jesus Christ, and had the courage to ask for a blessing. It was humbling. We are still waiting to get a meeting house close by though, so people can attend church easily.
     I've begun to understand teaching by the Spirit as well. Sometimes during a lesson, when I see our investigator's sincere search for the truth, I feel an overwhelming love for them. I feel the love that the Savior has for that child of God being channeled through me as a missionary. In those moments, as I bear sincere testimony with a smile, the Spirit of God explodes in this little bubble around us, blocking out all the sounds of noisy Africa. Teaching by the Spirit is amazing, and has the most profound impact on our teaching. Last night we taught such a lesson to a woman with 5 kids, as the Muslim prayer blared right outside the window of her small home. Such contrast was terrific.
     This area such a blessing. Building a new branch is so busy, I don't have time to think about home or worry about anything else. I've really started to get sucked into the work and sometimes I feel like time is against me. I even see eating as more of an inconvenience than a necessity. I still eat though, don't worry Mom. This work is divine. The Gospel of Jesus Christ the way to happiness. Remember everything our Father has taught you!

Love,
Elder Doggett