We had a wonderful phone visit with Jamin the Wednesday night before Christmas! It was 1:00am his time Thursday morning but it was the only time available on his schedule! He has never gotten the two Christmas packages we sent back in October but he says he doesn't need or miss anything from home (besides family and friends), that all of his needs are being provided. We don't have a secure physical address to send him anything anyway for now, but we did send him some pictures attached to our email this week and he loved those! Here is how he spent his first Christmas in Togo...
"Hey Family!!
This week has really been something of a test and not easy ! but also a huge gift, because I have learned a lot this week. So with all this information with how this mission could be closed because of the war and the things like that, which is normal, we don’t want that to happen to Togo and Benin so we have been fighting to show that this mission can function with a war. And we most definitely showed that this past week! We had 15 baptisms within Wednesday, Thursday and Friday; 5 of them came from my companion and I. It was a huge gift for Christmas...it was great! The 14 missionaries in Togo are working super hard, I love it!
For Christmas day we had 4 different full course meals with different member families on that day it was crazy; all 14 missionaries were together all day just going from house to house, we were all so full we all had eaten so so much on that day! And then on that Sunday we all went over to the senior missionaries house for the Christmas fireside that the first presidency gave, which was really good! And then today we went over to the seniors couples house again for a party which was pretty fun! Ha, we had a water fight in the house and we didn’t start it, they did!"
He sounded great over the phone and still going strong in his email!
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
December 20th, 2010
I received a message today that the mission President in Abidjan thinks very highly of our Elder Lewis; what a wonderful thing to be told about your son!
Here are some of his thoughts this week...we are looking forward to the Christmas phone call!
"Hey Familly
This week has been pretty great and also very sad. Well the sad part is that there are a lot of people dying in côte d’ivoire, and it is just a wreck over there.
I am very blessed to be here especially when you get to teach a family or a big group of very old people and you can feel the spirit so so strong there have been times where I feel likes its not even me speaking its just so hard to explain how that feeling is but I know that even outside in the blasting hot heat in the dirtiest places that you could ever imagine that place feels like a temple during and after the lesson and you can just see into the people and you know that holy spirit has hit them like a freight train; there was actually this one time there is a man that we are teaching and he had just lost his wife to death and he had actually just lost one of his legs before her death and he is just suffering with all of his emotions, he has shared with us all of his feelings and its amazing to see how much he loved his wife and you can tell how much he is suffering. And we taught him a lot of things, there is one time where his dad(who sits down and just listens to all of the lessons and is around 76years or older) while his son was feeling the spirit he told us that we are the medicine for those who are sick(a parable) and then he told us thank you and it was very sincere, im grateful to be able to be the person here that the people turn to in times of need and joy.
Wow this week has passed by really fast and its crazy to think that it will be Christmas really soon!! Well the missionaries here will be spending Christmas with the senior missionaries and we will be having a fireside on Sunday and then a party type thing on Monday! But the exciting part is that we will be having tons and tons of people inviting us over for meals, and we already get a lot anyways so we will be able to get nice and chubby! So we played football this morning for p-day and it was so awesome since all the missionaries here are American it was great, football is the best! So my companion elder cruz is so funny he always tells all the other missionaries that he can do whatever he wants because he has me at his back, its hilarious."
Here are some of his thoughts this week...we are looking forward to the Christmas phone call!
"Hey Familly
This week has been pretty great and also very sad. Well the sad part is that there are a lot of people dying in côte d’ivoire, and it is just a wreck over there.
I am very blessed to be here especially when you get to teach a family or a big group of very old people and you can feel the spirit so so strong there have been times where I feel likes its not even me speaking its just so hard to explain how that feeling is but I know that even outside in the blasting hot heat in the dirtiest places that you could ever imagine that place feels like a temple during and after the lesson and you can just see into the people and you know that holy spirit has hit them like a freight train; there was actually this one time there is a man that we are teaching and he had just lost his wife to death and he had actually just lost one of his legs before her death and he is just suffering with all of his emotions, he has shared with us all of his feelings and its amazing to see how much he loved his wife and you can tell how much he is suffering. And we taught him a lot of things, there is one time where his dad(who sits down and just listens to all of the lessons and is around 76years or older) while his son was feeling the spirit he told us that we are the medicine for those who are sick(a parable) and then he told us thank you and it was very sincere, im grateful to be able to be the person here that the people turn to in times of need and joy.
Wow this week has passed by really fast and its crazy to think that it will be Christmas really soon!! Well the missionaries here will be spending Christmas with the senior missionaries and we will be having a fireside on Sunday and then a party type thing on Monday! But the exciting part is that we will be having tons and tons of people inviting us over for meals, and we already get a lot anyways so we will be able to get nice and chubby! So we played football this morning for p-day and it was so awesome since all the missionaries here are American it was great, football is the best! So my companion elder cruz is so funny he always tells all the other missionaries that he can do whatever he wants because he has me at his back, its hilarious."
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
I'm sure you noticed that there was no email from Jamin forwarded yesterday; because of the escalating dangerous situation in Abidjan, all the non-native missionaries were evacuated out this past week and sent to other countries so we didn't get this until late yesterday. As you will see when reading, we had been notified about the evacuation, but had no idea where Jamin was for several days until I got a surprise text meassage on my cell phone Saturday afternoon right in the middle of watching a cheer competion for Karissa's all-star team - think high energy, high noise level, packed bleachers at a huge gymnasium - "Hi Mom its me Elder Lewis call me back at this number...!" - now imagine me leaping up and telling the entire crowd to be quiet so that I could talk to my son...ok, that didn't happen but I wanted it to! Instead I got out to my car as quickly as possible and called him back. How great it was to hear his voice, know he was safe, and be able to visit for a short time. He had a hard time changing his thoughts from speaking French to speaking English, which was fun to hear, he down-played the scary part of his last week, was sad to have so suddenly left the Ivorian people he was working with, and was excited about this new area and opportunity.
"So yes I am in Togo now ! Because Côte d’ivoire is having a lot of
problems with government and military and other countries are starting
to get involved and it is really just starting too get hot there. There
are all the African missionaries that are staying there, and all the
others got shipped off to either Togo or Benin. So those missionaries
over there are warriors now I wish them luck.I am excited to be in Togo now because there will be a huge explosion of the church here in Togo, the ones here will be the first ones to start it, ha and again I am the newbie! Its alright that just means president thinks I can do it.
Whenever one of the Americans have a problem or a question and ask one of the people in Togo, the native turns to me and says would you help this guy out or
they turn to me and start talking to me because they don’t think the
white Americans will understand;its hilarious!
So we went to church this Sunday and I had to tell everyone I was American and not Ivoirien and then when they hear that I am a black American they get excited and want to shake my hand because they say it is very rare to see a black American, most say I am the first one they have seen!
The church here are branches; the church is still beginning to grow here, but the members are strong!!!
I'm grateful that we have a priesthood holder (in our family) who can give blessings (MY DAD!)!!!"
"So yes I am in Togo now ! Because Côte d’ivoire is having a lot of
problems with government and military and other countries are starting
to get involved and it is really just starting too get hot there. There
are all the African missionaries that are staying there, and all the
others got shipped off to either Togo or Benin. So those missionaries
over there are warriors now I wish them luck.I am excited to be in Togo now because there will be a huge explosion of the church here in Togo, the ones here will be the first ones to start it, ha and again I am the newbie! Its alright that just means president thinks I can do it.
Whenever one of the Americans have a problem or a question and ask one of the people in Togo, the native turns to me and says would you help this guy out or
they turn to me and start talking to me because they don’t think the
white Americans will understand;its hilarious!
So we went to church this Sunday and I had to tell everyone I was American and not Ivoirien and then when they hear that I am a black American they get excited and want to shake my hand because they say it is very rare to see a black American, most say I am the first one they have seen!
The church here are branches; the church is still beginning to grow here, but the members are strong!!!
I'm grateful that we have a priesthood holder (in our family) who can give blessings (MY DAD!)!!!"
Monday, December 6, 2010
December 6th, 2010
"Dear Family!
So this week has been really interesting; yes we are all together still and things have been really exciting here but not for a good reason! There has been a curfew set for every one in Cote d'Ivoire that you cannot be out after 1900h or else the police will shoot you, so we have heard gunshots through out the days of the week. Oh hope that the people will start to make good choices, because nothing good is coming of this and i worry for this country. So there was this one time we were able to leave the house to go teach but we were only to stay inside of the gated neighborhood, so we were out for about 20 to 30 minutes when we started to hear gunshots and the people started to run and yell, 'Get inside!' So my companion and I talked and I said lets go back and wait for the others, so we were there and then we saw the zone leaders and we talked and decided that they would go and search for the other missionaries, I would stand outside and be the lookout and my companion would go inside and call the president. So I was outside and then here were 3 missionaries just sprinting to the apartment; there was one missionary who has been out for a year and then there were the two others who have been out for 1 to 3 months in Cote d'Ivoire and one of them was white! So I asked 'why are you all sweaty and why did you sprint here?' Well it turns out they went outside of the gates to go teach someone and there was a gun fight right around the corner and the people were running all over because there is bullets firing and we can still hear the guns fire while we are talking, so they were lucky because someone saw the white missionary and yelled, 'hey white boy what are you doing get inside!!' Thank goodness for that missionary's skin! I can tell you that testified even more to me that obedience is very important!
It might be crazy here but there is no other place I would want to be than here!! I LOVE IT!! Everything happens for a reason! So yea its just the regular now just wait out the fire and if things get real bad get out of the country, but just keep spreading the good word, study a lot, and play a lot of soccer and other games we create!! We are missionaries we survive in any environment, without fear only faith. Oh thank you so much for all paragraphs that you have written to me, i truly am blessed to have all of you! I aim to be as safe as i can and spread the word, HAHA I love IT i was born for things like this!
Oh yea and i learned something they say that i am the first black american missionary to come here!!!
I love you all very much!!
Elder Lewis"
I am so thankful for the protection the missionaries receive from our Heavenly Father and for the blessing of calmness I continue to feel about Jamin in spite of his current situation.
Thank you all for your prayers in his behalf!
So this week has been really interesting; yes we are all together still and things have been really exciting here but not for a good reason! There has been a curfew set for every one in Cote d'Ivoire that you cannot be out after 1900h or else the police will shoot you, so we have heard gunshots through out the days of the week. Oh hope that the people will start to make good choices, because nothing good is coming of this and i worry for this country. So there was this one time we were able to leave the house to go teach but we were only to stay inside of the gated neighborhood, so we were out for about 20 to 30 minutes when we started to hear gunshots and the people started to run and yell, 'Get inside!' So my companion and I talked and I said lets go back and wait for the others, so we were there and then we saw the zone leaders and we talked and decided that they would go and search for the other missionaries, I would stand outside and be the lookout and my companion would go inside and call the president. So I was outside and then here were 3 missionaries just sprinting to the apartment; there was one missionary who has been out for a year and then there were the two others who have been out for 1 to 3 months in Cote d'Ivoire and one of them was white! So I asked 'why are you all sweaty and why did you sprint here?' Well it turns out they went outside of the gates to go teach someone and there was a gun fight right around the corner and the people were running all over because there is bullets firing and we can still hear the guns fire while we are talking, so they were lucky because someone saw the white missionary and yelled, 'hey white boy what are you doing get inside!!' Thank goodness for that missionary's skin! I can tell you that testified even more to me that obedience is very important!
It might be crazy here but there is no other place I would want to be than here!! I LOVE IT!! Everything happens for a reason! So yea its just the regular now just wait out the fire and if things get real bad get out of the country, but just keep spreading the good word, study a lot, and play a lot of soccer and other games we create!! We are missionaries we survive in any environment, without fear only faith. Oh thank you so much for all paragraphs that you have written to me, i truly am blessed to have all of you! I aim to be as safe as i can and spread the word, HAHA I love IT i was born for things like this!
Oh yea and i learned something they say that i am the first black american missionary to come here!!!
I love you all very much!!
Elder Lewis"
I am so thankful for the protection the missionaries receive from our Heavenly Father and for the blessing of calmness I continue to feel about Jamin in spite of his current situation.
Thank you all for your prayers in his behalf!
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
"So I had 2 more baptisms this Saturday. The Africans are so loud and there was a big stake activity at the same time as the baptism and the people were running in the halls and yelling and actually opening the doors of the baptismal service and then slamming them on the way out. So finally I got up and was in the hallway as the noise monitor. Ha! some of the people probably think I am very serious now because that hall was silent after I talked with them all. I'm doing my job keeping the spirit and teaching the people the important things!!"
Jamin also said he got the chance to break down a door after several missionaries in their apartment, including him, could not get it open using their "brains instead of brawn". After he used his martial arts skills and of course his weight/strength, he said that now, more than ever before, the Africans say '"cette un grande homme" »which means "that's a big man" and then my companion and I just laugh!'
We are also fortunate to receive emails from the Senior Missionary couple serving in Abidjan; they often pass on information that adds more detail to what Jamin writes. This week they wrote to re-assure us of the missionaries safety during this second round of elections:
"Actually there is no news. At least the results have not been announced as of 8:30pm today (Tuesday). The President of Cote D'Ivoire has declared all borders closed, the airport closed, and a curfew from Sunday through Wednesday, 7pm to 6am.
The 'regroupment' plan (14 elders have been moved to shared living quarters) is still in effect until the results come out and we know things are calm enough. The mission President wanted us all back in our apartments by noon, hoping the results would come out early this afternoon. But still no results. This afternoon, however, it was nice to hear people out and about and children playing and people laughing. But tonite, all is quiet again.
All missionaries are safe and doing well. We will let you know as things progress.
Much love,
Elder and Soeur Gubler"
We feel such gratitude for the blessings in both Jamin's life and ours!
Jamin also said he got the chance to break down a door after several missionaries in their apartment, including him, could not get it open using their "brains instead of brawn". After he used his martial arts skills and of course his weight/strength, he said that now, more than ever before, the Africans say '"cette un grande homme" »which means "that's a big man" and then my companion and I just laugh!'
We are also fortunate to receive emails from the Senior Missionary couple serving in Abidjan; they often pass on information that adds more detail to what Jamin writes. This week they wrote to re-assure us of the missionaries safety during this second round of elections:
"Actually there is no news. At least the results have not been announced as of 8:30pm today (Tuesday). The President of Cote D'Ivoire has declared all borders closed, the airport closed, and a curfew from Sunday through Wednesday, 7pm to 6am.
The 'regroupment' plan (14 elders have been moved to shared living quarters) is still in effect until the results come out and we know things are calm enough. The mission President wanted us all back in our apartments by noon, hoping the results would come out early this afternoon. But still no results. This afternoon, however, it was nice to hear people out and about and children playing and people laughing. But tonite, all is quiet again.
All missionaries are safe and doing well. We will let you know as things progress.
Much love,
Elder and Soeur Gubler"
We feel such gratitude for the blessings in both Jamin's life and ours!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)