Oct 21, 2013- Elder Vanausdal from Ghana MTC, soccer, roommates, “African dresses made from pagne”, Elder Nash, service

                                                                                        (thanks to the Gailey's for the pictures of Douala!)

DOUALA, CAMEROON- BONABERI

COMP: ELDER CASEY GARLAND

Elder Vanausdal from Ghana MTC, soccer, roommates, “African dresses made from pagne”, Elder Nash, service

Oct  21, 2013

Dearest Mother,

Thank you so much for sending me the recipe for Fudgy No-Bakes. I might make those today if I can find some oatmeal! 

Let's start out with questions. 

1. How are you feeling?

I am feeling fine. Really exhausted and really tired. We played two hours of soccer and football this morning. 

2.  Adventures?  Stories?

Well let me spin you one. So Elder Garland and I are in a lesson teaching when I get a phone call. Usually I ignore them, but I noticed that it was Elder Gailey calling so I felt it was important. I excused myself for a short time and answered the phone. Elder Gailey proceeded to tell me that the new Elder, Elder Vanausdal who was en route to Pointe Noire, was having visa problems so he was going to have to stay in Cameroon for a couple days. Elder Gailey then told me that he would be staying in Bonaberi for a couple days and working with Elder Garland and I. It was nuts! He arrived safely and we have been working with him for the last couple days and he is doing really well. He is having a great time and enjoying his mission from what I can see. I learned today that Elder Baker will be training him when he gets down to Congo so I am really excited for him.

He is the first Elder to come from the Ghana MTC so it was exciting having the opportunity to talk to him and hear what the MTC was like. I have heard a lot of crazy stories from him. He is from Alaska and his family owns a reindeer farm. He is funny and has a lot of cool stories. He is great. 

3. Tell me something about Africa

 Africa is honestly really hard to explain. People ask me all the time what it is like but it is so hard to describe. Elder Parsons, a former teacher in the MTC who served in this mission said that it is almost impossible to explain. You hear and smell and see and taste Africa but it is so difficult to relay that information to someone.

4. Tell me something about your roommates

 Elder Thibault loves to kick-box. Elder Vanausdal wants to major in finance when he gets home and goes to BYU. Elder Davis is an amazing basketball player. And Elder Garland was a teacher at BYU for some time. 

5.  How were you of service this week?

We actually did a service project pulling weeds for three hours with a less-active member. It was fun. We talked about life and he played some music. It was great. I also ironed Elder Davis' and Elder Vanausdal's shirts the other day. Service! 

6. What was super exciting?

 Getting to be the first one to meet the new Elder. It was such a blast hearing his stories and getting to know him. He is awesome. 

7.  What made you laugh out loud?

I watched a mouse run from the kitchen to into the bathroom that Elder Thibault was in. Screaming ensued. It was pretty hilarious. 

8. What’s the weather like?

Hot and sunny. 

9. What makes you happy?

 Studying French, writing in my Journal, playing soccer outside, etc. 

10. What is something you saw?

 I saw a rooster up in a tree a couple days ago. It was crowing and it looked pretty cool in the tree so we took a picture of it. 

11. Something you ate?

I didn't eat any African food, but we should be making cabbage soup for dinner tonight. That should be awesome. And cookies! And possibly fudgy no-bakes! 

12. What do most of the people wear?

Regular clothes. A lot of women wear African dresses made from pagne, which is basically African fabric. It's pretty normal. 

13. What’s the weirdest thing you’ve seen someone carry on their head? 

Probably that picture of Elder Nash with that Dovv bag on his head. Ha ha. Crazy African Elder Nash. 

So that was basically the week. Elder Vanausdal coming was the coolest thing. 

Hope you are doing well! 

Until next time, 

Love Elder Massé
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Side notes from Elder Garland: “all the new missionaries to the DRC Missionare going through Ghana now.”… “ we had little sandwiches and cups of teeth-staining folléré, this deep, deep red juice they make from a plant leaf and lots and lots of sugar that is to die for. “