April 21, 2014 - "My shirts are getting destroyed and perma-stained with dirt and sweat, the soles of my shoes are getting worn down, my pants are dirty every day, my handkerchiefs are covered in red sweat after a single day, my garments aren't really white, my socks all have holes in them, and my satchel is just barely hanging on. This is my life and I freaking love it...."

Area: Yaounde, Cameroon

Comp: Elder Jake Naughton

Dearest Mother,

The week went well despite being pretty sick for two days. Sister P seemed to explain quite easily that I am doing well and that Elder Naughton and I are doing awesome! I really am doing awesome. I love my mission and going home is going to be really hard and be quite possibly the hardest thing I have ever done in my entire life. 

Here we go! 

Well this week I ate porcupine, on Wednesday Elder Naughton and I talked the entire day in French and we also go to go to the University of Yaoundé and teach a student there. 

General Conference will be held this weekend and so I’m really looking forward to that.

On Thursday we went to a little city/quartier called Odza to meet a lady named B. who left later that evening for Paris. She gave me a huge bundle of muindo after I started speaking Douala and telling her that I loved Ndole. 

Friday I was sick, and Saturday was a little better.  I drank a liter and a half of Sprite. That stuff is the best when you are sick. Ha ha. 

Sunday I met Sister P. and have nine investigators come to church. And this morning Elder Naughton shaved all my precious hair off. He used a “4” all over. Ha ha. I don't like it one bit, but that is the only size we had so I had no other choice. 

And that was my week! Easter was awesome, but we didn't hunt for eggs, we didn't buy chocolate, or anything of the sort. I laughed, I slept, I talked to an American lady, and I got my head shaved. What a great week. 

I  received three packages!  They charged 10,000 xaf duties on top of what you have already paid to send them.  

The Moody's and the Coleman's are here and this evening we will head over to their apartment to meet them and to pick up our weekly soutien as well call it here. 

And I literally just got off the phone with Sister P. Ha ha! She is so funny! Ah I have a great life.

I love you dearly Mother and you are truly blessed! I will talk to you soon! 

Until next time, 

Love Elder Massé

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Dear Dad,

Well what Sister P. told you was totally true! I used this raggedy old satchel that has gone through four missionaries and has been destroyed little by little by each one. I like things with character and a story and it's fun to show them to people. And yes she told me that I need to send pictures.  I will send you some pictures of my bald head, or more or less, the hair cut that Elder Naughton gave me this morning with a number 4 all over. It was short and unfortunately, it's all we had so I will just laisse tomber, as we say in French.

My shirts are getting destroyed and perma-stained with dirt and sweat, the soles of my shoes are getting worn down, my pants are dirty every day, my handkerchiefs are covered in red sweat after a single day, my garments aren't really white, my socks all have holes in them, and my satchel is just barely hanging on. This is my life and I freaking love it. And that paragraph sounds akin to a line in a Death Cab song.

I will send some pictures next week. Let me know if you want to know anything else about my life. Yaoundé is awesome.

I love you Dad. Have a great week!

Until next time,

Love Elder Massé