August 25, 2014 - Elder Nkulu from Lubumbashi DRC, Service Project, Tranfers, Beach, Found a giant onion in the ocean, Went to a Wedding Anniversary Party,

Comp: Elder Nkulu
Area: Pointe Noire, Congo

Dearest Mother,

The week has gone okay but it was mostly due to being so busy with activities, service projects, and transfers. I didn't get to teach as much as I would have liked to, but it's all good. Next week will be better.

My new companion, my 11th companion to put the record straight, not counting MTC because my companion didn't come to my mission, is named Elder Nkulu and he is from Lubumbashi in the DRC. He is nice and I told him that we would work really hard until the end of my mission.

The week was crazy.
Monday we had P-day and we got tranfer letters.

Tuesday Elder Tweneboah and I worked all day long.

Wednesday I was with the Baileys all day long because of transfers and because I didn't have a companion. It ended up being fine because I just spent a bunch of time talking and hanging out with the Baileys while waiting for my companions eventual two hour flight delay. The flight was scheduled to get here at 4:15. He left Brazza at 4:45. We didn't see him until 6:45. Africa.

Anyways, I talked with Elder Bailey and we had a great time. After that we ate dinner at a small restaurant and headed home for the night.

Thursday we had to finish a PMG evaluation that no one else finished except me so we didn't finish weekly planning or really study because we had to go into the city to finish it at cyber. Then we headed back and taught for the rest of the day.

Friday was normal.

Saturday we went to the beach and had a service project. It was probably the funnest service project of my life. We just walked around the beach without our shoes on picking up trash and talking about life. I had some fun times with Garland and Sperry so that's what we did. We walked along the beach to rendezvous with the other members doing the project and on the way we found a squid, a beautiful fish that I wanted to keep and eat, and two large onions - one which I kept and later cleaned, chopped up, and put on our pizza last night that we ate. Ha ha. It was one of the biggest onions I have ever seen. So that was probably the funniest thing.

I found a giant onion in the ocean, saved it, took it home, cleaned it, chopped it, and put it on a pizza that I later ate. Awesome. I found an apple too. Ha ha.

Following that we went to a wedding anniversary party that some recent converts invited us to for their parents. It was really fun and we ate some really great African food. Oh I love African food.

Sunday we went to church and going home really hit me hard when I realized I could count on one hand how many Sundays I had left. And I don't really want to talk about it honestly. Blew my mind. And it's just scary. It's probably a good thing I don't have my flight plans yet. Ha ha.

Anyways, it was a really stressful week but it was fine. I am a pretty seasoned missionary so it's normal for me now. I just go with the flow and do what needs to happen.

And that was my week!

I love you guys and hope everything is going well. I will see you soon.

Love Elder Massé

August 18, 2014 - Good-bye to Elder Tweneboah- "We were killing it in the sector and I loved working with him!"

Comp: Elder Tweneboah
Area: Pointe Noire, Congo

Dearest Mother,

It's been a crazy week and a lot fo unexpected things have happened,
but it's been good. And I am totally in if you want to spend a week in
Salt Lake in November! That would give me enough time to go visit everyone in Utah
including the Whitesides, the Gaileys, all my old companions and
friends, and so on a so forth. It would be a really fun trip. I could
even see some of the people from my district too! It would be an
exciting trip to see everyone. That totally has my vote and stamp of
approval. Plus I could talk you to you about my mission and life. That would be
sick. Ha ha. Lets do that. Plan it!

Anyways, we got transfers today and Elder Bailey dropped us a hint
that one person was leaving Congo but he didn't even know who would
leave until THIS MORNING... And he told us on Saturday. Well, we got
letters this morning. And to my great surprise, my companion is
leaving! I am getting one last and final companion!  That makes 11 companions in
16 transfers!!! Quelle pagaille!!! I have had 11 companions on my
mission, and what makes it even crazier is Elder Tweneboah's transfer
letter was the only letter we got. So we have no idea if other people
are being transferred across the city or other situations like that.
And I don't even know who my new companion is! Elder Bailey doesn't
know, I don't know, and we don't know anything more than the fact that
Elder Tweneboah will be leaving on Wednesday and that is it.

Oh my. I freaking loved Elder Tweneboah. We were killing it in the
sector and I loved working with him! The transfer went by so fast
because we were having such a blast and working hard!  But I am trusting in the Lord and I
will finish my mission like a boss because that is how Massés do. We
work hard and never give up and I will work to the end!

I only have one transfer left Mom!!! And then I am home!!! What the heck?

So anyways, I have no idea who my companion is. Elder Bailey told me
that an Elder from Brazza whose name starts with a K will be coming
but that doesn't mean that he will be my companion. It's possible that
someone else from the other side of the city could come and replace
Tweneboah and Elder "K" is coming to be with someone else. We will see
how it goes. Anyways, I am super sad that Elder Tweneboah is leaving.  

My mind is exploding with excitement and although I am getting a new
companion,  it should be no big deal. I am a pretty seasoned missionary
eh hem... (Shoulder swipe of coolness).  I love my mission!

Well, that is about all I can say for today so I will talk to you next
week!

I had to do a survey for when Elder Hamilton comes so it took a ton of
time. I will talk to you later!

I love you and have a great week!

Love Elder Massé

August 11, 2014- BEACH!!- Paradise of the Congo, passion fruit Fanta, "My advice to all missionaries is to make teaching fun", Elder Garland

Area: Pointe Noire, Republic of the Congo, Africa
Comp: Elder Tweneboah

Thanks to Elder & Sister Bailey for the pics!
http://calledtoservethecongo.blogspot.com/?m=1

Dearest Mother,

Yet another fantastic week in the paradise of Congo. I love Congo a lot and it will be hard to part with the idea that I won't be here anymore, but I am working hard and things are just swirling around me at an incredible rate of speed. I guess when you really do lose yourself in the work you really do "lose yourself".

Anyways it was a fantastic week. I went on splits with Elder Tripp and Elder Garland and they both went awesome. Elder Tripp is working hard and his French is great now. And going with Elder Garland was kind of like old times. We had a blast. He was showing my houses and where people lived, and after all of that we had a baptismal interview followed by a baptism so that was the rest of our day. I had an awesome time.

Elder Tripp and I had some fun teaching the 10 commandments with all the hand signals and we laughed and joked as we did it. My advice to all missionaries is to make teaching fun. Be engaged and don't just be a robot without feelings. Have some fun with it. Anyways, we had a great time and I did a baptismal interview for them in their sector and she is golden. She is one of the coolest people I have ever interviewed and she was awesome.

Following that she gave us some passion fruit Fanta and then some oranges that tasted awesome.

Then Elder Tripp and I walked over to the airport which was five minutes away, got a referral, and watched an EcAir flight take off for Brazza. From 0 to 150 mph from ground to air in 32 seconds. Incredible.

And those were pretty much the highlights of my week. We worked hard, time is swirling around me, and things are just awesome. I couldn't ask for more.

The beach was fantastic by the way. I ran up and down the beach looking for sea shells with Naughton and it was just amazing. A real beach! I will definitely have to go again before I leave Africa. We will see how it goes.

I had an awesome week and I hope you guys did too. I love you and I will talk to you soon.

Until next time,

Love Elder Massé

To Missionary Families - "We just wanted to give all of the families of the missionaries here in Pointe Noire a reassurance that everything is fine here."

Missionary Families,

We just wanted to give all of the families of the missionaries here in Pointe Noire a reassurance that everything is fine here.  We know that many have been worried about us because of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.  The countries involved are Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia.  All of the missionaries have been taken out of Liberia and Sierra Leone and the Church will continue to monitor any other precautions that need to be taken.

We also updated the blog yesterday.  We were not able to do much internet work last week because of the power being off for 31/2 days, so we did two blogs for this week.  We just want you to know what great and valiant Elders we are serving alongside.  They are working so hard for the Lord and are representing their families “valiantly”..

Sincerely,
Elder and Sister Bailey

August 4, 2014 - Elder Tripp, 19 lessons, basketball, marche,

Area: Pointe Noire,  Republic of the Congo
Comp: Elder Tweneboah

Pointe Noire Sunset (from the Baileys)

Dear Dad,

I highly envy your pile of smoked ribs and I curse you for it... I would try to out do you, but my best story I got this week was hanging out with one of my best friends Elder Tripp among the other Elders in my District sitting in an air-conditioned room. I ate some ice cream and oreos in homage of my love of ice cream. Ha ha. That was my chunk of paradise and the outside world besides having an awesome week out in the sector with my companion Elder Tweneboah.

I had an awesome week and it sounded like you guys had en epic week as well. Elder Tweneboah and I taught 19 lessons, ended the week with 8 baptismal dates, and I worked hard this week and that felt awesome. It was a super solid week and I loved it.

It was nice to see all of the pictures you guys sent me. All of you looked like you had an awesome time together.

Well, today will be an awesome day and it already has been thus far. Here is the details up to this point and the plan for the rest of the day.

So this morning we got up and headed to the church to play basketball, not in any way shape or size regulation standards, but we had an awesome time playing. I was rocking this morning and my ball handling skills seem to have gotten better lately which is really cool.

Now I am at cyber, and after this we will head to marché and following that we will head to the beach, have an awesome time, put my feet in the ocean, and maybe play some soccer or something.

And then we will head home, eat some chicken, and then we will crash for the night. And then we will wake up and work our butts off tomorrow. Awesome.

I am stoked. That is my day and my week. I love you Dad!

Have a good one!

Love Elder Massé

---------------------------------------------------------

Note: Elder Masse has mentioned how nice it is to see Elder Garland again.  Elder Garland mentioned him in one of his letters:

"We had an awesome Friday as we went to Darcyne's to help them
rearrange some stuff in the corner of her parcelle.  She had this
whole work force there cleaning, painting, filling the pool, redoing
the electricity, gardening, all this stuff to prepare for the party
after the baptism.  Afterwards, she gave us each these little sand
paintings that are so cool, it was a wonderful surprise.  We went
straight to pick up Elder Johnston's new trainee Elder Bybee, and he
seems like a great kid.  He's been in Douala working in Bonabéri with
my good friend Elder Brockbank in my old sector!  He gave me the best
news in the world - the Moumé parents that has son is on a mission in
Côte d'Ivoire, who I used to teach with Elder Massé, ARE GETTING
BAPTIZED!  I was so happy, I can't even explain.  How beautiful."

http://eldergarland.blogspot.com/2014/06/june-2.html?m=1

Deadliest known Ebola outbreak in history in West Africa prompts evacuation of LDS missionaries from Sierre Leone & Liberia; 2 Mormons dead - Deseret News

Ebola outbreak prompts evacuation of LDS missionaries from two African nations

By Tad Walch, Deseret News

Published: Fri, Aug. 1 4:50 p.m. MDT

  

19 comments

A banner reading 'Lets prevent the spread of Ebola, in front of the city hall in Monrovia, Liberia, Thursday, July 31, 2014. The worst recorded Ebola outbreak in history surpassed 700 deaths in West Africa as the World Health Organization on Thursday announced dozens of new fatalities. All LDS missionaries in Sierra Leone and Liberia are leaving those two African nations due to the outbreak of the Ebola virus-related illnesses there. The missionaries are being assigned to other missions.

(Jonathan Paye-Layleh , AP)

A-A+

SALT LAKE CITY — The LDS Church is transferring all of its 274 missionaries out of Sierra Leone and Liberia, where the deadliest-known Ebola outbreak in history has killed hundreds of people, including two Mormons.

The church announced the decision Friday, the same day the World Health Organization's director general said the disease was moving faster than efforts to curb it, which could lead to catastrophic consequences that include a “high risk” it will spread to other countries.

“We are aware of two members who have died from the Ebola virus,” church spokeswoman Jessica Moody said, apparently one in Sierra Leone and one in Liberia.

All Mormon missionaries serving in the two West African nations are being moved as a precautionary measure. They are being reassigned to a variety of other missions: “Missionaries who have been called to serve in these countries and an additional three missionaries in the Ghana MTC will be reassigned,” Moody said.

Of the 274, 157 are natives of African nations and the other 117 are primarily from the United States and Canada, Moody said.

Across the top of the mission blog of one of the Americans is the now-outdated phrase "Serving in the Liberia Monrovia Mission from Sept 2013 to Sept 2015."

Now Elder Rain Price of American Fork, Utah, will spend the final year of his mission elsewhere.

"We've been concerned but not overly frantic about it," his father, Dale, told KSL. "We've always had complete confidence in the leaders on the ground there, and we knew they were monitoring it much closer than we could. It doesn't come as a huge surprise, and it does verify the church is on top of it."

Dale Price, who became internationally famous for wearing a crazy costume while waving goodbye as his son got on the school bus each morning, also said his son and his companion and other missionaries were closely following the precautions outlined by the mission president, President Roger Kirkham.

Price said he thinks his son will be sad to leave Liberia.

"He'd been there 10 months, so he was just getting really comfortable with it and loved the people, loved being there, so it's going to be an interesting change and a new adventure to find out where he's going to go," he said.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced the transfers on mormonnewsroom.org:

"Ensuring the health and safety of our missionaries is our top priority. In recent weeks measures have been taken to reduce risk to missionaries, including asking them to remain in their apartments. To date, there are no reports of illness among the missionaries. Families are being notified as the missionaries arrive in their new assignments. This is a very challenging situation for the missionaries, members and citizens of these countries, and like other organizations we are taking every practical step to reduce risk."

A New York Times graphic and Q&A on the outbreak said 1,300 people have contracted Ebola, and more than half — 729 — have died since the outbreak began in March.

The areas hardest hit by the outbreak are Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.

The church organized the Sierra Leone Freetown Mission in 2007, according to the Deseret News 2013 Church Almanac. The first approved church meeting was held in the country in 1988.

Today, Sierra Leone is home to 13,078 LDS Church members and 30 congregations, according to MormonNewsroom.org.

Liberia has had a Mormon presence longer. The first branches, or small congregations, formed there in the early 1980s. The Liberia Monrovia Mission opened in 1988, at which time it included Sierra Leone.

Liberia now has 8,081 LDS Church members and 22 congregations.

There was no word Friday about whether the outbreak would impact church meetings this weekend.

http://m.deseretnews.com/article/865607954/Ebola-outbreak-prompts-evacuation-of-LDS-missionaries-from-two-African-nations.html?ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F

http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/multimedia-download/article/missionaries-serving-two-african-nations-reassigned

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/20/ebola-map_n_5516406.html