MARCH 10, 2014 - " Life is amazing. This has been the best week of my entire life and craziest week of my entire life! I am so happy!” DL, Elder Lavering! Elder Baker! Elder Naughton! New comp, new area,

Area: Yaounde, Cameroon

Ekounou – Elder Naughton- Snowflake, Arizona

Dearest Mother,

Life is amazing.  This has been the best week of my entire life and craziest week of my entire life!  I am so happy!

Ici en Afrique.... We don't get mail very often and now that there is no longer a couple missionary here in Yaoundé we will be seeing mail once every month. The Colemans are currently covering two cities at this time.  

I am now in charge of my District which entails numbers, money, working fund, District Meetings, picking people to do prayers for dinner and things like that. It also appears that I will be doing a split sometime this week with one of the other companion ships so that I can do a baptismal interview. Yeah being a District Leader is going to be really interesting a great opportunity to learn some new stuff. 

As you can imagine, Elder Lavering was freaking ecstatic that I was coming and it was pareil with me. Elder Lavering might possibly be the funnies person I have ever met in my entire life. Ha ha. We have been together for three days and we have already become instant friends. 

In other news, my new companion rocks and I am super excited for this transfer! I just can't believe I am back where it all started. I forgot to mention that I saw Elder Baker this week too! He flew in on Thursday and Elder Coleman said he was coming over to Bonaberi to pick up Elder Davis and thus began a conversation about whether or not Elder Massé was still in Douala or not. Well I was! I didn't know he was coming so as soon as I opened the front door to our apartment something came at me and attacked me! it was Elder Baker! this has been one of the craziest weeks of my entire mission. My mind is going about a million miles an hour in a billion different directions. Anyways, Elder Naughton is really really cool. As it turns out, his family lives in Snowflake! That started a huge conversation about Heber and Arizona and as it turns out all of his family is from AZ. He lived in Mesa earlier in his life but now lives in Snowflake, he moved there for his senior year. This week has been the craziest week of my entire mission. I can't even begin to explain it. 

Okay. Well I don't know what to talk about because there are just so many things to talk about so I guess I will answer some questions if I can. 

1. How’s Yaounde???  

Yaoundé is freaking crazy. It was one of the coolest things ever to get so much love and affection from old converts and members. So many people were so incredibly happy to see me. Anyways,. it was so amazing! I can't even explain it. So much love. So many great people. It's so fun to be back! 

2.  How is it different?

Oh man. I don't even know where to begin. The branch has exploded, or at least, the two of them have. I had so many people at church and things in Yaoundé are moving so much more fluidly and quickly than other parts of the mission. It's amazing to see the change that Ekounou has taken since I have left. It's been 1 year and three months since I was in Ekounou C and 8.5 months since I was in Yaounde. I am so glad to be back. 

3. How is it the same?

That is honestly really hard to tell you because so much has changed. They are still meeting in the same building, but the church has bought some land in my sector where they are going to build an official church building. It's an exciting time to be here. 

4. How is your apartment?

The apartment is good. The water has been intermittent since I got here. It's really bizarre because when I was there the apartment only lost water once in the entire 4.5 months I was there. 

5. Tell me about your new roommates

. Elder Zeregui is from the Ivory Coast and pronounces very excellent r's in English. Elder Lavering is the funniest person I have ever met in my entire life. Elder Naughton is a gymnast and lives in Snowflake, AZ. Elder Tripp is from Cedar City, Utah and his dad was a former NFL player. Elder Tripp loves Linkin Park and Tron. Awesome kid. This is his second transfer here on the mission. Elder Porter, who missed his flight home but is now officially gone speaks very good French. Did I forget to mention that Elder Lavering loves to study French?  I think we were meant to be twins but it got screwed up in the pre-existence. And Elder... Rakotondrabeharison... Yes that really is his name... Ha ha. Is super funny as well and knows a ton of English idioms. He speaks pretty good English and understands what we say. He reminds my of Elder Rambeloson. Fun and Malagasy. Ha ha. This is going to be an awesome transfer. I am stoked!

6. How was the bus ride?

 Bus ride was awesome. It went SOOO fast. I couldn't believe how fast it went.  I got on and then I got off. It was crazy. 

7. What are you doing for your birthday??

. No one knows it's my birthday so it's unlikely that we will do anything. I don't want to parade around and say "Hey Elders it's my birthday!" That isn't really how I roll so I will just leave it alone. We will see though. Elder Naughton knows it's my birthday though so maybe something will happen. 

8. What are you happy about?

 Oh I am happy! Need I say more!?

9. Tell me about Elder Naughton!

. I have said a lot already, but Elder Naughton is really awesome. He reminds me a lot of Elder Garland in many ways, it's really fun. He is a great Elder, he speaks great French, he has been in Yaounde for what is now his 6th transfer and it is looking like one of us will be leaving soon. It's unfortunate, but we will see. I will go where the Lord wants me to go.  It’s his mission, not mine, so I will do what he wants me to do.

10. What's great about being a missionary who is out 17 months?

Oh boy. The great thing about being an old missionary is that one learns a great deal from being around younger missionaries. You learn how to become better at all times and recently I have tried to look at every person with the perspective that there is something that they can teach me and something that they are much better at than I am. Elder Naughton will teach me some great things and I am excited. Getting old is fun though. It's interesting and scary at the same time

11. Is there anything you need?

. I think I may need another journal. I filled and the one with the picture of Christ on it. I am good on pens and I think everything else.

12. What adventures did you have this week?

 Church was the biggest adventure. I saw SO MANY PEOPLE. I am surprised how many people recognized me and wanted to say hello. I never realized the influence I actually had. It was really cool. 

I love you Mother! You are the best! I love you dearly. I will talk to you soon. 

Until next time,

Love Elder Massé

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

This is an letter home from Elder Lavering- his roommate:

“…It is cool living with Masse and our whole apartment is super mellow. …Yesterday night, we ate tacos. Elder Masse went to his room and came back with some TACO BELL sauce. WOW. Thanks Elder Masse's mom.  Missions are great  LOVE Elder Lavering”

MARCH 3, 2014 - TRANSFERS! I'm going to Yaounde! "we can’t see every angle, but He does and that is all that matters. Close your eyes and just do your best. Heavenly Father knows what is happening and it will work out the way He wants it to. Just go with the flow and let it happen. You have to lose your life to find it. " , Elder Davis, bucket list

Comp: Elder Brockbank
Area: Douala, Cameroon

March 3, 2014

Dearest Mother,

Well here we go. I will start with the questions. Email is messed up and the internet is intermittent. 

 1.       TRANSFERS!!!!!  Where is everyone going?  DON’T LEAVE OUT ANYTHING!!

I am……. staying in Cameroon.  I am going back to Yaounde!

My comp will be Elder Naughton who is a super cool guy.  I got called as the DL.  Oh, and did I mention that I’m going to be in the same sector that I started my mission in?  Ekounou.  And guess what mom …. I’ll be in the same apartment with Elder Lavering!  I know you’ll be happy about that :)  I thought for sure that wouldn’t happen because he goes home in two transfers, and I thought I might be going to the Congo.

Elder Brockbank is going to have Elder Buetler as a companion, Elder Davis is going home, Elder Ngala is training a Nigerian straight from the MTC.  My head is spinning.  It will be amazing to go back to Yaounde!  I miss it.  It’s awesome. 

Douala 

Elder Ngalamulumé with Elder Okon 

Elder Brockbank with Elder Beutler

Yaoundé 

Elder Colindres and Elder Roth

Elder Johnson and Elder Kampoy

Elder Massé and Elder Naughton

Elder Lavering and  Elder Zeregui,

Elder Tripp and a Malagash Elder

The Whitesides have gone home and no senior couple are in Douala right now. And that is all I know. Transfers are crazy.

2.       Who did you teach this week?  How did that go?

 We have been teaching Sister J. pretty regularly and she is doing good. She will be getting baptized this Saturday but I won't be there because I am leaving! It's sad, but it will be fine. She is doing well. 

3.       How is Elder Davis?

 Elder Davis is doing really good. I will really miss him. He has been an awesome friend and a great Elder. It will be weird to see him go, but it's funnier because it is me leaving him.

4.       What was the funnest thing you did today?

We haven't done a whole lot today, but it will be interesting to see how that goes today when I go into town.  I will be packing today probably. I have a lot of work to do. 

5.   Tell me something in French

Si j'allais dire quelque chose, je vais te dire que je t'aime vraiment plus que tu m'aimes. En tout cas, tout va bien ici en Afrique et bientot je serai muté aEkounou. Je suis tellement reconnaissant pour cette occasion que j'aurai bientot d'etre ensemble encore avec mes amis et mes convertis. 

6.    What are you looking forward too?

I am really looking forward to the time that I will be able to spend with the Elders up in Yaoundé and to see everyone that I knew again. It's a rather strange thing to be honest. 

7.   What are three things on your bucket list in Africa?

Cut off a branch of plantains or bananas off a tree and carry it home. 

Pick up a bottle full of red dirt and take it home. 

Work with an African... If it is possible so that I can learn a great deal about myself. 

8.   Who will you say good-bye too (if you get transferred) ?

 I will be saying goodbye to a lot of people. It will be interesting to see how that goes to be honest. I just can't believe I am leaving. It almost didn't seem possible. 

9.   What did you eat/cook this week?

 Well we are going to eat a bunch of fish and plantains on tomorrow night because I am leaving along with Elder Davis so we will have fun bouffing orbouffer. Ha ha. That's a fun French verb to use. 

10. What advice would you give to a missionary facing disappointment?

That we can’t see every angle, but He does and that is all that matters.  Close your eyes and just do your best.  Heavenly Father knows what is happening and it will work out the way He wants it to.  Just go with the flow and let it happen.   You have to lose your life to find it.  It will work out.  It was meant to be like this.  Just let it happen., 

11.   Have you been eating fresh cut sugar cane lately?

No I haven't eaten any sugar cane recently. Sorry. =(. I wish that I had though. 

That’s it for now. 

Love you mom.  Hope everything is okay.

Until next time,

Love,

Elder Masse

note:  Elder Masse was supposed to be companion with Elder Ryan Lavering in the Congo during the first transfer when the new mission President arrived.  Elder Masse had visa issues with getting to Congo, and so that never happened.  Now he will be in the same apartment with Elder Lavering in Yaounde which is pretty remarkable since Elder Lavering only has 2 transfers left.  

baptisms on Saturday in Douala

Elder Naughton

thanks to the Colemans and Whitesides for pics!

FEB 10, 2014 - Roommates, Elder Brockbank, Elder Davis, Natalie "I also admire her willingness to be humble despite her trials and afflictions..."

Comp: Elder Brockbank

Area: Douala,Cameroon

FEB 10, 2013

Dearest Mother,

I had a great week and Elder Brockbank and I are getting to work! It's been awesome! In any case, here we go! 

1. My week was fantastic! We had some great lessons with some awesome people and they all seem to be doing pretty well. Our most important investigator right now will be baptized next week or the week after that. I love J for several reasons, but these are the first that come to mind. One, she is sincere and she actually does her commitments. We ask her to read, and what does she do? She reads it not once, or twice, but several times. She always has questions and she is awesome. Secondly, after every single lesson, without fail, we get fed something. And it doesn't help that her food is amazingly delicious. We basically get to eat to our hearts content. I am sure that all this oil and fat is clogging up my arteries, but I am happy. Ha ha.

Last Saturday, after we finished the second portion of the Plan of Salvation, we heard the familiar sound of the clanging of dishes. After a couple minutes J came in with a mountain of rice and mackerel in sauce d'arrachide, peanut sauce, and I got to eat as much as I wanted. It was so delicious. Horrible for my heart, but so good. I have a plan to make you guys a nice peanut sauce with fish when I get home so be prepared for that. Don't worry. You will love it. 

2. Elder Brockbank knows how to play cribbage. Elder Davis is going home in less than four weeks. Elder Ngalamulumé can make some of the best Fou-Fou that you will ever eat. And I am Elder Massé and I approve this message. 

3. Elder Brockbank and I made Corn-bread this week. And brownies. And banana bread. It was awesome. 

4. What do you and Elder Brockbank talk about?

Oh boy. I don't even know where to begin. Elder Brockbank and I can pretty much talk about anything and we can't get either one of us to shut up. We just talk and talk and talk and then when we get Elder Davis going it gets even worse. I swear that we are just triplets. 

5. What made you laugh out loud?  I watched Elder Davis blow a bean out his nose after sucking it down the wrong tube.

6. Mission President & Wife: Sister Cook will kill you with your own laughter and President Cook can solve any foot problem. But I love President Cook and his willingness to push on. I admire that. 

7. Do they celebrate Valentines Day? They do, but it's not like it is in the states. 

8.  Why aren't I glad that Natalie is my sister? There are a plethora of things that I could talk about, but I also admire her willingness to be humble despite her trials and afflictions. Learning to be patient despite the opposition is not easy. 

So here are the plans for today. 

After we finish at Cyber we will head back to the apartment to drop everything off .  After that we will head into town and go meet the Gaileys at a pizza place. The Gaileys are going to treat us to pizza because they are leaving in less than two weeks and they wanted to do something nice for all of the missionaries. I am excited and it will be really fun to go eat some pizza. It's been a while! 

After we do that, depending on time, Elder Brockbank and I may or may not head over to the marché . We aren't sure exactly what will happen, but it just depends on time. When we get home tonight we are going to make banana bread and biscuits and gravy and we have a lot of sausage so it will be savory and delicious. And after that, who knows. I will probably write in my journal, read the scriptures, talk to Elder Davis and Elder Brockbank until it's time for bed, and then hit the sack. We will see how it goes. 

After we finish in town though the plan is to head home. We don't have a family home evening planned but we have one planned for next week. 

Thanks so much for everything you do Mom. You are awesome and I love you. I am glad you guys are happy. I will talk to you next week.

Until next time,

Love Elder Massé

thanks to the Gailey's for the pictures!

to My Family & Friends from Africa- Joyeux Noël from Elder Masse - December 23, 2013

Dear Family & Friends,

I wanted to wish you all a Merry Christmas during this happy season! I know that we are far away at this time, but the Spirit of the lord is close and he loves each of us. I feel that love from each of you and I wanted to tell each and every one of you that I love you and wish you a "Joyeux Noël"! I know that I have not had much correspondence with many of you, but I wanted to thank each of you for your prayers and for that you gave my in helping me to prepare for my mission. I know I have been out for some time now, but I wanted to thank you for the contribution that each of you gave and the sacrifices that have been made on my behalf whether they be physical, mental, or spiritual. Heavenly Father answers our prayers and he listens to each of us.

In my small corner of Africa everything is going well! It's hot, I sweat every single day, but I continue on! Heavenly Father has blessed me greatly with this opportunity and I am grateful that I was called to serve in this part of the world. It is wonderful to see the change in the people that I have grown to love so much. They are wonderful. Africa is truly an amazing place and I have hundreds of stories to tell!

Again, I love each of you and hope that you are doing well. I am happy and content. I hope that each of us would take some time this Christmas season to reflect on who we are and where we are going. We are truly blessed and Heavenly Father loves us.

Je vous aime plus que vous m'aimez! Je vous souhaite un joyeux Noël! On se verra bientôt!

Que Dieu vous bénisse!

Avec amour,

Elder Massé

December 23, 2013 - Birthday party/Christmas Party, Mountains of Food!, "Je reviens! Je reviens encore!", "it was a dream come true!", why its so amazing to be a missionary in Africa

Comp: Elder Wright
Area: Douala, Cameroon

December 23, 2013

Dearest Mother,

I have been thinking about that all this week! My life is so wonderful! There are just no words to describe how I feel. I feel such peace, such joy, such happiness. It doesn't even feel like Christmas, but it is the best time of my entire mission! The more I give myself up to this work the more I feel engaged and locked into it. The more I work, I find more work to be done. I have been getting home later every day and working and sweating and bleeding and teaching and preaching. I honestly can't describe it. I know Natalie understands well, but I hope that you and Dad can too. As it states in the district, these are feelings that just can't be described. I love this work! 

So here we go! 

1. What do you want to hear about when we skype?

I honestly can't think on anything. I just want to see you guys and your faces. I hope that you are doing well and that all is well. Don't worry! We will just talk and it will be over. No worries! It will be great whatever happens! 

2. What are your plans for Christmas?

 We will be out working on Christmas until about 1:00 and at that point we will need to head to the city to see the Gaileys at their house. They will feed us a lunch/dinner. Once we get there we will start skyping our families and just playing games and having fun. After that we will head home and that is Christmas! We will also be watching last years Christmas devotional by the First Presidency. I love last years so I am excited to watch it again. 

3. What are you looking forward too?

 I am just happy to be here. It's a great time to be a missionary and I wouldn't trade the time that I have left for anything in the world. Honestly, this is perfect. 

4. What made you happy this week?

It's hard to answer that question. I feel so full of joy and peace. Everything is going well and it's the best! 

5. What have you been thinking of lately?

. Not much. I am just looking forward and enjoying my time here in the mission. It's an exciting time! 

6. Did any presents or packages or letters arrive as of late?

I have not received any letters or packages as of late, but I did receive a letter from Natalie! It's awesome! She seems happy and she is doing well. It's hard to tell though because the letter was written two months ago. Ha ha! Oh Africa. And the Phillippines. 

7. Tell me some African traditions

If there is a pimple on your face it means that you are in love with another woman. The Douala tradition is that mermaids exist. Africans never use a towel that they use to wash their body for the ground. I got in huge trouble for that one. Seriously. Chewed out. That is all that came to mind for the moment. 

8. What made you laugh?

Well Elder Davis and I  talk all the time and we laugh about every day. It's been so fun watching that relationship grow. We are doing awesome. 

9. Tell me a joke

What do British Nuclear physicists eat for lunch?

Fission chips! Ha ha! 

10. Tell me why its so amazing to be a missionary in Africa.... 

Because the work is growing and people are so accepting. People are very in-tune with the Spirit and it is wonderful to watch them grow and progress. However, there is also a catch to that. There are so many people that I love and have grown close to and it's hard to watch them not progress or watch them struggle and drown in their trials when I know exactly what they need - The Gospel. It's very hard, but it is a wonderful blessing. This country has been prepared and we have more people to teach than we can see honestly. I love it here, but it's not easy. 

11. How are you feeling?

 I feel great! Truly, everything is going my way. Other than that I don't have a whole lot.

So it was a really great week. On Saturday I helped one of our neighbors set up for a huge birthday party/Christmas party and thanks to my charm and class, ( wink wink) ha ha! I managed to get all four of us missionaries invited to the party! At 6 o'clock on Saturday, I hear the doorbell ring and so I went to investigate. As soon as I opened the door I just see my neighbor named Agnesse rush into our apartment and start placing plates with mountains of food of them on our table! She kepy saying, "Je reviens! Je reviens encore!" I'm coming back! Before I knew it there was like six or seven plates of food on our table full of African food. It was like a dream come true. Fish, chicken, meatballs, roast beef, stew, beignets that tasted like blueberry muffins,  cake, Ndolé, Cantonese rice, potato salad, and tons of soda. Seriously. It was the best thing ever. I had a seemingly endless supply of African food. It was a dream come true. 

Ahhh... And there is still more in the fridge! Ha ha! That was the highlight of my week. It was the best. 

I don't have a whole lot more to say and not much is really coming to my mind at the moment so I guess I will just end there!

I love you Mother! I will see you on Wednesday! Avec amour,

Love Elder Massé

Dedication of GABON!!! First 4 Elders go to Gabon for the first time!!

I was so touched by the part of the dedicatory prayer in Gabon by Elder Bednar- about leaves falling from the trees when the prayer started- but it turned out to be butterflies!)

http://www.lds.org/church/news/print/gabon-country-dedication-in-ancient-forest?lang=eng&country=afe

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

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. “