MAY 19, 2014 - Happy Birthday Mom! , Jungle, Bananas!!! Independence day of Cameroon, four new missionaries, "I have a great life"

Well, I thought today that I would write each of you at the same time and tell you about my fun adventures from this past week. Here is what has happened in my life. 

Monday: P-Day. We had a mangez-vous at one of the branch presidents houses this week and it was awesome. It was to commemorate the end of ElderLavering's mission. We ate great food, had a small family home evening,  and had a great time.

Tuesday was Elder Laverings birthday so we had a huge mangez-vous at another member's house this week. Her name is Martine and I love her. She cooked us fried fish, Folon, piment, and a million plantains. I love African food. We had a great day.

Wednesday I went on splits with Elder Lavering into his sector and I also did four baptismal interviews for a family that he is teaching. It was a pretty standard day, but I had a blast doing baptismal interviews and hanging out with Elder Lavering for the day.

Thursday was by far my favorite day this week for one reason and one reason only. I finally fulfilled one of my dreams that I have had before I ever came to Africa. Here we go.

Elder Naughton and I were heading to our last rendez-vous of the evening and we were walking through the jungle, literally the jungle, to get to their house. As we were walking I looked ahead and saw a banana tree that had fallen over and had a huge branch of bananas attached to it. I knew that this was finally the moment when my dream would be fulfilled.

I stopped on the trail and Elder Naughton turned around and asked what I was doing. I told him that we had to cut down this branch of bananas and take it home.He looked at me like I was crazy, but I had to do it.

Unfortunately I didn't have a knife with me so I told Elder Naughton to give me his pen. Ha ha. Well, I cut down this branch of bananas with a pen threw it on my shoulder, and carried it all the way home. Granted we took a taxi, but we still had a good walk before finding one.

One of my dreams was to come to Africa, go into the jungle, cut down a branch of bananas or plantains, throw it over my shoulder, and take it home. And I did it. One of the best days of my life. I felt like a boss and it was the coolest thing ever. That was the highlight of my week.

Just so you know, this branch of bananas has 124 bananas on it. I counted it. Ha ha. I love Africa!

Friday was pretty normal.

Saturday was also awesome, but not much happened.

After Thursday every day after that paled in comparison to the awesomeness of carrying a huge thing of bananas home. It was so freaking heavy too.

And Sunday we went out to our branch president's house to eat Ndolé and plantains, we watched a soccer game and then to end the night we had a small lesson/family home evening with a family that recently lost their father so a bunch of members were their to testify of the Plan of Salvation and talk about Jesus Christ. It was really cool.

And now it's Monday. Tomorrow is the Independence day of Cameroon and we are having a sleep over in Bastos so that we can make it to zone conference on time on Tuesday. We will be 12 missionaries total. Did I forget to mentiont that we got four new missionaries? Well we did. Two inYaoundé, one in Douala, and another going to Pointe Noire waiting for his visa in Douala.

I have a great life. I love you guys and I will talk to you next week!

Happy Mother's day and Happy birthday day Mom!

I love you guys!

Until next time,

Love Elder Massé

MAY 12, 2014 - MOTHER'S DAY! We received a letter from Africa!!!! Skype, electricity out

Elder Masse was supposed to skype home for Mother's Day- but the electricity went out- so we were able to skype with him for 30 minutes on the following day- May 12, 2014!   AND- we also got a letter from Africa in the mail!!

MAY 5, 2014- PICTURES!!

Comp: Elder Naughton

Area: Yaounde, Cameroon

Dear Dad,

I thought that I would explain this last transfer with a couple photos that I have taken of my companion and of course my friends.

The first is a picture of when we spent 80 dollars on cereal or something. Ha ha. 

Second is a picture of the day that we went to go dig that huge pile of earth that took two days.

Third is Elder Naughton asleep during French study.

Fourth is the African sun.

Fifth is a picture of when we climbed into the roof of our apartment and we took a picture of Rakoto brushing his teeth and Zeregui taking a shower. Ha ha.

Sixth is my companion. I love him.

And lastly is Elder Lavering and I in my daily picture!

I hope that the pictures will suffice for this week! I love you Dad. I will see you in a couple days!

Sunday,

Love Elder Massé 

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Dearest Mother,

1. We had a District Meeting with them, but it wasn't anything special. Did you know Elder Moody has served five missions? And Sister Moody four? He served in France when he was younger, they were called to be Temple President in Tahiti, He was a mission president in Haiti, and he is just about to finish serving here. Crazy. They are quite heavenly.

2. Not much. We will be "bouffing" a ton of food tonight at Olinga's house which will be awesome.

3. Everyday... I walk by Santa Lucia in Kondengui. That hasn't changed much.

4. How? Fine! 

Bonjour. C'est comment? Ça va ça va.  

How for you? Fine fine.

5. No service, but Elder Naughton and I will be doing service tomorrow.

6. Bon... Récemment on a parle beaucoup de français dans l'appartement avec Naughton and aussi Lavering et, bien sur, les autres missionnaires. Nous avons continue a parler en français jusqu'à ce que nous soyons mort! (En tant que missionnaire). Ne t'inquiète pas. On se verra très bientôt!!

So... Yes. Wasn't a huge week. Nothing special happened, but Elder Naughton and I are doing awesome and things are rolling our way. We are invited to a marriage this week though so that will be fun. We will see how that goes.

I honestly can't think of anything else. It was just a normal week I guess. Oh I guess one thing I forgot to mention. I did three baptismal interviews which was cool.

Yeah that was my week.  It was great!

I will see you very soon!

Until Sunday,

Love Elder Massé

APRIL 28, 2014- Packages, Gen Conf, Sunset, DL, Myan, Madame, Birthday Package, "Ah life is awesome! I love my mission! "

Comp: Elder Naughton

Area:  Yaounde, Cameroon 

Dearest Mother,

The week has gone by really quickly and I keep asking myself if this is how it's going to be for the rest of my mission. Ah life is awesome! I love my mission!

Here we go!

Monday I emailed you guys and told you about everything that happened last week. I also got to open the numerous packages and letters that I received. I haven't seen that many in a very long time, but it was so awesome! I received my birthday package from you and I am so grateful for the locks, the awesome card, all the taco bell sauce, the pictures of Natalie, and so on...

I also got a sweet package from Madame for my birthday. She is so awesome. She sent me some candy and really cool card in French, and she sent my four small novels in French! I started them Tuesday, and by Friday, all of them were finished. Ha ha. I read all of them! What a great birthday!

Tuesday was pretty normal. We met and began teaching a super cool investigator named Esther who came to church twice already and we have only taught her once! Elder Zeregui cooked a dish from Cote d'Ivoire made from vegetables, aubergines, smoked fish, and rice.

Wednesday we had District Meeting as usual and we met another really cool investigator that was contacted in the marche on Monday. We also bought $80 dollars worth of cereal and that was dinner. Ha ha! Awesome right? We ate so much cereal!

Thursday I went on splits with Elder Zeregui and we went out to a quartier called Mvan.  It was also Tate's birthday which was really really cool. Elder Tripp and I made mashed potatoes and a biscuits and gravy sauce for dinner.

Friday was a fairly normal day. Nothing to out of the ordinary happened. Elder Naughton and I made tomato soup for dinner and we then pulled all of our white lawn chairs out on the balcony to watch a sweet lightning storm that was happening behind our apartment. I love Yaounde.

Saturday we watched General Conference!

And that is what we did on Sunday! I am stoked for the Liahona to come out. I am really excited to read it. 

And that was my week!

1.       What was your favorite thing that happened this week?

Probably General Conference weekend and speaking French this entire week in the apartment and with my companion. I am going to continue to speak French which will be really fun.

2.       What made you laugh out loud?
 Too many stories to count. Elder Naughton and I stare at each other at random and once we look at each other we just bust up laughing. I love our companionship.

3.  How are things with the Mooney’s?

They are great! I haven't seen them since Monday.

4.       How did you like your packages?Oh my goodness. I loved them. I can't fully express just how happy I was. I also got my two journals as well! I see what you did there... It's almost like I received two of those journals before...! Those should last me until the end of my mission.

 5.       What’s something you love about Yaounde?

 What is there not to love about Yaoundé? I will send you a picture of the sunset I saw the other night.

6.       What did you buy this week?  Eat?

Tons and tons of cereal!

7.       Tell me something about your apartment

  It's... Clean...

8.       What is something you do at night after you have to go back to the apartment?

Write in my journal, eat, study, watch the frequent storms off the balcony, etc.

9. Are you feeling okay? (Dad wants to know)

Don't worry! I am great!

10. What are some of the things you do as a DL?

The same old stuff. Not much has changed recently.

11.Tell me anything 

Anything. 

Ha ha. See what I did there?

And that was my week! I love you Mom! 

I love you. 

Until next time,

Love Elder Massé

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

April 14, 2014 - Staying in Yaounde! Service Project! The Fourth Missionary!

Area: Yaounde, Cameroon

Comp: Elder Jake Naughton

Dearest Mother,

The week went well and it was honestly the fastest week and the fastest transfer of my entire life. We got transfers today and there is nothing happening so... nothing is happening. Ha ha. I am still in Yaoundé, I am still with Elder Naughton and nothing has changed. I will get to see Elder Lavering die and go home! Sweet! That will be exciting. 

Despite having an awesome week, and a quick one at that, we did some service with an investigator this week and ended up with some blisters and sunburns… but other than that, that was it. Not much really happened. 

Here we go! 

1. How was your week?

The week was great! Everything went really well and it really was the fastest week of my entire life. I was emailing you just yesterday it seems. 

2. What adventures have you had lately?

The only adventure we really had was the service project and going up to a quartier in Yaounde called Melen. It's a really nice quartier and I had the thought that if I ever owned a house or something I would want to live there. It's really nice and really tranquil. Cool place. 

3. Seen any new places? Where did you go?

 Melen was the only new place this week. 

4. What service did you do this week?

We dug some earth for 14 hours over the span of two days. It was awesome. 

5. Tell me about your apartment

The apartment is doing good. We have water, we have power, and we have hot water as well. The light in our room turns on about half the time but it's all good. 

6. Who is someone you love to visit?

I love visiting M. and Jn J. We have recently begun teaching them. They listen, they are attentive, and they loved the commitments that we left with them last time. We also taught them how to pray and both of them tried and said it was so simple and easy. They loved the idea that we talk to our Father as if he is right there in front of us. Very cool. 

7. How do you want people to remember “Elder Masse”?

I just want people to remember that I loved them, that I was a hard worker, and that I was obedient. 

8. Do you have hot showers?  Air conditioning?  What floor is your apartment on?

Our apartment is on the third floor and we still have air conditioning and hot water. 

9. Tell me something in French

Bon. J'ai voulu te dire que je suis toujours avec Elder Naughton et que tout va bien ici a Yaounde. Il n'y a pas vraiment les problèmes pour lemoment, mais je suis contente que tu aies la santé et la force do travailler si dur pour la mission and pour notre famille. 

10. Tell me about your roommates

Elder Naughton is a gymnast. Elder Tripp played baseball in high school. Elder Laverin wants to major in exercise science. Elder Rakoto has 19 characters in his name. And Elder Zeregui is just starting to learn English. 

11. How are you feeling?

I feel great! 

12. What made you laugh out loud?

Too many times to count on four hands. I love this apartment and I am glad it is staying the same. 

I read “The Fourth Missionary” by Lawrence E. Coburn.  I would encourage you to read this talk eventhough its 23 pages long, it has changed my mission.  Love it. 

And I guess that is it. Not a whole lot happened this week, it just went really really fast. I love you Mom!

Until next time,

Love Elder Massé

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Hey Dad,

I just have one story to tell for today. On Tuesday and Wednesday all six of us went to help an investigator move a pile of dirt that was 6.5 feet high, 25 feet long, and 4 feet deep. I ended up with several blisters, and a nice sunburn that has peeled wonderfully. We dug so much dirt. I wish I had taken a picture so that I could have shown you. We dug an unbelievably large amount of dirt. And it took 14 hours between the six of us. Nuts. We worked so hard, and it was interesting to see how each of the Elders worked. 

It felt SO NICE to go out in the sun and work hard. I miss it. I miss getting dirty, and working in the yard, and mowing grass, and destroying weeds, and digging holes, and doing all sorts of random things around the house. I miss it and it was incredibly nice to do that again. I love proselyting, I love missionary work, but my favorite thing to do for people is to do them some physical service that they couldn't have finished or done for themselves. I know the Gospel is the best thing I could ever give people, but I still enjoy working for people, sweating for people, getting dirty, being of service, and working hard. 

I have missed it. I worked hard this week and I loved it. 

I hope you are doing well Dad. I love you. Have a great week. 

Until next time,

Love Elder Massé

The Republic of Congo Brazzaville Mission is being created by dividing the Democratic Republic of the Congo Kinshasa Mission July 1, 2014

http://m.deseretnews.com/article/865600158/Two-new-missions.html

Deseret News: Two new missions of the Church are being created in Africa. The Cote d’Ivoire Abidjan West Mission is being created by dividing the Cote d’Ivoire Abidjan Mission. The Republic of Congo Brazzaville Mission is being created by dividing the Democratic Republic of the Congo Kinshasa Mission.