(Below is a letter written from Elder and Sister Gubler, a couple serving in the Ivory Coast. The final elections are taking place in the Ivory Coast and the Mission is taking the necessary precautions to keep our boys safe.)
Bonjour! This is just a quick update regarding the elections coming up this Sunday, again. Precautions are in the works with the regroupment plan being implemented Saturday through Wednesday. The President is monitoring the situation, and will adapt that either longer or go to a different plan. He has asked all the missionaries to be prepared w/a 72 hour bag ready to go, and that each regroupment apartment have adequate supplies for a longer duration if necessary.
Keep the people of Cote D'Ivoire in your prayers: that they will be willing to remember their past and not repeat it, that they will be willing to accept disappointment graciously (because obviously close to half will be disappointed), and that the right person will be elected to lead these people in peaceful ways.
We are looking forward to the Southams coming to the mission soon. Truly they are needed. What a blessing it is to have someone WANT to return to serve. We hope we get to meet them, but don't know how all that works yet.
It was fun for us to have 'thanksgiving dinner' with a few of the elders today. Elders Halvorsen, Cruz, Fisiihoi, and Lamboni took us to a little restaurant for hamburgers, chawarma, or pizza. The best part of the meal was just being with them. I am curious to hear from the others what, if anything, they were able to do. They are all wonderful, wonderful young men. We feel so blessed to be here with them. We hope your Thanksgiving was terrific as well.
Tons of love,
Elder & Soeur Gubler
Friday, November 26, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
Cameron is Transferred to Niangon 4
Dear Everyone,
What a week! well we gave quite a few new baptismal dates that i WAS excited about but the assistants called me last night to tell me im transfered!! Im going to Niangon 4. I really dont know anything about it, like where exactly im going or who my companion is or anything, but im leaving Cocody around 3pm my time. Pretty crazy! I guess ill spend my last 3 or so weeks over there. Im kind of excited about it, but i actually think Niangon 4 is a new ward, so ill probably be starting another area...But thats all good. It sounds like you're all doing good and im so glad. I cant believe ill be home in less than a month...there is a couple things that i would like for you all to get for me before i get home like new garments, etc..cause i wont have a single pair. I have been giving all my clothes and everything else away for the past couple months. I kinda gave a little too many away but its all good. Im just hopin my shoes will hold out. Ive only been wearing these ones for only 4 months but they have a huge hole in the bottoms and the bottoms gone unglued and coming up, but ive gotten them sowed a little and i think itll hold out haha its just whenever it rains or the areas a little wet my feet get wet, but where im going i dont think it gets as much rain as we do here so thats good! :)
It was super funny, last p-day when we saw Etienne (a new convert) he had his old wife make us a huge meal...it was super good until we got down to the bottom haha she pounded plantation bananas (they call it 'fou tou') and this sauce that just has a tomatoe base with a lot of chicken in it. Chicken here is usually only for special occasions. Well after we eat a ton and all the chicken it only left the undeveloped eggs, the head, liver, intestines, well and everything else we normally dont eat...haha well he looked at us and was like, 'what are you shy?! EAT! ' haha and he plops the head and eggs on my companions plate and i say 'yeah! EAT! ' haha well then he looks at me and puts all the rest on my plate.. haha it was pretty gross but we got it down. I guess you just have to be in the moment, it was hilarious!
Well i love you all so much and am so glad youre all doin good. If there is anyting you all would like please let me know and ill try to do everything to get it for you all. I love you! This week will be a busy week, tomorrow we have a mission conference and we're going to be getting the new program for the elections. I know we're going to be doing another lock down but im praying it just wont be for as long, and i dont think it will be. I love you! xoxoxo
Elder Legere
What a week! well we gave quite a few new baptismal dates that i WAS excited about but the assistants called me last night to tell me im transfered!! Im going to Niangon 4. I really dont know anything about it, like where exactly im going or who my companion is or anything, but im leaving Cocody around 3pm my time. Pretty crazy! I guess ill spend my last 3 or so weeks over there. Im kind of excited about it, but i actually think Niangon 4 is a new ward, so ill probably be starting another area...But thats all good. It sounds like you're all doing good and im so glad. I cant believe ill be home in less than a month...there is a couple things that i would like for you all to get for me before i get home like new garments, etc..cause i wont have a single pair. I have been giving all my clothes and everything else away for the past couple months. I kinda gave a little too many away but its all good. Im just hopin my shoes will hold out. Ive only been wearing these ones for only 4 months but they have a huge hole in the bottoms and the bottoms gone unglued and coming up, but ive gotten them sowed a little and i think itll hold out haha its just whenever it rains or the areas a little wet my feet get wet, but where im going i dont think it gets as much rain as we do here so thats good! :)
It was super funny, last p-day when we saw Etienne (a new convert) he had his old wife make us a huge meal...it was super good until we got down to the bottom haha she pounded plantation bananas (they call it 'fou tou') and this sauce that just has a tomatoe base with a lot of chicken in it. Chicken here is usually only for special occasions. Well after we eat a ton and all the chicken it only left the undeveloped eggs, the head, liver, intestines, well and everything else we normally dont eat...haha well he looked at us and was like, 'what are you shy?! EAT! ' haha and he plops the head and eggs on my companions plate and i say 'yeah! EAT! ' haha well then he looks at me and puts all the rest on my plate.. haha it was pretty gross but we got it down. I guess you just have to be in the moment, it was hilarious!
Well i love you all so much and am so glad youre all doin good. If there is anyting you all would like please let me know and ill try to do everything to get it for you all. I love you! This week will be a busy week, tomorrow we have a mission conference and we're going to be getting the new program for the elections. I know we're going to be doing another lock down but im praying it just wont be for as long, and i dont think it will be. I love you! xoxoxo
Elder Legere
Monday, November 15, 2010
Hi everyone,
Well another week is down and things are going great. They're starting to pick up a lot again. We've fixed some more baptismal dates this last week but its kind of weird that some of them are actually when I'm not going to be here :/ but thats okay, I'll just have to keep in contact with them. Today was a LONG day, but an awesome one. We got up, cleaned the apt. and then took off to go to Yopougon. We went around all our old areas and visited lots of our converts. I reallly don't think I've had a bigger joy in my whole mission than I did today! To see the familys change, the Spirit light their homes, and their kids being raised in it is really such an amazing experience. All those young men that never serve missions have no idea what they are missing out on. Ive learned on the mission two great things.
1. that we're nothing, but 2. that we mean everything to our Heavenly Father. Its two things that almost sound contradicting but its so true. King Benjamin help explain that we, creations of God were made from the dust, which belonged to God. And the dust is in some sort more intelligent than us, because even the dust obeys God. We are completely dependant. We need Him. And without Him we are nothing. Without Him we wouldn't be. Only the arrogant fools believe we should not owe our allegiance to Him. And I am thankful that we are guided by Him who knows all things, the same who has a perfect love and mercy. But even though we are nothing by ourselves, we mean everything in the eyes of our Father. We are His work and His glory. We are the masterpieces of the Master, made in His image and likeness. And we gain even more value when we follow His will. I'm thankful for the opportunity to have my eyes opened and see through the Saviors eyes. I love these people with a love I can't explain. It breaks my heart to think it might be the last time I see them here in this life. But brings tears to my eyes to know I'll see them in the Father's Kingdom. What a great and marvelous work!
I wanted to share really quick a small story that happened this week. I'm amazed how the Spirit is so personally involved in this work. On Wednesday morning the rain was just pouring. But it stopped just in time so we can get out of the apt. We were looking for a villa that another missionary companionship contacted in the lockdown. But because its Africa, the villas go something like this 202, 206, 423, 654, 220...etc. they are ALL messed up. Once you think you find a pattern you loose it. Well so we are looking for this villa for about an hour and the rain starts up again. Where we were there was a large tree that we ran under to get a little shelter, well it works for about 3 mins, and 5 mins later we're dripping wet from head to toe. Thats when we had Satan whispering in our ears 'just go home, its not far, besides youre already soaked, who'll let you in?' Well for some reason we didn't. We probably looked like idiots just standing there in the rain, but to our suprise a man drives up and sees us and tells us to hop in. We do and he takes us to his home where we shared the gospel with. He was astonished that we really do preach 'in the shine or the rain'. After talking for some time he asked us what exactly we were doing in that part of the neighborhood (because it is kind of harder to get to), so we explained that we were looking for villa 197. Well thats when he said 'well this is villa 199, 197 is just next door hold on I'll call him over!' That lesson went very well and we are hoping to baptize both families in December. How beautiful is that?! I am so grateful to be the instrument in the Lords hands to do this work. Whether I'd have to stand in the rain or fire, i would do it. I love you all and may you all search to have missionary experiences. I've realized that we pray to ask Heavenly Father to bless us with these experiences but what I've learned is we actually have to get out and look, and live them. I love you and thank you again for all your emails! MUAH!
Elder Legere
Well another week is down and things are going great. They're starting to pick up a lot again. We've fixed some more baptismal dates this last week but its kind of weird that some of them are actually when I'm not going to be here :/ but thats okay, I'll just have to keep in contact with them. Today was a LONG day, but an awesome one. We got up, cleaned the apt. and then took off to go to Yopougon. We went around all our old areas and visited lots of our converts. I reallly don't think I've had a bigger joy in my whole mission than I did today! To see the familys change, the Spirit light their homes, and their kids being raised in it is really such an amazing experience. All those young men that never serve missions have no idea what they are missing out on. Ive learned on the mission two great things.
1. that we're nothing, but 2. that we mean everything to our Heavenly Father. Its two things that almost sound contradicting but its so true. King Benjamin help explain that we, creations of God were made from the dust, which belonged to God. And the dust is in some sort more intelligent than us, because even the dust obeys God. We are completely dependant. We need Him. And without Him we are nothing. Without Him we wouldn't be. Only the arrogant fools believe we should not owe our allegiance to Him. And I am thankful that we are guided by Him who knows all things, the same who has a perfect love and mercy. But even though we are nothing by ourselves, we mean everything in the eyes of our Father. We are His work and His glory. We are the masterpieces of the Master, made in His image and likeness. And we gain even more value when we follow His will. I'm thankful for the opportunity to have my eyes opened and see through the Saviors eyes. I love these people with a love I can't explain. It breaks my heart to think it might be the last time I see them here in this life. But brings tears to my eyes to know I'll see them in the Father's Kingdom. What a great and marvelous work!
I wanted to share really quick a small story that happened this week. I'm amazed how the Spirit is so personally involved in this work. On Wednesday morning the rain was just pouring. But it stopped just in time so we can get out of the apt. We were looking for a villa that another missionary companionship contacted in the lockdown. But because its Africa, the villas go something like this 202, 206, 423, 654, 220...etc. they are ALL messed up. Once you think you find a pattern you loose it. Well so we are looking for this villa for about an hour and the rain starts up again. Where we were there was a large tree that we ran under to get a little shelter, well it works for about 3 mins, and 5 mins later we're dripping wet from head to toe. Thats when we had Satan whispering in our ears 'just go home, its not far, besides youre already soaked, who'll let you in?' Well for some reason we didn't. We probably looked like idiots just standing there in the rain, but to our suprise a man drives up and sees us and tells us to hop in. We do and he takes us to his home where we shared the gospel with. He was astonished that we really do preach 'in the shine or the rain'. After talking for some time he asked us what exactly we were doing in that part of the neighborhood (because it is kind of harder to get to), so we explained that we were looking for villa 197. Well thats when he said 'well this is villa 199, 197 is just next door hold on I'll call him over!' That lesson went very well and we are hoping to baptize both families in December. How beautiful is that?! I am so grateful to be the instrument in the Lords hands to do this work. Whether I'd have to stand in the rain or fire, i would do it. I love you all and may you all search to have missionary experiences. I've realized that we pray to ask Heavenly Father to bless us with these experiences but what I've learned is we actually have to get out and look, and live them. I love you and thank you again for all your emails! MUAH!
Elder Legere
Monday, November 8, 2010
Things are good in the Ivory Coast
Hello Everyone,
I dont have much time, just wanted to answer some of your questions.
"Which missionaries were in your apartment for the lock down?"Lets see there was Elder Legere :) , Elder Fisiihoi, Elder Guillory, Elder Halterman, Elder Starita, Elder Attiogbe, Elder Bokolo, Elder Bululu, Elder Gnamatzi, Elder Nyuiadzi, Elder Mayingula, Elder Ekopimo, Elder Ojouku, Elder Oujo, and Elder Ndala.
"From the news and all, it sounds like things have been pretty peaceful...Have you seen any violence?"No thank goodness. President said it was actually very eery. The day after elections, there wasnt a single person outside in the whole city. People say that it was as if the city was dead.
"Will you guys go under another lock down for the election that will be held on Nov 20th? Do you think the President will win again?"They haven't said anything about it yet but I'm pretty sure we will. They say that the campaigning starts the 20th but the actual elections are the 28th. So we'll probably go into lock down again the last week of Nov. until things calm down again. I tell you what, it really hurts the work.
As for the work its going... its just really hard with how the country is. But in the last week we did happen to teach the ambassador for Angola and his family. Some of his family is actually members and you could see his heart being touched. Its amazing how easy it is to see the Lord's hand in this work. I've been blessed while being on this mission. Ive grown to have a Christ-like love. I've talked with ambassadors to professors. From gold diggers to poverty stricken families. And from muslims to pastors. And I can honestly say that I love each one of them. Im thankful for the oportunity to grow and develop new attributes and become more like my Savior.
I just wanted you all to know how much I love you. I really do apprectiate you all so much. I promise I will write more next week. We just have to go to the bureau to see Sister Ayekoue. She's going to take me down to Grand Bassam to get some souvenirs since I haven't gotten any for me. I pulled some money out last week, if you can make sure I didnt do anything wrong that would be good.
I love you all! MUAH!
xoxoxo
Elder Legere
I dont have much time, just wanted to answer some of your questions.
"Which missionaries were in your apartment for the lock down?"Lets see there was Elder Legere :) , Elder Fisiihoi, Elder Guillory, Elder Halterman, Elder Starita, Elder Attiogbe, Elder Bokolo, Elder Bululu, Elder Gnamatzi, Elder Nyuiadzi, Elder Mayingula, Elder Ekopimo, Elder Ojouku, Elder Oujo, and Elder Ndala.
"From the news and all, it sounds like things have been pretty peaceful...Have you seen any violence?"No thank goodness. President said it was actually very eery. The day after elections, there wasnt a single person outside in the whole city. People say that it was as if the city was dead.
"Will you guys go under another lock down for the election that will be held on Nov 20th? Do you think the President will win again?"They haven't said anything about it yet but I'm pretty sure we will. They say that the campaigning starts the 20th but the actual elections are the 28th. So we'll probably go into lock down again the last week of Nov. until things calm down again. I tell you what, it really hurts the work.
As for the work its going... its just really hard with how the country is. But in the last week we did happen to teach the ambassador for Angola and his family. Some of his family is actually members and you could see his heart being touched. Its amazing how easy it is to see the Lord's hand in this work. I've been blessed while being on this mission. Ive grown to have a Christ-like love. I've talked with ambassadors to professors. From gold diggers to poverty stricken families. And from muslims to pastors. And I can honestly say that I love each one of them. Im thankful for the oportunity to grow and develop new attributes and become more like my Savior.
I just wanted you all to know how much I love you. I really do apprectiate you all so much. I promise I will write more next week. We just have to go to the bureau to see Sister Ayekoue. She's going to take me down to Grand Bassam to get some souvenirs since I haven't gotten any for me. I pulled some money out last week, if you can make sure I didnt do anything wrong that would be good.
I love you all! MUAH!
xoxoxo
Elder Legere
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)