Liberia Independence day!

July 29, 2013

Banana Forest next to an investigators home

NAPHWEADEA EVERY ONE!

Sister Helena Sumo

  This week has been such a great week I got over my illness,  had a priesthood blessing and its done its job. This week we had another baptism,  Sister Helena Sumo,  we have worked with her the last 4 weeks and she has gone to every church activity and has show her faithfulness.    I was so excited to watch my comp Baptize her like Christmas morning right there.   I'm glad that things have all gone  good at home and that the 24th went well.  Wow Summer is winding down I honestly don't feel like I have been here that long and that summer hasn't come ye, I guess the rains make it hard.   I love the sun cant wait till dry season just cause I love sunlight :) and it brightens my day.  I have adapted to mission life well here, I love it here and I feel at home.   That's all that matters, it may not be comfortable and a 5 star place but its my home for 2 years and I wont trade it up for anything.   Liberia had there independence day on the 26 it was really crazy I took a greene with me on Exchange and showed him how it feels to be bounced like crazy, but I took him to members homes where we could indulge on some awesome food RICE :) lol We had a great time that day and I learned from him.   So Transfers fall on the 18 of Aug and president thinks that I will train :) :) Which will be a great way to learn and become better as a missionary and individual, that's when I think I will say goodbye to Elder Osayi.   Which I dont want to do lol my First African Comp has reshaped me even more and my knowledge of the Book of Mormon and bible have tripled :-) Which is sweet, so I can back up what I say and what god says, I have learned much from him. Awww I'm Glad that IVY got to go to the Temple.  We will all go when I get home, I miss the Temple here more than anything.   Wow IVY I'm Super PROUD of You Keep it up, I love you LIL SIS. Tell dad if he wants to find big bucks to go to my one spot on the beaver side of the mountains which also has the same name on the circleville side Benton knows what I'm saying that where I have seen some of the biggest bucks in southern utah.   Anyways I love you all and cant wait to hear about next week and Family stuff hope you all enjoy the rest of your summer, MOM no mail yet its commin though dont worry, well I gotta go I love you All Especially MY FAMILY Benton keep it up, oh yeah we have 23 investigators with a baptismal date and 14 are Progressing :) Love Elder Erickson the White African :)

Happy 24th of July

July 22, 2013

Happy 24th of July everyone, we had another baptism this week,  Sister Vanessa.  She is probably one of the strongest in faith, yet that I have been able to help in changing someones life.  She has over come challenges but her family has supported her in her desire to follow Jesus Christ.  Now we are working to get all 10 of her family members baptized so they too can receive greater blessing from their father in heaven.  My companion is healthy,  I got really sick Saturday and  I wasn't able to go yesterday to church so dreadful I hate being sick, I missed being able to see my people and investigators.   Things are getting better,  today I am just super weak and have barely any strength I'm just relying on the strength I am getting from my father in heaven. This week has been humbling to me, just trying to become better every day little by little.  So last Monday for p day we went and play basketball next to the court there was a very very nice turf soccer field so me and my companion went and played with a few of the Liberian national team and some other layers it was really nice to feel turf under my feet and to feel the flow of the soccer game so smooth.  Something I wont forget, Liberians know how to play football they are really good we had so much fun though playing with such great players,   I'll try and get pics on. next Monday we will go play again.  Yeah Mom I think about the pioneers and their great sacrifices a lot, but really when they reached the salt lake valley they probably didn't even think of those sacrifices because of the great blessings they received.   Well I know I have made sacrifices, but really I never think about it cause I am being blessed everyday getting to help bless other people. its the greatest feeling ever.  Great things are happening here in Africa and all over the world, tons of 18 year olds and more sisters haha.   They are doing a great work we all are and I'm grateful for our prophet who has called us to serve our God, with all our heart might mind and strength.  It takes a lot out of me to do this but what I gain is more precious, The church is so true no doubt and Jesus Christ lives So does our Father in Heaven  and they love all of us. Just like I love all of you I hope you all enjoy your 24th of July and family time, Love Elder Erickson,

Sister Vanessa

Africa is Sweet and the people here are Sweeter!

July 15, 2013

Ow di Bodi Everyone, Africa is sweet and the people here are Sweeter.   I had a great week lots of good things are happening in our branch, it feels as if we are being built up.   We are starting to see more and more people every Sunday.   I love it, it brings joy to my heart when I see people who want to follow Jesus Christ and our Heavenly father.   Sunday was a great day,  finally confirmed a great guy, we have been waiting for him to come to church cause of family problems and the church.  When his mom saw how we worship she said its a good church and that everyone really does lie about the Church of Jesus Christ haha :) I  hate liars.   Anyways this week was great, all of our investigators,  all 27 of them,  are doing great and progressing little by little, but they are doing good.   My converts are still coming to church YAY :) so they are doing good.

We have 4 missionaries in our branch they all attend the same meeting but we may have to split the branch soon,  idk yet.   Our apt.   is getting electricity Tuesday,  yes I can sleep with a fan now.   I am grateful that we are getting blessed with this, it will make things a little easier, especially at night.   Yeah there is a big difference now that our President is here,  things are Progressing more, the Spirit is strong fore sure now.  I am learning plenty from my companion and his new calling.   Mom Glad your birthday went well, and that family reunion was good.   I know it wasn't as fun cause me and Andrew weren't  there just kidding, it sounds like you all had a great time.   I'm glad no one got speeding tickets haha, I know I would have ;) Babies,   I love babies, thats good to hear I'm excited tell Ethan  and Kenny to get into gear :) lol Yeah I teach elders quorum a lot and next Sunday is missionary Sunday so we will take charge for that day.   Today we are going to go play basketball with the APs it should be fun and maybe get something good to eat instead of rice lol :) Well, not a whole lot to write about this week, I haven't received any mail or packages but we will go check the mission offices today and see, I think I have some there :) well I gotta go,  

LOVE you all and miss you too have a great week and CTR Love Elder Erickson the African MISSIONARY

Four Months Out! Only 19 more Fast Sundays left!

July 8, 2013

Naphwadea Family and Friends this week was great just like all the rest, it was a challenging week, trying to prepare people for baptism it was good to see that one of our investigators George David prepared him self personally and I was able to baptize him Saturday, transfer news is here I will be staying in Logan Town with Elder Osayi still but he is becoming district leader now. Our big area is now split into another zone everyone in our big apartment complex and the sisters apartment are one zone, great things are going on here in Liberia and the work is moving forward more and more.   I am Glad that you all enjoyed the 4th of July I my self enjoyed it small small.   We had chilli fry's and some brownies and redbull,  it was great occasion so I indulged a little bit and bought a thing of chocolate crackers!!! 

 The fish pictures are great Benton is getting some muscle tone not lookin like a tooth pick anymore ;) just kidding.  I do remember our first encounter with Piute county on the 4th of July lol, yeah dry ice bombs.   I miss almost blowing my self up in the month of July :) Tell everyone hi for me at the Reunion I will miss being there.  Yeah today is 4 month mark for me I got a ways to go but its going by too fast. Wow mom you will love that calling, yesterday at a devotional for President Kirkham the little Primary children sang songs, the first time in along time that I have heard that, made me love these People here more.  President Kirkham is a Great man, I Enjoy him already and we are great friends,   Its so sweet.  I wont worry about buying stuff  till the last 4 month of my

mission, Obedience is the key to everything in life if we are obedient we are blessed if we are disobedient We are blessed with consequences :) I love being obedient cause it just makes my weeks easier and a lot more spiritual. Well this Sunday was a great fast Sunday and i know it was one of the most powerful ones I have been to, the testimonies of our branch was amazing, then George our newest convert bore his testimony on the Book of Mormon wow that was very impressive.  Well mom not going to lie I missed you a lot this week, and I missed the family as well and even Benton I missed. Dont worry I'm not going to let it bug me.  I have been managing my emotions quite well :) I haven received any packages or letters yet but i know that they will be here soon, Dont worry about them they will come. 

  MOM you are definitely getting older almost as old as dad but still your my mom and that wont change, just the age, and that matters cause through 19 years of that time you have given me love and hope and charity, even in my disobedient times MOM I LOVE you HAPPY HAPPY BIRTH Day! I will enjoy it with you even here in Africa, Well I love you all, and like always Choose The Right it makes life better. Love Elder Erickson

It's official, Monrovia, Liberia mission!

July 1,2013. 
Naphwedea) that is "how are you" in the KRU language, I have been learning this language and I talk it with the locals it helps a lot when we are introducing someone to the gospel, everyone is shocked when they see a white man speaking their native tongue, hahahaha I love it.  Anyways this week has gone great we taught a lot of people have a bunch more investigators, I dont know where they keep coming from but when we need more investigators they just pop up out of no where! :) We had another baptism this week Sister Tracy Nagbe it was nice to see here light up after being confirmed in service on Sunday, she was introduced to the church once before but just cause her friend didnt come get her from her house to go to church she didnt go for five years.  Finally we have helped her in a lot of things in her life and she is now active and has a strong testimony, definitely a great week. I am trying to stay healthy lol, Rice rice rice rice everyday every night, but we are trying to mix things up a little bit.   I try to get some chicken in me sometime during each week, thats the thing I notice right now is lack of meat in my body, but its alright the fruits make up for the lack of energy :) All  of my converts are still active, Im glad I have put only those who will follow Jesus Christ their best in this great church.   I haven received a letter or package for a month and a half but sometimes it takes a while it just depends im glad you are getting my letters :) President Kirkham is here in LIB he arrived last night, he is now officially the boss of us Missionaries haha.   I'm super excited for him to be here, things are going to be super good now and Liberia is going to improve greatly with a leader here full time. Yeah Elder Widdison is such a Great Missionary and Probably one of my closest friends here.   Yeah his family will be there the end of august to go four wheeling on the Beaver and Monroe Mountains it is supper sweet that there is someone else in Liberia that Knows what hoovers is, it is so sweet.  Actually it makes me quite happy,  me And Elder Widdison have so much in common, and just plan on him being around our neck of the woods a lot when I get home. Im Glad the Temple was great, I'm Glad you are enjoying it with out me there :) its great I love the Temple so much I cant tell you with words what it means to me.   I'm glad I have pictures to look at though.  Thats awesome that Jacob Lee got married,  tell him Congrats for me thanks.  Wow two more Missionaries what a great Blessing they will be to the church and to the People they will meet.   Its awesome we will have 12 new missionaries this month and a lot after that :) The work is hastening and Progressing day by day minute by minute, Im Grateful to be apart of a marvelous work, I LOVE it and cant wait to see how much more I learn and grow and how much more amazing brothers and sisters I will meet.  Glad to here that Spencer is doing well that makes me feel good about things :), Well I love you all Elder Erickson

President and Sister Kirkham