Crazy week with some crazy things!

March 31, 2014

Hey Family and Friends
We have had a great week and a crazy week but with downs there are
always ups to look forward to. We had Andrew and Mary Both baptized on
Saturday and got the precious Gift of the Holy Ghost.   We had 30
investigators to church and things really turned out great this week.
So if any one knows what Ebola is, cool, if not google it. Its in
Liberia, but don't worry about the missionaries if we follow the
council of our leaders and the Holy Ghost nothing will happen to us,
and if we truly have faith in the Lord Jesus, we will be safe. So don't
worry about me Mom or Dad and any other mother with their child here,
it will be fine and nothing will happen. Plus the virus is just up in
our area, no where else in the mission.  We had a lot of fun this week,
we taught James Tinneh, one of our investigators, he talked of the war
in Liberia when he and his family were young.   They fled from Kakata to
Ivory Coast and on their way they ran into rebels who caught them. They
divided the men from the woman and started to gun them down, when one
of the generals spotted James he ceased the fire and went to James.
He recognized that he was his teacher and said to let him and his
wife through, he gave them money to help them leave the country.  When
they got to the boarder the army was there and anyone who tried to
cross would get shot. One of the Commanders saw James, came to him and
looked at him for a while and also recognized James as a Class mate
from School. He let him and his wife and children through to Ivory
Coast.  We were talking of faith with James and he said it was his
faith in Jesus Christ that led them out of Kakata, and God Removed his
mountains in his way. Was so neat to hear the experience James had.
I also saw some bad things this week, don't know why I am sharing it. I watched a
man get killed, for stealing a mirror from a store, real Jungle
justice.  That's what happens to people who get caught stealing, you get
killed by the people, no matter what your age. Yeah crazy week and
some crazy things happened but nothing stopped the work and we keep
pushing onward till the Savior Comes again. That's all we can do,
Endure to the End! Well it sounds like things are great at home, and
everyone is well, I am happy for Paul and Molly, what a great blessing
for them, Paul deserves it.  I got two packages a week ago, with
protein and the adapter thanks mom, the kids love the candy here, the
jerky was great, makes me want to do even better in my days here.
Love you all, Mom, Dad hope you enjoy vacation ;) Love Elder Erickson.
ps Mom for what you learned in the womens conference read mosiah 2

What a Fantastic Week!

March 24, 2014

Family and Friends
What a fantastic week it has been, we had a little bit of a struggle
seeing people at the first of the week because we are working extra
hard on being Obedient with the little things. That's the best way
to work with Obedience start small and work your way up, the big
things wont be so big anymore if there are few little things we
struggle with. At the end of this week we powered out some amazing
people being seen.   We have one recent convert named Patience Kolako
she walks to book of Mormon class on Wednesday and even to church on
Sunday, and walks 2 1/2 Miles one way that's 10 miles to follow God.
I learned a lot of humility from this when I learned about the sacrifice
she makes to Please God. We also have been teaching one guy named Andrew he is in the
University of Liberia and a Biology Teacher, and this guy is crazy
smart. This Saturday he will be baptize and also a Girl named Mary.  Its
so sweet, bringing People to Repentance is just as exciting or even
more than picking up shed antlers. We had 20 investigators to church
on Sunday and 15 progressing still, its like a wild fire here in
Kakata, the work is going on and Gods on its side it will go forever and
ever, until the master Comes and says the Work is Done. So grateful
that I have been trusted with the Work on the Front line in Liberia
here in Kakata. Learning so much from these people everyday and from
my companion.  Oh so Soccer is so big here, and this is for all the soccer players who read my
emails. I have become a Barcelona Fan and Barca Beat Madrid, Benzima and
Ranaldo and Neymar couldn't stop them and arsenal lost to Chelsea
that's awesome. All is going well and I am loving the missionary
experience cant trade this time with anything in this world Love
Liberia For Life, Glad all things are going great at home.  Benton You
got lucky bud, proud of you boss, keep picking up them horns and now
you know what to look for, you got it. Well going to play football
(soccer) with some members 

Love Elder Erickson

Tremendously Busy Week

March 17, 2014

Hey Family and Friends
We had a tremendously busy week, we had a Zone meeting in Harbel, and
exchanges with the zone leaders, a relief society anniversary and
other things in the Branch that we had to help out with.   All is going
well, I am healthy and my companion has a cold :) Yeah you can get a
cold in the hot African sun who knew? Transfer news: we are staying
all the same at least till next transfer.  I am sure I will stay that
one too, but not my comp, not sure cant say though.  Where ever the Lord
needs me I am here to serve. Its not my work but the work of the Lord.
on the 28 a couple great friends I have here on mission will go home,
after that Elders will be going home like crazy.  We got new
humanitarian aid missionaries, haven't met them, they are American,
also a new office couple from Nigeria came. We had a great time out
teaching our investigators, we have 15 progressing right now, and are
really close to be able to receive a remission of sins. I went to
Harbel on Wednesday, spent time with elder Oni from Leggos Nigeria,
sweet guy and great friend, we had a great exchange and I learned a
lot from the old man, or missionary I should say. Well we are planing
on baptisms on the 29 of this month, we have a couple who are working
on getting married legally, and we are hearing that they are super
close to this goal we have set. Marriage here to be legal is the
biggest and most ridiculous process ever but it needs to be done so
they can go to the temple next year, which they want to go do really
bad. Glad to hear about more babies, wow Liz is going to have a baby
well congrats on that one :) and Congrats to Kaitlyn on the engagement
Wow that's too crazy I really feel old now. Mom no packages yet, it
takes a while for them to send stuff out here :/ but its alright
Kakata is really cool and I am in love with this Place its going to be
so hard to go.  So I am doing my best to enjoy all that I can while I
am here.  Yeah dad I get super tired days haha we work so hard getting
9 lessons a day isn't the easiest thing in the world.   So I keep hearing
that Liberia is the highest baptizing mission in the world now that's
sweet.  I believe it some Elders get 200 Baptisms before they go so I
dont doubt it.   Its not about baptisms, its about converts those
who are strong. Well I love you all, oh Benton I would get kidnapped if
I go to the north in Nigera haha, not happening,  hope you all have a
great week, and remember the Lord in all thy doing and you will surely
be blessed. Love Elder Erickson

Celebrated hump day by Doing The Work!

March 10, 2014

Good Morning
So I am retyping this message cause the internet sucks here :( so I
totally forgot what I was going to say now, well we had a great week
thats for sure, we had 5 baptize and comfirmed.  That was sweet the branch
made the baptism so sweet and spiritual.  Sundays are good, our branch
is strong, its getting bigger and bigger every week, the 22 is our next
planned baptism for 5 other people.   We hope and pray!,   We celebrated
small on saturday but we just proslyted haha, thats the best anyways,
Yeah I am mad that I have to type this email again!!!!!!!!!!.  Well one
year left,  will keep pushing my self, improving my self, and obeying
the will of the father.  We had 18 invetigators come to church, makes
me happy when this happens, we had some great miracles but I don't have
time to write them sorry I already did but the computer, yeah! I am
doing great I feel old, but I'm still young at the same time, which is
good.  My companion is doing great, we are enjoying our companionship,
helping each other become better, transfers will come on saturday, wow
yeah I will stay no doubt, but that 6 weeks went by so fast.  Well
Benton go look for those bulls horns they are falling like rain, look
for them where the bulls have been hanging the most and their feeding
area you will have luck on the  ridges and medows, mom I haven't
recieved anything yet but its coming, I. love you all have a great week
Love Elder Erickson

Dana

The weeks are going Fast!

March 3, 2014

Hey Family and My Friends
 This last week went by so fast, really crazy, what is even more crazy, is
 on the 8th of this week I turn one year on mission.   I feel like I have
been here a year.   But I feel so young still its weird, I am grateful
for all my challenges.   All the hard time and Difficult times, and the
Happy, peaceful, and joyous times. My mission is teaching me so many important lessons, 
that I need to learn, and skills that I will need
 in the future, My mission was and is the best decision I have made in my
 life to this point in time. I do not and will not regret this time
 that I have to Give back to the KING of Kings my LORD Jesus Christ.
 This last week went so good, we had a lot of fun and were able to
 encounter many great people looking for the truth. One in particular,
 named James Tennie, this guy saw missionaries in Monrovia, and said in
 his heart that he was going to attend this church to see what they are
 teaching.  He came to church and many people say so many things about
 the Church of Jesus Christ here in Kakata.  On his way to the chapel
 many pastors came to him and said he is making a big mistake to go to
 this Church, they worship the devil and sacrifice sheep, and drink
human blood, even with their pathetic lies, he rebuked them and pushed
 on.  Now he has come and he knows that all other Churches are false for
 he has been to almost everyone of them in Liberia.  The Church of
Jesus Christ is the Only True Church, this is Christ church. This guy
 isn't a small guy in Kakata either he is a well known man and Very
 respected in the communities here. This guy was led to the Church by
 the Light of Christ and the Spirit, and by God our Heavenly Father.
 James has a great family and we are working hard to make things the
 best for them.  We also have other great miracles, but I don't have
 enough time in an email.   The people here are so receptive, they
are so much more different than those who are closer to the coast and
 the areas I have been in.   This Place is Special, every body here is so
 prepared, something big is going to happen here in the Future.
 President Kirkham reaffirms that with hoping for a District here at
 the End of 2014, we are going to have 5 baptisms this Saturday,  a
 father and two Children, his wife is already baptized.  Two woman Nancy Yorfee, 

and Patience Kokurla haha things are getting done and the

Gospel is being Spread to Gods Children. We are organizing home teaching

 and visiting teaching, yes the Sisters are doing great in their

visits, I am so proud.  Just got to get the Elders of Israel fired up! I

am excited for this coming saturday, it will be good. Congrats to Aunt

 Judy, and going to the House of the Lord, that's a Blessing full of

 Blessings, that's the Goal for all our married Couples in our Branch. I

love you all, I hope all is going well, Love Elder Erickson