All is Well, And PICTURES!!!!!!

May 26,  2014

Hey family and Friends

I am eating Dog in one of them called Ishew or EESHEW

Green Mamba

Today is great, I am Tired hahaha...... but all is well and I think we will go home and get some great sleep.   We had a super busy week, getting missionaries moved around in our zone and to different apartments.   It took almost the whole day, we were blessed with two hours to go teaching on that day... We had an awesome baptism, Brother Paye, great guy, he has been doing really well and is converted to this gospel.  I might say that he is more centered to the Rock than I am!!!  I don't mean than in a bad way but he really truly is converted to Christ and is willing to do anything he can to see the Kingdom be Built and be made stronger.   We had a zone meeting as well this last week  it was really great, and  I learned much.   Also those who don't listen to their Zone Leaders Got a lil fire from President.  It  helps people realize how Sober we have to be in this Great Work, we are not here to be on Vacation.   We are here to work our butts off and than take a vacation when we get home.  That has helped us out so much.   I heard that my first Son on mission. who was sent home, is now waiting for a call again to get back in the mission field.   I thought that was sweet, cause most who get sent home hate the church or slide back or dont want to go back on mission,   I love this kid and his desire to serve.  

The Lord said all worthy young men, YEP I love the word ALL worthy MEN, 18 to 26 to go on mission. yeah tantrum sorry.... We have a marriage on Saturday for a couple we are working with, the Marpley's, so they and their two children can be  baptized on the 7th, its great the Branch is a great support and are helping so much..We also are working with two other great individuals, a Guy named Benadict, and also Mama, they are both progressing greatly and are planning on them being baptized on the 7th.   We had a great week teaching them, Benadict has now gained a huge testimony of the Book of Mormon, we had him pray in the middle of our lesson, to ask God if it were true, he was reluctant, so we promised him he would get an answer, so he did. 

We ask after how do you feel, he said I feel the Holy Spirit,  It was a great experience.   I remember when he ask Heavenly Father, a big powerful sensation went through my body to Benadict and I knew he had indeed received his answer... This week was busy but we get to always see the miracles and blessings in our life here teaching others. It is the same at home, we can get busy, really busy sometimes, but we are and never should be to busy to see the hand of God in our lives and in others. Listen to the Still small Voice and take time for Heavenly Father and his Children, we are all sinners so we are all bad, so that means no one is better than  anyone, some are just progressing and some treading water or moving back.  Well family sounds like Ivy had a sweet B day, that's so sweet I will be there for her next one, and every one is enjoying the Utah sun, I cant wait for the Dry air :)  the humidity is super hot here ha ha I am always wet with sweat, well I love you all have a great week.  I know as we always take time for others God will take time for us, Love Elder Erickson.  some photos of the Bush in Kakata

 

 

Last Baptism in Kakata

Zone Conference

This last week has been FANTASTIC!

March 19, 2014

Hello Family and Friends

How grateful I am to write to you again................ :)

Wow This last week has been fantastic, Being a Zone Leader is great, and Helps me to work hard and fulfill the Responsibilities I have been given.  We have  had many Experiences Finding.. We were able to run into, okay let me say we walked to him.   We had nothing happening for us one morning, so we went to a members house in a quiet place and offered a prayer of guidance, asking quite earnestly of the Lord and for his Direction on who we need to see, and where are they? Also to have a very productive day, and after we left from that prayer we immediately started to find and teach people, we were able to see 7 wonderful people this day, and made a wonderful contact with a man, brother Brown.   He works at the supreme court, and wow he is super prepared for us.  He has been seeing missionaries every where and hasn't had the chance to really sit with them, he has heard about the Church small.   We left him with our testimonies and the Restoration pamphlet, before we met him he was acting lazy, after he was full of energy and very excited for us to come and visit with him again.  The other day we met again with him, a perfect member, Brother Brown, and taught him about the Restoration, he loved Joseph Smith and his Experience and is very excited to learn more and to follow Christ..  HE really wants to be baptized into the True Church, I know if we didnt listen to the promptings to ask God where to go we would have missed meeting with Bother Brown entirely.  Which wouldn't have been Cool :) but I am Grateful for the Still small voice and how sharp he can be to the Human soul.... Investigator or Missionary, which all of us are after we enter into the way.   There is no way we would make it back to God if we didnt have the Holy ghost.... We met with one man named Benadict a week ago, and last week we sat with him and introduced our selves and also taught him about the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, he really was full of light.   After our last meeting with him, we invited him to church, and he said next week.   We felt like he didnt think he had clothes appropriate for church, so we responded to the Discernment that we had and told him Christ Looks on the heart and he wants us to be clean in our dressing and to wear our best for him, and was Bold and told him what he was wearing was Good enough for God. Sunday we didnt lose hope in him coming but we didnt think much about it, when after the sacrament had been administered he walked in with a brave look on his face ready for war, than his eyes met ours and a big smile entered into his face. Benadict is a deep Catholic, who got his mind blown all of Church as the focus was on Baptism and the Gift of the Holy Ghost. It turned out good for him and he has questions but said he feels happy here more than anywhere else. Awwww can I just say I love Missionary work and seeing the Smiles and happiness that the Gospel Brings to all Gods Children who follow Christ by acting on their Faith. So I heard Benton is outlined with a great Job, I am Jealous, I want to be working for the Forest Service when I get home on clean up or on a wildland fire crew, or something like that... :) Do work lil bro, Do work... well sounds great family,  I love you all, All i can say is this Church is true, and if it is not than God does not Exists but he does and it proves with all truth that we are the One and Only way back to our Father in heaven. Love Elder Erickson

 A couple serving in Liberia with Elder Erickson posted a video on their blog of a drive between Harbel and Kakata ( Elder Ericksons area in the bush)  Its pretty awesome to see the homes and country where he is serving,  Check it out!

http://peh-africa.blogspot.com/

I am grateful for the Fruitfulness of Liberia

May 12, 2014

Hey Everyone

So not a whole lot to talk about cause we talked a lot and my well is now empty, haha, it was good to hear your voices, wow everyone sounds different and older, I guess that just happens :) Benton sounds super deep voiced, its not bad, sounds good though, it was great to feel your spirits through the phone.  Yeah I am energized and ready to hit the muddy roads and teach as many more people as I can before our next phone call.   I cant wait to see the many more miracles that are going to happen in my life here giving service to God and his children.  I am grateful for the fruitfulness of Liberia and the way Liberians receive our message, the baptism of Favor Joshua on Saturday was excellent.   Things are moving forward and I hear big things are coming to the people in Jamaica!!!!! I cant wait for the same here in Liberia, it would be a huge blessing .... Well yeah that's it for this week.   This coming week, we have small time to teach in our area, so we will use the best out of our time to teach and preach and work like missionaries do. Love you all...... Elder Erickson

I made Pumpkin Cookies

 

Before leaving Kakata Area

 

 May 5, 2014

Hey Family

Wow I had a really crazy week, we were super busy with meetings.   Like I said Elder Pearmain is my Companion, a great friend, who truly has the most charity than any missionary that I have served with.   I am blessed that I have this chance to learn from this great man, and to become more like  Christ.   Ive  got too much to do till I am even close to Christ, or even so my companion. The Branch here is super strong, I look at what I can help it improve on and the opportunities are endless.   What are the things I can do to help, it seems like they are doing all they can, in one way or another, we always have room in the back for improvement.   Though our front yard looks great the back some times isn't,  and that's where we start to work we got to identify the thing we will do first make a plan than take action and accomplish the goal set in place. The branch is helping us in our missionary work.  I look back at that time those two elders ask for help to come and instead I went and scouted for bull elk. Members helping are huge and I regret not going.   I now understand how important Members are in the work of the Lord, and I love that the members here have a love of God to serve their lost family, who are blinded by the wind of Doctrine and the craftiness of men who lie in wait to deceive. I am truly blessed with an Inspired Mission President who has listen to the Lord and put me in the Place I need to be in at this time to learn the things I need to learn and to help the People I need to help. I love the calling as a Zone leader, not to have recognition but to help others and to help the Elders in my Zone to be their Best and to have a successful mission, that is my duty to be a witness of Christ not to only investigators but to other Elders who now look to me for guidance and edifying of their soul. We have many young missionaries in our Zone and I am willing to learn all that I can from each and every one of them, they are the same as me.   I have been called to serve them more so I am Excited to learn humility and Charity. WARNING! WARNING! at approximately 7:00 my time I will call home, that means at 2:00 PM or around that time a very important Phone call will ring through the Air waves, to wish a Wonderful Mother happy Mothers Day!!!!! so I want to talk about a lot but lets save it for Sunday yeah, write down your Questions :) Ive got lots for you :) Grandma is still in our Prayers and will be this week, Glad you got to enjoy turkey and the Temple this week I would love some turkey, oh but before I forget, I made Pumpkin Cookies, oh yeah and I did a great Job on them, thats right, a miracle happened in the kitchen on saturday night :) haha well got a super busy week with exchanges and meetings :) Love you all. Elder Erickson

Elder Erickson and Elder Myaka