Africa is dope

Africa is dope. I forgot how awesome this place is. It's such a different world out here, especially in comparison with my mission before. First off, COVID regulations, or anything of that sort, are essentially nonexistent. The moment we stepped out of the airport, mask off. The only time we need to take any precautions are when we go to church. So yeah, that is a huge blessing. 

I'm currently in a part of Abidjan called Yopougon, and my area is called Koweït. The ward here is awesome, it's as close to a ward in the states as you can get as far as being well organized and having a good amount of people show up. 

My companion is Elder Assale, he's from Abidjan. He was serving in Congo Brazzaville but he's here because of the COVID changes. He was supposed to finish his mission last month, but he extended. He's going to finish next Tuesday, so I'll have a new companion then. He's incredible, I'm learning so much about how to teach in French again, how to be a zone leader, how to interact with people, along with many other things. I'm gonna miss him when he's done.

I'm busier here than I ever have been before. Each day here is full of lessons or meetings from 9:30 AM often until 8:00 PM or later. Usually by the end of the day, I barely have time to write in my journal. It's kinda crazy and really tiring, but I love it. Being able to just push and work work work is such a blessing.

As far as French goes, I haven't had too much of a problem with it. Somehow, after almost a year of not being immersed in it and for the most part not practicing it, I'm still fluent (don't take that term too literally). I learned French 100% through the Spirit and the gift of tongues, and I'm certain that my French is good now for the same reason. 

Also, it's so hot here. So hot. Thankfully this area is right next to the lagoon, so sometimes we get some cool breeze blowing through, but for the most part it's just a microwave. The piment definitely doesn't help with the heat factor.

I've missed all the little kids shouting 'le blanc' as I walk past, eating garba and futu, having random goats and chickens chilling everywhere, breastfeeding during lessons (kinda didn't miss that), random people touching my hair, eating mystery meat, people saying goodmorning and howayoo, murder missle taxi drivers, the excessive amount of oil on literally anything I eat, sleeping with a fan blowing on me all night, sitting on 6 inch tall stools under random fruit trees teaching lessons, bissap, and a whole big list of other random things that I forgot about being here. This place is so dope haha.

Here's some random experiences from this week:

On Saturday, one of the fat rats like the ones we warred against in Vridi ran through my legs during a lesson. It brought flashbacks.

Friday and Saturday, our water was out, so we weren't able to shower. Also, our power was out Friday night, so we didn't have dinner. We finally found water somewhere Saturday night, so we carried buckets of water up to our room to shower with (we live on the 4th floor). Super fun stuff.

I found mountain dew here. 

I've had to learn how to handwash my clothes. Super fun (not).

We changed out the water filters today. I haven't seen a more heavily used water filter than today. Holy cow it was nasty. It hadn't been changed since October or November last year. Nasty nasty. 

Earlier today, I was thinking about my mission. When I returned here last Friday, I was finally told my end date for the mission, August 3rd. It didn't take me too long to realize that I only had 5 months left. It's such a small anount of time left for me to serve. It made me kind of sad especially when some part of me still feels like I need to serve 2 full years here. Instead I'll have served around 1. It made me feel like I was robbed, especially since I spent 3 months awaiting reassignment, and a lot of time in Flower Mound wondering if I was really making a difference. 

Although that is the case, and it would have been wonderful to have been able to serve 2 full years here, I know that what happened is all according to God's plan, and I learned what I needed to as well as had the experiences I needed to have. At first it wasn't a very easy concept to come to terms with. However, as I've reflected over my mission up to this point, I wouldn't trade it for anything. Simply taking into account the change that I've seen in my own life and testimony makes it all worth it.

I applied to serve the Lord for 2 years  and I was called to serve, not to a place. That, and what we do with what we're given, is all that's under our power. The rest is up to God, to carve our path. And having signed up to serve the Lord, the least we can ask is just to influence the life of one person for the better. And if He sees fit to let us do more than that, it would be wonderful. In my case, I've been blessed with the opportunity to see many people's lives change for the better, the foremost of which being my own. 

I don't like to say this because I feel like I should be more outwardly focused and talk about other people that I've seen positively influenced by the gospel, but I truly do feel that the change that I've seen in myself has been my favorite part of my mission.

Before I came on a mission, I went through the motions for the most part, as most people do. I went to church because that's just what one does, I maybe participated in seminary, and every once in a while I got nightly prayers and scripture study in. I had faith and believed in everything, but it wasn't a very solid belief. I just thought "yeah, it's gotta be true" and didn't think much else of it.

Going from that state to where I am now is more than I can thank my Heavenly Father for. I've learned that God really does live and love us. I've learned about God's plan, the restoration, the gospel, and what they mean for me and for everyone. I've learned so much about Jesus Christ, what he did, who he was, what he really went through, and what that means to me. It's been so wonderful.

I can never thank my Father in Heaven enough for that gift that he's given me.

So for where I stand whether or not a mission is worth it... yes. My answer is a complete, resounding yes. Although the mission is indisputably hard and even sometimes excruciating, it is so so so worth it.

I've loved my mission up until this point and I'm excited to work as hard as I can for the next little bit. 

I love Africa, I love the mission, and I love my Savior Jesus Christ.

Have a great week

Elder Lyman

 

Elder Lyman's current companion, Elder Assale, is on his right side, and his last companion in Africa before leaving, Elder Diaz, is on his left side.