Les Enfants Du Monde Entier

I don't know about you, but Christmas had a few bumps in it this year, but in terms of the mission, I am now halfway done, just one more to go! Crazy to think like that, but I am sort of a crazy guy. There was an interesting story that happened on Christmas, but I think that is one best left untold (just mentioning it to make you all sit on the edge of your seat). What's Christmas without a little... excitement?

It was great to see and hear my family! I had a good time talking with folks back in home, and the happiest day of the year has a mighty high fall when it is all said and done. Despite Christmas not existing here in Togo the spirit comes as you get to spend precious moments with those that you cherish. Easily I can say that I miss my loved ones, but just as easily I can tell you all that I love being here on my mission even through all the things that I miss.

I am looking forward to this amazing new year, all the joys and wonders that await us all. It has become a time to resolve to do better, to strive a little harder for excellence, to do all that we can to perfect ourselves and become the examples to the world so often mentionned by the Savior.

There have been so many chances granted unto all of us to better ourselves, but for one reason or another we seem to fall short of our personal expectations, why is that?

In personal experiences I have learned that our biggest critic is ourselves. We have amazing capacities to see the bad all around and in ourselves as well. We are narrow-minded as we look for the good and bad that is in the world, I have typically only been able to see one side of this spectrum. I spent many years of my short life seeing me as bad, whether there had been good or not it did not matter, I saw only bad. It took the loving support of others, and the divine help of the Redeemer to bring the light into my heart to see the good within myself and the world around me.

My point(s) is/are this:
1.) When you want to change, don't think that it will be as easy as telling yourself, get those around you to help you through this process.

2.) Don't allow yourself to think that there is nobody there, there is always the Savior close-by for those that sincerely seek. Those the ask with a heart full of real intent have the eternal promise that we can overcome whatever is holding us back.

Life is a thing to be cherished, and just like the coming of a new year, a restart to the year that we have just topped off, we can always change who we are and make ourselves better. We can become that better friend, that better father or mother, that better husband or wife, that better hometeacher, that better missionary (my hope), that better student, that better son or daughter of God. Life is a chance that we have to better ourselves in such a way as to become eternal, and it doesn't start tomorrow.

The cliché line is "tomorrow never comes" but it is so very true. The day that we have been given to live within is the perpetual today, and we can hope and dream for our castles and mansions as long as we want, but we MUST start today in working for those things that we desire. We gain with time the ability to see the things that are vital for this eternal life we aspire for, and those things that if held onto would weigh us down. There are my hopes and dreams that I am striving for here on my mission, and I know that the preparations and changes that I make here will forever bless my life if done sincerely.

My heart goes out to all of you as you "restart" the year, and I pray that each of you find a worthy ambition and strive for it. Put your hand to the plow and don't look back. Let the Lord be your guide, your everlasting light in the wilderness of self-discovery, and your stalwart companion to lift the burdens of your daily cross as the jungles of the world attempt inevitably to ensnare you. The road to eternal life is a simple and hard one, but it is anything but impossible. It has been walked perfectly before, and the pathway is well-lit by the torches of the gospel. Make your inheritance of the kingdom of God your first ambition, and the rest of the blessings you desire will surely follow.

Love you all! Have a great week!
--
Sincerely,
Elder Robert Haggard

Mission Bénin Cotonou
Cadjehoun Lot°1158 Bloc F
01 BP 3323
Cotonou, Bénin

Joyeaux Noel! It's (not) Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas!‏

Dearest Family and Friends,

The Holidays have snuck up on us and this week is the week the rest of the world is celebrating the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ, while here in Togo Christmas "is for the children." Sadness of the world when they let significant moments like these pass them by and they don't appreciate it. Then again, despite the angels harking to the lowly shepherds of the fields, the luminous star shining in the east, and the predictions of countless prophets announcing the signs of His birth, the Savior of the world was born in a manger. The Son of Man came to save us from our sins, and the world went on as though nothing important was happening.

I appreciate the simplicity that the Savior embodied as He was here upon the earth. He sought not the fanfare of the courts of Israel, or the praise of the Roman influence, He came simply to do, not His own will, but the will of He that sent Him, God our loving Heavenly Father. Isn't that amazing?

I know, from many attempts of my own, that it is extremely difficult to let go of our selfish desires and cling solely to the desire of our Heavenly Father. It is funny how a loving Father willing to give us ALL that He has somehow comes second to the carnal desires that we carry within us. We just need to learn a little more about looking inward rather than outward. That is the spirit of Christmas I believe, to give freely to those that you love.

That idea goes along more with the embodiment of our Savior, for as the simplicity of our Savior's life has shown us the grandeur of giving, we realize that His coming into the world was inevitably to give ALL that He had for us, even unto the laying down of His life. What then did He ask of us? The most specific term that comes to mind is "Come Follow Me." We become His true disciples in living His example, by giving all that we can to those we love, and those that have hurt us, and finding the love for those that have injured our own hearts. You find love for those around you, as you find ways to give to them, not money, not presents, but by giving unto them love, simply love.

I would implore each of you, those that I love, to find someone and reach out to them. Bring them into a warm and welcome home, show them true Christianity by becoming like unto the Christ Himself.

Now, a little about the happenings here in Bè-Kpota! Funny tidbit about the name Bè-Kpota, Bè is another part of Lomé, and Kpota means hill, so Bè-Kpota means the hill of Bè. Cool how they throw words like that together to tell you where you are... I still don't find it as effective as an actual address system, but good enough I guess.

Sad day here, Elder Ringle is being transferred to Adidogamé, the "village." He is getting transferred sometime this week, which is horrible to have to move Christmas week. I will be getting Elder Oliverson in my apartment, they happen to be MTC companions, so I met him as well in the MTC during my Referral Center days. He is a cool cat too, but I'll be missing me some Elder Ringle. I think that is the hardest part of the mission, leaving behind the friends that you have made in each of your areas and heading off to make more that you will eventually leave behind.

So we had our Fête de Noel the 17th and it was great! We got to eat lots of rice, and chicken, and "salad," and the Christensen's made us some delicious cashew and chocolate chip brownie thing! Each district sang a cantique de noel, and then President Weed played his guitar and sang us a song about Joseph (the Papa of Jesus). It was a fun day! However...

So, when we have long activities that take up a large portion of the day, it is usually a "day off" but the Assistants to the President chose our district to do splits with afterwards... It was fun, but it was tiring. We missionaries are the WORST creatures of habits, and anything that changes in our days automatically destroys or stamina. I speak in general based on what I have seen here, but perhaps there are those zealous missionaries that are impervious to the effects of schedule change and I tip my hat to them!

 *I do in fact have a hat, but my companion refuses to go out with me if I wear it, it makes us look like Jehovah's Witnesses.*

Next on the week was my JOUR D'O.V.B.! I got to go on splits with Elder Ringle on Thursday and nigh on all of our appointments fell through, so we went to Emergency Procedure number 1 for missionaries, we went tracting. Luckily, we had success! We found us some new investigators! I have hope for two that we found because after making the initial contact, he took us to talk with his sister! A contact! They both seemed interested, but due to it being Christmas week it is hard to find time to meet with them again this week, so we shall see.

That is all that I've got to talk about, just know that I am alive, I love my mission, I love my Savior, I love all my friends, I love my family, and only I will know how important and vital each of these are in my temporal and eternal life.

LOVE YOU ALL!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

--

Sincerely,

Elder Robert Haggard

Mission Bénin Cotonou

Cadjehoun Lot°1158 Bloc F

01 BP 3323 

Cotonou, Bénin

Photos of a Missionary's Life

This week Elder Haggard was unable to write his usual email, but he was able to upload some pictures for us! Here are just a few...

Baptisms!

Choirs!

Eating?

New friends

Soccer 

A Whole Lot of Walking!!!!

Beautiful Country

Beautiful People

A Stake in Lome

Dearest family and friends,

Well, today the internet is being super super super super slow and so I can't open the contacts page here on the emails to send out a mass email. So be sure to spread the word around to everyone that I am alive, and tell people about my blog.

To explain the feelings that surrounded the amazingness of this District-turned-to-Stake Conference would be impossible, like in all matters of sacredness, the Spirit stands as an individual witness to all involved, and then all of those feelings are so personalized that they won't be the same as the one standing just next to you hearing the same words being said.

Elder Vincent, the Seventy that came to organize the Stake, is an Australian. It was sort of funny to see the translator struggle because how thick his accent is. He was powerful, and I dare say he has the foundations of hell rumbling a bit like Moroni. Maybe I just haven't heard a really powerful talk in a while, but I feel as though the two he gave over this conference were absolutely astounding.

He showed me so much that I need to look for in the Gospel and the things that the Lord wants for us in our lives. I loved the focus of his message on Sunday, "Focus on the Mountain of the Lord!" He spoke of an incident in Exodus 10:19 where He (the Lord) tells Moses to go down and tell the people to sanctify themselves because He wants to make Himself manifest unto ALL in three days, but the Children of Israel refused. They placed their focus on things of the world, the Gold Ram, and they wouldn't prepare themselves to go up to Sinai.

We need to all be preparing ourselves to go up unto the Mount of the Lord, and how well are we working on that? Are we putting other things above our devotion to the Lord? School, work, movies, friends, etc.? How can we turn out attention from the things, though truly important, to something of higher worth? We must turn our attention to things of eternal value, preparing ourselves for the Temple. Making and keeping covenants with our Heavenly Father, be it for ourselves, or most importantly, be it for our eternal families.

I miss the Temple very much. I wish I had a Temple that I was able to go to every once in a while here, but alas I don't. I just need to remember the beautiful things of the House of the Lord, and continue to prepare myself for the next time I get to go. I have realized that things in this life need to be taken seriously, for they are far too easily taken for granted. Hold on to the precious things that you can take with you into the next life, and don't overburden yourself with useless temporal things that have no importance in the grand scheme of it all.

Find your testimony in the beauty of Eternal Life, it carries you over the most difficult of times.

That is a bit of what I learned this week! I love you all, have a great week!

--
Sincerely,
Elder Robert Haggard

Mission Bénin Cotonou
Cadjehoun Lot°1158 Bloc F
01 BP 3323
Cotonou, Bénin

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas

Dearest Children,

So last week I was a little tired as I wrote, but I got over it, I am looking back at this last week and saying that I actually enjoyed it!

So to begin, these first two things took place on Thursday, which you all well know was Thanksgiving, Happy Thanksgiving ya'll! Despite you all knowing that it is a VERY VERY important day of the year, it was somehow overlooked here on the African continent, but NEVERTHELESS, we Americans celebrated! (and we brought a Frenchie along with us as well, but he just wanted an excuse to eat.) 

We went over to a Middle-Eastern Restaurant called, "Akif's" where we ate! (I realize the redundancy of going to a restaurant and eating but it is dramatic/emphatic).  One down, one to go!

 I had a half-chicken, a charwarma, a plate of fries, a side of "salad" and a can of Sprite. I don't know about you, but that just screams "HAPPY THANKSGIVING" to me! 

We had me, and we had Elder Ringle, and we had Elder Layton, and we had Elder Faerber, and we had Elder Shearer, and alas le français, Elder Lemaire.

To top off our festivities, we were invited to an end of the year festival at the church of one of our amies. Well.... looking for words to describe this... once in a lifetime occasion... Worshipping in song and dance was taken a bit too literally. It was a moment where I felt I shouldn't be there, but it was torn between I don't want to insult our amie for her invitation. So, the Spirit not being there was uh-oh number one, the next uh-oh was that it was ALL in Ewe, save all the "Praise the Lord! Hallelujah!" I don't know if you could ever fully comprehend all the things that went down in "The House of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ." The question that she kept asking was why we don't worship God... It is an awkward question when people get so deep into the traditions of their fathers and confuses adoration and worship with songs and drums. We shall see how we can help her; it is hard when that is ALL that they have known their whole life.

So...

HISTORY IN TOGO: The first stake in the country of Togo will be constructed on December 8th 2013!!!! 

It will be a fantastic week here in Togo! Love you all, and I constantly pray for you!  The Lord loves you so very much, but I would dare say I am a close second! Talk to you later!

  

-- 

Sincerely,

Elder Robert Haggard

Mission Bénin Cotonou

Cadjehoun Lot°1158 Bloc F

01 BP 3323 

Cotonou, Bénin

Not Much, But a Great Sunday

Dear Friends and Family,

As you can see, not much went down this week, but I will do my best to tell you a little bit about it.

Well, today (being Monday) I started my fifth transfer on the mission! That is exciting stuff when you top off the old planner and you start the new one; none as exciting as the last one on the mission like Elder Hopkins finds himself within. Mr. Ghana will be finding himself back home at the start of next year, straight from the heat of West Africa to the bitter cold of Provo.

Next on the list of awesome things going down, CONGRATULATIONS Sister Aubrey Phillips on your mission date! Hopefully next week we can both know where you are going! ;)

So there were transfers, and so we lost Elder Soanantenaina and replaced him with Elder Imoukhuede from Benin City, Nigeria! He is a nice fellow, but I feel terrible that I can understand his French better than his English... It has also become a natural reflex to respond to anyone talking to me in French rather than English. So, good news is that my French has come along quite nicely in the SIX MONTHS that I have been here. C'est bon!

Something wonderful happened this Sunday! IT WAS THE PRIMARY PROGRAM!!! I tried to upload the film of all these children doing their thing in French, but African internet connections don't like bigger files like that... :( It was really the most spiritual moment that I have had in Church in a long while. There is so much power in those little children. "Book of Mormon Stories" and "Follow the Prophet" were amazing! If you saw the video you would hear me and Elder Ringle get a little giddy over it. I love the children's hymns, they are straight to the point and there is poetic justice in simplicity. I guess there is always that primary child within each of us, and it is great!

I love the wonderful experiences that I get to have on this mission! There is so many exciting events that go with the growing Church as it is so new into these peoples' lives. I have taken for granted the blessing of being born into the Church, and I hope that I never make that mistake again.

C'est une grande experience d'être une missionnaire, et je suis toujours content que je suis ici! J'aime ma vie que mon Père céleste m'a donné!

-- 

Sincerely,

Elder Robert Haggard

Mission Bénin Cotonou

Cadjehoun Lot°1158 Bloc F

01 BP 3323 

Cotonou, Bénin

Guess Who I Saw at Church in Be-Kpota...

Dearest World,

Sadly, I didn't note many things in my agenda this past week as reminders of what I wanted to speak about today. It is a habit of mine to forget the moments that happen, but the feelings are things that are often well-imprinted on my heart. If I were to give a summary of the week in words of emotions, I would say simply that it was a week of self-reflection.
My nose has never been in the Book of Mormon for so many hours. I absolutely love the Book of Mormon!! To be honest, I think that was a testimony that I lacked before this mission. I don't feel bad in saying that because it has been corrected now. I can say with every fiber of my being that this book, is so much more than a book, it is the word and will and absolute testament of Jesus Christ, and it is my aspiration to have it become mine as well.
That reminds me of a powerful statement by Bruce R. McConkie where he is bearing his testimony and he says:
 "I shall use my own words, though you may think they are the words of scripture, words spoken by other Apostles and prophets. True it is they were first proclaimed by others, but they are now mine, for the Holy Spirit of God has borne witness to me that they are true, and it is now as though the Lord had revealed them to me in the first instance. I have thereby heard his voice and know his word." -Bruce R. McConkie The Purifying Power of Gethsemane, April 1985.
It is that! I want that to be my testimony, and I am working towards it each and every day. Though, this week has made me feel a bit more like Alma, Amulek, and the Sons of Mosiah in all of their journeys; for it was the sadness of the world that filled my mind due to experiences.
One night as we were at a member's home, with the hope to teach his brother, who has accepted to meet with us but was in the village for a few weeks. The story doesn't revolve around him though, but their other brother. I thought that people weren't this crazy, but this man was CRAZY/drunk. The second half we didn't realize as soon as we should have, especially based on how he acted as he saw that we were the MORMON MISSIONARIES.
I felt a little like a vampire as a foolish man crossed himself and told his brothers not to make eye contact with the "devils incarnate." He kept yelling at the member brother to not sit face to face with us and that he was an idiot for inviting us into his home. It was slightly entertaining, until things got bad. Though, the bad wasn't directed towards us...

This foolish and drunken selfish man came to visit the mother of his child that the member and the other brother took in, but it wasn't a friendly visit. In his drunken rage he came to teach her how she needs to raise their child, and so the meeting with the brother was postponed as the "teaching" was taking place. This brother (drunk) was bigger than the other two and so they weren't able to fight him off as he smacked the helpless woman. It was a moment that I wished I wasn't wearing a badge so that I could give him and good “whatfor!”
This is where I felt very much like Alma and Amulek in the city of Ammonihah.
10 And when Amulek saw the pains of the women and children who were
consuming in the fire, he also was pained; and he said unto Alma:
How can we witness this awful scene?
Therefore let us stretch forth our hands, and
exercise the power of God which is in us, and save them from the flames.

11 But Alma said unto him: The Spirit constraineth me that
 I must not stretch forth mine hand; for behold the Lord
receiveth them up unto himself, in glory; and he doth
suffer that they may do this thing, or that the people may do
this thing unto them, according to the hardness of their hearts,
that the judgments which he shall exercise upon them in his
wrath may be just; and the blood of the innocent shall stand
as a witness against them, yea, and cry mightily against
them at the last day.

12 Now Amulek said unto Alma: Behold,
perhaps they will burn us also.
(Alma 14:10-12)

I couldn't sit there and watch as he abused this woman, but we tried our best to provide spiritual support for the member that was having a hard time listening to the blows as they landed. There are two things people should NEVER do, the first is hit women and the second is hit children. If I weren't a missionary.... I am happy I am a missionary because of situations like that though. It goes to show how desperately the world needs this gospel. The beautiful thing that I saw within this travesty was the love of a mother. The man didn't hit the child, the mother each time stood in the way, and so eventually he just held the child knowing that if he laid a harmful hand on the baby that woman would stop at nothing until her baby was once again safe.
You learn a little about sacrifice, about the pains and torments of the flesh as someone stands against the lashes in the place of another. The physical anguish turns to devastating stabs at ones heart as they stand as helpless witnesses to the hardships of this life. I think of our Savior, the ultimate sacrifice each time I witness the innocent being torn asunder by the monstrosity of wickedness. The foolishness and craftiness of wickedness thinking that they have gained so much here in this mortal sphere and so they reject the reality that things are bigger and better for those that live humbly and are willing to sacrifice any and all mortal gains to enable the kingdom of God here upon the earth.
Brothers and sisters, friends, family, please rid yourself of the pride that hangs on each of us as we achieve things here during our probationary state. Don't fool yourselves into the idea that there are things more important than God, Jesus Christ, and their Gospel in this life. Center your lives on your family, on loving God with all of your heart, might, mind and strength, and upon helping those in need all around you. They are there, and if you think not, you are blind.
To answer the question of the title of this week’s email, I saw Frère Alex!!! Teehee! It was exciting, and when I told him that it has been almost six months since the first day my blonde head appeared in Kodjoviakopé he was taken aback. Fun seeing familiar faces as I progress down the long and winding road as a missionary. I have done a quarter of my mission, and I am kind of scared that the rest of it will go by too fast. There are yet many adventures that lay ahead of me, and even more after this period of life, so much to look forward to, but can't let the future take away from the present. I love this mission! I am excited for everything in store for me! Hardships, pains, joys, smiles and tears, send them my way!
I love you all! Have another fantastic week! Say your prayers, morning and night, and let the Spirit lead you throughout your day.
--
Sincerely,
Elder Robert Haggard
Mission Bénin Cotonou
Cadjehoun Lot°1158 Bloc F
01 BP 3323
Cotonou, Bénin

Not Creative Enough for a Cooler Title

Dearest World,

This week was slightly less productive than usual. I don't know what it is but my companion and I seem to be in a real pickle on the whole finding process of this missionary work. We talk and talk and talk to people until we are blue in the face, but ZILCH! ZIP! NADA!! It was hard back in Kodjoviakopé too, but we at least had members and investigators that were always progressing, but here nothing. In fact, I had my first investigator come to Church yesterday in the month that I have been here. I guess I have just hit one of those mission dry patches. Do those happen to other people?

I mean, I look at my mission and know that I am working hard, but work without results is hard to measure. Not that I need to be boasting or looking at numbers to make me an effective missionary. We have lessons, they are just rarely with the same people, and those that are with the same people are still with people that refuse to come to Church, not refuse, they are just cunning at creating reasons they were "unable" to make it. It gets a little discouraging, but I know that I can help them if I just continue to work faithfully and valiantly.

I have been spending a lot of time studying a "few" Bruce R. McConkie talks that I just happened to have in my suitcase as I flew across the Atlantic to this little Africa place, what a coincidence. ;) Anywho, he has enlightened my mind through the spirit that he was able to imprint upon the pages of many of his talks. A few of the topics consisted of giving more heed to the words spoken by prophets of this dispensation, and not lingering on those revelations of the past.

"It seems easy to believe in the prophets who have passed on and to suppose that we believe and follow the counsel they gave under different circumstances and to other people. But the great test that confronts us, as in every age when the Lord has a people on earth, is whether we will give heed to the words of his living oracles and follow the counsel and direction they give for our day and time.


“We be Abraham’s children, the Jews said to Jove;
We shall follow our Father, inherit his trove.
But from Jesus our Lord, came the stinging rebuke:
Ye are children of him, whom ye list to obey;
Were ye Abraham’s seed, ye would walk in his path,
And escape the strong chains of the father of wrath.
“We have Moses the seer, and the prophets of old;
All their words we shall treasure as silver and gold.
But from Jesus our Lord, came the sobering voice:
If to Moses ye turn, then give heed to his word;
Only then can ye hope for rewards of great worth,
For he spake of my coming and labors on earth.
“We have Peter and Paul, in their steps let us trod;

So religionists say, as they worship their God.
But speaks He who is Lord of the living and dead:
In the hands of those prophets, those teachers and seers,
Who abide in your day have I given the keys;
Unto them ye must turn, the Eternal to please.”

 -"God Foreordains His Prophets and His People", Bruce R. McConkie

That is a smart man that Bruce R. McConkie! It is sad that he had to pass from this life due to cancer, which seems to be a painful process that, if I have my way, I never have to fully understand through firsthand experiences. Pain is a sad experience that we all experience in one manner or another, and if it not be for us, it is in the manifestation of those that we love most dearly. The bright side to all pain is that God has a plan! There will never be a moment spent in vain if we are faithful and obedient to the end.

That is the moral of a mission, be obedient until the end.

"Remember this, which I tell you before, that you may lay it to heart, and receive that which is to follow. Behold, verily I say unto you, for this cause I have sent you—that you might be obedient, and that your hearts might be prepared to bear testimony of the things which are to come;" -Doctrine and Covenants 58:5-6

We had a really good Zone Conference this Thursday. It was topped off with a very delicious Burger/Charwarma mix to seal in the spirituality with the sign of a satisfied belly. The message that helped me from President Weed was something to this effect:

We are not on our missions for the blessings, for the baptisms, for improving our lives, we MUST be here because we love the Lord, and that we KNOW that we have been called of Him to WORK. If you aren't seeing the blessings it doesn't mean that they aren't there. You should rejoice in the blessing of your own personal witness and testimony of the Saviour Jesus Christ, the Restored Gospel and the verity of LIVING Prophets and Apostles! (Paraphrased, and used my own personal sentiments that I took from the meeting).

Yes, sometimes this work is hard, and sometimes I don't have great experiences and stories to share with all of you dear friends and family, but if there is one thing that I have above all the hardships that await me on this mission it is my testimony. I know that I have been called by He that I serve to stand as His representative to this people. I have been called and given the authority to invite others unto Christ. I am not here to simply share with people a message, but I am here to call people to act upon this true message.

I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer of the World. I know that God, the one true and living God, is the Father of us all, and more specifically MY Heavenly Father. My whole heart and soul leaps at the promise of celestial glory in the kingdom of my Father. Here I am preparing others to inherit this great promise, and in a few short months it will be my responsibility to live in such a way to have me and my family inherit these glories beyond comprehension. It is a little ways off, but the thought of it is a very lovely picture.

This Church is true! I love you all! I will talk to you all next week, but if anyone feels inclined to send me a letter for Christmas or something like that:

Elder Robert Haggard
Benin Cotonou Mission
Cadjehoun Lot 1158 Bloc F
01 BP 3323
Cotonou, Bénin

With Love and Faith,
Elder Haggard

The Week of Halloween/End of October and Start of November‏

Heya Everybody!

Sometimes Africa plays games as U walk down the streets and songs, as they drift from the rattling speakers of bars, bring back memories. Regardless that the speakers themselves being in their last leg of life the music is being played at full volume, but overlooking the noise that isn't the music, the familiar words come through. It is funny, the words of Celine Dion, words that I haven't heard in years, carry me back to my childhood.

I can see our little family driving down the highways of southern California, or in gas stations, parking lots to Vons or Food4Less, or just any time in our little white station wagon listening to, when it wasn't Radio Disney, our mother's extensive collection of Celine Dion. I can't remember what we were doing at those places, or where we were going, but I can remember us being happy. It is oftentimes nice to walk down memory lane, especially with those memories that you never thought you'd remember.

My week has been filled with, once again, the picturesque missionary activity of porte-à-porte, tracting. You can just imagine for yourself two young men, okay, one young man and a young-ish mature adult, walking side by side. You can see our well-worn shirts losing their white, our once polished shoes now dirty (or if you are like me, completely thrashed and riddled with holes like a 20's gangster) and our shoulder bags bursting at the seams with brochures and scriptures, the bags as well being weather-worn and sun-faded while walking along dirt roads under the weight of the sun's rays; the sweat of our brow testifying of the work we are doing. It is the life!!!

Albeit that tracting is a lot of fun, I am being honest in that, I love talking to new people and sharing my testimony with them, but I much prefer having rendez-vous' during the day. It is great to see all of the souls that the Lord has entrusted me with but I am confident that He wants at least a few of them progressing. Perhaps I am being an ungrateful servant, nine of the ten lepers, Moses with his inability to speak eloquently, but two weeks of tombez-vous' is a little discouraging. We have our flecks of gold amongst the rocks though, and for them I am most humbly grateful.

It has taken a bit of time to see what everyone is saying by Africa is ripe and ready for the harvest, but like the mangoes on the tree at the apartment, the biggest and best looking are often very rotten on the inside, whether it be due to age, or some little beasties that have crawled in and ruined it for the rest of us. There is a very delicate and special stage within the hearts of men that the Lord has prepared many to be at. It may not be "perfect" but with the sunlight of faith and the water of hard work we can get these "mangoes" nice and ripe, inside and out!

Among those of our over ripened mangoes is a man, and for the sake of anonymity I shall call him "Aka-aka-akpo." Have you ever met those people that are humble, they have the desire, but they have made a mistake that has trapped them without a visible means of escape? Aka-aka-akpo is one of these unfortunates.

The missionaries found him at a very vital moment of his life. The missionaries have been meeting with him off and on for the past five months. Each of the missionaries never understood why he wouldn't get baptized, but he finally opened up to Elder Kouadio and I.

You see, Aka-aka-akpo had been unfaithful to his spouse, and for those of you a little confused, that is a BIG no no. Along with his infidelity, there are certain powers attached to sexual relations, these powers are those of procreation. This gives two people the capacity to work in creating life, for giving a temporal tabernacle to one of God's children; these powers took full effect. Aka-aka-akpo found himself with an unfortunately unwanted child. These events transpired a couple months before him meeting with the missionaries and so his, I don't know a good English word for it so I will use French, concubine, but I now realize it is the same in both languages, is seven months pregnant.

At first he thought of aborting the child, but he knew that killing his child was no way to make the situation better. He is now lost in the so many paths that this life places before us with a terrible guilt weighing upon his heart. We are trying to help him; we are doing all that we can to help him find the answer from our loving Heavenly Father through prayer and searching the scriptures. The words of the prophets and the consolation of the Holy Ghost will be his guide. He isn't always available to meet with us due to his work and travels over to the village; he is the second village chief. It hasn't been long since he broke this news to us, so it will be an interesting next couple of weeks. Adultery, as terrible as it is, is still so much easier to handle than when the precious life of an infant hangs in the balance.

That is the interesting story of the week. I was slightly, very sad due to Halloween not existing here, but they are huge about the Fête des Morts the day after. The cemetery was packed full of "mourners", candle vendors, and FanIce.

It was quite a spectacle to watch, I am not really sure why they flocked to the cemetery, but if it was to pay their respects to their ancestors they could have fooled me. The day after that there was nothing but trash littering the cemetery and upon every tomb, as well as the newly magnified scent of fire and smoke.  I love Africa, but it is traditions like that which make me realize how important the Gospel is for our ancestors.

Family history plug, momma'd be so proud! Do your family history so you can pay your respects at the temple and not by littering their resting spots with trash and urine. This work is true! 

Sincerely,

Elder Haggard

P.S. Here is reference to last week's blog: a picture of the newly dedicated chapel! 

History in Togo

Dearest World,

Today begins with a story, and I hope that you open your minds to fully imagine the importance and the principles behind it.

Amid the gloom that told of the coming winter, the mist and fog rolled in upon the shores. The weather was cool, and good strolling atmosphere due to the silence all around harmonized by the crashing of the waves. Along the foggy shoreline paced an aged-man pondering over the deeper concepts of life, the unanswered questions that a man of his standing was not allowed to not know.

During these pensive moments he witnessed a strange thing taking place further down the shore. A boy stood facing the vast ocean before him, and just a little ways behind was a recently dug hole. The boy begins walking into the frosty water, and in hand was a little cup of some sorts.

The man, still watching from a ways off, began to make his way towards this young boy to give him a good “whatfor” for his act of stupidity. As he approached he saw once again the boy upon the brink of the ocean, this time making his way to the hole to place the water from the goblet into it. Shivering and soaking wet, the boy turned to face once again the enemy that was the ocean. Before the old man could raise his voice, the young boy was once again submerged in the waves to gain his little water to put in his hole.

He got out and placed the water once again his hole, and the old man finally arrived in time to stop him from going into the water. He asked the boy, "What do you think you are doing going into the ocean?"

The boy, with a puzzled look on his face responded, "I am filling up my whole with the ocean."

The old man then asked why the young boy would be doing something like that, and with derision in his voice he asked, "What do you hope to do with the ocean in your hole?"

The boy smiled, he went a little wide-eyed, turned his gaze to the ocean, and said, "I hope to put the whole ocean in my hole! It will take some time, but I can do it one day, somebody dug the hole that it is already in." The aged man responded with unreserved laughter.

"You honestly think that you could fit all of the ocean into your small hole!? What have your parents been teaching you?"

The boy nevertheless went back into the ocean to retrieve his little bit of water. The old man scoffed and walked away still laughing to himself about the hope of the young boy trying to put the whole of the ocean into his little hole.

Think about this, who are we in this story? Do you have the hope of this young boy in putting the whole ocean into our little holes through work and persistence, or do we have the laughter and scorn of the old man mocking the "impossible?" 

The ocean before us is the mysteries of God, knowing bit by bit His goodness and love, and the little hole is our heart and mind. Do you stand on the brink wide-eyed and excited? 
I hope that I am wide-eyed and excited, I sure feel like I am.

History was made here in Togo this past weekend. We spent Saturday and Sunday hosting an open house and then the dedication of the first chapel in Lomé!!!! It was a monumental moment in the history of Togo, and the most spiritual feeling that I have yet to feel here upon my mission: hundreds of saints humbly bowing our heads in prayer and dedicating the chapel to Him, and along with the chapel our lives once again. 

Chapel dedication at Kegue. Elder Haggard with Pres. Weed

Another great week here in Africa, though still rather warm. I am loving life, and everything that it entails. Keep the Lord first in your life and only good things will follow, for only good things are on the path laid for us by the Savior.

Sincerely, 

Elder Haggard

Another Week in Be-Kopte (That Makes Two)

Dearest Children,

Well here is another letter from another missionary in another part of the world.

The week has gone by rather well, only one hitch along the way, my flash drive that had all of my photos from Kodjoviakope and the MTC was "misplaced" somewhere in Africa. So, my memories of my first four months on the mission will be from the pages of my journal only, and whatever photos make it to me through the efforts of missionaries that I have met along the way. So here's to hoping!

This week we spent a lot of hours being beaten upon by the hot African sun because of our lack of scheduled appointments. You will notice something on this mission, and I am fairly certain it is the same sentiments around the world, nobody enjoys O.V.B. (open your mouth, contacting, porte-a-porte, etc.) Well, there could be some aspects that people like, perhaps meeting new and wonderful people, getting to know your area or secteur, better than doing nothing, but when it is HOT or the weather seems against you, you don't like being outside any longer than is necessary. Even coming back to the apartment for lunch is sometimes difficult with how hot is has been getting here. I miss the ocean breeze of Kodjoviakope. They say that it will stay this hot or hotter until March... optimism at its best...

Yes, I didn't enjoy spending many hours doing O.V.B. but there were results. We found many wonderful people with the potential to progress. Among these people there were a young boy reading his bible, a man who chose to stop us on the road, an elderly woman selling goods by the gutters, and all the miracles that encompass them. Your eyes seem to open as you allow your heart and mind to be opened by and for the Holy Ghost, and through this you can see these miracles happening right in front of you.

I will start in a reversed order on explaining these fine folks. The first we shall call Maman Elisabeth, and she is a lovely lady of 40-50+ years of age. She is a kind-hearted, shy and humble woman, that practices her faith amongst those in the Catholic Church. She knows that her answer to the Gospel will come through prayer, she just is hesitant to ask if it is true or not. That is one of the best reasons that I have ever seen for not praying, though there is never a good reason to not pray, that comes close. Fear of getting a response that isn't in line with what you have known so long is so much better than just not caring. She accepts all the lessons and respects the rendez-vous, she let us down by not coming to Church this past Sunday, but we have hopes for her in the next couple of weeks.

Next, the man that chose to stop us on the road.This man is named Kokou, (pronounced Koh-koo) and he flagged us down in the middle of the night as we were walking to our apartment. He thought that we were the Témoins de Jehovah (Jehovah's Witnesses) but we were too well-dressed and I was white... So we got to talking, he accepted our rendez-vous, he was keen to know more about the mythical "Livre de Mormon" and how it could possibly testify of Jesus Christ. We met with him, talked to him about the Restoration, he had a few issues on the power and authority subject, but in the end he knew that it is possible, but he would first have to read the Book of Mormon, his words not mine. He came to Church on Sunday, that was amazing!!!!

Final person of the week, the young boy reading his bible, whose name happens to be Joel. We finished what we call a "lesson" though it was rather short and the person we were teaching was distracted, and so we had "extra time" to go knock on some gates. As we knocked on the first gate, there stood a toweled boy, still wet from his shower, yet for some reason he had his bible already in hand. He invited us in with a beaming smile on his face. He didn't let anything stop him from hearing this message, and everything just went perfectly throughout it. My companion and I worked the best we ever have together and it just flowed. He understood, and asked questions, and he is another person that knows the answer will come through the Livre de Mormon. Let us see how they all pan out.

Those are the exciting things throughout this week. I tried to let you know a little more about what I was doing rather than what I have been learning. I hope that you have felt a part of my week. I would send you pictures, and from now on I will, but all those that I once had are now elsewhere. My mission is going great, feet are nice and sore from walking, hands are nice and sore from doing my laundry, shoulders are nice and sore from carrying the Gospel in my bag. The daily pains are just a nice reminder of how great this work is. The physical burden on my back is nothing compared to the spiritual responsibility that I have been entrusted with here on my mission. It is nice to know that the Lord has placed His confidence in me and permitted that I stand as His representative here amongst the people of Togo and Benin.

That is my week in a nutshell. Hope you have all had as great a week as I have! I love you all! Talk to you next week!

Adieu,
Elder Haggard

First Week in Magical Bè-Kpota!‏

• Heya World!

  
  

  I am currently typing on a keyboard in French, and they have removed the option of changing it into English, so in advance, if you start seeing words misspelled, assume it to be that instead of deteriorating English, please and thank you!

  
  

  First off, CONGRATULATIONS Amalia Barrow Salmon on your wedding!!!

  
  

  My letter this week may be brief in regards to what is happening on the mission front, but nonetheless I will tell you all about my new secteur, and more so I hope to tell you about my recurring thoughts this past week. I hope you will bear with me as I try to articulate my thoughts (they kind of all just spill out as soon as I start typing, like a running dialogue in my head). So onto this adventure we set off!

  
  

  So let us start with Bè-Kpota, with its beauty, and its... dead people. Yeah, there is the largest selection of dead people that I have ever seen found here in my secteur, albeit in the form of a cemetery. It wouldn't be such a special sight, but here in Togo they don't believe in burying people in the ground and so there rests large concrete tombs above the ground. So we get to walk through that everyday... and every night! Eerie as it may be, but I like the creepy things... or not. Honestly I don't like creepy things, and you can ask many people that I am the most scared in the room when a scary movie is on, a little pathetic on my part, but I live with it.

  
  

  My companion is amazing! His name is Elder Kouadio and he is from Côte d'Ivoire. He loves to cook, to work, and to sleep. The latter is possibly due to his age, for he happens to have six extra years under his belt than I do during this mortal state. Yeah, I do feel rather young around him, but I will get over that all. I am also with two others in my apartment, Elder Ringle, who I happened to meet as he was in the MTC and I was in the Referral Center, and Elder Soanantenaina, he is from Madagascar. They are all super cool so I am happy here.

  
  

  Shout out/rub in the face for Elder Hawkins in Kodjoviakopé, the water pressure here is AH-MAY-ZING!! :P

  
  

  So now let me turn my thoughts to something of a little more spiritual, I hope.

  
  

  My thoughts go to a talk that I happened across this morning given by Neal A. Maxwell back in April of 1978 entitled, "The Women of God" and it touched a special place in my heart. In this talk Elder Maxwell speaks of the mysteries of God when giving specific roles to His sons and daughters. It was something that people often question on the whole equality dispute, and here it was simply put so that all the world can understand, it is how God planned it to be.

  
  

  There has always been a sacred nature and a special reverence given in regards to womanhood throughout all time. There have been very significant impacts through Heavenly Father's choice in His daughters sent to this world. The list is very long, and each has in fact effected the world as we know it. The part that started to turn and turn in my mind is that, as we well know, God is the same yesterday, today and forever, that leaves no room to dispute that he continues to choose the specific work of His daughters. So my thoughts turned to my mother.

  
  

  I often have felt, in recent months, after that whole angsty, rebellious teen phase, that my mom has always been an inspiration to me. She, though left alone early to raise her children, has always found a strength to stay resolute in the faith, and has been able to give us the opportunities that we have needed to be successful in life. She has set an example for me to follow in loving my children, to withstanding adversity, and to staying true to the gospel. She has had much challenge in her life based on situations that she was placed into, but nevertheless she arose to be a strong-spirited and loving person. 

  
  

  I know that God specifically chose her to go through those trials, to be my mother, and to put up with all of my burdens. I know that God did all those things because He loves me, and more importantly, He knew that this day of realization would come and now I have to make it up to her.

  
  

  God is amazing, He has blessed my life with my amazing mother, my sister, my future wife and daughter(s)maybe). Yes, men in my life have made a difference, but woman will always make the greater. I love the blessings of the Lord that come through His chosen angels here upon the earth. They truly bless the lives of billions through their loving grace, and their resistance to the beatings from the world for "empathy during agony is a portion of divinity" as expressed through the Savior in His precious moments upon Calvary's crest. Women are amazing, be grateful for the women in your life, for I am for those in mine.

  
  

  That was the little thought that I had today.

  
  

  Sincerely,

  Elder Haggard