Salut chere Famille et chers amis!!!
This is an attempt to make up for the lacking emails. If
you were wondering, nothing has been taking up my time, just haven't been
focused while at the cyber so time flies and all of the sudden I am without
time to write you all; but don't feel like I don't love you, because I somewhat
do! ;)
I find life rather fulfilling right now as I just started
being a papa here on the mission to an amazing little fella. Elder Florion is
quite awesome, there are bumps along the road because I have never trained
before, and he has never been a missionary before, but that is why testimonies
link us no matter what areas may be hard on us. Good thing is that I don't have
to teach him French, I could, but it is nicer to just teach how to be a
missionary rather than teaching them a new language altogether. I feel bad for
those that trained me and how difficult I must have been for them. Luckily,
that's all said and done; now it is my time to reign!!! Mwahahaha!!!! Je
blague! ou.... est-ce qu je blague?
So, since my stay in the MTC last May I haven't had this
kind of experience, but a "stranger from on high" decided to say,
"I am going to give Elder Haggard a little present in the middle of his
lesson!" Right at the end of our opening prayer *SPLAT!* bird doody all
over my collar... Good thing we have such a loving amie that she just laughed
hysterically at the situation and asked if that would happen every time she
prayed because she would start praying for us every night... That would have
been mean, but she is likely one of the next baptismal candidates that we will
have.
Elder Florion has been having some health issues, but all
I can say is "Bienvenue en Afrique!" It is kind of like a hazing, but
it is done by the continent itself. Unavoidable, teaches you many lessons
unwanted, but much needed concerning doing all one can to be healthy and learn
to prepare food properly. Just taking it day by day and upset stomach by upset
stomach. He is taking it like a champ!
THURSDAY was pretty awesome with a conference with Elder
Vinson of the Seventy specifically for the missionaries. It was absolutely awe
inspiring and spiritually packed like a package of toffees! (We did walk away
with those as well :D!) There was one of my favorite subjects spoken about in
such an intimate setting that I had never truly experienced it, we spoke about
sacrificing to the Lord. I first fell in love with this subject thanks to Bruce
R. McConkie, surpise surpirse, but in studying it more and more you realize the
importance and your desire grows in ways you can't have others fully
understand. That is the key to a testimony, for no matter how strongly you feel
for these things, it takes personal experience and desire on the part of the
audience.
Since now is getting closer and closer to General
Conference, I invite you all to search a bit as to what you truly desire and
yearn for concerning your spiritual well-being, and as those mighty men of God
bear their hearts and personal witnesses, find those things that the child of
God within you longs for you to apply. I promise you will find something that
will appease your spiritual desire, but it is your personal research and
application that will sate this appetite.
My companion and I were locked in our apartment on
Saturday because our keys "mysteriously" disappeared... SUCH A WASTE
OF TIME!!! There is nothing I hate more than having to cancel five rendez-vous
because of stupid things like that, but our amis are nice and understanding,
but they continue to think we are growing more stupid as these small things add
up. We found them this morning... story for the journal and not for the email.
But we were able to pass the time in studying and hunting... I just happen to
have a bow, and lizards just happen to be all over our mango tree. Bow-hunting
without a license in Africa, check! Do you think that counts me as a poacher?
That is kind of cool, but if I were going to be a real one I at least want to
see a lion, or an elephant, or a gorilla! I just have to hone my talents and
one day I will play with the big boys. ;)
DON'T POACH CHILDREN, IT'S BAD!
That is the week in a nutshell... Any questions? No?
Good. Love you all! Hope that your lives are as interesting as a day in the
jungle, but I wouldn't think so. I love life, and this mission! "Oh what a
beautiful morning! Oh what a beautiful day!" Truly, everything's going my
way. Thanks for the prayers, they have been answered in full, as I hope mine
are being answered in your lives. Thanks once again for the love, keep it
coming! ;) A toute a l'heure!
--
Sincerely,
Elder Robert Haggard
Mission Bénin Cotonou
Cadjehoun Lot°1158 Bloc F
01 BP 3323
Cotonou, Bénin
