Elder Andrew Freedman Cote d'Ivoire Abidjan West Mission: Week 9

Last monday I left the cyber just super motivated and excited to get to work and then I got back to the apartment, went to take a shower and the water was turned off. That put a damper on that night BUT it’s ok, I just boiled a bucket of water mixed it with some cold water and had a nice luke warm bucket shower! I’m learning to get creative with these kind of things. hahahah.

But for real this week was actually so much better! Some pretty exciting things happened! Prayers were defiinitly answered. First the most exciting, I taught an entire lesson in french by myself! It honestly blows my mind even thinking about this. Backstory, so we had decided I was going to teach Lesson 3, The Gospel of Jesus Christ, so for companionship study we did some role plays. As we practiced doing role plays I couldn't even say anything. I sat there like uhhhhhhhh, so we need to repent and be baptised. It was ROUGH! But time ran out and we had to go to our appointment so I was pretty much just done for... Or at least I thought. As we entered the house my companion pushed me in front of him and I knew I just had to send it. So I just started asking this sister about her family and how she was doing. The classic way to start a lesson. Then, I just started going and once I started I just didn't stop. I taught the entire thing. She understood everything I said and I understood her questions and I was able to answer all of them. All my companion had to do was share his testimony. It was the craziest thing ever I literally don't know how I did it. But that is where God comes in to place, it wasnt my french I was saying it was Gods. As we walked out Elder Ayinde went crazy, all I could think to do was look up and say thank you. It was not me talking during that lesson I was just being as an instrument. As I looked up and said thank you I felt the spirit so strong just comforting me. It was unforgettable and an undeniable witness of the spirit.

Another answer to prayer, sunday morning I prayed to be able to help the ward in some way because I don’t understand anything they say and I don't just want to be an elder that just comes and goes without doing anything. Anyway, after church we were just walking around and 2 people came up to us and told us how bummed they were no one in the ward could play piano and that the piano was just sitting stored away in the bishops office. I got so excited and said I can play! It blows my mind how quick my prayer was answered. I guess I need to give the credit to my mom who kept me going all of these years. It’s a portable piano so they might let me take it to the apartment which I’m super excited about!

We also got invited to go to a members wedding so I got to go to a traditional African wedding. It was in the cultural hall of the chapel and it was just decked out with colorful fabrics and stuff. Everyone had matching traditional clothes on and people preformed lots of traditional dances. I was actaully kinda scarred by the dances because all the old ladies in the ward started doing these traditional dances that consisted on lots of hip and leg and butt movements and I was just like sheesh sister you gotta stop that. hahahah But I think another thing that made this week as good as it was, was I tried to be way more proactive in how I learned French and also learning the gospel. I think that because I was just engaged in trying to better myself that time passed quicker and I felt like I had more purpose here. I feel like my faith is at level 1000 right now. They're so many scriptures that talk about how after our faith is tested then we will recieve our witness. I truly believe this and I feel like I'm still being broken but I know it'll get better. Like the scriptures say to those that lose their life they will find it. I know that this is true. I know because I have so many good examples that have served missions before and I can look to them to see that this is true. I still miss home every day and it’s hard but I feel like I have finally started to love this place and the people a little more.

Since I’m a missionary I want to leave a invitation, as I think about things that I could have done better at home a lot and one thing I wish I would’ve done different is not wasted as much time on my phone. They're are such better things we can do with our time and I feel like if I spent my time better being creative and having fun in other ways than being on my phone, it would help me now to be creative and make any situation fun.

I can’t thank you all enough for your prayers for me and your kind emails. I sit in the cyber and cry because I feel all of your love. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

I love you all so much and I'm praying for all of you every day,

Elder Freedman