This week was so good! I had some awesome lessons and I have
started to really adjust to and like my sector, Gesco. No lie it's taken a
while, longer than I've wanted but we are starting to teach some great amis. I
feel like I'm starting to stake some ground here and people are getting to know
me better. We had one lesson with the Fr. Bamne this week who currently lives
with his girlfriend, which is the reason he can't be baptized. I have given him
a Book of Mormon and I cannot explain how happy he was when I gave it to him.
His smile was something that I really can't explain. He grabbed his girlfriend
and they were both seemed so happy and when we invited them to start working on
their marriage they said they would! I really hope they can progress!
Fun Fact...marriages here are super expensive because it's a
3 step process. First, you meet the parents and bring them a few nice gifts
that are usually a little expensive. The second step is called the Dote and the
husband goes to the wife's family and takes everyone new clothes, bags of rice
or other food and money or whatever else the family might want... then last,
they actually tie the knot. The couple goes to the city and declares their
marriage. Then, a big reception follows after with food and dancing and
presents. These weddings are SUPER expensive for the people here. This is why
so many of the people that you will find here are not married. As missionaries
this is our biggest deterrent from baptizing. I often try to suggest to couples
to go to the city and declare their marriage first and then afterwards, once
they have plenty of money, they can give all of the gifts. I love teaching the
temple, the free marriage that God has provided us so that we can live with our
families forever. Every time I teach about the temple, I see people look
at marriage in a more important way.
Each time we teach Fr. Brice he asks us for a little bit of
money to eat... So after this last appointment we decided we would go eat
together. I had the fun idea to go to KFC with him, the new nice restaurant
here! We went and ordered and I paid for him. I was so excited to see his
reaction to his first American meal. Right after we got our order, he asked if
we could go outside because the AC was too cold for him inside which I thought
was pretty funny... Then he didn't even eat the KFC! He said he needed some
acheke! Its Ivorian food that is kind of like rice, and quinoa. He put all of the
KFC in a bag and insisted that I buy him acheke and he wanted to eat it
at his house. I tried to get him to taste the KFC but he wouldn't. He was
really grateful for the food though and I hope that he continues to progress.
No more KFC for him though!
I'm doing good out here! Feeling comfortable where I am and
I am really happy. I am getting better at the language too which is awesome!
Thanks for everything you guys do for me from home. You're all the best!
Bisou,
Elder Freedman
[Andrew did not send any pictures this week so I took some from his mission presidents blog. They were taken at zone conference I believe]
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