Whole Cloves

Hello

This week has been pretty awesome most of our amis are reading and the others are progressing. Our one who’s read the gospel principles book was talking about wine and so we brought up the word of wisdom and he started to go back and forth then we were like do you believe Joseph Smith was a prophet? .. Yea ... ok then.

We’ve had some crazy lighting here in the Congo it was so loud the house shook and all the concrete.

I cut my finger so we didn’t have a ton of bread haha which is good and then elder Temahuki (from Tahiti) made doughnuts which I dipped in cinnamon sugar. They were awesome. I bought cloves today but they aren’t ground. I didn’t know that. I’m going to find out a way to grind cloves haha gotta love Africa.

I’m so grateful to be here in Africa. It is the best place to serve I think. I think it’s amazing I’m still alive by how these taxi drivers drive though. It’s like Nascar, let’s see how close we can get to a head on collision or something. I’ll be different when I get back haha hopefully not haha.

I love you guys so much hope your having a good time in the sun or snow cuz here it’s raining or sweating haha so always wet love you.

--

Love,

Elder Stephens

Republic of Congo, Brazzaville Mission

Conference

This week has been crazy! I got the French kissy thing (where they kiss each cheek) and a hug from one of our amis I just stood there like a statue cuz I had no idea what to do haha.

We watched conference Sunday. I love what elder Uchdorff said about choosing to be rescued, we need to decide now if we want to be rescued and choose to be rescued by our Savior and take the steps to walk back to him.

We have two amis who are really progressing.

One of our amis has read the entire gospel principles book.... I haven’t even read the whole thing. I’m really hoping he gets baptized on the 7^th. We might not get to on that date cuz he hasn’t been to church four times but I’m hoping we will. Our other ami looks like she’ll be baptized in a couple of months. She has some like personal things and idk it sounds like she might move out from the people she’s living with. They aren’t cool with the church so it’s awesome that she is willing to do that. She also came to all four hours of church conference on Sunday and she got there an hour early.... we forgot to tell her about the time change.... but she stayed thank goodness. Well it’s hot and our power is funky. Sometimes we have it, sometimes we don’t the washing machine is not usable still and my knuckles are not pleased. We have to have white shirts.

I made bread this morning and I’ve got to make it again tonight. I’m going to be good at making bread when I come home.

The cookie I made was snicker doodle but I just made it into a big pan cuz I didn’t want to roll out cookies and the pan in the pic is the only oven pan we have I think they are going to buy me another cuz I can’t cook African food but I can bake and they seem to like it when I bake so I’m cooking more.

I love your emails and I appreciate all your support love you 

Love,

Elder Stephens

Republic of Congo, Brazzaville Mission

Preston.stephens@myldsmail.net

Zone Conference

Spoonful of this and handful of that

Bonjour Family,

Thank you to those who sent a card with the pictures my mom sent. I love them. My album is full now! This week was good we got to go to some new places. I went to a different sector Wednesday and visited a member in a new sector on Friday. We had two amis at church on Sunday it was awesome. One of them I can feel will be an awesome missionary he’s 16 years old and he is really smart. Our other ami told us her family isn’t fond of her coming to our church so we had a lesson on how we all have different trials and I hope that she will continue to progress.

We bought a lot of food so we are having all sorts of new stuff which is fun to have. I got some cinnamon so I’ve been trying to have rice cereal if I can cuz its good with the milk I have. I bought some chocolate milk..... It was not what I was hoping for. Hopefully next time will be better. If I can find soy sauce I’m going to make sweet and sour chicken. Elder Dou bought a baking pan for the apartment so I’ll get to use that. We are still looking for measuring spoons. Elders... don’t know how to use them. Well African Elders cuz most of the people don’t have recipes they just go off memory so it’s a spoon of this a handful of that haha.

Oh this week I will get to watch conference that should be good. And next month when we get the Liahona I can check to see how much I was right in English. I love the Liahona (ensign) I encourage everyone to read it.

I love my mission I know this is the Lords church I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and I know that the Book of Mormon is true and is the word of God translated by a prophet of God.

I hope everyone has a good week love you!

--

Love,

Elder Stephens

Republic of Congo, Brazzaville Mission

Preston.stephens@myldsmail.net

http://elderstephenscongo.blogspot.com/

Ward Conference

Bonjour Everyone,

This week was awesome we had 2 amis and a less active at church today it was awesome because we fasted to have them come to church, and at the start of sacrament meeting it wasn't looking good. But after they passed the sacrament one came in and then after Sunday school another and then we had another come at the end and went to the other wards sacrament which worked out because she was able to partake of the spirit there.

It was ward conference and we had the most people like over 100 people there it was awesome and so we pass with two trays and when we finished one the deacon took it to the sacrament table and elder Kamba filled the whole thing up and the deacon finished passing to the other like 6 people... then he went outside and then when he came back he had 6 cups left and I was shocked and when I looked at elder Kamba's face I died I just barely kept my laughter in.

I love you guys and I love getting your letters and emails. I know this work is divine the Lord has called me to the Republic of Congo Mission for a specific purpose. I know that Jesus Christ is my Redeemer and savior. Love you guys

--

Love,

Elder Stephens

Republic of Congo, Brazzaville Mission

Preston.stephens@myldsmail.com

http://elderstephenscongo.blogspot.com/

A side note from Mom: He is safe and at the Mission Presidents home. He is funny about what details to share and with who he should tell. He doesn’t want me to worry. So if you want the nitty gritty you have to call Tony.