Point of Cameroon where it was consecrated for missionary work

Bonjour tout le monde,              

                C’est Elder Stephens Ecore! Just another week out in beautiful Cameroon. This week was good we had baptism interviews on Saturday so this Saturday we should have some baptsims =) so excited! Saturday I got to work with our district leader Elder Scofield he’s from Arizona he’s really cool. Fun fact he got to work on the mesa Arizona temple AC system! So because of the exchange Elder Tshibanda went to work in he’s sector in Eleveur. On Sunday the district president came and spoke. It was funny, so he’s shorter and only speaks French so he in our sacrament meeting had to be translated by our second councilor and he’s super tall. So it was funny to see the two of them up there just like complete opposites. Monday we went to the point in Cameroon where it was consecrated for missionary work it was so beautiful. My mom will post pictures when I can send them. Look for an opportunity to serve someone say hello to someone who looks sad or a neighbor you don’t normally talk to but if the least you should do is smile. It is impossible to be in a bad mood when if your fake smiling, I promise. I know Jesus Christ is out redeemer and through him we can accomplish anything, love you guys hope you have a wonderful week!

Love,

Elder Stephens

Republic of Congo, Brazzaville Mission / Cameroun District

Preston.stephens@myldsmail.net

Smile at someone today

Hello Everyone,

                This week was awesome so my companion and I were coming home from our last appointment and met a couple who are in the French branch who are both returned missionaries, and they were on a date to get pizza and they saw us and invited us to have pizza with them it was so cool and then they bought us ice cream it was so nice of them. So yea that was just awesome haha. We are preparing some people to be baptized on the 1st of October it will be interesting because we are doing a district baptism but the other branches speak French so we might do the talking in separate rooms and then have the baptisms together but we are still planning that one. We just got a new investigator who’s a mom with I think two kids and I believe her husband’s possibly interested too. We haven’t met them yet but they live next to a member who is good friends with them and so I hope all goes well with that. On Sunday Elder Tshibanda and I had to speak in church we finished blessing the sacrament and “our first speaker will be Elder Stephens” I turn to my companion “What am I going to speak on?” “I don’t know” “Ok thanks” well I gave my talk and then we sang and then he had to speak too. Then a member of the district presidency got up to speak after him. Gotta love Sundays, I hope that you all had a wonderful Sunday and a wonderful week. Be kind to others and smile, a little smile can change your whole day even if you are fake smiling so just try it!

Love,

Elder Stephens

Republic of Congo, Brazzaville Mission / Cameroun District

Preston.stephens@myldsmail.net

Gaze into the Heavens

Hello Everyone,

                This week has been another beautiful week here in Yaoundé, on Tuesday President and Sister Monga came to visit us for a zone conference. Also Elder and Sister Call came up from Doula as well. It was cool to actually meet them because last time I saw them it was for about three minutes when they picked us up from the airport and dropped us off at the airport. So this week was good. We had a guy call us and asked us to meet him, we were like yes when are you available we were stoked  he lives far away but we still went out to meet him it was so cool he’s super interested in the gospel so that was the highlight of our week. In my studies of the gospel this week I read something I really liked in true to the faith it says “From time to time, ponder the beauties of creation: trees, flowers, animals, mountains, the waves of the ocean, a new born child. Take time to gaze into the heavens, where the courses of the stars and planets are evidence of ‘God moving in his majesty and power’ (D&C 88: 41-47)” This week I encourage you to do that. I know that this gospel is true and I know that Jesus is my savior and redeemer I hope you all have a wonderful week love Elder Stephens

Love,

Elder Stephens

Republic of Congo, Brazzaville Mission / Cameroun District

Burdens and Trials

Bonjour Tout le monde!

This week in Cameroon it has been very cool. It has rained a lot and we had an ami who we have been working with who accepted to come to church. It was awesome and then well he came it was so awesome. Some scriptures that I read with my companion during our studies that really touched me this week were:  

Mosiah 23:21 Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith.  

Sometimes the lord gives us trials to keep us humble and to show us that we do need to do the things he asks but that he knows our strengths and weaknesses individually.

Mosiah 24:15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the lord.

The lord didn’t take away their burdens or trials but he helped them to get through them. I know that the lord loves us and wants us to grow and sometimes that means doing hard things. I know my savior lives and is our redeemer and our older brother. I love you all I hope that you have a great week. 

Love,

Elder Stephens

Republic of Congo, Brazzaville Mission/ Cameroon District

Preston.stephens@myldsmail.net