July 19, 2010

Hey family!

Glad to hear that everyone had a good week except Jack! Feel better, little bro! Maybe kicking Dad's butt in Mario Kart a few times will help!

Yup, we'll be moving to a bigger chapel soon! Its a very welcome change, yesterday we had over sixty people at church so that meant the missionaries plus some other members were forced to spend sacrament meeting outside haha. Also, during sunday school and the third hour, there were not enough chairs for all of the classes. Those are always both very welcome problems at the church, it means things are progressing! There were twelve investigators at church which was really great too! Our prayers are really being answered. I was in charge of teaching the first ever Young Men/ Young womens class at Akpakpa and then the deacon/teacher class (there is one of each). It was very fun. Afterwards we went to a few appointments and then the evening our branch president invited us to his house to eat. It was very good food. A good way to end a good sabbath day.

Whoo, cant believe i'm almost already back into August. I have fun recently by reading my journal entries from one year ago and seeing the difference now.

Its heating up there? Its actually been cooling down a lot here. Like some nights i dont even sleep with my fan anymore. I'll enjoy it while it lasts- i remember last August when i first got here it was scorching ( or maybe thats just because i wasnt used to it). And its still been raining like crazy. Last thursday it was our turn to get stuck out in a flood. We were at our investigator Migan's house so we tried waiting out the storm for a couple hours but at about 7:30 we decided just to roll up our pants and go for it. We were about twenty mins from the appartment and we had to hike home in shin deep water. It was quite the adventure and luckily my new shoes survived it.

Haha wasps have very good eyesight and sense of smell? Where do you learn this stuff?

A scripture that helped me this week. Hmm, there are a few. One thing I have discovered on my mission is a love for the New Testament. So, i really like the Parabole of the Two Sons in matthew i think. In the Book of Mormon, i read a scripture that i could relate to in the last verse of Alma 27 or 28 i cant remember which. It talks about how he experiences sorrow in the destruction of the people but joy in the light of Christ. I have never had so many reasons to rejoice and sorrow at the same time. Some people will reject Christ and keep on persisting in their stubborn wicked ways, but i can always find joy in the people that accept the gospel and seeing the light of Christ bring so much happiness to them and their families. Its those moment that keep me going and give me the strength to try to find more of them. Those are the moments that strengthen my testimony and make me thank our Heavenly Father for letting me serve him as a missionary. I love this work.

Ok well i love you all! Have a good week! Cant wait to hear from you again next week!

Elder Bertoch

July 12, 2010

Hey everyone!

Glad you had a good week and that the trip to Aspen finished well! You've become quite the active family! And I'm so happy none of that stuff got stolen! I pray for you all every night so i'm happy to know they are being heard.

As for how my shoes got stolen...its really not that exciting of a story. To get into the appartment/church you have to go through an outer door which we always lock. Then we just keep all of our shoes on the second floor balcony (shoes are not allowed inside the house, if so we would not have the cleanest appartment). So probably while we were sleeping someone jumped the walle, went up the stairs, ignored the ten other pairs of shoes and took my eccos and my nikes and one of my companions pairs. I have no idea why he didnt take them all, theifs really just arent that smart.

Sooo...i dared to go to the GIGANTIC street market today to look for shoes. It was a success and i had fun bargaining along the way. I found nikes that i bought for twenty dollars and eddie bauer brand shoes for another twenty dollars (he asked for seventy dollars to start with and i countered with 14. Ended up at twenty). So if you send forty dollars to the couple that would be great. (Its amazing how cheap everything is here. I also bought three ties for a total of 4.20 dollars).

So this week was just ok. It would have been great BUT Carine went back to the hospital and they say she needs to keep the cast on for another month (again!). So that stinks. We wanted to baptize her with her dad and brother this month but we can wait until next month. All will go well. She took it much better this time. We showed up with food to celebrate but we ate anyway and even joked a little about it. When she finally gets it taken off she'll have been in that stupid cast for over 7 months!

In better news Raul is going better. There was a baptism service on saturday and he came to watch it with us. If we can just get him to come to church regularly he would be great for the branch.

Pierre and Elodie missed church yesterday. You wanna know why? They had bought the eighth season of 24 (they sell that for the equivilant of a dollar here) and had been watching that all last week. Sunday all of their friends were over to watch the last few episodes so they couldnt leave. I didnt know whether to smile or chastize them. Hopefully they will have better priorities next week.

Church was good again yesterday. I was assigned to give a talk and teach Elders Quorum. I couldn't decide on a topic for my talk so i decided just to do what i love best- I told the Restoration Story. I dont think there has been another event in modern history that is more important or touched the lives of more people. I love bearing my testimony of it, as simple as it is.

In other news, the Leavitts found a new chapel for Akpakpa now cuz this one is too small. So in about October the church and the missionary appartment will move. Too bad i probably will not be here.

Haha I keep dry just by wearing my raincoat you sent with me. My umbrella actually broke a couple weeks ago so i should probably replace that soon too.

Theres crime in my area but nothing i'm afraid of. Its usuall small stuff, although there have been two armed robberies not too far from us. As far as like being held up or something like that, i've never heard of that here.

Well I hope you all have another good week!

Love,

Elder Bertoch

July 5, 2010

Bonsoir tout le monde!

Hows it goin?? Sounds like you're lovin Aspen! And Jackson has been HIKING without complaining??? A lot has changed, a lot has changed.

Anyway, first off I'm gonna have to bug you guys by asking for stuff this week. First, my black eccos and my tennis shoes might've kinda gotten stolen this week...not cool haha. Anyway if you could send me money through the couple i'll probably be able to buy some news shoes for pretty cheap somewhere here (we played soccer this morning with some members/investigators and i had to wear the size twelve shoes of my companion haha). Also, i need new white shirts cuz i'm not intelligent and hanged up a lot of mine to dry with metal hangers after i washed them and now they have rust stains. And I already tore one of the new ones you just sent me. Just three or four will do (size 14 1/2). Also, an electric razor would be nice but not necessary. That is all. Thanks!

Another good week gone by! Our district was named the Celestial Appartment of the month in Benin (another new thing that has started in the mission). I'm not exactly sure what that means but it sounds cool. Our investigators are still doin ok except for the fact that we cant get a lot of them to come to church now. Thats the only thing stopping Raul and Vincent from being baptized. Our investigators that do come to church are all people that cannot be baptized for commandment reasons. We did talk to Pierre and Elodie about the law of chastity yesterday for the first time and they are all for getting married! The only problem now is they need money and they might want to wait until they could do it in Cote DIvoire. The branch probably could help them with the money so we'll just have to see if they are willing to get married in Benin. Praying hard. Carine is excited to get the cast off this wednesday! My only concern now is that she still wont be able to walk and will have to go through serious rehab; its been six months since she walked, the accident was pretty serious. I feel like if she can start getting around we'd be able to baptize her and her dad (he came to church once and liked it but could never come back because hes the only one at the house who can still move around and he talks care of Carine and his mother) and her little brother. Still praying hard.

I think that next transfer will be in August cuz thats when the next zone conference (Elder Stitati from Kenya will be there) is and that is when the Baileys and Elder Skousen, Elder Fountaine, and Elder Olsen all finish their missions. I'm pretty positive i'll be moving then which will be sad. There are four zones in the Ivory Coast and they are all in Abidjan except for Yamousoukro which is a city like three hours north i think. I would love to go there, I hear there is some cool stuff to see and the church is a lot smaller up there than in Abidjan which i would like but there hasnt been a white missionary in that zone for over a year. What's sure is that I'll be wherever the Lord wants me to be.

Things have been still pretty cool here too- I guess we are in "winter" now. I dont even sweat anymore which is really nice. It was also very sad when Ghana lost to Uraguay. It was at like 8 pm here so we were already in the appartment but there is a bar that was full of people right next door so we could hear them screaming whenever something would happen (actually it sounded like all of Africa was screaming) and then just groans when they lost.

Ok well i think thats it... I love you all and have a great rest of a trip! Congratulate Susan on her success for me! Thanks for the email grandma! I always love hearing from you! Good luck helping people find work! Talk to you all next week!

Elder Bertoch

June 28, 2010

Sam mentions Elder Kouakou at the end of his letter - he was his first companion, and, of course, trainer. Here are some pictures he sent as well:

Branch President and his family (Akpakpa Branch)

District Awesome (the 4 roommates - Sam's companion is the very tall African standing next to him)

Elder Geisler in knee deep rain water

At the beach for the second time

Python Voodoo Temple in Ouidah

Weird tree in Ouidah with crazy carvings

At Adele's baptism

Me and Elder Geisler in our boombas

African Boomba

Hey family!

Anyways, just wrote most of my email but the computer crashed. Oh well. Starting over now.

Yup, took plenty of pictures with pythons. I'll try and send some, we'll see how that goes.

I just where my Eccos in the rain. They're still goin strong so no worries there.

It was good to hear that you had a good time at camp, Jack! Even if i had to hear about it from mom and dad!

Well it was just another amazing week to be a missionary. I have many amazing investigators and i still love this branch. The missionaries and the members get a long great. As far as investigators go, Vincent and Raul werent able to get baptized this month. We're hoping and praying that things will work out in July. Carine gets her cast taken off the seventh so as soon as thats off we're going to throw her into the font and shes pretty excited about that too. We also have some new investigators that came to church this week- two ivorians named Pierre and Elodie. They loved church and they are both really awesome, the only problem is that they live together and they are not married (just like everyone else in Benin). But we'll work that out with them. I have high hopes anways.

The rain has also lightened up, which is sad. It made things really exciting haha.

Today we got our prize for winnin the apartment inspection. The couple drove us out to a gigantic super walmart-like supermarket and gave us each 5000cfa to spend. It was pretty cool, for about an hour i felt like i was back in the US!

Have a good time in the mountains this week! Let me know what you end up doing!

Also, there were officially no transfers this time so its pretty sure i'll be leaving in August. Probably around the 20th, thats when i think the next zone conference will be.

K well it was great hearing from you all! I love you and have a great week!

Elder Bertoch

PS Elder Kouakou finishes his mission this Friday. Weird, i remember when i got here he only had like 13 months!

June 21, 2010

Hey!

I'm glad to hear you had a good day yesterday dad! I was able to wish Elder Leavitt a good day and then couldnt remember if i told you that last week. So, HAPPY FATHERS DAY!

I'm glad you had so much fun at the reunion! North Carolina, sounds like an exciting one to miss. We better have a good one planned for when I get back! And a new TV? And another trip to the mountains?! You guys are just living the life aren't ya?

Anyway, I had a pretty eventful week this week. First, Monday night President came and did the interviews at our appartment. He was very impressed. He kept telling me in my interview how clean the appartment was and how great the spirit was and he is very proud of me. The next day at zone conference his good mood continued. He said Benin is the most obedient zone in the mission and he is extremely happy with all of us. He talked a lot about obedience and he used Alma 23 and Alma 24 to talk about the true process of conversion which was very interesting. There is also a new thing in the mission where two missionaries in each zone are recognized and given a certificate for their outstanding obedience and missionary performance. President chose me and Elder Tshibasu here in Benin which made me blush. (I kept trying to figure out a way to say that without sounding prideful, but i dont think i succeeded.) Anyyway, so now our photos are up in the mission bureau.

Then, Friday, the zone went to "super p day". All the missionaries went to Ouidah. I got friendly with some Pythons at a voodoo python temple, saw the first catholic church in Africa, learned about slavery and voodoo at a museum, ate good food, and then walked the "the trail of sorrows" to the "port of no return" that all the slaves from west africa had to walk to get on the ship that goes to America or Europe. It was all extremely interesting and I took some really good photos that maybe you'll be able to see one day in the future.

Also, Benin has gone absolutely insane. The rainy season has finally arrived and when it rains here it RAINS. Monday night it POURED rain for about 5 hours straight. Elder Geisler and Elder Yao got caught out in it and they had to wade home through water that got to knees. They got some funny pictures of less intelligent motocycle riders still trying to drive and then falling in the water haha. Then, wednesday morning we woke up at 4am to POUNDING thunder and lighting. It was super loud, like i actually had to cover my ears. The lightning would completely light up the sky too, it was pretty cool. Anyway, so now missionary work has become much more exciting. We kept to jump from stepping stone to stepping stone in our area because everything is under water.

Finally, the Leavitts did another apartment inspection this morning and we won. So now we get to pick our prize so we'll think hard about that. Apparently there is a city completely built on stilts over the water so maybe we'll see about going there.

Benin is not even in the world cup but everyone here supports whatever african country happens to be playing. Too bad none of them are good haha. I never found soccer that interesting, and i still dont.

Well, thats all i got. No word on transfers, apparently there will be a big one in the middle of August so we'll see. My last Benin visa expires at the end of August so i gotta go before then. I looooooooove my area, all my investigators and above all my branch. I have such a strong testimony of this Gospel and of the change it can bring into peoples lives. I love you all and I hope you have a great week.

Elder Bertoch

June 14, 2010

He didn't hear from us because we got home late the night before from a family reunion in North Carolina and decided to get up early in the morning and write him. I sat down to e-mail him at 6:00 a.m. and his e-mail had arrived at 5:00 a.m. I don't remember ever getting an e-mail that early from him. It only figures.

Hey family!

Didnt hear from ya this week but its no big deal...i'm actually surprised that its the first time thats happened, its been a year! You're probably having a blast in North Carolina and heck, who nows if there is even the internet up there???

So how has the family reunion been? Has the weather been good? Is it even possible to have fun without me there???

Also, I got the third package, the one with the shirts in them! Thanks! They are kinda big on me but here in Africa style is not really too important. Thanks again! Loved the photos more than anything!

This week went by pretty fast. I'm actually feeling like lately we've just been teaching the same people who are not progressing so i think this week we are going to focus on finding new, better investigators. In fact, nothing really changed or happened this last week. I did splits in the other area, so it was interesting seeing how the other missionaries teach and how their investigators progress. I did three more baptismal interviews too which is always a cool experience. The world cup started last friday and everyone here is going crazy so its been more difficult to get rendez vous too haha. Soccer is life here in Africa. I guess the Ivory Coast plays tommorow so all of the Ivorian missionaries are super excited.

Well, President is probably in Benin right now. We have our interviews tonight and then zone conference tommorow so that should be exciting. I'll be sure to let you know if anything good happens haha.

Well I love you all! I hope to hear from you next week! Have fun in N. Carolina!

Elder Bertoch

June 8, 2010

Hey family!

Sorry for the lack of email yesterday! We came and the internet was not working at all, so we stopped by this morning to write a little.

First, I got two packages! Thank you very much! All the candy is gone already and i plan on making the soups this week. Love ya guys.

Things really are starting to pick up now. The first sunday i was here the assistance was 39, now its gotten up to the fifties and even the sixties once. I love Akpakpa so I'm actually hoping that i dont get transferred- which means of course i probably get transferred haha. I just feel like such a big part of the branch- sunday i taught sunday school and young mens, next week i'll give a talk and teach elders quorum. I really think of it as my branch- all the more motivation to add members to it. Well, we'll see. President is actually coming next monday/tuesday for zone conference so maybe i'll find out if i'm transferred.

I'm glad you had such a great birthday mom! Mmmm...ice cream maker.

It actually rained a lot more this week, made going out a lot more interesting. Didnt stop us from setting a couple of baptismal date. Theres Vincent whos maybe in his forties or fifties, has a good job and a real family (as in they are actually married). He should get baptized this month as well as Raul who was at church Sunday. He grew up a really strong catholic but stopped after a while. He knew members of the church in Togo before moving here and he was always really impressed by them. His fiancee is also in the United States (Texas) so no problems with chastity there either. They should both really contribute to the church here in Akpakpa- they are intelligent and hard working, good quality baptisms that will become future leaders here.

Well, i think that is about it. I still love being a missionary. President had challenged each missionary to read the entire Book of Mormon before he comes back for zone conference and I finished that last week. What an amazing book. I've grown to love 2 Nephi 9 and King Benjamins talk and Alma 26. Just to name a few. Ps i dont remember if i ever told you this story but there are pasteurs here that always use the Book of Mormon in there sermons without telling people where they are getting their material. I heard that there was one pasteur that read all of king benjamins talk in Mosiah like it was himself that wrote it and everyone loved it. Crazy.

Anyway, gotta go. Love ya all!

Elder Bertoch