When we landed, getting out of the airplane felt like walking into the bathroom on those days when I would make it a steam room... It was HORRIBLE! From that point on until we got to the MTC, I don't think I stopped sweating. Another story though, was when we were walking through airport and going through customs! Lets just say, we could have smuggled something in. haha These people didn't even check our bags! All the man said was, Do you have any ammunition or guns? and before I could answer He hurry and jumped into the next question asking what I had in them. Then before I could answer that question he just pushed me on my way haha so I kept walking and had NO IDEA what to do! I didn't want to get arrestted for not getting my things checked! but this happened to the missionaries behind me as well, so we all just walked through and went to the bottom of the airport where we found our MTC man. But right before that we went through one last set of people and that is where I ran into my first Begger or whatever you want to call them. This man smiled and was like Oh, you missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints! then acted like he was going to tell me a secret and whispered into my ear telling me I should bless him and give my friend a token haha and to put it all in perspective, you cant understand one thing these people say! So I had to ask this man what he was saying 5 times hahah It has been one heck of an experience so far. All I said was, Welcome to AFRICA!!(:
My mission so far has been a wonderful experience though except a few things... The food, the language of these people they call english, and the heat.. Lets start with the food. WOW. haha it definitley gets prepared and presented A LOT different then in the states. Last night for example, we had this delicious rice with a corn sauce and a nice chunk of meat that looked like chicken! Yeah, it was not chicken... They had chopped a fish into thirds and threw it into the pot of sauce and cooked it. And no, they did not gut it or anything. It had the spine, bones, and skin still on it!! It got to the point I almost threw up haha because I moved my fish off my rice and it looked like the fish had been bleeding on it.. My rice was red.... haha and then I couldn't even finish my plate because the next bite I had, had a crunchy piece in it. Once you know that this fish wasn't cleaned and then the next bite you eat has a crunchy thing in it... yeah, you would want to throw up to! But to go along with this story, the other day I had the big cook lady call me out on not eating all my food and how we shouldn't waste the lords money. First off, these cooks should not give American boys plate fulls of African food that look like the mounds of food you would get at Chuck A rama! They do not want you to starve here but the Americans might since the food is horrible!! haha they said we need to adapt, but it will definitley be a looooong time before that happens! Send more cheese its and cracker sticks if you can and if they wont go bad!! Those things are a blessing when we get hungry at night in our room. Most of the time its because the food wasn't the best and something that we didn't want to eat. If you could send some candy, and anything that won't go bad before it gets here! The cookies were way good and my roommates loved them all. We would eat them when we didn't eat dinner on some nights. So if at all possible, send some cookies (: The food is only strange some of the time, but on some meals they feed you fries and chicken. The food isn't horrible in the mtc, its just bland and repetitive. On some days its horrible though like the fish days.
Now onto the language. My mission call said I would be serving in an English speaking language... These guys speak so fast and with a thick accent, that if you miss one word they say... you're done for it. haha You will be lost in the conversation and have no idea what they are saying to you! And thats what makes classes here so difficult, is that we only have African teachers with thick accents. It makes you really have to put your listening ears on and pay attention! I will be the best at listening to and understanding people now. haha Its a little easier to understand now that we have been here longer, but at first it was HARD. I can see how so many people would want to go home from here now.. Its a rough life the first few days. Walking onto the plane in New York was where the shock all began! I have never seen so many blacks on one plane before. Then when you actually land in Africa and you cant understand what their saying in ENGLISH supposedly. And then when you feel the heat and see the beggers, it can be a bit on the shocking side.
Now the Heat! It was 86 degrees when we got here, but felt like 110.. the humidity is not your friend here. When you take a shower and dry off, your body produces so much sweat that you have to dry off a second time. Then you hope you can put your clothes on before you have to do it a third time! Even once you put your clothes on, it still feels like you didn't dry off. My hair stays moist until I wake up in the morning!! haha and trying to sleep here is a pain.. you sweat thee entire night! Im so grateful for AC and now know that we are so blessed to be able to have it in our homes! They have AC in the class, lunch room, and chapel, but other than that, thats it! That fan we bought is the best Investment!! I stick it on my chest and have it blow on my face until I go to sleep and then wake up and shut it off.
You never notice the jet lag but you never catch up on sleep either. You will always be tired in the MTC. That is the most difficult part is trying to stay awake in class. You never have time to relax so its just a constant go go go and is rough. I'm to the point where i don't realize I am asleep until I wake up... Yeah, it gets that bad in class but it is everyone here and the staff takes really good care of us.
My companion is awesome!! He's from South Africa and his name is Elder Manzini. We get along great! All of the Elders here are way sweet and we all have a good time. It is a bummer that we are getting split up, because when we practice teach the investigators at the MTC we do some great stuff!
You guys would freak out if you had to drive in this traffic on these roads... Its SKETCHY! People walk along side the Freeways and cross whenever they feel like it. And they have little kids with them! The people who try selling you stuff on the side of the road, dont really stay on the side of the road... If you give them eye contact they think you're intrested. I had a man run me down with chocolate because I looked at him haha he literally ran a half a mile after us just for me to say no thank you.. it is incredible at what they carry on their heads. It really is impressive!!
We just got back from the temple today!! It was amazing! I have never seen so many black temple workers before and the whole session was full of them to. You start to get used to it and don't even notice after the first few days. But the Ghana temple is beautiful! I have taken so many pictures so far and its only been 5 days..... I might need more memory cards (;
I leave the MTC next Wednesday so I will be in the field by then! All of the other Elders going to Sierra Leone Leave Sunday because of flight schedules and what not. My Companion will be serving in Sierra Leone. So we wont be able to serve together in the field, but I definitley plan on going to South Africa after the mish. He was showing me pictures and it looks just like Hawaii.
I love all of you and thank you for the letters! I haven't got to them all but I have read a few. They are so nice to read after a long day. I wont have time to write a long email to each of you, so one full one to everyone might be it. Sorry! They only give us an hour and that is not long enough when you have so much to say! Just know that I have read all your emails though and love them!! One thing you guys could send me is more food... I think I'll need lots of it so I don't starve out here. Well I love you all and I know this church is true. I'm grateful that I was able to grow up in the gospel and come to know that these things are true. Joseph Smith was a prophet and called of God. Keep studying the scriptures! They are amazing! Love Elder Zaugg
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| Saying good-bye to the mountains and snow for two years. |
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| Hello Africa! |
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| Last American Food for 2 Years - Chili's in NYC Airport |
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