True Happiness

Picture taken from the Liberia Mission blog

CHRISTMAS IS COMING!! Next Monday when you email,  just tell me what time you will be getting up on Christmas so I know and then I'll just give you a random call sometime during the day.  A surprise phone call would be good for Christmas (;    And yes, one winter down, one more to go.  I thought about it, and I'll actually get to do some spring snowboarding when I get home.  So next winter I'll be snowboarding again.... haha But you all made me just a LITTLE trunky when you had to describe the snow to me.  It snowed, would have been sufficient (;  Deseret Star theater sounds like it was a good time.  I want to do that when I get home, so make sure to plan one of those the following Christmas.  Is there a family Christmas party or something happening in the next couple of weeks?  And I bet St. George was just loving all the white stuff down there.  I knew they didn't get snow often, but I didn't think it was that long of period of time.   Charlie the elf is doing some things here.  He's hid in our little Christmas tree the other day, and he's been hiding on our desks rearranging some things, so he's making his presence known!  Don't ask me how this little guys surviving this African weather.....  And for the call home.....  I try to tell you all the stories possible, and the ones I don't tell I write in my journal....  The problem I'm having now, is I don't remember all the stories that I never had time to tell you... haha that is why I write in my journal!!  But if you want to know about any of our investigators that I've talked about, then I'll be able to tell you about them.  Just have a list of things you want to know and I'll be ready to fire answers back!  Its coming quick!!!  How is the Christ Like attributes coming mom?  Just remember if you pray for them, God will give you those situations where you will obtain them.  So, if you have many things go wrong during your day, just remember you asked for it....(:  God works in mysterious ways.... I love it.  Side note, we made that cheese cake the other day, and I decided to freeze it this time......  let me tell ya.  It tasted like Cheese cake Ice cream!!!  You are more than welcome to put that in any package you want (;  haha Thank you for sending it!

This past saturday, we had 7 baptisms!  All of the people we have been teaching for the past transfer finally were able to be baptized.  4 of them are boys who will be advancing to the Aaronic priesthood within the next couple of months. The other 3 are girls.  An 8 year old, an 11 year old, and then Sister S who is 28.  The story behind how we found these kids to teach is interesting.  There was a sunday when I looked to Humpherys and told him we should walk into the various classes and see who isn't baptized.  We went to young mens and young womens and found a few.  Relief Society there wasn't any.  And then we came to the primary.  We walked in to the class, and in unison they stood up all saying "Welcome missionaries" with some other stuff.  One of the cutest things I've seen.  We then asked who wasn't baptized and half the primary rose their hand.  Now, the whole time I've been In Doe Community, I've seen all these kids come to church.  They have a STRONG primary, but the only problem is, they're not baptized.   So, we took their information and contacted them all at their homes.  It turned out great since some are baptizing now!  We also are teaching their parents too, so talk about a great way to get referrals!(: 

On Saturday, President Kirkham came to the Duala Chapel and gave a little Christmas devotional, showing some videos and explaining about the tabernacle in the old testament.  Great topic and great instruction.  I learned SOOO much from it.  After it was all over, (fyi, Members were able to attend.) we stood up in the aisle and were talking.  This lady in a purple African dress came walking by but she looked super familiar.  She went and talked to Elder Bowring and then turned around and saw me.  Her face lit up. This was my recent convert from Banjor right before I left.  She was excited to see me and I was excited to see she was still strong in the church!  You really have joy when you see your recent converts converted to the Gospel and are being strong in the church.  True Happiness(: 

Now into a story that happened yesterday.  It was after church and we had A LOT of people to see.  Both of us were tired and exhausted, but we had 5 people we needed to see, so we motivated ourselves and left.  We were on the last person of the day, and her name is Sister R.  She stopped us this past Tuesday and wanted us to come preach to her.  We told her that on Sunday we would be able to, so we needed to keep our promise.  This is what we call Enduring to the End....We were TIRED. We called her on the phone and met her at Doe Community market, then she took us to her place.  Her house is in an area where we don't go as often to teach, so its good for us to go out there to find new people.  Anyway, we sit down and start the lesson.  The previous time we saw her we gave her The Restoration pamphlet to read and go over, until we could come sit down and explain more.  So, this is where we started. As I was teaching and explaining different points, I was thinking to myself, "What am I saying?!  This is stuff that should be making sense and really good, but its not edifying anyone right now!" I kept praying that the spirit would be there.  When Elder Humpherys would teach, he would say some profound statements and it would be powerful. I was thinking,"Thank you Elder Humpherys for being on your A game and having the Energy to do this!"  I caught myself spacing out at times and having to refocus my attention.  When the end of the lesson came,  we were walking away, and Elder Humpherys goes,"Man.  I could not focus in that lesson.  I was so tired and I felt like what I was saying wasn't doing any good."  I gave him a weird look,"The spirit was strong when you were teaching and you were saying some great stuff!  I'm the one who wasn't edifying anyone and kept spacing out thinking on other things."  He looks at me,"See! I was feeling the Spirit when you were teaching and was thinking, Man, Elder Zaugg is saying some Awesome profound stuff.  I Don't know how he has the energy to do this."   We were both laughing on the way home while talking about the lesson.   It was funny that the whole time both of us are thinking we aren't doing good, yet we both are thinking each other is saying awesome stuff and are glad that the other person was on their A game.  A moment I will never forget on mission. 

 I hope you all have a great week!  I'll be calling home in no time!  Less than ten days now!  Love you all!Love Elder Zaugg

You can even buy a Christmas tree - already decorated - while you sit in you car at a red light.  Talk about convenient!  Who wouldn't want one of these beautifully decorated trees?  This could really make Christmas shopping so much easier - you could do it all from the convenience of your car.
(picture & caption taken from http://berrettsinliberia.blogspot.com/)