Pictures!!

Proof He Really Does Get Packages!

 

Bushrod and Brewersville Zone



Zone Conference

Raining So Much You Could Float Down The Street!

Family!!!

I love you all sooo much and can't believe I am almost to my 3 month mark!  With that being said, I just finished my 10th week of training and guess what came yesterday? Transfer news!  My companion is leaving tomorrow and I will be recieveing my new companion on June 10th... And yes, I will be his trainer. I was in shock last night when I found out that I wouldn't be finishing my training and that me and Elder Smith will be companions for the next 2 weeks or so.  By the way me and Elder Smith will be covering two areas, his and mine. So we will be in his area for one day and then the next we will be in my area.  All I can say is mission keeps you on your toes!   We also had a crazy rain storm yesterday.  I have not seen this much water on the ground since I have been in Liberia.  The street that we walk on called "Train Track Community" was a river... Literally.  You could have taken a tube and floated down the whole thing.  We were soaking wet. We forgot to wear our rain boots out so we have wet shoes... now today I am wearing them so that I can let them dry.  Mission is great.  You have so many experiences that will change you for the better, or just give you a good laugh.  Sorry that I don't have much this week, but I love you all and hope that you guys are doing good!  Anything happening back home?

I love you all so much and I will see you guys in 21 months(:
Love Elder Zaugg

AFRICA IS GREAT!

Life of an African Man

My Family Which I love so dearly(:

It was awesome talking to you guys last sunday!! I can't believe its been a week since we talked already!  Shows how time really does go by fast. It will be in no time at all that we will be talking at christmas time! So I was thinking once we got off the phone, and I think you guys should record some kind of message with you guys talking and then put it on that ipod that you guys will be sending out.  Then I can hear your voices more than twice a year. Just a suggestion though.

Alright, so I don't know  if i mentioned this to you guys on the phone, but the bread here is interesting.  Whenever I buy bread I always have to examine it for mold or other objects that shouldn't be on bread. There was one time though that I was examining my bread, and I couldn't see anything on it.  But the problem was, that I kept smelling hot dogs.  I had no clue where the smell was coming from when I was looking at my bread for mold patches.  I didn't know if someone in the apartment was cooking them or not.  As I went to take a bite of my bread, I realized that what was smelling like hot dogs was my loaf of bread.... Yeah I almost threw up.  Bread should never smell like hot dogs unless there is a hot dog on it.  It could have been old bread or something, but it definitely smelt like hot dogs.

Now in our apartment you probably know that there are 3 Americans.  Me, Elder Smith, and Elder Dahlin.  We have a small tradition in our apartment between the 3 of us.  we always make our breakfast and eat outside before our personal study.  We enjoy this time so much.   A mission is really fun! I mean there is times when days will be slow and stuff, but even when you have a slow day it goes by really fast.  Faster than a day back home would be.

I also found out something interesting this week about why my clothes kept having these mysterious pink splotches on them.  I kept thinking that I had a fruit punch packet that spilt on them at first, but then when it kept happening, I asked around.  I later found out that it is mouse pee pee... isn't that just great. I get to walk around in clothes that I have mice pee on.  I even had my laundry bag!!! These mice are incredible little things! I don't know how they even get in and out of my bag!  It would be quite a trek for them to get in just to widdle on my clothes and then climb out.  The bag is huge,it probably takes them a good 2 minutes to climb out of it.  I just figured though that I only have 2 years of it, so no big deal right? ITS AFRICA anyway(:

And now onto last pday.... IT was the best!! We went into town (Monrovia) and went looking around for carvings and different things.  I found a way cool mask that I want to buy and some cool paintings that I will bring back!  But when we were finished looking at the carvings and stuff, we went into a store called Harbells.  This is a grocery store by the way.  A GROCERY STORE! Not a market. but a GROCERY STORE.  I haven't been in one of these for almost 3 months now! It was incredible! all we could do is look and walk around because we had no money haha and they were way expensive to. 20 US for a box of cereal....  crazy prices, but I have never had my mouth water so much.  I didn't even feel like I needed to buy anything! Just looking at the food was good enough.  After that, we went to a place called Monroe Chicken.  The nicest restaurant in Liberia.  I'll send some pictures of it when I have time. Anyway, I spent 14 US on my meal and I got a chicken sandwich, fries, and a vanilla shake. The Shake was 5 US and it was 3 maybe 4 inches tall.... If you were in my shoes you would spend that much on a shake to.  It was delicious though!! First meal in Africa that I didn't bite into a bone.  Lets just say, I will be making trips to town once a transfer to enjoy a chicken sandwich(:
Now I only have one scripture for you guys today.

Matt 6:21

We need to make sure that what we treasure is actually the things that are important in life. Treasuring worldly things will only lead you on the wrong path.  We need to examine ourselves and change if need be. 

I also have recieved another 2 packages!! They get opened though so maybe send a paper with a list of things that you send.  But i am getting them now so you can just continue to do what you are doing and it will be fine. Every package that I have recieved gets me excited!  I love having cheese its and cookies and all that jerky (: send those protein bars and some other healthy things so that I can eat healthier.  Maybe even if you could send a package to my companion with some goods in it that would make his day.  I don't think he has recieved one yet. put anything in there. I love you guys and hope you all are doing well! Keep telling me things that are happening in your lives, in the ward, in the area, in utah, and any political things that are big!  I love you all!!!!!!!!!!! Hope you guys have an amazing week! Until next time.

Love Elder Zaugg

THE LIFE OF AN AFRICAN MAN

Phone Call Home!

Elder Zaugg's Family talking with him!  Words can not express the power

that one phone call can have! Our hearts are busting with love for him!

So proud of his courage, determination and testimony!

 

 

Pictures!!!!

Elder Zaugg and Elder Osayi



Love These Missionaries



Before Baptisms



Brewersville and Bushrod Island Zones

The Church is True

Family!

So i will be calling at 5pm my time which I think will be 11am your time, so only go to sacrament meeting and then come home! Make sure mom and dad have their phones on them because i will call moms first and if that doesn't work I will call dads phone. So take your phones to church and put them on vibrate. I will be calling you guys so just wait for my call. And remember to only go to sacrament meeting!!

But as you guys can tell... I couldn't write home last week. The reason why is because Good ol Liberia decided to have a riot/civil war from monday to thursday in town and we had to stay in the apartment. It was cool because you could see the helicopters dropping things from our apartment and you could hear explosives outside of the compound. I felt like I was in a civil war movie ha the only bad thing was that we had a couple of guys try to break in the compound...

The funny thing about this story is that none of it happened and this was a REALLY late april fools joke... haha I decided i needed to do some kind of joke this year, it just happened to be a month late  (;                                                                                                                                                                                   The real reason was because pday got moved and then the internet was down last Tuesday so we weren't able to write you guys. It really stinks and made for a long week, But hopefully you didn't miss my email to much and you enjoyed my story!

Last pday since we didn't write home we ended up going to the beach! Talk about relaxation time. I felt like I was on vacation.  The nice ocean breeze rolling in was amazing!!!  No body was even there really, it was just me, my companion, Elder Smith, and Elder Ngobi. We took pictures so I will send those home next Monday! Im going to take all of next Monday to send pictures home since I will have talked to you guys on Sunday! So expect a lot of pictures on Monday! And remember to check my email drafts just in case I leave them in their. it might be easier for me to send more that way then if I send them directly to you.  

I finally got two packages!!!! I was SO excited. It was my birthday package that I recieved the Thursday after my birthday and the other package with the mashed potatoes!! I dont think I have ever been more happy to see instant mashed potatoes in my life!  All that food made me happy!!!  Thank you! I also got your letters from March 31 on the 30th of April and I also got your dear elder ones on the Saturday we had interviews which was last week. Send more of those protein bars! They were way good and I think that will help me to get protein in my diet! Also can you send more of those pens. pilot G-2 07 pensHow was Candice's Graduation?? I want her to know that I don't think my teeth have ever been so clean in my life.  My teeth have never been flossed this many times before. She would be impressed with how clean they are! How is Kendra's trip coming? when does she leave? How is Nicole and the girls doing? anything new with them?   Hows work going for mom and dad? Anything changing back home? Send pictures!!! A couple of weeks ago I heard about some bombing at the Boston Marathon?? Whats happening to America? I leave for 2 months and all of a sudden they want to start taking out long distance runners... by the way, I'm at my two month mark on the 8th(: and yes I'm super excited about that.

some thing to think about... My birthday was on the 19th and I was turning 19. Im sure this has to be of some importance.  I have some scriptures I want to share as well. sorry I don't have any stories this time. Its been to long since I wrote home so I had too much to say.

Alma 34:32 This life is where we prepare to meet God. We need to repent of all our sins so that we will be able to enter into his kingdom. This being a period of time for us to prepare, we need to "study" the scriptures. If you go to D&C 131:6 we cannot be saved in ignorance. we need to study the scriptures to know what we should be doing. we need to listen to and apply the teachings of the prophets. They have been called of God and recieve revelation to guide the church. They know whats best. If we ignore the prophets teachings, we are ignoring God.

Alma 36:3 trust in God and you will be okay. through God you can make it through anything.

Alma 34: 34-35 Don't procrastinate the day of your repentance. you dont know when you will move on from this life into the next, so be ready. I am glad I am able to be on my mission helping others come unto christ, repent of their sins, and have them walk on a path of peace, joy, and happiness.The church is true. Its a simple phrase to say, but it means a lot. When you study the scriptures and are living the teachings, you come to an understanding of how true this church really is. Everything that happens within our church is what Christ has done. Everything we teach is what Christ has taught. A mission is the best thing that I have chosen to do. Im not saying its easy being out here away from all the things that I have taken for granted, but it gives you a better realization of life and what we are suppose to do. It lets you have the opportunity to serve others each and everyday, and helps you know how truly blessed we are. I know that when I return home, I will appreciate A LOT of things I didn't before. Even the little things. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is the only true church on the face of the earth. It was restored through Jospeh Smith who was called of God. To have living prophets today is amazing. Why should we not listen to them?? They are receiving direction from God! Thomas S. Monson is the living prophet today and I know that he was called of God. He has The power to govern the church and recieve revelation.

I love you guys and can't wait to talk to you next Sunday!  I love you guys and am super excited! have a good week!

Love Elder Zaugg

I LOVE AFRICA

No Email This Week

We didn't receive an email from Elder Zaugg this week. Not sure why. Boy how we look forward to his emails and miss them when they don't come! Instead, let me share a portion of a letter we received in the mail a couple of days ago. It was written on April 1, 2013.
Elder Zaugg is a huge April Fools prankster! We missed having him home to play his tricks on us. However, looks like he accomplished it with his house mates.

"All morning long I was trying to plan a trick. Finally my companion and I created a plan that i would go into the kitchen an yell, "There's a snake in the kitchen," then run out. We did this....and it worked! We had them all looking in the kitchen for a snake and they were all trying to find things to beat it with. You could say it was a successful trick."

another part said...

"Some more info. about the living conditions...The water only trickles out and isn't a full stream. That is why we shower out of a bucket. We only get water some of the time and other times it gets shut off so they can pump water into the tank. So like right now, we have no water to shower with. They are pumping right now."

and one more....

"Africa is way cool. I love waking up and having it be 70% with a breeze. it makes working out AMAZING. Even during the day it gets hot, but now I'm use to it. The constant sweat doesn't bother me anymore either. Weird how that works out. The food here is interesting. The members feed us potatoe grains and rice. This is a spicy food that is starting to grow on me. It has an interesting taste at first, but when this is all you get in Africa, you'll take it! We actually went to this really sketchy restrauant today and had it. Picture the worst place you've ever eaten at and times it by 2. I don't even know if the dishes are clean. You better believe I prayed for the meal! I was hesitant about eating it so I didn't. But i figured since they said its the best food in Liberia, I might as well eat it. To describe this place....It has 8 chairs and 2 tables. One long one that holds 6 people, the other is a small one that fits 2. The place is probably  10x15 with flies everywhere. The kitchen is outside where all the dogs and chickens run around. Now you know why I was hesitant.  My daily routine for food is, buy bread and eggs at the shack up the road and make an egg sandwich. This is what is keeping me sane here. That and the frosted flakes I bought for $5 at the supermarket. (Not a supermarket like we know in the states) An interesting thing about the eggs here..but when you boil them, the yokes taste like fish. I had a hard time trying to eat them."