"I was prompted to read my patriarchal blessing."

Bonjour mon famille!

     Hellllllo everyone! It sounds like everything is going good back in the States! That's always good to hear. I love to hear about how everyone is doing and what they are up to. So I'm just gonna start off with the fact that I have learned more French in this one week, than I have in the whole 3 months that I have been on my mission! I mean, It's still not perfect, but I have really learned a ton! I don't know what I did different, and it probably wasn't even me at all. It just seems like the stuff that I study, I just remember, and it seems like everyone is just talking so that I can understand them! It's truly been a blessing. I have for sure felt all of your prayers working here in Africa! But I must tell you, that the week did not start off that way... When I first got my new companion, it was really tough. He doesn't speak really any English at all. So when I don't understand something, he can't ask me in English like my other Companion did. And it was really tough the first day. I was going to freak out at him during a companionship study.. But I refrained myself. 

That night I was feeling super discouraged, and I was prompted to read my patriarchal blessing. I was in my room myself that night reading my blessing and it says, "You will overcome language and cultural differences". And after I read that, the biggest peace just came over me knowing that I will be able to learn and understand this language. After that happened, it seems like my language studies go more smoothly, and like I said, I remember the things that I study. So I know for a fact that the Lord has been helping me out big time. This mission, especially for the language has been a HUGE humbling experience. I kind of thought that I was going to walk into the MTC and just start talking French, and I didn't really know what a mission was all about. Then I got comfortable there, and I got humbled big time once again when I got here. So it has been a truly amazing experience. I know that I have been kind of cocky... And I probably still will be in a joking way, haha. But I truly have witnessed the gift of tongues out here in Africa. So thank you for all your support and help. I know that I have a long way to go, and I need all the help that I can get. I know that the Lord has truly blessed me. As far as my companion goes, he is a pretty cool guy!  He is about 4 foot nothing and 100 pounds. The computers have been kinda dumb with the pictures... So I will send you one when I can. Sorry about that. But yeah he is pretty cool. This is the first time that he has been in Benin, he has only been out in the field for 5 months. So he is pretty new himself. Sometimes I feel like I am training him.  So we have learned a lot from each other.

Oh the simple pleasures in life!

Here is my cool experience... When I was waiting for my new companion to get here from Togo, I was on a split with Elder Shumway and his companion who is Malagach. We went to a Fast Food place and I got a double hamburger, fries, and a drink. I don't know if it is because I haven't had good food forever, but it tasted better than a lot of burgers I have had in the states! IT was amazing! It was really expensive though so I don't know how often we will do that. I have done pretty good with my first month of money. I still have 10,000CFA left, and there are still two days left! That's about 20 bucks. And that is a lot here haha. So you could say I am a pretty good budgeter. So yeah that was fun to go eat some American food. 
Well, I best be off. As always, I love you all SO much and am super proud to call you my family. I pray for you always! 
Love your son, 
 Elda Lateon

1- What city do you live in?
          - I live in Gbegamey... But proselyte in St. Jean.

2- We have a box ready to send to you this week :) You are still waiting on 1 package from us that we sent a while ago. Let us know when you get it. How much did you have to pay to get the last box in customs?
           - Oh awesome!! I can't remember exactly. Not much. So don't worry about that!

3- Received any letters yet? We heard that it's hard to get letters there so is email still the best? Or would you like letters too?

           - Letters are always fun to receive! I have gotten one from Sam, Sydney, and you with those pictures!  But it's def easier to email, but still fun to get hand written letters.

4- How is the beef jerky holding up?

           - Beef jerky is going really good! I haven't had a real appetite for it lately... But it's been good!

5- Can you send us a picture this week? We hope! We love them!!!!

           -Oh... I told you in the email :/ Hopefully next week!