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| Elder Ilunga and I at the Amis house that fed us cat and rice! Mmmmmm :) |
Dear Family,
Bonjour! You likin' this new font that I'm rockin'!? I sure am... Makes my emails seem for lively! Make sure to tell me what you think when you read this email after I send it! Anyways, as always, thank you for your email! It made me smile as they do all the time! That is good to hear that Mary's funeral went well. I can only imagine how strong the spirit was! The last funeral I went to I believe was Matt's... I remember how strong the spirit was at his as well. I have only attended 2 funerals in my whole life which I guess is a good thing! Good to know that my family and friends are going healthy! I bet that the Dolder family did amazing as well. And the Strong's went home too! I bet that they were excited to get back home! I think that it is fun to finally be home after being away for so long... So I can only imagine what it is going to be like in December of 2013! Hahaha nah just kidding. But seriously.
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| Benin has 5 competitors entered in athletics, swimming, boxing and judo in London. |
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| Togo has 6 competitors entered in Table Tennis, Canoe Slalom, Judo, Swimming and Athletics. |
Like I said, not too much going on here... Same old stuff. I haven't had a baptism in 2 transfers and I don't know what is up with that. Sister Leavitt told us that there were only 2 baptisms in all of Togo and 14 baptisms in Benin. I think that when the Leavitt's come out here full time it will boost the work! But as for me personally, I don't know what I am doing wrong... A transfer just passed and there are no changes in the district of Ablogame. Which I am surprised. Elder **** has been here forever and I thought that he would be leaving for sure. There are a lot of people coming in this next transfer so it will be another big one! I am happy that he is staying though because I could use a couple more weeks to get to know the sector better. I forgot how hard it is to memorize African streets! There are no road signs, numbers, that make sense anyways, and everything looks the same! I use big piles of dirt and oddly shaped rocks to remember a part of our area... Haha. And it makes it even more confusing when it rains because we have to take weird routes caused by the rain. But I've got another 6 weeks so I will know it like the back of my hand!
The sector itself is going okay. We have a couple progressing amis and hope to have some baptisms in the following weeks. We have at least 3 amis who are ready to be baptized, but can't because they aren't married to their husbands or wives. Everyone says that it is because of the money that they can't do it. But we talked to one of the members and they said that it is not even that bad for them to have to pay it. All we can do is continue to work and keep praying that they will have that desire. We have a couple other people that are almost ready for baptism, but we just have to continue teaching them the lessons and hope that they progress. The area is going well though and I feel like we will be able to have some success really soon. We found as well that there are many inactive members that aren't really even that old that we need to find and continue teaching. There is one that had a fight with someone in the branch and that is why they don't come anymore so we are going to have to talk with them and figure that all out. Which I hope happens! That is a shame if it is because of something like that that someone stops coming to church.
So our apartment took 1st place again in the apartment check by the Leavitt's! He said that it was the highest score that he has ever given out in his inspections! He's a tough one too, but we did really good! We had music playing and everything! We schmoozed him over! Haha nah just kidding. But really the apartment was looking good! I was happy with it! We got 5,500 Francs and went to Festival of the Glace today! Got 2 cheeseburgers, fries, a Fanta Orange and some ice cream!
You could say that I went all out.. Haha I am stuffed! It was delicious though! Gotta love it. We watched some of the Olympics there and that was fun! I also watched some at an appointment that we had. I watched Michael Phelps take 4th... What a wiener! But the other American took 1st so that was fun to watch! They play the "Jeux Olympique" here all other the place. So I get to see some of the Americans compete!
You could say that I went all out.. Haha I am stuffed! It was delicious though! Gotta love it. We watched some of the Olympics there and that was fun! I also watched some at an appointment that we had. I watched Michael Phelps take 4th... What a wiener! But the other American took 1st so that was fun to watch! They play the "Jeux Olympique" here all other the place. So I get to see some of the Americans compete!
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| *Here Kitty Kitty Kitty....Whack! |
Speaking of that same appointment, I ate come CAT!!! Haha no joke! Cat and rice! It was actually really good... Tasted like hard chicken. I was fine eating it other than the fact that I couldn't stop thinking of Grandma Layton's old Cat Kiba. Hahahaha I wrote that in my journal and laughed super hard. But yeah it was good! The meat in the picture I sent you is cat... So just know that your son has now eaten a domestic animal in Africa! Thought I would share that with you :)
Well that is all that went on in my week... Not too much! I try and keep the letters as interesting as I can but sometimes it is hard! Just know that I try! Thank you very much for baring your testimony as well. That made me smile! I was very happy to hear that. Thank you again for all that you do for me and the rest of the family! I love you all so much with all my heart! Have a great week and you'll all be in my thoughts and prayers though out the week! Have an awesome day.
Love,
Elder Landon Dean Layton
QUESTIONS:
1- How is your foot?
-It is good! doing well. No complaints! 100 percent!
2- Are you fully recovered from your Malaria?
-Yes! That was only a 2 day thing at most... I am 100 percent with that as well!
3- Who are you teaching?
- I think that I touched on that a little in the letter. Everyone is going good and hoping for some progressing!
4- How many lessons do you teach a week?
- This week we had 11 other lessons taught, 4 lessons in the presents of a member, and 3 lessons given to recent converts and non members. So that makes 18 I believe? Could for sure do better than that!
5- Have you been more organized in your walking?
- Haha a little bit! I have been speaking up more in planning and I make it a little easier on the both of us! The dogs don't bark after the day anymore! Not as loud that is...
6- Still teaching English?
- Yeah! Still teaching English every Wednesday night at 6:00-7:30! People love it! I think... I hope I am doing well!
7- Has the rain slowed down some?
- Oh yeah it has slowed down a ton! But it still gets SUPER nice after around 5:00. Honestly I think that you would be jealous of the weather we get at night time! I have actually wanted a hoodie a couple times... But don't send one haha. Not THAT bad ;)
8- When is the next missionary going home? For an SD card ;)
- Not for a long time... Haha not an american that is. I will for sure send one home when I get the chance! I will keep sending pictures as the connection permits!
9- I am putting a package together for you and have the things you've asked for. Anything else you'd like?
- Oh heck yeah! Whoo! Packages are always good! If you could please send some:
- "Thick and Zesty" spaghetti sauce packets McCormick I believe. Like a lot... Haha those are good. They have a ton of noodles here and tomato paste here so no need to worry about that.
- NO MORE mashed potatoes... I have plenty. And they have them here.
- Pictures of friends and family are always fun to get!
- And just anything else that you can think of that would tickle my fancy :) Not in a weird way...
9- Share with us a cool experience you've had.
- Cool experience... That is a tough one... I did translate for the Leavitt’s in front of the whole Branch this last Sunday! They were asked to bare their testimonies by the branch president and they asked me translate for them. When they asked me I was like "Uhhh......." Haha but I did it and it turned out good! There was once or twice when I couldn't know how to work something and had to kinda make my little own spin to it. Because in French and English it is SO different! Something you say in French, if you were to say it in English or opposite, it wouldn't make any sense. But it went good though! I was proud of myself :)
PICS:
Number 1- Little baby Joseph (named after Joseph Smith) The lighting is horrible so I am hoping you can doctor it up!
Number 2- Elder Ilunga and I at the Amis house that fed us cat and rice! Mmmmmm :)
Mom: BTW I LoVe the FoNt! :) It makes me happy too!
Elder Layton: I thought you might like it. I just got it this morning.
Mom: I have noticed that everyone has the same blue paint on their walls! Is that the only color they sell there? I like the color though! I am going to paint your room that color ;)
Elder Layton: Haha no I would go crazy! That is the color of the walls of my apartment as well. It is everywhere. It is so humid here though that the paint just peals off the walls. I always have paint on my bed that I have to wipe off from my bed! But yeah I will try and find out! It is probably just the cheapest.
Elder Layton: Haha no I would go crazy! That is the color of the walls of my apartment as well. It is everywhere. It is so humid here though that the paint just peals off the walls. I always have paint on my bed that I have to wipe off from my bed! But yeah I will try and find out! It is probably just the cheapest.
We are watching the Olympics right now at the Cyber!Mom: Thank you for the letter! I loved it! You're awesome! SO happy things are going well!
Elder Layton: Oh good! Yeah things are going really well! I figured out how to change the spell check to English so hopefully I will make more sense in my emails! Haha How is everything?
Mom: Things are going really well! Yay, That's always a good thing! Kirk hit our mailbox haha but dad fixed it :) The car was okay too.
Elder Layton: Haha that is funny!! Tell him way to go! And that is good that no harm was done to the car... Gotta love the millers!
Mom: That picture of Baby Joseph is so funny! His eyes are SOOO BIG! He is a doll! I like the highchair too!
Elder Layton: Oh yeah and ps I took what should be around 100 dollars out of my wells fargo card again. I am going to try my mountain america card again but you didn't confirm my pin!
Mom: It is the same pin you know of. Maybe it just doesn't work there? I will keep money in both accounts :)
Elder Layton: Perfect! So what are your plans for the week? anything fun?
Mom: Not really anything special. Just work mostly. OH YA, Shelby's birthday is on Friday !!!!!!
Elder Layton,
Are you on line? I only have a few min. Thought I would say Hi! Wow another week. Time is flying by. When you’re busy it seems like it always flies by! Hope all is well with you. We think about you every day. Work has not slowed down at all which is good. Mission blessings for sure. Football is really starting to ramp up from the little guys to the pro’s. I'll try to keep you posted on the Braves, I have seen them working out in summer weight training. Have not talked to Coach Wall. I’ll have to stop in and tell him hi from you. My fishing trip with Jackson was fun Jackson and I didn’t catch a fish Shelby and Sam caught some. But it was fun. I picked up the interior for the boat, but I’ve hit a wall on the floor rebuild. I need to get back after it. My goal was to try to get in the water this season but the season is slipping away! Maybe I’ll try to have it finished before you get home! Haha.
Keep up the great work! I know that you will!
Love, Dad
Dear Dad,
It was good to hear from you! That is awesome to hear about the football ramping up! I am so jealous that I'm not there. But yeah for sure stop in and tell Coach Wall that I say hi and good luck this season. I will be cheering them on! I have made a schedule and hung it up on my wall in my room! I wanna see some W's! That is good fun. And that is good that you had fun with Jackson, Shelby and Sam! That is rough that you didn't catch any though... But just getting out on the lake sounds worth it! That it too bad that you side swiped the boat! I'm sure it looks better that way ;) Haha but yeah you've got a good year and a half to get it finished! The work here is going well. Still no baptisms... Just working hard! We have some progressing amis though so we are just hoping and praying that we can get them baptized! Thank you for dropping me a line. It means a lot to me! Have a good day and keep working hard at work! I know you would never do anything different! I pray for you and your work every night. Thank you for being such an awesome dad!
Love you son,
Elder Landon Dean Layton
*How funny is that that Landon thought His dad "side swiped" the boat? When what he said was that he's "hit a wall" (figuratively speaking) and has stopped working on the boat. Lol! **Lost in translation!
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