JACQUELINE GOT BAPTIZED!!!! WHOOO!!!

"The famous Akif... saying goodbye to Elder Wolly!"

Dear Family,

     Happy hump day to you too! I am 100 percent with you about how crazy it is that I have been out here on my mission for a YEAR! That makes a whole year that I haven't seen my family, minus Jordan...seeing her at the airport.., played with Lucy, or watched many of my favorite movies... BTW that has been the thing I have missed the most on the mission... Movies... Well not more than my family.. haha.. Just kidding. But yeah can't really wrap my head around the idea either. I am just as shocked as you are! Thank you for all of the pictures! It sounds like you guys had a fun, busy week. 

     I was touched to hear that Scott (our 78 year old neighbor) had passed away. I think that we all know that he is in a much better place, right by the side of Mary. That I can testify of. I was reading in The Book of Mormon and ran across a scripture that I really enjoyed about how we shouldn't really fear death... It was in Mosiah 16: 7,8. "And if Christ had not risen from the dead, or have broken the bands of death that the grave should have no victory, and that death should have no sting, there could have been no resurrection. But there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ. Doesn't that just give you so much comfort? To know that the "sting of death is swallowed up in Christ"? How much comfort we receive from this scripture of loved ones who have passed away, or even for those that fear the physical death that we will all experience. If we live righteously, we have not a worry in the world! Because our loving Savior, Jesus Christ, took that all upon himself for us. We are so blessed! As with Mary, make sure to tell them all that I send my best wished for them and their family. 

 Miller Family visiting from Las Vegas

      I bet that was a treat to have the Vegas Millers in town for some Christmas fun! Uncle Larry is so jacked (jacked= in shape)... Haha how does that even work!? Isn't he like 55 too? I feel like I haven't seen them in a year! (dumb joke). They look like they are all doing well and happy. And the lights at Temple Square looked like a good time too! Looked cold... You guys are probably whining about that... Suck it up! I'll trade ya ;) Jackson, way to be a stud. You did better than I did in my 9th grade district... If I remember correctly I didn't even place haha. But like Lindsay said, it is always good to have a little humbling experiences every once and awhile. He'll be alright. Now he has some time to rest and get ready for next football season huh!? Get that kid working out... I am totally going to live vicariously through Jackson... Starting early can't wait to have my own kid! Dad's playing Santa sgain! That is awesome! And how did he get wrapped up into doing the Vykelles dance party..? Haha I was wondering how that came about. Let me know. If dad came here in that Santa suit, not only would he sweat to death, but people would absolutely FREAK! I can guarantee you that they would think it was a real Santa. I am laughing in my head right now seeing the reactions of little kids here seeing Santa. 

Santa Daddy! Just for Elder Layton

     For me, my week has been SUPER awesome!! First off starting with Tuesday, the Leavitts called me and said that they had 3 packages for me! 

"That's my Christmas door........."

MERRY CHRISTMAS to Elder Layton am I right!? I got the conference talks (which we still have yet to get as a mission), and both of the Christmas packages! Needless to say... I totally didn't wait till Christmas to open them hahaha. But I am glad that I didn't because I wouldn't have been able to put up the decorations on our door! I just decorated our door... Haha with duct tape! I will be sure to send a picture of it... You gotta use what you got I guess am I right? Doesn't look as good as mom’s entry way... But it does the job! People here don't really do anything for Christmas... Not that I have seen yet anyways. But yeah I loved the packages! The watch, wearing it right now, ties are awesome, and everything else was just awesome! Have my little Christmas here in Africa :) I will probably end up giving most of it away to be honest...  I have too much stuff and I can't carry all of it around from apartment to apartment! But hey, nothing wrong with that am I right? I don't think that re-gifting is against the rules here in Africa ;) Loved the packages and everything in them. You guys are easily the best.. Like seriously though. I think that I have said this before, but if my family, was to get in a fight with someone else’s family, it wouldn't even be close! We would win. You guys rock.

"At Jacqueline's Baptism"

     JACQUELINE GOT BAPTIZED!!!! WHOOO!!! After 6 months of teaching, and leaving, and teaching again, and even more marriage issues, she finally made it to the waters of baptism! Through 3 companions, we finally got her! I guess she just decided that her eternal salvation was most important...  But she figured it all out and is now heading in the right direction in her life. And I feel so blessed to have helped her find that pathway. I told her what you told me to tell her, and she said "thank you very much! Thank means a lot." I showed her a picture of all you guys and she said that we had a beautiful family! She also asked what that "castle" was in the picture... aka the temple so that gave us a perfect segue into teaching about temples and eternal marriage. She is doing awesome. AND Agathe is dating the Elders Quorum president in our branch!!! I don't know weather to be jealous or totally stoked! Haha just kidding... But he is a returned missionary that served in Benin, and they are dating now! how awesome is that! They are totally going to get married... How awesome would that be!? I will keep you up on that little love affair going on there :) My convert is going to be endowed! Whoo! Haha.

"Outside of Akif" 

     Well that is just about my week in a nut shell... Oh we did go to Akif to say goodbye to Elder Wolthoff... I will send a picture. That was fun! Make sure to tell him what up for Africa... And that we miss him. Also dad you could punch him in the arm and tell him that it was from me... He always hit me. He would think that was funny. Alright well I think this is where I am going to leave you for today... I love you all so much and I can't wait to talk to you next week! Have a good one, and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

                                                   Love your son,
                                                                  Elder Landon Dean Layton
PS:
    Spaghetti packets are gone... :'( Surprise that snook up on me too... If you could, even in like a little package, the ones that are like 16 bucks, send some again... Haha those have saved me!! Now I gotta go 

back to eating fufu for the time being... ;) McCormick zesty something like that if you forgot... You could throw some alfredo in there too... I am sure you'll hook me up like always :) Love you guys!

Dad: Elder Layton,

Good Morning, are you on line?

Elder- Hey I just got here... We have been running all over Lomé it feels like to
find a cyber that works... How are you doing?

Dad: Good have you read this weeks e-mail yet?

Elder: Yeah I just got done reading it. It was good! I have yet to reply.

Dad: I am doing good. Got my first year end bonus. Which was really
nice! So you read that Scott Dolder passed away. He really went fast after
Mary. He just really wanted to be back with her. Kind of a surprise but at
the same time not really. Mom and I are going to the funeral this morning. I
am doing really good. Like Phil from Duck Dynasty says, " Happy Happy Happy!"  How
are things going there? Man one year down!!! How cool is that? Now you will
start the downhill side. Did you read my message to you last week about no
regrets!?

Last weeks message from Dad:  I am sure you are learning a lot about yourself while out in Africa. A good education is so very important. You want to be able to provide for your family. You are smarter then you know. That’s for sure! I am, as always, so very proud of you and the job you are doing. Just like Football no regrets! You don’t want to be the Missionary who looks back and wishes he would have done more while serving. You only get one shot at being where you are right now doing what you are doing! Keep working hard! Love you more then you know that for sure!

Elder: You got a bonus!? What!? That is awesome! Did you feel like Clark Grizwold when he got the "Jelly of the month club" certificate? Haha or better? It is good to hear that the work is still going good. And I don't know who Phil is from Duck Dynasty... Haha that is a little past my time don't ya think? ;) Haha just kidding! But yeah I did read your email about no regrets and I loved it! I tried to write you back but sometimes the connection and time here is just super bad... But I really liked what you wrote to me, and I couldn't agree more! And I know about the downhill slope that is crazy! Despite the fact that I have felt like I have been on the downhill slope since I got here! The time is going SO FAST!

Dad: Yes I did! I was surprised that is for sure. Missionary Blessings!! Well I felt better then Clark Grizwold!!! Now I've got to think about what to buy!!  Much better than the “Jelly of the Month Club”. Duck Dynasty a reality show about the guys who make and sell duck calls. Rednecks from West Monroe, Louisiana. Rednecks with a lot of money, attractive wives, big beards and just funny to watch! It’s really popular right now on TV here.

 Dad: You are doing well, I can tell. Time flies when you are busy working hard! You will be the most effective missionary this next year! You are reaching full stride! You know how to teach and bring people to Christ and his Restored Gospel! Younger missionaries will start looking to your example because you know how to have success! You can now be bold in testifying of the truth of the message you share! Your Mission President will look to you for leadership! Be the Elder who stands up in all conferences and builds everyone up! Testify of the Love you have for the people who you have been called to teach! Then work to show that your words are not shallow! You are a great leader, you always have been! You are involved in doing what you should be doing! I know you will finish strong! Mom and I are both so proud of the work you are doing! You are a strong Young man. You are a person of high standard!  I am looking forward to the next year excited for everything you will accomplish as a Missionary! I have to run, nice to chat with you. As always I pray for you and those you teach every day!

Love, Dad