Transferring Back to Benin!

 "This little girl just came running up to me and stopped,
 looked up at my face, and just stood there...
Long enough that I could get my camera out and take a pic
true haha. If you notice on her forehead, it is super acne.
I don't know why but I have seen that on a
TON of little kids here. I wonder why?"

Dearest Family,

     Well you better get out your Benin flag... Because I'm going to Benin!!! 

I got the call on Saturday and am going to leave here on Thursday morning with the Leavitts to take me to the border, and from there the assistants will take me to my new sector which is Avotrou. I don't know much about the sector or where it is really even at... But I will let you know all about that when I know. So next weeks email will be from Benin! I am pretty sad to leave Togo though... The people here really are so much nicer than Benin people haha if I remember correctly. But yet again, I am so stoked to attack Benin again being able to actually know how to speak French this time!!! I am going to try and see some of my recent converts (if there are still any) and members and I am so excited to actually be able to talk to them and express myself! I don't think that I will be anywhere close to Gbegamemy, but maybe on a p-day I will be able to visit some of them. I will be district leader there, but that doesn't really change anything. Doesn't change the fact that I need to work hard and just continue doing my best.  All I know about my new companion is that he is Ivorian. So I am so excited about that! If you remember how much I loved working with Elder Ouonnebo in Ablogamé. One of my Zone Leaders will be Elder Cline, I don't think that I have talked much about him. He is a more quiet missionary, but he is really nice and fun to talk to! I'm not even sure where he is from... I want to say Kaysville area, but for sure Utah. 

     Sadly, my adventures with Lucas are over... I will not be able to see him get baptized. But I do remember a story about the missionaries from the early church who were mad because other missionaries were baptizing the people that they found but Joseph Smith told them that it isn't who baptizes them who gets the blessings, but who finds them who gets to blessing. So I'm not fazed at all! Sad about it, but that always happens. Something that you get used to I guess. All of our recent coverts are still going strong and doing well, so I am not worried about that. On Thursday I went on a split with Elder McCray over in Hedjzronowoé. I worked with him in the morning, but because of some problems that were going on in another companionship, McCray had to go on a split with another Elder, and I worked with Elder Ouonnebo, who is now in Hedjzronowoé, in his sector! It was just like old times out in Ablogamé. AND we went and saw Adwélè! Her and her mom moved into Elder Ouonnebo's new sector! How funny is that? But we went and talked to her for a long time and it was fun to get caught up. I think that is was meant to be because the very next day I got a call that I was going to Benin! That could be the very last time that I ever see her... Last time that I ever see Togo! AHHHH!!! Oh well, just gotta do the will of the Lord.

    So yeah I can't really tell you about any of my amis that I have because that doesn't really matter anymore... For the Zune, it sounds like Jordan already told you everything about that... Everything you said was right, so no worries. And Jordan told me that you wiped your computer!!!! Is that true?? If that is the case I lost countless hours of downloading, organizing, and placing music over the years... I guess that will give me something to do when I get home... Gotta keep positive thoughts though right? Right.

I am glad that you guys liked the music I sent home! My favorite one is Azonto! Everyone here, and I mean everyone, even the old mammas know that dance from start to finish. Pretty cool huh? I bought some other Togolese music too so we will rock out to that when I get back!

     That's about it for this week... Not much to say. I look forward to write you guys back, and from Benin! It was so good to hear from you and it sounds like the house is coming along great. May Godspeed be with you and have a wonder week!
                                  Love your son,
                                           Elder Landon Dean Layton

"Looks like somebody got a little too excited doing laundry this week... :("

"What's up ladies? Victoria's Secret on the move! I thought you would think
that was funny. Ladies just walk around with bras and
underwear on their head and sell them."

Mom- Yay!!! Thank you for the pictures! They're awesome. Bloody knuckles? Doing laundry? Or did you fall off a curb?? Haha get it? Remember?

Elder- Hahahaha I thought of that story when I took the picture and laughed out loud to myself! Because I didn't have anyone to laugh out loud with me... But yeah I do remember that! It was a big curb mom. But yeah it was laundry.. I did a lot because I don't like being transferred with dirty stuff. (Landon was once in a fight at Centerville Park in high school and came home with bloody knuckles. He TOLD me that he "fell off a curb" at the park... AND I believed him! Found out later that WASN'T the case. So I had to razz him a little!) 

Mom- That's my boy! You are so much like me!!! Doing all that laundry! Do you ever do a little at night not on p-day?

Elder- Yeah I do it every Friday and Monday!

Mom- That's exciting that you're going to Benin! I'm sure that the hardest part is leaving the people! You never know though, you might go back. I guess that's why you make the most of everything at all times AND take lots of pictures too! 

No, I still have ALL of your music on the computer!!! He did wipe it but he backed it up! Duh!!! Silly Jordan.

Elder- Oh my heck silly Jordan. Make sure that you tell her how silly she is! I know I have been taking many pictures!! Don't you worry... And Kate got her mission call!! That is awesome!  Make sure to tell her that I am super proud of her for making the choice to go on a mission, and I know that she is going to do an awesome job there. 

Mom- Yes I will be sure and tell her. 

Adwélè 

Elder- I hope you don't mind but I gave Adwélè 15000cfa to help her out... She was telling me about how she left her backpack in her classroom at school and someone stole 2000cfa from her bag and she said how scared she was that she wouldn't be able to pay for food and buy transport home and to school. So as you can imagine I couldn't just leave here there with a 4 dollar difference making her life suck so bad... So I helped her out a little. I mean I am so blessed, I could help her out a little bit right? She is never one to ask for money though or anything like that. She refused it but I dropped it on the ground and told her that either she had to take it, or someone else is going to come along. I feel like a prayer was answered that night! 

 Mom- That brought tears to my eyes! You did the right thing by helping her out. Thank you for being in tune and for being such a kind young man!! That touched my heart!

Just a little confused on the numbers here... 2000cfa stolen and you gave her 15000cfa. That's only a $4 difference?

Elder- No, 2000cfa is 4 dollars. And the difference is the difference in her life that only 4 dollars made. I gave her 15000cfa ($30) because that's what was with me...