Ramblings from Elder Semken (Senior Missionary in the Mission Office)

3 March 2013

To the families of Missionaries,
    The past two weeks have been extremely busy.  We are going through
a 20% turnover of missionaries in a 5 week span.  On March 23, 2013 we
will have 5 zone leader and one assistant depart.  This represents
most of the skilled and well trained missionaries.  But, thanks to
their great skills they have trained district leaders and other
missionaries to step into the various leadership roles.  Sometimes I
just look and shake my head at what the lord can accomplish to the
teachable.  Their mission president, President Weed, is a man who
receives inspiration in his assignment.  He certainly has the mantle
of his calling.
     I thank you parents and family members to your contribution in
the development of your fine young men.  We are grateful for their
service.
     The new missionaries have developed their language skills
remarkably well.  I am told that their great companion challenge them
to speak while shopping or they will go hungry (not really).  They
have to learn to cook, sleep with a fan on, clean up, wash clothes in
a bucket, no hot showers, I did find one apartment that has hot water.
The water is not really cold, so no harm done.  They learn to take the
advice of drinking 3 liters of water or more every day, take malaria
pills.  Then their is the spiritual lessons to be learned.
      Last week Elder Ounlou was in the mission.  He is an area
Seventy.  I picked him up at the airport and drove him to his hotel.
I asked him what he thought was a major challenge of these people in
Africa, and specifically in West Africa was.  He just responded that
they have to give up many of their traditions.  On monday I visited
with President Weed about his visit and he told me the following:
President Weed and I have spoken about why meeting start late.
Sometimes as long as 20 minutes late.  Well Elder Ounlou said that
they have these tribal customs that all the people have to be in their
places before they make "a Grand Entry". We are the CHIEFs.  They
expect to be noticed and honored for who they are.  They are to be
adorned with gratitude from the members.  Well, this is changing in
the church.  These men are servants, called to serve and not to be
served.  They are learning well.   Next: I have spoken about how women
are an object of possession and are not to have any say-so in decision
making.  They are to keep quiet.  Remember that they have been bought
by their husbands, the dowry has been paid.  Unfortunately this is
still very much in effect.  At a branch meeting Elder Ounlou repeated
his experience with this thought process.  He had been gone for a week
on Church business and when he came home his 4 children told him:  You
are not going to teach the Family Home Evening lesson any more!  Elder
Ounlou looked at his wife and thought to himself, "what insurrection
is this all about."  He ask his children WHY NOT?  They said, because
when you teach the FHE lesson you are just matter of fact, and just
TELL us what we are to do.  While MOM when she teaches we sing songs,
we laugh, we have fun, we get to talk and ask questions, We have a
real good time.  So you don't get to teach the lessons anymore.  Now,
remember what I said above about the status of women and who the
"supposed" chiefs are.  Elder Ounlu quietly said while looking at his
wife,  Oh children, I will receive lessons and instructions from your
mother about how to be a better teacher, will that be ok?
       This was an act of humility on the part of a West African,
someone who is one of them.  The men gasped and couldn't believe that
a man as important as this Elder could be saying something like this.
How could a woman teach a man anything.  The women were very pleased
with his comments, as you might guess and rightfully so.  He was able
to teach in 5 minutes that would take us foreigners and long-time
members about two years or more to get this idea across.
      There are real Pearls of Great Price.
          See you latter.
            Elder Semken