Elder Layton's Poem

"Me and some kids! The one I am holding is named Joseph after Joseph Smith! His family have been members for 7 years and are sealed in the temple. There is also a 2 year old brother named Moroni, not pictured." 

Dear Family,

     Helllo! It is nice to get to email you again after a very short week! That is crazy that you met that kid that got his call here! It really is a small world. Seeing those pictures made me sad that I wasn't there! And that made me smile when I saw the pictures of Lor and Lee and he gave me a shout out! What amazing people!  I still think back to him and I going golfing and eating at Maddox! Me beating him... Had to throw that in there! But that was awesome. That oil that he gave me has accompanied me all throughout Africa! Make sure to give him a shout out from my email as well :) They are great people. And that he will have to take me to Maddox when I get back because I will be craving some prime rib or a country fried steak I’m sure! What an awesome family we have. And it looks and sounds like you are all doing well! And dad finally passed that stone! That is good! I told President that he was dealing with that in my interview with him this passed Tuesday and he said that he heard that that is worse than giving birth! Haha I thought that that was funny. Then he said that I guess men will never know! Which is true I guess.

     So this week has been pretty good! I went to Bé Kpota again on a split with Elder Kent. I didn't sleep over this time and it was only in the morning. Elder Ilunga had to go to a leadership training thing for District leaders with the President so I went on a split with Elder Kent. That went well and was fun to see both areas in Bé Kpota. I hope that that is not a sign that I am going to move there... Their water tastes like someone peed in it before you drink it! Nasty stuff... But yeah that was fun. Elder Kent is a good kid! It's my 7th month out on the mission! That is so crazy am I right!? That is only 17 more months left out in the field.. That is not long at all! It is absolutely insane how fast time is passing out here. Before I know it I will be home eating a steak and taking a warm bath haha. Which reminds me; lately I have been heating water up on the stove and mixing it with the cold water we usually shower with. It makes a nice little warm bath slash shower slash pour warm water on you with a cup haha. It is nice though! It is better that freezing your "little bb's" off in a cold shower! That is a quote from dad right there! Gotta love it. I use quotes from dad all the time on the mission and the Americans I live with think that I am crazy! Like "it's hotter than a mother bear in a rain storm" or "quit piddle dickin' around!" Gotta love it! I do love it. Elder *** also got malaria for like 2 days... He is doing good now! He said that it was the worst pain of his life haha. He makes sure to take his meds now! Which I do ever night, don't worry mom!!

     So there is a lady in our branch who makes the African clothes and dresses and she has made some for the American missionaries and their families! I thought that would be a good idea to do. Bring back some African outfits for the whole family! It is all up to you guys though if you want to do it or not. All I need is the measurements for everyone. I don't know what kind of measurements she just said measurements. I figure you know. I probably won’t do it yet though. I will wait towards the end of my mission so I don't have to carry them around everywhere. But it will never hurt to get a jump start on it or just start thinking about the idea! So let me know if you want to do it. Elder Kitaka did it for his family with the matching patters and it looked really cool! I think it would be cool. So get me your measurements whenever! Like I said, there is no hurry at all. Oh yeah and what is the balance on my Wells Fargo card? Just to know if I need to take any money out for any reason! Thank you :)

     Last Friday night I was sitting outside the hair salon waiting for Elder Ilunga and I got really bored... So I thought that I would write a poem and this is that I came up with:

Sitting here waiting not much going on
Every single day seems like the same old song
Waiting for a change but it won’t seem to come
I don't know why I'm in this day to day slum
Walking for hours with sometimes nothing to show
With what kind of purpose? I don't even know
Then a thought comes to mind that I seemed to forget
"Go preach the gospel, whatever circumstances permit"
My sitting and waiting does not go to waste
With persistence and love, this message embraced
That "same old song" seems not so mundane
"I will go, I will do" was the song that I sang
The change which I'm waiting is already there
To the people of Africa, my testimony I'll bare
For that "day to day slum", I'm not to complain
No matter the continent the Gospel of Christ is the same
With faith, hope, charity and love this work will go forth
To every ear in the South, all the way up to the North
Sometimes it not easy, and I'll want to give in
But I'll work hard and push through, do it all with a grin
Christ is my Savior and with no doubt in my mind
If I pray for his help I will never walk blind
There are just words, not much they can do
But I know in my heart that every last one of them's true

So yeah there is my inner poet coming out right there! Haha I guess you could say that I got tired of sitting and needed to do something other than stare at my feet! But yeah all in all this week was a good week! Good things happening here in Africa. I love you all and I can't wait to hear back from you as I can't every other week! Have a great day and week! I love you all so much!

Love your son, Elder Landon Dean Layton!

Questions:

1- How is your planter wart?
     - It is going good! Just keep putting mole skin on it and keeping it dry like you said!

2- When you can we want to see a pic of you doing your laundry.
     - Oh yeah I always forget... I will try and do that this week! 

3- What else do you do on your p-day besides laundry and email?
     - We clean a lot, just kind of hang out, teach towards the end of the day, kind of a day to just chill! I finally washed my sheets after awhile haha

4- How is your teaching English coming along?
     - It is good! I really like it a lot! It lets me know how much I want to teach French and coach when I get back.

5- What have you been eating for lunch and dinner now that the spaghetti is in Benin?
     - I eat Rice and beans and spaghetti almost everyday haha. And a TON of avocado sandwhiches! I love those now.

Avocado Sandwich