So, C.J. is still in Bata. Two transfers have gone by and he's still there which will make his Illongo pretty firm. He's now with Elder Scott (no pics yet) who was just made District Leader. The district was just divided and there are 6 missionaries in his district presently. It seem the favorite zone activity is bowling (see pic). I haven't been able to get out of C.J. any other favorite sports there. After refusing to take an ipod with church music with him (fear that it wouldn't be okay) he is now asking for CD's. He can't find a player there so now he wants a player. I think an ipod would be much easier. The missionaries listen to a lot of EFY music.
There have been ups and downs with investigators. One investigator said she'd prayed and prayed and didn't know if the Book of Mormon was true or Joseph Smith was true. C.J. encouraged her to pray about the Book of Mormon, and if she felt that was true, then it would follow that so was Joseph Smith. She did that, and had success and now is getting baptized. He also has a 13 year old boy he really likes, but his family has pressured him too much to stop with the discussions. When the boy told him, he was hurt so much he cried all the way home. He prayed, and felt the confirmation that the boy would receive another opportunity in the future.
He recently taught a girl that lives next to a baptist church. During a discussion the baptist minister came in and tried to stump the elders with questions. C.J. says "Elder Scott pretty much destroyed him." He finally gave up and left and the experience left the girl with a very distinct feeling. Unfortunately, her grandma has pressured her to quit the discussions and so she has. He's also been teaching a 19 year old boy that has struggled with Joseph Smith. Once again, he asked the boy to pray about the Book of Mormon and if he felt it was true, then it follows that Joseph Smith is a prophet. It worked and he's being baptized.
A few weeks ago I got C.J.'s e-mail and I was on the computer and messaged him right back and told him how much I loved him. He responded right away with a LOVE YOU TOOOOO!!!LLLLOOOOOVVVVVEEEE YYYYOOOOUUUULLLLOOOOOOTTTTSSSS!!!!. It made my evening, although I got pretty emotional.
Last week, C.J. told us in his e-mail that he'd been sick. It's hard as a mother to know that your child is sick, but you are too far away to do anything. I read his e-mail and cried. I felt pretty helpless. I guess it's times like this that you have to just trust in Heavenly Father. After all, he's there doing His work and it would be impossible that he would forsake him when he needs him, especially to continue to carry out that work. Anyways, he had been running a fever 104. He was throwing up, LBM's, backache, chest pains, etc. He was taken to the AP's apartment and spent three days at the mission home. I suspect he's doing better now. They did take him to the doctor and fortunately it wasn't Dengue. I'm chomping at the bit waiting for Sunday evenings e-mail so that I can be sure he's better. I could call the mission president, but he might send C.J. to Panay :) j/k
PICS: Family that was baptized, bowling with the district, the basement of a museum they were cleaning for their service project.
