Back in Yakro

Together for the elections

Elders Halvorsen and Legere - they were companions in the MTC

Bus ride back to Yamoussoukra

The Yakro Zone

I really don't think that Forman is going home early Mom... I'm pretty sure it's just Legere. Unless Forman didn't tell me the whole truth.. Maybe he is I have no idea... That'll be cool to see pics of Jerman's mission! I miss the kid a ton... I hope he's gotten home well and already up to speed... (Even if I know he's not... Lol) And Adam's has been home for TWO WHOLE MONTHS now! That's just insane to think about.

The Elections were INCREDIBLY calm. The army put their power in the most dangerous places and there weren't any breakouts! It was great. We stayed in the apartment for four days I think... THat really wasn't that fun and it was super boring, but we threw Cruz's football aroud on the roof, (Blake knows I suck at football and I most definitely threw it off our four story building...) We played a game like Sorry and we had UNO. We did two hour group study sessions every night and had tomato sauce with rice.... EVERY MEAL! It was bombin. lol! We all got along very well and we're all better friends because of it. I got to know Elder Cunnigham and I love that kid to death now. Lol!

Yes I'm in Yamoussoukro again. I MISSED IT SO BAD! When President told me I was going to go back up I literally screamed and jumped for joy. Guess I forgot the horrible bus ride... Lol! That wasn't fun. The "Second tunr" will be the 21st. I think I head back down there to do that... Fun times... I'm all over the place. I don't know if the guy was baptised or not. I tried getting a hold of Cruz but he didn't answer. I'm gonna call again to find out tonight.

Sounds like the Hawks are doing horrible this year... Lol! Guess we'll lose our football team soon too like we did the Sonics... Lol!

That'd be awesome if Blake was in the same class that Kirtley teaches! That sounds super exciting for Blake! Also JESSICA IS GONNA SERVE A MISSION?!?!? Where did that come from? That's really random but at the same time that's really cool that she wants to get out there. I encourage her and wish her the best of luck!

Well this week really wasn't too excting. We found our the elections were posted for the 28th and now they're for the 21st... That kind of ruins our plans of sending me back up here cause I think I'll be sent right back down to Abidjan soon... I'm not too sure how that is gonna work out.

So the "Gathering of Strangers" was fun, when we all went to that apartment. We killed thousands of cockroaches, ate the same thing morning till night, (until our gas ran out of course. and go figure, it was the day we weren't allowed to go out of the apartment... Lol!) We really did have a good time together and all went smoothly. Then President called and said we could go back to Yamoussoukro. That made me REALLY happy. So we took the bus, (five hours again) and got there in the night. Everyone was so happy to see me again and I them! I watched the conference finally and I really enjoyed that. I always like when it comes out in English in the Liahona because in the Translations so much is lost, especially the jokes... There were a ton of good talks that I really appreciated. Many good ones that helped the branch like the Free Agency and the Holy Ghost that was mentioned in many talks.

Then today we've been running around trying to get the Kokrenou missionnaries into their new apartment and sending off a misisonnary to Abidjan and receiving two new ones... It's just been hectic since we got back. But we're starting up the teaching again and getting back into the swing of things. Well I'm sending some pictures again. Three at Abidjan, in front of the church, last pic with Jerman, (take that pic off his camera too cause mine is blurry) and also with Elder Legere. then two on the bus heading up north and then the zone of Yakro after the Conference.

I love you all so very much. I thank you all for all that you do for me! I can't wait to get to talk to you guys REALLY soon!

Elder Halvorsen

Lock down and Typhoid recovery

I'm feeling much better. I took the medicine and I've been getting a lot of sleep. I took antibiotics and got these shots in my legs that took care of the disease. That was the treatment I received with the IV. Not much has gone on in the last week. Just did door to door, I slept a lot and I've been drinking a lot of filtered water. I'm not too excited for the once-over thing... But I'll be able to handle it. I didn't break into cold sweats and go into fainting fits when they gave me the shots and the IV. So that's a little improvement.

The apartment is interesting. We have these debates every night that aren't exciting... I try to catch a little "healing sleep" during this time. I'm loving Bertoch and the other American's. It's been forever since I've spoken so much English. Lol! Didn't speak it at all at Yakro... The people in my apartment are The Elder's Bertoch, Cruz, Cunningham, Carver, Leach, Mbunga, Ntumba, Muteba, Koussemou, Rambolosen, and Lamboni. We're all foreigners to the Côte D'Ivoire. It's interesting... six americans, Three congolais, one beninois, one togolese, and one Malagesh. It's a good apartment. We play a lot of Uno and a game that's like sorry. And we talk a lot...

But really that's all that's been going on in the week. I'm going to go back with President to the hospital to get another blood test just to see if my system is clean of the Fever. Know that president is taking really good care of me so you don't have to worry about my health. President is doing his best. He's definitely improved from when I first came into the mission. He's almost done with his mission actually. He'll finish in June. The new president will be announced in February.

That's about it for this week. It rained a lot, I slept a lot, I talked a lot with the Americans and played a lot of UNO and that's about it. The pre-régroupement isn't that exciting... I'm actually counting the days till I can go back to Yakro and do normal missionary work again...

ACTUALLY this is really cool. Bertoch and I started doing Door to door when we first came into the sector and our first door we knocked on was GOLDEN! We've taught him two times, he's accepted the BOM and he's come to church AND getting baptised this saturday if there aren't any problems with the elections! That's a great experience Bertoch and I will have shared together during this gathering thing. And Sunday was weird cause we had like Thirty six missionaries at church... I got to talk a lot to Guillory. He's going home this Thursday and So is Jerman. Then Elder Legere is going home the 17th of December... Then it's us. I haven't got my flight plans yet but i'll let you guys know when I do.


I love you all and miss you a lot!

Elder Halvorsen

Don't like these kinds of letters!!

• I'm in Abidjan. The Assistants came and picked me up... For a special reason which I will tell you about later. My luggage is American Tourist and it's lasted really well actually. All three of them. They are good bags. There's a couple little things that broke. but nothing big. They work just fine. The black bear sounds cool. Sounds like he's been there a ton of times... And with the hotel President and the Lycee Scientifque. We were between the two.
  

So this last week wasn't at all great... I got......................... TYPHOID FEVER!!!! How cool is that? [His father and I don't think it's very cool!] I've had Malaria AND Typhoid! I spent a good three days in the hospital with a temperature of 40 degrees celsius. My body was sore all over and I started throwing up wednesday night. It was just wonderful. The whole zone came to visit me. I'm feeling fine of course now. I'm taking it a little slow so don't worry about my health.

Since I spent most of the week in my bed, I don't really have any experiences... Other then now I'm in the sector called Riviera. It's a very safe location in Abidjan. I'm in the apartment with Elder Cruz and Elder Lamboni. We will have 12 missionnaries total in the apartment tonight. I'm the Zone leader for the apartment with Elder Bertoch. The two congolese Elder's that were in my zone at Yakro will be coming so that's good.
And we wonder why he's not sick more often!!??!!??

That's about it. I have one question. Do you guys know Alpha Blondy? Apparently his house is just next to our apartment.

Yakro smells like Missouri??

I don't know why it sent three times... I sent it ONCE with TEN pictures. I never sent it again... That's really strange... But whatever.

I'm really not thin. I suck it in so I'm starting to do some exercises now. That picture is the top part of the dome only. Not the whole thing. I took a picture on bottom too but didn't send it. Last computer was terrible. There is only EVER one white missionnary in Yakro and only as zone leader. So it's really a great privilège to be here and experience life here.

For Dad, There is a Hotel that they call the Hotel Député that is behind our house. There is a place called Cent logements that is right next to us. They look like organised apartments. Then there's a big saucer thing. We're between that and the cent logements. We're on the Carrefour AdÏ. I don't know if that'll show up...

The Ivoiriens LOVE americans. Their style, music, and many other things come from there. I'm not even kidding, Michael Jackson is more famous here than in America. And Celine Dione. (I know she's canadian but still.)

The elections are just elections. We've seen some of the candidates pass in cars but nothing too crazy. The work is going good. Looks like we have three baptisms this week.

The [mission] couple NEVER come up here and I'll tell you why AFTER the mission. : ) I see The Président just like in Togo and Benin maybe every six weeks. Health is fine. I eat too much. We shop at the Grand Marché near a place called Habitat that is just in front of the Présidence. Compy is great. Getting along.

The idea of flying down works. I LOVE flying. To fly from Benin to CI was too short... Lol! I don't know why I like it so much... I've gotta give Blake some stuff so that works out for me. Also I like the idea of going down there and giving out some resumés. That really seems like a good advantage for me.

Alright for this week I brought my plannner! So here goes.

This is a random thing. It smells like Missouri here. But... It's WAY hotter. Lol! And speaking of heat. There was this one day... DANG! I was sitting in front of the fan... I went and took a shower then went outside... IN THE SHADE I WAS BURNING/ It was like I was in the sun but I was still in the shade... It was ridiculous... WHAT? the keyboard just changed to qwerty and I m really lost... alright, so real quick now. there are a lot of fireflies here! they^re really pretty, they light up everything at night.

A quick thing for Blake. Don^t send him with the skinny dress socks. they^re worthless on a walking mission. I burned holes in the pairs you sent me in two weeks, Gold toes are going strong.

well that is about it for this week. sorry wasn^t much. Love you all BEAUCOUP!

Elder Halvorsen

Touring Yamoussoukro

Pictures!!

I already bought new sheets so the bed bugs shouldn't be a problem anymore. Sounds like the trip was a success. I can't believe that Grandpa is really 90 years old. There isn't a missionary couple here at Yamoussoukro. There's just Elder Dago and Elder Halvorsen. We take care of everything here at Yakro...

Well this screen just popped up with a virus warning of a ton of viruses so I don't think I'll be able to load anymore pictures until the end of my mission... I don't know if it's my card or the computer. It loaded one and then it was finished. They don't take care of their computers so there are tons of viruses on them. Ya it's not even loading anymore. Hey! It's loading! Ok. So again I forgot my planner at the apartment so I'm just going to try to list stuff off the top of my head.

So we went to the Foundation, and the Cathedral like I said Monday night. I'm sending you guys some pictures. We had our mission conference last week with president. It was good and interesting. We also had two missionnary fire sides and they were successful and the leaders here of the District of Yakro got lectured hardcore by president... Lol! It was very needed.

I hate when I forget my planner... It's my guide for monday... Well the computer loads and then stops, then loads and then stops so I don't know what's up.

well since I forgot my planner I don't really have much to say... So I'll just try to send all my photos and then I'll write what happened this week next week...

There's no birthday's that I missed are there? Lol!

Love you and miss you!

Elder Halvorsen

Bed bugs and touring the city

Well I don't have much time so I'm just going to say a couple of things. Atiéké is the cassava stuff. Had it again today. Lol! I think I've missed one day since I've been here. Getting plenty to eat. Ne t'inquiète pas. [do not worry] I took [Elder] Bowman's place. We have two baptismal dates fixed with a possible 6 total.

Health is fine except for the stupid bed bugs. I bought two sheets cause I left mine in Togo cause I knew I left the second NEW pair in Abidjan but they gave those to another person. So I bought USED sheets (behold the problem.) and now I have bug bites all over. I wash the sheets once a week. THe bites are starting to go down. Mosquitos aren't bad. There are no crocodiles in the streets. Lol! In fact we were just there thirty minutes ago to go see the crocs, but the President of Côte D'Ivoire JUST drove up with a convoy of military so they chased us off. I took some far off pics but they're not great.

Ya the roads are gigantic and the most of them are paved. There are not a TON of bicycles. It's just some people and old muslims that have them. Lol. The two former missionaries that I met are not in my branch, but they're in the same building and live next door, so I see them once or twice a week. Elder N'Dri gave us a ton of food to eat! Love Mangez-vous. (Eating appointment) : )

Members work with us sometimes but not often starting this week because of school... Everyone gets super occupied by that life. So our numbers of lessons with members will drop. They took a hit last week.

So Just so you guys know, the elections for Côte D'Ivoire are coming up the 31 october and they happen at Yamoussoukro. Just for safety precautions I'm going to Abidjan the 25 october until the 8th november or longer if there is a problem at Yakro. But really there is nothing to worry about. It's just for the non-ivorians. I'm going down with the two congo elder's that are here, Mbunga and Muteba as well. I'll see Guillory and Legere! I'm excited for that.

So today was the best P-Day ever. We went to the foundation and the Catholic cathedral. THE THING IS FREAKING HUGE! I don't have time to send you guys a picture but I will send one next week. It was really amazing to get to see all of that. We went as a zone and took a ton of pictures. I'm actually really exhausted cause we walked a lot everywhere... So I'll sleep well tonight, even with bed bugs.

Also wanted to wish HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Chandler! (That feels weird writing that once a week for three weeks now.) I hope all of your guy's birthdays have been great!

Well sorry if I didn't answer all of your questions. I don't have enough time left. Next week I'll have time to send some pics of today's activities.

I love you all and miss you a ton!

Elder Halvorsen