Regroupment...again!

Everything is going well for us. We're all going a little crazy, being crammed in an apartment with 15 other Elders for a week and almost a half now, but everything is fine. We haven't seen anything crazy We listen to the radio and we're always on top of what happens. The couple watches out for us all the time and everything is going fine. We've planned really well for our apartment and I don't think anything bad will happen.

That's cool you got to do all that stuff in Utah with the old missionnaries. I can't believe everyone in the ward is taking off in different directions. I know it's kinda difficult for me to say this since I don't have children, but really try not to worry too much about Blake. Where he is giong, he will be protected not only 24/7 by the church, but also by the Lord. I've never once in my mission felt unsafe. I feel that I have really gained confidence in myself on my mission but more importantly I've gained an unbreakable bond of confidence in my Savior and my God. Really there is nothing to fear and all is made clear to those that might find themselves in dangerous situations.

I'm doing fine and we've just been eating, playing games, sleeping, and talking. It's fine really. I can't keep doing this for the rest of my life but I know that this will pass. President always has a plan for us and watches over us very closely. I wouldn't go to the trouble of writing Salt Lake. I have faith in President Ayekoue and I know that it's him that receives the revelation needed in this mission. There's really nothing to worry about.

So just really quickly, I'm so happy that Blake is taking off soon. It's an experience unlike any other. Congratulations and make it the best you can. I wrote you a bit already so I won't say any more. We've been eating a lot of rice with tomato sauce. And playing games. And talking and sleeping. We're all really close now.

Here's a [couple of] pictures. One with the 15 and one with Elder Cannon and I. You can use the one with the 15 for the Christmas card. Because of the situation, we couldn't really do anything about a Christmas theme... Sorry...

Love you all and I'm doing well! Thank you for your prayers and all the support you give me.

Elder Halvorsen

Shampooing again, bats and regroupment

I loved the scam email! lol! Sounds like something I heard here before> LoL! The pre-régroupement is going very well. we were allowed to write really quick. I'm actually writing this at the mission office cause it's close to my apartment and we had to come by to take care of some things anyways. it all worked out! we have to go back and rest in the apartment in a couple of minutes anyways so Elder fisiihoi and I are getting ready to take off. I'm with Elder Fisiihoi now. He's from New Zealand! He says it's not that cool there Dad. Lol! But if you wanna go anyways he'll show you everything you want to.

So just a couple of little things then I gotta go.

IN Cocody (where I am) there are MILLIONS of bats that fly at night from five to nine! It's really cool lookin', I tried to take a video but we'll see if it turns out on the camera.

And this is SO COOL! I bought and used shampoo for the first time in FOUR MONTHS! My hair is soft again! I seriously thought it was because of the sun, not the shampoo... Good times in Africa.

I've decided what I want to do for work also! Let's just say there's a lot to talk about when I get home! I had my click mark yesterday! Exactly two months! I saw I got my ticket changed for the 28th too! Cloward is ticked cause he's the only one going home the 4th of February. LOL!

Well Cloward is telling me to get off his computer so I'm gonnq tqke off. I love you all and I'll wish good luck to Blake next week. Can't believe it's that close!

Elder Halvorsen

Letter from Gublers

(Below is a letter written from Elder and Sister Gubler, a couple serving in the Ivory Coast. The final elections are taking place in the Ivory Coast and the Mission is taking the necessary precautions to keep our boys safe.)

Bonjour! This is just a quick update regarding the elections coming up this
Sunday, again. Precautions are in the works with the regroupment plan being
implemented Saturday through Wednesday. The President is monitoring the
situation, and will adapt that either longer or go to a different plan. He
has asked all the missionaries to be prepared w/a 72 hour bag ready to go,
and that each regroupment apartment have adequate supplies for a longer
duration if necessary.

Keep the people of Cote D'Ivoire in your prayers: that they will be willing
to remember their past and not repeat it, that they will be willing to
accept disappointment graciously (because obviously close to half will be
disappointed), and that the right person will be elected to lead these
people in peaceful ways.

We are looking forward to the Southams coming to the mission soon. Truly
they are needed. What a blessing it is to have someone WANT to return to
serve. We hope we get to meet them, but don't know how all that works yet.

It was fun for us to have 'thanksgiving dinner' with a few of the elders
today. Elders Halvorsen, Cruz, Fisiihoi, and Lamboni took us to a little
restaurant for hamburgers, chawarma, or pizza. The best part of the meal
was just being with them. I am curious to hear from the others what, if
anything, they were able to do. They are all wonderful, wonderful young
men. We feel so blessed to be here with them. We hope your Thanksgiving
was terrific as well.

Tons of love,
Elder & Soeur Gubler

Back in Abidjan

Well.. .First off I'm no longer at Yamoussoukro... I was transferred last night at 10, I woke up this morning, got on the bus at 9:30, got off at 3... And now I'm writing you guys from my new sector in Abidjan, Cocody at 5... Lol! It's been a really long day... So there is a lot of stuff in your guy's letter. Cassava just looks like bread crumbs... MAybe it's not the same cassava... Sounds like an interesting place. Never had anything like Hallo-hao*llo? Sounds good though. Ya Cloward is AP. Write to sister Gubler. Apparently Cloward has typhoid and will be going to the hospital. Jessica just got back from Italy and now she's going back there. Lol! That's really cool though! Health is great. I'm already in Abidjan and in the safest sector and here to stay. I haven't really studied the temple too much on my mission, but i really miss it... Haven't been for almost two years... There's a lot of things I need to learn. Sorry I don't really have much time tonight. So I gotta write really quick. Ya they did the manual training thing too. They've already done a training, but they'll do it again I'm sure.

So just a couple of quick things. Blake. At the MTC Laminate the front and back covers of your preach my gospel in your mission language! DO IT! Or you'll lose them. I used tape to keep mine on.

We got a SURPRISE zone conference last week. That KILLED us. The assistants called, Hey! Conference tomorrow! Lol! Nothing was ready. We struggled to throw things together at the last minute and it all worked out. President Ayekoue is up to date on the idea of me coming home early. You could write him directly too. That'dprobably be easier actually.

That was the week and............................ HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! You thought I forgot! : ) You know what's sad... I don't know how old you and Dad are... SO I jsut tell people, oh. 40-50? Somewhere in there. Lol!

Sorry about the shortness!

Love you all and I hope Blake's ready for NEXT WEEK! Dang that's insane..

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