It's interesting how my mindset has changed so much since I got here. I used to think that it'd be a fine thing to introduce tons of money and bulldoze all the cement homes and build a fine new city on top of it, but it brought me to think: What would this fix? Nothing at all. Really, these people don't need those things. They don't even WANT those things. They just want to eat and live and make it by, living simple and unhindered lives. They have a much better sight on the important things than we do as Americans. I wouldn't want to change anything about this place.
As far as filtered water, that's pretty much what I drink. I really enjoy mixing this Foster Clarks drink powder with it. It's way good! Not as good as Kool-aid though... And I'm eating the safest food I can find. We get a lot of free meals, so those are as safe as imaginable, and we typically refrain from street food (except for oranges and bananas, which can be eaten safely). Mosquitoes are kept at bay as best as possible, and I always sleep under my net. I love my little fortress! Keeps those nasty buggers out!
As far as I understand, there are no elephants left in Sierra Leone due to poaching. I think they've been long-driven out. But, we've seen an abundance of monkey. It's way cool! Most people have them as pets or livestock (good eatin' from what I hear). We're planning on buying one this week, and we'll have a man named Bro. Kallon butcher it for us. I can kill a chicken, but I don't have it in me to kill a monkey!
I had never heard about the origin of Bo before (that you shared in your letter, thanks to Wikipedia). There are a LOT of folk tales around here that explain all sorts of things. I'm sure there are many for the name. For example, it's commonly believed here that the name ''Sierra Leone'' (which translates to ''Mountain of the Lions'') comes from when the first people who arrived in Freetown, and heard the tumultuous thunder in the mountains, and thought it was lions roaring up in the heights. After hearing the thunder myself, I don't blame them for thinking that!
As far as packages go, I'm pretty much in love with everything in them. I have yet to try that cheese you sent, because it says I need to refrigerate it after it's opened, and we have no power. So, I'm going to wait on that so I don't have to eat it all at once. ;)
Regarding the hygiene kits that church members sent over here during the war. Jeez, even the ziplock bag that the stuff comes in is valuable! People reuse the crud out of every last plastic bag here, just because it saves 100-200 le. (1.5-3 cents). It's so crazy. Things like that go to good use here. Don't send money, send things like that. They have everything they need, and they have everything figured out. They just live simple lives, living day to day. They don't need, or even WANT an American lifestyle. Sure, they'd like ''nice things,'' but to them, that's not much. It amazes me how much my mind has changed about this place.
It's pretty routine around here right about now. Elder Lancaster has been sick the past two days, so we weren't able to go out. It was cool to have time to just chill, chat, and sleep. But as far as learning experiences go, I've learned that I need to always endure. Two weeks ago was really tough because of how many times we were bounced every day, mostly in part to lousy investigators. But just in this past week, we've found tons of new ones! In the Lord's time, he makes things easy. He says he'll take upon him our burdens and troubles, but he didn't say WHEN. So, in turn, I need to patently bear the burdens I'm called upon to bear, and when he feels I've learned and gained enough from it, he'll lighten them.
Something I love about my mission? Definitely my companion. If we had met at home, I never would have given him a chance, but we have so much in common it's scary! We have a lot of fun out here.
So, regarding the Sword of Laban: It has come to my opinion that the sword strongly represents the gospel of Jesus Christ. Ever since it was acquired by Nephi, it was used in the defense of the people from evil (meaning the Lamanites in most cases). It was handed down from generation to generation, to represent the passing on of the prophets role to defend the people of the church with the Gospel. This is even so all the way down to Joseph Smith. While he didn't literally defend the people with the sword, I find it significant that the sword was selected to accompany the plates in it's place of rest. The ''sword'' that had defended the people for so long was rejected, and the people fell into apostasy, thereby removing the ability to defend by it (the gospel). I see Joseph Smith acquiring the sword as the symbolic departure from apostasy, where a man was once again worthy and ready (and the world was likewise) to again wield the sword of truth and light in defense of evil.
I see it as a symbol of the gospel. You can observe the wielders of the sword after it came into the possession of Nephi; they were all prophets. The prophets were charged with one primary duty: To lead the church in the name of the Lord, and to defend it. So, in times prior, the defense was more literal, but it represents the significant spiritual defense that is necessary. The sword was designated to ''fight evil,'' and the Lord continually blessed the wielder. It also represents the gospel, signifying how the prophets used the word of God to defend the people. As it was handed down, it went through the hands of only righteous prophets (hence how Moroni was in possession of it. We can assume it was handed down with the plates), who continued to use the plates and the sword to defend the people.
Mom and Dad, I liked your thoughts on the sword of Laban also. They're very interesting. I've kind of formed a fascination with religious artifacts. So, I'll ask: Where are the Urim and Thummim? I think I have my own answer to that one. :)
Well, I must move on.Love,
Elder Vaughan
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