Josh Kelley is going to MOZAMBIQUE?? Wow. That's SWEET. That's the first person I know from home that's going to Africa! WOO HOO!! I'm so happy for him! It's funny that you mention foriegn missions running within siblings. Elder Allred is one example, where he and all his brothers served in Africa, and one in Japan. It's crazy. I hope Josh gets to come here. He'd love it.
Also, regarding all of those guys from Washington that are going to Brazil??? That's INSANE!! I'm so glad I'm here in Africa. You know me, I'm not one to follow the crowd. I still think it would have been amazing to serve in Japan, or somewhere else in Asia or the Pacific, but this is my place. I really like it now, and I really like the peers I'm with here. If I had followed my peers, then I would have missed out on this chance that I have to meet new people that I now love so much.
Not sure about the mail strike. I suppose I'll find out this week when I go to Freetown for our conference with Elder Dickson. Mail rarely comes out here to Bo anyways, so don't stress that I haven't received anything yet. This week I'll get more info.
So, you asked about women in Salone society: A man's property. Literally. When a man wants to marry someone, they have to pay a dowry on them, which establishes a "traditional marriage" (in Krio they call it "tying kola"). Basically, you buy your bride. They are second to men, and are to obey their every command without question. While love CAN exist in marriage here, it often leaves. And when it does, they split, just like that. Traditional marriages are just as easy to end as they are to start. Women (along with the children) are often abused and beaten when they don't submit properly.
The role of a woman here is to cook and clean. That's pretty much it. Every day the man comes home expecting his rice to be ready. Most of the time, the family will have already eaten and have saved some for the man. When a family eats together, they usually eat out of a huge dish together, all using their hands. They offer guests (like us) spoons to eat with. So, my companions and I have always shared bowls and drinking cups. It's just how it's done out here.
The role of the family is highly variable. Often, it's simply to provide a place to stay. Rearing and teaching children is not so common. Children are even below women, and must do everything as their parents instruct, for fear of being beaten.
Elder Lancaster and I had the opportunity to intervene with a beating that was going on yesterday. We were approaching the home of a man who has been investigating the church, only to see him beating the crap out of his kid with a "cane" (stick). I ran up to him and snatched the cane out of his hand, and there was nothing for us to say about it. Rather than the lesson we were going to have, we taught him how he should punish his kids, rather than beat the tar out of them. I made him break the cane. It was a very... ugh, just not a fun lesson. He's been taught by missionaries since this mission opened, but he's never come to church. I don't enjoy teaching him, but we can't drop anyone. Did Christ ever drop any of us?
Anyways, glad all is well (if not real cold) at home. I'm so happy to hear about all these mission calls! I'm going to get home and nobody will be there! I'm pleased with that.
Oh, I just finished filling up a 2GB camera card (I know, not very much, but it's hard to snap pics here! It attracts TONS of attention!). I'm going to transfer everything to one of my thumb drives, and send the card home in the next few weeks via pouch. Elder Lancaster told me that Elder Moss in Liberia has successfully done so, so I shall try likewise. There are a few videos on there I'm sure you'll enjoy. I took one ninja-esque video of a man dancing on his veranda to some tribal music across the street from the church. It's priceless.
Thanks for the recipes you've sent! If you want to eat a butterpear (avacado) Salone style, mash it and pour sugar on it. I have yet to try it, but they say it's tasty. They also say papaya is tasty, but I think most of the time it's just nasty. It purely depends on the tree it came from.
Honestly, my budgeting these past two transfers has been crappy. My first transfer I had loads of money to spare because I was extremely careful about it, but not so much this time around... Budgeting is my goal for this week. We just got subsistence, and so now it's time to put it to the test.
The best way to send money (don't worry about it yet. I still have more than 150 bucks) is through Western Union Bank. Although, this Rokel Commercial Bank that we use has started with Visa Debit. However, I do not have any cards in my posession. I had Elder Patterson put them in the mission safe when I arrived so that they would be kept safe. You don't need to send much anyways, because 10 bucks can go a LONG way (like, transportation for 2-3 weeks, or
breakfast for 3 weeks, etc...).
Elder Lancaster and I met a couple Americans and an English woman who were here to help with some humanitarian aide regarding these "fistulas" (can't remember the first name of the ailment) that women out in the villages get. I remember Mr. Stallons taught us about that in high school, so I was really surprised when it actually came in handy to know! It was neat talking to them about it.
So, zone conference is in Freetown is this week with Elder Dickson. I'm sure I'll have lots to say about that next week. :)
Oh, and this week Elder Lancaster and I saw the legendary "Guana." It's a lightning-fast lizard that's about the size of a crocodile. It was sweet. I started chasing it so that I could get a better look at it, and Elder Lancaster thoroughly chastised me for being dumb. He thinks it could have eaten me (such would be said by a person that's about as small as that guana). It was sweet though. People here eat them, and apparently they're delicious.
There's this one rebel from the war that we visited this week (he's messed up in the head HARD CORE). He told us that there was this report on the radio about a white man that went up in the sky and cut a rope holding a giant stone (think asteroid) suspended above the earth. Now, this stone is falling slowly towards the earth. We asked when it would hit, and he said sometime in 2012. We asked where it would it, and he said that the report said "white man country." We asked if that meant America, and he said he wasn't sure, but that if it did that it would destroy at least 57 states! (oh brother) I turned to my companion, "Oh no! That's almost all of them!" This man continued to explain that the worst was yet to come, and that all of the earth would suffer from 5 years of continual darkness afterwards. He was mad, because "if something is fearful, you shouldn't tamper with it!" (referring to the white man that cut the rope...loosely translated). Oh it was funny!
I think it's interesting that everyone writes me "pick you up and get you going" letters. I'm just dandy here! Nothing to truly trouble me, and I'm having fun. Sure, I miss home, but that's a tiny emotion here. Encouragement is good, but I'm not down on myself at all. I love this mission to death. :)
Alright, time to split. Love you! and miss you lots!
Love,
Elder Vaughan
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