Hello Family!
It's been far too long since I've sent my handwriting home! My deepest apologies. There is much to be done in daily life around here, so time to write is scarce. Well, okay, time is there, but there is a lot of cooking/sleeping that goes on. We work our buns off out here. With 9 hours of proselyting, we usually get about 5 hours of teaching, which means 4 hours of walking. Do the math at "missionary speed" (as Festus calls it), we pull about anywhere between 10 - 16 miles per day.
An astute reader will notice that this is Wednesday that I am writing, not in fact Monday. Well, today was more of a 16 mile day, and Elder Lancaster and I are getting sick. We called it a day a little early, and we've since acquainted ourselves with the toilets. Runny stomach sucks, but it's not the worst thing that can happen. Salone does some pretty brutal things to us. EVERYTHING breaks, spoils or gets sick in a flash. It's completely astounding.
You'll be comforted to know that the Lord takes great care of us. He certainly doesn't remove our burdens, but just as certain he makes them lighter. Things are great here, in spite of all the hardship we face. It's just life for me now, so it's manageable.
It's interesting just how much my opinions and ideas about this place have changed. When I first got here, I wanted to bulldoze everything and rebuild from the ground up. Now, I don't want to move a single stone out of its place. The people here are blissfully happy and unaware of any other way to live. They see America on TV and can't comprehend it, just as you cannot comprehend West Africa.
I was fortunate to witness something pretty awesome yesterday. Here in Salone, we have the dreaded, and highly venomous black cobra. EVERYONE here is absolutely HORRIFIED of snakes. The moment someone sees one, they flee, screaming in terror. Not only do they flee, but they return with friends to destroy the cobra, usually by stoning them or beating them with long poles. After the cobra is sufficiently dead, they burn it. Even a dead cobra can kill.
This is exactly what Elder Lancaster and I were privileged to watch. We were sitting with a recent convert when we heard someone scream out bloody murder. A cobra had managed it's way into the ceiling of the bathhouse where this woman happened to be doing her business. A five foot black cobra. She did exactly as I described before; screamed, ran, and returned with friends. Like, twenty friends. Apparently the cobra had slithered down onto her as she was washing herself. Can you imagine the sheer horror?!
I saw a very powerful parable in this. Cobra = Satan. From there, it's easy to fill in the blanks. Satan can get us anytime, anywhere (even, or perhaps especially) when our pants are down! What do we choose to do when he comes? Well, some people pet the cobra, hold it close to them. How could somebody do something so spiritually life-threatening?? When Satan comes, flee. Return with friends, and destroy his influence entirely. Burn him to ashes as even a dead cobra (think "overcome addiction perhaps) can kill. I was just so inspired by how the people came together to destroy something venomous. Why then do the allow others (and themselves) to be bitten by that Great Serpent? Alas, 'tis my only grief: The sins of the people.
Jeremiah suddenly speaks to me a lot more. I can now understand what it is to stand by the wayside and watch wickedness and corruption wash over the people in a seemingly unstoppable tide. In spite of death and hell, we are here. Ha ha ha, somehow we are here, and death and hell cannot and will never prevail against us. We are here making a permanent change.
Oh Mom, if only you could see me now. Would you recognize me? If I spoke to you, would you hear my voice? It's only been just over 4 months, and I'll never be the same again. I've learned so much and now can already see life the way it's supposed to be for me. I can see who I can become. It took more than 19 years to see it, but I guess you saw it all along. I'm here because you never gave up on me. Now, I'm out teaching and loving people the same way, without giving up on them. It's an interesting point of view, but look at all the people here in Africa who will be forever changed because you raised your son proper and never gave up on him! I hope I'm doing you proud Mom. You always told me I did.
Dad, I'm using that shield you taught me to use. Sometimes I'd be content with cobras in my life, and just look at them as occupational hazards of life. Anytime a cobra came into my life, you were there to stone it and burn it regardless of if I cried out for help or not. Sometimes I even had to bear the pain of a venomous bite, but you were there to draw out the poison and mend the wound. I don't know who, where, or how I'd be if you hadn't so completely protected me so diligently. Not here, that much is certain.
Well, I'm having the time of my life here. I love every moment. Any discouraging or despairing thought is immediately dispelled when I think of the friends and family I have here. The thought of giving up any time at all, either with these people or the other Elders is so heart-breaking. I'm so grateful I'm here. I can't imagine trying to belong anywhere else. I fit in better here than I have anywhere else in my life. God knew me when he sent me here. I can be myself and what I will become here.
Okay, enough of the mushy stuff. I have to prove it's still Chris Vaughan here. ;) See, a smiley face! In a life not-so-distant, those are called "emoticons." It's hard for me to not get emotional and grateful whenever I write home. I need a lighter subject...
Aha! So, included in this letter is a camera card. It has most of my pics and videos so far (I deleted the one of Elder Allred killing a chicken, but I kept a copy of it on my thumb drive. Not sure if I'll ever send it home... Hopefully you understand!). Again, apologies for so few. Time to shoot pictures is not plentiful. The first video on there is of Elder Norton and I chatting on the sidelines of the Bo v. Freetown Christmas soccer match. Not too interesting, but I thought you'd like it. The next video is of the Assistants Christmas skit with the senior couples. It's seriously one of the funniest things I've seen. Well, it's really only funny for us Salone Elders. Next is a video of Ramy Tommy performing a song that he composed about the First Vision on his keyboard. It's pretty tight, except for the baby crying in the background... The next video is of the bike ride from home to the internet cafe. I really think you'll like that one. The last video is of some strange man dancing on his veranda across from the chapel. I think I told you about this one. There are also numerous pictures I haven't had occasion to send home, which you'll enjoy. Oh! And MTC pictures. Won't that be a shock... ha ha ha.
Alrighty, time to jet. I love you all so much! The work is rolling forth and I'm loving it! Best wishes and best of luck on everything that happens to anyone at home.
Love,
Elder Chris Vaughan
P.S. Some Krio for you... Matyu 7:20 "Una go no den profet we no de tok tru bay wetin den de du."
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