It was a super hot day when my companion, Elder Benarex, and I stumbled upon a man sitting outside of his house (the usual look of a house is a 7 foot wall with a door that opens into a compound of rooms surrounding a well underneath a large tree used for shade) on a bench. I remember that he was listening to a political broadcast on the radio next to him. (Elections were coming up and everyone was supporting their candidates and getting ready to cast their votes) As we walked by him, I remember Benarex stopping and hitting me on the shoulder. He walked up to Eli and introduced himself. I remember Eli looking me in the eyes and after I introduced myself, he stuck out his hand to shake mine. I gladly shook his hand and he smiled a little crooked smile (I came to love it). Benarex started talking about what we did as missionaries and we asked if we could come back and teach him and his family about our message. He then said, "My family is at our village but I have a best friend that can hear this too, if that's ok." I was very happy that we would be able to teach both of them. We set up a return appointment to return a few days later.
When we walked to their appointment, I asked Benarex, "What do you hope will happen with these two?" He answered something like, "We'll baptize them and both of their families." I remember saying, "Thats the goal. Lets do all we can." Benarex then stopped and shook my hand very excitedly. (He normally did that when I said or did something that he completely agreed with) We turned to face the street that Eli's place was on and we could already hear the radio. My heart began to pound harder because I was nervous that he wouldn't be there. We couldn't see him on his bench so we were already planning on going to our back up plan as usual when someone stood us up. I was a little discouraged until I heard, "Elda Cwuiz" (For some reason, Africans couldn't really pronounce Cruz) There he was at his compound door with a crooked little smile on his face. He invited us in to his little room that he called a home. It was 15x20 feet and had a couch, a coffee table, a tv, and a bed all crammed in to that little space. The only thing that would separate the bed from the rest of the room was a sheet that stretched from one end of the room to the other. (This was typical in African homes because the children usually slept on the floor or on a "muslim mat" in the "living room") In this crammed room, we waited for Eli's friend, Mensanh, to show up. I remember Eli pouring a drink called "Cocktail des fruits" in four glasses. He said, "Africa is hot. You need sugar. Drink as much as you need." He recognized that I was not from Africa because of my lighter skin, I bet. We taught the first lesson and invited the two to church. They accepted and asked if they needed to wear a white shirt like we did. I told them that they wouldn't be obligated to wear a white shirt but if they had a nice shirt that they were welcome to wear it.
The next Sunday was fast Sunday and we were preparing to welcome our newest investigators to our church building. We didn't have a church like we know it in the states. I could describe it, but a picture only does it justice:
It was an old apartment building that was converted in to a church with classrooms and offices. It was the biggest and most popular church in Togo (LDS Church, that is). I sat between Eli and Mensanh to help them sing the hymn and share my hymnbook with them. After the ceremony, I asked them how they liked church and they both said that they loved it. We set up a return appointment and got to go back early the next week.
This was the day that we challenged them to get baptized. They both accepted and were baptized that weekend. It was an amazing day. The best part about that day was that Eli told me that his wife and kids were coming back from their village in 3 weeks and he wanted us to teach them. He also said that his uncle (A witch doctor) wanted to hear about what we had to say. Eli and Mensanh were baptized and we were now preparing to teach Eli's family.
Eli is on the left and Mensanh the right.
A few weeks passed and Benarex had been transferred. I was with a new companion named Elder BoBi. We were having a lot of success and I loved him to pieces. I remember Eli coming up to us one Sunday asking us to come and eat at his house after church. He said that his wife was going to be cooking him a birthday goat and it should be delicious (It was). I accepted the invitation and then I smacked BoBi on the chest exclaiming, "HIS WIFE IS BACK!" BoBi was not happy because he did not fully understand what that meant. All he knew was that I just smacked the crap out of him. I should have explained but I didn't. I figured that it would be a better surprise. As we walked in to their tiny home, Eli's little girl greeted us and sat us down on their tiny couch. She served us ice cold water and asked if we needed a towel to wipe the sweat from our faces (she just threw towels at us). We had the most delicious and spicy dinner that I have ever eaten. Just after dinner, we were talking about the World Cup that was coming up. Eli's wife was just smiling and laughing at everything we were saying. I think it threw her for a loop that there was a white dude sitting in her home joking with her husband like we were old friends. I looked at her and asked who she was rooting for to win the World Cup. She had a blank look on her face and then Eli explained that she did not understand french. He asked if I wanted him to translate and I declined. I looked at her and I told her, "Mi le dja djo a churchey ce kossidagbe" (Let's go to church this Sunday). She accepted and said that her daughter and son would come too. We were happy to challenge her to baptism as well and their baptisms were scheduled for the next Saturday. Eli got to welcome his entire family in to the church that day. I have never seen anyone as happy as he was.
Eli and his family.
BoBi and I.
I was transferred the next day to Benin and I was not able to say goodbye to Eli and his wonderful family. That hurt me very much but I kind of knew that I would see them again.
After two months in Benin, I was transferred to Cote d'Ivoire and then two months later, we were evacuated from Cote d'Ivoire after their elections turned in to an all out war.
Lewis and I.
I received my transfer call and I was being sent back to Togo. Not only was I going to be back in Togo, but I was going back to my old branch! Eli and his wonderful family were there. I was going to get to see him again! My joy was beyond measure! I remember telling my new companion, Elder Lewis, that we were not going to visit any members except the Branch President until after church on Sunday. I wanted it to be a surprise that I was back in the country. We showed up to church early so we could welcome all of my old friends to church. One member after another greeted me and were delighted that I was back "home". I kept waiting for Eli and his family to show up so I could surprise them. I got in to a conversation with another member and then I heard a loud gasp. I then heard, "Elda Cwuiz!!!" Eli's wife ran up to me and began kissing my cheeks (This means that I have been away for sometime or that I have done something wonderful. No romance in the slightest.) She started to cry and welcomed me "home". That was the best Sunday of my mission. I worked closely with that branch for the next 8 months until I was released as a missionary.
Eli and his wife invited me over to their home to have a last dinner with me before I left. I remember sitting out on their porch with him when he asked, "Can I ask you a question, Elda Cwuiz?" I looked and him and said. "Of course, but this is the last one!" We both laughed for a bit until he got very serious. He looked me in the eyes and said, "There is a temple trip coming up. I want to be sealed to my family but I don't know if we have enough money for all of us to go. What do I do, Elda Cwuiz?" It had been raining for some time and there was a large hole in the middle of their compound filling with water. I looked at him and said, "Look that that tiny stream. See it? Well, we are members in the Lord's church. When we are asked to pay our tithing, we are contributing as much to the church as that little stream is to that large hole. If you have paid your tithing, you can go to the temple. You can go their with your wife and your kids and be together forever. That is the goal. That is what the gospel has given us." He then said, "No, Elda Cwuiz, that is what you have given us." I then put my arm around him and said, "I didn't do anything special. I was just a mouthpiece. In two days, I'll be at home in America and you'll be here. We'll always be brothers. When your son serves a mission, he'll understand what it is that I got the chance to do." He looked at me with tears in his eyes and said, "I'm going to miss you, Elda Cwuiz." "Not as much as I'll miss you, Eli."
Teaching this man and his wife showed me the importance of love. He loved his wife and children. He loved them so much that he took them to Ghana and was sealed with them in the temple. He was there as I flew home and I knew that my mission was complete. It wasn't until then that I felt like I was a successful missionary. It is because of that man and his family that I felt at peace when I was released my by Stake President. I always think of him and his family. Heck, when I am sad I look at his little smile and remember the wonderful conversations that we had together.
A mission is a wonderful thing. Mine has changed me. I can only imagine what kind of things are in store for me after everything that I have learned and overcome.
That is my post! If you liked it, Awesome! If not, that's cool too. No negative comments, please. I will always accept positive ones.
~Brandon :) (Elda Cwuiz used to be my name)
When we walked to their appointment, I asked Benarex, "What do you hope will happen with these two?" He answered something like, "We'll baptize them and both of their families." I remember saying, "Thats the goal. Lets do all we can." Benarex then stopped and shook my hand very excitedly. (He normally did that when I said or did something that he completely agreed with) We turned to face the street that Eli's place was on and we could already hear the radio. My heart began to pound harder because I was nervous that he wouldn't be there. We couldn't see him on his bench so we were already planning on going to our back up plan as usual when someone stood us up. I was a little discouraged until I heard, "Elda Cwuiz" (For some reason, Africans couldn't really pronounce Cruz) There he was at his compound door with a crooked little smile on his face. He invited us in to his little room that he called a home. It was 15x20 feet and had a couch, a coffee table, a tv, and a bed all crammed in to that little space. The only thing that would separate the bed from the rest of the room was a sheet that stretched from one end of the room to the other. (This was typical in African homes because the children usually slept on the floor or on a "muslim mat" in the "living room") In this crammed room, we waited for Eli's friend, Mensanh, to show up. I remember Eli pouring a drink called "Cocktail des fruits" in four glasses. He said, "Africa is hot. You need sugar. Drink as much as you need." He recognized that I was not from Africa because of my lighter skin, I bet. We taught the first lesson and invited the two to church. They accepted and asked if they needed to wear a white shirt like we did. I told them that they wouldn't be obligated to wear a white shirt but if they had a nice shirt that they were welcome to wear it.
The next Sunday was fast Sunday and we were preparing to welcome our newest investigators to our church building. We didn't have a church like we know it in the states. I could describe it, but a picture only does it justice:
This was the day that we challenged them to get baptized. They both accepted and were baptized that weekend. It was an amazing day. The best part about that day was that Eli told me that his wife and kids were coming back from their village in 3 weeks and he wanted us to teach them. He also said that his uncle (A witch doctor) wanted to hear about what we had to say. Eli and Mensanh were baptized and we were now preparing to teach Eli's family.
A few weeks passed and Benarex had been transferred. I was with a new companion named Elder BoBi. We were having a lot of success and I loved him to pieces. I remember Eli coming up to us one Sunday asking us to come and eat at his house after church. He said that his wife was going to be cooking him a birthday goat and it should be delicious (It was). I accepted the invitation and then I smacked BoBi on the chest exclaiming, "HIS WIFE IS BACK!" BoBi was not happy because he did not fully understand what that meant. All he knew was that I just smacked the crap out of him. I should have explained but I didn't. I figured that it would be a better surprise. As we walked in to their tiny home, Eli's little girl greeted us and sat us down on their tiny couch. She served us ice cold water and asked if we needed a towel to wipe the sweat from our faces (she just threw towels at us). We had the most delicious and spicy dinner that I have ever eaten. Just after dinner, we were talking about the World Cup that was coming up. Eli's wife was just smiling and laughing at everything we were saying. I think it threw her for a loop that there was a white dude sitting in her home joking with her husband like we were old friends. I looked at her and asked who she was rooting for to win the World Cup. She had a blank look on her face and then Eli explained that she did not understand french. He asked if I wanted him to translate and I declined. I looked at her and I told her, "Mi le dja djo a churchey ce kossidagbe" (Let's go to church this Sunday). She accepted and said that her daughter and son would come too. We were happy to challenge her to baptism as well and their baptisms were scheduled for the next Saturday. Eli got to welcome his entire family in to the church that day. I have never seen anyone as happy as he was.
I was transferred the next day to Benin and I was not able to say goodbye to Eli and his wonderful family. That hurt me very much but I kind of knew that I would see them again.
After two months in Benin, I was transferred to Cote d'Ivoire and then two months later, we were evacuated from Cote d'Ivoire after their elections turned in to an all out war.
I received my transfer call and I was being sent back to Togo. Not only was I going to be back in Togo, but I was going back to my old branch! Eli and his wonderful family were there. I was going to get to see him again! My joy was beyond measure! I remember telling my new companion, Elder Lewis, that we were not going to visit any members except the Branch President until after church on Sunday. I wanted it to be a surprise that I was back in the country. We showed up to church early so we could welcome all of my old friends to church. One member after another greeted me and were delighted that I was back "home". I kept waiting for Eli and his family to show up so I could surprise them. I got in to a conversation with another member and then I heard a loud gasp. I then heard, "Elda Cwuiz!!!" Eli's wife ran up to me and began kissing my cheeks (This means that I have been away for sometime or that I have done something wonderful. No romance in the slightest.) She started to cry and welcomed me "home". That was the best Sunday of my mission. I worked closely with that branch for the next 8 months until I was released as a missionary.
Eli and his wife invited me over to their home to have a last dinner with me before I left. I remember sitting out on their porch with him when he asked, "Can I ask you a question, Elda Cwuiz?" I looked and him and said. "Of course, but this is the last one!" We both laughed for a bit until he got very serious. He looked me in the eyes and said, "There is a temple trip coming up. I want to be sealed to my family but I don't know if we have enough money for all of us to go. What do I do, Elda Cwuiz?" It had been raining for some time and there was a large hole in the middle of their compound filling with water. I looked at him and said, "Look that that tiny stream. See it? Well, we are members in the Lord's church. When we are asked to pay our tithing, we are contributing as much to the church as that little stream is to that large hole. If you have paid your tithing, you can go to the temple. You can go their with your wife and your kids and be together forever. That is the goal. That is what the gospel has given us." He then said, "No, Elda Cwuiz, that is what you have given us." I then put my arm around him and said, "I didn't do anything special. I was just a mouthpiece. In two days, I'll be at home in America and you'll be here. We'll always be brothers. When your son serves a mission, he'll understand what it is that I got the chance to do." He looked at me with tears in his eyes and said, "I'm going to miss you, Elda Cwuiz." "Not as much as I'll miss you, Eli."
Teaching this man and his wife showed me the importance of love. He loved his wife and children. He loved them so much that he took them to Ghana and was sealed with them in the temple. He was there as I flew home and I knew that my mission was complete. It wasn't until then that I felt like I was a successful missionary. It is because of that man and his family that I felt at peace when I was released my by Stake President. I always think of him and his family. Heck, when I am sad I look at his little smile and remember the wonderful conversations that we had together.
A mission is a wonderful thing. Mine has changed me. I can only imagine what kind of things are in store for me after everything that I have learned and overcome.
That is my post! If you liked it, Awesome! If not, that's cool too. No negative comments, please. I will always accept positive ones.
~Brandon :) (Elda Cwuiz used to be my name)
