My new assignment
- Dec 16, 2025
- 5 min read
Hello Everyone,
I am doing very well! My nose is doing just fine and healing slowly. It is uncomfortable when I apply pressure; however, if I leave it alone, it really does not hurt. That is a blessing in and of itself. After the last two incidents, I was transferred to a new area in the city. It is a nice area for Ethiopian standards. Our apartment is in a high-rise building. In the mission, it is called the “University branch”, which is about 20 minutes from the main Meganana chapel. Our church has one big new chapel that was constructed here several years ago, and it is on a big compound that the church owns. It is a nice place for us to have visits with friends interested in the church, as well as meet as missionaries and members. The only things that I do not like about this area is that there are a LOT of English speakers. When people realize that I speak English well, they don’t want to speak in Amharic, only English. When I was in Adama, my Amharic was on fire, and I was learning so fast and really working hard to understand and speak the language. I told my parents that for this reason, I hope I do not stay here very long and can go back to the country where there are only Amharic speakers. My goal is to be the best Amharic speaker of our entering group. I have been working hard every day to make this happen. The other day, I was listening to someone in Amharic, and I realized I could understand in Amharic, but I was not translating it in my brain back into English. This was a BIG win for me. I am pretty sure I will stay in this area for at least another transfer if not two. I need to go back in a month to have my nose looked at again, so I will need to be close to the hospital.
Here's a short breakdown of my week
December 9
Welp, I finally made it to my new area, and it’s called “University”. Elder Van is taking my spot down in Adama. He is a new missionary like me. They also transferred an older missionary who opened the Adama area in the beginning to replace my companion. That way, there will be someone who knows the area. I know it might sound strange, but I am sad to leave there. I hope that I get to return for at least a transfer or two before my mission is over. I am now in a trio which is interesting. Tomorrow we are finally back at work.
December 10
Today was not as productive because some people in my district were sick, but we still got a little stuff done! It was nice. We went over, and I got to see our chapel and where it is. I met some members, which was very nice, and hopefully we have more lessons tomorrow.
December 11
The days are going by really fast. It's weird, and I don't like it hahaha. I have so much more to learn.... but anyway! We went to some members’ houses and made some visits with the senior couple who is assigned to our area, which was really nice. I love seeing and meeting new people! And my Amharic is coming along nicely, depending on the topic, I can usually talk for a long time, if not the whole conversation.
December 12
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! We put someone on date yesterday! Our friend even informed us that his whole family started reading the Book of Mormon, and they love it. (they are all getting dunked) I hope they continue to progress!
December 13
Kind of a weird day. We had Amharic connect. This is where we work on our Amharic language with other missionaries. We should be having language study every day. One of my companions is from Zimbabwe, and he told me that I have to work harder than all of the other missionaries that came with me because I am Ethiopian and my language needs to be better than all of them when I leave, because I am a native, and I need to be proud of that and work hard to speak as a native. My other companion laughed because my Zimbabwe companion has been helping me with the language, and my American companion told me he has never helped anyone else. So, maybe it is a little African competition. After language study, we went to a baptism to show our friend Ermis how they happen. Somehow, even far from his house,e he got roped into work, and so he didn’t make it. But the baptism was really nice. There is a guy named Dawit we are teaching,g and he will be baptized soon (hopefully). Always have hope!
Sites around my new area
December 14
SUNDAYYYYYY! Today was good! It is different being in a branch and not really doing anything. In Adama, we only had a group, so my companion and I were doing everything. We were running the meeting, teaching, helping…. everything. All I was doing was trying to listen and really try to understand what was being said in the meeting. Guess what........ I understand, some not all hahaha. But it was good otherwise!
December 15
Welp, today is Elder Staff's last P Day on the mission, and he wants to do souvenir shopping. So that’s what we are doing! Seems like a cool dude. Like him a lot! But that’s the plan for today.
I love you all! Keep well and know you all mean the world to me! Time is flying; cherish it. Don't do anything I wouldn't do! So yes, you can be arrested and be in a fight. See you guys’ next email!
ቻው!
Some other fun things are happening in my mission in Ethiopia with regard to the church.
Our Mission Presidents had the blessing of having 4 South Sudanese missionaries stay with them for a few days while they awaited their Ghana visas to attend the MTC. Sister Cowley wrote, "These Elders are a Miracle. The church is so tiny in South Sudan and in fact only one branch in Juba, which reopened after many years of closure just three months ago." These four men joined the church and are now leaving to serve as missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Elder Deng Moses, Elder Abraham Akoch, Elder Mangar Machar, and Elder Mangor Mariak.
The four new Sudanese Elders with our Mission Leaders. President and Sister Cowley.
On Sunday in Hawassa, a town several hours outside of the capital, where we have one branch. We had over 220 people at church today. The most ever on record. The Branch and the YSA youth did a wonderful job with the nativity and put on an outstanding Christmas program. This was discussed on our miracle call, and the pictures were taken by our mission leader,s the Cowleys. The picture of people on the deck was the overflow from the small room usually used as the chapel.
This last Sunday, history was made when there were two new branches presidencies were set apart in the Bishoftu District. The church is growing, and I am happy to be a part of the great promise to bring the gospel to all the world.
