October 6, 2025

 I chose the title chef for two reasons (the email title)

1. Chef in french is what they use to call other people "Boss" and that's pretty funny so..

2. We have been chef'ing it up these last couple of days. We've made some pretty cool meals.

There isn't a whole lot of opportunity to eat out in the district of Ayamé, so me and the other companionship in the apartment have a cooking schedule that's saved my butt a few nights. 

So far we've made, fried chicken, Kentucky fried chicken, spaghetti, and chili with maggi rice. Ice got a few photos so they'll be at the end. 

I'm not going to do the weekly update part again, because most of my days are not very exciting so I'll just give highlights instead.

We had interviews with stake president in the village of Aboisso, and I was able to buy some nice ingredients since they aren't in our village. Took the Baka drive home WITHOUT goats and enjoyed my ride (just a little).

We did our first contacting and it went well, we found about 5 people. So will be paying for them. 

After about a week, we had to go to the heart of the city Abidjan for new missionary training. Mind you, I'm 5 hours away from that and just dreading the Baka ride. But luckily we only to the Baka for 45 minutes. Then a missionary bus,  which was SO nice, the next 4 and a half. 

During that time, it watched some the chosen episodes and they were bangers(epic). I then did the same thing on the way back. 

Then we had general conference. I loved so much of what the speakers said. Most of the time we listened in french and I was able to understand a lot of what they said... I just could focus enough to understand it. But the ones I heard in english were really powerful. Especially Elder Renlund, and president oaks final one about the family. 

Spiritual thought; okay, today's Christ-like attribute is HUMILITY... humility... just let that one sink in. 

So the attribute of humility is one of the hardest to keep consistently. It the biggest struggle in the Book of Mormon for both the laminates, and nephites. Countless times have each of these tribes of the Americas fallen into the pride cycle, and I think of can be applied to our lives as well. 

The pride cycle is, I would say, prevalent in almost everyone's life... except for Jesus. Not once did he lift himself over others in ANY way. Even if he could have been right. If there was anyone that could have been seen as more than everybody else, it WOULD HAVE BEEN HIM. 

He was perfect, yet, no one records in the scriptures how they felt belittled by his actions or words. Yes, some felt belittled, but only because they truly knew what his identity was. But his actions were ALWAYS humble. 

I want to go back to the pride cycle. If you don't know what it is, it is when you're life circles between; "I've got this God, thanks for the boost. I know what's best for me now." To "Heavenly father... I don't know what's best, forgive me, guide me."

 Now the first one doesn't sound too bad, I mean that's the ultimate goal right? For good to trust us fully to do the right things according to his will? But the thing that is different here is the "I got this". Instead of,  "With thy help and thy will in mind, I can trust that you trust me." 

The pride of the people are what tore them away from God, so would thr opposite not be true. Humility ties us to God, or jn era words, we become more bound to him. I don't know ow about you, but I think God knows more about being happy than literally anyone else on earth. Especially satin. So, any action we do to become more like christ or like God, (because Christ and God have thr same objective) will help us feel happier, more peaceful, more comfort in times of need, and more joyous jn times of hardship.

JESUS CHRIST IS THE ANSWER, and through him, we can receive eternal JOY. Who wouldn't want that... God surely wants that for you, and the way he has given is Jesus christ. So how wonderful is that, that we have a good God who loves us.

Last thing. As I was watching the chosen, Simon Peter is taking to Judas when he is confused (and a little prideful of his ability) about the goal of Jesus Christ. They portray it so well, the confusion of the apostles about Jesus's words and parables. 

Judas's thinks that Jesus had come to rule over Rome, and the apostles can't pick up on that. But especially Judas, because he has a mind for opportunity, and what Jesus does in his final week closes every single opportunity to take the throne on the Roman's. 

So he's confused and Peter tells him, "If you have so much faith that he is the Messiah, and know that his understanding is perfect. Why do you think your plan is better than his perfect plan. Wouldn't he know what he's doing?" All we have to do, is humble ourselves. Tell ourselves, that without Jesus christ, we have nothing. Then CHOOSE to follow him even if we don't see why it makes sense. Because that is true humility. And i say that in the name of Jesus Christ amen. 

Here's some of the photos

This is the chili and maggi rice