Message from Elder McKrola

 April 1, 2019

This is something Elder McKrola wrote for new missionaries in the Benin, Cotonou mission.  He finished his mission about six months ago. He was the Assistant to the President part of the time Elder Briggs was serving in Africa.

“I experienced most of those things first-hand. Although they all seem disheartening things to face, the important thing to know is that while that part of the world faces many unique challenges, there is a balance in all things.

This means that there is a greater opportunity for missionaries to see the Lord’s hand and to become closer to Him than they would be able to elsewhere.

Africans are very faithful people, and the members and missionaries love the Gospel and learn it very well. However, just like how here in the States we face many spiritual challenges relevant to how the world works around us, Africans face challenges relevant to their own circumstances.

Because the Church is still very young there, and it is a remote part of the world, I found that the greatest tool a missionary can have is being able to have meaningful prayer every day. Heavenly Father knows exactly what His children encounter. Being in constant communication with Him will bring great guidance and strength.

When it comes to money for eating, we would put a certain amount together each month as an apartment to buy ingredients. I would occasionally buy snacks and learned to be pretty liberal sharing with others, but I very rarely and discrepuously gave money to others.

When dealing with a difficult companion, it is very important to remember that many African companions are recent converts, and that even though they love the Gospel, they are still learning to do things the Lord’s way. Being able to effectively and positively communicate with companions is very important to learn. Since there will likely be a language barrier for the first little while, being humble in asking for help to understand the situation makes a huge difference.

Learning to be patient, loving, and humble are among the most powerful Christlike attributes in helping another missionary become the person the Lord wants him to be.
When a situation arises where you feel mission leaders should be involved, showing your companion that you care about him by asking him about the problem will reassure him, even if he seems upset about the confrontation at first. Knowing what to say and how to say it to district/ zone leaders will affect how the problem is resolved and how both missionaries can be helped.

West Africa is the greatest place in the world to serve a mission, and nothing will ever convince me otherwise. The people there are very receptive to missionaries and to the Gospel. I have many good friends from the Ivory Coast and from the DRC who were great missionaries and very fun to be around! They taught me so much. Some were difficult in different ways, but showing them acts of love is possible without 'getting rolled over'. Others were difficult to be with regardless of kind acts put forth by others, as can be found in any mission in the world. Despite this, there is good in everyone and something to learn from every companion.”

1 Thessalonians 5:15, 21
"Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved"- Pres. Monson